Ashurbanipal 262

(1) Ashurbanipal, great king, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, king of the four quarters (of the world), king of kings, ruler who has no rival, who by the command of the gods, his helpers, rules from the Upper Sea to the Lower Sea and who made all rulers bow down at his feet; son of Esarhaddon, great king, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, (5) king of the land of Sumer and Akkad, who (re)settled Babylon, (re)built Esagil, renovated the sanctuaries of all the cult centers, constantly established appropriate procedures in them, and (re)confirmed their interrupted regular offerings; grandson of Sennacherib, great king, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, I —

(8b) During my reign, the great lord, the god Marduk, entered Babylon amidst rejoicing and took up his residence in the eternal Esagil. (10) I (re)confirmed the regular offerings for Esagil and the gods of Babylon. I (re-)established the privileged status of Babylon (and) appointed Šamaš-šuma-ukīn, my favorite brother, to the kingship of Babylon in order that the strong might not harm the weak. I completed the unfinished work on Esagil. I decorated Esagil with silver, gold, (and) precious stones and made Eumuša glisten like the stars (lit. “writing”) of the firmament. I restored the damage done to all the sanctuaries. I extended (my) protection over all the cult centers.

(16) At that time, I sought the (original) emplacement of Ebabbar, which is inside Sippar, the temple of the god Šamaš, the great lord, my lord, which had become old, buckled, and collapsed. I had (it) built anew with the craft of the god Kulla and raised its top (as high) as a mountain.

(18b) On account of this, may the god Šamaš, great judge of the gods, great lord, my lord, look upon my good deeds with pleasure! May he determine (20) for me — Ashurbanipal, king of Assyria, the ruler who reveres him — as my fate, a long life, fullness of [old age], good health, and happiness! Moreover, with regard to Šamaš-šuma-ukīn, the king of Babylon, my favorite (brother), may his days be long and may he be fully satisfied with (his) good fortune!

(22b) If at any time in the future, during the days of the reign of some future ruler, this work falls into disrepair, may (that ruler) renovate its dilapidated sections! May he write my name with his (own) name! May he find my inscribed object, (25) anoint (it) with oil, offer a sacrifice, (and) place (my inscribed object) with his (own) inscribed object! The god Šamaš will (then) listen to his prayers.

(26b) (But) as for the one who erases my inscribed name or the name of my favorite (brother) by some crafty device, (or) does not write my name with his (own) name, (or) destroys my inscribed object, (or) does not place (my inscribed object) with his (own) inscribed object, may the god Šamaš, lord of the upper world and the netherworld, glare at him angrily and make his name (and) his descendant(s) disappear from the lands!