Tablets Related to Ḫarrān (text nos. 207-218)

207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218

207–218

Numerous single-column clay tablets unearthed from Nineveh's citadel mound (modern Kuyunjik) contain copies of building or dedicatory inscriptions of Ashurbanipal that pertain to his work at the city Ḫarrān (classical Carrhae), located in southern Turkey. The king is reported to have been engaged in several projects for that city. Building inscriptions describe his extensive work on the moon-god Sîn's temple Eḫulḫul ("House which Gives Joy"; text no. 207, the so-called "Large Egyptian Tablets" inscription) and probably also that deity's akītu-house (text no. 215), while dedicatory inscriptions record Ashurbanipal's bestowal of lion-headed eagles to Sîn in Eḫulḫul (text no. 208), carrying poles to the goddess Ningal (Nikkal) in Egipar ("Giparu-House"; text no. 209), several objects — including an arch, cedar doors, and lion-headed eagles — to the god Nusku in Emelamana ("House of the Radiance of Heaven"; text nos. 210–214), and an object to the god Sîn in his akītu-house (text no. 216). Two final inscriptions (text nos. 217–218) might also report on Ashurbanipal's efforts at Ḫarrān, but those texts are too poorly preserved to be certain of this. None of the dedicatory texts dealing with Ḫarrān include any military narrative.

207

This inscription, the so-called "Large Egyptian Tablets" (LET) or "Ḫarrān Tablets" (HT), is the earliest-known summary inscription of Ashurbanipal; it is presently known from five copies. The text reports on the king's first and second Egyptian campaigns, the conquest of the city Qirbit, Gyges' dream and subsequent payment of tribute, and the submission of Mugallu of Tabal and Yakīn-Lû of Arwad. The building report contains a detailed account of the rebuilding of Eḫulḫul ("House which Gives Joy"), the temple of the god Sîn at Ḫarrān. Although the tablets that bear this inscription are not dated, and despite the occurrence of rēš šarrūtīya ("the beginning of my kingship," that is, "my accession year") at the start of the building report, the terminus post quem for the inscription can be established as ca. 664 since the death of Taharqa and the fall of Thebes are possibly the latest chronologically-datable events recorded and, thus, the LET might have been composed ca. 663–662.

Access the composite text [/rinap/rinap5/Q007615/] or the score [/rinap/scores/Q007615/] of Ashurbanipal 207.

Sources: (1) K 228 + K 3081 + K 3084 + K 17723 (+) K 4535) (2) K 2675 (3) K 4451 (4) K 5564 (5) K 6368

Commentary

All five exemplars appear to have been long and broad single-column tablets. However, the vast majority of the inscription is supplied by exs. 1 and 2, which are better preserved than the remaining exemplars. Both exs. 1 and 2 are only missing the top portion of the tablet, but the faces of each tablet are damaged, in particular those of ex. 1. In addition, the scribe of ex. 1 has impressed a winkelhaken in the left margin of the tablet next to rev. 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 — after which the rest of the edge is broken away — indicating that the scribe was marking every tenth line of text on the reverse of the tablet, although there are no such markings for the obverse (compare the practice on ex. 1 of text no. 197 and text no. 205). With regard to ex. 1, Z. Földi recently joined the fragment K 17723 to K 228 + K 3081 + K 3084 as the tablet's bottom right corner, and the authors would like to thank him for bringing this join to their attention.

As for the other exemplars, ex. 3 is a fragment that preserves the top right section of a tablet, as well as part of its right and top edges, although only the reverse is extant. H.-U. Onasch (ÄAT 27/1 p. 103) correctly identified this fragment as the conclusion of the LET inscription. Exs. 4 and 5 are tablet fragments that only preserve a small portion of the center of one face of a tablet. These exemplars duplicate part of the military narrative of exs. 1–2 and thus are tentatively edited with this text, but too little is preserved to be certain that they are duplicates of this inscription. Given that the main building report is not preserved in either exemplar, it is possible that these fragments belong to another inscription.

The lineation of the master text — including the division of lines between the obverse and reverse — follows ex. 1. Each line of the master text appears to be a single line in the separate exemplars, although ex. 2 has six more lines on its obverse than the master text before it continues the inscription on its reverse. The master text is a conflation of mainly exs. 1 and 2, with ex. 3 supplying most of the material for the last twelve lines of the text. Some of the contents of the inscription duplicate or overlap with material from text no. 2 (Prism E₂); see Prism E₂ iii 1´–9´ for obv. 9´–12´; iii 1´´–iv 17 for obv. 23´–34´; iv 2´b–v 12 for obv. 37´–58´; v 1´–22´ for rev. 13–18; and vi 14–25 for rev. 19–27. For comparisons between the contents of text no. 2 (Prism E₂) and those of the LET, see the on-page notes to the prism inscription. A complete score of the inscription is presented on Oracc and the minor orthographic variants are presented at the back of the book.

Bibliography

1870 3 R pls. 28–29 (obv. 5´–rev. 27, conflated copy of exs. 1 [K 228+]–2)

1871 G. Smith, Assurbanipal pp. 36–47, 55–57, 73–76, and 80–82 (obv. 6´–rev. 37, conflated copy and edition of exs. 1 [K 228+]–2)

1887 S.A. Smith, Keilschrifttexte 2 pp. 12–18 and pl. III (ex. 2, copy, edition, study)

1887 Pinches in S.A. Smith, Keilschrifttexte 2 pp. 70–71 (ex. 2, study)

1889 Bezold, Cat. 1 p. 60 (ex. 1 [K 228+], study)

1889 Bezold in S.A. Smith, Keilschrifttexte 3 pp. 124–125 (exs. 1 [K 228+]–2, study)

1889 Winckler, Untersuchungen pp. 102–106 (obv. 6´–rev. 11, conflated edition of exs. 1 [K 228+]–2, study)

1890 Jensen in Schrader, KB 2 pp. 162–163 n. 6, 166 n. 3, 168–169 n. 1, 170–171 n. 2, 174–175 n. 1, and 236–239 (obv. 15´–36´, 68´–69´, rev. 4–6, 12–18, 28–37, conflated edition of exs. 1 [K 228+]–2; obv. 37´–41´a, conflated translation of exs. 1 [K 228+]–2; study)

1891 Bezold, Cat. 2 pp. 465, 634, 640, 729, and 782 (exs. 1 [K 4535]–5, study)

1893–97 Winckler, AOF 1 pp. 477–481 (ex. 2, study)

1898 Winckler, OLZ 1 col. 70 (ex. 1 [K 4535], partial transliteration)

1916 Streck, Asb. pp. XXXII–XXXIII no. 1 and 158–175 no. 1 (obv. 5´–rev. 79, conflated edition of exs. 1 [K 228+]–2, study)

1927 Luckenbill, ARAB 2 pp. 348–354 §§899–915 (obv. 5´–rev. 79, conflated translation of exs. 1 [K 228+]–2, study)

1933 Bauer, Asb. p. 33 with nn. 2–3, pp. 34 and 41, and pls. 39–40 and 42 (exs. 1 [K 4535], 3, copy; ex. 3, edition; ex. 1 [K 4535], transliteration; study; exs. 1–2, collations)

1933 Piepkorn, Asb. p. 8 nn. 2–4 (exs. 1 [K 228+]–2, study)

1957 Aynard, Prisme p. 3 no. 3 (exs. 1 [K 228+]–2, study)

1965 Tadmor, Studies Landsberger p. 353 n. 16 (study)

1969 Oppenheim in ANET³ pp. 296–297 (obv. 5´–18´, 24´–39´, 45´–49´a, 55´–57´a, 68´–69´, 72´b–rev. 11, conflated translation of exs. 1 [K 228+]–2)

1974 Spalinger, Orientalia NS 43 p. 309 (study)

1976 Spalinger, JARCE 13 p. 134 (study)

1977 Cogan and Tadmor, Orientalia NS 46 pp. 70 n. 18, 74–78, and 81–85 (obv. 19´–46´, rev. 19–27, study)

1980 Grayson, ZA 70 p. 245 (study)

1981 Tadmor in Fales, ARIN pp. 22–23 (study)

1987 Gerardi, Assurbanipal's Elamite Campaigns pp. 54–55 (study)

1994 Onasch, ÄAT 27/1 pp. 71–80, 84–93, 103–115, 126–127, 147–158, 210–213, 223, 226–227, and passim, and pls. I figs. 2–3, II–V figs. 5–8, and VII–X figs. 10–13 (exs. 1–2, photo; exs. 1–2, 4–5, copy; edition; exs. 1–5, study); and 2 pp. 29–49, 54–93, 97, 114–128, 140–152, 156–157, and 164–165 (exs. 1–5, transliteration)

1996 Borger, BIWA pp. 136, 174–175, 184–187, 320, 329, 332, and 334–335; 8^o-Heft pp. 166–167; and LoBl p. 30 (exs. 4–5, transliteration; exs. 1–3, partial transliteration, collations; exs. 1–5, study)

1997 Briquel-Chatonnet, Studies Röllig pp. 64–65 with nn. 45–46 (rev. 33–35a, translation; rev. 37, study)

1998 Heimpel, Studies Römer pp. 141–142 (rev. 59–63, 65b, translation, study)

1998 Mayer, Studies Römer p. 251 (rev. 44, study)

1999 Verreth, JAOS 119 pp. 238–239 with nn. 41–42, p. 241 with n. 67, and p. 243 with n. 79 (obv. 17´b–22´, translation; obv. 29´–69´, study)

2002 Holloway, Aššur is King pp. 239 no. 4, 247 no. 24, 267 no. 22, 272 no. 10, 412–413, and 420 (rev. 43–69, study)

2002 Novotny, Studies Walker p. 192 with n. 5 and p. 196 (rev. 43–69, study)

2003 Novotny, Eḫulḫul pp. 30–33, 88–94, 253–289, 372–373, and passim (exs. 1–5, transliteration; rev. 43–69, translation; study; exs. 1–3, collations)

2003 Schaudig, Studies Kienast pp. 488–489 with n. 231 (rev. 43–79, study)

2006 Bagg, SAAB 15 p. 190 (rev. 51–52, study)

2010 Novotny, Studies Ellis pp. 117–118 with nn. 53–54 and pp. 127, 129, 134, 138 with n. 196, and 467 no. 5.27 (rev. 51–55, translation; rev. 46–50, 57–66, 69, study)

2011 Fuchs, HSAO 14 pp. 286–287 (rev. 12–18, study)

2014 Novotny, JCS 66 p. 110 (rev. 43–44, study)

2014 Parpola in Novotny, SAACT 10 pp. xxv, 46–48, 81–85, and 100–103 no. 20 (conflated copy and edition of exs. 1 [K 228+]–2, study)

2016 Sano, UF 47 pp. 255–258 and 260–261 no. 6 with n. 38 (obv. 10´–12´, edition; obv. 6´–12´, 29´–33´, 37´–69´, 71´–rev. 1, 18, study)

2020 Novotny, Studia Chaburensia 8 pp. 77–80 and 84–85 no. 1 (rev. 43–69, translation, study)

2021 Hätinen, dubsar 20 p. 403 n. 2291 (rev. 43–69, study)

2021 Mitto and Novotny, SAAB 27 pp. 138–139 n. 19 (rev. 21, study)

208

This poorly-preserved, single-column clay tablet bears an archival copy or draft of a dedicatory inscription of Ashurbanipal that was inscribed on (metal-plated) statues of lion-headed eagles that were to be erected in a gateway of the god Sîn's ante-cella in the Eḫulḫul temple ("House which Gives Joy") at Ḫarrān. The badly-damaged tablet preserves parts of the opening dedication to Sîn, Ashurbanipal's name and epithets, the very beginning and end of the report describing the fashioning of the lion-headed eagles upon which this text was written, appeals for blessings from the moon-god for undertaking this work, advice to future rulers and warnings not to tamper with the king's inscription or the inscribed lion-headed eagles, and the subscript.

Access the composite text [/rinap/rinap5/Q007616/] of Ashurbanipal 208.

Source: K 8759 + Rm 133 + Rm 288

Commentary

K 8759+ preserves the left halves of both faces of a single-column clay tablet, including parts of its top, left, and bottom edges. The fragments K 8759 and Rm 133 were joined by R. Borger, while the join of Rm 288 was recognized by E. Weissert.

Bibliography

1893 Bezold, Cat. 3 pp. 958 (K 8759, study)

1896 Bezold, Cat. 4 pp. 1585 and 1601 (obv. 1, copy; Rm 133, Rm 288, study)

1907 Perry, Sin pp. 28–30 and pl. III no. 6 (Rm 288, copy, edition, study)

1924–39 Geers, Heft A p. 23; and D p. 7 (K 8759, Rm 133, copy)

1995 Pongratz-Leisten, Studies Boehmer pp. 549–557 (copy, edition, study)

1996 Borger, BIWA p. 336; and LoBl p. 44 (transliteration, study)

2002 Holloway, Aššur is King p. 291 no. 11 (study)

2002 Novotny, Studies Walker p. 192 n. 4 (study)

2003 Novotny, Eḫulḫul pp. 35–37, 140–142, 159 n. 488, 231–233, 373–374, and passim (transliteration; obv. 22–rev. 1a, 11a, translation; study)

2010 Novotny, Studies Ellis p. 134 (obv. 22–rev. 1, study)

2020 Novotny, Studia Chaburensia 8 p. 87 no. 5 (rev. 1, 14, translation)

2021 Hätinen, dubsar 20 pp. 141–145, 153–154 (nn. 810, 815–816, 819, and 825), 161 (n. 866), 200 (n. 1122), 203 (n. 1150), 208 (nn. 1187–1188), 238 (n. 1992), 261 (n. 1475), 292 (n. 1364), and 315 (n. 1791) (obv. 1–15, edition; rev. 5, 7, 13, transliteration)

209

Bu 89-4-26,209, a single-column clay tablet, is inscribed with a draft of a dedicatory inscription of Ashurbanipal to the goddess Ningal (Nikkal), Sîn's consort. The original was to be inscribed on reddish-gold-plated carrying poles (gištallū) used for carrying a divine statue. These ornate objects would have been displayed in Egipar ("Giparu-House"), the seat of this goddess that was probably situated in the Eḫulḫul temple at Ḫarrān. The tablet contains a long dedication to the goddess Ningal (which includes numerous epithets of hers), Ashurbanipal's name and epithets, a report describing the fashioning of the poles upon which this text was written, part of the appeals for blessings from the goddess for this work, Ashurbanipal's advice to future rulers and warnings not to tamper with Ningal's inscribed carrying poles, and a subscript.

Access the composite text [/rinap/rinap5/Q007617/] of Ashurbanipal 209.

Source: Bu 89-4-26,209

Commentary

Bu 89-4-26,209 preserves almost all of the clay tablet, with only some damage to its top corners and especially to the bottom of the tablet, particularly on the reverse. Most of the top, left, and right edges are preserved, and although the bottom edge is broken away, there do not appear to be any lines missing from either face of the tablet.

Bibliography

1896 Bezold, Cat. 4 p. 1930 (rev. 22, copy; study)

1897 Craig, ABRT 2 pp. 1–2 (copy)

1900 Martin, Textes religieux pp. 2–12 (edition, study)

1905 Jastrow, Religion 1 p. 547 (obv. 1–11, translation, study)

1916 Streck, Asb. pp. LI no. 13 and 286–293 no. 13 (edition, study)

1918 Meek, JAOS 38 pp. 167–175 (copy, edition, study)

1927 Luckenbill, ARAB 2 pp. 386–387 §§1007–1009 (obv. 1–24, rev. 22, translation)

1933 Bauer, Asb. pp. 42–43 n. 5 (study, collations)

1996 Borger, BIWA p. 351 (study)

2002 Holloway, Aššur is King p. 290 no. 10 (study)

2002 Novotny, Studies Walker pp. 192–193 with nn. 4 and 9 and p. 195 (obv. 23–24, edition; study)

2003 Novotny, Eḫulḫul pp. 37–38, 154–160, 233–236, 374–375, and passim (transliteration; obv. 19–24, translation; study)

2020 Novotny, Studia Chaburensia 8 pp. 82–83 and 88 no. 11 (obv. 19–24, rev. 22, translation, study)

2021 Hätinen, dubsar 20 pp. 37 (nn. 132 and 140), 76 (n. 360), 81 (n. 392), 203 (nn. 1150–1151), 234 (n. 1311), 301–302, 309, 403–404, and 413 (with n. 2346) (obv. 1–11, 23, edition; rev. 19, transliteration; study)

210

The upper portion of a single-column clay tablet bears an archival copy or draft of a dedicatory inscription of Ashurbanipal to the god Nusku in Ḫarrān. Given that the text deals with the construction of an object for Nusku's temple Emelamana ("House of the Radiance of Heaven"), the original was most likely to be displayed in that temple. Unfortunately, the object that was to be dedicated to the god is not known since the report concerning the fashioning of that object is not preserved. The extant portions of the tablet contain parts of an opening dedication to the god Nusku (along with a list of his epithets), Ashurbanipal's titulary, an appeal for blessings from the god for creating the ornate object for his temple, advice to future rulers and warnings not to tamper with the work, and a subscript.

Access the composite text [/rinap/rinap5/Q007618/] of Ashurbanipal 210.

Source: K 2803 + K 3256

Commentary

K 2803+ preserves both faces from the upper half of a broad, single-column clay tablet, along with portions of its top and left edges. The join between the fragments K 2803 and K 3256 was made by J. Novotny. Restorations to the text are broadly taken from text nos. 211 and 213–214.

Bibliography

1891 Bezold, Cat. 2 pp. 477 and 517 (study)

1895 Craig, ABRT 1 p. 35 (K 3256 obv., copy)

1905 Jastrow, Religion 1 pp. 487–488 (K 3256 obv., translation, study)

1933 Bauer, Asb. pp. 36–39 with the notes, and pls. 28–29 (K 2803, copy, conflated edition with text nos. 211 [K 2813] and 214 [Sm 530 + Rm 2,235]; study)

1996 Borger, BIWA pp. 330 and 332 (study)

2002 Novotny, Studies Walker p. 192 n. 4 (study)

2003 Novotny, Eḫulḫul pp. 38–39, 180, 236–239, 386–387, and passim (copy, transliteration; rev. 10´, translation; study)

2020 Novotny, Studia Chaburensia 8 pp. 81–82 and 87 no. 6 (rev. 10´, translation, study)

2021 Hätinen, dubsar 20 pp. 203 (n. 1149), 260 (n. 1470), 315 (n. 1794), and 404–405 (obv. 11, rev. 9´, study)

211

This badly-damaged single-column clay tablet has a draft of an Ashurbanipal dedicatory inscription to the god Nusku written on it. As indicated by its building account, the original was to be displayed in the Emelamana ("House of the Radiance of Heaven") temple since it reports on the construction of a metal-plated object for that temple. Specifically, the text describes the fashioning of an arch (sillu) plated with reddish-gold that was apparently created as a decoration for one of the temple's prominent gateways. The subscript states that the text was to be inscribed upon the ⸢ar-ma^?⸣-[a^?]-di, although the meaning of the word is uncertain. J. Novotny (Eḫulḫul p. 39 n. 128) has suggested the word could be related to arāmu ("to cover") since the object is associated with the roofing or upper structure of that temple. As for the contents of the inscription, they comprise a lengthy dedication to Nusku, Ashurbanipal's titles and epithets, a report on the fashioning of the arch, appeals for blessings from the god for undertaking this work, advice to future rulers and warnings not to tamper with the inscribed arch, and a subscript.

Access the composite text [/rinap/rinap5/Q007619/] of Ashurbanipal 211.

Source: K 2813 + K 8394 + 79-7-8,134 + K 18744 79-7-8,134

Commentary

K 2813+ preserves both faces from a single-column horizontal clay tablet, along with parts of its top, bottom, and right edges. The join of the fragment K 18744 to K 2813+ was made by R. Borger. Restorations to the text are broadly taken from text nos. 210 and 213–214.

Bibliography

1891 Bezold, Cat. 2 p. 478 (K 2813, study)

1896 Bezold, Cat. 4 p. 1711 (79-7-8,134, study)

1920 Leeper, CT 35 pl. 42 (79-7-8,134, copy)

1933 Bauer, Asb. pp. 38–40 and pls. 29–30 (K 2813 + K 8394 + 79-7-8,134, copy, edition)

1975 Schramm, WO 8 p. 45 (rev. 8, study)

1992 Lambert, Cat. p. 26 (K 18744, study)

1996 Borger, BIWA p. 330 (rev. 20, transliteration; study)

2002 Holloway, Aššur is King p. 290 no. 7 (study)

2002 Novotny, Studies Walker p. 192 n. 4 (study)

2003 Novotny, Eḫulḫul pp. 39, 159 n. 488, 176–178, 239–241, 375, and passim (transliteration; rev. 17, 20, translation; study, collations)

2010 Novotny, Studies Ellis p. 134 (obv. 24–27, study)

2020 Novotny, Studia Chaburensia 8 pp. 81–82 and 87 no. 7 (obv. 24–27, rev. 20, translation, study)

2021 Hätinen, dubsar 20 pp. 36 (n. 129), 73 (n. 343), 203 (n. 1149), 233 (n. 1305), 315 (with n. 1794), and 404–405 (obv. 18, rev. 7, transliteration; obv. 11, 21, study)

212

Two fragments from a single-column clay tablet bear an archival copy or draft of a dedicatory inscription of Ashurbanipal to the god Nusku. The original was to be put on display in Nusku's temple at Ḫarrān, Emelamana. The text commemorates the creation of tall cedar doors that were to be installed in a gateway of the ante-cella of that temple. The extant portions of the text contain parts of the opening dedication (a section listing many epithets of Nusku), Ashurbanipal's name and titulary, a report about the fashioning of doors for the temple, Ashurbanipal's appeals to Nusku for blessings for creating doors for Emelamana, and advice to future rulers not to tamper with the king's work; the subscript is completely broken away.

Access the composite text [/rinap/rinap5/Q007620/] of Ashurbanipal 212.

Source: K 2822 + DT 133 (+) K 2826 + K 8597 + K 8931

Commentary

Together, the pieces K 2822 + DT 133 and K 2826 + K 8597 + K 8931 preserve parts of both faces from a broad single-column tablet, including portions of its left and right edges. The join of the fragments K 2822 and DT 133 was made by J. Novotny. The fragments K 2826 and K 8931 were joined by W. Schramm (WO 8 [1975] pp. 44–45), while the fragment K 8597 was later joined by R. Borger (BIWA p. 330). Furthermore, based on script and content, Novotny has proposed a "sandwich join" of these two pieces in which K 2822+ is the obverse and K 2826+ is the reverse of the same tablet. Thus, the two pieces are edited together here as a single tablet.

Bibliography

1891 Bezold, Cat. 2 p. 479 (K 2822, K 2826, study)

1893 Bezold, Cat. 3 pp. 944 and 972 (K 8597, K 8931, study)

1896 Bezold, Cat. 4 p. 1554 (DT 133, study)

1924–39 Geers, Heft A p. 14 (K 8597, copy)

1933 Bauer, Asb. pp. 40–41 and 54, and pls. 30 and 52 (K 2822, DT 133, copy; K 2822, edition; DT 133, transliteration, study)

1975 Schramm, WO 8 pp. 44–45 (K 2826 + K 8931, copy, edition, study)

1996 Borger, BIWA pp. 330 and 343; and LoBl p. 14 (K 2826+, transliteration; study)

2002 Holloway, Aššur is King p. 290 no. 7 (study)

2002 Novotny, Studies Walker p. 192 n. 4 (study)

2003 Novotny, Eḫulḫul pp. 39–40, 178–180, 242–244, 388–389, and passim (copy, transliteration; obv. 13´–18´, rev. 18´, translation; study)

2020 Novotny, Studia Chaburensia 8 pp. 81–82 with n. 36 and p. 87 no. 8 (obv. 13´–15´, rev. 18´, translation, study)

2021 Hätinen, dubsar 20 pp. 260 (n. 1470) and 404–405 (study)

213

K 9143, a fragment from a single-column clay tablet, is inscribed with an archival copy or draft of a dedicatory inscription to the god Nusku of Ḫarrān composed by Ashurbanipal. The original was to be inscribed upon statues of lion-headed eagles that were to be fashioned and erected in a gateway of the ante-cella of Emelamana ("House of the Radiance of Heaven"), the temple of Nusku at Ḫarrān. The tablet preserves parts of two different subscripts, but since the report on the fashioning of the objects is not preserved, it is unclear if the tablet commemorates the creation of one or two pairs of apotropaic statues. The extant portions of the text contain parts of the opening dedication to Nusku (a lengthy passage that lists numerous epithets of his), the end of Ashurbanipal's advice to future rulers, warnings not to alter the inscribed lion-headed eagles, and portions of two subscripts.

Access the composite text [/rinap/rinap5/Q007621/] of Ashurbanipal 213.

Source: K 9143

Commentary

K 9143 preserves parts of both faces of a single-column tablet, as well as a portion of its left edge. This tablet is narrower than the other tablets that bear copies of Ḫarrān display texts, and it also contains two separate subscripts in rev. 9´–10´ and 11´–14´. Restorations to the inscription are broadly taken from text nos. 210–211 and 214.

Bibliography

1893 Bezold, Cat. 3 p. 988 (rev. 9´–10´, copy; study)

1905 Jastrow, Religion 1 p. 487 (obv. 3´, 5´, 7´, translation; obv. 9´, study)

1933 Bauer, Asb. p. 38 nn. 2–3, 5 (rev., transliteration; study)

1895 Craig, ABRT 1 p. 36 (copy)

1996 Borger, BIWA p. 336 (study)

2002 Holloway, Aššur is King p. 291 n. 219 (study)

2002 Novotny, Studies Walker p. 192 n. 4 (study)

2003 Novotny, Eḫulḫul pp. 40–41, 174–176, 244–246, 376, and passim (transliteration; rev. 4´, 9´–13´, translation; study, collations)

2010 Novotny, Studies Ellis p. 134 (rev. 11´–13´, study)

2020 Novotny, Studia Chaburensia 8 pp. 81–82 and 87 no. 9 (rev. 9´–10´, 11´–14´, translation, study)

2021 Hätinen, dubsar 20 pp. 203 (n. 1149), 260 (n. 1470), and 404–405 (obv. 11´, transliteration; study)

214

A fragment from the right side of a single-column clay tablet preserves part of a draft of an Ashurbanipal dedicatory inscription to the god Nusku. The original was to be displayed in the Emelamana temple. Unfortunately, the report on the fashioning of the object that was to be dedicated to the god is poorly preserved and the reference to the specific object that was fashioned is no longer extant. With regard to contents, the inscription comprises an opening dedication to Nusku, Ashurbanipal's titulary, a building report, appeals by the king to Nusku to bless him for creating an object for Emelamana, advice to future rulers and warnings not to alter the king's work, and a subscript.

Access the composite text [/rinap/rinap5/Q007622/] of Ashurbanipal 214.

Source: Sm 530 + Rm 2,235 (+) Sm 1977

Commentary

Sm 530+ preserves both faces from the right half of a single-column horizontal clay tablet, along with its right edge and parts of its top and bottom edges. The small fragment Sm 1977 was identified by A.K. Grayson as an inscription of Ashurbanipal, and that fragment was joined to Sm 530+ by J. Novotny. Restorations to the text are broadly taken from text nos. 210–211.

Bibliography

1896 Bezold, Cat. 4 pp. 1415, 1521, and 1659 (study)

1933 Bauer, Asb. pp. 36–39 with the notes, and pls. 48 and 55 (Sm 530 + Rm 2,235, copy, conflated edition with text nos. 210 [K 2803] and 211 [K 2813], study)

1996 Borger, BIWA p. 341 (Sm 530 + Rm 2,235, study)

2002 Novotny, Studies Walker p. 192 n. 4 (study)

2003 Novotny, Eḫulḫul pp. 41–42, 180–181, 246–248, 390–391, and passim (copy, transliteration; obv. 24–29, rev. 13, translation; study)

2010 Novotny, Studies Ellis p. 134 (obv. 24–29, study)

2020 Novotny, Studia Chaburensia 8 pp. 81–82 with n. 40 and p. 87 no. 10 (obv. 24–29, rev. 13, translation, study)

2021 Hätinen, dubsar 20 pp. 260 (n. 1470) and 404–405 (study)

215

This summary inscription of Ashurbanipal is known only from the lower portion of a fragmentarily-preserved, three-column clay tablet. The extant text contains parts of the prologue, which promotes the king's image as an avid temple builder; a report about his fifth Elamite campaign, which was directed against Ummanaldašu (Ḫumban-ḫaltaš III); an account of some of his wars against the Arabs; a short building report, which — although the reference to the specific structure is not preserved because of damage — almost certainly commemorates the rebuilding of the moon-god Sîn's akītu-house at Ḫarrān (see the on-page note to v 14); concluding formulae; and a subscript. The subscript makes clear that this text was intended to be inscribed on objects — likely clay prisms — that were to be deposited in the structure named in the building report, probably the moon-god's New Year's temple.

This text was designated by R. Borger (BIWA p. 137) as "T Tablet 1" ("TTaf 1") since he regarded it to be a duplicate or sub-edition of text no. 10 (Prism T), while J. Novotny (Studies Walker p. 194 n. 13) labeled it as "Edition L," since he regarded it as a unique summary inscription of Ashurbanipal.

Access the composite text [/rinap/rinap5/Q007623/] of Ashurbanipal 215.

Source: K 2664 + K 3090 + K 4544A + K 5903 + K 6632 + K 8371 + DT 177

Commentary

K 2664+ is from the lower two-thirds of a tablet that preserves parts of three columns on both its obverse and reverse, as well as parts of its bottom, left, and right edges. The contents of the tablet mainly duplicate those of text no. 10 (Prism T): col. i = T i 30–ii 13; col. ii = T iii 35b–46; cols. iii–iv = T iv 35–v 31; v 23–35 = T vi 17–28; and vi 1–9 = T vi 44–51. However, the tablet concludes its historical section with reports on Ashurbanipal's campaigns against the Arabs, and such material postdates the composition of text no. 10 (Prism T), which was in 645. For v 1–5, see text no. 11 (Prism A) ix 107–111 and text no. 156 rev. 10b–12a. Furthermore, with respect to v 6–13, the language of v 8–13 corresponds broadly to that of text no. 11 (Prism A) x 3–5, although it is a variant account from that of the prism inscription. It is unclear which Arabs are specifically mentioned in the account of K 2664+ due to damage in the first two lines (v 6–7) of that narrative, but presumably they are Aya-ammu and Abī-Yateʾ, the sons of Teʾri, the Qedarite tribal leader, mentioned in text no. 11 (Prism A) x 1–2. Since Ashurbanipal's Arab campaigns are first narrated in text no. 11 (Prism A) vii 82–x 5, the approximate date of composition for the present inscription is ca. 644–642.

As for scribal notations, the tablet contains a notation on its left edge that is associated with the account starting at i 33´ (see the on-page note), and it also contains an editorial correction that runs vertically in the margin between cols. v and vi (see the on-page note at v 3A–4).

Bibliography

1871 G. Smith, Assurbanipal pp. 249–250 (iv 8–14, 19–20, 26–30, conflated copy and edition with text no. 102 and apparently other unspecified material)

1891 Bezold, Cat. 2 pp. 463–464, 502, 641, 748, and 799 (K 2664, K 3090, K 4544A, K 5903, K 6632, study)

1893 Bezold, Cat. 3 p. 920 (K 8371, study)

1896 Bezold, Cat. 4 p. 1557 (DT 177, study)

1916 Streck, Asb. pp. XXXVIII–XXXIX no. 16 and 218–221 nos. 16b–c with nn. h–n (iv 13–35, confused, conflated edition of K 2664 with text no. 154 ex. 1 and apparently other unspecified material, study)

1927 Luckenbill, ARAB 2 p. 365 §941 (iv 13–30, translation [from Streck's conflated edition])

1933 Bauer, Asb. pp. 20, 34–35, and 54, and pls. 26–27, 34–35, and 53 (K 2664, K 3090, DT 177, copy, transliteration; K 2664, K 3090, study)

1957 Borger, Orientalia NS 26 pp. 1–2 (v 8–15, transliteration, study)

1973 Weippert, WO 7/1 pp. 50 and 61 n. 76 (v 6–13, transliteration, study)

1982 Ephʿal, Arabs pp. 48, 145–146, and 159 (v 1–13, study)

1994 Onasch, ÄAT 27/1 p. 222 (K 2664 + K 3090 + K 5903, study); and 2 pp. 173–175, 182–183, and 186 (K 2664 + K 3090 + K 5903, partial transliteration)

1996 Borger, BIWA pp. 51, 57–58, 68, 104, 137, 139–140, 144–145, 147, 167–172, and 329; and 8^o-Heft pp. 494–501 (transliteration, study)

2002 Holloway, Aššur is King pp. 248 no. 25, 250 nos. 27 and 29, 283 no. 21, and 316 no. 33 (i 1´–29´, iv 33–35, study)

2002 Novotny, Studies Walker pp. 191–197 (v 14–20, vi 10–11, copy, edition; study)

2003 Novotny, Eḫulḫul 33–35, 183–192, 224–230, 381–385, and passim (copy, transliteration; v 14–20, vi 10–11, translation; study)

2010 Novotny, Studies Ellis pp. 111, 127, and 134 (v 14–20, study)

2014 Novotny, SAACT 10 pp. xviii–xix, 13–15, 62–66, and 92 no. 4 (copy, transliteration; v 1–23, vi 10–11, translation; study)

2020 Novotny, Studia Chaburensia 8 pp. 83 and 86 no. 3 (v 14–20, vi 10–11, translation, study)

2021 Hätinen, dubsar 20 pp. 414–415 (with n. 2352) (v 14–15, edition; study)

216

Sm 671, a fragment from a single-column clay tablet, preserves part of an archival copy or draft of a dedicatory inscription of Ashurbanipal to the god Sîn. The original was to be displayed in the akītu-house of the moon-god at Ḫarrān. The text presumably recorded the creation of a (metal-plated) object for that New Year's temple, but that part of the inscription has not survived, nor has the relevant part of the subscript. Only portions of the opening dedication to Sîn, Ashurbanipal's name and titulary, concluding formulae, and subscript are preserved.

Access the composite text [/rinap/rinap5/Q007624/] of Ashurbanipal 216.

Source: Sm 671

Commentary

Sm 671 preserves parts of both faces of a broad, single-column clay tablet, along with a small portion of its right edge. Although nothing of the top edge has survived, the first line of the obverse does appear to be the first line of the tablet.

Bibliography

1896 Bezold, Cat. 4 p. 1424 (rev. 5´, copy; study)

1933 Bauer, Asb. p. 42 and pl. 49 (copy, edition)

1996 Borger, BIWA p. 341 (study)

2002 Novotny, Studies Walker pp. 192–193 with nn. 4 and 10 and p. 195 (rev. 5´, transliteration; study)

2003 Novotny, Eḫulḫul pp. 42, 191, 249–250, 377, and passim (transliteration; rev. 5´, translation; study, collations)

2020 Novotny, Studia Chaburensia 8 pp. 82–83 and 88 no. 12 (rev. 5´, translation, study)

2021 Hätinen, dubsar 20 pp. 142–144 (nn. 753, 799), 203 (n. 1150), 223, 233 (n. 1304), 237 (n. 1330), 247 (n. 1396), 259 (n. 1466), 292 (n. 1633), and 413 (with n. 2345) (obv. 9, 11, 18, rev. 3´–4´, edition; obv. 3, 10, transliteration; study)

217

The lower portion of this single-column clay tablet preserves part of an inscription of Ashurbanipal. The extant text contains part of a report about the king's fifth Elamite campaign (his second war against Ummanaldašu [Ḫumban-ḫaltaš III]) and the return of the goddess Nanāya's statue to the Eḫiliana temple at Uruk in 646. Given the tablet's poor state of preservation, only a portion of the military narrative of the tablet currently survives; the introduction, building account, and concluding formulae are completely broken away. Despite this, the text might have been composed for one of the temples at Ḫarrān since that city's tutelary deities are invoked alongside the god Aššur in the list of deities who were not revered by Elamite kings (see obv. 8´b–9´a and the on-page note).

Access the composite text [/rinap/rinap5/Q007625/] of Ashurbanipal 217.

Source: K 4469 + K 4518 + K 6385 + Sm 729 + Sm 1550

Commentary

K 4469+ preserves parts of both faces from the bottom half of a clay tablet, including a small portion of its left edge. The approximate date of composition for the text is ca. 645 since it duplicates the contents of text no. 9 (Prism F): the obv. = Prism F v 40–68a, and the rev. = Prism F v 73–vi 21; the lacunae at the end of the obv. and the beginning of the rev., together with the nearly broken away rev. 1´, would have contained Prism F v 68b–72.

Bibliography

1891 Bezold, Cat. 2 pp. 635, 638, and 783 (K 4469, K 4518, K 6385, study)

1896 Bezold, Cat. 4 pp. 1430 and 1494 (Sm 729, Sm 1550, study)

1898 Winckler, OLZ 1 col. 74 (Sm 729, study)

1933 Bauer, Asb. pp. 44 and 61, and pl. 50 (Sm 729, copy, study)

1996 Borger, BIWA pp. 6, 11, 13–14, 55–56, 58–59, and 333; and 8^o-Heft pp. 161–164 and 524–526 (transliteration, study)

2003 Novotny, Eḫulḫul pp. 42–43, 250–252, 392–393, and passim (copy, transliteration, study)

218

A fragment from one face of a clay tablet contains parts of nine lines of text from an inscription of Ashurbanipal. All that is discernible on this fragment is the name of the king, a few titles, and a reference in line 5´ to Shalmaneser III. In the extant corpus of Ashurbanipal inscriptions, the aforementioned ninth-century ruler is only ever cited as previous builder of Eḫulḫul, the temple of the god Sîn at Harrān; compare, for example, text no. 10 (Prism T) ii 39 and text no. 207 (LET) rev. 44. Thus, while hardly anything of this tablet remains, it probably contained an inscription related to one of Ashurbanipal's building activities in that city.

Access the composite text [/rinap/rinap5/Q007626/] of Ashurbanipal 218.

Source: Rm 2,320

Bibliography

1896 Bezold, Cat. 4 p. 1667 (study)

1898 Winckler, OLZ 1 col. 75 (study)

1996 Borger, BIWA p. 346; and 8^o-Heft p. 330 (transliteration)

2003 Novotny, Eḫulḫul pp. 43, 45, 394, and passim (copy, study)

Joshua Jeffers & Jamie Novotny

Joshua Jeffers & Jamie Novotny, 'Tablets Related to Ḫarrān (text nos. 207-218)', RINAP 5: The Royal Inscriptions of Ashurbanipal, Aššur-etel-ilāni, and Sîn-šarra-iškun, The RINAP/RINAP 5 Project, a sub-project of MOCCI, 2022 [http://oracc.org/rinap/rinap5/RINAP52TextIntroductions/TabletsPart6texts194-218/TabletsrelatedtoHarrantexts207-218/]