RINBE 2, Nabonidus 34 composite (P519058)
Official or display, Neo-Babylonian, Ur · c. 626 BCE–539 BCE
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| Designation | RINBE 2, Nabonidus 34 composite |
|---|---|
| ID | P519058 |
| Language | Akkadian |
| Period | Neo-Babylonian · c. 626 BCE–539 BCE |
| Genre | Official or display |
| Find spot | Ur (mod. Tell Muqayyar) |
| Coordinates | 30.9607, 46.1063 |
English translation
By Foxvog, Daniel A. · Via Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative · CDLI (reuse with citation)
| Line | English |
|---|---|
| surface a 1 | When Nanna (the moon god) desired a high priestess, |
| surface a 2 | the Princely Son showed a sign to the world, |
| surface a 3 | Namraṣīt revealed his firm decision. |
| surface a 4 | To Nabonidus, king of Babylon, provider for the Esaĝil and Ezida temples, |
| surface a 5 | the pious shepherd solicitous about the shrines of the great gods, |
| surface a 6 | Nanna the lord of the crown, who bears signs to all settled places, |
| surface a 7 | made known to him his sign regarding his wish for a high priestess: |
| surface a 8 | 'If in the month of Elul on the 13th day, the month (known as) Task of the Goddesses, |
| surface a 9 | Inbi becomes dark, but from his state of darkness he begins to grow large, |
| surface a 10 | Sîn desires a high priestess'. Thus his sign and his decision |
| surface a 11 | I, Nabonidus, the shepherd, standing in awe of his divinity, |
| surface a 12 | feared and heeded his just command, and |
| surface a 13 | I became anxiously occupied with the request for a high priestess. |
| surface a 14 | I sought out the shrines of Šamaš and Adad, the lords of divination, and |
| surface a 15 | Šamaš and Adad answered me with a firm Yes |
| surface a 16 | In my extispicy they wrote a favorable omen, |
| surface a 17 | an omen requesting nadītu-women, a request of the gods to a person. |
| surface a 18 | I had a second omen taken, and they answered me with an omen more favorable than before. |
| surface a 19 | I performed an extispicy concerning the daughters of my kinsmen, but they answered No |
| surface a 20 | A third time, concerning a daughter, my own offspring, |
| surface a 21 | I had a omen taken, and they answered me with a favorable omen. |
| surface a 22 | The word of Sîn, the exalted lord, the god my creator, |
| surface a 23 | (as well as) the command of Šamaš and Adad, the lords of divination, I heeded, and |
| surface a 24 | a daughter, my own issue, I raised to the office of high priestess, and |
| surface a 25 | I called her name En-Nigaldi-Nanna (High-Priestess the Request of Nanna). |
| surface a 26 | Since the office of the high priestess had long been forgotten, and |
| surface a 27 | her (proper) image was not known, I pondered the problem daily. |
| surface a 28 | (Finally) the time arrived that the 'gates were opened' for me. |
| surface a 29 | I saw an old stela of Nabium-kudurrī-uṣur (2nd Dynasty of Isin, 1125-1104), |
| surface a 30 | son of Ninurta-nādin-šumi, an earlier king (1131-1126), |
| surface a 31 | on whose surface had been fashioned the likeness of a high priestess. |
| surface a 32 | Her fittings, her clothes, and her jewelry |
| surface a 33 | they had in addition written down, and they had brought it into the É-Gipar residence. |
| surface a 34 | I examined the old tablets and writing-boards, |
| surface a 35 | and I followed the old examples. |
| surface a 36 | A stela (representative) of her fittings and household furnishings |
| surface a 37 | I had made anew, and I wrote upon its surface, and |
| surface a 38 | I had it set up before Sîn and Ningal, my lord and lady. |
| surface a 39 | At that time, the É-Gipar, the pure cult place wherein the rites of the office of high priestess used to be performed, |
| surface a 40 | its area had been neglected and had fallen into ruin, |
| surface a 41 | and alamittu-palms and fruit trees had grown up within it. |
| surface a 42 | I cut down the trees and removed the rubble of its ruins, |
| surface a 43 | (and so) I saw the house, discovered its foundations, |
| surface a 44 | looked at the inscriptions within it written by the previous kings. |
| surface a col 2 45 | An old inscription of En-Anedu, a high-priestess of Ur, |
| surface a col 2 46 | the daughter of Kudur-mabuk and the sister of Rīm-Sîn king of Ur, |
| surface a col 2 47 | who had renovated and restored the É-Gipar, |
| surface a col 2 48 | and at the side of the É-Gipar had enclosed with a wall the resting-places of the old high priestesses, |
| surface a col 2 49 | (all this) I saw, and I fashioned the É-Gipar anew, following the old examples. |
| surface a col 2 50 | Its daises and plans I built anew, following the old examples. |
| surface a col 2 51 | At the side of the É-Gipar I built anew the house of my daughter En-Nigaldi-Nanna the high-priestess of Sîn. |
| surface a col 2 52 | (My) daughter I consecrated and presented to Sîn and Ningal, my lord and lady. |
| surface a col 2 53 | With the art of exorcistic wisdom I performed her purification ritual and caused her to enter the É-Gipar. |
| surface a col 2 54 | I made plentiful the regular provisions of the É-Gipar. |
| surface a col 2 55 | I provided it abundantly with fields, orchards, female and male servants, cattle and sheep. |
| surface a col 2 56 | The resting-places of the old high-priestesses with a wall |
| surface a col 2 57 | I enclosed anew, following the old example. |
| surface a col 2 58 | I arranged that that house should be strongly guarded. |
| surface a col 2 59 | At that time (also), for Sîn and Ningal, my lord and lady, |
| surface a col 2 60 | I made their regular offerings more plentiful than before. |
| surface a col 2 61 | In (their temple) the Ekišnugal I provided an abundance of everything. |
| surface a col 2 62 | Three sheep per day, above the one sheep of the old regular offering, I established for Sîn and Ningal, my lord and lady. |
| surface a col 2 63 | All sorts of goods I made abundant in the Ekišnugal. |
| surface a col 2 64 | In order to keep the bursaggȗ-offerings ritually clean and not to have mistakes happen, |
| surface a col 2 65 | the priestly collegium of the Ekišnugal and of the (other) houses of the gods (namely): |
| surface a col 2 66 | the high priest, the purification priest, the keeper of the bronzes, the brewer, the cook, |
| surface a col 2 67 | the miller, the master builder, the house builder, the ..., the chief gatekeeper, |
| surface a col 2 68 | the temple attendant, the lagarru-priest who presents the taqribtu-ritual |
| surface a col 2 69 | the musicians who gladden the hearts of the gods, |
| surface a col 2 70 | the entire priestly collegium, whatever their names, |
| surface a col 2 71 | I abolished their feudal service, established their freedom, cleared them of legal claims, and |
| surface a col 2 72 | (so) released and dedicated them to the service of Sîn and Ningal, my lord and lady. |
| surface a col 2 73 | Sîn the holy god, the lord of the diadem, the light of the people, |
| surface a col 2 74 | the most exalted god, whose command is just, |
| surface a col 2 75 | may he rejoice at my works, may he love my kingship, |
| surface a col 2 76 | .may he grant me a long life, an extreme old age, |
| surface a col 2 77 | May he not create a rival for me, may I have no equal. |
| surface a col 2 78 | At (every) change of the month may propitious signs shine forth for me |
| surface a col 2 79 | The crown of kingship may he fix on my head forever, |
| surface a col 2 80 | the throne of my rule may he firmly establish for all future time |
| surface a col 2 81 | As you always renew yourself at the change of the month, |
| surface a col 2 82 | may I always see your favorable omens |
| surface a col 2 83 | Ningal, the greatest lady, may she speak good things (of me) before you |
| surface a col 2 84 | En-Nigaldi-Nanna, the daughter beloved of my heart, |
| surface a col 2 85 | may she grow old in your presence, may her commands be confirmed |
| surface a col 2 86 | May her deeds be pleasing and faultless |
| surface a col 2 87 | May she incur no sin |
Transliteration (ATF)
From Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative · CDLI: reuse of catalogue/transliteration data with citation of CDLI; images restricted (not fetched)
| Line | ATF | Machine English (draft) |
|---|---|---|
| surface a | ||
| 1 | i3-nu {d}nanna-re i-ri-szu _nin-dingir-ra_ | |
| 2 | _dumu_ ru-be2-e gi-is-ki-im-ma u2-kal-li-im ad-na-a-tim | |
| 3 | {d}nam-ra-s,i-it u2-sza-pi pu-ru-us-sa-szu ki-i-nu | |
| 4 | a-na {disz}{d}na-bi-um-na-'i-id _lugal_ babilax(|TIN.TIR|){ki} za-ni-in e2-sag-il2 u3 e2-zi-da | |
| 5 | re-e2-a-am pa-al-hu mu-usz-te-'u-u2 asz-ra-a-ti _dingir-mesz gal-mesz_ | |
| 6 | {d}nanna-re _en_ a-gi-i na-asz2 s,a-ad-du a-na da-ad-mi | |
| 7 | u2-ad-di it-ta-szu asz-sum e-re-esz _nin-dingir-ra_ | |
| 8 | i-na {iti}kin-{d}inanna _u4 1(u) 3(disz)-kam iti_ szi-pi2-ir _{d}isz-tar-mesz_ | |
| 9 | {d}in-bi in-na-di-ir-ma i-na na-a'2-du-ri-szu ir-bi | |
| 10 | {d}suen _nin-dingir-ra_ i-ri-isz ki-a-am it-ta-szu u3 pu-ru-us-su-szu2 | |
| 11 | a-na-ku {disz}{d}na-bi-um-na-'i-id re-e2-am pa-li-ih i-lu-ti-szu2 | |
| 12 | qi2-bi-it-su ki-it-tim ap-la-ah at-ta-'i-id-ma | |
| 13 | asz-szum e-re-esz _nin-dingir-ra_ ra-sza-ku ni-qi2-it-tim | |
| 14 | asz-ra-a-ti {d}utu {d}iszkur _en-mesz_ bi-ri asz-te-'e-e-ma | |
| 15 | {d}utu u3 {d}iszkur an-na ki-i-nu i-tap-pa-lu-in-ni | |
| 16 | i-na bi-ri-ia isz-t,u-ru _uzu_ da-mi-iq-tum | |
| 17 | _uzu_ e-ri-isz-ti na-da-a-ti e-ri-isz-ti _dingir-mesz_ a-na _lu2_ | |
| 18 | asz2-ni-ma te-er-tum ap-qi2-id-ma _uzu saga_ e-li sza2 mah-ri i-tap-pa-lu-ni | |
| 19 | asz2-szu2 _dumu-munus-mesz_ ki-im-ti-ia te-er-tum e-pu2-usz-ma ul-la i-tap-pa-lu-ni | |
| 20 | asz2-lu-usz asz2-szu2 _dumu-munus_ s,i-it lib-bi-ia | |
| 21 | te-er-tum e-pu2-usz-ma _uzu saga_ i-tap-pa-lu-in-ni | |
| 22 | a-wa-at {d}suen _en_ szu-ur-bu-u2 _dingir_ ba-a-ni-ia | |
| 23 | qi2-bi-it {d}utu u3 {d}iszkur _en-mesz_ bi-ri at-ta-'i-id-m a | |
| 24 | _dumu-munus_ s,i-it lib-bi-ia a-na e-nu-ti asz2-szi-ma | |
| 25 | _en nig2-al-di_ {d}nanna szu-um-sza2 am-bi | |
| 26 | asz2-szu2 isz-tu _u4-mesz_ ru-qu-tim pa-ra-as, en-ti ma-szu-u2-ma | |
| 27 | la ud-du-u2 szi-ki-in-szu u4-mi-sza2-am usz-ta-ad-da-an | |
| 28 | a-da-an-nu ik-szu-da-am-ma up-ta-at-ta-a-ni _ka2-mesz_ | |
| 29 | ap-pa-li-is-ma _{na4}na-ru2-a_ la-bi-ri sza {d}na-bi-um-ku-dur-ri-u2-s,ur | |
| 30 | _dumu_ {disz}{d}nin-urta-na-din-szu-mi _lugal_ pa-na ma-ah-ra-a | |
| 31 | sza s,a-lam _nin-dingir-ra_ ba-asz2-mu s,e-ru-usz-szu | |
| 32 | si-ma-ti-szu lu-bu-usz-ta-szu u3 ti-iq-ni-szu | |
| 33 | it-ti-i isz-t,u-ru-ma a-na _e2 ge6-par3_ u2-sze-ri-bu | |
| 34 | t,up-pa-nu u3 _{gesz}le-u5-um-mesz libir-ra-mesz_ at-ta-at,-t,a-al-ma | |
| 35 | ki-ma la-bi-ri-im-ma e-pu2-usz | |
| 36 | _{na4}na-ru2-a_ si-ma-ti-szu u3 u2-na-a-at _e2_-szu | |
| 37 | e-esz-szi-isz ab-ni s,e-ru-usz-szu asz2-t,u-ur-ma | |
| 38 | ma-ha-ar {d}suen u3 {d}nin-gal _en-mesz_-e-a u2-ki-in | |
| 39 | i-nu-szu _e2 ge6-par3_ ku-um-mu el-lu a-szar pa-ra-as, e-nu-tim isz-tak-la-lu qe2-re-eb-szu | |
| 40 | a-szar-szu na-di-ma e-mi kar-mi-isz | |
| 41 | {gesz}a-la-mi-it-tim in-bi s,i-ip-pa-a-tim a-s,u-u2 qer-bu-usz-szu | |
| 42 | ak-szi-it,-ma is,-s,i e-pe-ri ka-ar-mi-szu as-su-uh | |
| 43 | _e2_ ap-pa-li-is-ma ud-da-a te-me-en-szu | |
| 44 | szi-t,i-ir szu-mi sza _lugal-mesz_ mah-ri la-bi-ru-tim ap-pa-li-is qer-bu-usz-szu2 | |
| surface a col 2 | ||
| 45 | _mu-sar_-u2 la-bi-ri sza2 _en-an-e-du7 nin-dingir-ra_ uri2{ki} | |
| 46 | _dumu-munus_ ku-du-ur-ma-bu-uk a-ha-at ri-im-{d}suen _lugal_ uri2{ki} | |
| 47 | sza _e2 ge6-par3_ usz-szi-szu-ma a-na asz2-ri-szu u2-te-er-ru | |
| 48 | a-na i-te-e _e2 ge6-par3 bad3_ e-li ma-a-al _nin-dingir-ra-mesz libir-ra-mesz_ il-mu-u2 | |
| 49 | ap-pa-li-is-ma _e2 ge6-par3_ ki-ma la-bi-ri-im-ma e-esz-szi-isz e-pu2-usz | |
| 50 | _bara2-mesz_-szu u3 _gesz-hur-mesz_-szu ki-ma la-bi-ri-im-ma e-esz-szi-isz ab-ni | |
| 51 | a-na i-te-e _e2 ge6-par3 e2 en nig2-al-di_ {d}nanna _dumu-munus_-ia _nin-dingir-ra_ {d}sin e-esz-szi-isz e-pu2-usz | |
| 52 | _dumu-munus_ ul-li-il-ma a-na {d}sin u3 {d}nin-gal _en-mesz_-e-a asz2-ru-uk | |
| 53 | i-na szi-pi2-ir ka-ku3-gal2-u2-tum i-szi-ip-pu-ut-su e-pu2-usz-ma a-na _e2-ge6-par3_ u2-sze-ri-ib | |
| 54 | sa-at-tuk-ki _e2 ge6-par3_ u2-t,a-ah-hi-id | |
| 55 | _a-sza3-mesz {gesz}kiri6-mesz sag geme2 ARAD ab2-gu4-hi-a_ u3 _u8-udu-hi-a_ u2-da-asz-szi-szu | |
| 56 | _bad3_ ma-a-a-al _nin-dingir-ra-mesz libir-ra-mesz_ | |
| 57 | ki-ma la-bi-ri-im-ma e-esz-szi-isz al-mi | |
| 58 | _e2_ szu-a-ti a-na ma-as,-s,a-ar-tim dan-na-tim asz-ku-un-szu | |
| 59 | i3-nu-szu sza {d}suen u3 {d}nin-gal _en-mesz_-e-a | |
| 60 | sa-at-tuk-ki-szu-nu e-li sza pa-na u2-t,a-ah-hi-id | |
| 61 | mi-im-ma szum-szu in e2-kisz-nu-gal2 u2-da-asz-szi | |
| 62 | sza u4-mi _3(disz) udu-nita2_ e-li _asz{+en} udu-nita2_ gi-na-a la-bi-ri a-na {d}sin u3 {d}nin-gal _en-mesz_-e-a lu u2-ki-in | |
| 63 | bu-sza-a ma-ak-ku-ru qe2-re-eb e2-kisz-nu-gal2 u2-da-asz-szi | |
| 64 | asz-szum bur-sag-ge-e ul-lu-li-im-ma hi-t,i-ti la ra-sze-e | |
| 65 | ra-am-ku-ut e2-kisz-nu-gal2 u3 _e2-mes dingir-mesz_ | |
| 66 | e-nu i-szip-pi2 _zabar-dab5-ba {lu2}kul-lum_ {lu2}en-gi-s,um | |
| 67 | {lu2}a-ri-ru _{lu2}gal-du3 {lu2}szitim {lu2}du6-u2-ha {lu2}i3-du8-gal_-lum | |
| 68 | {lu2}ti-ir _e2_ {lu2}la-ga-ru sza2-ki-nu taq-ri-ib-ti | |
| 69 | _{lu2}nar-mesz_ mu-ha-ad-du-u2 lib-bi _dingir-mesz_ | |
| 70 | {lu2}ki-ni-isz-tum szu-ut na-bu-u2 szu-ma-an-szu-un | |
| 71 | i-li-ik-szu-nu ap-t,u-ur-ma szu-bar-ra-szu-nu asz-ku-un ub-bi-ib-szu-nu-ti-ma | |
| 72 | a-na {d}suen u3 {d}nin-gal _en-mesz_-e-a u2-zak-ki-szu-nu-ti | |
| 73 | {d}suen _dingir_ el-lu _en_ a-gi-i nu-ur te-ni-sze-ti | |
| 74 | _dingir_ szu-ur-bu-u2 sza2 qi2-bi-it-su ki-na-at | |
| 75 | a-na e-ep-sze-ti-ia li-ih-du-ma li-ir-a-am szar-ru-ti | |
| 76 | ba-la-t,am da-ra-a sze-be2-e li-it-tu-tu a-na szi-ri-ik-tim lisz-ru-kam | |
| 77 | a-a u2-sza-ab-sza2-a sza2-ni-nu ma-hi-ri a-a ar-szi | |
| 78 | e-ma _iti_ lisz-tap-pa-a i-da-a-ti du-um-qi2-ia | |
| 79 | a-ge-e szar-ru-ti-ia a-na da-ri2-a-tim lu-ki-in ra-szu-u2-a | |
| 80 | _{gesz}gu-za_ be-lu-ti-ia szu-ur2-szi-id a-na ah-ra-a-tu _u4-mesz_ | |
| 81 | e-ma _iti_ i-na i-te-ed-du-szi-ka | |
| 82 | s,a-ad-da-ka da-mi-iq-tim gi-na-a lu-ut-tap-la-as | |
| 83 | {d}nin-gal _gaszan_ szur-bu-tum ma-ha-ar-ki li-ta-ma-a _saga_-tim | |
| 84 | _en nig2-al-di_ {d}nanna _dumu-munus_ na-ra-am-ti lib-bi-ia | |
| 85 | ma-ha-ar-ku-nu li-bur-ma li-kun qi2-bi-is-su | |
| 86 | e-ep-sze-tu-szu li-t,i-ba nin?-ku-un | |
| 87 | a-a ir-sza2-a hi-t,i-ti | |
Sources & licences
- Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative · CDLI: reuse of catalogue/transliteration data with citation of CDLI; images restricted (not fetched) · Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI), https://cdli.earth/ ; cite CDLI and the P-number
Cite the original edition and translator. Page generated by Unread Atlas from the public corpus export of 2026-10-11.