Esarhaddon 116 (Q003345)
Royal Inscription, Neo-Assyrian, Nineveh · c. 911 BCE–612 BCE
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| Designation | Esarhaddon 116 |
|---|---|
| ID | Q003345 |
| Collection | British Museum, London, UK |
| Language | Akkadian |
| Period | Neo-Assyrian · c. 911 BCE–612 BCE |
| Genre | Royal Inscription |
| Find spot | Nineveh |
| Coordinates | 36.3587, 43.1519 |
English translation
By ORACC project rinap/rinap4 · Via Open Richly Annotated Cuneiform Corpus (ORACC) · CC BY-SA 3.0 (ORACC)
| Line | English |
|---|---|
| Obverse [0:7] o 1'1'–o 7'7' | [...] ... [... the slave girl] did not list[en to] her mistress. [They led their gods away, neglected their goddesses], abandoned [their rites], and embraced quite different (rites); [...] they were inciting [criminal ac]ts (and) infringing on a taboo; [...] they discontinued [sattuk]ku offerings. They fomented a conspiracy. They (Babylon’s citizens) put their hands on [the possessions of Esagil and the citizens of Babylon] and they plundered its goods, [gold, silver, (and) stones fr]om inside the temple (and) sold (them) at market value to the land Elam. |
| Obverse [7:10] o 8'8'–o 10'10' | [The god] Enlil saw [...] and his heart became angry (and) his mood became furious. [The Enlil of the gods, the lord of the lands], plotted evilly to scatter the land and people; [to level the land and to destroy] its [people], his heart was angry. A bitter curse was placed in his mouth. |
| Obverse [10:13] o 11'11'–o 13'13' | Many [bad omens] concerning the destruction of mankind occurred [in heaven and on earth. The path of the Enlil-stars, the path of the Anu-stars, (and) the path of] the Ea-stars changed their position(s) for the worse (and) they constantly revealed signs portending destruction. [...] ... in the same way, its signs became increasingly bad. |
| Obverse [13:18] o 14'14'–o 18'18' | [The river Araḫtu, (normally) a river of abundance], turned into an angry wave, a raging tide, a huge flood like the deluge. It swept (its) [waters] destructively across the city, [its dwelling(s), (and) its shrines], and turned (them) into a swamp. The gods [(and goddesses) dwelling in it] flew up to the heavens like [bi]rds. The šēdus (and) [lamassus ... fle]d and were wandering around outside. The people living [in it were hidden in another place] and took refuge in an unknown land. |
| Obverse [18:20] o 19'19'–o 20'20' | As time passed, [the heart of the great lord], the god Marduk, was soothed and he became reconciled with the land that he had punished. As the seventy years [passed, ...] he (the god Marduk) wrote [‘11 years’], had pity, and said ‘Aḫulap!’ |
| Obverse [20:24] o 21'21'– | (As for) me, Es[arhaddon, ...], who knows how to revere his great divinity, [... were established] for me at the beginning of [my kingship, in my first year, when] I sat [on the] throne of my priestly office, when I wore the crown of lordship, and [...]. They (the gods) constantly revealed good omen(s) to me concerning the (re)population of the city and the temple. |
| Reverse [1:4] r 22–r 44 | [Bright Jupiter(, the giver of decisions on Akkad,) came] near [in Simānu (III)] and stood in the place where the sun shines. It was shining brightly (and) its appearance was [red. ...] (and) there were copious [rains] (and) regular floods [in Akkad]. It (Jupiter) reached (its) [hyp]soma [for a second time in the month “Opening of the Door”] and [stayed] i[n its place]. |
| Reverse [4:6] r 55–r 66 | [In order to triumph (and) to show overpowering strength], he (the god Marduk) reveal[ed to me] good omen(s) [concerning the (re-)entering of Esagil. Every month, the gods Sîn (and) Šamaš together, at their appearance, answered me with a firm] ‘yes’ [concerning (the renewing of the gods,) the completion of the shrines (and) cult centers, the stability] of my reign (and) the securing of the throne of my priestly office. |
| Reverse [6:8] r 77–r 88 | [By means of the great intelligence] (and) vast understanding which [the sage of the gods, the prince, the god Nudimmud], gave [to me, it occurred] to me [to (re)populate that city, to renovate] its [shrines], (and) to make the cult center shine, [and] my [mind prompted (me). |
| Reverse [8:10] r 99–r 1010 | [I was afraid (and) wo]rried [to perform that work] and [I knelt be]fore the gods Šamaš, Adad, (and) Marduk, the great judge(s), the god[s, my lords. In the diviner’s bowl], good [sig]n(s) were established for me, and they had (their response) concerning the (re)population of the city (and) the renovati[on of Esagil] written on a liver. |
| Reverse [10:14] r 1111–r 1414 | [I trusted in their firm ‘yes’] and I mustered all of my craftsmen and (the people of) Karduniaš (Babylonia). I imposed baskets (on them and) had them wield ho[e]s. I mixed (the mud for) its revetment [with fine oil, honey, ghee, kurunnu-wine], muttinnu-wine, (and) mountain beer. I had its bricks made for a whole year [in brickmolds of musukkannu]-wood. I gathered together [expert craftsmen] (and) skilled master builders, who lay out plans. |
| Reverse [14:19] r 1515–r 1919 | I laid the foundations of [Esagil, the palace of the gods], and secured its brickwork. [... fas]hioned skillfully (and) I drew its ground plan exactly as it had been written. [With] the large aslu-cubit, I measured the dimensions of [...], in (exact) accordance with its earlier plan. [...] I made its foundation platform as strong as the base of a mighty mountain, [...] ... (and) built its structure as it was in former days. |
| Reverse [19:20] r 2020–r 2020 | I bui[lt Etemenanki, the ziggurrat], as it was before — its length [is one ašlu (and) one ṣup]pān, (and) its width is one ašlu (and) one ṣuppān. |
| Reverse [20:22] r 2121–r 2222 | I offered pure offerings to [...] the great [gods] and the god Kulla, the lord of foundations (and) bricks. I laid their foundations with [...] ..., wine, (and) kurunnu-wine, and I secured [their] footings. |
| Reverse [22:28] r 2323–r 2828 | [I had foundation inscriptions made of (...)] basalt [(and) I wro]te [on them] the glory of the great lord, my lord, and I pl[ace]d (them) in their (Esagil’s and Etemenanki’s) midst. [...] I restored its precious [ritu]als and [... I] established [...] ... [...] ... [...] |
Transliteration (ATF)
From Open Richly Annotated Cuneiform Corpus (ORACC) · CC BY-SA 3.0 (ORACC default); per-file JSON license fields say: This data is released under the CC0 license (133618)
| Line | ATF | Machine English (draft) |
|---|---|---|
| o | ||
| 1' | [...] [...] | |
| 2' | [... a]-⸢na⸣ be-el-ti-ša₂ ul i-šem-[me] | |
| 3' | [DINGIR.MEŠ-ši-na i-bu-ka-ma i-me-ša₂ {d}iš-tar-šin par-ṣi]-⸢ši⸣-na u₂-maš-ši-ra-ma ša₂-na-tim-ma ir-ka-⸢ba⸣ | |
| 4' | [... hi]-⸢ṭi⸣-tu šur-šu-u₂ a-sak-ku ak-lu | |
| 5' | [... sat-tuk]-⸢ku⸣ u₂-šab-ṭa-lu u₂-šab-šu-u₂ ri-kil-tu₂ | |
| 6' | [a-na NIG₂.ŠU e₂-sag-gil₂ u DUMU E{ki]} ⸢ŠU.II⸣-su-nu u₂-bi-lu-u-ma im-šu-ʾu NIG₂.ŠU.MEŠ-šu₂ | |
| 7' | [KU₃.GI KU₃.BABBAR NA₄.MEŠ ša qe₂]-⸢reb⸣ E₂.KUR a-na {kur}e-lam-ti ip-šu-⸢ru⸣ ma-hi-riš | |
| 8' | [... {d]}⸢EN⸣.LIL₂ ip-pa-lis-ma e-zi-iz lib₃-ba-šu₂ ⸢ka⸣-bat-tuš iṣ-ṣa-ri-ih | |
| 9' | {[d}EN.LIL₂.LA₅ DINGIR.MEŠ EN KUR.KUR a]-⸢na⸣ sa-pah KUR u UN.MEŠ ik-ta-pu-ud le-mut-⸢tu⸣ | |
| 10' | [a-na sa-pan KUR u₃ hul-lu-uq UN].⸢MEŠ⸣-ša₂ lib-⸢bu⸣-uš e-ziz-ma ar-rat ma-ru-uš-ti iš-ša₂-kin ina ⸢pi-i⸣-šu₂ | |
| 11' | [ina AN-e u KI-tim A₂.MEŠ HUL]-tim ma-gal it-ta-nab-ša₂-a ša ha-laq mit-har-tim | |
| 12' | [KASKAL šu-ut {d}EN.LIL₂ KASKAL šu-ut {d}60 KASKAL] šu-ut {d}e₂-a man-za-su-nu u₂-lam-mi₃-nu uš-ta-nak-la-mu GISKIM.MEŠ šal-pu₂-ti | |
| 13' | [...] x KI mit-ha-riš it-ta-nak-ki-ra i-da-a-ti-⸢ša₂⸣ | |
| 14' | {⸢id₂⸣}[a-ra-ah-ti ID₂ HE₂.GAL₂ a]-gu-u šam-ru e-du-u ez-zu ILLU kaš-šu tam-šil a-bu-bi ib-bab-lam-ma | |
| 15' | URU [šu-bat-su eš-re-e-ti-šu A].⸢MEŠ⸣ uš-bi-iʾ-ma u₂-še-mi u₂-šal-liš | |
| 16' | DINGIR.⸢MEŠ⸣ [(u₃ {d}15.MEŠ) a-šib lib₃-bi-šu₂ iṣ]-ṣu-riš ip-par-šu₂-ma e-lu-u₂ ša₂-ma-meš | |
| 17' | {d}ALAD.⸢MEŠ⸣ {[d}LAMMA.MEŠ ... ip-par]-⸢ši⸣-id-du-ma it-ta-nam-gi-šu₂ a-ha-a-ti | |
| 18' | UN.MEŠ a-šib ⸢lib₃⸣-[bi-šu₂ a-šar ša₂-nam-ma in-nar]-⸢qu⸣-ma ina er-ṣe-et la i-du-u₂ e-hu-zu pu-uz-ra-⸢te⸣ | |
| 19' | a-di UD.MEŠ im-⸢lu⸣-[u lib₃-bi EN GAL]-⸢e⸣ {d}AMAR.UTU i-nu-hu-ma a-na KUR ša e-ni-nu ir-šu-u₂ sa-li-⸢mu⸣ | |
| 20' | 70 MU.AN.NA.MEŠ ⸢im⸣-[lu-u₂ ... 11 MU.AN.NA].⸢MEŠ⸣ eš-ṭur-ma re-e-mu ir-ši-ma ⸢iq⸣-ta-bi a-hu-lap | |
| 21' | ia-a-ti {m}{⸢d}aš⸣-[šur-ŠEŠ-i-di-nam ...] ⸢mu⸣-du-u₂ pu-luh-ti DINGIR-ti-šu₂ GAL-ti | |
| 22' | ⸢i-na re-eš LUGAL⸣-[ti-ia ina mah-re-e BALA-ia ša ina {giš]}⸢GU.ZA⸣ SANGA-ti u₂-ši-bu-ma a-ge-e be-lu-ti a-⸢pi⸣-ru-⸢um-ma⸣ | |
| r | ||
| 1 | [... iš-šak-na]-⸢nim-ma ša šu⸣-šu-ub URU u E₂ uš-ta-nak-la-man-ni ⸢SIG₅-tu A₂-ti⸣ | |
| 2 | {[mul}SAG.ME.NIG₂ (mut-tan-bi-ṭu pa-ri-is EŠ.BAR KUR-URI{ki)} ina {iti}SIG₄ u₂-qar]-⸢rib⸣-ma ⸢a-šar⸣ {d}UTU ul-tap-pa-a i-zi-iz ba-⸢il₃ zi⸣-mu-šu₂ sa-⸢a⸣-[mu] | |
| 3 | [... ŠEG₃].⸢MEŠ⸣ ṭah₂-du-ti ILLU.MEŠ sad-ru-[ti ina KUR-URI{ki]} ⸢GAL₂.MEŠ⸣ | |
| 4 | [uš-taš-ni-ma ina {iti}BAD.KA₂ a-šar ni]-ṣir-ti ik-šu-dam-ma ⸢i⸣-[na KI.TUŠ-šu i-kun] | |
| 5 | [aš₂-šu₂ li-i-ti ša₂-ka-nu ga-me-ru-tu] ⸢e-pe-ši⸣ gis-kim-ma SIG₅-tim u₂-⸢šak⸣-[li-ma ša₂ e-reb e₂-sag-gil₂ ITI-šam-ma {d}30 {d}UTU] | |
| 6 | [ina IGI.LAL-šu₂-nu ša₂ (ud-du-uš DINGIR.MEŠ) šuk-lul eš-ret ma-ha-zi ku-tu-un]-ni BALA-ia šur-šu-du {giš}GU.ZA SANGA-ti-ia an-nu [ke-e-nu e-tap-pa-lu a-ha-meš] | |
| 7 | [ina GEŠTU.II DAGAL-ti ha]-sis-si pal-ke-e ša iš-ru-[ka ABGAL DINGIR.MEŠ NUN {d}nu-dim₂-mud] | |
| 8 | [a-na šu-šu-ub URU ša₂-a-šu₂ ud-du-uš eš-re-e]-⸢ti⸣-šu₂ nu-um-mur ma-ha-zi ina uz-ni-⸢ia⸣ [ib-ši-ma uš-ta-bil ka]-⸢bat-ti⸣ | |
| 9 | [a-na e-peš šip-ri šu-a-ti aš₂-hu-ut ak]-kud-ma ša {d}UTU {d}IŠKUR {d}AMAR.UTU DI.KU₅.⸢GAL DINGIR⸣.[MEŠ EN.MEŠ-ia ak-ta-mis ma]-⸢har-šu₂-un⸣ | |
| 10 | [ina ma-kal-ti {lu₂}HAL-u₂-ti A₂]-ti SIG₅-tim iš-šak-nu-nim-ma ša šu-šu-ub URU ud-⸢du-uš⸣ [e₂-sag-gil₂] ⸢u₂-ša₂-aš₂-ṭi-ru a-mu-ti⸣ | |
| 11 | [a-na an-ni-šu₂-nu ke-e-nu at-kal]-⸢ma⸣ ad-ke-ma gi-mir ERIM.HI.A-ia u {kur}⸢kar₂-{d}dun-ia₂-aš₃ tup-šik-ku <e>-mid-da {giš}al-lu u₂⸣-šat-rik-šu₂-nu-⸢ti⸣ | |
| 12 | [ina I₃.GIŠ DUG₃.GA LAL₃ I₃.NUN.NA KURUN.NAM] mu-tin-ni ši-⸢kar⸣ KUR-i ab-⸢lu⸣-la ta-ra-ah-huš | |
| 13 | [ina {giš}U₃.ŠUB.MEŠ {giš}MES.MA₂.KAN].⸢NA⸣ AD.ME.KAR₂ a-na ne₂-ri-ša₂ ⸢u₂⸣-šal-bi-na li-bit-tuš | |
| 14 | [DUMU.MEŠ {lu₂}um-ma-ni en-qu-te {lu₂]}⸢ŠITIM⸣.GAL-li le-ʾu-u₂-⸢ti⸣ mu-⸢kin-nu⸣ giš-hur-ri 1-niš u₂-pah-hi-ir-ma | |
| 15 | [ša e₂-sag-gil₂ E₂.GAL DINGIR.MEŠ] uš-ši-šu₂ ad-di-ma u₂-kin lib-na-as-su | |
| 16 | [... u₂-šak]-⸢ki⸣-la ni-⸢kil⸣-tuš tam-šil šiṭ-ri-šu₂ eṣ-ṣi-ra iṣ-rat-su | |
| 17 | [... ina {giš]}as-li GAL-ti ki-i giš-hur-ri-šu₂ mah-ri-i mi-ši-ih-ta-šu₂ am-šu-uh | |
| 18 | [...] te-me-en-⸢šu₂⸣ ki-ma šu-pu-uk KUR-i dan-ni u₂-dan-nin | |
| 19 | [...] x-lu-ti ki-ma ša₂ u₄-me pa-ni ši-kit-ta-šu₂ ab-ni [(x)] | |
| 20 | [e₂-te-me-en-an-ki ziq-qur-ra-tu aš₂-lu ṣu-up]-⸢pan⸣ UŠ aš₂-lu ṣu-up-pan SAG.KI ki-⸢ma⸣ mah-rim-ma e-pu-⸢uš⸣ | |
| 21 | [... DINGIR.MEŠ] ⸢GAL⸣.MEŠ u₃ {d}kulla EN uš-ši SIG₄ {udu}SISKUR.MEŠ KU₃.MEŠ ⸢BAL⸣ | |
| 22 | [...].A GEŠTIN ku-ru-un-ni uš-ši-šu₂-un ad-di-ma u₂-kin te-me-en-⸢šu₂⸣-[un] | |
| 23 | [u₂-še-piš-ma {na₄}NA.RU₂.A.MEŠ (...)] {na₄}ṣa-lam-ti ta-nit-⸢ti⸣ EN GAL-e EN-⸢ia⸣ | |
| 24 | [... qe₂-reb-šu₂-un aš₂]-⸢ṭur⸣-ma aš₂-tak-⸢ka-na⸣ qe₂-reb-šu₂-un | |
| 25 | [... pel-lu]-de-e-šu₂ šu-qu-ru-ti [a-na aš₂]-ri-šu₂-nu u₂-ter-ma | |
| 26 | [...] ⸢aš₂⸣-kun | |
| 27 | [...] x [...] x x [(x)] | |
| 28 | [...] x x [...] | |
Sources & licences
- Open Richly Annotated Cuneiform Corpus (ORACC) · CC BY-SA 3.0 (ORACC default); per-file JSON license fields say: This data is released under the CC0 license (133618) · ORACC project editions, https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/ ; cite the individual project (see texts.extra_json.project)
Cite the original edition and translator. Page generated by Unread Atlas from the public corpus export of 2026-10-11.