Nabopolassar 06 (Q005365)
Royal Inscription, Neo-Babylonian, Babylon · c. 626 BCE–539 BCE
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| Designation | Nabopolassar 06 |
|---|---|
| ID | Q005365 |
| Collection | University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; British Museum, London, UK |
| Language | Akkadian |
| Period | Neo-Babylonian · c. 626 BCE–539 BCE |
| Genre | Royal Inscription |
| Find spot | Babylon |
| Coordinates | 32.5350, 44.4258 |
English translation
By ORACC project ribo/babylon7 · Via Open Richly Annotated Cuneiform Corpus (ORACC) · CC BY-SA 3.0 (ORACC)
| Line | English |
|---|---|
| Obverse Column i [0:7] i 1i 1–i 77 | For the god Marduk, the great lord, the Enlil of the gods, the proud one, the one who directs the Igīgū gods, the one who controls the Anunnakū gods, the light of the gods — his fathers — the one who dwells in Esagil, the lord of Babylon, my lord: |
| Obverse Column i [7:18] i 88–i 1818 | Nabopolassar, governor of Babylon, king of the land of Sumer and Akkad, pious prince, protégé of the gods Nabû and Marduk, the humble (and) respectful one who thoroughly understands how to revere god and goddess in his heart, the one who provides for Esagil and Ezida, the one who strives after the rites of the great gods, am I: |
| Obverse Column i [18:36] i 1919–i 3636 | When, by the commands of the gods Nabû and Marduk, the beloved of my royal majesty, and (with) the strong weapon of the awesome god Erra, the one who constantly strikes my enemies with lightning, I killed the Subarean (Assyrian) (and) turned his land into a mound of ruins (lit. “a mound [and] ruins”), at that time, (as for) Etemenanki — the ziggurat of Babylon, which had become very weak (and) had been allowed to collapse before my time — the god Marduk — (my) lord — commanded me to firmly secure its foundation on the surface (lit. “breast”) of the netherworld (and) to have its summit rival the heavens. |
| Obverse Column i [36:51] i 3737– | I fashioned hoes, spades, and brickmolds (made) of elephant ivory, ebony, and musukkannu-wood, and (then) I made the vast number of workmen levied in my land carry (them). I had (them) make mud bricks without number (and) mold baked bricks like countless drops of rain. I had the Araḫtu River carry off refined (and) crude bitumen like a raging flood. |
| Obverse Column ii [8:30] ii 99–ii 3030 | With the knowledge of the god Ea, with the perspicacity of the god Marduk, with the wisdom of the god Nabû and goddess Nisaba, with the vast mind that the god who created me had allowed me to attain, (and) with my great sense of reason, I deliberated (matters) and (then) I commissioned well-trained craftsmen and (afterwards) a survey team measured the dimensions using a measuring rod. Master builders stretched out the (measuring) ropes (and) firmly established the ground plan. I made inquiries through divination to the gods Šamaš, Adad, and Marduk, and whenever (my) mind deliberated (matters) and took the dimensions into consideration, the great gods responded to me through the outcomes of divination. |
| Obverse Column ii [30:48] ii 3131–ii 4848 | Through the craft of the exorcist, the wisdom of the gods Ea and Marduk, I made that place pure and firmly set its foundation(s) on (its) original socle. I laid out gold, silver, (and) stones from the mountains and sea in its foundations. I poured out glistening ṣapšu, fine oil, aromatics, and dāmātu-paste beneath the brickwork. I fashioned statue(s) of my royal majesty carrying a basket and had (them) placed in the foundation. |
| Obverse Column ii [48:76] ii 4949– | I bowed (my) neck to the god Marduk, my lord, rolled up (my) garment, the ceremonial attire of my royal majesty, and carried mud bricks and mud on my head. I had baskets made from gold and silver and I made Nebuchadnezzar — (my) first-born child, the beloved of my heart — carry, with my workmen, mud that was mixed with wine, oil, and crushed aromatics. I made Nabû-šuma-līšir — his talīmu-brother, a child who is my (own) offspring, (his) younger brother, my favorite — take up the hoe (and) spade. I imposed (upon him) a gold and silver basket and gave him as a gift to the god Marduk, my lord. |
| Obverse Column iii [24:33] iii 2525–iii 3333 | In joy and happiness, I built the temple as a replica of Ešarra and I raised its superstructure up like a mountain. For the god Marduk, my lord, I made it suitable to be an object of wonder, just like it was in earlier times. |
| Obverse Column iii [33:45] iii 3434–iii 4545 | O Marduk, (my) lord, look with pleasure upon my good deeds and by your exalted command, which cannot be altered, may (this) construction, my handiwork, stay in good repair for ever. Like the bricks of Etemenanki, which are firmly in place for eternity, firmly secure the foundation(s) of my throne until the distant future. |
| Obverse Column iii [45:54] iii 4646–iii 5454 | ) Etemenanki, pray on behalf of the king who renovated you! When the god Marduk takes up residence inside you in joy, O temple, speak favorable things (about me) to the god Marduk, my lord. |
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) |
|---|---|---|
| i | ||
| 1 | a-na {d}AMAR.UTU EN ra-bi₂-u₃ | |
| 2 | {d}EN.LIL₂ DINGIR.DINGIR mu-uš-ta-ar-ha | |
| 3 | a-ši-ir {<d>}i-gi₄-gi₄ | |
| 4 | sa₃-a-ni-iq {d}a-nun-na-ki | |
| 5 | nu-ur₂ DINGIR.DINGIR ab-be₂-e-šu | |
| 6 | a₃-ši-ib e₂-sag-il₂ | |
| 7 | EN KA₂.DINGIR.RA{ki} be-li₂-ia | |
| 8 | {d}na-bi-um-IBILA-u₂-ṣu-ur₂ | |
| 9 | GIR₃.NITA₂ KA₂.DINGIR.RA{ki} | |
| 10 | LUGAL MA.DA-šu-me-ri₂-im u₃ ak-ka-di-im | |
| 11 | ru-ba-a-am na-aʾ-dam | |
| 12 | ti-ri-iṣ qa₂-at {d}na-bi-um u₃ {d}AMAR.UTU | |
| 13 | a₃-aš-ru-um ša-ah-ṭam | |
| 14 | ša pa-la-ah DINGIR u₃ EŠ₁₈.TAR₂ | |
| 15 | li-it-mu-du ṣu₂-ru-uš-šu | |
| 16 | za-ni-in e₂-sag-il₂ u₃ e₂-zi-da | |
| 17 | mu-uš-te-ʾe-em sa₃-ak-ke-e | |
| 18 | ša DINGIR GAL.GAL a-na-ku | |
| 19 | e-nu-ma i-na qi₂-bi₂-a-tim | |
| 20 | {d}na-bi-um u₃ {d}AMAR.UTU | |
| 21 | na-ra-am šar-ru₄-ti-ia | |
| 22 | u₃ {giš}TUKUL-ki₂ da-num₂ | |
| 23 | ša {d}er₃-ra ra-šu-ub-bu | |
| 24 | mu-uš-<ta>-ab-ri-qu za-a₃-ri-ia | |
| 25 | su-ba-ru-um a-na-ru | |
| 26 | MA.DA-su u₂-te-er-ru | |
| 27 | a-na DU₆ u₃ ka-ar-mi | |
| 28 | i₃-nu-mi-šu e₂-temen-an-ki | |
| 29 | zi-iq-qu₂-ra-at KA₂.DINGIR.RA{ki} | |
| 30 | ša ul-la-nu-u₂-a | |
| 31 | un-nu-ša-tu šu-qu₂-pa-at | |
| 32 | SUHUŠ-sa₃ i-na i-ra-at KI.GAL-e | |
| 33 | a-na šu-ur₂-šu-dam | |
| 34 | re-e-si-ša ša-ma-mi | |
| 35 | a-na ši-it-nu-ni | |
| 36 | {d}AMAR.UTU be-lam ia-a-ši iq-bi₂-a | |
| 37 | {giš}AL.MEŠ {giš}MAR.MEŠ u₃ {giš}U₃.ŠUB.MEŠ | |
| 38 | i-na ZU₂ ⸢AM⸣.SI {giš}ESI u₃ {giš}MES.MA₂.KAN.NA | |
| 39 | lu ap-tiq₂-ma | |
| 40 | um-ma-nim sa-ad-li-a-tim | |
| 41 | di-ku-ut MA.DA-ia | |
| 42 | lu u₂-ša-aš-ši-im | |
| ii | ||
| 1 | al-mi-in lu u₂-sa-al-bi-in li-ib-in-tim | |
| 2 | u₂-ša-ap-ti-iq SIG₄.AL.UR₃.RA | |
| 3 | ki-ma ti-ik sa-me-e | |
| 4 | la ma-nu-tim | |
| 5 | ki-ma mi-li-im ka-aš-ši-im | |
| 6 | ESIR.UD.DU.A u₃ ESIR | |
| 7 | {id₂}a-ra-ah-tim | |
| 8 | lu u₂-sa-az-bi-il | |
| 9 | i-na me-re-šu ša {d}e₂-a | |
| 10 | i-na IGI.GAL₂-u₂-tu ša {d}AMAR.UTU | |
| 11 | i-na ne-me-qu ša {d}na-bi-um u₃ {d}nisaba | |
| 12 | i-na li-ib-bi-im šu-un-du-lu | |
| 13 | ša DINGIR ba-ni-ia | |
| 14 | u₂-ša-ar-sa-an-ni | |
| 15 | i-na pa-ak-ki-ia ra-bi₂-im | |
| 16 | u₂-ša-ta-ad-di-im-ma | |
| 17 | DUMU.MEŠ UM.ME.A e-em-qu₂-tim | |
| 18 | u₂-wa-ʾe-er₄-ma | |
| 19 | a-ba-aš-lam i-na GI.NINDA₂.NA-kum | |
| 20 | u₂-ma-an-di-id mi-in-di-a-tam | |
| 21 | {lu₂}ŠITIM.GAL-e | |
| 22 | iš-ta-ad-du₂-um eb-le-e | |
| 23 | u₂-ki-in-nu-um ki-su-ur₂-ri-im | |
| 24 | a₃-ar-ka-at {d}UTU {d}IŠKUR u₃ {d}AMAR.UTU | |
| 25 | ap-ru-us-ma | |
| 26 | e-ma li-ib-ba-am | |
| 27 | u₂-uš-ta-ad-di-nu | |
| 28 | u₂-ka-ṣi-pu mi-in-di-a-tim | |
| 29 | DINGIR GAL.GAL i-na pa-ra-si a₃-ar-ka-tim | |
| 30 | u₂-ad-du-nim | |
| 31 | i-na ši-pi₂-ir KA.KU₃.GAL₂-u₂-te | |
| 32 | ne₂-me-qa₂ {d}e₂-a u₃ {d}AMAR.UTU | |
| 33 | a₃-aš-ri-im ša-a-te | |
| 34 | u₂-ul-li-il-ma | |
| 35 | i-na KI.GAL-e re-eš-ti-im | |
| 36 | u₂-ki-in te-me-en-ša | |
| 37 | KU₃.GI KU₃.BABBAR NA₄.NA₄ SA.TU-i u₃ ti-a₃-am-te | |
| 38 | i-na uš-ši-ša | |
| 39 | lu u₂-wa-aṣ-ṣi-im | |
| 40 | ṣa-ap-šum na-we-ru-tim | |
| 41 | I₃ DUG₃.GA ŠIM.HI.A u₃ IM.SIG₇.SIG₇ | |
| 42 | ša-ap-la-nim SIG₄.SIG₄ | |
| 43 | lu aš-tap-pa₂-ak | |
| 44 | ALAM šar-ru₄-ti-ia | |
| 45 | ba-bi-il tu-up-ši-kam | |
| 46 | lu ap-tiq₂-ma | |
| 47 | i-na te-me-en-na | |
| 48 | lu aš-ta-ak-ka-an | |
| 49 | a-na {d}AMAR.UTU be-li₂-ia | |
| 50 | ki-ša-dam lu u₂-ka-an-ni-iš | |
| 51 | lu-ba-ra-am te-di-iq šar-ru₄-ti-ia | |
| iii | ||
| 1 | lu-u₂ ak-nu-un-ma | |
| 2 | SIG₄.SIG₄ u₃ ṭi-iṭ-ṭam | |
| 3 | i-na qa₂-qa₂-di-ia | |
| 4 | lu-u₂ az-bi-il | |
| 5 | tu-up-ši-ka-a-te KU₃.GI u₃ KU₃.BABBAR | |
| 6 | lu u₂-si₄-pi₂-iš-ma | |
| 7 | {d}na-bi-um-ku-du-ur₂-ra-u₂-ṣu-ur₂ | |
| 8 | bu-uk-ra-am | |
| 9 | re-eš-tu-u₃ | |
| 10 | na-ra-am li-ib-bi-ia | |
| 11 | ṭi-iṭ-ṭam bi-il-la-at GEŠTIN I₃.GIŠ u₃ hi-bi-iš-tim | |
| 12 | it-ti um-ma-na-ti-ia | |
| 13 | lu u₂-ša-az-bil | |
| 14 | {d}na-bi-um-šu-ma-am-li-ši-ir | |
| 15 | ta-li-im-šu | |
| 16 | še-er-ra-am ṣi₂-it ŠA₃-ia | |
| 17 | du₂-up-pu-su-um da-du-u₂-a | |
| 18 | {giš}AL {giš}MAR lu u₂-ša-aṣ-bi-it | |
| 19 | tu-up-ši-kam | |
| 20 | KU₃.GI u₃ KU₃.BABBAR | |
| 21 | lu e-mi-id-ma | |
| 22 | a-na {d}AMAR.UTU be-li₂-ia | |
| 23 | a-na ši-ri-ik-tim | |
| 24 | lu aš-ru-uk-šum | |
| 25 | E₂ GABA.RI e₂-šar₂-ra | |
| 26 | i-na ul-ṣi-im u₃ ri-si-a-te | |
| 27 | lu e-pu₂-uš-ma ki-ma SA.TU-im | |
| 28 | re-e-si-šu | |
| 29 | lu u₂-ul-li-im | |
| 30 | a-na {d}AMAR.UTU be-li₂-ia | |
| 31 | ki-i ša u₄-um u₂-ul-lu-tim | |
| 32 | a-na ta-ab-ri-a-tim | |
| 33 | lu u₂-ša-as-si₂-im-šu | |
| 34 | {d}AMAR.UTU be-lam | |
| 35 | e-ep-še-ti-ia dam-qa₂-a-ti | |
| 36 | ha-di-iš na-ap-li-is-ma | |
| 37 | i-na qi₂-bi₂-ti-ka ṣi-ir-tim | |
| 38 | ša la ut-ta-ak-ka-ra | |
| 39 | i-pi₂-iš-tim | |
| 40 | li-pi₂-it qa₂-ti-ia | |
| 41 | li-bu-ur₂ a-na da-ri₂-a-tim | |
| 42 | ki-ma SIG₄.SIG₄ e₂-temen-an-ki | |
| 43 | ku-un-na aṣ-ṣi-a-tim | |
| 44 | SUHUŠ {giš}GU.ZA-ia šu-ur₂-ši-id | |
| 45 | a-na u₄-um re-e-qu₂-te | |
| 46 | e₂-temen-an-ki a-na LUGAL | |
| 47 | mu-ud-di-ši-ka ku-ru-ub | |
| 48 | e-nu-ma {d}AMAR.UTU | |
| 49 | i-na ri-se-e-tim | |
| 50 | i-ra-am-mu-u₃ | |
| 51 | qe₂-re-eb₂-ka | |
| 52 | E₂ a-na {d}AMAR.UTU be-li₂-ia | |
| 53 | da-mi-iq-ta-am | |
| 54 | ti-iz-ka-ar | |
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.