Position in chronology
Ashurbanipal 099
Translation · reference
High confidence(i 1') [(As for) the throne-dais, the seat of his (Marduk’s) exa]lted [divinity, I cast fifty talents of shiny zaḫ]alû-silver [into] bricks and (thereby) [enlarge]d it. (i 6') [I had a canopy, which rival]s the heavens, [ma]de from musukkannu-wood, [a dur]able [wood. (i 10´) I] clad [its perimeter with thirty-four talents (and) twenty min]as of reddish gold (ii 1') I [added (temple appurtenances)] to [those of the kings, my ancestors]. I made the [great] gods who sup[port me reside] in [their exalted] inner sanctum[s. I offered sumptuous] offerings before [them (and) presented (them) with my gifts. I made] re[gular offerings (and) contributions more plentiful than those of distant days]. One column likely completely missing Reverse completely missing
Source: Novotny, J. & Jeffers, J. 2018–. The Royal Inscriptions of Ashurbanipal (668–631 BC), Aššur-etel-ilāni (630–627 BC) and Sîn-šarra-iškun (626–612 BC), Kings of Assyria. RINAP 5. University Park, PA: Eisenbrauns. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/rinap/rinap5/Q003798/
Why it matters
Quantifies the precious materials — fifty talents of zaḫalû-silver and thirty-four talents of gold — lavished on Marduk's throne-dais, giving a rare cost-accounting of Assyrian royal temple patronage in Babylon.
Transliteration
[DINGIR-ti-šú] ⸢ṣir⸣-ti1 / [50 GUN za]-⸢ḫa⸣-lu-u / [eb-bu a-na] ⸢a⸣-gúr-ri / [ap-ti-iq]-ma / [ú-rab-ba]-⸢a⸣ EDIN-uš-šú / [ú-še]-⸢piš⸣-ma / [GIŠ.er-me a-nu] GIŠ.MES.MÁ.KAN.NA / [iṣ-ṣi da]-re-e / [šá šit-nu]-⸢nu⸣ šá-ma-meš / [34 GUN 20 MA].⸢NA⸣ KÙ.GI ḪUŠ.A / [kip-pat-su ú]-⸢šal⸣-biš / ⸢e-li⸣ [ša LUGAL.MEŠ AD.MEŠ-ia] / ⸢ú⸣-[rad-di] / DINGIR.MEŠ [GAL.MEŠ] / ti-⸢ik⸣-[le-ia] / ina at-ma-⸢ni⸣-[šú-nu…
Scholarly note
Royal inscription of Ashurbanipal or a late Sargonid successor, edited by Jamie Novotny & Joshua Jeffers (RINAP 5, 2018–). ORACC text Q003798.
Attribution
Image: BM — (British Museum, London, UK) — from Nineveh (mod. Kuyunjik) — Photo via Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (cdli.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/artifacts, P425058). source
Translation excerpted from Novotny, J. & Jeffers, J. 2018–. The Royal Inscriptions of Ashurbanipal (668–631 BC), Aššur-etel-ilāni (630–627 BC) and Sîn-šarra-iškun (626–612 BC), Kings of Assyria. RINAP 5. University Park, PA: Eisenbrauns. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/rinap/rinap5/Q003798/.
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