Position in chronology
Ashurbanipal 1006
Translation · reference
High confidence(1) (No translation possible) (r 1') ... [...] of the citad[el of ...]. Through supplications [...] with power, viril[ity, ...] (rev. 5´) by the command of the god Aššur [...] with gold, silver, [...], large horses, [...], in (the midst of) joyous celebration [...]. (r 9') The Elamites who trusted in the mass(ed might) of ... and [...].
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/Q003835/
Why it matters
Transliteration
(traces) [...] / x ⸢ME⸣ x [...] / ⸢ša⸣ MURUB₄ ⸢URU⸣ [...] / ina su-up-pe-e [...] / ina dun-ni zik-[ru-te ...] / ina qí-bit daš-šur [...] / it-ti KÙ.GI KÙ.⸢BABBAR⸣ [...] / ANŠE.KUR.RA.MEŠ GAL.⸢MEŠ⸣ [...] / ina ul-ṣi ri-šá-a-⸢ti⸣ [...] / LÚ.e-la-mu-u šá ana gi-piš x x [x] x-ma [...]
Scholarly note
Royal inscription of Ashurbanipal or a late Sargonid successor, edited by Jamie Novotny & Joshua Jeffers (RINAP 5, 2018–). ORACC text Q003835.
Attribution
Image: Created by Jamie Novotny and Joshua Jeffers, 2015-22. Lemmatized by Joshua Jeffers, 2018-19, for the NEH-funded RINAP Project at the University of Pennsylvania. The annotated edition is released under the Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike license 3.0.. Please cite this page as http://oracc.org/rinap/Q003835/..
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/Q003835/.
Related tablets
Related sources
The earliest historical document in human history. Before this, we have lists, accounts, and dedications. Here, for the first time, a ruler tells us what happened — with names, places, and consequences.
The oldest surviving law code in human history. The principle that the state — not the wronged family — defines and enforces justice begins here.
Not the first law code, but the most complete and the most famous. Inscribed on a black diorite stele over two meters tall, displayed in a public place — law made visible, law made monumental.