Position in chronology
Ashurbanipal 211
Translation · reference
High confidence(1) [For the god Nusku, supreme lord], exalted [j]udge, who oversees the n[indabû-offerings for all (the Igīgū and) the Anunnakū gods, who administers the Ekur, bright light that lights up the night], powerful fire, [friend of the god Šamaš, the judge, holy god, who purifies g]od and man, who lights up the darkness, who [lights up the dark] like the [sun]; (4) [the god Nusku, supreme o]ne, h[ero]ic god, who burns up evil ones, who[se flames scorch] the land of the insubmissive, [who introduces comma]nd and directive, who oversees the Igīgū and Anunnak[ū gods, ... instructions, who provides…
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/Q007619/
Why it matters
Hymns Nusku as supreme judge and divine fire who 'burns up evil ones' — preserving Sargonid theology in which the lamp-god's judicial and purifying roles underwrite royal legitimacy.
Transliteration
[a-na dnusku EN šur-bé-e] ⸢da⸣-a-a-ni ṣi-i-⸢ri⸣ pa-qid ⸢NIDBA⸣.[MEŠ šá DÙ (dí-gì-gì u) dGÉŠ.U mu-ma-ʾe-er é-kur] / [ZÁLAG nam-ru mu-nam-mir mu-ši-ti] dGIBIL₆ ga-áš-ru [tap-pe-e dUTU da-a-a-ni] / [DINGIR KÙ mul-lil] ⸢DINGIR⸣ u LÚ mu-nam-mir e-ṭu-ti šá ki-ma ⸢d⸣[UTU-ši ú-nam-ma-ru ek-le-tú] / [dnusku šur-bu]-⸢u⸣ DINGIR ⸢qar⸣-du <<DIŠ>> qa-mu-ú ḪUL.MEŠ šá KUR la ma-gi-re ⸢ú⸣-[ḫa-am-ma-ṭu nab-lu-šu]…
Scholarly note
Royal inscription of Ashurbanipal or a late Sargonid successor, edited by Jamie Novotny & Joshua Jeffers (RINAP 5, 2018–). ORACC text Q007619.
Attribution
Image: BM — (British Museum, London, UK) — from Nineveh (mod. Kuyunjik) — Photo via Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (cdli.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/artifacts, P394693). 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/Q007619/.
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The earliest historical document in human history.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.