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Page 137 / 159

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 233. Funerary Rituals (ABL 0378) [from exorcists]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Marduk-šakin-šumi. The best of health to the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord! May Ištar of Arbela give happiness and health to the king, my lord! May she sate the king, my lord, with old age and fullness of life! May she present the king, my lord, with long-lasting days! (11) At present I am continuously performing the ritual; and I have the (items for the) king's funeral burning collected in a storehouse [in the Inner] City. (16) Concerning those women about whom the king, my lord, sp[oke], the house where they are lodged is…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 234. Mourning Rites (ABL 0026) [from exorcists]

(1) [To the king, my lord: your servant Marduk]-šakin-šumi. The best of h[ealth] to the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord! [May they s]ate the king, my lord, with old age and fullness of life! (10) [...] and the night [of the 2]0th day [...... before Si]rius (b.e. 13) (Break) (r 3) If it is convenient, let the king, my lord, put on white clothes on the 20th, and ask for food at a polished table. (r 10) (As) the king, my lord, knows, it is a house of mourning.[From Mard]uk-šakin-šumi.

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 235. White Robes for the King (ABL 0379) [from exorcists]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Marduk-šakin-šumi. The best of health to the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord! (6) Concerning the white clothes about which my lord wrote to me: "How many days should I wear them?" — the king should wear them on the 20th and the 21st; two days are enough. On the 22nd he can gird himself (again). (r 1) The king, my lord should (then) resume his normal activities. (r 4) Concerning the writing of the king, my lord, Kenî will die of envy when he sees it; Bel and Nabû have given a fine hand to the king, my lord. Yesterday I made an ex…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 236. The King Should not Worry about the Cold (ABL 0663) [from exorcists]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Marduk-šakin-šumi. Good health to the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord! (5) Concerning the chills about which the king, my lord, wrote to me, there is nothing to be worried about. The gods of the k[ing] will quickly cure it, and we shall do whatever is relevant to the matter. [It is] a seasonal illness; the king, my lord, should not [wor]ry (about it). (Remainder too broken for translation)

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 237. There is no Danger (CT 53 897) [from exorcists]

(1) [To the king, my lord: your servant Marduk-šakin-šumi. Good health to the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk ble]ss [the king, my lord]! (5) As to [...] about which the king my lord w[rote to me, wh]at else [should we do]? There is no [danger ...] (Break) (r 2) [......] commandments (r 3) [......] let them not keep (r 4) [...... let them s]weep (r 5) [......] let him wash his arms (r 6) [......] double-hour(s) [...] (r 7) we sh[all perform before E]nlil [......]

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 238. Expelling an Evil Demon (ABL 0024) [from exorcists]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Marduk-šakin-šumi. Good health to the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord! (5) The crown prince is well; Šamaš-šumu-ukin is well. (7) Concerning the rites accompanying the incantation "Verily You are Evil" about which the king, my lord, wrote to me, they are performed to drive out the evil demon and epilepsy. (10) As soon as something has afflicted him (= the patient), the exorcist rises and hangs a mouse and a shoot of a thornbush on the vault of the (patient's) door. The exorcist dresses in a red garment and puts on a red cloak.…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 239. (no title) (CT 53 357) [from exorcists]

(Beginning lost) (1) I [......] took (2) [...... the fe]ver seized him (3) [n]ow they have performed [...] (4) [...] Šamaš-šumu-ukin (5) [...] let the king, my lord, write (6) [......] they should not pull out (Break) (r 3) The gods, [will ...] on account of t[his]. (r 4) [The king], my [lor]d, knows that [...] are [...]; for fear [of...] they [do not] wait (but) do what is [not good] for them. (r 8) [The king, my lord], should give an order [...] (r 9) [...]... (r 10) [..] their flesh (r 11) [...] I, who [am] (but) a dog (r 12) [...] not good (Rest destroyed)

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 240. Report on Eclipse Rituals, and a Suggestion (ABL 0023) [from exorcists]

(1) [To] the king, [my] lord: [your servant] Marduk-šakin-šumi. [Good he]alth to the king, my lord! May [Nabû and] Marduk bless the king, my lord! (5) 3 'hand-lifting' prayers (to be recited) before [Nusku], (6) 3 before the moon, 3 before the [Pleiades], (7) 2 before Sirius, (8) 2 b[efo]re Ma[rs], (9) 2 b[efore] V[ega], (10) 2 be[fore the st]ar [....], (11) 1 be[fore the star....], (12) 1 bef[ore the star....], (13) the incantation "Ea, [Šamaš and Asalluhi]" belonging to the apotropaic ritual against all kinds of evil, as well as the apotropaic ritual (called) "If the Moon and the Sun have…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 241. Gripped by Agues (ABL 0019) [from exorcists]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Marduk-šakin-šumi. Good health to the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord! (5) Concerning the application of the ṣillibānu-treatment about which the king, my lord, said: "It is very hot" — (8) it must be hot; why (else) are we doing this? Did he not (intend) heat, (when) he said "It should make him sweat?" But why is he seized by ague, through it is early summer? This does not make any sense. It is work of the gods. (r 3) And concerning the string of (amulet) stones — what the king, my lord, said is quite correct. Did I not tell…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 242. A Sick King (ABL 0348) [from exorcists]

(1) To the kin[g, my lor]d: your servant Marduk-šakin-šumi. Good health to the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord! (5) As to what the king, my lord, said: "My arms and legs are without strength!" and "I cannot open my eyes; I am scratched and lie prostrate"— (10) (all) that is because this fever has lingered inside the very bones. It is not serious — Aššur, Šamaš, Bel and Nabû will provide health. (r 3) (Break) (r 6) His illness will depart — he will be just fine. True, they should wait and eat (only) what is appropriate.

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 243. Inflammation of the Eyes (ABL 0664) [from exorcists]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Marduk-šakin-šumi. Good health to the king, my lord! [May Nabû and] Marduk bless the king, my lord! (5) Concerning the [inf]lammation of the eyes about which the king, my lord, [said: "If only it could] be cured!" — I will come [tomorrow to the k]ing, my lord (9) [......] this (Break) (r 2) We shall perform the (periodic) rites of the month Iyyar (II), against inflammation of [the eyes]. Bel and Na[bû] will lay their life-giving hands up[on] the king, my lord.

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 244. Recovery of the Queen Mother (ABL 1388) [from exorcists]

(1) [To the king, my lord: your servant Marduk-šakin-šumi. Good health to the king, my lord!] May Nabû and Marduk bless [the king], my [lord]! May they give [happi]ness and physical well-being [to the king], my [lord]! (9) [The sons], my lords, are doing ve[ry w]ell; the mother of the king, [my lord, is well], she has recovered. The king, my lord, [can be] happy. (r 1) [Con]cerning the order about which the king, my lord, wrote to me, I am collaborating with my colleagues; we shall take counsel together (and then) speak out — the mother of the king is as able as (the sage) Adapa!

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 245. Prophylactic Rituals for the Royal Family (ABL 0453) [from exorcists]

(1) [To the king, my lord: your servant Marduk-šakin]-šumi. [Good he]alth to the king, my lord! May Aššur, Šamaš, Bel, Zarpanitu, Nabû, Tašmetu, Ištar of Nineveh and Ištar of Arbela bless the king, my lord, a hundred years! May they appoint a guardian of health and life for the king, my lord! May they sate the king, my lord, with old age and fullness of life! May they keep firm the foundations of the royal throne of the king, my lord, until far-off days! May they let the king, my lord, see Assurbanipal and his brothers prosper! May the king lift their grandchildren into his lap! May the king…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 246. Rituals for the Royal Family (ABL 1126) [from exorcists]

(Beginning lost) (2) May [the king] lift [their] grandchildren [into his lap]! (3) [As to what the king, my lord, said:] "Will you not enter? Will she not perform (the ritual) [in your presence]?" — I shall enter and stay as long as the ki[ng, my lord], said, and she may perform it in my presence. (7) Concerning what the king, my lord, said about [the clothes]: "W[here] will the clothes be placed?" or about the people: "Why will the people be present?" — the clothes should be placed before Šamaš, and she should 'cast the solvents' upon them. A sacred woman will be there to perform a certain…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 247. Renewing Images of Gods (ABL 0970) [from exorcists]

(Beginning lost) (1) [May they appoint a guardian of health and life] for the k[ing, my lord]! May they sate the king, [my lord], with old age and fullness of life! May they keep firm the foundations of the royal th[rone] of the king, my lord, until far-off days! May the great gods of heaven and earth in their righteous hearts bless the king, my lord! (8) All the charges are doing very well; the king, my lord, can be happy. (r 1) I have done as the king, my lord, wrote to me: I went through an effective purification ritual in the eunuchs' wing, and it is (now) closed off. I consecrated the…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 249. (no title) (ABL 1075) [from exorcists]

(1) [To the king, my lord: your servant Marduk-šakin-šumi. Good health to the king, my lord]! May [Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord]! May [Aššur, Sin, Šamaš, Bel], Nabu, [Nergal, Ištar of Nineveh] and Ištar of Ar[bela] ordain very much [vigour], health, h[appiness, physical well-being] and long-lasting d[ays] for [the king, my lord! [May they sa]te the king, [my] lord, with [old age] and fullness of life! [May they keep firm] the foundations of the [royal] thr[one of the king, my lord, until far-off days]! (Break) (r 2) [Da]y after day, mo[nth after month], year after year, up to a hund…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 250. Fumigants for the King (CT 53 870) [from exorcists]

(Beginning lost) (2) [May they keep] firm [the foundations of the r]oyal [throne of the king, my lord, until] far-off days! May happy [and good ne]ws day after da[y, month after mon]th, year after ye[ar] reach [the king], my [lord]! (8) [Concerning the salves] and fumigants about which [I wrote] to [the king, my lord], ten [...] (Remainder destroyed or too fragmentary for translation)

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 251. Good News (ABL 1184) [from exorcists]

(Beginning destroyed or too fragmentary for translation) (r 3) May good news of happiness and joy like this constantly reach the king, my lo[rd]! (r 8) Let [the kin]g stay in his palace; [...] of your enemies [...] (Remainder destroyed or too fragmentary for translation)

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 252. Cultic Rituals (ABL 0662) [from exorcists]

(1) [To the king], my lord: [your servant] Marduk-šakin-šumi. [Good hea]lth to the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord! May [Aššur], Sin, Šamaš, Bel, Nabû, Nergal, Ištar of Nineveh and Ištar of Arbe[la] call vigour, health, [hap]piness, [physical well-being and la]sting days [for the king, my lord]! [May they s]ate [the king, my lord, with old age and fullness of li]fe! (Break) (r 2) [...] will receive stones [......]. (r 4) Let [the king] give an order [to DN-d]a''inanni: he should come [whi]le [...] is (still) here and they should do [the work]. (r 9) [We shall…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 253. Postponing New Year’s Festival in Babylon (ABL 0956) [from exorcists]

(1) [To the king, my lord: your servant Marduk-šakin-šumi. Good health to the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord! May Aššur, Sin, Šamaš, Bel, Nabu, Nergal, Ištar of Nineveh and Ištar of Arbela] call [vigour, heal]th, [happiness], physical [well-being and lasting da]ys [for the king, my lord]! May they sate [the ki]ng, my lord, with [old age] and fullness of life! (15) [Concerni]ng the intercalation [of] the year [about which the k]ing said as follows: "Let us add an intercalary Elul (VI)!" — the matter is (now) settled. [May the kin]g, my lord, live forever on account…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 254. Rituals Against Cultic Offences (ABL 1168) [from exorcists]

(Beginning lost) (2) May she give [... to the king], my [lord]! (4) [As the king, my lord, was mak]ing his (triumphal) entry into the city of Arbela and heard about the conquest of the city [of ...] (7) [......] the city of Nineveh (8) [......] and the Cimmerians (9) [......] their country (10) [......] of Assyria (11) [... to] achieve [victory ov]er them (12) may [the king], my [lord], listen [......] (13) [......] opening the eyes (14) [......] my foot (15) [......] (16) May [Ninurta and] Gula bestow [happiness and] physical well-being [on the king, my lord, and] his seed! (r 2) [And…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 255. Eclipse Rituals for the King, Princes and the Palace (ABL 0018) [from exorcists]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Marduk-šakin-šumi: (3) Good health to the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord! (5) Concerning the ritual about which the king said yesterday: "Get it done by the 24th day" — we cannot make it; the tablets are too numerous, (god only knows) when they will be written. Even the preparation of the figurines which the king saw (yesterday) took us 5 to 6 days. (14) Now, provided that the king, my lord, consents, the month Tebet (X) would be suitable for performing the counterspells. Let the crown prince [perform] (his part) during that…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 256. Performing Anti-Witchcraft Rituals (ABL 0011) [from exorcists]

(1) To the king, our lord: your servants Adad-šumu-uṣur and Marduk-šakin-šumi. Good health to the king, our lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, our lord! (6) Concerning what the king wrote to us, [he has a]ssigned it as follows: "Once he is through with the [Sum]erian counterspells, he should thereafter finish the antiphone (series). Thereafter the others should do likewise."

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 257. Discussing a Ritual (ABL 0017) [from exorcists]

(1) [To the ki]ng, my lord: [your servant] Marduk-šakin-šumi. Good health to the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord! (5) Concerning what the king, my lord, wrote to me, I am heeding it and am currently making the preparations. (8) As a matter of fact, there is little room for manoeuvering. If it is acceptable to the king, my lord, those others should perform (their rite only) after these have done with their performance. Or [should we choose anot]her place? (Break) (r 2) [Nabû-g]a[mil has come] to Nineveh [and said that] Remutu, the [exorcist] who is in the service of…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 258. Jewels for the Chariot of Marduk (CT 53 048) [from exorcists]

(Beginning lost) (1) I have performed [the ritual up]on the clothes of the pe[ople, as the king] instruc[ted me]. Now, [should] the others still be brought out and shall I perform (the ritual) upon them? (8) Or shall I perform it only upon these? Let the king, my lord, decide what [to d]o and write me. (r 5) And concerning those jewels [o]f the (divine) chariot, if they have been brought, they should either be given to me or [......] (Remainder lost)

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 260. The Day of the City God (ABL 0020) [from exorcists]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Marduk-šakin-šumi. Good health to the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord! (5) Concerning the ritual about which I just wrote to the king, my lord, "They should go out and perform it tomorrow" — (10) it had slipped my mind that tomorrow is the day of the city god. I was too hasty there; it is not good to g[o out] and perform it. We shall get together and perform it only on the 7th day.

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 261. Preparations for Rituals (ABL 0025) [from exorcists]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Marduk-šakin-šumi. Good health to the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk b[less] the king, my lord! (6) Concerning the counterspells which we earlier [had to interrupt] and did not finish performing, we could now, with the king my lord's permission, con[tinue with them]. Because of the temperature, [the ritual] was not comp[leted ...] upon the [clothes] of the l[ater] people who [......]. (r 3) At the same time we could also perform th[ose] rites of the series Šur[pu] about which I said to the king, [my] lord: "We should perform them for [...]."

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 262. Prayers for Mars (ABL 1099) [from exorcists]

(1) To the king, my [lord]: your servant Ma[rduk-šakin-šumi]. Good health to [the king, my lord]! May Nabû and Mard[uk] bless [the king, my lord]! (5) Con[cerning the observation] of Mars [about which the king, my lord], wrote to me: "Perform [its 'hand-lifting' prayers], and perform them f[or the crown prince] as well" — (9) I have [already st]arted with it (but) I am [wait]ing for [...] (Break) (r 1) It will reach [Spica ...].

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 263. Burying Apotropaic Figures (ABL 0022) [from exorcists]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Marduk-šakin-šumi. Good health to the king, my lord! May [Nabû] and Marduk bless the king, my lord! (5) Concerning the prophylactic figurines about which the king, my lord, wrote to me, "Where will they be buried?" — it is said in the (ritual) tablet as follows: "You bury them at the outer gate." Now, with the king's permission, [......] (11) (Break) (r 2) Also tomorrow, after the king has gone out, they should bury them in front of the main room and the bedrooms, in places to be additionally specified by the king. Daytime or nighttime makes no difference…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 264. Shall we Bring the Skulls? (ABL 0021) [from exorcists]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Marduk-šakin-šumi. Good health to the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord! (6) May we bring these skulls prescribed in the ritual into the qirsu, clothe them with garments and install them there? Let them write me what the king, my lord, commands.

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 265. Giving the Best Possible Advice to the King (CT 53 152) [from exorcists]

(1) [To the king, my lord: your servant] Marduk-šakin-šumi. [Good health] to the king, my lord! [May Nabû and] Marduk [bles]s the king, my lord! (5) Concerning what the king, my lord, [wrote] to me: "Is this the [tru]th?" — may Bel and Nabû, [your gods], call to account [the one] who is [not honest] with the king, his lord! [...] recently [......; I] was confused. I did not see his [...], (but) perhaps the king, my lord, saw. What can I say? (15) In any case, I guarantee under oath: it shall be a great success. (r 1) If the king, my lord, had not attained his desire and i[f] he had not gone…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 266. (no title) (ABL 0666) [from exorcists]

(1) [To the ki]ng, my lord: [your servant] Marduk-šakin-šumi. [Good he]alth to the king, my lord! [May Nabû and] Marduk [bless] the king, my lord! (5) Concerning the month of the wa[tch ...] (Remainder lost)

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 267. Reconciling the Goddess (ABL 0661+) [from exorcists]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Marduk-šakin-šumi. Good health to the king, [my] lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, [my lo]rd! (5) The day before yester[day], when [the ki]ng, my lord, as[ked me], I did not [......] (Break) (r 2) Let them brin[g ...] to/for [..., act] in the same way and pronounce the name of the [crown princ]e upon it. (r 6) The Lady of Concord and Re[conciliation] will, on account of the name of [the crown prince], become reconciled with the king and [his family].

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 268. (no title) (CT 53 119) [from exorcists]

(1) [To the king], my lord: [your servant Mardu]k-šakin-šumi. [Good health to the king], my lord! [May Nabû and Marduk bless the king], my lord! (Break) (r 3) [... should] be performed. [Let] the king [spea]k with his servant [...], and [let me in]struct the king, my [lord].

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 269. Organizing a Ritual (CT 53 928) [from exorcists]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant [Marduk-šakin-šumi]. Good health to [the king, my lord]! May Nabû and [Marduk] bless the king, [my lord]! (6) Con[cerning ...] about whom the king, my lord, [wrote to me]: "Should he enter afterwards, or, in view of ..., [...]?" (11) (Break) (r 4) The king, my lord, should enter the [...] of Nabû and as soon as the king, my lord, has entered, he should meet him.

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 270. Portents in the Annex of Eunuchs (CT 53 933) [from exorcists]

(1) [Concerning] these [...]s which appeared in the eunuchs' wing, the chief eunuch said to me: "They said in the palace: Tell them [to pe]rform a ritual against them." (r 1) [On the xth] we shall perform [the first part] of the ritual on them; on [the x]th day we shall perform the remainder of the ritual [on] the river bank. Let it be ordered that the clothes be given to us.

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 271. Instructions for Rituals (CT 53 350) [from exorcists]

(Beginning destroyed) (r 6) Just as the [...] were performed in Nineveh, so they will be performed in Calah.

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 272. (no title) (CT 53 608) [from exorcists]

(Beginning destroyed) (2) to [......] perfor[m ......] (4) Let them send (word) [to ...], so we can [undertake] to perf[orm it]. (7) Furthermore, as to wh[at the king, my lord, ......] (b.e. 8') (Break) (r 2) [We will st]art [performing ...]; what is it th[at the king] my lord or[ders]? The 10th, 1[2th], 15th and [...th] (are) [suitable] fo[r ......] (Rest destroyed)

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 273. A Matter of Professional Etiquette (ABL 0057) [from exorcists]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Nabû-nadin-šumi. Good health to the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk greatly bless the king, my lord! (7) [The king], my [lord] sent me (saying): "Go and perform a ritual for Šadditu!" — I did so, (but) I could not perform the rest of the ritual (because) I had to leave for the treaty. Why on earth did Šumaya hurry up from Calah and say to Šadditu: "I shall prepare and perform this [...] ritual for you!" (r 1) He should [...] have asked me! (r 2) [......] ritual (r 4) I would have performed [......] (r 5) [...] performed [...] (r 6) I would have seen…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 274. Performing the Maqlu Ritual; Statue of Gilgameš (ABL 0056) [from exorcists]

(1) To [the king], my l[ord]: your servant Nabû-nadin-šumi. Good health to the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk greatly bless the king, my lord! (7) At night the king will perform Maqlû, in the early morning the king will perform the balance of the ritual. (r 2) Furthermore: the (periodic) rites of the month Ab (V) [which] will be performed on [the 28t]h day involve the presence of a figurine of Gilgameš. (r 7) Should I perform (these rites) for the queen mother? What is it that the king says?

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 275. Sabbath Injunctions (ABL 0553) [from exorcists]

(1) To [the king, my lord]: your servant [Nabû-nadin-šumi]. Good health to the king, [my lord]! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord! (7) Concerning the ritual about which the king, my lord, wrote to me, they should perform the exorcistic ritual exactly as the king has done once and twice already. (14) Concerning the injunctions about which the king wrote to me, the king should observe the injunctions carefully. "The king does not eat anything cooked; the king wears the clothes of a nurse." (r 6) The day after tomorrow the king will go down to the river; the king will perform his ritual…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 276. Discussing a Ritual with the King (ABL 0053) [from exorcists]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Nabû-nadin-šumi. Good health to the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk greatly bless the king, my lord! (6) Concerning what the king, my lord, said to me: "Discuss it with Balasî", I did so and he said: (9) "He should sit down on the 15th and get up on the 22nd; on the 24th day the king should go down to the river and perform his ritual." (13) He also said: "Let us talk (about this) to the king (himself), and let the king hear what we have to say." He and I should (now) have an audience with the king; we shall instruct the king, our lord, how the ritual…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 277. Outline of a Purification Ritual (ABL 0370) [from exorcists]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Nabû-nadin-šumi. Good health to the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk greatly bless the king, my lord! (6) Concerning what the king, my lord, wrote to me: "Write me what the treatment is", (9) it is said in the relevant apotropaic ritual text (as follows): (10) "He (the king) sits 7 days in a reed hut, and purification rites are performed upon him; he is treated like a sick person. (r 1) During the 7 days 'hand-lifting' prayers before the nighttime deities and the apotropaic ritual against evil of any kind are performed as well, and the seven days he…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 278. Averting a Portent (ABL 0051) [from exorcists]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Nabû-nadin-šumi. Good health to the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord! (6) Concerning the apotropaic ritual against evil of any kind, about which the king wrote to me: "Perform it tomorrow" — the day is not propitious. We shall prepare it on the 25th and perform it on the 26th. (12) Anyway, the king, my lord, should not be worried about this portent. Bel and Nabû can make a portent pass by, and they will make it bypass the king, my lord. The king, my lord, should not be afraid.

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 279. Purification Rites (ABL 0052) [from exorcists]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Nabû-nadin-šumi. Good health to the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord. (6) Concerning the purification which I was ordered (to perform), I have gone and undertaken an effective one. From Nineveh I took the road to Zikkû and went as far as to Sasiqani; (there) I gave the (following) order to the courier who had accompanied me from Nineveh and to the courier of the city of Calah: "You carry along (this torch and this censer and) move them about in the city of Kasappa."

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 280. Whom Should I Ask? (ABL 0055) [from exorcists]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Nabû-nadin-šumi. Good health to the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk greatly bless the king, my lord! (7) Concerning what the king, my lord, wrote to me: "You ask (him)!" — (r 1) I don't know who this man is — whom should I ask? Let the man be pointed out to me (then), I will ask him.

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 281. (no title) (ABL 0655) [from exorcists]

(1) To [the king], our lord: your servants Adad-šumu-uṣur, Marduk-šakin-šumi and Nabû-nadin-šumi. Good health to the king, our lord! May Nabû and Marduk greatly bl[ess] the king, our lord! (Break) (r 3) Thereafter we shall perf[orm] it.

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 282. Ritual Against an Evil Demon (ABL 0369) [from exorcists]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Nabû-nadin-šumi. Good health to the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk greatly bless the king, my lord! (7) Concerning the ritual against the rābiṣu (demon) about which the king, my lord, wrote to me: "Perform it" — I performed it on the 13th day. I have fastened together all the paraphernalia of the ritual which I had made, sealed them and handed them over to a guard[sma]n. (Remainder lost)

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 283. Informing the King (ABL 1173) [from exorcists]

(1) [To the king], my [lord]: your servant [Nabû]-nadin-šumi. [Good health] to the king, my lord! May Nabû and Marduk bless the king, my lord! May they give long-lasting days, ever-lasting years, happiness and physical well-being to the king, my lord! As heaven and earth last for ever, may the name of the king, my lord, last for ever in the land of Assyria! (8) There is much [hatred] in the presence of the king, my lord; let the king, my lord, heed the message of this letter! (10) [The king, my lord, is] a great [benef]actor and lover [of his people]. As Urad-Nanaya [......], the king, my…

Daily Life·Economy

~670 BCE·Neo-AssyrianSAA 10

SAA 10 284. He Should be Banished from Assyria! (ABL 0058) [from exorcists]

(1) To the king, my lord: your servant Nabû-[nadin]-šumi. Good health to the king, m[y lord]! May Nabû and Marduk very gr[eatly bless the king, my lord]! (Break) (r 1) [I]f he has become troublesome, may that gracious face [of the king], my lord, tur[n] away from him! And inasmuch as Ištar of N[ineveh] and Ištar of Arbela have said: "We shall root out from Assyria those who are not loyal to the king, our lord!" he should really be banished from Assyria! (r 10) May Aššur, Šamaš, Bel and Nabû feel concern over the health of the king, my lord!

Daily Life·Economy

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