All tablets.

SAA 20 026. Ritual of Tukulti-Ninurta for Sîn (BBR pl. 63 + 68)

(1) [Tukulti-Ninurta (I)], king of Assyria, [performed and instituted] the (following) ri[tes for Sîn, his god]. (2) [When you are to perform the n]āṭu-ritual of Sîn of [Tukulti-Ninurta]: (3) [You place] two chairs [at the si]de of the house und[er the god and lay clean read wool upon them]. (4) [Yo]u place [a ...] diagonally [... and put seven] loaves of sēpu-bread, seven kukku-cakes [......]. (5) You drag [a ... t]o the side of the house of Sîn [......]. (6) You pour [...] into the la[p] of the god, [and place] a bowl o[f sweel oil, aromatics, juniper and tufts of red wool upon it]. (7) You…

SAA 20 027. Ritual of Tukulti-Ninurta for Nusku (BBR pl. 64 + 66 + 69)

(1) Tukulti-[Ninurta (I), king of Assyria, performed and insti[tuted the (following) rites fo]r Nusku: (2) When you are [to perform] a sheep offering to [Nusku, you g]o [to the house of Sîn (and) let] sunshine enter it through its doo[rway]. (3) [You set up] a chair beside the house under the god, [lay] clean [r]ed [wool] upon it, [and place] a bowl of sweet oil, aromatics, juni[per, and tufts of] red [wo]ol upon it. (5) You set up a table before Šamaš, [light] a cens[er, and place it beh]ind the table. [You place] two libation vessels (and) two libation bowls to the left of the censer, and…

SAA 20 028. Fragment of a Ritual for Singer (BBR pl. 65)

(beginning (approximately 15 lines) broken away) (1') You prepare [......] (2') You prepare [......] (3') [......] (and) you put [...] upon [them]. (4') [......] (and) prepare [......]. (5') [......] of budê-confection (6') [......] you place on the table [...] (7') [......] you place on it [...] (8') [......] you put a [kam]anu-cake (made) with zīzu-onion [...] (9') [......] (and) you say: [...]. (10') [You ......], (and) sing, “[......].” (11') [You ......] pour [bee]r and wine (12') [You ......] place [......] (13') [You ......], (and) sing, “[......].” (14') [You ...... po]ur [beer and…

SAA 20 029. Initiation into the Secrets of Ištar of Heaven (KAR 139)

(1) When the (proper) time arrives, the sacrificer enters the Equ house. In the Equ house he proceeds to the right to the table before the Mouth-and-Tongue, and kindles with the torch in his hand the censer before the Mouth-and-Tongue. Grasping the torch with his left hand, he twice pours aromatics into the censer before the Mouth-and-Tongue. He breaks a bread cake upon the table, cools the eating-bowl twice, and twice performs a libation of beer into the pithos. (8) He scatters mixed aromatics into a portable censer, places a vagina of lead weighing half a mina before the Mouth-and-Tongue,…

SAA 20 030. The Banquet of Gula (PKT 21 + 22b)

(beginning broken away) (1') [......] sweet oil [...] (2') [......] you anoint [the hands] and feet [......]. (3') The master of the banquet and the officiant [k]iss [the ground before DN] and stand up. (4') They [......] Šarrat-eqi. [The officiant] fills a masrahu vessel with wine [....... The officient] offers (it) to [the master of the ban]quet, saying: “It is (wine) of fame and offspring, [......]. May she give you [well-bein]g, life, fame and offspring!” ... [......]. (8') He thus blesses him and gives him to drink. The officiant [and the master of the banquet] kiss [the gr]ound [before…

SAA 20 031. The Banquet of [DN] (BBR pl. 60)

(beginning broken away) (2') [...... a muk]arrisu-pan of oil (3') [......] pours on a beer vat (4') [......] pushes (it) with his feet (5') [......] throws [... on] the tab[le], and goes (away). (6') [......] The singer intones before him: “The strongest one of the gods,” and goes (away). (7') [...] ... You throw ... on it and place the mukarrisu on it. You fill a pail of [oil] with water, place it atop the chair in the middle of the doorway, and let it bathe in sunshine. (10') You set up a table before the chair. You place three litres of grain on the table, half of it groats, half of it…

SAA 20 032. Ritual for the Daughter-of-River (KAR 141)

(1) [Wh]en [you perform the n]āṭu of the Daughter-of-the-River before [...], at the 5/6th double-hour of [the d]ay you go to the river and pitch a [ten]t on the river bank. You place the front of the tent towards the desert. (4) You collect seeds, pulling the sufferer of the punishment, (while) the singer keeps reciting: “I know the sinner” — a second time like this, a third time like this. You throw the things pulled out into the river. He throws the ‘solvents’ before Šamaš. (9) You put up a bed in the tent. [You place] on the be[d] a habannutu-jar of haršu and a habannutu-jar of…

SAA 20 033. Protocol for the Royal Dinner (MVAG 41 60f)

(i 1) At the time of the dinner, when the ki[ng] enters the dinner [together with the magnates, the table and] the couch for the king [are place]d opposite the doorway. (i 4) As soon as the king is seated on his seat, the overseer of the palace enters, [kisses] the ground before [the king], and gives (his) report before the king. The overseer of the palace [goes out] and brings in the palace herald. (i 7) The palace herald e[nters], kisses the ground before the king, and stands with the stan[dard opposite the king]. The palace herald gives (his) report before the king. [The overseer of the…

SAA 20 034. Burial of a Queen (ZA 045, 042-046)

(1) They put up the bed and perform the display. (2) They wash the feet. A torch of sweet reed, a bowl of sweet oil. (4) The bride washes the feet. She walks around the bed three times, kisses the feet, goes and sits down. She burns cedar and quenches it with wine. She lays the heart of a ram in tappinnu-flour and places it in the middle of the image. (10) They pour wine onto the ground from a ... stone vessel and crush it against the sideboard of the bed. They mix (the contents of) two sprinkling-vessels and pour it before Šamaš. She throws herself at the feet. (15) The day on which they put…

SAA 20 035. Fragment of a Ritual Mentioning the Dais of Destinies (CT 53, 980)

(beginning broken away) (3') [......] the sheep offerings of the palace (4') [... the Da]is of Destinies (5') [... t]he high priest offers (6') [... up]on the lock (7') [......] on the 19th day (8') [......] they say accordingly (9') [...] ... Neberu (10') [......] the stool (11') [......] the priest (12') [......]s, opening the ear (rest broken away) (beginning broken away; then traces at the end of lines) (r 1') [...... ris]es (r 2') [......] is seated (rest broken away)

SAA 20 036. Fragment Relating to Rituals in Assur (CT 53, 330)

(beginning broken away) (2') [......] are likewise placed in the palace (3') [......] they have not been written (4') [......] they have been [e]rased (5') [......] he provides (6') [...... sheep offerings] are performed (7') [......] is (8') [......] he provides (9') [......] they provide (10') [...... the house of] An[u] (11') [...... the Dais of] Destinie[s] (rest broken away) (beginning broken away) (rest broken away)

SAA 20 037. Temple Service Rites for All Assyria (PKT 10-11)

(1) [When you are to provide for the House of Aššur, (and) to strew salt], you say: “[Aššur and Mullissu, Adad and Mašmaš, accep]t [life]!” (3) [When] you are to swing [the purification device over the table, you say: “The hand is released.” You repeat it] and swing it in the centre of the house, [saying: “The centre of the house is released].” You go and swing it in the area of the censers, [saying: “The centre of the house is seized].” You return and swing it over the censers, [saying: “May Fire purify]!” (7) When you are to put combustibles on the censer, [you giv]e incense [thri]ce and…

SAA 20 038. Takultu for Sennacherib and Temple Service for Nineveh (STT 088)

(i 1) [Aššur-Enlil]; Mašmaš; Aššur-[Adad] in front of Aššur-d[ugul]; Aššur-Adad in front of Aššur-Conqueror; Enlil-Anu; Ea-šarru; Sîn, Adad, Šamaš; Ištar, the Queen of Heaven of Kar-Tukulti-Ninurta, Šerua; the Great Gods; [Taš]metu, [Ninurta, Nu]sku; Kippat-mati, Kippat-mati-image, Kutatati; Enlil, Dagan, Aššur-Tiara, Sun-image, Aššur-Lahmus, Aššur-Judges, Kittu, Sîn, Šamaš, Aššur-Conqueror; Ea, Kittu (and) Mišaru, Dibar; Ninurta and Aššur, [Aššur-Šakkan-Tišpak, Aššur-Judges; Lubelim, Gimagan], Il-pad[a]; (i 30) the Couch, Sun-of-the-Lands, the Rivers (and) Usumû, the Images, Kunuš-kadru; the…

SAA 20 039. Takultu for Esarhaddon(?) (STT 374)

(beginning broken away) (1') [......], Si[...], (2') [...], Hip-rag[gu], (3') [...], the Weapons, the Stand[ard], (4') [...], the Sun-image, [...], (5') [...], Uraš, (6') [..., Be]lat-ekalli, (7') [..., I]štar of Egypt, (8') [..., H]umbaba, (9') [......] image [...] (rest broken away)

SAA 20 040. Takultu for Assurbanipal (3 R 66)

(i 1) [Aššur-Enlil; Mašmaš; Aššur-Adad in front of Aššur-dugul; Aššur-Adad in front of Aššur-Conquer]or; [Enlil-Anu]; Ea-šarru; [Sîn], Adad, Šamaš; [Iš]tar, the Queen of Heaven [of] Kar-Tukulti-Ninurta, [Še]rua; the Great Gods; [Taš]metu; Nusku, Ninurta; Kippat-mati, Kippat-mati-image, Kutatati; Enlil, Dagan, Aššur-Tiara, the Sun-image, Aššur-Lahmus, Aššur-Judges, Ea-Kittu, Sîn, Šamaš, Aššur-Conqueror; Ea, Kittu (and) Mišaru, Dibar; Ninurta (and) Aššur; Aššur-Šakkan-Tišpak, Aššur-Judges; [L]ubelim, Gimagan, [I]li-pada; (i 24) the Couch, the [im]age of the Sun-of-the-Lands, the Rivers (and)…

SAA 20 041. Duplicate of No. 40 (KAV 057)

(left-hand columns lost) (ii 1) [Ebh, Adad], Šala, Taramuwa, [Nisaba], Adad-Lightning, [Niphu-image], Fire-light[ning], (ii 6) Light-ima[ge, Ningirsu] (rest broken away) (r i 2') [......] light (rest broken away) (completely broken away)

SAA 20 042. Takultu for Aššur-etel-ilani (KAR 214)

(i 1) [Aššur], drink! Enlil, drink! Anu, drink! Ea-šarru, drink! Queen of the [Gods], drink! Sîn, drink! Šamaš, drink! Adad, drink! Ištar, drink! (i 4) May the Great Gods, the Seven Gods (and) the Narudi drink! Ber, drink! Assyrian Ištar, drink! (i 7) May the Igigi (and) the Anunnaki, Ereškigal (and) the gods of earth, Eṭirtu (and) Ugurta; Šerua, Tašmetu, Nusku, Kippat-mati; Enlil (and) Da[gan], the Judges of the Imag[e, Sîn (and) Šamaš], the Lahmus, the Niphu-im[age], Nubalu, [......], Ea, [...], Maliku, [...], ...; (i 17) the House of Aš[šur] (and) its [..., ...], the Upper Lamassu,…

SAA 20 043. Duplicate of No. 42 (KAV 083)

(beginning broken away) (1') [N]eš-ili-mati, N[eš-igigani, the St]eps and the Lahm[us of the Eastern Gate; Nus]ku, the Bull-Son-of-Šamaš [and the Judges behind (the God)]; (4') [the image]s of the tem[ple] and the ima[ges of the House of Aššur], the great holy of holies, [the treasuries], the holy of holies without ex[it, ...], the [Cou]rt of Lead, the A[psû and everything (in it)], the [C]ourt of Mul[lissu and everything (in it)], the Court of Nam[ru and everything (in it)] (rest broken away)

SAA 20 044. Duplicate of No. 42 (KAR 325)

(beginning broken away) (1') [the four gates] and [their] doors, [the gods of the fo]ur [houses] and itself [..., the doorjamb and the lo]ck, Ehursag[kurkurra (and)] its [inhabitants], the divine It[tu, the paveme]nt, the hiburnu (vats) [and the sacred outlet conduits], (6') Anu and Antu, the Great Gods, [Šunipuru, the Narudi], Šalimtu, [Enlil] (and) Mullissu, Ninurta (and) [Nusku, Ea-šarru (and) Dam]kina, Usum[û ...] (rest broken away) (totally destroyed)

SAA 20 045. Takultu for Sin-šarru-iškun(?)

(beginning broken away) (i 1') [Aššur-Adad in front of Aššur-dugu]l, [Aššur]-Adad [in front of Aššur-Conq]ueror, [Enlil]-Anu, [Ea]-šarru, [Sîn, Adad], Šamaš, Ištar, [the Queen of Heaven of] Kar-Tukulti-Ninurta, [Šeru]a, (rest broken away) (beginning broken away) (ii 1') Bel-[šarru], Da[glanu], Siu[sa], Šeru[a, Mullissu], Ištar [...]: the gods of [the House of Aššur]. (ii 7') The divine Sta[g ...]; (ii 8') you [invoke] their names. (ii 9') The [Image], (rest broken away)

SAA 20 046. Fragment of a Takultu Text (Takultu 9)

(totally destroyed) (beginning broken away) (r i 1') the god [......], the god [......], the god [......] who dwells [...], Mt. Eb[eh, ..., ......], (r i 7') Ištar o[f ...], the Lady of Paran[zi], the Seven Gods (and) the Narudi, Nergal of Tarbiṣu, the heaven and earth: (r i 12') The gods of Nineveh. (r i 13') Aššur-Aššur, Aššur-Enlil, Ninurta, Nusku, Ner[gal], the Weapon, Aššur-J[udges], Enlil, Aššur-[Adad, Ninurta]-image[s], (rest broken away) (beginning broken away) (r ii 1') the divine [...], the Weapons, the Wild Bulls, the Lahmus-image, the Fathers, the Dais of Destinies, the Lady of…

SAA 20 047. Fragment of a Takultu Text (ABL 1413)

(beginning broken away) (2') Kunuš-kadru, the images of gods, citi[es and rivers], the Golden Doors, [the Thunderbirds], the Lions of the Gate of Ent[ry ...], (6') Mullissu, Tamb[aya], Mullissu-image, [Ulaya], the Inpis, [...], the Cherubs, the [Lahmus], (r 1) Kalkal, Kalkal-[images], the Šakkans, the Lions, [the Wild Bulls], the Thunderbirds, the Bi[son-men, Ea-šarru] (and) Damkina, [the gods of Subartu], (r 5) the mountains, the rivers, [the Aššur-Judges], Kittu, Me[šaru] (rest broken away)

SAA 20 048. Fragment of a Takultu(?) Text (STT 088B)

(beginning broken away) (i 1') (Too broken for translation) (beginning broken away) (rest broken away) (rest broken away)

SAA 20 049. The Gods, Shrines and Holy Palaces of Assur (KAV 042 +)

(1) Aššur, Lord Tiara, Aššur of Reading; Šerua, Kippat-mati, the Window of Tašmetu; Sîn, Šamaš; Šulpaamaša, Šulpaguna; three gods of the room; the Conquerors, the Weapon, the Axe, Kunuš-kadru; image of Tiglath-Pileser: total (of gods) in the holy of holies. (14) Ninurta and Kakka in the right side room of the portico. (16) Nusku in the left side room of ditto. (17) Seven Sons-of-Truth of bronze before the window openings of the roof. (19) Mullissu, Mullissu of Reading, Tambaya, Šamšaya, Ulaya: total (of gods) in the house of Mullissu. (22) Enlil, Dagan, Bel-labria, the Judges of the dais,…

SAA 20 050. Duties of Priests of the Aššur Temple (PKT 36-38)

(i 1) [To ... ... the House of A]ššur [and to ... the ... for s]etting [the table and per]forming [the sheep offerings] is the responsibility of [the hig]h [priest and the assistant priest]. (i 8) [To illuminat]e the face, [to ...] ..., [to ...] the golden purification device, to wipe [the kettle], to bind [... and the na]pkin [on the k]ing’s [shoulders] is [the responsib]ility of the [...]. (i 15) To lo[ok after ...], to [he]at [...], and to [bu]rn [...] [is the responsibility] of the [...]. (i 19) To [lo]ok after [the table, the c]ouch, [the bed and the throne is the responsibility of the…

SAA 20 051. Royal Decrees Concerning the Clergy of Ešarra (PKT 39-40)

(i 1) The [...] cup[s] of the House of [Aššur which] Shalmaneser, king of [Assy]ria, established: (i 5) The priest of Aššur. (i 6) The assistant priest, the scribe of the House of God, the steward, the priest of Šerua, the chief gatekeeper, the chief chanter. (i 12) The priest of Bel-tarbaṣi, the warden of the House, the warden of the šahūru anteroom, the chief chanter of the House of Aššur, the cupbearer, the [...] (rest broken away) (beginning broken away) (ii 2') Two [...]s of [......]. (ii 4') Three [...]s (and) two revenue collectors ... the table. (ii 7') A revenue collector ge[t]s 1.5…

SAA 20 052. Cultic Reforms and Religious Practices at Assur (CA pl. 1-2)

(columns i-iii destroyed) (beginning (about 50 lines) broken away) (iv 2) [...... Sennach]erib (iv 3) [......]... (iv 4) [......] of silver (iv 5) [...... he stati]oned (iv 6) [......] the chariot (iv 7) [...... on the x]th (iv 8) [...... Ad]ad (iv 9) [...... is fa]vourable (iv 10) [......]... (iv 11) [......] to him and (iv 12) [...... he recei]ved (rest (about 13 lines) broken away) (beginning (about 50 lines) broken away) (v 1') [Ada]d, [Nisaba, Šala]; Zababa, Babu, [E]a, [Belet]-ili, Damkina, Ninurta. (v 4') The Chariot, the W[eapo]n, Amurru, Haya, Kusu, Ninurta of the Wall, Tišpak,…

SAA 20 053. Text Similar to No. 52 (PKT 14-15)

(beginning (about 30 lines) broken away) (i 1') [Ea, Belet-ili], Damkina and [Ninurta] go [to the Akit]u [House aft]er Aššur. [The Chariot, the Weapon, Amurru], Haya, Mandanu, [Nusku and K]akka go before Aššur. (i 6') [The gods] of the Akitu House on the right and left of Aššur: (i 7') [Aššur, Mul]lissu, Mašmaš, Šerua, [Sîn, Ni]kkal, Šamaš, Aya, Enlil, [Ištar of Nineveh], Kakka, Kippat-mati in the courtyard. [Hay]a and Kusu i[n] the courtyard. [Total 14] gods [o]n the right. (i 12') Anu, Antu, Adad, Šala, Ea, Belet-ili, Damkina, Ninurta, Nergal, Nu[s]ku, and Mandanu in the courtyard. Total 11…

SAA 20 054. Fragment of a Text Similar to No. 52 (KAV 049)

(beginning broken away) (i 1') [Sîn, Nikkal; Šamaš], Aya; [Anu, Antu; Kippat-mati], Enlil; [Adad, Šala; Iš]tar of Heaven, [Ištar of Nineveh; Ištar] of Arbela, [Assyri]an [Ištar; Zababa, B]abu; [Belet-ili, Da]mkina; [Ninurta, Kakka], Nabû, [Nergal, Mard]uk (rest broken away) (beginning broken away) (ii 1') Aššur, M[ullissu, Šerua]; Sîn, [Nikkal]; Šamaš, [Aya, Kippat-mati]; Anu, [Antu], Adad, [Šala]; Ištar of [Heaven, Ištar of Nineveh]; Ea, the Be[let-ili, Da]mk[ina, Ninurta: total gods wh]o go afte[r Aššur]. (ii 11') The Golden Chariot, [the Weapon], Amurru, [Haya], Kusu, Tišpak, [Ninurta of…

SAA 20 055. Record of Events at Ešarra on 20-x-714 (CTN 2, 246)

(1) [In the r]eign of Sargon (II), king of Assyria, [in the ep]onym year of Issar-duri, governor of Arrapha (714) , [on the 20th day], the basalt [so]cle underneath the panther of copper was brought into the House of Aššur. [While] the socle was being dragged, they pushed the altar into the socle and delivered a report [bef]ore the king. (6) On the 21st [of Tebet] (X), the royal scribe, Nabû-šallimšunu, came to the Inner City. [...s] were brought [in] big carts from the house of the governor and slain on the altar. (8) [The regular off]ering was performed before Aššur. The House of God was…

Esarhaddon 001

Esarhaddon justifies his anomalous succession — youngest son elevated over elder brothers — by attributing the choice directly to Aššur, Šamaš, and both Ištars, revealing how Sargonid kings marshalled divine authority to legitimise politically irregular transfers of power.

Esarhaddon 002

Esarhaddon's own account of razing Sidon — a coastal Phoenician power — ca. 677 BCE, documenting Assyrian westward expansion and the king's claim to rule 'from the rising sun to the setting sun.'

Esarhaddon 003

(i 1') [...] ... [...] they reared [...] they ordered him to his [...]ship [...] ... they went and (i 5') (No translation possible) (i 16') [... Nabû-zēr-kitti-lī]šir, [...] ... [...] ... heard [of the approach of] my campaign and fled like [a fox t]o the land Ela[m]. (i 20′) [Be]cause of the oath of the great gods [which] he had transgressed, the gods [Aš]šur, Sîn, Šamaš, B[ēl], and Nabû imposed a grievous [punishme]nt on him and they [ki]lled him with the sword [in the mi]dst of the land Elam. Naʾid-Marduk, his brother, (i 25′) saw [the] deeds that they had done [to] his brother in Elam,…

Esarhaddon 004

(i' 1') (No translation warranted) (i' 2') [Moreover, I struck with] the sword [Teušpa, a Cimmeri]an, [a barbarian whose home is remote, together with his entire army, in the territory of the land Ḫub]ušnu. (i' 5') [The one who treads on the necks of the people of Cili]cia, [mountain dwellers who live in inaccessible mountains in the neighborhood] of the land Tabal, [evil Hittites, who from earliest days had not been] submissive to the yoke — [I surrounded, conquered, plundered, demolished, destroy]ed, (and) burned with fire [twenty-one of their fortified cities and small cities in] their…

Esarhaddon 005

Esarhaddon justifies his irregular succession — youngest son elevated over older brothers — by citing divination omens from Šamaš and Adad, documenting how Sargonid kings used extispicy to legitimize contested royal transitions.

Esarhaddon 006

(i 1) [...] ... [... I cried out in] mourning, [I raged like a lion, and my] mood [became furio]us. [In order to exercise kingship (over) the house of my father I beat] my hands together. [I prayed to the gods Aššur, Sîn, Šamaš, Bēl, Nabû, and Nergal], Ištar of Nineveh, (and) [Ištar of Arbela and they accepted] my word(s). [With their firm ‘yes’], they were sending me [reliable omen(s), (saying): ‘Go! Do not hold back! We] will go and [kill your enemies].’ (i 9b') I did [not] hesitate [one day (or) two days. I did not wait for my army. I did not] look [for my rear guard. I did not check the…

Esarhaddon 007

(i' 1') [and its army; I put] to the sword [Išpakāia], a Scythian, [an ally who could not save himself]. (i' 3') [I plundered the land Bīt-Dakkūri, which is in Chaldea, an] enemy of Babylon. [I captured Šamaš-ibni, its king, a rogue] (and) outlaw, (i′ 5′) [who did not respect the oath of the lord of lords, who took away fields of the citizens] of Babylon [and Borsippa by force and turned (them) over to] himself. [Because I know the fear of the gods Bēl and Nabû, I returned those fields and entrusted (them) to the citizens of Baby]lon [and Borsippa. I placed Nabû-šallim, son of Ba]lāssu, [on…

Esarhaddon 008

Claims Assyrian boots on the soil of Patušarra — a district near Mount Bikni in the Median salt desert — where no predecessor king had walked, pushing the attested eastern horizon of Esarhaddon's campaigns beyond earlier royal records.

Esarhaddon 009

(i' 1') [...] regu[lar ...] baked bricks [...] ... tribute and [...] precious stones without number (i′ 5′) [...] ... they blackened [...] the seed of his father’s house, descendants of earlier kings, ditto; [... of] his house, third-men, charioteers, ..., [... re]in-[holders], archers, shield bearers, ditto; [...] ..., incantation priests, dream interpreters, (i′ 10′ ) [...] veterinarians, Egyptian scribes, [...], snake-charmers, together with their helpers, ditto; [...], kāṣiru-craftsmen, singers, bakers, [...], brewers, (together with) their supply managers, ditto; [... clothes] menders,…

Esarhaddon 010

Claims Esarhaddon's simultaneous restoration of Aššur's temple and Babylon's Esagil — the ideological balancing act by which an Assyrian king sought legitimacy in both the north and south after Sennacherib's destruction of Babylon.

Esarhaddon 011

Esarhaddon petitions Sîn and Šamaš jointly for long life, abundant heirs, and victory over enemies — placing the moon- and sun-gods at the centre of his dynastic theology in an era when Esarhaddon was aggressively rebuilding Babylon.

Esarhaddon 012

Records Esarhaddon's restoration of the Aššur temple and manufacture of cult statues for Sîn and Ningal, linking his legitimacy directly to cultic reconstruction after his father Sennacherib's reign.

Esarhaddon 013

(1) [Aššur-etel-ilāni-mu]kīn-apli, the senior son of the king, who (resides in) the House of Succession, [... ... is co]mplete, surpassing in intelligence, [...] whose mind has learned ... of all of the experts, [(...); son of Sennacherib, king of the world] (and) king of Assyria; descendant of Sargon (II), king of the world (and) king of A[ssyria] — (5) [... i]n the city Bāṣ[i (Bāzu) ...] (1') [... when I bro]ught its construction to an end, [...] I invited [...] into it, and I offered [sumptuous pure] offerings [before] them and I presented (them) with my gifts. (4') [Those gods, in] their steadfast [hearts], truly blessed me. [...] ... in that small palace. [May ... l]ast [forever and ever]. May they never leave it (the palace). (7') [...].

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(1') [...] ... [...] its [site] had become too small and not ... [...] ... my wish [...] a small [palac]e for [my] pri[ncely] residence [... (5′) ... I built (and) completed (it) from] its foundations to [its] para[pets ...] ... he returned ... [...] ... days ... [...] ... [...]

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Records Esarhaddon's claim to have captured the household of Taharqa — wives, concubines, sons — after his Egyptian campaign, corroborating Assyrian dominance over the 25th Dynasty in the 670s BCE.

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(1) [...] Esarhaddon [... cho]sen by the god Aššur, [my] lo[rd, ...] a good šēdu, which is in [...] Egypt and Melu[ḫḫa ...] palace of Se[nnacherib, ... Sa]rgon (II), king of the [four] qua[rters, ...]

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(1') king of the wor[ld, king of Assyria]; son of Sennacherib, great king, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria — (5') (As for) the temple of the goddess Ištar of Nineveh, his lady, the one who (re)constructed the temple of the god Aššur (and) (re)built Esagil and Babylon, for the preservation of his life, the lengthening of his days, the well-being of his offspring, (and) the overthrow of his enemies, he (Esarhaddon) ordered the dilapidated (temple) torn down [...] ... [...]

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Attests Esarhaddon's restoration of looted divine statues to their sanctuaries and his reinstatement of regular sattukku- and ginû-offerings — cultic amends that legitimised his reign after Sennacherib's destruction of Babylon.

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(1') [...] ... [...] (2') [... the gods Nin]urta, Adad, [... the gods of] Assyria, al[l of them, into it. I made sumptuous pure offerings before them and pre]sented (them) with my gifts. [... I seated all of the officials and people of my country] in it [at festive tables, ceremonial meals, and banqu]ets [...] ... [... I had (my servants) drench their (the guests’) heads with fine oil (and) per]fumed oil. [...] ... [...]

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(1) The palace of Esarhaddon, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of Sumer and Akkad, king of the kings of (Lower) Egypt, Upper Egypt, (and) Kush, son of Sennacherib, king of Assyria, descendant of Sargon (II), king of Assyria.