Position in chronology
Ashurbanipal 098
Translation · reference
High confidence(i 1') [...] I [brought the deities Bēl (Marduk), Bēltīy]a (Zarpanitu), the Lad[y of] B[abylon, E]a, (and) [Mandānu ou]t of Ešarra [(and) made (them) e]nter into Šuan[na (Babylon)]. (i 6') [(As for) the throne-da]is, the seat of [his (Marduk’s) exalted] divi[nity], Two columns 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/Q003797/
Why it matters
Records Ashurbanipal's ceremonial return of Marduk and the Babylonian gods to Esagila after their Assyrian exile — a pivotal act of religious diplomacy meant to legitimise Assyrian rule over Babylon.
Transliteration
[...] x [...] / [dEN dGAŠAN]-⸢MU⸣ d⸢be-let-KÁ⸣.[DINGIR.RA.KI] / [dé]-⸢a⸣ d[DI.KU₅] / [ul-tú] ⸢qé⸣-reb é-šár-ra ⸢ú⸣-[bil] / [ú]-⸢še⸣-rib qé-reb šu-⸢an⸣-[na.KI] / [BÁRA].⸢MAḪ?-ḫu? šu-bat DINGIR⸣-[ti-šú ṣir-ti]
Scholarly note
Royal inscription of Ashurbanipal or a late Sargonid successor, edited by Jamie Novotny & Joshua Jeffers (RINAP 5, 2018–). ORACC text Q003797.
Attribution
Image: BM — (British Museum, London, UK) — from Nineveh (mod. Kuyunjik) — Photo via Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (cdli.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/artifacts, P403187). 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/Q003797/.
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