All tablets.

Esarhaddon 124

(1) For the god Marduk, his lord: Esarhaddon, king of Assyria (and) king of Babylon, had Etemenanki built anew.

Esarhaddon 125

(1) For the god Marduk, his lord: Esarhaddon, king of Assyria (and) king of Babylon, had baked bricks made anew for Eteme[nanki].

Esarhaddon 126

Attests Esarhaddon's restoration of Etemenanki, the great ziggurat of Babylon, framing reconstruction as personal piety toward Marduk — evidence of an Assyrian king actively courting Babylonian religious legitimacy.

Esarhaddon 127

(1') [...] ... [...] ... [...] (2') [... w]ho to his ... not ... [...] (3') [...] ... paid attention to the mention of his name, his command [...] (4') [...] brings quickly before [...] (5') [... unsub]missive to the comma[nd] (6') [...] destroyed [that] one, making the inhabited world shake (7') [...] the god, his helper, (8') [... wi]th his help, they knelt, beseeching his lordship (9') [...] did not bear my yoke (lit. “pull my yoke-rope”) (10') [who took] away [the fields of the citizens of Babylon and Borsippa], appropriating (them) for himself (11') [...] did not fear his command or the…

Esarhaddon 128

Attests Esarhaddon's devotion to Ištar of Nippur — here styled Queen-of-Nippur enthroned in Ebaradurgara — documenting Assyrian royal investment in a Babylonian cult centre during his post-conquest reconciliation policy.

Esarhaddon 129

Dedicates a building project to Enlil 'whose command cannot be revoked,' pairing that theological formula with Esarhaddon's full titulary to show how Assyrian kings grounded imperial legitimacy in divine sanction.

Esarhaddon 130

(1) [For the god Enlil], king of the gods, valiant, who drives out the enemies in battle, [...] the sublime, who walks at the side of the king — his favorite — the one who conquers the enem[ies ..., ... Elugalg]usisa — which is in Nippur (Duranki) — great lord, [his lord]: (4) [Esarhadd]on, great king, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria, king of the four quarters (of the world), [governor of] Babylon, king of the land of Sumer and Akkad, selected by the steadfast heart of the god En[lil]; (6) [who from] his childhood [trus]ted in the gods Aššur, Enlil, Sîn, Šamaš, Adad, Marduk,…

Esarhaddon 131

(1) For the god Enlil, lord of the lands, his lord: Esarhaddon, king of the world, king of Assyria, (5) king of Babylon, (and) king of the land of Sumer and Akkad, son of Sennacherib, king of the world (and) king of Assyria, (10) descendant of Sargon (II), king of the world (and) king of Assyria, renovated Ekur, the temple of the god Enlil, my lord, and made its processional way shine like daylight.

Esarhaddon 132

(1) For the god Enlil, divine lord of the lands: Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, king of Babylon, (and) king of the land of Sumer and Akkad, for the sake of his life enlarged Pukudadaga (5) in the courtyard of the god Enlil with baked bricks from a (ritually) pure kiln.

Esarhaddon 133

Dedicatory inscription to Ištar-of-Uruk in her Eanna temple: attests Esarhaddon's deliberate cultivation of the ancient Sumerian cult centre as a source of royal legitimacy seven centuries after Ur III.

Esarhaddon 134

(1) For the goddess Ištar-of-Uruk, sovereign of heaven and netherworld, most valiant of the gods, august, supreme lady, who has gathered to herself (all) divine offices of highest rank, the one into whose hand all purification rites are appointed, empress of the goddesses, whose words are pre-eminent in heaven and netherworld, goddess of war and battle, who goes at the side of the king, her favorite, (and) slays his foes, who dwells in Enirgalana (“House, Prince of Heaven) — which is inside Eanna — lady of Uruk, great lady, his lady: (6) Esarhaddon, king of the world, king of Assyria,…

Esarhaddon 135

(1) For the goddess Nanāya, veiled one of the goddesses, who is adorned with attractiveness and joy and full of glamour, splendid daughter of the god Anu, whose lordship is supreme among all ladies, eminent spouse of the god Muzibsâ, praised sekretu, beloved of his majesty, compassionate goddess, who goes to the help of the king who reveres her, who prolongs his reign, who dwells in Eḫiliana (“House, Luxuriance of Heaven”) — which is inside Eanna — queen of Uruk, great lady, his lady: (6) Esarhaddon, king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of the land of Sumer and Akkad;…

Esarhaddon 136

(1) For the goddess Nanāya, queen of Uruk, great lady, his lady: (2) Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of the land of Sumer and Akkad; who is assiduous toward the sanctuaries of the great gods; the one who (re)constructed the temple of the god Aššur, (re)built Esagil and Babylon, (5) renovated Eanna, completed the sanctuaries of all of the cult centers, (and) constantly established appropriate procedures in them; the one who conquered from the Upper Sea to the Lower Sea (and) the one who made all rulers submissive to him; son of Sennacherib, king of Assyria; descendant of…

Esarhaddon 137

(1) For the goddess Ištar of Uruk, lady of the lands: Esarhaddon, king of the world, king of Assyria, (5) governor of Babylon, (and) king of the four quarters, son of Sennacherib, king of the world (and) king of Assyria, descendant of Sargon (II), king of the world (and) (10) king of Ass[yria], renovated Eanna (“House of Heaven”), the temple of highest rank, for the sake of his life, and made (it) shine like daylight.

Esarhaddon 138

(1) For the goddess [Ištar (of Uruk)], lady of the lands: Esarha[ddon], king of Assyria (and) king of Babylon, renovated E[ann]a (“House of Heaven”), the temple of highest rank, for the sake of [his] life, and made (it) shine like daylight.

Esarhaddon 139

(1) For the goddess [Ištar] of Uruk, lady of Eanna, lady of the lands, [his] lady: Esarhaddon, king of the world, king of Assyr[ia], governor of Babylon, (5) king of the land of Sumer and Ak[kad], son of Sennacher[ib, king of the world, king of] Assyr[ia, descendant of Sargon (II)], king of the world, king of Assyria, [renovated Ean]na, (10) [the temple of high]est rank, [and] made (it) [shine] like [daylig]ht.

Esarhaddon 140

(1) For the god Adad, who resides in the city Guzāna, his lord: Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, son of Sennacherib, king of Assyria, made (this bucket) for his (long) life.

Esarhaddon 141

(1) The palace of Esarhaddon, king of the world, king of Assyria: (this is) booty from Egypt (and) Kush.

Esarhaddon 142

(1) To the god Marduk, his lord: Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, gave (this eyestone) for his (long) life.

Esarhaddon 143

(1) [For the goddess Tašmē]tu, [his lady]: (2b) [Esar]haddon, [king of Assyria, made an]d dedicated (this object) [for] his (long) life [and for the (long) life of] his [children].

Esarhaddon 2001

(1) (Property) of Ešarra-ḫammat, wife of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria.

Esarhaddon 2002

(1') [...] ... [...] that house [...] ..., the tomb of Ešar<ra>-ḫammat, his wife, ... [...].

Esarhaddon 2003

Issued in the voice of Naqīʾa-Zakūtu, Esarhaddon's mother, this inscription is a rare case of an Assyrian queen mother publicly claiming a share of war spoils and directing conquered peoples to corvée labour in her own name.

Esarhaddon 2004

Lacuna? (1') [...] king [... Zakūtu/Naqīʾa ... wi]fe ... [... Sennach]erib, king of the world, [king of Assyria, daughter-in-law of Sargon (II), king of the world, k]ing of [Assyria, mother of Esar]haddon, king of the world (and) king of [Assyria]; (6') [the gods Aššur, Sîn], Šamaš, Nabû, and Marduk, Ištar of Nineveh, (and) [Ištar of Arbela] glad[ly placed Esarha]ddon, my offspring, upon the throne of his father, [... whose] good ... [...] they made pre-[eminent ...] who marched [... from the] Upper [Sea] to the Low[er] Sea (and) who does not [have] an equal (therein); (and) who flattened his…

Esarhaddon 2005

(1) To the goddess Bēlet-Ninūa, who resides in Emašm[aš], great queen, her lady: (2b) Naqīʾa, wife of Sennacherib, king of Assyria, daughter-in-law of Sargon (II), king of the world, king of Assyria, commissioned a pectoral of red gold, which was inlaid with precious stone(s) weighing 3 3/4 minas. (6) She presented and dedicated (this object) for the preservation of the life of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, her son, and for her own life, for the stability of her reign, (and for) the well-being of her offspring.

Esarhaddon 2006

(r 1) To the queen, the goddess Mullissu, who resides in Ešarra, great queen, her lady: (r 2) Zakūtu, wife of Sennacherib, king of the world, king of Assyria, daughter-in-law of Sargon (II), king of the world, king of Assyria, mother of Esarhaddon, king of the world (and) king of Assyria, commissioned a gold ... that was inlaid with obsidian, [...]-stone, carnelian, pappardilû-stone, papparminu-stone, [...]-stone, (and) lapis lazuli weighing 1 1/2 minas. (r 7b) She presented [and dedicated] (this object) for the preservation of (the life of) Esar[haddon, her son], and for her own life, for the lengthening of [her days], the stability of her reign, (and for) the well-being of her offspring.

Esarhaddon 2007

(1) To the god(dess) D[N]: (2) Zakūtu, wife of Sennacherib, king of Assyria, dedicated (this object) for the (long) )life of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, her son, and for her (long) life.

Esarhaddon 2008

(1) [To the goddess Bē]let-Bābili, her lady: (2) [N]aqīʾa, wife of Sennach[er]ib, king of Assyria, daughter-in-law of Sargon (II), king of Assyria, mother of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, presented (this object) for the preservation of the life of her son and for her (long) life.

Esarhaddon 2009

(1) Naqīʾa, wife of Senna[cherib (...)].

Esarhaddon 2010

(1') [They (the gods) entered the orch]ards, groves, ... [...] ... [... through the] craft of the sage [“the washing of] the mouth,” “the open[ing of the] mouth,” [“bathing,” (and) “pu]rifica[tion”] (were recited) before [the stars of] the night: the gods [Ea, Šamaš], Asallu[ḫi, Bēlet-ilī], Ku[su], and [Ni]ngirima. (11') I washed its mouth ... [...] exalted [...] ... [...] ... [...] Label on the gown of figure on the left: (1) Image of Naqīʾ[a ...]

Ashurbanipal 001

Documents Ashurbanipal's forced resettlement of conquered populations into Egypt and the Levantine town of Qirbit — a concrete case of Assyrian demographic engineering as an instrument of imperial control.

Ashurbanipal 002

Lists nine deities who legitimise Ashurbanipal's rule, each sponsoring a different royal quality — a snapshot of the theological machinery the Neo-Assyrian court used to underwrite imperial authority.

Ashurbanipal 003

Claims divine sanction for Ashurbanipal's literacy — the gods granted him 'a broad mind' to master the scribal arts — embedding scholarly kingship ideology at the heart of Assyrian royal self-presentation.

Ashurbanipal 004

Claims divine sanction not just for Ashurbanipal's military power but for his scribal learning — one of the clearest royal assertions that literacy itself was a gift of the gods and a mark of legitimate kingship.

Ashurbanipal 005

Claims divine sanction for Ashurbanipal's legendary scribal literacy — a rare royal boast that a king personally mastered cuneiform learning, framing intellectual mastery as a god-given mark of legitimate rule.

Ashurbanipal 006

Claims Ashurbanipal completed Esarhaddon's unfinished temples — including Eḫursaggalkurkurra at Aššur — framing construction piety as dynastic continuity and divine sanction for his kingship.

Ashurbanipal 007

Records Ashurbanipal's restoration of Marduk's chariot and shrine roof, linking Assyrian royal piety toward Babylon's chief god to the ideological balancing act of ruling both Assyria and Babylonia simultaneously.

Ashurbanipal 008

Documents Ashurbanipal's restoration of Sîn and Nusku to their temples and his refurbishment of sanctuaries across Assyria and Akkad, anchoring the king's legitimacy in cultic patronage rather than military conquest.

Ashurbanipal 009

Attests the Sargonid practice of legitimating a crown prince through divine pre-election — Sîn's nomination in the womb — positioning Ashurbanipal's rule as cosmically ordained before Esarhaddon's formal designation.

Ashurbanipal 010

Ashurbanipal's titulature — king of Assyria, Babylon, Sumer, and Akkad simultaneously — encapsulates the ideological claim that one ruler could hold the entire Mesopotamian world-order, north and south, under a single divine mandate.

Ashurbanipal 011

Declares Ashurbanipal's kingship divinely foreordained from the womb by Aššur, Sîn, Šamaš, Adad, and Ištar — anchoring Sargonid legitimacy theology in a chain of gods stretching from conception to coronation.

Ashurbanipal 012

Records Ashurbanipal's lavish furnishing of Ezida at Borsippa — an ebony bed for Marduk, silver wild-bull guardians, and 83 talents of zaḫalû-metal — documenting Assyrian royal patronage of the great Babylonian sanctuaries.

Ashurbanipal 013

Preserves Ashurbanipal's own account of his divine mandate, naming seven patron deities across Assyrian and Babylonian pantheons — evidence of deliberate theological synthesis at the height of Sargonid imperial ideology.

Ashurbanipal 014

Fuses two registers of Sargonid kingship in a single text: the lone-archer lion hunt staged as cosmic spectacle, and the Addaru akītu-festival linking royal legitimacy to the queen of the gods.

Ashurbanipal 015

Ashurbanipal claims the wisdom of the antediluvian sage Adapa as personal divine endowment — coupling scribal mastery with military might to justify one king's embodiment of both priestly and warrior ideals.

Ashurbanipal 016

Chronicles the chaotic succession crisis in Elam after Urtaku's death — rival claimants dying of mouse-bite and dropsy before the demon-like Teumman seized the throne — framing Assyrian intervention as cosmic necessity.

Ashurbanipal 017

Records Elamite court violence — the killing of Indabibi and enthronement of Ḫumban-ḫaltaš III — framed as divinely ordained Assyrian dominance, linking Sargonid royal ideology directly to datable Elamite dynastic upheaval c. 655 BCE.

Ashurbanipal 018

Preserves Ashurbanipal's account of Elamite vassal Indabibi's submission — fragmentary but direct evidence of how Assyrian royal inscriptions legitimised dominance over post-Teumman Elam.

Ashurbanipal 019

Documents Assyrian military operations against Elamite royal survivors after the fall of Teumman, then records a diplomatic rupture: Ummanigaš detained Ashurbanipal's envoy and broke off communication — a prelude to renewed Assyrian-Elamite war.

Ashurbanipal 020

Records Ashurbanipal's desecration of Elamite royal tombs and the repatriation of Nanāya's cult statue to Uruk after 1,635 years — anchoring a precise, self-serving Assyrian chronology of divine abandonment and imperial restoration.