Nabonidus 01
Alex Forbes / Akkadian Royal Inscriptions / Neo-Babylonian Royal Inscriptions
- Created on 2023-06-05 18:37:00
- Modified on 2023-06-05 21:57:24
- Translated by Frauke Weiershäuser and Jamie Novotny
- Aligned by Alex Forbes
An instription of Nabonidus, last king of the Neo-Babylonian Empire, as translated by Frauke Weierhäuser and Jamie Novotny (Weiershäuser, Frauke, and Jamie Novotny. “Nabonidus 01.” Babylon 7 : The Inscriptions of the Neo-Babylonian Dynasty, 2015. http://oracc.org/ribo/Q005398/.)
Akkadian
English
{ d } AG-na-ʾi-id LUGAL TIN . TIR . KI NUN na-a-du re-e₂-a-am za-ni-nu ša₂ a-na ṭe₄-em DINGIR . MEŠ pu-tuq-qu e-em-qa₂ mu-ut-ne₂-en-nu-u₂ mu-uš-te-ne₂-eʾ-u₂ aš-ra-a-ti₃ DINGIR . MEŠ GAL . MEŠ eṭ-lu šu-us-su-mu bi-nu-ut ABGAL DINGIR . MEŠ { d } AMAR . UTU na-ab-ni-it { d } E₄ . RU₆ ba-na-a-ta gi-mir ma-al-ku i-ti-it { d } MU . U₂ . A . TI a-pil e₂-sag-il₂ IL₂ mit-hur-tu₂ bi-nu-tu { d } nin-ši-ku₃ mu-du-u₂ ba-nu-u₂ ka-la-ma ni-bi-it { d } ŠEŠ . KI-ri be-lu a-gi-i mu-kal-li-im ṣa-ad-du ša u₄-mi-šam-ma iš-te-ne₂-eʾ-u₂ pu-luh-tu₄ DINGIR . MEŠ GAL . MEŠ a-na zi-in-na-a-ti e₂-sag-il₂ u₃ e₂-zi-da ba-ša-a uz-na-a-šu DUMU { md } na-bi-um-ba-lat-su-iq-bi NUN e-em-qa₂ a-na-ku URU KA₂ . DINGIR . RAKI a-na dam-qa-a-ti aš-te-ne₂-eʾ-e a-na e₂-sag-il₂ E₂ . GAL DINGIR . MEŠ GAL . MEŠ šu-tu₂-ra-ku IGI . SA₂-e a-na e₂-zi-da ša₂-ad ba-la-ṭu mim-ma šum-šu du-uš-ša₂-ku ša₂ e₂-mes-lam E₂ qar-ra-du DINGIR . MEŠ ṭu₂-uh-hu-da-ak hi-iṣ-bi i₃-nu-šu im-gur- { d } EN . LIL₂ BAD₃ KA₂ . DINGIR . RA . KI iš-da-a-šu i-nu-šu-ma i-qu-pu i-ga-ru-šu re-e-ši-šu it-ru-ur-ma ne₂-me₂-et-ta la i-ši BAD₃ šu-a-ti ana du-un-nu-nim-ma ne₂-me₂-et-ta šu-ur₂-ši-i i-ga-ru-šu qu-up-pu-tim ad-ke-e-ma BAD₃ . im-gur- { d } EN . LIL₂ BAD₃ KA₂ . DINGIR . RA . KI ku-du-ur-ru UŠ . 20 . TA . Apu-lu-uk-ku da-ra-u₂ u₂-ṣur-ti₃ ki-na-a-ta mi-ṣi-ir šu-ur₂-šu-du ki-sur-ra-a šu-un-du-lu tu-uk-šu da-num₂ e-di-il pa-ni a-a-bi
ma-ḫa-za re-eš-tu-ú tuk-la-tu₄ ba-ú-la-a-ti i-ši-id-su ú-da-an-ni-in ki-ma kin-né-e ú-pat-tin-ma ša-da-ni-iš ú-zaq-qí-ir mé-la-a-šu úḫu-mi-iš ú-šar-ši-id-su a-na tab-ra-a-tú aš-ták-kan-šu ši-ṭi-ir šu-mi šá LUGAL maḫ-ri šá qé-reb-šu ap-pal-su it-ti ši-ṭi-ir šu-mi-ia qer-ba-šu ú-ki-in a-na ṣa-a-tú { d } EN . LÍL DINGIR . MEŠ { d } AMAR . UTU šá qí-bit-su ki-na-at be-lu ap-kal-lu₄ DINGIR . MEŠ šu-úr-bu-ú qu-ra-du ši-ip-ri šu-a-ti ḫa-di-iš nap-lis-ma mi-im-mu-ú e-te-ep-pu-šu li-bur-ma li-ku-un ma-ḫa-ar-ka šu-ri-ik UD . MEŠ ba-la-ṭi-ia lu-uš-ba-a lit-tu-tu a-a ar-šá-a šá-ni-na šu-um-qí-it a-a-bi-ia lu-pu-uš re-é-ú-si-na šá ka-li-iš kib-ra-a-ti nap-ḫar ṣal-mat SAG . DU gi-mir te-né-še-e-ti lu-be-el a-na da-rí-a-ti lu-re-ʾe-e na-gab-šu-un LUGAL . MEŠ a-ši-ib pa-rak-ku ša iš*-ta*-na-at-tu-ú mé-e nag-bi e-li-šu-nu lu-ki-in GIŠ . NÍG . GIDRU lu-pu-uš be-lu-su-un be-lu pa-li-iḫ-ka i-lab-bi-ir a-na da-rí-a-ti uṣ-ṣa-ab ba-la-ṭu i-ba-ʾi-il šu-um-šu a-na-ku lu-ú LUGAL za-nin-ku mu-uš-te-ʾu-ú aš-ri-ka a-na da-rí-a-ti
ma-ḫa-za re-eš-tu-ú tuk-la-tu₄ ba-ú-la-a-ti i-ši-id-su ú-da-an-ni-in ki-ma kin-né-e ú-pat-tin-ma ša-da-ni-iš ú-zaq-qí-ir mé-la-a-šu úḫu-mi-iš ú-šar-ši-id-su a-na tab-ra-a-tú aš-ták-kan-šu ši-ṭi-ir šu-mi šá LUGAL maḫ-ri šá qé-reb-šu ap-pal-su it-ti ši-ṭi-ir šu-mi-ia qer-ba-šu ú-ki-in a-na ṣa-a-tú { d } EN . LÍL DINGIR . MEŠ { d } AMAR . UTU šá qí-bit-su ki-na-at be-lu ap-kal-lu₄ DINGIR . MEŠ šu-úr-bu-ú qu-ra-du ši-ip-ri šu-a-ti ḫa-di-iš nap-lis-ma mi-im-mu-ú e-te-ep-pu-šu li-bur-ma li-ku-un ma-ḫa-ar-ka šu-ri-ik UD . MEŠ ba-la-ṭi-ia lu-uš-ba-a lit-tu-tu a-a ar-šá-a šá-ni-na šu-um-qí-it a-a-bi-ia lu-pu-uš re-é-ú-si-na šá ka-li-iš kib-ra-a-ti nap-ḫar ṣal-mat SAG . DU gi-mir te-né-še-e-ti lu-be-el a-na da-rí-a-ti lu-re-ʾe-e na-gab-šu-un LUGAL . MEŠ a-ši-ib pa-rak-ku ša iš*-ta*-na-at-tu-ú mé-e nag-bi e-li-šu-nu lu-ki-in GIŠ . NÍG . GIDRU lu-pu-uš be-lu-su-un be-lu pa-li-iḫ-ka i-lab-bi-ir a-na da-rí-a-ti uṣ-ṣa-ab ba-la-ṭu i-ba-ʾi-il šu-um-šu a-na-ku lu-ú LUGAL za-nin-ku mu-uš-te-ʾu-ú aš-ri-ka a-na da-rí-a-ti
Nabonidus
,
king
of
Babylon
,
attentive
prince
,
the
shepherd
who
provides
,
the
one
who
is
constantly
attentive
to
the
will
of
the
gods
,
the
wise
(
and
)
pious
one
,
the
one
who
is
assiduous
towards
the
shrines
of
the
great
gods
,
most
befitting
young
man
,
creation
of
the
sage
of
the
gods
—
the
god
Marduk
—
product
of
the
goddess
Erua
—
creatress
of
all
rulers
—
selected
by
the
god
Nabû
—
the
heir
of
Esagil
who
brings
(
cosmic
)
harmony
—
creation
of
the
god
Ninšiku
—
the
(
all-
)
knowing
creator
of
everything
—
chosen
by
the
god
Nannāru
—
the
lord
of
the
crown
who
makes
astrological
signs
known
—
the
one
who
is
assiduous
about
(
showing
)
devotion
every
day
to
the
great
gods
(
and
)
whose
mind
is
focused
on
provisioning
Esagil
and
Ezida
,
son
of
Nabû-balāssu-iqbi
,
wise
prince
,
am
I
—
For good relations , I am assiduous towards the city of Babylon . I am foremost in ( giving ) gifts to Esagil , the palace of the great gods ; I abundantly supply everything to Ezida , the mountain of life ; ( and ) I lavishly provide abundance to Emeslam , the temple of the hero of the gods . At that time , ( with regard to ) Imgur-Enlil , the wall of Babylon , its foundations had become shaky , its walls had buckled , its superstructure was tottering , and it had no support . « In order to » strengthen that wall and support it , I removed the buckled sections of its wall ( lit . ‘its buckled walls’ ) . ( As for ) Imgur-Enlil , the wall of Babylon , the boundary ( with a length ) of 20 UŠ ( 7 , 200 m ) , the eternal boundary marker , the plan of orderliness , the firmly-founded border , the wide-stretching ground plan , the strong shield that bolts ( Babylon ) before enemies , the foremost cult center on which people rely , I strengthened its foundation ( s ) , made ( them ) firm like mountains , and ( then ) I raised its high parts up like mountain ( s ) , ( and ) made it as secure as a great mountain . I established it as an object of wonder . ( As for ) an inscription bearing the name of a former king that I had discovered inside ( it ) , I firmly established ( it ) inside it ( Imgur-Enlil ) forever with an inscription bearing my name . O Enlil of the gods , Marduk , whose command is reliable , ( divine ) lord , sage of the gods , supreme hero , look with pleasure upon this work so that whatever I have built stays in good repair and endures in your presence . Prolong the days of my life so that I may be sated with old age . May I have no rival . Cut down my enemies so that I may exercise the shepherdship of all ( four ) quarters ( of the world and ) rule over the entirety of the black-headed ( people ) , all humankind ; may I shepherd all of them for eternity . ( As for ) the kings who sit on ( royal ) dais ( es ) , wherever they drink spring water , may I impose the scepter upon them ( and ) exercise dominion over them . The lord who reveres you will live for eternity ( and ) he will increase ( his ) vigor ; his name will be important . May I be the king who provides for you ( and ) the one who is assiduous towards your place ( of worship ) for eternity .
For good relations , I am assiduous towards the city of Babylon . I am foremost in ( giving ) gifts to Esagil , the palace of the great gods ; I abundantly supply everything to Ezida , the mountain of life ; ( and ) I lavishly provide abundance to Emeslam , the temple of the hero of the gods . At that time , ( with regard to ) Imgur-Enlil , the wall of Babylon , its foundations had become shaky , its walls had buckled , its superstructure was tottering , and it had no support . « In order to » strengthen that wall and support it , I removed the buckled sections of its wall ( lit . ‘its buckled walls’ ) . ( As for ) Imgur-Enlil , the wall of Babylon , the boundary ( with a length ) of 20 UŠ ( 7 , 200 m ) , the eternal boundary marker , the plan of orderliness , the firmly-founded border , the wide-stretching ground plan , the strong shield that bolts ( Babylon ) before enemies , the foremost cult center on which people rely , I strengthened its foundation ( s ) , made ( them ) firm like mountains , and ( then ) I raised its high parts up like mountain ( s ) , ( and ) made it as secure as a great mountain . I established it as an object of wonder . ( As for ) an inscription bearing the name of a former king that I had discovered inside ( it ) , I firmly established ( it ) inside it ( Imgur-Enlil ) forever with an inscription bearing my name . O Enlil of the gods , Marduk , whose command is reliable , ( divine ) lord , sage of the gods , supreme hero , look with pleasure upon this work so that whatever I have built stays in good repair and endures in your presence . Prolong the days of my life so that I may be sated with old age . May I have no rival . Cut down my enemies so that I may exercise the shepherdship of all ( four ) quarters ( of the world and ) rule over the entirety of the black-headed ( people ) , all humankind ; may I shepherd all of them for eternity . ( As for ) the kings who sit on ( royal ) dais ( es ) , wherever they drink spring water , may I impose the scepter upon them ( and ) exercise dominion over them . The lord who reveres you will live for eternity ( and ) he will increase ( his ) vigor ; his name will be important . May I be the king who provides for you ( and ) the one who is assiduous towards your place ( of worship ) for eternity .