Nebuchadnezzar II Cuneiform Cylinder (605-562 B.C.E.)

Inscriptions

Incised, in cuneiform [translation]: "I, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, keeper (of the temples) of Esagila and Ezida, son of Nabopolassar, king of Babylon, have built anew Ebabbara, the temple of Shamash in Sippar, for Shamash, the lord, the lengthener of my days. O Shamash, great lord, look upon my deeds with friendly favor! Life till distant days, abundance of descendants, security of throne, long life for my dynasty give me as gift! The lifting of my hands (my prayer) accept in good faith! At your exalted command, which is unchangeable, may my action, the work of my hands, last eternally! May my descendants revel in kingly might, may they be secure in the land! Wherever my hand is lifted to you (wherever I pray to you), Lord Shamash, pave my roads for the destruction of my enemies. You are Shamash! Your grim weapons, which are not to be withstood, may they be at my side for the overthrow of my enemies! Just as the bricks of Ebabbara and laid down (firmly) for eternity, so may my years be long into eternity!"

Course History

REL 81, Dickinson Distinguished Scholar Seminar: Orientalism and the Origins of Religion, Susannah Heschel, Fall 2012

ANTH 12.2, The Archaeology of the Ancient Near East, Jason Herrmann, Spring 2013

ANTH 12.2, Archaeology of the Ancient Near East, Daniel Potts, Spring 2014

Provenance

Milton S. Yondorf, Chicago, Illinois; given to present collection, 1942.

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