ABC 7 (Nabonidus Chronicle)

The Chronicle Concerning the Reign of Nabonidus (ABC 7) is one of the most important historiographical texts from ancient Babylonia. It deals not just with the reign of Nabonidus (r.556-539 BCE), but also with the rise of the Persian king Cyrus the Great, the demise of the Babylonian Empire, and the founding of the Achaemenid Empire.

Nabonidus Chronicle (obverse)

The Nabonidus Chronicle tells the story of the rule of Nabonidus, the last king of independent Babylonia. The text is badly damaged and contains many lacunas. However, it makes clear that the rise of Cyrus was not unexpected. We meet him for the first time in Nabonidus' sixth year (=550 BCE), when he defeats the Median leader Astyages. A second reference can be found in year nine, when he defeats the king of a country that cannot be identified (547 BCE).

(Nabonidus Chronicle (reverse)

In addition, we learn that Nabonidus was not in Babylon for ten years. Instead, he seems to have tried to subject Arabia. In year three he conquered the kingdom Edom, which controls the direct road from Babylon to the Gulf of Aqaba. From year seven until year sixteen, Nabonidus stayed in the oasis of Tayma in the Arab desert, from where he could easily go as far south as the oasis Yatrib (modern Medina).

The events of year seventeen look rather desperate: although the New Year's festival (Akitu) could be celebrated, several divine guests fail to attend, which suggests that their home towns were under siege. We also learn about a short invasion by soldiers from the Sea Land.

Throughout this text, "Akkad" means Babylonia; the first years show Babylonian military activity in Syria and the southeast of modern Turkey.

The translation below was made by A.K. Grayson, with some changes based on more recent research.

Chapter
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ii
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Section
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3
4
5
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9
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Column ii

[ii.1] [The sixth year:note Astyages] mustered (his army) and marched against Cyrus, king of Anšan, for conquest [...]

[ii.2] The army rebelled against Astyages and he was taken prisoner. Th[ey handed him over] to Cyrus. ([...])

[ii.3] Cyrus <marched> to Ecbatana, the royal city. The silver, gold, goods, property, [...]

[ii.4] which he carried off as booty (from) Ecbatana, he took to Anšan. The goods (and) property of the army of [...].

 

[ii.5] The seventh year:note The king (was) in Tayma (while) the prince, his officers, (and) his army (were) in Akkad. [In the month Nisannu, the king]

[ii.6] did not come to Babylon. Nabu did not come to Babylon. Bel did not come out. The [Akitu festiv]al [did not take place].

[ii.7] The offerings to the gods op Babylon and Borsippa, a[s in normal times], in Esagila and Ezida

[ii.8] were presented. The urigallû-priest made a libation and inspected the temple. ([...])

 

[ii.9] The eighth year:note [Blank space]

 

[ii.10] The ninth year:note Nabonidus the king (was) <in> Tayma, (while) the prince, the officers, (and) the army (were) in Akkad. The king, in the month Nisanu, to Babylon

[ii.11] did not come. Nabu did not come to Babylon. Bel did not come out. The Akitu festival did not take place.

[ii.12] The offerings were presented (to) the gods of <Babylon> and Borsippa as in normal times in Esagil and Ezida.

[ii.13] On the fifth day of the month Nisanu the queen mother, in Dur-Karašu, which is on the banks of the Euphrates upstream from Sippar,

[ii.14] she died. The prince and his army were in mourning for three days (and) there was (an official) mourning period. In the month Simanu, in Akkad,

[ii.15] there was (an official) mourning period for the queen mother. In the month Nisanu, Cyrus, king of Parsu, mustered his army and

[ii.16] crossed the Tigris below Arbela. In the month Ajaru, he marched to the land of...note

[ii.17] He killed its king, took his possessions, (and) stationed his own garrison (there) [...]

[ii.18] Afterwards the king and his garrison was in it ([...])

 

[ii.19] The tenth year:note The king (was) in Tayma (while) the prince, the officers, and his army (were) in Akkad. The king [did not come to Babylon in the month Nisanu.]

[ii.20] Nabu did not come to Babylon. Bel did not come out. The Akitu festival did not take place. The offerings in E[sagil and Ezida]

[ii.21] were presented (to) the gods of Babylon and Borsippa as in normal times. On the twenty-first day of the month Simanu [...]

[ii.22] of Elammya in Akkad ... [...] the district governor of Uru[k ...]

 

[ii.23] The eleventh year:note the king (was) in Tayma (while) the prince, the officers, and his army (were) in Akkad. [The king did not come to Babylon in the month Nisanu.]

[ii.24]  [Nabu] did not come [to Bab]ylon. Bel did not come out. The Akitu festival did not take place. The of[ferings in Esagil and Ezida]

[ii.25] were presented [(to) the gods of Bab]ylon and Borsippa [as in normal times].

[Broken off]