CM 52 (Nabu-šuma-iškun)

The following, very fragmentary text from Uruk, is a chronographic document dealing with the history of Babylonia in the eighth century BCE, and especially the demise of king Nabû-šuma-iškun, who died in 748, after he had broken all written and unwritten laws of his civilization. The text was already damaged in Antiquity: the scribe notes several breaks in the original he was copying.

For a very brief introduction to the literary genre of chronicles, go here. More information can be found in Jean-Jacques Glassner, Mesopotamian Chronicles (Atlanta, 2004), in which this is text CM 52.

Translation of Column ii

[ii.2'] ...
On a propitious day, from Babylon, Nabû-šuma-iškun turned his attention toward his country but

[ii.3'] on the order of the BREAK lords Nabû and Marduk, he went into the ... inside the house and

[ii.4'] no longer went into battle nor started into the field.

[ii.5'] In the third year, again, he brought the statue of Nanaya, the goddess of the Ezida, the beloved of Nabû, into the Bit mummi but

[ii.6'] kept Nabû in Babylon and had the ceremonies of the evening before and those of the day if the eššešu-festival celebrated in only one day.

[ii.7'] He covered the fine garment of Nabû with the fine garment of Bêl of the month Šabatu.

[ii.8'] Dressed as the latter, he proposed Bêl's marriage to Tašmetu.

[ii.9'] Unshaven, he mutilated the fingers of his apprentice scribe, and, wearing fine gold, he entered into Bêl's cella of offering ....

[ii.10'] A leek, a thing forbidden in the Ezida, he brought to the temple of Nabû and gave to eat to the one "entering the temple" (i.e., the priest).

[ii.11'] Ea, the lord of wisdom, whose dwelling place was founded with pure heaven and earth,

[ii.12'] he made him get up from the dwelling place, which befitted his great divinity, and made him sit in the exalted gateway of Bêl.

[ii.13'] He removed Madanu, "Bêl of Babylon", his favorite god, from his seat and made him leave.

[ii.14'] Without the authority of ...  this city, he did as he pleased,

[ii.15'] of ...-ri, son of ..., who

[ii.16] He ... BREAK ...

[ii.18'] ... he unleashed and ... allowed to roam freely.

[ii.19'] He had her grasp ... he had her leashed.

[ii.20'] He had ... of Ištar ... disconnected.

[ii.21'] ... to the granary of the verdant countryside he offered ... a dust storm ....

[ii.22'] He presented ... Belet-duri ....

[ii.23'] ... Nabû, detained several nights in Babylon and ... seated among ... without destinies.

[ii.24'] ... Babylon ... which he destroyed by fire.

[ii.25'] ... the great lord Marduk ... he went to Marduk in place of the king and

[ii.26'] ... he spoke ... was placed.

[ii.27'] ... kept in order ...

[ii.28'] ... the kneeling lord ... he made sing.