Individual Details
Adad Guppi
(649 BC - 547 BC)
I (am) the lady Adda-guppi’, mother
of Nabium-na’id, king of Babylon,
votaress of the gods Sin, Nin-gal, Nusku, and Sadarnunna, my deities
who, from my childhood, have sought after
their godheads. Whereas in the i6th year of Nabopolassar,
king of Babylon, Sin, king of the gods, with his city
and his temple was angry and went up to heaven-the city and
the people that (were) in it went to ruin.
(Now) forasmuch as the shrines of Sin, Nin-gal, Nusku,
and Sadarnunna I sought after and was worshipper of their godhead,
(and) that I laid hold on the hem of the robe of Sin, king of the gods, night and daytime
I had ever in mind his great godhead@aily, without ceaSing,
of Sin, gamag, Igtar, and Adda, so long as I am alive,
I (am) their votaress (both) in heaven and earth. My blesSings,
the goodly things which they gave me, I (too) by day, night, month, and year, gave (back) to them.
I laid hold on the hem of the robe of Sin, king of the gods, night and daytime
my two eyes were with him, in prayer and humility of face
was I bowed before them (and) thus (I prayed), " May thy return
to thy city be (vouchsafed) to me, that the people, the black-headed,
may worship thy great godhead." For calming
the heart of my god and my goddess, a dress of fine wool, jewels,
silver, gold, a new shift, perfumes, sweet oil,
applied not to my body, (but in) a torn shift
I went clothed, my goings-out were noiseless, I proclaimed
their praises : the glory of my city and of my goddess
was (ever) set in my heart, I kept watch upon them,
anything good of mine I did not omit, but carried it (ever) before them.
From the 2oth year of Assurbanipal, king of Assyria, that I was born (in)
until the 42nd year of Assurbanipal, the 3rd year of Asur-etillu-ili,
his son, the 2 I St year of Nabopolassar, the 43rd year of Nebuchadrezzar,
the 2nd year of Awel-Marduk, the 4th year of Neriglissar,
in 95 years of the god Sin, king of the gods of heaven and earth,
(in) which I sought after the shrines of his great godhead,
(for) my good doings he looked upon me with a smile
he heard my prayers, he granted my saying, the wrath
of his heart calmed. Towards E-hul-hul the temple of Sin
which (is) in Harran, the abode of his heart’s delight, he was reconciled, he had
regard. Sin, king of the gods, looked upon me and
Nabu-na’id (my) only son, the issue of my womb, to the kingship
he called, and the kingship of Sumer and Akkad
from the border of Egypt (on) the upper sea even to the lower sea
all the lands he entrusted hither
to his hands. My two hands I lifted up and to Sin, king of the gods,
reverently with imploration [(I prayed) thus, " Nabu-na’id
(my) son, offspring of my womb, beloved of his mother,]
Col. II.
thou hast called him to the kingship, thou hast pronounced his name,
at the command of thy great godhead may the great gods
go at his two sides, may they make his enemies to fall,
forget not, (but) make good E-hul-hul and the finishing of its foundation (?)
When in my dream, his two hands had been laid on, Sin, king of the gods,
spoke to me thus, " With thee I will put into the hands of Nabu-na’id, thy son, the return of the gods and the habitation of Harran ;
He shall build E-hul-hul, shall perfect its structure, (and) Harran
more than (it was) before he shall perfect and restore it to its place.
The hand of Sin, Nin-gal, Nusku, and Sadarnunna
I. he shall clasp and cause them to enter E-hul-hul ". The word of Sin,
king of the gods, which he spoke to me I honoured, and I myself saw (it fulfilled);
Nabu-na’id, (my) only son, offspring of my womb, the rites
forgotten of Sin, Nin-gal, Nusku, and
Sadarnunna he perfected, E-hul-hul
anew he built and perfected its structure, Harran more
than before he perfected and restored it to its place ; the hand
of Sin, Nin-gal, Nusku, and Sadarnunna from
Suanna his royal city he clasped, and in the midst of Harran
in E-hul-hul the abode of their hearts’ ease with gladness
and rejoicing he let them dwell. What from former times Sin, king of the gods,
had not done and had not granted to anybody (he did) for the love of me
who had ever worshipped his godhead, laid hold on the hem of his robe-Sin, king of the gods,
uplifted my head and set upon me a good name in the land,
long days, years of heart’s ease he multiplied upon me.
From the time of Assurbanipal, king of Assyria, until the 9th year
of Nabu-na’id king of Babylon, the son, offspring of my womb
104 years of happiness, with the reverence which Sin, king of the gods,
placed in me, he made me flourish, my own self : the sight of my two eyes
is clear, I am excellent in understanding, my hand and both feet are sound,
well-chosen are my words, meat and drink
agree with me, my flesh is goodly, glad is my heart.
My descendants to four generations from me flourishing in themselves
I have seen, I am fulfilled (with) offspring. O Sin, king of the gods, for favour
thou hast looked upon me, thou hast lengthened my days : Nabu-na’id, king of Babylon, my son, to Sin my lord I have devoted him. So long as he is alive
let him not offend against thee ; the genius of favour, genius of favour which (to be) with me thou hast appointed and they have caused me to attain offspring, with him (too) appoint (them), and wickedness and offense against thy great godhead endure not, (but) let him worship thy great godhead. In the 2I years
of Nabopolassar, king of Babylon, in the 43 years of Nebuchadrezzar,
son of Nabopolassar, and 4 years of Neriglissar, king of Babylon,
(when) they exercised the kingship, for 68 years
with all my heart I reverenced them, I kept watch over them,
Nabu-na’id (my) son, offspring of my womb, before Nebuchadrezzar
son of Nabopolassar and (before) Neriglissar, king of Babylon, I caused him to stand, daytime and night he kept watch over them
what was pleaSing to them he performed continually,
my name he made (to be) favourite in their sight, (and) like
[a daughter of] their [own] they uplifted my head
Col. III.
I nourished (their spirits), and incense offering
rich, of sweet savour,
I appointed for them continually and
laid ever before them.
(Now) in the 9th year of Nabu-na’id,
king of Babylon, the fate
of herself carried her off, and
Nabu-na’id, king of Babylon,
(her) son, issue of her womb, . . . . . . . . . . .
her corpse entombed, and [robes]
splendid, a bright mantle. . . . . . . . . . .
gold, bright. . . . . . . . . . .
beautiful stones, [precious] stones,
costly stones. . . . . . . . . . .
sweet oil her corpse he [anointed]
they laid it in a secret place. [Oxen and]
sheep (especially) fattened he [slaughtered]
before it. He assembled [the people]
of Babylon and Borsippa, [with the people]
dwelling in far regions, [kings, princes, and]
governors, from [the border]
of Egypt on the Upper Sea
(even) to the Lower Sea he [made to come up],
mourning and
weeping he performed, [dust ?]
they cast upon their heads, for 7 days
and 7 nights with. . . . . . . . . . .
they cut themselves(?), their clothes
were cast down(?). On the seventh day. . . . . . . . . . .
the people(?) of all the land their hair(?)
shaved, and. . . . . . . . . . .
their clothes. . . . . . . . . . .
the . . . . . . . . . . . of their clothes. . . . . . . . . . .
in(?) their places(?). . . . . . . . . . .
they ? to. . . . . . . . . . .
at meat (?). . . . . . . . . . .
perfumes refined he amassed (?). . . . . . . . . . .
sweet oil upon the heads [of the people]
he poured out, their hearts. . . . . . . . . . .
he made glad, he [cheered (?)]
their minds, the road [to their homes]
he did not(?) withhold(?). . . . . . . . . . .
to their own places they went.
Do thou, whether a king or a prince. . . . . . . . . . . (Remainder too fragmentary for translation until: --)
Fear (the gods), in heaven and earth
pray to them, [neglect] not [the utterance]
of the mouth of Sin and the goddess
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- - -. . . . make safe the . . . . . . . . . . . of thy seed
[ever(?)] and for [ever(?)].
of Nabium-na’id, king of Babylon,
votaress of the gods Sin, Nin-gal, Nusku, and Sadarnunna, my deities
who, from my childhood, have sought after
their godheads. Whereas in the i6th year of Nabopolassar,
king of Babylon, Sin, king of the gods, with his city
and his temple was angry and went up to heaven-the city and
the people that (were) in it went to ruin.
(Now) forasmuch as the shrines of Sin, Nin-gal, Nusku,
and Sadarnunna I sought after and was worshipper of their godhead,
(and) that I laid hold on the hem of the robe of Sin, king of the gods, night and daytime
I had ever in mind his great godhead@aily, without ceaSing,
of Sin, gamag, Igtar, and Adda, so long as I am alive,
I (am) their votaress (both) in heaven and earth. My blesSings,
the goodly things which they gave me, I (too) by day, night, month, and year, gave (back) to them.
I laid hold on the hem of the robe of Sin, king of the gods, night and daytime
my two eyes were with him, in prayer and humility of face
was I bowed before them (and) thus (I prayed), " May thy return
to thy city be (vouchsafed) to me, that the people, the black-headed,
may worship thy great godhead." For calming
the heart of my god and my goddess, a dress of fine wool, jewels,
silver, gold, a new shift, perfumes, sweet oil,
applied not to my body, (but in) a torn shift
I went clothed, my goings-out were noiseless, I proclaimed
their praises : the glory of my city and of my goddess
was (ever) set in my heart, I kept watch upon them,
anything good of mine I did not omit, but carried it (ever) before them.
From the 2oth year of Assurbanipal, king of Assyria, that I was born (in)
until the 42nd year of Assurbanipal, the 3rd year of Asur-etillu-ili,
his son, the 2 I St year of Nabopolassar, the 43rd year of Nebuchadrezzar,
the 2nd year of Awel-Marduk, the 4th year of Neriglissar,
in 95 years of the god Sin, king of the gods of heaven and earth,
(in) which I sought after the shrines of his great godhead,
(for) my good doings he looked upon me with a smile
he heard my prayers, he granted my saying, the wrath
of his heart calmed. Towards E-hul-hul the temple of Sin
which (is) in Harran, the abode of his heart’s delight, he was reconciled, he had
regard. Sin, king of the gods, looked upon me and
Nabu-na’id (my) only son, the issue of my womb, to the kingship
he called, and the kingship of Sumer and Akkad
from the border of Egypt (on) the upper sea even to the lower sea
all the lands he entrusted hither
to his hands. My two hands I lifted up and to Sin, king of the gods,
reverently with imploration [(I prayed) thus, " Nabu-na’id
(my) son, offspring of my womb, beloved of his mother,]
Col. II.
thou hast called him to the kingship, thou hast pronounced his name,
at the command of thy great godhead may the great gods
go at his two sides, may they make his enemies to fall,
forget not, (but) make good E-hul-hul and the finishing of its foundation (?)
When in my dream, his two hands had been laid on, Sin, king of the gods,
spoke to me thus, " With thee I will put into the hands of Nabu-na’id, thy son, the return of the gods and the habitation of Harran ;
He shall build E-hul-hul, shall perfect its structure, (and) Harran
more than (it was) before he shall perfect and restore it to its place.
The hand of Sin, Nin-gal, Nusku, and Sadarnunna
I. he shall clasp and cause them to enter E-hul-hul ". The word of Sin,
king of the gods, which he spoke to me I honoured, and I myself saw (it fulfilled);
Nabu-na’id, (my) only son, offspring of my womb, the rites
forgotten of Sin, Nin-gal, Nusku, and
Sadarnunna he perfected, E-hul-hul
anew he built and perfected its structure, Harran more
than before he perfected and restored it to its place ; the hand
of Sin, Nin-gal, Nusku, and Sadarnunna from
Suanna his royal city he clasped, and in the midst of Harran
in E-hul-hul the abode of their hearts’ ease with gladness
and rejoicing he let them dwell. What from former times Sin, king of the gods,
had not done and had not granted to anybody (he did) for the love of me
who had ever worshipped his godhead, laid hold on the hem of his robe-Sin, king of the gods,
uplifted my head and set upon me a good name in the land,
long days, years of heart’s ease he multiplied upon me.
From the time of Assurbanipal, king of Assyria, until the 9th year
of Nabu-na’id king of Babylon, the son, offspring of my womb
104 years of happiness, with the reverence which Sin, king of the gods,
placed in me, he made me flourish, my own self : the sight of my two eyes
is clear, I am excellent in understanding, my hand and both feet are sound,
well-chosen are my words, meat and drink
agree with me, my flesh is goodly, glad is my heart.
My descendants to four generations from me flourishing in themselves
I have seen, I am fulfilled (with) offspring. O Sin, king of the gods, for favour
thou hast looked upon me, thou hast lengthened my days : Nabu-na’id, king of Babylon, my son, to Sin my lord I have devoted him. So long as he is alive
let him not offend against thee ; the genius of favour, genius of favour which (to be) with me thou hast appointed and they have caused me to attain offspring, with him (too) appoint (them), and wickedness and offense against thy great godhead endure not, (but) let him worship thy great godhead. In the 2I years
of Nabopolassar, king of Babylon, in the 43 years of Nebuchadrezzar,
son of Nabopolassar, and 4 years of Neriglissar, king of Babylon,
(when) they exercised the kingship, for 68 years
with all my heart I reverenced them, I kept watch over them,
Nabu-na’id (my) son, offspring of my womb, before Nebuchadrezzar
son of Nabopolassar and (before) Neriglissar, king of Babylon, I caused him to stand, daytime and night he kept watch over them
what was pleaSing to them he performed continually,
my name he made (to be) favourite in their sight, (and) like
[a daughter of] their [own] they uplifted my head
Col. III.
I nourished (their spirits), and incense offering
rich, of sweet savour,
I appointed for them continually and
laid ever before them.
(Now) in the 9th year of Nabu-na’id,
king of Babylon, the fate
of herself carried her off, and
Nabu-na’id, king of Babylon,
(her) son, issue of her womb, . . . . . . . . . . .
her corpse entombed, and [robes]
splendid, a bright mantle. . . . . . . . . . .
gold, bright. . . . . . . . . . .
beautiful stones, [precious] stones,
costly stones. . . . . . . . . . .
sweet oil her corpse he [anointed]
they laid it in a secret place. [Oxen and]
sheep (especially) fattened he [slaughtered]
before it. He assembled [the people]
of Babylon and Borsippa, [with the people]
dwelling in far regions, [kings, princes, and]
governors, from [the border]
of Egypt on the Upper Sea
(even) to the Lower Sea he [made to come up],
mourning and
weeping he performed, [dust ?]
they cast upon their heads, for 7 days
and 7 nights with. . . . . . . . . . .
they cut themselves(?), their clothes
were cast down(?). On the seventh day. . . . . . . . . . .
the people(?) of all the land their hair(?)
shaved, and. . . . . . . . . . .
their clothes. . . . . . . . . . .
the . . . . . . . . . . . of their clothes. . . . . . . . . . .
in(?) their places(?). . . . . . . . . . .
they ? to. . . . . . . . . . .
at meat (?). . . . . . . . . . .
perfumes refined he amassed (?). . . . . . . . . . .
sweet oil upon the heads [of the people]
he poured out, their hearts. . . . . . . . . . .
he made glad, he [cheered (?)]
their minds, the road [to their homes]
he did not(?) withhold(?). . . . . . . . . . .
to their own places they went.
Do thou, whether a king or a prince. . . . . . . . . . . (Remainder too fragmentary for translation until: --)
Fear (the gods), in heaven and earth
pray to them, [neglect] not [the utterance]
of the mouth of Sin and the goddess
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- - -. . . . make safe the . . . . . . . . . . . of thy seed
[ever(?)] and for [ever(?)].
Events
| Birth | 649 BC | Harran, Assyria | |||
| Death | 547 BC | Dur-Karashu, Iraq |
Families
| Spouse | Nabu-balatsu-igbi Governor of Babylon ( - ) |
| Child | Daughter of Nabu-balatsu-igbi of Babylon ( - ) |
| Father | Ashurbanipal King of Assyria (-685 - -627) |