- Sources
- A: Cyrus Cylinder: London, BM 90920; handcopies: H. C. Rawlinson and T. G. Pinches, The Cuneiform Inscriptions of Western Asia. Vol. 5 (London 1880), pl. 35; Schaudig 2001, figs. 58–59. + Fragment, now joined to BM 90920 (filling a gap, lines 36–44): formerly New Haven, Yale University, NBC 2504; handcopy: J. B. Nies and C. E. Keiser, Historical, Religious and Economic Texts and Antiquities. Babylonian Inscriptions in the Collection of James B. Nies, Vol. II (New Haven 1920), pl. 21, no. 32.
- B: Fragments of a clay tablet with a copy of the cylinder (photographs in Finkel 2013a, 19): B1 : London, BM 47134 = lines A 1–2, 42–45. B2 : London, BM 47176 = lines A 34–37. Recent editions of the cylinder can be found in Schaudig 2001, 550–556, Finkel 2013a, 4–7 (translation), and Finkel 2013b, 129–135 (transliteration). Judging from the distribution of the text in lines A 33–36 and 43–44, the copy (B1–2) appears to have arranged the text like the cylinder in long, individual lines. Only the last line (A 45) has been extended with large signs and free space, and split into two (B1 rev. 4′-5′). The beginning of the text (A 1–3) is badly broken, but we can deduce from the preserved bits, and the overall character of this type of Babylonian royal inscriptions, that its content pertained to Babylonia having suffered in the past from the wrath of its tutelar deity, Marduk, because of some unnamed sin. The historical background is probably to be sought in the troubled years following the death of Nebuchadnezzar II in 562 BCE, when Babylonia experienced a period of unstable reigns and coups d’état. Fueling Marduk’s anger and surely without divine approval (A 3 + B1 obv. 3), a lowly and incompetent person (i.e. Nabonidus, r. 556–539 BCE) was elevated by unnamed powers to rule the land. His crimes and sacrileges provoke another wave of Marduk’s wrath that washes Nabonidus away, with the aid of Marduk’s pious servant, Cyrus.
Transliteration
A (1) [ì-nu (. . .) damar-utu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ú-ša]k-ni-šu B1 (obv. 1) [ì-nu (. . .) damar-ut]u lugal kiš-šat an-e u ki-tì ⌈x⌉[. . . . . .] A (2) [. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ki-i]b-ra-a-tì B1 (obv. 2) [. . . . . . šá ki-ma sa-b]a-si-šú ú-nam-m[u-ú . . . . . .]3 A (3) [. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i-na la] ⌈šà-bi-šu⌉ 4 gal ma-ṭu-ú iš-šak-na a-na e-nu-tu ma-ti-šú
B1 (obv. 3) [. . . . . . a-n]a uz-zi-⌈šú⌉ ⌈x⌉-[. . . . . .] A (4) ⌈ù ? ⌉ [. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .]-ši-li ú-ša-áš-kina ṣe-ru-šu-un A (5) ta-am-ši-li é-saĝ-íl i-te-[pu-uš-ma . . . . . . . . . . . -t]ì ? a-na úriki ù si-itta-a-tì ma-ḫa-za A (6) pa-ra-aṣ la si-ma-a-ti-šu-nu ta-[ak-li-im la me-si . . . la] pa-liḫ u4 -miša-am-ma id-de-né-eb-bu-ub ù ⌈a-na ma-ag⌉-ri-tì A (7) sat-tuk-ku ú-šab-ṭi-li ú-l[a-ap-pi-it pél-lu-de-e . . . iš]-tak-ka-an qéreb ma-ḫa-zi pa-la-ḫa damar-utu lugal diĝirmeš i[g-m]ur kar-šu-uššu A (8) le-mu-ut-ti uru-šu [i-t]e-né-ep-pu-⌈uš⌉ u4 -mi-ša-am-⌈ma x x⌉ [. . . ùĝ]meš -šú i-na ab-ša-a-ni la ta-ap-šu-úḫ-tì ú-ḫal-li-iq kul-lat-si-in A (9) a-na ta-zi-im-ti-ši-na d+en-líl diĝirmeš ez-zi-iš i-gu-ug-m[a . . .] ki-suúr-šu-un diĝirmeš a-ši-ib šà-bi-šu-nu i-zi-bu at-⌈ma⌉-an-šu-un A (10) i-na ug-ga-ti-ša ú-še-ri-bi a-na qé-reb šu-an-naki damar-utu t[i-izqa-ru d+en-líl diĝirm] eš us-sa-aḫ-ra a-na nap-ḫar da-ád-mi ša in-nadu-ú šu-bat-su-un A (11) ù ùĝmeš kur šu-me-ri ù uriki ša i-mu-ú ša-lam-ta-áš ú-sa-⌈aḫ⌉-ḫi-ir ka-⌈bat⌉-[ta-áš] ir-ta-ši ta-a-a-ra kul-lat ma-ta-a-ta ka-li-ši-na i-ḫi-iṭ ib-re-e-ma A (12) iš-te-ʾe-e-ma ma-al-ki i-šá-ru bi-bil šà-bi-ša it-ta-ma-aḫ qa-tu-uš-šu I ku-ra-áš lugal uru an-ša-an it-ta-bi ni-bi-it-su a-na ma-li-ku-tì kulla-ta nap-ḫar iz-zak-ra šu-⌈um-šú⌉
A (13) kur qu-ti-i gi-mir um-man-man-da ú-ka-an-ni-ša a-na še-pi-šu ùĝmeš ṣal-mat saĝ-du ša ú-ša-ak-ši-du qa-ta-a-šú A (14) i-na ki-it-tì ù mi-šá-ru iš-te-né-ʾe-e-ši-na-a-tì damar-utu en gal taru-ú ùĝmeš -šú ep-še-e-ti-ša dam-qa-a-ta ù šà-ba-šu i-ša-ra ḫa-di-iš ip-pa-li-i[s] A (15) a-na uru-šu ká-diĝirmeš ki a-la-ak-šu iq-bi ú-ša-aṣ-bi-it-su-ma ḫar-ranu tin-tirki ki-ma ib-ri ù tap-pe-e it-tal-la-ka i-da-a-šu A (16) um-ma-ni-šu rap-ša-a-tì ša ki-ma me-e íd la ú-ta-ad-du-ú ni-ba-šuun gištukulmeš -šu-nu ṣa-an-du-ma i-ša-ad-di-ḫa i-da-a-šu A
(17) ba-lu qab-li ù ta-ḫa-zi ú-še-ri-ba-áš qé-reb šu-an-naki uru-šu kádiĝirmeš ki i-ṭi-ir i-na šap-ša-qí Id+nà-ní-tuku lugal la pa-li-ḫi-šu ú-maal-la-a qa-tu-uš-šú A (18) ùĝmeš tin-tirki ka-li-šu-nu nap-ḫar kur šu-me-ri u uriki ru-bé-e ù šakkan-nak-ka ša-pal-šu ik-mi-sa ú-na-áš-ši-qu še-pu-uš-šu iḫ-du-ú a-na lugal-ú-ti-šú im-mi-ru pa-nu-uš-šú-un A (19) be-lu ša i-na tu-kul-ti-ša ú-bal-li-ṭu mi-tu-ta-an i-na pu-uš-qu ù ú-de-e ig-mi-lu kul-la-ta-an ṭa-bi-iš ik-ta-ar-ra-bu-šu iš-tam-ma-ru zi-ki-ir-šu A (20) a-na-ku I ku-ra-áš lugal kiš-šat lugal gal lugal dan-nu lugal tin-tirki lugal kur šu-me-ri ù ak-ka-di-i lugal kib-ra-a-ti er-bé-et-tì A (21) dumu I ka-am-bu-zi-ia lugal gal lugal uru an-ša-an dumu dumu I ku-ra-áš lugal gal luga[l u]ru an-ša-an šà-bal-bal I ši-iš-pi-iš lugal gal lugal uru an-šá-an A (22) numun da-ru-ú ša lugal-ú-tu ša d+en u d+nà ir-a-mu pa-la-a-šu a-na ṭu-ub šà-bi-šú-nu iḫ-ši-ḫa l[uga]l-ut-su e-nu-ma a-n[a q]é-reb tintirki e-ru-bu sa-li-mi-iš A (23) i-na ul-ṣi ù ri-ša-a-tì i-na é-gal ma-al-ki ar-ma-a šu-bat be-lu-tì damar-utu en gal šà-bi ri-it-pa-šu ša ra-⌈im⌉ tin-tirki ši-m[a]⌈-a-tiš⌉ ⌈iš-ku? -na⌉-an-ni-ma u4 -mi-šam a-še-ʾa-a pa-la-⌈aḫ⌉-šú A (24) um-ma-ni-ia rap-ša-a-tì i-na qé-reb tin-tirki i-ša-ad-di-ḫa šu-ul-maniš nap-ḫar ku[r šu-me-ri] ⌈ù⌉ uriki mu-gal-[l]i-tì ul ú-šar-ši A (25) ⌈uruki⌉ ká-diĝir-raki ù kul-lat ma-ḫa-zi-šu i-na ša-li-im-tì áš-te-ʾe-e dumumeš tin-tir[ki . . . š]a ki-ma la šà-[bi ding]ir-ma ab-šá-a-ni la si-ma-ti-šú-nu šu-ziz-⌈zu! ⌉ A
(26) an-ḫu-ut-su-un ú-pa-áš-ši-ḫa ú-ša-ap-ṭi-ir sa-ar-ma-šu-nu a-na epše-e-ti-[ia dam-qa-a-ti] damar-utu en ga[l]-ú iḫ-de-e-ma A (27) a-na ia-a-ti I ku-ra-áš lugal pa-li-iḫ-šu ù I ka-am-bu-zi-ia dumu ṣi-it šà-bi-[ia ù a-n]a nap-ḫ[ar] um-ma-ni-ia A (28) da-am-qí-iš ik-ru-ub-ma i-na šá-lim-tì ma-ḫar-ša ṭa-bi-iš ni-it-t[a-alla-ak i-na qí-bi-ti-šú] ṣir-ti nap-ḫar lugal a-ši-ib bárameš A (29) ša ka-li-iš kib-ra-a-ta iš-tu tam-tì e-li-tì a-di tam-tì šap-li-tì a-ši-ib n[a-gi-i né-su-tì] lugalmeš kur a-mur-ri-i a-ši-ib kuš-ta-ri ka-li-šú-un A (30) bi-lat-su-nu ka-bi-it-tì ú-bi-lu-nim-ma qé-er-ba šu-an-naki ú-na-ášši-qu še-pu-ú-a iš-tu [uru nina? k ] i 5 a-di uru aš-šurki ù mùš-erenki A (31) a-kà-dèki kur èš-nu-nak uru za-am-ba-an uru me-túr-nu bàd-diĝirki a-di pa-aṭ kur qu-ti-i ma-ḫa-z[a e-be]r-ti ídidigna ša iš-tu pa! -na-ma na-du-ú šu-bat-su-un A (32) diĝirmeš a-ši-ib šà-bi-šú-nu a-na áš-ri-šu-nu ú-tir-ma ú-šar-ma-a šubat da-rí-a-ta kul-lat ùĝmeš -šú-nu ú-pa-aḫ-ḫi-ra-am-ma ú-te-er daád-mi-šú-un B2 (1′) [. . . . . .] ⌈x x⌉ [. . . . . .] A (33) ù diĝirmeš kur šu-me-ri ù uriki ša Id+nà-ní-tuku a-na ug-ga-tì en diĝirmeš ú-še-ri-bi a-na qé-reb šu-an-naki i-na qí-bi-ti damar-utu en gal i-na ša-li-im-tì B2 (2′) [. . . . . . a-n]a u[g-ga]-tì en diĝirmeš ú-še-ri-⌈bi⌉ [. . . . . .] A (34) i-na maš-ta-ki-šu-nu ú-še-ši-ib šu-ba-at ṭu-ub šà-bi «ut» kul-la-ta diĝirmeš ša ú-še-ri-bi a-na qé-er-bi ma-ḫa-zi-šu-un B2 (3′) [. . . . . . šu-ba-at ṭu-u]b šà-bi kul-lat diĝirmeš šá ú-še-r[i-bi . . . . . .] A (35) u4 -mi-ša-am ma-ḫar d+en ù d+nà ša a-ra-ku u4 meš -ia li-ta-mu-ú lit-tazka-ru a-ma-a-ta du-un-qí-ia ù a-na damar-utu en-ia li-iq-bu-ú ša I ku-ra-áš «áš» lugal pa-li-ḫi-ka u I ka-am-bu-zi-ia dumu-šú B2 (4′) [. . . . . .] ⌈u4 ⌉ meš-ia li-ta-mu-ú lit-taz-ka-ru a-[ma-a-ta du-un-qí-ia . . . . . .] A
(36) ⌈x-⌉[x x x]⌈-x⌉ šu-nu lu-ú ⌈za-ni-ni⌉ ⌈bára⌉-[(i)]-⌈ni⌉ ⌈a-na u4 -um⌉ ⌈sùmeš⌉ [gi-m]ir ùĝmeš tin-tirki ⌈ik-tar-ra-bu⌉ lugal-ú-tu kur-kur ka-li-ši-na šu-ub-ti né-eḫ-tì ú-še-ši-ib B2 (5′) [. . . . . .]⌈x⌉ ⌈šu-nu⌉ lu-ú za-ni-ni bára-i-ni a-na ⌈u4 meš⌉ r[e-e-qu-tì . . . . . .] A (37) [. . . . . . . . . . . . kur-]gimušen 2 UZ-TURmušen. ù 10 tu-gur4 mušen.meš e-li kur-gimušen UZ-TURmušen.meš ù tu-gur4 mušen.meš B2 (6′) [. . . . . .] ⌈x x x x⌉ [. . . . . .] A (38) [. . . . . . . . . . . . . u4 -m]i-šam ú-ṭa-aḫ-ḫi-id bàd im-gur-d+en-líl bàd gal-a ša tin-tirk [ i ma-aṣ-ṣ]ar-⌈ta⌉-šú du-un-nu-nù áš-te-ʾe-e-ma A (39) [. . . . . . . . . . . . .] ka-a-ri a-gur-ru šá gú ḫa-ri-ṣi ša lugal maḫ-ri i-p[ušu-ma la ú-ša]k-⌈li-lu⌉ ši-pi-ir-šu A (40) [. . . . . . . . . . . . . la ú-ša-as-ḫi-ru uru] ⌈a⌉-na ki-da-a-ni ša lugal ma-aḫ-ra la i-pu-šu um-man-ni-šu di-ku-u[t ma-ti-šu i-na / a-na q] é-⌈reb⌉ šu-an-naki A (41) [. . . . . . . . . i-na esir-ḫád-rá-]⌈a⌉ ù sig4 -al-ùr-ra eš-ši-iš e-pu-uš-ma [ú-šak-lil ši-pir-ši]-in A (42) [. . . . . . . . . . . . . gišigmeš gišeren maḫ]meš ta-aḫ-lu-up-tì zabar as-kuup-pu ù nu-ku-š[e-e pi-ti-iq e-ri-i e-ma kámeš -š]i-na B1 (rev. 1′) [. . . . . .] ⌈x x⌉ [. . . . . .] A (43) [ú-ra-at-ti . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . š]i-ṭi-ir šu-mu šá Ian-šár-dù-ibila lugal a-lik maḫ-ri-[ia šá qer-ba-šu ap-pa-a]l-sa! B1 (rev. 2′) [. . . . . .] ⌈I ⌉an-šár-dù-i[bila . . . . . .] A (44) [. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .]⌈x x x⌉[. . . . . . . . . . ba-la-aṭ u4 meš ru-q]ú-tì B1 (rev. 3′) [. . . . . . ú-tir a-na áš-r]i-⌈šú⌉ damar-utu en gal ba-l[a-aṭ u4 meš ru-qútì] A (45) [. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .]⌈x x x⌉[. . a-na d]a-rí-a-tì B1 (rev. 4′) [. . . . . . la-bar bala]-⌈e⌉ a-na ši-ri-ik-t[ì šu-úr-kam] B1 (rev. 5′) [. . . . . . a-na-ku lu-ú lugal mu-ṭi-ib] šà-bi-ka a-na [da-rí-a-tì] Colophon (B1 only) B1 (rev. 6′) [ki ka mu-sa-re-e šá I ku-ra-áš lugal ká-diĝir-raki šá-ṭir-ma b]a-ar im Iníĝ-ba-damar-utu ⌈a⌉ [. . .]
B1 (rev. 6′) [Written and ch]ecked [according to an inscription of Cyrus king of Babylon]. The tablet (belongs) to Qīšti-Marduk son of [PN2 . . .]
Translation (A and B combined):
(1) [When (. . .) Mardu]k, the king of the whole of heaven and earth, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . subju]gated (2) [. . . . . . who] laid waste [the land in accordance with] his (= Marduk’s) [wr]ath [ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . the regions] of the world (3) [. . . . . . t]o his (= Marduk’s) anger [. . . and without (the consent) of] his great heart, a low and unworthy man (= Nabonidus) was installed as lord of his (= Marduk’s) country. (4) [. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .] . . . . (Nabonidus) imposed on them. (5) He ma[de] a counterfeit of (Marduk’s temple) Esaĝil [. . . . . . . . .] . . . for (the city of) Ur and the rest of the sacred cities, (6) rites, which were inappropriate to them (i.e. the sacred cities and the gods), [improper] sac[rifices . . .]. He spoke [insolence] every day and was not afraid (of Marduk’s wrath). As an insult, (7) (Nabonidus) brought the daily offerings to a halt and inter[fered with the rites. He s]et up [. . .] in the midst of the sacred cities. In his heart he br[oug]ht to an end the worship of Marduk, king of the gods. (8) He [d]id yet more evil to (Marduk’s holy) city every day. [. . . . He tormented] its [people], he brought ruin on all of them by a yoke without relief. (9) At their complaints, the Enlil-of-the-gods (= Marduk) became furiously enraged a[nd . . . . Nabonidus violated] their (= the gods’) sacred territories, (and so) the gods who dwelt therein deserted their shrines. (10a) Arousing (Marduk’s) wrath, (Nabonidus then) had (the statues of) the gods brought into Babylon (from their proper cities).
(10b-11) But Marduk, the l[ofty Enlil-of-the-god]s, relented and felt pity for the cities whose dwelling-places were lying in ruins. He made up [his] mind and had mercy on the people of Babylonia who had become like (living) dead. (Marduk) scanned and checked all the countries, (12) looking for a righteous king, dear to his heart, and finally he took with his very hand Cyrus, king of the city of Anšan, and calling his name, he appointed him to be king of the entire world. (13–14) (Marduk) made bow down at (Cyrus’) feet the land of the Gutians and all of the Ummān-Manda. And all the people that (Marduk) had given into his hands, (Cyrus) tended most carefully like a shepherd in truth and righteousness. Marduk, the great lord, who takes care of his people, saw with pleasure his good deeds and his righteous heart. (15) He commanded (Cyrus) to set out for Babylon, he made him take the way to Tintir (= Babylon), and, like a friend and companion, he walked at his side. (16) (Cyrus’) vast troops whose number, like the water in a river, could not be counted, marched at his side, girt with their weapons. (17) Without any fight or battle (Marduk) had him enter Babylon and saved his city Babylon from hardship. (Marduk) delivered into (Cyrus’) hands Nabonidus, the king who would not revere him. (18) All the people of Babylon, the entire land of Sumer and Akkad (= Babylonia), nobles and governors, bowed down before (Cyrus) and kissed his feet, with shining faces they rejoiced at his kingship.
(19) Sweetly they hailed him as the lord through whose help they had come to life again from the perils of death, praising his name as the one who has saved them all from distress and disaster. (20) I am Cyrus, the king of the world, the great king, the mighty king, the king of Babylon, king of the land of Sumer and Akkad, the king of the four quarters of the world, (21) son of Cambyses, the great king, king of the city of Anšan, grandson of Cyrus (I), the great king, kin[g of the c]ity of Anšan, descendant of Teispes, the great king, king of the city of Anšan, (22a) eternal scion of kingship, whose rule Bēl (= Marduk) and Nabû dearly love, whose k[in]gship they desired for their own delight. (22b) When I entered Babylon in peace, (23) I took up my lordly abode in the royal palace amidst jubilation and rejoicing. Marduk, the great lord, bestowed on me as my destiny that wide heart of mine, (as a token) of someone who loves Babylon, and so I do revere him every day. (24) My vast troops walked around in Babylon in peace, and I did not permit anybody to frighten (the people of) the land of S[umer] and Akkad. (25) Of Babylon and all its sacred places I took care in peace and sincerity. The people of Babylon [. . .], onto whom (Nabonidus) had imposed an inappropriate yoke against the wil[l of the g]ods, (26) I brought relief to their exhaustion and did away with their toil. Marduk, the great lord, rejoiced at [my good] deeds, and (27–28a) sent friendly blessings to me, Cyrus, the king who reveres him, to Cambyses, my son, the fruit of [my] loins, as well as to all my troops, and so we w[alked] in peace and happiness before him.
(28b-30a) [At (Marduk’s)] august [command] all the kings of the entire world, those who are seated on thrones, living in [distant] coun[tries] from the Upper to the Lower Sea (= from the Mediterranean to the Persian gulf) as well as the kings of Amurru (= Arabia), dwelling in tents, (all these kings) brought their heavy tribute and kissed my feet in Babylon. (30b) From [the city of Nineveh? ] to the city of Aššur and Susa,
(31–32) (to) Akkad, the land of Ešnunna, the towns Zabbān, Meturnu, Dēr, and as far as the region to the land of the Gutians, the sacred cities on the [ot]her side (= east) of the Tigris, which had been laying in ruins since days of old, I returned (the statues of) the gods who used to dwell therein and had them live there for evermore. I (also) gathered their (former) people and brought them back to their habitations. (33–34) And (the statues of) the gods of the land of Sumer und Akkad, which Nabonidus – to the anger of the lord of the gods – had brought into Babylon, I had them dwell in peace in their beloved sanctuaries at the command of Marduk, the great lord. May all these gods, which I restored to their sacred cities, (35) ask daily Bēl and Nabû to grant me a long life, they may speak blessings for me, and they may say to Marduk, my lord: “Of Cyrus, the king who reveres you and Cambyses, his son, (36) [guard their lives!] May they be the provisioners of our shrines until ⌈distant⌉ days!” [A]ll of the people of Babylon blessed my kingship, and I took care that all the countries live in peace.
(37) [. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . one go]ose, two ducks and ten wild doves in addition to the goose, ducks, and wild doves (already assigned for the meal of Marduk) (38a) [. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .] I ordered to be delivered (to the temple) eve[ry d]ay. (38b) As to the wall Imgur-Enlil, the great wall of Babylon, I sought to increase its [secu]rity. (39) [. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .] The quay made of baked brick on the bank of the city moat, which an earlier king had bui[lt but not com]pleted, (40) [. . . . . . . . . . . ., which did not yet surround the city] outwards, a work an earlier king had not completed, his troops, the contingent [of his country . . . . into] Babylon. (41) [. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . with asphal]t and baked brick I built (the walls) anew and [completed the]m. (42) [. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . hu]ge [door-leaves made of cedar-wood], covered with bronze, thresholds and door fitt[ings, made of ore, (43) I set up (42) in all] their [gates]. (43) [. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . An in]scription of Assurbanipal, a former king, [which I fou]nd therein, [I treated it respectfully and put it back into] its [plac]e [together with my own inscription.] Marduk, great lord! (45) [May you grant me] as a gift (44) a [lon]g [life], (45) [. . . . . . . . . . . and an enduring reig]n! [May I be the king who pleases] your heart for evermore!