The Monumental Building Inscription of Nebuchadnezzar II

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Abstract

The article examines the history of study and some features of a large building inscription of the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II, who is known primarily from the Old Testament. The text describes the construction and restoration works carried out in Babylon, revealing the “great builder” side of the king. In addition, the article provides a full and commented translation of the inscription into Russian.

About the authors

Iakov A. Balashov

Author for correspondence.
Email: luhi111@yandex.ru

Independent Researcher

Russian Federation, Syktyvkar

References

  1. Arno, Daniel. Navukhodonosor II, tsar Vavilonskii [Nebuchadnezzar II, the King of Babylon]. Moscow: Molodaia gvardiia, 2009 (in Russian).
  2. Ball, Charles James. “Inscriptions of Nebuchadrezzar II. I. The India House Inscription”. Proceedings of the Society of Biblical Archaeology, 1887, vol. 10. London: Society of Biblical Archaeology (in English).
  3. Banks, Edgar James. “A Nebuchadnezzar Cylinder (With Illustrations)”. The Open Court, vol. 1915 (iss. 12), pp. 746–751. Chicago: The Open Court Publishing Company, 1915 (in English).
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  12. Rawlinson, Henry Creswicke. The Cuneiform Inscriptions of Western Asia, I: A Selection from the Historical Inscriptions of Chaldaea, Assyria, and Babylonia. London: R.E. Bowler, 1861 (in English).
  13. Stoneman, Richard. Megasthenes’ Indica. A New Translation of the Fragments with Commentary. New York: Routledge, 2022 (in English).
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  15. Wallenfels, Ronald. “A New Stone Inscription of Nebuchadnezzar II”. In: From the Banks of the Euphrates. Studies in Honor of Alice Louise Slotsky. Winona Lake: Eisenbrauns, 2008 (in English).

Supplementary files

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1. JATS XML
2. Picture 1. East India House Inscription

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3. Picture 2. Autograph of Henry Rawlinson

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4. Picture 3. Stele MS 2063

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