Part 2 (10-19)

010   011   012   013   014   015   016   017   018   019  

010–015

Many of the stone thresholds or pavement slabs in the main area of the palace at Khorsabad bear inscriptions of Sargon II. P.E. Botta published copies of the inscriptions found on 21 or 22 slabs (Botta, Monument de Ninive 3 pls. 1-21 and likely 4 pl. 181^c no. 5 [probably from Entrance P; see text no. 14 ex. 3]). J.M. Russell (Writing on the Wall p. 108) has noted that several more doorways in the main part of the palace had inscriptions on their thresholds: Entrances D, F, V, X, Z, b, e, and r (see E. Flandin's detailed plans of the palace in Botta, Monument de Ninive 1–2 pls. 11, 51, 79, 121, 137, and 139) and possibly Entrance C´´ of the throne room (see Loud, Khorsabad 1 fig. 71, p. 65, and p. 139 sub thresholds, which appears to indicate that the threshold described on p. 65 was inscribed).

Five different inscriptions (text nos. 10–14) are attested on the thresholds of the main part of the palace and a sixth such inscription may be text no. 15. The inscriptions vary in length from 23 lines (text no. 10) to 150 lines (text no. 13). In two, or more likely three, inscriptions (text no. 12, text no. 14, and likely text no. 15) the king is described in the first person, while in the other three (text nos. 10, 11, and 13) the third person is used for him. The mention of Karduniaš (Babylonia), Chaldea, and "Bīt-Yakīn, which is on the shore of the sea, as far as the border of Dilmun," in the areas ruled by Sargon in text nos. 10–14 would suggest that those inscriptions were composed after the king's Babylonian campaigns in his twelfth and thirteenth regnal years (710–709). Moreover, the mentions of the gods being invited into the city Dūr-Šarrukīn in text no. 13 and of the festival that took place when the city was completed in text nos. 12 and 15 indicate that these texts were composed no earlier than the seventh month of 707 and the second month of 706 respectively (see the Introduction, under "Building Activites" at Khorsabad).

Short inscriptions are also found on paving slabs in the entrances to several chapels within the palace (text nos. 16–21). In addition, several copies of an inscription invoking the god Nabû have been found in the nearby temple of that god (text no. 22). With regard to inscribed threshold slabs in Sargon's palace in general, see J.M. Russell, Writing on the Wall pp. 108–111; see also J.M. Russell, Senn.'s Palace pp. 17–19.

010 [/rinap/rinap2/Q006491/]

Four exemplars of the first threshold inscription — an inscription that simply gives the king's name, several titles, and a description of the extent of his realm — are attested. Three were found in the royal palace at Khorsabad and the fourth comes from Palace F. This is the shortest of the inscriptions found on thresholds in the main part of the palace (as opposed to the chapel area).

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Commentary

Exs. 1–3 are edited from the copies published by P.E. Botta in Monument de Ninive; no paper squeezes of these were made by him. The copy of ex. 1 published by H. Winckler has not been used since it was based solely upon Botta's copy. It should be noted that he states (Sar. 1 p. X) that he only indicates the most important variants for the inscriptions on the paving stones, bulls, and backs of reliefs in his work. The present whereabouts of these three exemplars are not known. Presumably they were either left in situ or lost in the Tigris disaster in 1855. Botta sent initial copies of exs. 2 and 3 to J. Mohl in Paris and these were published in Journal asiatique in 1843; these original copies are currently preserved in the Institut de France (Botta-Cotta II 2976 folio I sheets 311 [ex. 3], 340 [ex. 3], and 341 [ex. 2]). References to differences between the copies in Monument de Ninive and the earlier copies are noted where it has been thought useful.

Ex. 4 was found during the Oriental Institute (Chicago) excavations at Khorsabad, but was left in situ. A high resolution scan of the original photo of ex. 4 published in Loud and Altman, Khorsabad 2 (pl. 40E) was kindly supplied to the author by K. Neumann (curator, Oriental Institute), but some parts of the inscription remain unclear; thus the edition presented for this exemplar in the score is not fully complete.

The line arrangement and master line are based upon ex. 1; however, if Botta's copy indicates that a sign on that exemplar is abnormal in form (e.g., LUGAL in line 1), suspiciously incorrect (e.g., KUR for ŠE in line 11), omitted (e.g., RA in line 3), or damaged while another exemplar has the correct sign, the latter reading is given. Ex. 2 has the inscription on 32 lines, ex. 3 on 31 lines, and ex. 4 on 17 lines. In the scores, "copy" refers to Botta's copies in Monument de Ninive, not to Winckler's later copy. Abnormal and incorrect sign forms on Botta's copies are noted with a dagger (†).

Bibliography

011 [/rinap/rinap2/Q006492/]

The second of the five inscriptions on stone thresholds in doorways in the main part of the palace at Khorsabad was found on two exemplars. Following the king's name and titles, and a description of the extent of the king's realm, it records the construction of the new city Dūr-Šarrukīn and, in particular, the construction and decoration of its palace.

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Commentary

The exemplars come from two of the three doorways leading from the palace terrace into Room II; the third (middle) doorway also had an inscription, but nothing further is known about it (see the introduction to text nos. 10–15). The present whereabouts of these exemplars are not known. They were probably either lost in the Tigris disaster in 1855 or left in situ. Both exemplars have the inscription on 46 lines, but the line division is not the same. Ex. 1 is edited from the copy by P.E. Botta in Monument de Ninive, although differences to his earlier copy published in Journal Asiatique in 1843 and currently found in the Archives of the Institute de France (Botta-Cotta II 2976 folio I sheet 314) are noted where it has been thought useful. Botta's copy of ex. 2 in Monument de Ninive has been collated by means of photographs of the squeeze in the Louvre. H. Winckler only provides a copy of ex. 1, which is solely based on Botta's copy since there was no squeeze of it to be consulted by him. He does indicate with that copy variants in ex. 2.

The line arrangement and master line are based upon ex. 1, with some minor help from ex. 2 at various places in the text. Abnormal and incorrect sign forms on Botta's copies are noted with a dagger (†) in the score, but are only indicated in the master transliteration when neither of the exemplars has the correct form.

Traces of an inscription were found upon the backs of three stone wall slabs facing the terrace outside Room 15 of Palace F at Khorsabad and T. Jacobsen, who saw the pieces, has identified the inscription as this one. As noted by G. Loud and C.B. Altman, these wall slabs may have been re-used thresholds. They are the only orthostats found by the Chicago expedition in Palace F and on the middle of the three orthostats, the lines of the inscription are vertical rather than horizontal. These slabs were left in situ and no further details are known about their inscriptions. For these additional exemplars, see Loud and Altman, Khorsabad 2 pp. 77, 104 no. 5, and pl. 41D.

Bibliography

012 [/rinap/rinap2/Q006493/]

The third inscription on stone thresholds in doorways of the palace at Khorsabad was found on five exemplars. After recording the name, titles, and extent of the king's realm, the text briefly records the construction of the city Dūr-Šarrukīn and its palace, as well as a festival to commemorate its completion. The reference to the festival, which is also mentioned in text no. 15, may be connected to the statement in the Assyrian Eponym Chronicle that the city of Dūr-Šarrukīn was inaugurated on the sixth day of Ayyāru (II) in the eponymy of Mutakkil-Aššur (706).

Access the composite text [/rinap/rinap2/Q006493/] or the score [/rinap/scores/Q006493/score] of Sargon II 012

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Commentary

The current location of these exemplars is not known. They were probably either lost in the Tigris disaster in 1855 or left in situ. No squeezes of any of the originals exist and the transliterations of the various exemplars are based upon Botta's copies in Monument de Ninive. The line arrangement and master lines come from ex. 1, with some minor help from ex. 2 in lines 21, 24, and 35–38. Exs. 2–5 have the inscription on 72, 30, 36, and 38 lines respectively.

Bibliography

013 [/rinap/rinap2/Q006494/]

This is by far the longest of the five texts found upon stone thresholds in various doorways of the palace at Khorsabad. Following Sargon's name, titles, and epithets (lines 1–13a), it presents a summary of the major military accomplishments of the king's reign (lines 13b–59a) — including laying waste to the land Urarṭu and plundering the city Muṣaṣir (lines 18b–19), conquering Samaria and Israel (lines 31b–32), defeating Marduk-apla-iddina II of Babylonia (lines 45b–54a), and receiving a gift from Upēri, the ruler of Dilmun (lines 54b–59a) — as well as a description of the full extent of his realm (lines 59b–89). The text then records the building of the city Dūr-Šarrukīn, including the construction and decoration of its palace, and the entry of (the statues of) gods into the palace (lines 90–130). It concludes with an invocation to the god Aššur to look with favor upon the palace's builder and the one who dwells in it (lines 131–150). The reference to gods being invited into the palace and receiving offerings there may be connected to the statement in the Assyrian Eponym Chronicle that "the gods of the city Dūr-Šarrukīn entered their temples" on the twenty-second day of Tašrītu (VII) in the eponymy of Ša-Aššur-dubbu (707).

Access the composite text [/rinap/rinap2/Q006494/] or the score [/rinap/scores/Q006494/score] of Sargon II 013

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Commentary

The present location of these exemplars is not known. They were likely left in situ or lost in the Tigris disaster in 1855. The exemplars are edited from the copies published by P.E. Botta and made by him at the site of Khorsabad; no squeezes of any of the exemplars were made by him. As a result, the exact reading of individual exemplars at numerous points is not certain. Since H. Winckler made his copy of the inscription directly from Botta's copies, without having access to any of the originals or to paper squeezes of them, no reference to his copy is made in the on-page notes.

The line arrangement follows ex. 1. The master line is based on ex. 1 for the most part, but preference is sometimes given to what is found in other exemplars when ex. 1 appears to be the only exemplar or one of only two exemplars to have a particular reading. Ex. 3 is actually a slightly abbreviated version of this inscription in that it omits lines 71–75a, 76, 82b–84a, and 105b–123a. According to the published copies, the exemplars use both Babylonian and Assyrian sign forms.

Bibliography

014 [/rinap/rinap2/Q006495/]

Following the king's name, titles, and references to his good treatment of several Babylonian cities and of the Assyrian cities Aššur and Ḫarrān (lines 1–11), the fifth threshold inscription from the palace at Khorsabad records the extent of the king's realm (lines 12–28a). Although the end of this fifth inscription is not fully preserved, the text clearly records the construction of the city of Khorsabad and in particular the erection and decoration of its palace (lines 29a–47).

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Commentary

The present whereabouts of exs. 1–3 are not known. It is likely that they were either left in situ or lost in the Tigris disaster in 1855. P.E. Botta states that ex. 3 is one of several "inscriptions détachées" which he collated either from the original or from paper squeezes and that it is a fragment coming from "Salle VIII." Thus, it is not clear if ex. 3 is on a threshold/pavement slab or not. The inscription on the piece, however, appears to fit here. As noted by A. Fuchs (Khorsabad pp. 271–272), it is possible that this exemplar comes from Door P since this is the only doorway in Room VIII whose threshold is not otherwise known and since E. Flandin's detailed drawing of this doorway (Botta, Monument de Ninive 1 pl. 26) indicates that there was an inscription there. No squeezes of the exemplars exist today and if one of ex. 3 once existed, it is no longer preserved with the other squeezes in the Louvre. Exs. 1–3 are edited from the copies published by Botta. H. Winckler's copy of the inscription, which was made from Botta's copies of exs. 1 and 2, provides no independent evidence although it is sometimes mentioned in the list of minor variants. It is clear, however, that at times he restored signs without giving any indication that they were restored. Ex. 4 (formerly in the collection of the Royal Geographical Society, London) has been described as a "limestone relief," but it is more likely a fragment from a threshold.

The line arrangement follows ex. 1 for lines 1–41 and ex. 3 for lines 42–47. The master line for lines 1-41 is a composite from the various exemplars, with preference given to ex. 1 for lines 1–41; lines 42–47 follow ex. 3. The restorations in lines 28–47 are based upon text no. 11 lines 18–41, text no. 12 lines 23–33, and text no. 13 lines 93–122.

Bibliography

015 [/rinap/rinap2/Q006496/]

Part of an inscription is found on a stone fragment in the Musée Auguste Grasset, the municipal museum in Varzy (France), that may once have been part of a threshold or pavement slab from the palace at Khorsabad. The fragment is made of gypseous alabaster and was given to the museum in 1867 by A. Grasset. The inscription likely records the holding of a celebration upon the completion of the building of Dūr-Šarrukīn. The inscription is edited from the published photograph. Restorations are based upon text no. 7 lines 178–79 and cf. text no. 12 lines 39–45.

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Bibliography

016-021

Stone thresholds from the entrances to six chapels within the palace complex at Khorsabad bear brief inscriptions, each invoking a particular deity and allowing the identification of the deities honored in the respective chapels: Ninurta, Ninšiku (Ea), Sîn, Adad, Ningal, and Šamaš. The first two thresholds were found during V. Place's excavations in 1852, but were left in situ. These two and all the other thresholds were uncovered in the 1930s during excavations conducted by the University of Chicago's Oriental Institute. According to J. Larson (Museum Archivist, Oriental Institute), none of the records from Chicago's excavations indicate that any of these thresholds were given field registration numbers or were removed from the site. Thus, the thresholds were presumably again left in situ. Five of the chapels were entered from Court XXVII and one, that of the goddess Ningal, from Court XXXI. The three larger chapels (those of the deities Sîn, Ningal, and Šamaš) comprised several rooms, while the others (those of the gods Ninurta, Ninšiku, and Adad) appear to have comprised only one or two rooms each. The fully preserved inscriptions have either seven (text no. 20), eight (text nos. 16–17 and 19) or nine (text no. 18) lines. Place thought that the area where he found the first two texts was the harem of the palace and thus these texts have at times been called the Harem Inscriptions.

016 [/rinap/rinap2/Q006497/]

The first of these threshold inscriptions from the religious quarter of the palace at Khorsabad is addressed to the warrior god Ninurta. It has sometimes been called Harem Inscription A.

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Commentary

This inscription and text no. 17 were originally found by V. Place in 1852 and were thought to have been lost in the Tigris in 1855 while on their way to Basra to be shipped to Europe (see for example Bezold, Literatur p. 93). J. Oppert initially published the inscriptions making use of paper squeezes that had been taken to Paris. Both inscriptions, however, were left in situ and were rediscovered during American excavations at Khorsabad in the early 1930s. The findspot of this threshold is indicated in Loud, Khorsabad 1 fig. 98. The inscription is edited from the copy by T. Jacobsen published in Loud, Khorsabad 1, which indicates that the piece is now somewhat less well preserved than when it was originally found by Place (as indicated by the copy by Oppert). H. Winckler's copy of the text is based on Oppert's copy.

Bibliography

017 [/rinap/rinap2/Q006498/]

This inscription upon a stone threshold leading into one of the chapels within the palace at Khorsabad indicates that this particular chapel was dedicated to the god Ninšiku (Ea), the god of wisdom and subterranean fresh water. This inscription has sometimes been referred to as Harem Inscription B because V. Place thought that the area in which he found it was the harem of the palace.

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Commentary

This inscription, like text no. 16, was originally found by V. Place in 1852 and thought to have been lost in the Tigris in 1855. The inscription was initially published by J. Oppert from paper squeezes that had been taken to Paris. The piece, however, was actually left in situ at Khorsabad and was rediscovered during excavations by the Oriental Institute (Chicago) in the early 1930s. The findspot of this particular threshold is indicated in Loud, Khorsabad 1 fig. 98. The threshold appears to have been left in situ by the American archaeologists. The inscription is edited from the copy by T. Jacobsen published in Loud, Khorsabad 1. H. Winckler's copy of the text is based on Oppert's copy.

Bibliography

018 [/rinap/rinap2/Q006499/]

This brief inscription invoking the moon god Sîn was found upon a stone threshold leading into the chapel of that god in the palace at Khorsabad. The stone threshold was found during American excavations in the palace at Khorsabad in the early 1930s. The threshold is made of alabaster and was found broken into several pieces. The threshold appears to have been left in situ by the excavators. The inscription is edited from the copy by Jacobsen published in Loud, Khorsabad 1.

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Bibliography

019 [/rinap/rinap2/Q006500/]

This inscription invoking the storm god Adad was found upon a stone threshold leading into one of the chapels in the palace at Khorsabad and was discovered during American excavations in the palace at Khorsabad in the early 1930s. The threshold was likely left in situ by the excavators. For the findspot of the slab, see Loud, Khorsabad 1 fig. 98. The inscription is edited from the copy by T. Jacobsen published in Loud, Khorsabad 1.

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Bibliography

Grant Frame

Grant Frame, 'Part 2 (10-19)', RINAP 2: Sargon II, Sargon II, The RINAP 2 sub-project of the RINAP Project, 2023 [http://oracc.org/rinap/rinap2/rinap2textintroductions/dursharrukin162/part21019/]