Two Inscriptions of Ashurnasirpal

Abstract

It is not generally known that, in the possession of the Walker Art Gallery at Minneapolis, there are two inscriptions of Ashurnasirpal. These texts are inscribed on two limestone blocks or tablets; the first (No. 375) measures roughly 18 by 30 inches, and the second (Nos. 373+374) 18 by 36 inches. Both tablets are in an excellent state of preservation; the cuneiform characters are extremely clear, and it is only in the case of the second tablet that even a portion of the text has been obliterated (the right-hand edge of the stone is slightly worn). The two texts are very similar to those published by Budge and King.' That on the first tablet is 23 lines in length and follows the version there given without significant variation except for the latter portion (rev., 11. 9 ff.) which is identical with the text published by Le Gac in Les Inscriptions d'A'ur-nasir-aplu III, page 168, center. The inscription on the second tablet, 24 lines in length, is quite similar to the fragmentary versions published on pages 166-68 of Le Gac's volume. The missing parts of lines 8-9 of those inscriptions appear as follows (1. 24): i~ rube (pl) d da-ra-te epus(us) u-si-im-'i, with which the Walker text ends.