Whosoever in the process of time, among the brothers, the sons, the
family, the men and women, the servants both male and female, of the house
of Kilnamandu, either a foreigner, or a guest, or whosoever he may be (or
anyone else), who will destroy this field, who will venture to take away
the boundary-stone, or will vindicate it: whether he consecrate this field
to a god, or earn it for his superior, or claim it for himself, or change
the extent, the surface, or the limits, that he reaps new harvests (crops);
or who will say of the field with its measures, "There is no granter;"
whether he call forth malediction and hostility on the tablets; or
establish on it anyone other who change these curses, in swearing: "The
head is not the head;" and in asserting: There is no evil eye;[1]
whosoever will carry elsewhere those tablets; or will throw them into the
water; will bury them in the earth; will hide them under stones; will burn
them with fire, will alter what is written on them, will confine them into
a place where they might not be seen; that man shall be cursed:
May the gods Anu, El, Hea, the Great Goddess, the great gods, inflict upon
him the utmost contumely, extirpate his name, annihilate his family.
May Marduk, the great Lord of eternity without end, bind him in fetters
which cannot be broken.
May Samas, the great Judge of heaven and earth, judge his unpunished
misdeeds, and surprise him in flagrant deeds.
May Sin, the brilliant (_Nannar_), who dwells in the sacred heavens,
clothe him in leprosy as in a garment, and give him up to the wild beasts
that wander in the outsides of the town.
May Istar, the Queen of heaven and earth, carry him off, and deliver him
for avenge to the god and the king.
May Ninip, son of the zenith, son of El the sublime, take away his lands,
funds, and limits.
May Gula, the great Queen, the wife of Ninip, infilter into his bowels a
poison which cannot be pushed out, and may he void blood and pus like
water.
May Bin, the great Guardian of heaven and earth, the son of the warrior
Anu, inundate his field.
May Serah destroy his firstborn; may he torture his flesh, and load his
feet with chains.
May Nabu, the supreme Watcher, strike him with misfortune and ruin, and
blast his happiness that he not obtain it, in the wrath of his face.
May all the great gods whose names are recorded on this tablet, curse him
with irrevocable malediction, and scatter his race even to the last days.
[Footnote 1: This seems to be a usual formula.]
(This monument is equally engraved on a black basalt stone; it offers the
same arrangement as the stone of Michaux. The analogous documents show
that numerous inaccuracies have been committed.
In the upper part there occur the same altars, tiaras, birds, as well as
the above-mentioned goat, dog, scorpion, and snake. The surface of the
basso-relievo is also covered with Cuneiform writing.
The inscriptions are arranged in four columns, and take both sides of the
monument. The first column originally finished at the 30th line; it seems
to have been completed by four lines, which contain one of the essential
articles of the contract, but which evidently are not in their right
place, and had been actually forgotten in the original engraving.
On the margins and the bassso-relievo many additions and repetitions are
to be read, which also prove the engraver's carelessness or
precipitation.)
20 hins[1] of corn are sufficient to seed an _arura_,[2] a field in the
land of Zunire,[3] on the bank of the river Zirzirri, belonging to the
house of Ada.
Marduk-idin-akhe, King of Babylon, has thus sentenced according to the
laws of the country of Assur. Bin-zir-basa, his Minister, has favored
Marduk-ilusu, son of Ina-e-saggatu-irbu,[4] who has written this to the
King of Babylon: I say, He has loaded me with favors, and I proclaim that
this rating has been made according to the epha[5] of the King of Babylon.
20 hin of corn are sufficient to seed an _arura_. Bin-zir-basa, the
Lieutenant (of the King) has invested him with it, and (the measurer of
lands) has thus measured it for the time to come.
In the length[6] above toward the North, turned to the river Zirzirri,
adjoining the house of Ada, and the field of the house of the Satraps. In
the length below, toward the South of the river Atab-du-Istar, adjoining
the house of Ada. In breadth above toward the East, adjoining the limits
of Bit-ulbar. In breadth below toward the West, adjoining the house of
Ada.
According to the law of Marduk-idin-akhe, King of Babylon, servant of the
gods of the City of the eternal fire,[7] it was so measured by
Bel-zir-kini, son of Zikar-Istar, the measurer of the field.
In the town of Dindu, in the month of Tebet, on the 28th day (December) in
the 10th year of Marduk-idin-akhe, King of Babylon.
In the presence of Bet-ulbar-sakimu, son of Bazi, Chief of the _ru-bar_ of
the countries;
in the presence of Babilai, son of Sin-mustesir,[8] Chief of the head
Rulers of the country;
in the presence of Hea-Kudurri-ibni, son of Zikar-Ea, Governor of the
provinces;
in the presence of Bel-nasir-habal, son of the Chief of the _rubar_ of the
orders in the provinces;
in the presence of Takisa-belit, son of Riu-simti;
in the presence of Uballitsu, son of Karistiya-napasti;
in the presence of Bel-idin-akh, son of Suti;
in the presence of Sukamuna[9]-idin, son of Meliharbat;
in the presence of Isu-il, son of Habliya;
in the presence of Bel-akhesu, son of Meliharbat;
in the presence of Nis-bet-ulbar, son of Ulamhala;
in the presence of Sumidu, son of Marduk-kabuya, Prefect of the house of
Ada;
in the presence of E-saggatu-bunuya, _hazan_[10] of the house of Ada;
in the presence of Babrabtatutai, son of Sar-Babil-Assurissi;
in the presence of Sadu-rabu-kabuya, Judge;
in the presence of Marduk-nasir, son of Gamilu.
Whoever in the process of time, among the brothers, the sons, among the
near relations, the allies of the family of the house of Ada, would claim
this land, would nourish against it bad designs, or would suggest them;
whoever would utter these words, "There is no giver," who would say,
"There is no sealer," or whosoever will say, "I deny that there is a
master of the house of Ada, that there is a Chief in the house of Ada;
that there is a _hazan_ of the house of Ada; or that there is either a
speculator for the house of Ada; or a _gitta_[11] of the house of Ada; or
a _sumtalu_; or a _lubattu_; or an _aklu_; or a _kisirtu_ in the house of
Ada;" or he will say, "The confiscation has been pronounced;" whether he
say: "This field has no measurer," or say, "This seal is not of a sealer"
(who has the right to); or whoever will take possession of this field; or
consecrate it to the gods; or claim it for himself; or alter its surface,
circumference and limits; or construct buildings on this land, and in the
middle of this field (that man will be cursed):
The gods who are inscribed on this tablet, all those whose name is
commemorated herein, will curse him with irrevocable curses.
May the gods Anu,[12] Bel, Hea, these great gods, torment him and
overwhelm him; that ...[13]
May Marduk, the great Lord of eternity without limits, fetter him with
inextricable bonds.
May Nebo, the supreme minister, overthrow the surface, circumference, and
limits of his properties.
May Bin, the great Lord of heaven and earth, cause the streams of his
river to overflow[14] ... have his progeny circumcised, and load his feet
with a heavy chain.
May Sin, who turns around heaven, envelop his body with leprosy as in a
garment.
May Samas, the bright Judge of heaven and earth, judge his lawsuit, and
have him seized in deed doing.
May Istar, the goddess of heaven and earth, deliver him to the vengeance
of the gods and of the King.
May Gula, the Sovereign Lady, the great wife of Ninip, infilter into his
bowels with a poison that will not leave him, and may he void pus and
blood like water.