For Nippur, and dariliithet of Nippur or part of it
PROLOGUE TO THE CODE OF HAMMURABWhen the mostGod(Anu), king of the spirits of heaven(Anunnaki)( and ) Bel, lord of heaven and earth who settles the fates ofall, allotted to Marduk, the firstborn of Ea, the lord God of right, a ruleover men and extolled him among the spirits of earth (Igigi), then theynominated for Babylon a name above all, they made it renowned in allquarters, and in the midst of it they founded an everlasting sovereignty,whose seat is established like heaven and earth; then did God (Anu)anBel call me by name, Hammurabi, the high prince, god-fearing, to exenplify justice in the land, to banish the proud and oppressor, that the greatshould not despoil the weak, to rise like the sun over the black-headedrace(mankind) and illumine the land, to give health to all flesh.
ammur-abi the(good) shepherd, the choice of Bel, am I the completer of plentyand abundance, the fulfiller of every purpose. For Nippur, and dariliithet of Nippur or part of it?), I highly adorned e-kur(the temple ofBel there). In powerful sovereignty I restored Eridu and cleansed e-zu-ab(temple of Ea there). By onslaughts on every side(the four quarters)Imagnified the name of Babylon and rejoiced the heart of Marduk mylord. Every day I stood in e-sag-gill (the temple of Marduk at Babylon)Descendant of kings whom Sin had begotten, I enriched the city of Ur,and humbly adoring was a source of abundance to e-her-nu-gal (themple of Sin at Ur). A king of knowledge, instructed by Shamash thdge, I strongly established Sippara, reclothed the rear of the shrine ofya(the consort of Shamash), and planned out e-bab-bar (temple ofShamash at Sippara) like a dwelling in heaven. In arms I avenged LarsaHeld by the Elamite, Rim-Sin), and restored e-bab-bar (temple ofShamash at Larsa) for Shamash my helper. As overlord I gave fresh lifto Erech, furnishing abundance of water to its people, and completed thpire of e-an-na(temple of Nana at Erech). I completed the glory of Anuand Ninni. As a protector of my land, I reassembled the scattered peopleof Nisin (recently reconquered from the Elamites)and replenished thetreasury of e-gal-ma(temple of Nisin). As the royal potentate of the cityand own brother of its god Zamama, I enlarged the palace at Kish andsurrounded with splendor e-me-te-ur-sag(the temple at Kish). I madeecure the great shrine of Ninni. I ordered the temple of arsagkalama ek-sal-nakdri, by whose assistance I attained my desire. I restored Kuthaand increased everything at e-sid-lam(the temple there). Like a chargingbull, I bore down my enemies. Beloved of tu-tu(a name of Marduk) inmy love for Borsippa, of high purpose untiring, I cared for e-zl-dale of Naba there). As a god, king of the city, knowing and farsee-I looked to the plantations of Dilbat and constructed its granaries fo(the god of Dilbat)the powerful, the lord of the insignia, the sceptreand crown with which he invested me. As the beloved of ma-ma(consort of ib), I set fast the bas-reliefs at Kish and renewed the holymeals for Erishtu(goddess of Kish). with foresight and power I orderedthe pasturages and watering-places for Sirpurla and Girsu and arrangedthe extensive offerings in e-50(the temple of"the fifty" at Sirpurla).Iscattered my enemies. As the favorite of Telitim(a godaces of allab and rejoiced the heart of gis-dar (its goddess). Grandrince, whose prayers Adad knows well, I soothed the heart of Adad, thewarrior in Bit Karkara. I fastened the omaments in e-ud-gal-gal(templethere). As a king who gave life to Adab, I repaired e-ma(temple atAdab). As hero and king of the city, unrivalled combatant, I gave life toMashkan-Shabri and poured forth abundance on sit-lam(temple of Ner-gal there). The wise, the restorer, who had conquered the whole of therebellious, I rescued the people of Malka in trouble. I strengthened theirabodes with every comfort. For Ea and dam-gal-nun-ha I increased theirrule and in perpetuity appointed the lustrous offerings. As a leader andking of the city, I made the settlements on the Euphrates to be populousAs client of Dagan, who begat me, I avenged the people of Mera andTutul. As high prince, I made the face of Ninni to shine, making the lus-trous meals of nin-a-zu secure I reunited my people in famine by assur-ing their allowances within Babylon in peace and security. As the shep-herd of my people, a servant whose deeds were acceptable to gis-dar inc-ul-mash(temple of Anunit)in the midst of Agade, noted for its widequare, I settled the rules and set straight the Tigris. I brought back toAsshur the gracious colossus and settled the altar(?). As king of NinevehI made the waters of Ninni to shine in e-dup-dup High of purpose andwise in achievement for the great gods, descendant of Sumu-lail, eldestson of Sin-muballi?, long descended scion of royalty, great king, a veryShamash (or sun) of Babylon, I caused light to arise upon Sumer andAkkad. A king who commanded obedience in all the four quarters, be-loved of Ninni am I When Marduk brought me to direct all people andcommissioned me to give judgment, I laid down justice and right in theprovinces, I made all flesh to prosper. Then-the words of the Code are thecompletion of the sentence. The king implies that its regulations were the outcome of this legislative decision).
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