Hymn to Babylon

A Hymn in Praise of Babylon and the Babylonians

This extraordinary hymn was unknown to scholarship until its discovery among tablets from the Library of Sippar, a temple archive of the sun god Shamash in ancient Babylonia. The composite text was reconstructed from five Neo-Babylonian and Late Babylonian tablets (circa seventh to fourth centuries BCE), though the hymn itself is likely much older. It is the only known Babylonian composition that praises not just a god or a temple, but the people of a city — the citizens of Babylon themselves.

The hymn moves through six great movements: an opening praise of Marduk as lord of heaven and earth; an unnamed god's extended hymn to Marduk as shepherd of the weak and restorer of the ruined; the blessing of Marduk by the three supreme divine couples; a hymn to the Esagil temple as mirror of the cosmic deep; a hymn to Babylon itself as an eternal city on the Euphrates where spring arrives in fields of barley and flowers; and finally a hymn to the Babylonians — a people who protect the humble, free prisoners at a silver talent's cost, welcome foreigners without humiliation, share inheritance with the absent, and whose women are holy priestesses who nourish life.

This is the scholarly translation of Anmar A. Fadhil (University of Baghdad) and Enrique Jimenez (LMU Munich), published in their edition "Literary Texts from the Sippar Library V" in the journal Iraq, Volume 86 (2025), pages 21-78. The text is presented here as an archival text — their translation, not ours — preserved in the Good Work Library under the article's Creative Commons CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license.

§1 Opening Hymn to Marduk

Lines 1-25. The hymn opens with praise of Marduk as commander of heaven and earth, guardian of humankind, and light of the gods. Much of this section survives only in fragments.

[...] commander of the entire extent of heaven and earth, [Marduk!]

[...] all-wise,

Guardian of [...]

[... shaper] of destinies, issues of decrees, [...]

[...] at whose immutable command [...] ...

[...] ... [...]

[...] his name

[...] Nudimmud,

[...] humankind,

[In the] four [quarters] people sing his feats,

[Light of the gods], mainstay of heaven and earth, lord of the source.

[... over] all settlements,

Grantor of portions and food offerings to the gods his brethren,

[... whose attention] is sweet,

[...] ... his lord,

[...] illuminator of Babylon, guardian spirit of Esagil

[...] great lord.

[...] Bright torch of the great gods,

[Delivering god,] lord of succor,

[Marduk], delivering god, lord of succor,

Upon all [lands] you have placed (your) protection!

§2 A God's Hymn to Marduk

Lines 26-81. An unnamed deity addresses Marduk directly, praising him as shepherd of the weak, restorer of fortunes, and architect of the universe.

[...] prepared to speak,

Saying [to Marduk, (...) the lord of heaven] and earth:

"[...] eternal king of prosperity, lord of the lands,

"[...] who makes people flourish everywhere,

"[...] skillful, builder of the watercourses,

"[...] who obtains his heart's desire,

"[...] frontline leader,

"[...] lofty, noble,

"[...] you are their commander,

"[...] they prostrate themselves before you

"[...] your [eyes] penetrate distant realms,

"[You, who in] hardship decree [...] forthwith,

"You are mindful of [teeming humankind, as many as they] be,

"[You always support the helpless,] you shepherd the weak,

"[The blocked ...] ... you allow to open,

"[... you establish] posessions and property,

"You appoint [...] the king, the favorite of the gods,

"[...] a present and an offering,

"[...] you added substenance,

"[...] you took pity,

"[...] you absolve the sin,

"[...] ... you reconcile his angry god.

"[...], the afflicted man,

"You sweeten his words before everyone like honey.

"[Over him] whose income has ceased, whose benefit was interrupted,

"You ... [... (and)] raise a fair [wind], which restores in a day what he lost in a year.

"[All humans] await their portions from you,

"To all creatures you bestow sustenance.

"[...] you recognise the trial,

"[...]

"[...] you grant victory,

"[...] ... lord of the gods, Marduk!

"[...] your might!

"[...] firm ...

"[...] who makes prosperity rain down,

"[(...) Decider of destinies,] architect of the universe,

"[...] You control the pastures and watering holes,

"[...] in the midst of distant mountains

"[...] you cause a massive flood,

"May he [...] provide [fish] and birds!

"You appoint ... [...]

"[...] you subjugated the sea,

"You captured equally the hill and the flatlands.

"You supply abundance, lavish fortune you procure,

"Your plants satiate, your wood brings warmth,

"Your plants are sweet — the famished grows satiated,

"Your glow is warming — let the shivering warm up.

"In your sweet shade let there be shelters,

"In your wide folds let the herd rest.

"Let your waters be plentiful for the teeming creatures, all living things!

"With them are mixed fire and air.

"The gods of the land, as vassals, stand at their service.

"Those who give oracles do not so without you:

"They never stray from your order, they are steadfast in your will.

"Assembled, they take counsel with each other;

"Guided by distant thoughts, with favorable intent."

§3 The Blessing of the Three Great Gods

Lines 82-85. The three supreme divine couples — and heaven and earth themselves — pronounce their blessing upon Marduk.

Anu and Antu bless Marduk,

Enlil and Ninlil bless Marduk,

Ea and Damkianna bless Marduk,

Heaven and Earth bless Marduk.

§4 Hymn to the Esagil

Lines 86-105. The hymn turns to the Esagil, Marduk's temple in Babylon — described as a likeness of the cosmic Apsu, a mirror of primordial Eridu, and a storehouse of all hidden wisdom.

His well-wrought house, fit for his splendor,

Esagil, elect of heaven and earth, beloved of [his] heart,

A likeness of Apsu, a mirror of Eridu,

An equal to Esharra in splendor and aura.

Exalted, august, made with artful craft,

In the four quarters it has no rival,

In every settlement he has exalted its name.

Eridu, the gate of the Apsu, the secret chamber,

The entrance of the netherworld, the bond of the great heavens;

Decision of the gods, ... counsel of heaven and earth,

Station of all gods, pure foundation,

Sanctuary of rituals (and) oracles, storehouse of secrets,

(Of) designs, destinies, all hidden wisdom,

All of it scion of Apsu, of artful craft.

§5 Hymn to Babylon

Lines 100-132. The hymn names Babylon as the new Eridu — the eternal charter city, sacred city of the gods, adorned with carnelian and lapis lazuli. Like the sea she proffers her yield; like a garden she flourishes; the Euphrates quenches her meadows where barley sprouts and herds lie on verdant pastures.

The place where this was created, perfect are [its] ordinances,

It is called Eridu, Babylon is its name.

The abode of the gods' sage, son of Ea, lord aquatic.

Eternal charter city, beloved of [Enzag].

Vast secret house, Sacred City of [Lugal-abzu]!

Bolt of carnelian, gate of [...],

Inlaid ring, treasure chest of [...],

Obsidian, lapis lazuli, agate, and mountains of [...],

(And) precious jasper — gem of sovereignty.

Like the sea, (Babylon) proffers her yield,

Like a garden of fruit, she flourishes in her charms,

Like a wave, her swell brings her bounties rolling in.

Marduk's star, delightful, precious sun, is her auspicious sign,

Wherever the sun (is), is her gate, the distant heavens.

Imgur-Enlil is her primeval wall — the mountain of the just,

Alulu is her king — the father of all generations.

The Euphrates is her river — established by wise lord Nudimmud —

It quenches the lea, saturates the canebrake,

Disgorges its waters into lagoon and sea,

Its fields burgeon with herbs and flowers,

Its meadows, in brilliant bloom, sprout barley,

From which, gathered, sheaves are stacked,

Herds and flocks lie on verdant pastures,

Wealth and splendor — what befit mankind —

Are bestowed, multiplied, and regally granted.

§6 Hymn to the Babylonians

Lines 125-166. The hymn's final movement is unprecedented in Babylonian literature: it praises the citizens of Babylon themselves — the free people of the Esagil, consecrated to Marduk. They protect the humble, support the weak, free prisoners, welcome foreigners, share inheritance with the absent, and their women are priestesses who cleanse with pure water and seek life in the sanctuaries.

The clan of loyal Lugal-abzu (i.e. Ea), the tribe of Ninazu (i.e. Ninurta),

The advice of Lugal-asal, the Sacred City of Enzag (i.e. Nabu),

With the city was created the progeny of Alalgar,

The free citizens of Babylon, the populace of Esagil.

Purified by the ablution, consecrated to Marduk.

The courtyard sweepers of the great queen Zarpanitu,

Dedicated as a present to Nabu and Tashmetu.

King after king will establish their freedom.

Bathed priests of Ishtaran, pure priests of Shamash,

Buhlu-priests of Shushinak, Nippureans of Enlil —

The foreigners among them they do not humiliate.

The humble they protect, their weak they support,

Under their care, the poor and destitute can thrive.

To the orphan they offer succor and favor,

The prisoner they set free, the captive they release (even) at the cost of a silver talent,

With the absent person they share the inheritance,

Piously observing, they return kindness.

They follow the gods's command, and justice they keep,

The original stele, the ancient law.

The hosts of righteous Ningirsu, of sweet Alala,

They abstain from insulting, honoring and praising each other.

In acquisition they are appropriate, in reflection they bring delight,

They brighten up the mood, and revel in merriment.

(Their) women who have become masters in their duties:

High priestesses who keep (their) vow to their bridegrooms,

Cloistered women who, with their skill, nourish the womb with life,

Holy women who cleanse with pure water.

They keep the prohibitions and adhere to what is sacred,

Kneeling in prayer, armed with a supplication,

Reverent and vigilant, mindful of good works,

They visit the sanctuaries, seeking life.

Skilled in benevolence, they act with propriety.

[They (the women) are the cows] of all Babylon, the herds of Ishtar,

They (the men) are the ones freed by Marduk.

He will never permit them to be robbed, nor to be slandered.

§7 Fragments

Lines 167-212. The final columns survive only in fragments. The text appears to describe blessings of peace, prosperity, and long life granted by the gods, followed by a passage celebrating fearsome warriors — perhaps the soldiers of Babylon — compared to vipers and described as smashing stone walls.

(Around 3 lines are missing or are too damaged for translation)

[... peace] and happiness,

[...] they granted permanent prosperity,

[...] multiplied the years,

[...] enduring until old age,

[...] increased,

[...] established ...

[... the benevolence] of the gods is [placed] upon them,

[...] life (and) health,

(Two lines are broken at the beginning of the fourth column of SipNB1)

[...] king,

[...] his ...

[...] ...

[...] ... surpassing, whose onset is fierce,

[...] the perfect [steeds] are lofty, indomitable,

[...] wears [on his head] like [a tiara], savage combat,

[... who] know [no] fatigue, which thrash around like a viper,

[...] ... devastate ..., achieving their desire forthwith,

[...] ... they butt, smashing a stone wall,

[...] perfect in appearance, surpassing [(...)] and ferocious,

[...] ... of the Apsu, ... [(...)] they are [valorous],

(At most 5 lines are missing, containing the end of the text)

Colophon

This is the scholarly translation of Anmar A. Fadhil (University of Baghdad) and Enrique Jimenez (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat Munich), published in "Literary Texts from the Sippar Library V: A Hymn in Praise of Babylon and the Babylonians," Iraq, Volume 86 (2025), pages 21-78. DOI: 10.1017/irq.2024.23. Published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0).

This is an archival text — the English translation above is the work of Fadhil and Jimenez, not of the New Tianmu Anglican Church. It is preserved here under the terms of its open-access license so that this hymn, unknown to scholarship until the twenty-first century, may be freely read by anyone with an interest in the ancient world.

The composite text was reconstructed from five tablets: three Neo-Babylonian tablets from the Library of Sippar (SipNB 1-3, excavated at Abu Habbah, held by the Iraq Museum in Baghdad) and two Late Babylonian tablets of uncertain provenance (LB 1-2). The hymn itself — which celebrates Babylon as a city that welcomes foreigners, protects orphans, frees prisoners, and whose women are priestesses who seek life — is likely considerably older than its surviving copies.

Compiled and formatted for the Good Work Library by the New Tianmu Anglican Church, 2026.

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Source Text: Akkadian Composite Transliteration

Akkadian composite transliteration from Fadhil and Jimenez, Iraq 86 (2025), pp. 21-78. Presented here for reference, study, and verification alongside the English translation above.

1. [(…) mu]štēšir (?) pāṭ nagbi šamê u erṣ[eti marūtuk (?)]
2. [… mūd]û kalāmu
3. nāṣir … [...]
4. [… mušīm] šīmāti pāris puruss[ê ...] ...
5. [...] ša ana ṣīt pîšu lā unak[karu† ...] ...
6. [...] ... [...] ...
7. [...] ...
8. [...]
9. [...] ...
10. [...] ...
11. [...] ... šumīšu?
12. [...] nudimmud
13. [… b]aʾūlātu
14. [ina kibrāt er]betti ištammarā ni[š]ū narbîšu
15. [nūr il]ī (?) kayyān šamê u erṣeti bēl nagbi
16. [… kal]îšina† dadmē
17. nādin isqi u nindabê ana ilī aḫḫīšu
18. [… ša nasḫurš]u (?) ṭābu
19. [...] ... bēlšu
20. [(…) mu(š)]nammir bābili lamassi esaggil
21. [… bē]lu rabû
22. [(…) n]amru dipār ilī rabûti
23. [ilu mušēzibu] bēl usāti
24. [marū]tuk ilu mušēzibu bēl usāti
25. [...]
26. [… pâšu] īpuš-ma iqabbi
27. [(…) ana marūtuk (?) bēl (?) šam]ê u erṣeti amāta izakkar
28. [… ša]r ḫengalli dārû bēl mātāti
29. [...] ... mudeššû nišī kibrāti
30. [… e]tpēšu bānû miṭrāti
31. [...]
32. [...]
33. [...] ... a-šá-red maḫ-ri
34. [...]
35. [...] ...
36. [… īnāk]a [ana k]âši kamsūka inaṭṭalā rūqēti
37. [… da]nnati (?) tašimmu ḫanṭiš
38. [apâti mala] (?) bašâ taḫassas
39. [tattanašši lā lēʾâm]-ma tereʾʾi ulāla
40. [...] ... ana patê tanaddin
41. [… tuk]ān (?)
42. [… š]arra bušê makkūra migir ilī tanabbi
43. [...] ... erbu u ṭātu
44. [...] kurummata tušraddi
45. [...] tušarši rēma
46. [...] gillata tapassas
47. [...] ... zenî tusallam ilšu
48. [...] šūnuḫu amēlu
49. [p]īšu kīma lallāri tuṭāb eli gabbī
50. [ana] ša idāšu ḫalqā-ma išdiḫšu parsu
51. [šāra] ṭāba ... [… tašâ]ḫšum-ma (?) ša šattu uhalliq irâb† ūmakkal
52. [...]
53. [ana šikn]āt napišti mitḫāriš tanaššar iprī
54. [… t]umadda dīna
55. [...] ...
56. [...]
57. [...] ... bēl? ilī marūtuk
58. [… d]unnūka
59. [...] ... kunnu
60. [...]
61. [(…) mušīm šīmāt]i (?) bānû kalāmu
62. [… r]iʾīta u mašqâ tabarri
63. [...] qereb šadî bīrūti
64. [… mīl]a tugappaš
65. [… nūn]ī iṣṣūrāti lišaddin
66. [...] ... tušakkan (?)
67. [… t]ušakniš tâmta
68. tušarsi mitḫāriš [mūl]â u mušpāla
69. tugammar ḫiṣba magal tušabši nuḫša
70. šammūka ša nešbê iṣṣūka ša šuḫni
71. ṭābū šammūka berû išebbi
72. šaḫnat ṣētaka kaṣû lištaḫḫan
73. ina ṣillīka ṭābi liškunū tabīna
74. ina supūrīka šumduli lišarbiṣū† būla
75. mê(ka) ana šiknāt napišti mitḫāriš balāṭi limīd[ū]
76. ittīšunu summuḫū išātu u šār[u]
77. dāgil pānīšunu muttabbilū ilū š[a m]āti
78. muštāmû tāmīta ul ippušū balīka
79. ṣīt pîka ul ittiqū amātka kunnū
80. paḫrū imtallikū† ištanaʾʾalū aḫāmiš
81. ana rūqi ḫitmuṭū† ṭēnšunu ibbabbalū pānī
82. ānu u antu ikarrabū ana marūtuk
83. enlil u ninlil ikarrabū ana marūtuk
84. ea u damkianna ikarrabū ana marūtuk
85. šamû u erṣetu ikarrabū ana marūtuk
86. banû bīssu simat lalêšu
87. esagil (w)itāt šamê u erṣeti narām libbī[šu]
88. tamšīlātu ša apsî maṭlātu ša erīd[u]
89. meḫret ēšarra šalummata namrirr[ī]
90. šurbi šūtur ina šipir nikilti šūpu[š]
91. ina kibrāt(i) erbetti šānina ul īš[i]
92. ina napḫar dadmē kalîšunu ušarbi šumš[u]
93. erīdu bāb apsî bīt pirišt[i]
94. abul arallî markas šamê rabût[i]
95. têret ilī milik šamê u erṣeti ...
96. manzāz ilī kalîšunu duruššu el[lu?]
97. ešret billudê tāmīti išpikkī piriš[ti]
98. uṣrāti šīmāti kullat nēmeqi niṣirt[i]
99. mimma šumšu tabnīt apsî šipir nikil[ti]
100. ašar šū ibbanû šuklulū par[ṣū(šu)]
101. erīdu šumšu šuk-lu-lu par-[ṣu-(šú)]
102. šubat apkal ilī mār ea bēl nag[bi]
103. āl kidinni dārû tiriṣ qāti ša e[nzag] (?)
104. bīt niṣirti šumdulu urukugû ša lu[gal-abzu] (?)
105. sikkūr sāmti dalat [...]
106. semer tamlî pišanni [...]
107. ṣurru uqnû pappardilû šadû ša [...]
108. ašpû šūquru aban šarrū[ti]
109. kīma tâmti naši ḫiṣibšu
110. kīma kirî inbī lalîšu iḫannub
111. kīma edê emūqā(tū)šu ittanabbalā dumuqšu kulla
112. kakkab marūtuk ṣayyāḫu šamšu šūquru† damiqtu ittuš
113. ēma šamši abullašu šamû rūqūtu
114. imgur-ellil dūršu rēštû šad(u) kīni
115. alūlu šarrašu abi nišī aḫrâti
116. purattu nāršu šiknat bēl nēmeqi nudimmud
117. umakkar bamāti ṣuṣê išaqqu†
118. ana ayabi u tâmati unaqqi† mêšu
119. qarbātūšu iptanarr↠dīša u šamma
120. tamerātūšu šunmurā† iḫannub ašnan
121. šapkū ina libbīšu gurrunū† karê nissaba
122. gipāru u laḫru aburriš rabṣū
123. nuḫšu (u) mešrû simat baʾūlāti
124. duššū ṭuḫḫudū [u]naqqa etelliš esḫū?
125. ummat lugal-abzu tukkuli nišūt nināzu
126. milik lugal-asal urukugû ša enzag
127. itti āli ibbanû riḫût alalgar
128. ṣābū kidinni ša bābili aburrūtu ša esaggil
129. ina mīs pî zukkû ana marūtuk nadnū
130. kisalluḫū ša zarpanītu šarrati rabīti
131. ana nabû u [tašmēt]u ana širikti šarkū
132. šarru ana šarri and[urā]ršunu išakkan
133. [r]amkūt[(u) (ša) išt]arān ša šamaš ebbūtu
134. buḫlû ša šušinak nippurû ša ellil
135. aḫûti ša ittīšunu ul ušbaššū
136. ḫaššâ ḫatnū ābirîšunu kullū
137. ina ṣillīšunu akû iballuṭ enšu
138. ana mār mīti usāta ippušū išakkanū gimilla
139. ṣabta umaššarū kasâ ipaṭṭarū (ana) ištēt bilat kaspi
140. ša lā ašbu išakkanā zitta
141. kī ikki palḫi šuṣṣurū† iribbū dumqa
142. upaqqū ana dīn(i) ilim-ma kitta naṣrū
143. kudurru rēštū uṣurtu maḫrītu
144. emūqāt ningirsu mišari† alāla ṭābi
145. ul idaṣṣū idāšunu šukbutū šušqû aḫāmeš
146. rāšū asmū mālikū muṭibbū libbi
147. mušpardū kabtāti ḫidûta† rāmū
148. sinnišātu ša ina šiprīšina tašīmta aḫzā
149. ugbabātu ša ina ḫāmerīšina kitta naṣrā
150. nadâtu ša ina nēmeqi uballaṭā rēma
151. qašdātu ša ina mê tēlilti iš[ak]kanā šuḫta
152. anzilla šuṣṣurā ukallā ikkiba
153. kamsā ikarrabā r[ašâ t]ēmēqī
154. nakdā pitqudā damiqta ḫassā
155. ašrāt ilī ištaneʾʾ[â bal]āṭa saḫrā
156. ṭubba itpēšā ileʾʾā asmā
157. [šinā arḫ]ātu (?) ša kullat babilī sukullāt ištar
158. šunū-ma šubarrû ša marūtuk
159. ḫub(ba)t[ašunu ul] iḫabbat batiqtašunu ul ibat[t]aq
     160-186. [...] ... [...]
160. [...] ... [...]
161. [...] ... [...]
162. [...] ... [...]
163. [...] ... [...]
164. [… šulm]i (?) u naḫāš[i]
165. [...]
166. [...]
167. [...] ... bitrū litt[ūta]
168. [...] urab[bi] (?)
169. [...] ... uki[nnū]
170. [...] ilī elīšunu ba[šū]†
171. [...] ... balāṭu ṭūb l[ibbi]
172. [...]
173. [...] ...
174. [… ša]rru
175. [...] ...
176. [...] ...
177. [...] ... šūturū ša tībūšunu ezzū
178. [… sis]ū šuklulūtu nagalmušū nadrū
179. [… a]gîš šitpuru qablu šamru
180. [… ša lā] īšū mānaḫtu ittanašrabbiṭū kīma šibbi
181. [...] ... isappanū adi surriš nizmassun(u) kašdū
182. [...] ... ittakkipū ubbatū [d]ūr abni
183. [… š]uklulū bunnannê šūt[urū (...) d]abrū
184. [...] ... apsī ... [(...) dap]īnū (?)
185. [...] ... [...]

Source Colophon

Akkadian composite transliteration from Anmar A. Fadhil and Enrique Jimenez, "Literary Texts from the Sippar Library V: A Hymn in Praise of Babylon and the Babylonians," Iraq 86 (2025), pp. 21-78. The composite text was reconstructed from five tablets: SipNB 1 (IM 132670), SipNB 2 (IM 132682), SipNB 3 (IM 132707) from the Library of Sippar (Iraq Museum, Baghdad), and two Late Babylonian tablets of uncertain provenance (LB 1 and LB 2). Published under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.

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