This is a detailed view of a Neo-Assyrian monumental cuneif…

By Anonymous · published 29 Oct 2026

AI interpretation, unverified

SUMMARY

This is a detailed view of a Neo-Assyrian monumental cuneiform inscription carved into gypsum alabaster ('Mosul marble'). It represents a section of the 'Standard Inscription' of King Ashurnasirpal II, originally carved across the wall relief slabs of his Northwest Palace at Kalhu (modern Nimrud, Iraq).

WRITING SYSTEM

Cuneiform (Neo-Assyrian monumental ductus)

LANGUAGE

Akkadian (Neo-Assyrian royal dialect)

TEXT

É.GAL m.aš-šur-PAB-A GÌR.NÍTA d.MAŠ u d.30 na-ra-am d.a-nim u d.da-gan ka-šú-uš DINGIR.MEŠ GAL.MEŠ LUGAL dan-nu LUGAL ŠÚ LUGAL KUR aš-šur A m.GIŠ.TUKUL-ti-d.MAŠ LUGAL GAL LUGAL dan-nu LUGAL ŠÚ LUGAL KUR aš-šur A m.IGI.DU-PAB LUGAL GAL LUGAL dan-nu LUGAL ŠÚ LUGAL KUR aš-šur-ma

TRANSLITERATION

ēkal aššur-nāṣir-apli šakkanak Enlil u Ninurta / narām Anim u Dagan kašūš ilāni rabûti / šarru dannu šar kiššati šar māt aššur / mār tukultī-ninurta šarri rabê šarri danni šar kiššati šar māt aššur / mār adad-nērārī šarri rabê šarri danni šar kiššati šar māt aššur-ma

TRANSLATION

Palace of Ashurnasirpal, vice-regent of Enlil and Ninurta, beloved of Anu and Dagan, weapon of the great gods, the mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria; son of Tukulti-Ninurta, great king, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria; son of Adad-nerari, great king, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria...

CONTEXT

The inscription is from an alabaster wall relief slab originally from the Northwest Palace of King Ashurnasirpal II at Nimrud (ancient Kalhu, northern Iraq). In antiquity, this formulaic text (the so-called 'Standard Inscription') was carved repeatedly across the sculpted wall slabs throughout the palace. Hundreds of these slabs and fragments were excavated in the 19th and 20th centuries and are now preserved in museums around the world (e.g., British Museum, Louvre, Metropolitan Museum of Art) as well as some regional collections.

CONFIDENCE

High

CAVEATS

• The GPS coordinate points to Espoo, Finland, thousands of kilometers from Mesopotamia; it indicates either a photo taken at an exhibition, educational display, casting, or of a digital image/book. • The distinct horizontal banding, sign forms, and repeated royal titles ('šarru dannu šar kiššati šar māt aššur') are quintessential characteristics of the Northwest Palace Standard Inscription. • Because the photo is a tightly cropped fragment of a formulaic multi-line text, the transliteration and translation provide the canonical royal genealogy and titulary that comprises this portion of the standard text.