0 ammas
square, as an extra defence. I excavated the ditch: with brick and
mortar I bound its bed; a long rampart at its head (?) I strongly built.
I adorned its gates. The folding doors and the pillars I plated with
copper. Against presumptuous enemies, who were hostile to the men of
Babylon, great waters, like the waters of the ocean, I made use of
abundantly. Their depths were like the depths of the vast ocean. I did
not allow the waters to overflow, but the fulness of their floods I
caused to flow on, restraining them with a brick embankment.... Thus I
completely made strong the defences of Babylon. May it last forever!"

[Here follows a similar account of works at Borsippa.] "In Babylon--the
city which is the delight of my eyes, and which I have glorified--when
the waters were in flood, they inundated the foundations of the great
palace called Taprati-nisi, or 'the Wonder of Mankind;' (a palace) with
many chambers and lofty towers; the high-place of Royalty; (situated) in
the land of Babylon, and in the middle of Babylon; stretching from the
Ingur-Bel to the bed of the Shebil, the eastern canal, (and) from
the bank of the Sippara river, to the water of the Yapur-Shapu;
which Nabopolassar my father built with brick and raised up; when the
reservoir of Babylon was full, the gates of this palace were flooded.
I raised the mound of brick on which it was built, and made smooth its
platform. I cut off the floods of the water, and the foundations (of
the palace) I protected against the water with bricks and mortar: and I
finished it completely. Long beams I set up to support it: with pillars
and beams plated with copper and strengthened with iron I built up its
gates. Silver and gold, and precious stones whose names were almost
unknown [here follow several unknown names of objects, treasures of the
palace], I stored up inside, and placed there the treasure-house of
my kingdom. Four years (?), the seat of my kingdom in the city...,
which....did not rejoice (my) heart. In all my dominions I did not build
a high-place of power; the precious treasures of my kingdom I did not
lay up. In Babylon, buildings for myself and the honor of my kingdom I
did not lay out. In the worship of Merodach my lord, the joy of my heart
(?), in Babylon, the city of his sovereignty and the seat of my empire,
I did not sing his praises (?), and I did not furnish his altars (i.e.
with victims), nor did I clear out the canals." [Here follow further
n