Stele with inscription and relief, winged disc, solar disc

Istanbul Archaeology Museums, Turkey

---

Stele with Inscription and Relief. Bel-harran-beli-usur is praying in front of divine symbols. 8th century B.C. Tel-Abda. Marble.

Bel-harran-beli-usur was a high palace official (chamberlain) during the reign of Shalmaneser IV (782 - 773 B.C.) and Tigleth-Pileser III (744-727 B.C.). He founded a city in the desert to the west of Nineveh built also a temple there.

The inscription runs as follows: "Bel-harran-beli-usur, the major domo of Shalmaneser (and) Tiglath-Pileser, King(s) of Assyria, who fear (s) the great gods, the might lords, at their exalted word and by their sure grace, I founded a city in the desert in a waste. From its foundation to its top I completed it. A temple I built and I placed a shrine for the great gods thein. Its foundation platform I made firm as the mountains are set down.

I established its foundation walls for all eternity. Dur-bel-harran-beli-usur called its name. I inscribed a stele, the images of the great gods I fashioned on in the divine dwelling place I set it up offerings, incense (- offerings) I established for these gods for all times... The feedom of that city I have established. Its grain-levy shall not be taken, its straw shall not be taxed, its water (let) none drain off into another channel; boundary and boundary-stone let (none) destroy; the increase of cattle and sheep let (none) seize; on the people dwelling there in, let (none) impose feudal dues or taskwork; let none send out any other man to be over them, let none impose military service upon them..."

---

Supplementary images:

• 
• 

---

Winged disc, crescents, and eight-pointed star engraved on a marble stele

---

Source:  Istanbul, Turkey