Fig. 50.—Brick stamp of Evil-Merodach.
The 6–lined stamp gives Nabu-ku-dur-ru-u-ṣur or Nabu-ku-dur-ri-uṣur, the 7–lined gives either the latter or Nabu-ku-du-ur-ri-uṣur. The 4–lined is exclusively characterised by the use of ap-lam instead of tur-uš, which is universally used elsewhere.
Fig. 51.—Brick stamps of Nebuchadnezzar (E, F), of Neriglissar (G), and Nabonidus (H).
It may be advisable at this juncture to consider the stamps used by Nebuchadnezzar’s successors. Of Evil-Merodach we have found only two examples (Fig. [50]), one of 3 lines, exactly analogous to the stamps of Nebuchadnezzar. Neriglissar (Fig. 51 G) has 3– and 4–lined stamps, with the text, “Neriglissar, King of Babylon, fosterer of Esagila and Ezida, who accomplishes good deeds.” Of Nabonidus (Fig. 51 H) are 3– and 6–lined stamps, with the text, “Nabonidus, King of Babylon, the chosen one of Nabu and Marduk, son of Nabubalatsuikbi, the wise prince, am I,” and “Nabonidus, King of Babylon, fosterer of Esagila and Ezida, son of Nabubalatsuikbi, the wise prince.” So far no stamp has been found of Labashi-Marduk. All these stamps bear general texts, applicable to any building. In contrast to them are the special stamps, which like the inscribed bricks refer to individual buildings, for which they were exclusively intended. We have such of Nabopolassar, Sardanapalus, Esarhaddon, Sennacherib, and Sargon, and shall speak of them when we come to the buildings to which they refer.
Fig. 52.—Aramaic addition on Nebuchadnezzar brick.
In addition, a fair number of stamps are found in Aramaic, either alone or in conjunction with cuneiform (Fig. [52]). Of these no convincing translation has yet reached me; they appear to be names sometimes abbreviated. The name of Nabonidus is easily recognised, as it often occurs in Aramaic in conjunction with his cuneiform stamp.
(Fig. [53]) appears to be an abbreviation of the canal name Libil-ḫigalla, and in