216 ONE THOUSAND FAMOUS THINGS
tooth of a man who is his equal to fall out, he himself shall lose a
tooth. If he makes the tooth of a poor man to fall out, he shall pay
in silver.
If a man has struck the strength of a man who is great above
him, he shall be struck in the assembly with sixty strokes of a
cow-hide whip.
If a builder has built a house which falls and causes the death of
its owner, the builder shall be put to death. If it causes the death of
the owner's son the builder's son shall die.
If a man has refloated a ship which was aground, he shall receive
half its value.
If a wild bull has gored a man and caused him to die, that case has
no remedy.
Nebuchadnezzar Galling
On two barrel cylinders in the British Museum is an impressive statement by
Nebuchadnezzar of the things he did. These few words are taken from them,
•VTEBUCHADNEZZAR, the exalted prince, the supreme lord, the
JL\| beloved lord, the beloved of the god Nebo, the unwearied prince
of the gate, the restorer of the temples, the messenger of the great
gods, the King of Babylon am I.
I caused to be completed the great fortresses, upon the threshold
of its gates mighty lords and poisonous snakes I set up, the which
never had any king made. The paths of the ancient quays I built
up with bitumen and brick. The quay which my father had worked
at I excavated. I caused its foundations to be laid and raised up its
summit like a mountain.
The palace of heaven and earth, the seat of tranquillity, the temple
of the gods, the dwelling-place of the divine king of heaven and earth,
I caused them to be covered with shining gold and I made them
brilliant as the day.
The temple, the foundation of heaven and earth, the tower of
Babel I built anew. The temple beloved of Nebo with gold and
sculptured stones I made like the brilliance of heaven.
An account of my magnificent works and of my restorations of the
temples of the great gods I wrote, and I set it up for future days.
O God, the king of Marad, lord of all warriors, sweep away
the disobedient, smash their weapons, devastate the lands of the
enemies, sweep them all away. In the presence of Marduk, king
of heaven and earth, upon my works pronounce blessing, command
my prosperity.