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Gudea Cylinders

The Building of Ningirsu's Temple

About this book
Column A 5

1 and she was consulting it internally.

2 Second, there was a warrior: 3 he flexed his arm; a tablet of lapis lazuli he held in his hand,⁠ 4 and for the temple a plan he made. 5 Before me a holy carrying-basket was placed; 6 a holy brick-mold was set in order, 7 and the brick of destiny was placed for me in the mold. 8 In a fine sacred vessel standing before me, 9 bird-men passed the time pouring water ceaselessly; 10 and a donkey stallion at the right hand of my lord kept pawing the ground for me.”

Nanshe’s Interpretation of the Dream

11 To the ruler his mother Nanshe answered: 12 “My shepherd, your dream I will interpret for you:⁠ 13 As for the man whose stature was like heaven and whose stature was like earth, 14 who as to his head was a god, at whose side 15 was the storm-bird, at whose feet was the hurricane, 16 and at whose right and left a lion lay couched— 17 he is surely my brother Ningirsu! 18 He has commanded you to build his shrine Eninnu.

19 The daylight that rose for you over the horizon 20 is your personal god Ningishzida: like the sun he rises for you over the horizon. 21 The maiden who wore the sheaves of her hair like a crown on her head, 22 who held a sacred stylus of refined silver in her hand, 23 who had set down the tablet of the favorable stars, 24 and who was consulting it internally— 25 she is surely my sister Nisaba!

Texts in conversation

Daniel Echoes the Dream of Gudea When God Reveals the Dream

Ancient Near East, Sumerian · Hebrew Bible

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Summary

In the Dream of Gudea, the Sumerian ruler turns to the goddess Nanshe to interpret his confusing dream. Daniel follows this tradition when Nebuchadnezzar’s wise men fail and God reveals the dream and its meaning to Daniel.

Passages

Gudea Cylinders A v 12

Ancient Near East, Sumerian · The Building of Ningirsu's Temple
11 To the ruler his mother Nanshe answered: 12 “My shepherd, your dream I will interpret for you: 13 As for the man whose stature was like heaven and whose stature was like earth, 14 who as to his head was a god, at whose side 15 was the storm-bird, at whose feet was the hurricane, 16 and at whose right and left a lion lay couched— 17 he is surely my brother Ningirsu!
2125 BCE (scholarly estimate) Read in the Gudea Cylinders

Daniel 2:28

Hebrew Bible
27 Daniel replied to the king, “The mystery that the king is asking about is such that no wise men, astrologers, magicians, or diviners can possibly disclose it to the king. 28 However, there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the times to come. The dream and the visions you had while lying on your bed are as follows: 29 “As for you, O king, while you were in your bed your thoughts turned to future things. The revealer of mysteries has made known to you what will take place.
200–101 BCE (scholarly estimate) Read in Daniel

References

... Kings were frequent recipients of revelation through dreams in antiquity. In the biblical context, the pharaoh's dream in Genesis 41 comes most readily to mind, but it is far too simple to say that 'this chapter is a new version of the story of Joseph' or 'a midrash on Genesis 41.' The story must be seen in its wider Near Eastern context. Mesopotamian examples of royal dreams range from those of Gudea, who was ensi of the Sumerian city of Lagash, through the dreams of Asshurbanipal to those of Nabonidus. The last of these royal figures is of particular interest here, because it is generally recognized that traditions about him underlie the portrayal of Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 4. Nabonidus was exceptional among the neo-Babylonian rulers for his interest in dreams. He refers several times in his inscriptions to apparitions of gods, and on one occasion he refers to an apparition of his illustrious predecessor, Nebuchadnezzar II, in a dream. Most of his dream revelations are concerned with the repair and rebuilding of sanctuaries ...
John J. Collins, Daniel: A Commentary on the Book of Daniel (Minneapolis: Fortress, 1993), 155.

References are not endorsements of their contents. Read each reference in full to understand its author's intentions in using these texts.

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Gudea Cylinders A v 12 and Daniel 2:28

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