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Gudea Cylinders

The Building of Ningirsu's Temple

About this book
Column A 6

1 The pure star for the building of the temple 2 she has announced to you.

3 Second, the warrior who flexed his arm 4 and held a tablet of lapis lazuli in his hand 5 is the god Nindub: he was smoothing out the plan of the temple on the tablet. 6 The holy carrying-basket that stood before you, the holy brick-mold set in order, 7 and the brick of destiny resting in the mold— 8 that is surely the true brick of Eninnu. 9 As for the fine sacred vessel standing before you, 10 in which bird-men passed the time pouring water— 11 sweet sleep will not enter your eyes in your zeal to build the temple! 12 And as for the donkey stallion that pawed the ground for you at the right side of your lord— 13 that is you, pawing the ground for Eninnu like a fiery steed!

Instructions to Build Ningirsu’s Chariot

14 Now heed my counsel and instruction! 15 In Girsu, in the sanctuary of the land of Lagash, you shall set your foot.⁠ 16 In your treasure-house break the seal and remove wood from it. 17 For your king prepare a chariot, 18 and harness donkey stallions to it. 19 Adorn that sacred chariot with silver and lapis lazuli; 20 let the arrows come forth from the quiver like daylight! 21 Lavish care upon the sacred battle-mace of heroism, 22 fashion his beloved emblem, 23 and inscribe your name upon it. 24 Accompanied by his beloved balag-lyre, Ushumgal-kalamma (‘Great Dragon of the Land’), 25 the renowned instrument that gives him counsel, 26 to the warrior who loves gifts—

Texts in conversation

Compare Gudea Cylinders A vi 19 and Ezekiel 1:15

Ancient Near East, Sumerian · Hebrew Bible

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Summary

Ezekiel describes a bright chariot driven by storm winds that recalls the Sumerian Dream of Gudea, where a ruler receives guidance to build a temple. Both portray a chariot decorated with blue stones such as lapis lazuli, showing divine authority.

Passages

Gudea Cylinders A vi 19

Ancient Near East, Sumerian · The Building of Ningirsu's Temple
14 Now heed my counsel and instruction! 15 In Girsu, in the sanctuary of the land of Lagash, you shall set your foot. 16 In your treasure-house break the seal and remove wood from it. 17 For your king prepare a chariot, 18 and harness donkey stallions to it. 19 Adorn that sacred chariot with silver and lapis lazuli; 20 let the arrows come forth from the quiver like daylight! 21 Lavish care upon the sacred battle-mace of heroism, 22 fashion his beloved emblem, 23 and inscribe your name upon it. 24 Accompanied by his beloved balag-lyre, Ushumgal-kalamma (‘Great Dragon of the Land’), 25 the renowned instrument that gives him counsel, 26 to the warrior who loves gifts—
2125 BCE (scholarly estimate) Read in the Gudea Cylinders

Ezekiel 1:15

Hebrew Bible
14 The living beings moved backward and forward as quickly as flashes of lightning. 15 Then I looked, and I saw one wheel on the ground beside each of the four beings. 16 The appearance of the wheels and their construction was like gleaming jasper, and all four wheels looked alike. Their structure was like a wheel within a wheel. 17 When they moved they would go in any of the four directions they faced without turning as they moved. 18 Their rims were high and awesome, and the rims of all four wheels were full of eyes all around. 19 When the living beings moved, the wheels beside them moved; when the living beings rose up from the ground, the wheels rose up too.
600–501 BCE (scholarly estimate) Read in Ezekiel

References

"... Ezekiel’s theophany upon the completion of the visionary temple is a repetition of his revelation in chapter one, and includes images evocative of Gudea’s god Ningirsu. The four-winged creatures in Ezekiel’s vision have the figure of a man, and one of the four faces of each creature is that of a lion. Ezekiel’s theophany also consists of many thunderstorm elements (Ezekiel 1:4–28). He comments that the noise of the creatures’ wings is like rushing waters; he describes a huge cloud, a stormy whirlwind, flashing lightning; finally, “as the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about,” (Ezekiel 1:28). Ezekiel’s theophany is surrounded by a rainbow! Ezekiel’s divinity appears the first time, and probably also the second, in a chariot covered with eyes, and “the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone,” (Ezekiel 1:26). Blue lapidary work seems important in both visions: one of the first offerings Gudea is advised to present to the god Ningirsu is a beautifully adorned war chariot, of lapis lazuli ..."
Diane M. Sharon, “A Biblical Parallel to a Sumerian Temple Hymn? Ezekiel 40–48 and Gudea,” JANES 24.1 (1996): 99–109.

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 vi 19 and Ezekiel 1:15

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