Cylinder foundation deposit of Nebuchadnezzar II

This clay cylinder was probably deposited within the foundations of a temple, palace, or armory. The primary intended audience of texts like these was likely two-fold: 1) future rulers who could find and read them during building renovations, and 2) the gods, who could read texts even when they were buried. The inscription, in cuneiform script, celebrates the achievements of the Babylonian king Nabu-kudurri-usur II (also known as Nebuchadnezzar) as he renovated and rebuilt various temples and public structures in the city of Babylon, located in modern-day Iraq. In the Hebrew Bible, Nebuchadnezzar appears as the foreign king responsible for the Babylonian Exile of the Jews and the destruction of the First Temple in Jerusalem. (See External Link.)

Sources:
- Eva Miller, "Future-Proofing Kingship: Mesopotamian Foundation Deposits in Glencairn Museum," _Glencairn Museum News_, Number 9, 2018.