Ashurbanipal’s name

Ashurbanipal riding a horse and hunting

Ashurbanipal, the powerful king of New Assyria, known for his famous wars and library.

His name consists of three parts:

• First part: The name Ashur is the great god of the city of Assyria.
• Second part: the verb “bani” means “creator”.
• Third part: the name “Apil” means “heir”.

His name means “Assyria, the creator of the heir”.

His name refers to two things: A) He is the heir of Ashur, the great god of the Assyrian city and empire. b) He received his power and kingdom from Ashur.

Ashur is the great god of the city of Assyria and the national god of the people of the Assyrian Empire.

Her name in Sumerian-Akkadian cuneiform:

𒁹𒀭𒊹𒆕𒀀

𒁹𒀭𒊹 refers to Ashur, the great god of the Assyrians. [ashur]

𒆕 refers to the Sumerian verb “to build”, which in Ashurbanipal’s name refers to the Akkadian verb “creator”. [bani]

𒀀 refers to the word heir. [apil]