The First Year of Nabopolassar's Rule according to the Babylonian Chronicle BM 25127: A Reinterpretation of the Text and Its Consequences

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The publication of the Chronicle BM 25127 by Wiseman' brought about vigorous discussion over the introductory verses (lines 1-17) devoted to the events that preceded the first year of Nabopolassar's rule.2 Also the distorted narration of the events of Nabopolassar's third year aroused many doubts and questions.3 But almost no doubts were expressed concerning Wiseman's interpretation of the events of Nabopolassar's first year,4 according to which panic overcame Babylon in the beginning of the year, on the 17th of Nisan; on that same day Samas and the gods of Sapazzu entered the capital. One month later, on the 21st of Iyyar the Assyrian army entered Sallat and one day before that the gods of Sippar