Ashurbanipal 007

(i 1) I, Ashurbanipal, great king, [strong] ki[ng], king of the world, king of Assyria, king of the [four] quarters (of the world), offspring of Esarhaddon, kin[g of Assyria], governor of Babylon, king of the land of Sum[er and Akkad], descendant of Sennacherib, ki[ng of the world, king of Assyria] —

(i 6) [The gr]e[at gods] in [their assembly determined a favorable destiny as my lot]

(i 1') [I stretch]ed out [its covering over the god Marduk, the great lord], and (thus) [secured its roof].

(i 2') [(As for) the] exalted [chariot, the veh]icle of the god [Marduk], the pre-eminent one among the gods, the lord of lords, I completed its feature(s) with gold, silver, (and) precious stones. I gave (it) as a gift to the god Marduk, the king of the totality of heaven and netherworld, the one who overwhelms my enemies.

(i 7') I skillfully mad[e] a bed of musukkannu-wood, a [dur]able wood, that is clad with pašallu-gold (and) [studded with] precio[us] stones, as a pleasure bed for the god Bēl (Marduk) and the god[dess Bēltīya (Zarpanītu)] to carry out the wedding (and) to make lo[ve]. I pla[ced (it)] in Kaḫilisu, the bed chamber of the goddess Zarpanī[tu], which is laden with sexual charm.

(i 14') I stationed four fier[ce] wild bulls of silver, protectors of my royal path, in the Gate of the Rising Sun and (in) the Gate of Lamma-RA.BI, in gateway(s) of Ezida, which is inside Borsippa.

(i 18') I decorated Emašmaš (and) Egašankalama with silver (and) gold, (and) filled (them) with splendor.

(i 21') The goddess Šarrat-Kidmuri, who in her anger had abandone[d] her inner sanctum (and) had [ta]ken up residence in a place not befitting her, [rele]nted during the favorable reign (lit. “my favorable reign”) that (the god) Aššur had granted m[e]. (i 25´) To complete (the emblem of) [her] exalted divinity (and) to glorify [her] precious cultic rites, she constantly kept sending me (instructions) through dream(s and) message(s) from ecstatics.

(i 29') I asked the gods Šamaš (and) Adad and they answered me with a [fir]m “yes.” I [refurbish]e[d] the emblem of her great divinity (and) made her sit upon a throne-dais as (her) [ete]rnal abo[de]. I firmly (re)-established her precious cultic ordinances and properly carried out her cultic rites.

(i 35') For the pre[servation of] my [li]fe, I set up lion-headed eagles (and) [div]ine emblems in the gateway(s) of E[gallammes, the t]emple of the god Nergal of the city Tarbiṣu.

(i 39') Before [my] fa[ther] was born (and) my [bir]th-mother was [created] in her mother’s w[omb], the god Sîn, who created [me] to be ki[ng], named m[e] to (re)bu[ild] Eḫul[ḫul], saying: “Ashurbanip[al] will (re)bu[ild] that [temple and make m]e [dwell] therein upon an et[ernal] dais.” (i 45´) The word of the god Sîn, which [he had spoken] in [di]stant [days], he now reve[aled to the peopl]e of a lat[er generation]. He allow[ed] the temple of the god Sîn — which Shal[maneser (III), son of Ashur]nasirp[al (II)], a king of the past (who had come) befo[re me, had built] — to become old [and he entrusted (its renovation) to me].

(i 50') (As for) that temple, which [had become] ol[d, I removed its] dil[apidated section(s)] by the command of the gods Sîn (and) Nusku. [I made its] st[ructure larger] than the one in the days of the past. I bu[ilt (and) completed (it)] from its foundation(s) to its crenellations. (i 55´) [Inside it], I built Emelamana, the temple of the god Nusku, [the exalted vizier], which a king of the past (who had come) before me had built. I roof[ed them] with long beams of cedar. I fastened band(s) of [silver] on doors of white cedar (and) I fixed (them) in their gateways.

(i 59') In the inner sanctum of the god Sîn, my lord, I stationed two wild bulls of silver, which gore my foes (to death). In a gateway of Eḫulḫul, I (also) stationed two long-haired heroes of ešmarû-metal, which grasp divine emblems, keep safe my royal path, (and) bring in the yield of mountain and sea.

(i 64'b) I took the gods Sîn (and) Nusku by the hand, made (them) enter into (their respective temples), (and) made (them) sit on (their) eternal dais(es).

(i 66') I completed the sanctuaries of Assyria and the land Akkad in their entirety. I made every type of temple appurtenance there is from silver (and) gold, (and) I added (them) to those of the kings, my ancestors. (i 70´) I made the great gods who support me reside in their exalted inner sanctums. I offered sumptuous offerings before them (and) presented (them) with my gifts. I made regular offerings (and) contributions more plentiful than those of distant days.

(i 73') I had statues of my royal majesty skillfully made from silver, gold, (and) shiny copper through the craft of the deities Ninagal, Kusibanda, (and) Ninkurra, (and), as constant petitioners for my life, I installed (them) in their positions before the gods who support me. From my childhood until I became an adult, I was assiduous towards the sanctuaries of the great gods. They required my priestly services (and) they (now) enjoy my giving (them) food offerings.

(i 81') The god Adad released his rains (and) the god Ea opened up his springs. Grain was five cubits high in its furrow (and) ear(s) of corn were five-sixths of a cubits long. Successful harvest(s and) an abundance of grain enabled pasture land to continually flourish, (i 85´) fruit orchards to be very lush with fruit, (and) cattle to successfully give birth to (their) young. During my reign, there was plenitude (and) abundance; during my years, bountiful produce was accumulated.

(i 87') Throughout my entire land, (on account of) abundant trade, for one shekel of silver one could purchase twelve donkey-loads of grain, three homers of wine, two seahs of oil, (and one) talent of wool. Year after year, I shepherded the subjects of the god Enlil in prosperity and with justice.

(i 90') The great gods, whose divinity I constantly revered, generously granted me power, virility, (and) outstanding strength. They placed lands that had not bowed down to me into my hands (and) allowed me to achieve my heart’s desire. (i 95´) I marched from the Upper Sea to the Lower Sea, where the kings, my ancestors, had regularly traveled. At a distance of one month (and) twenty days (journey) into the midst of the sea and on dry land, I added [terr]itory to that of the kings, my ancestors, and ruled (it). I made [the people] living in those lands bow down to my yoke (and) imposed annual [tribute pay]ment upon them. (i 100´) [By the command of (the god) A]ššur (and) the goddess Ištar, the kings who sit upon (royal) daises kiss my feet (and) [great rulers from (both)] east and west are anxious for me to be their ally.

(ii 1') [Ṣil-Bēl, king of the land Gaza], M[itinti, king of the land Ashkelon], I[kausu, king of the land Ekron], Mi[lki-ašapa, king of the land Byblos], (ii 5´) Y[akīn-Lû, king of the land Arwad], A[bī-Baʾal, king of the land Samsimurruna], A[mmi-nadbi, king of the land Bīt-Ammon, Aḫī-Milki, king of the land Ashdod, Ekištūra, king of the land Idalion, (ii 10´) Pilagurâ, king of the land Kitrusi, Kīsu, king of the land Salamis, Itūandar, king of the land Paphos, Erēsu, king of the land Soloi, Damāsu, king of the land Curium], (ii 15´) Ad[mēsu, king of the land Tamassos], Da[mysos, king of the land Qartiḫadasti], U[nasagusu, king of the land Lidir], Bu[ṣusu, king of the land Nūria] — in total, twenty-[two kings of the seacoast], (ii 20´) the midst of the sea, [and dry land, servants who belonged to me], carr[ied their substantial] audience gi[ft(s)] before me [and kissed my feet].

(ii 23') I made tho[se] kings, [together with their forces] (and) the[ir] boats, t[ake the road (and) path] with [my] troops [by sea and dry land].

(ii 26'b) [I] qui[ckly advanced to support (and) aid the kings (and) officials] who [were in Egypt, servants who belonged to me, and] (ii 30´) I marched [as far as the city Kār-Bānīte]. Taharq[a, the king of Egypt and Kush, heard about the advance of my expeditionary force] (while he was) inside the city Me[mphis, and] m[ustered his battle troops] before me to wage [armed battle (and) war]. (ii 35´) With the support of the gods A[ššur, Bēl (Marduk), and Nabû], the great gods, [my] lo[rds who march at my side, I brought about the defeat of his troops in a] widesp[read] pitched [battle].

(ii 1'') [(As for) Ne]cho, [king of the cities Memphis and Sais, Šarru-l]ū-dāri, [king of the city Pelusium, Pi-ša]n-Ḫuru, [king of the city Natho, Pa]-qruru, king of [the city (Pi)šaptu, (ii 5´´) In]aros ([Ni]ḫerau), king of the city [Athribis, (and) N]aḫkê, king of the city He[racleopolis], those [kings], governors, (and) [officials whom the father who had engendered me] had appointed [in] Egypt, (ii 10´´) [who] had abandoned [their post(s) in the face of Taharqa’s] tactical adva[nce, (and) had gone to (lit. “filled”) the countryside], where [their post(s) were, I permitted them to serve in their (former) positions again. I reorganized Egypt and Kush, which the father who had engendered me] had c[onquered. (ii 15´´) I strengthened its] guard [more than previously (and)] conclu[ded (new) agreements with it].

(ii 17'') With mu[ch] plunder (and) [substantial booty, I turned around (lit. “I turned the front of my yoke”) and] returned safely to [Assyria].

(ii 19'') Afterwards, Necho, Šarru-lū-dāri, (and) Pa-[qruru] sinned against my treaty (and) did not honor the oath(s sworn) by [the great gods]. They forgot my kindness and their heart(s) plotted e[vil (deeds)]. They spoke word(s) of treachery and decided (among) themselves on a profitless decision, saying: (ii 25´´) “If they remove Taharqa from Egypt, how then can we (ourselves) stay?” To establish treaties and peace, they dispatched their mounted messenger(s) to Taharqa, the king of Kush, saying: “Let peace be established between us so that (ii 30´´) we can come to a mutual agreement. (Let) us divide the land among ourselves so that no other lord comes between us.” With regard to troops of Assyria, the might of my lordly majesty, they constantly sought out evil plan(s) to cut (their) throat(s).