Ashurbanipal 011
Obverse | ||
Column i | ||
i 1i 1 | (i 1) I, Ashurbanipal, the creation of (the god) Aššur and the goddess Mullissu, the senior son of the king of the House of Succession, the one whom (the god) Aššur and the god Sîn — the lord of the (lunar) crown — nominated in distant days to be king (i 5) and created in the womb of his mother for shepherding Assyria, (and the one for whom) the deities Šamaš, Adad, and Ištar declared my exercising the kingship through their firm decision(s) — | |
i 22 | ||
i 33 | ||
i 44 | ||
i 55 | ||
i 66 | ||
i 77 | ||
i 88 | (i 8) Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, the father who had engendered me, carefully observed the word(s) of (the god) Aššur and the goddess Mullissu, the gods who supported him, (i 10) (and) who instructed him about my exercising the kingship. In the month Ayyāru (II), the month of the god Ea — the lord of humankind — on the twelfth day — an auspicious day, (the day of) the bread donation(s) to the goddess Gula — in order to perform the noble command of the deities Aššur, Mullissu, Sîn, Šamaš, Adad, (i 15) Bēl (Marduk), Nabû, Ištar of Nineveh, Šarrat-Kidmuri, Ištar of Arbela, Ninurta, Nergal, (and) Nusku, he assembled the people of Assyria — young and old — (and) of the Upper and Lower Sea(s). (i 20) In order to protect my (position as) heir designate and afterwards (my) exercising the kingship of Assyria, he made them swear to a treaty, an oath bound by the gods; he made the agreements strong. | |
i 99 | ||
i 1010 | ||
i 1111 | ||
i 1212 | ||
i 1313 | ||
i 1414 | ||
i 1515 | ||
i 1616 | ||
i 1717 | ||
i 1818 | ||
i 1919 | ||
i 2020 | ||
i 2121 | ||
i 2222 | ||
i 2323 | (i 23) In (the midst of) joyous celebration, I entered the House of Succession, a sophisticated place, the mooring place of kingship, inside of which Sennacherib — the father of the father who had begotten me — had performed (his duties) as heir designate and king, the place in whose midst Esarhaddon — the father who had engendered me — was born, grew up, exercised dominion over Assyria, led all of the rulers, expanded (his) family, (and) bonded with relatives and kin. | |
i 2424 | ||
i 2525 | ||
i 2626 | ||
i 2727 | ||
i 2828 | ||
i 2929 | ||
i 3030 | ||
i 3131 | (i 31) Furthermore, I, Ashurbanipal, learned inside it the wisdom of the god Nabû, all of the scribal arts. I investigated the precepts of every type of scholar there is, learned how to shoot a bow, ride a horse (and) chariot, (and) take hold of (their) reins. | |
i 3232 | ||
i 3333 | ||
i 3434 | al-ma-ad šá-le-e GIŠ.PAN ru-kub ANŠE.KUR.RA GIŠ.GIGIR ṣa-bat KUŠ.a-šá-a-te | |
i 3535 | (i 35) By the command of the great gods, whose name(s) I invoked, whose praise I speak about, (and) who commanded my exercising the kingship, they entrusted me to be the provider of their sanctuaries. In my stead, they always answer my adversar(ies and) kill my foes. | |
i 3636 | ||
i 3737 | ||
i 3838 | ||
i 3939 | (i 39) Heroic male, beloved of (the god) Aššur and the goddess Ištar, descendant of kingship, I — | |
i 4040 | ||
i 4141 | (i 41) After the deities Aššur, Sîn, Šamaš, Adad, Bēl (Marduk), Nabû, Ištar of Nineveh, Šarrat-Kidmuri, Ištar of Arbela, Ninurta, Nergal, (and) Nusku gladly made me sit on the throne of the father who had engendered me, (i 45) 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, 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 4242 | ||
i 4343 | ||
i 4444 | ||
i 4545 | ||
i 4646 | ||
i 4747 | ||
i 4848 | ||
i 4949 | ||
i 5050 | ṣip-pa-a-ti šu-um-mu-ḫa in-bu MÁŠ.ANŠE šu-te-šur ina ta-lit-ti | |
i 5151 | ina BALA-ia ḪÉ.NUN ṭuḫ-du ina MU.AN.NA.MEŠ-ia ku-um-mu-ru ḪÉ.GÁL-lum | |
i 5252 | ina maḫ-re-e ger-ri-ia a-na KUR.má-kan u KUR.me-luḫ-ḫa lu al-lik | (i 52) On my first campaign, I marched to Makan (Egypt) and Meluḫḫa (Ethiopia). (As for) Taharqa, the king of Egypt and Kush, whose defeat Esarhaddon — king of Assyria, the father who had engendered me — had brought about (and) (i 55b) whose land he ruled over, he, Taharqa, forgot the might of (the god) Aššur, the goddess Ištar, and the great gods, my lords, and trusted in his own strength. He marched against the kings (and) officials, whom the father who had engendered me had appointed inside Egypt, to kill (and) rob (them) and to take away Egypt (from them). (i 60b) He entered and resided in the city Memphis, a city that the father who had engendered me had conquered (and) made part of the territory of Assyria. A fast messenger came to Nineveh and reported (this) to me. My heart became enraged about these deeds and my temper turned hot. (i 65) I raised up my hands (and) made an appeal to (the god) Aššur and the Assyrian Ištar. I mustered my elite forces that (the god) Aššur and the goddess Ištar had placed in my hands (and) I made (them) take the direct road to Egypt and Kush. |
i 5353 | ||
i 5454 | ||
i 5555 | ||
i 5656 | ||
i 5757 | ||
i 5858 | ||
i 5959 | ||
i 6060 | ||
i 6161 | URU šá AD DÙ-u-a ik-šu-du a-na mi-ṣir KUR AN.ŠÁR.KI ú-ter-ru | |
i 6262 | ||
i 6363 | ||
i 6464 | ||
i 6565 | ||
i 6666 | ||
i 6767 | ||
i 6868 | (i 68b) In the course of my campaign, twenty-two kings of the seacoast, the midst of the sea, and dry land, servants who belonged to me, carried their substantial audience gift(s) before me and kissed my feet. | |
i 6969 | ||
i 7070 | ||
i 7171 | ||
i 7272 | (i 72) I made those kings, together with their forces (and) their boats, take the road (and) path with my troops by sea and dry land. | |
i 7373 | ||
i 7474 | ||
i 7575 | (i 75) I quickly advanced to support the kings (and) officials who were in Egypt, servants who belonged to me, and I marched as far as the city Kār-Bānīte. Taharqa, the king of Egypt and Kush, heard about the advance of my expeditionary force (while he was) inside the city Memphis, and (i 80) mustered his battle troops before me to wage armed battle and war. With the support of the gods Aššur, Bēl (Marduk), (and) Nabû, the great gods, my lords who march at my side, I brought about the defeat of his troops in a widespread pitched battle. | |
i 7676 | ||
i 7777 | ||
i 7878 | ||
i 7979 | ||
i 8080 | ||
i 8181 | ||
i 8282 | a-li-kut Á.II-ia ina MÈ EDIN rap-ši áš-ku-na BAD₅.BAD₅ ERIM.ḪI.A-šú | |
i 8383 | mtar-qu-u ina qé-reb URU.me-em-pi iš-ma-a taḫ-te-e ERIM.ḪI.A-šú | (i 83) Taharqa heard about the defeat of his troops while (he was) inside the city Memphis. The awe-inspiring radiance of (the god) Aššur and the goddess Ištar overwhelmed him and he went into a frenzy. (i 85) The brilliance of my royal majesty, with which the gods of heaven and netherworld had endowed me, covered him; he abandoned the city Memphis and, in order to save his (own) life, he fled inside the city Thebes. I seized that city (Memphis) (and then) made my troops enter (and) reside there. |
i 8484 | ||
i 8585 | ||
i 8686 | ||
i 8787 | ||
i 8888 | ||
i 8989 | URU šú-a-tú aṣ-bat ERIM.ḪI.A-ia ú-še-rib ú-še-šib ina lìb-bi | |
i 9090 | (i 90) (As for) Necho, king of the cities Memphis and Sais, Šarru-lū-dāri, king of the city Pelusium, Pi-šan-Ḫuru, king of the city Natho, Pa-qruru, king of the city Pišaptu, Bokennife (Bukunanniʾpi), king of the city Athribis, (i 95) Naḫkê, king of the city Heracleopolis, Puṭu-Bāšti, king of the city Tanis, Unamunu, king of the city Natho, Ḫur-ši-Ēšu, king of the city Sebennytos, Pūiama, king of the city Mendes, (i 100) Sheshonq, king of the city Busiris, Tap-naḫte, king of the city Punubu, Bokennife (Bukunanniʾpi), king of the city Aḫni, Eptimu-rṭešu, king of the city Trenuthis, Naḫti-ḫuru-ansini, king of the city Pišapdiʾa, (i 105) Bukurninip, king of the city Paḫnuti, Ṣi-ḫû, king of the city Siut, Lamintu, king of the city Hermopolis, Išpimāṭu, king of the city Thinis, (and) Monthemhet, king of the city Thebes, (i 110) those kings, governors, (and) officials whom the father who had engendered me had appointed in Egypt, who had abandoned their post(s) in the face of Taharqa’s tactical advance, (and) had gone to (lit. “filled”) the countryside, where their post(s) were, I reappointed them in their (former) positions. I reorganized Egypt and Kush, which the father who had engendered me had conquered. (i 115) I strengthened (its) guard more than previously and concluded (new) agreements (with it). | |
i 9191 | ||
i 9292 | ||
i 9393 | ||
i 9494 | ||
i 9595 | ||
i 9696 | ||
i 9797 | ||
i 9898 | ||
i 9999 | ||
i 100100 | ||
i 101101 | ||
i 102102 | ||
i 103103 | ||
i 104104 | ||
i 105105 | ||
i 106106 | ||
i 107107 | ||
i 108108 | ||
i 109109 | ||
i 110110 | LUGAL.MEŠ an-nu-ti LÚ.NAM.MEŠ LÚ.qé-pa-a-ni šá qé-reb KUR.mu-ṣur | |
i 111111 | ||
i 112112 | ||
i 113113 | ú-ter-ma a-šar pi-qit-ti-šú-un ina maš-kán-i-šú-un ap-qid-su-nu-ti | |
i 114114 | KUR.mu-ṣur u KUR.ku-u-su šá AD DÙ-u-a ik-šu-du a-na eš-šu-ti aṣ-bat | |
i 115115 | ||
i 116116 | (i 116b) With much plunder (and) substantial booty, I returned safely to Nineveh. | |
i 117117 | ||
i 118118 | EGIR-nu LUGAL.MEŠ an-nu-ti ma-la ap-qí-du ina a-de-ia iḫ-ṭu-u5 | (i 118) Afterwards, those kings, as many as I had appointed, sinned against my treaty (and) did not honor the oath(s sworn) by the great gods. They forgot the kindness that I had done for them and (i 120) their heart(s) plotted evil (deeds). They spoke word(s) of treachery and decided (among) themselves on a profitless decision, saying: “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: (i 125) “Let peace be established between us so that 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 that I had stationed (there) to help them, they constantly sought out evil plan(s). |
i 119119 | la iṣ-ṣu-ru ma-mit DINGIR.MEŠ GAL.MEŠ MUN e-pu-us-su-nu-ti im-šú-ma6 | |
i 120120 | ||
i 121121 | ||
i 122122 | ul-tú qé-reb KUR.mu-ṣur i-na-saḫ-u-ma at-tu-ni a-šá-ba-ni mì-i-nu | |
i 123123 | e-li mtar-qu-u MAN KUR.ku-u-si a-na šá-kan a-de-e u sa-li-me | |
i 124124 | ||
i 125125 | ||
i 126126 | KUR a-ḫe-en-na-a ni-zu-uz-ma a-a ib-ba-ši ina bi-ri-ni šá-nu-um-ma be-lum | |
i 127127 | a-na ERIM.ḪI.A KUR AN.ŠÁR.KI e-muq EN-ti-ia šá a-na kit-ri-šú-nu uš-zi-zu | |
i 128128 | iš-te-né-ʾu-u a-mat ḪUL-tim LÚ.šu-ut SAG.MEŠ-ia a-ma-a-te an-na-a-te | (i 128b) Eunuchs of mine heard these words; they seized their mounted messenger(s) along with their messages and (i 130) (then) they saw their deceitful acts. They seized those kings and clamped (their) hands and feet in iron fetters (and) iron handcuffs. The oath (sworn) by (the god) Aššur, the king of the gods, defeated them and my kindness, which I had done for them as a favor, called to account those who had sinned against the treaty (sworn) by the great gods. |
i 129129 | iš-mu-u LÚ.rak-bé-e-šú-un a-di šip-ra-a-te-šú-un iṣ-bat-u-nim-ma | |
i 130130 | e-mu-ru ep-šet sur-ra-a-te-šú-un LUGAL.MEŠ an-nu-te iṣ-bat-u-nim-ma | |
i 131131 | ina bi-re-ti AN.BAR iš-qa-ti AN.BAR ú-tam-me-ḫu ŠU.II u GÌR.II7 | |
i 132132 | ma-mit AN.ŠÁR MAN DINGIR.MEŠ ik-šu-su-nu-ti-ma šá iḫ-ṭu-u ina a-de-e | |
i 133133 | DINGIR.MEŠ GAL.MEŠ MUN ŠU.II-šú-un ú-ba-ʾi-i-ma šá e-pu-us-su-nu-ti | |
i 134134 | (i 134b) (As for) the people of the cities Sais, Mendes, Pelusium, and the rest of the cities, as many as had sided with them (and) plotted evil (deeds), young and old, they (my troops) cut (them) down with the sword. They did not spare a single person among (them). They hung their corpses on poles, flayed them, (and) draped the city wall(s with their skins). | |
Column ii | ||
ii 1ii 1 | ||
ii 22 | TUR u GAL ina GIŠ.TUKUL.MEŠ ú-šam-qí-tu ⸢e-du⸣ a-me-lu la e-zi-bu ina lìb-bi | |
ii 33 | ||
ii 44 | ||
ii 55 | 20.⸢ÀM⸣ LUGAL.MEŠ an-nu-ti šá ḪUL-tu iš-te-né-ʾu-u | (ii 5) (As for) those twenty kings who had constantly sought out evil (deeds) against the troops of Assyria, they brought (them alive) to Nineveh, before me. |
ii 66 | ||
ii 77 | ||
ii 88 | a-na mni-ku-u TA bi-ri-šú-nu re-e-mu ar-ši-ma ú-bal-liṭ nap-šat-su | (ii 8) Among them, I had mercy on Necho and I let him live. I made (his) treaty more stringent than the previous one and I established (it) with him. (ii 10) I clothed him in garment(s) with multi-colored trim, placed on him a golden hoe, an insignia of his kingship, (and) fastened gold bracelets around his wrists. On an iron belt-dagger with gold mountings, I wrote out my name and I gave (it) to him. I presented him with chariots, horses, (and) mules to be his lordly transport. (ii 15) I sent with him eunuchs of mine (and) governors to help him. Where the father who had engendered me had appointed him as king, in the city Sais, I returned him to his position. |
ii 99 | ||
ii 1010 | ||
ii 1111 | ||
ii 1212 | ||
ii 1313 | ||
ii 1414 | GIŠ.GIGIR.MEŠ ANŠE.KUR.RA.MEŠ ANŠE.KUNGA.MEŠ a-na ru-kub EN-ti-šú a-qis-su | |
ii 1515 | LÚ.šu-ut SAG.MEŠ-ia LÚ.NAM.MEŠ a-na kit-ri-šú it-ti-šú áš-pur | |
ii 1616 | ||
ii 1717 | (ii 17b) Moreover, I appointed Nabû-šēzibanni, his son, in the city Athribis. I performed more kind (and) good deed(s) for him than the father who had engendered me. | |
ii 1818 | ||
ii 1919 | ||
ii 2020 | (ii 20) (As for) Taharqa, in the place where he had fled, the awesome terror of the weapon of (the god) Aššur, my lord, overwhelmed him and he passed away. | |
ii 2121 | ||
ii 2222 | EGIR-nu mUR-da-ma-né-e DUMU mšá-ba-ku-u ú-šib ina GIŠ.GU.ZA LUGAL-ti-šú | (ii 22) Afterwards, Tanutamon, the son of Shabako, sat upon his royal throne. He made the cities Thebes (and) Heliopolis his fortresses (and) assembled his forces. To fight against the Assyrian troops (ii 25) who were inside the city Memphis, he mobilized his battle array, confined those people, and cut off their escape route. A fast messenger came to Nineveh and told (this) to me. |
ii 2323 | URU.ni-iʾ URU.ú-nu a-na dan-nu-ti-šú iš-kun ú-paḫ-ḫi-ra el-lat-su | |
ii 2424 | ||
ii 2525 | ||
ii 2626 | ||
ii 2727 | ||
ii 2828 | ina 2-e ger-ri-ia a-na KUR.mu-ṣur u KUR.ku-u-si uš-te-še-ra ḫar-ra-nu | (ii 28) On my second campaign, I took the direct road to Egypt and Kush. Tanutamon heard about the advance of my expeditionary force and that I had set foot on Egyptian territory, he abandoned the city Memphis and, in order to save his (own) life, he fled inside the city Thebes. The kings, governors, (and) officials whom I had stationed in Egypt came to meet me and kissed my feet. |
ii 2929 | ||
ii 3030 | ||
ii 3131 | ||
ii 3232 | LUGAL.MEŠ LÚ.NAM.MEŠ LÚ.qé-pa-a-ni šá qé-reb KUR.mu-ṣur áš-ku-nu | |
ii 3333 | ||
ii 3434 | (ii 34) I took the road in pursuit of Tanutamon (and) I marched as far as the city Thebes, his fortified city. He saw the assault of my mighty battle array and abandoned the city Thebes; he fled to the city Kipkipi. With the support of (the god) Aššur and the goddess Ištar, I conquered that city (Thebes) in its entirety. | |
ii 3535 | ||
ii 3636 | ||
ii 3737 | in-na-bit a-na URU.ki-ip-ki-pi URU šu-a-tú a-na si-ḫir-ti-šú | |
ii 3838 | ||
ii 3939 | KÙ.BABBAR KÙ.GI ni-siq-ti NA₄.MEŠ NÍG.ŠU É.GAL-šú ma-la ba-šú-u | (ii 39) Silver, gold, precious stones, as much property of his palace as there was, garment(s) with multi-colored trim, linen garments, large horses, people — male and female — two tall obelisks cast with shiny zaḫalû-metal, whose weight was 2,500 talents (and which) stood at a temple gate, I ripped (them) from where they were erected and took (them) to Assyria. I carried off substantial booty, (which was) without number, from inside the city Thebes. (ii 45) I made my weapons prevail over Egypt and Kush and (thus) achieved victory. With full hand(s), I returned safely to Nineveh, my capital city. |
ii 4040 | lu-bul-ti bir-me GADA.MEŠ ANŠE.KUR.RA.MEŠ GAL.MEŠ UN.MEŠ zik-ru u sin-niš | |
ii 4141 | ||
ii 4242 | ||
ii 4343 | ul-tu man-za-al-ti-šú-nu as-suḫ-ma al-qa-a a-na KUR AN.ŠÁR.KI | |
ii 4444 | šal-la-tú ka-bit-tú ina la mì-ni áš-lu-la ul-tú qé-reb URU.ni-iʾ | |
ii 4545 | ||
ii 4646 | ||
ii 4747 | ||
ii 4848 | ||
ii 4949 | (ii 49) On my third campaign, I marched against Baʾalu, the king of the land Tyre who resides in the middle of the sea. Because he did not honor my royal command(s and) did not obey the pronouncement(s) from my lips, I set up outposts against him. By sea and dry land, I took control of (all of) his routes. I constricted (and) cut short their lives. I made them (the people of Tyre) bow down to my yoke. | |
ii 5050 | ||
ii 5151 | ša a-mat LUGAL-ti-ia la iṣ-ṣu-ru la iš-mu-u zi-kir šap-te-ia | |
ii 5252 | ||
ii 5353 | ||
ii 5454 | ||
ii 5555 | ||
ii 5656 | (ii 56) He brought before me (his) daughter, his own offspring, and the daughters of his brothers to serve as housekeepers. He sent at the same time Yāḫi-Milki, his son, who had never crossed the sea, to do obeisance to me. (ii 60) I received from him his daughter and the daughters of his brothers, together with a large marriage gift. I had mercy on him and (then) I gave (his) son, his offspring, back to him. | |
ii 5757 | ||
ii 5858 | ||
ii 5959 | ||
ii 6060 | ||
ii 6161 | ||
ii 6262 | ||
ii 6363 | (ii 63) (As for) Yakīn-Lû, the king of the land Arwad, who resides in the middle of the sea (and) who had not bowed down to the kings, my ancestors, he bowed down to my yoke. He brought to Nineveh his daughter, together with a substantial dowry, to serve as a housekeeper, and he kissed my feet. | |
ii 6464 | ša a-na LUGAL.MEŠ AD.MEŠ-ia la kan-šú ik-nu-šá a-na GIŠ.ŠUDUN-ia | |
ii 6565 | ||
ii 6666 | ||
ii 6767 | ||
ii 6868 | (ii 68) (As for) Mugallu, the king of the land Tabal who had spoken with disrespect to the kings, my ancestors, he brought to Nineveh (his) daughter, his own offspring, together with a large marriage gift, to serve as a housekeeper, and he kissed my feet. I imposed upon Mugallu an annual payment of large horses. | |
ii 6969 | ||
ii 7070 | ||
ii 7171 | ||
ii 7272 | ||
ii 7373 | ||
ii 7474 | ||
ii 7575 | (ii 75) (As for) Sanda-šarme of the land Ḫilakku (Cilicia), who had not bowed down to the kings, my ancestors, (and) had not pulled their yoke, he brought to Nineveh (his) daughter, his own offspring, together with a substantial dowry, to serve as a housekeeper, and he kissed my feet. | |
ii 7676 | ||
ii 7777 | ||
ii 7878 | ||
ii 7979 | ||
ii 8080 | ||
ii 8181 | (ii 81) After Yakīn-Lû, the king of the land Arwad, had disappeared, Azi-Baʾal, Abī-Baʾal, Adūnī-Baʾal, Sapaṭ-Baʾal, Būdi-Baʾal, Baʾal-iašūpu, Baʾal-ḫanūnu, Baʾal-maluku, Abī-Milki, (and) Aḫī-Milki, (ii 85) the sons of Yakīn-Lû who reside in the middle of the sea, came up from the middle of the sea, came with their substantial audience gift(s), and kissed my feet. I looked upon Azi-Baʾal with pleasure and installed him as king of the land Arwad. (ii 90) I clothed Abī-Baʾal, Adūnī-Baʾal, Sapaṭ-Baʾal, Būdi-Baʾal, Baʾal-iašūpu, Baʾal-ḫanūnu, Baʾal-maluku, Abī-Milki, (and) Aḫī-Milki in garment(s) with multi-colored trim (and) fastened gold bracelets around their wrists. I made them stand before me. | |
ii 8282 | ||
ii 8383 | ||
ii 8484 | ||
ii 8585 | ||
ii 8686 | ul-tú MURUB₄ tam-tim e-lu-nim-ma it-ti ta-mar-ti-šú-nu ka-bit-ti | |
ii 8787 | ||
ii 8888 | ||
ii 8989 | ||
ii 9090 | ||
ii 9191 | ||
ii 9292 | ||
ii 9393 | ||
ii 9494 | ||
ii 9595 | (ii 95) (As for) Gyges, the king of the land Lydia — a region on the opposite shore of the sea, a remote place, the mention of whose name none of the kings, my ancestors, had (ever) heard — (the god) Aššur, the god who created me, made him see in a dream the mention of my name, saying: “Grasp the feet of Ashurbanipal, king of Assyria, and conquer your enemies through the mention of his name.” (ii 100) On the (very) day he saw this dream, he sent his mounted messenger to inquire about my well-being. (As for) this dream that he had seen, he sent (a message about it) by the hands of a messenger of his and he reported (it) to me. | |
ii 9696 | áš-ru ru-u-qu šá LUGAL.MEŠ AD.MEŠ-ia la iš-mu-u zi-kir MU-šú | |
ii 9797 | ni-bit MU-ia ina MÁŠ.GI₆ ú-šab-ri-šú-ma AN.ŠÁR DINGIR ba-nu-u-a10 | |
ii 9898 | ||
ii 9999 | ||
ii 100100 | ||
ii 101101 | ||
ii 102102 | ||
ii 103103 | (ii 103) From the day that he grasped the feet of my royal majesty, he conquered the Cimmerians, who were disturbing the people of his land, had never feared my ancestors, and, with regard to me, had not grasped the feet of my royal majesty. With the support of (the god) Aššur and the goddess Ištar, my lords, he (Gyges) clamped two city rulers from among the city rulers of the Cimmerians that he had conquered in manacles, iron handcuffs, (and) fetters and sent (them) before me, together with (his) substantial audience gift(s). | |
ii 104104 | ||
ii 105105 | ||
ii 106106 | ||
ii 107107 | ina tukul-ti AN.ŠÁR u d15 DINGIR.MEŠ EN.MEŠ-ia TA ŠÀ LÚ.EN.URU.MEŠ | |
ii 108108 | ||
ii 109109 | ||
ii 110110 | ||
ii 111111 | LÚ.rak-bu-šú šá a-na šá-ʾa-al šul-mì-ia ka-a-a-an iš-ta-nap-pa-ra | (ii 111) He allowed an interruption (in the sending of) his mounted messenger(s), whom he used to constantly send to inquire about my well-being. Because he did not honor the word(s) of (the god) Aššur, the god who created me, he trusted in his own strength and (his) heart became proud. (ii 115) He sent his forces to aid Psammetichus (I), the king of Egypt who had cast off the yoke of my lordly majesty, and (then) I myself heard about (this) and made an appeal to (the god) Aššur and the goddess Ištar, saying: “Let his corpse be cast down before his enemy and let them carry away his bones.” Just as I had appealed to (the god) Aššur, it was fulfilled and his corpse was cast down before his enemy and they carried away his bones. |
ii 112112 | ||
ii 113113 | la iṣ-ṣu-ru a-na e-muq ra-man-i-šú it-ta-kil-ma ig-pu-uš lìb-bu | |
ii 114114 | ||
ii 115115 | ||
ii 116116 | ú-ṣal-li AN.ŠÁR u d15 um-ma pa-an LÚ.KÚR-šú pa-gar-šú li-na-di-ma13 | |
ii 117117 | liš-šu-u-ni GÌR.PAD.DU.MEŠ-šú ki-i šá a-na AN.ŠÁR am-ḫu-ru iš-lim-ma | |
ii 118118 | pa-an LÚ.KÚR-šú pa-gar-šú in-na-di-ma iš-šu-u-ni GÌR.PAD.DU.MEŠ-šú | |
ii 119119 | (ii 119) The Cimmerians whom he (Gyges) had trampled down through the mention of my name, attacked and flattened his entire land. Afterwards, his son, sat on his throne. (As for) the evil deed(s), which through my entreaties, the gods who support me had obstructed the father who had engendered him, he sent (a message about it) by the hands of his messenger and (then) he grasped the feet of my royal majesty, saying: “You are the king whom the god recognizes. You cursed my father and evil befell him. Pray for me, the servant who reveres you, so that I can pull your yoke.” | |
ii 120120 | it-bu-nim-ma is-pu-nu gi-mir KUR-šú EGIR-šú DUMU-šú ú-šib ina GIŠ.GU.ZA-šú | |
ii 121121 | ||
ii 122122 | ina pa-an AD DÙ-šú ú-šap-ri-ku ina ŠU.II LÚ.A KIN-šú iš-pur-am-ma | |
ii 123123 | iṣ-ba-ta GÌR.II LUGAL-ti-ia um-ma LUGAL šá DINGIR i-du-u-šú at-ta | |
ii 124124 | ||
ii 125125 | ||
ii 126126 | (ii 126) On my fourth campaign, I mustered my troops (and) took the direct road against Aḫšēri, the king of the land Mannea. By the command of the deities Aššur, Sîn, Šamaš, Adad, Bēl (Marduk), Nabû, Ištar of Nineveh, Šarrat-Kidmuri, Ištar of Arbela, Ninurta, Nergal, (and) Nusku, I entered the land Mannea (and) marched about triumphantly. (ii 130) I conquered, destroyed, demolished, (and) burned with fire his fortified cities, together with small(er settlements), which were without number, as far as the city Izirtu. I brought people, horses, donkeys, oxen, and sheep and goats out of those cities and I counted (them) as booty. | |
ii 127127 | MAN KUR.man-na-a-a uš-te-še-ra ḫar-ra-nu ina qí-bit AN.ŠÁR d30 dUTU | |
ii 128128 | dIŠKUR dEN dAG d15 šá NINA.KI dGAŠAN-kid-mu-ri d15 šá URU.LÍMMU-DINGIR | |
ii 129129 | dMAŠ dU.GUR dnusku qé-reb KUR.man-na-a-a e-ru-ub it-ta-lak šal-ṭiš | |
ii 130130 | ||
ii 131131 | a-di qé-reb URU.i-zir-ti KUR-ud ap-pul aq-qur ina dGIŠ.BAR aq-mu | |
ii 132132 | UN.MEŠ ANŠE.KUR.RA.MEŠ ANŠE.MEŠ GU₄.MEŠ u ṣe-e-ni TA qé-reb URU.MEŠ šá-a-tú-nu | |
ii 133133 | (ii 133b) Aḫšēri heard about the advance of my expeditionary force and abandoned the city Izirtu, his royal city. He fled to the city Ištatti, a city upon which he relied, and took refuge (there). I conquered that district. I laid waste to (an area of) fifteen days march and poured out (over it) the silence (of desolation). | |
ii 134134 | ||
Column iii | ||
iii 1iii 1 | ||
iii 22 | ||
iii 33 | ||
iii 44 | (iii 4) (As for) Aḫšēri, who did not fear my lordly majesty — by the command of the goddess Ištar who resides in the city Arbela, which she had said from the beginning, saying: “I myself, just as I have commanded, will bring about the death of Aḫšēri, the king of the land Mannea” — she (Ištar) placed him in the hands of his servants and (then) the people of his land incited a rebellion against him. They cast his corpse into a street of his city (and) dragged his body to and fro. They cut down with the sword his brothers, his family, (and) the seed of his father’s house. | |
iii 55 | ||
iii 66 | ||
iii 77 | ki-i šá aq-bu-u ep-pu-uš ina ŠU.II ARAD.MEŠ-šú tam-nu-šu-u-ma | |
iii 88 | UN.MEŠ KUR-šú si-ḫu UGU-šú ú-šab-šú-u ina SILA URU-šú LÚ.šá-lam-ta-šú | |
iii 99 | ||
iii 1010 | ŠEŠ.MEŠ-šú qin-nu-šú NUMUN É AD-šú ú-šam-qí-tú ina GIŠ.TUKUL.MEŠ | |
iii 1111 | (iii 11) Afterwards, Uallî, his son, sat on his throne. He saw the might of the deities Aššur, Sîn, Šamaš, Adad, Bēl (Marduk), Nabû, Ištar of Nineveh, Šarrat-Kidmuri, Ištar of Arbela, Ninurta, Nergal, (and) Nusku, the great gods, my lords, and bowed down to my yoke. For the preservation of his (own) life, he opened up his hands to me (and) made an appeal to my lordly majesty. He sent Erisinni, his heir designate, to Nineveh and he kissed my feet. (iii 20) I had mercy on him and (then) I dispatched my messenger with (a message of) goodwill to him. He sent me (his) daughter, his own offspring, to serve as a housekeeper. (As for) his former payment, which they had discontinued in the time of the kings, my ancestors, they carried (it) before me. (iii 25) I added thirty horses to his former payment and imposed (it) upon him. | |
iii 1212 | ||
iii 1313 | ||
iii 1414 | ||
iii 1515 | ||
iii 1616 | ||
iii 1717 | ||
iii 1818 | ||
iii 1919 | ||
iii 2020 | ||
iii 2121 | ||
iii 2222 | DUMU.MUNUS ṣi-it lìb-bi-šú ú-še-bi-la a-na e-peš MUNUS.AGRIG-u-ti | |
iii 2323 | ||
iii 2424 | ||
iii 2525 | ||
iii 2626 | ||
iii 2727 | (iii 27) On my fifth campaign, I took the direct road to the land Elam. By the command of the deities Aššur, Sîn, Šamaš, Adad, Bēl (Marduk), Nabû, (iii 30) Ištar of Nineveh, Šarrat-Kidmuri, Ištar of Arbela, Ninurta, Nergal, (and) Nusku, in the month Ulūlu (VI) — “the work of the goddesses,” the month of the king of the gods, (the god) Aššur, the father of the gods, the god Nunnamnir — like the assault of a fierce storm, (iii 35) I covered the land Elam in its entirety. I cut off the head of Teumman, their presumptuous king who had plotted evil (deeds). I slew his warriors without number. I captured his fighting men alive. (iii 40) I filled the plain of the city Susa with their bodies like baltu-plant(s) and ašāgu-plant(s). I made the Ulāya River flow with their blood; I dyed its water red like a red-dyed wool. | |
iii 2828 | ||
iii 2929 | ||
iii 3030 | ||
iii 3131 | ||
iii 3232 | ||
iii 3333 | ||
iii 3434 | ||
iii 3535 | ||
iii 3636 | ||
iii 3737 | ||
iii 3838 | ||
iii 3939 | ||
iii 4040 | ||
iii 4141 | ||
iii 4242 | ||
iii 4343 | ||
iii 4444 | (iii 44) I took Ummanigaš (Ḫumban-nikaš II), a son of Urtaku — a (former) king of the land Elam — who had fled to me from Teumman to Assyria (and) had grasped my feet, with me to the land Elam (and) I placed him on Teumman’s throne. I installed Tammarītu, his third brother who had fled to me with him, as king in the city Ḫidalu. | |
iii 4545 | ša la-pa-an mte-um-man a-na KUR AN.ŠÁR.KI in-nab-ta iṣ-ba-ta GÌR.II-ia | |
iii 4646 | ||
iii 4747 | ||
iii 4848 | ||
iii 4949 | ||
iii 5050 | ul-tú GIŠ.TUKUL.MEŠ AN.ŠÁR u d15 UGU KUR.ELAM.MA.KI ú-šam-ri-ru | (iii 50) After I had made the weapons of (the god) Aššur and the goddess Ištar prevail over the land Elam (and) had continually established mighty victories, on my return march, I set out towards Dunānu, a Gambulian who had put his trust in the land Elam. I conquered the city Ša-pī-Bēl, a city upon which the land Gambulu relied. (iii 55) I entered that city (and) slaughtered its people like lambs. (As for) Dunānu (and) Samgunu, the ones who had disturbed my exercising the kingship, (iii 60) I clamped (their) hands and feet in iron manacles (and) handcuffs (and) iron fetters. (As for) the rest of the sons of Bēl-iqīša, his family, the seed of his father’s house, as many as there were, Nabû-naʾid (and) Bēl-ēṭir, sons of Nabû-šuma-ēreš, the šandabakku (governor of Nippur), and the bones of the father who had engendered them (Nabû-šuma-ēreš), (iii 65) I carried (them) off together with auxiliary forces, rebels, the people of the land Gambulu, oxen, sheep and goats, donkeys, horses, (and) mules out of the land Gambulu to Assyria. (As for) Ša-pī-Bēl, the city upon which he (Dunānu) relied, I destroyed, demolished, (and) dissolved (it) with water. |
iii 5151 | ||
iii 5252 | ||
iii 5353 | ||
iii 5454 | ||
iii 5555 | ||
iii 5656 | ||
iii 5757 | ||
iii 5858 | ||
iii 5959 | ||
iii 6060 | ||
iii 6161 | ||
iii 6262 | ||
iii 6363 | ||
iii 6464 | ||
iii 6565 | ||
iii 6666 | ||
iii 6767 | ||
iii 6868 | ||
iii 6969 | ||
iii 7070 | (iii 70) At that time, (as for) Šamaš-šuma-ukīn, (my) unfaithful brother for whom I performed (many acts of) kindness (and) whom I had installed as king of Babylon — I made and gave him anything that is distinctive, appurtenances of kingship. (iii 75) I assembled soldiers, horses, (and) chariots and placed (them) in his hands. I gave him more cities, fields, orchards, (and) people to live inside them than the father who had engendered me had commanded. | |
iii 7171 | ||
iii 7272 | ||
iii 7373 | ||
iii 7474 | ||
iii 7575 | ||
iii 7676 | ||
iii 7777 | ||
iii 7878 | (iii 78) However, he forgot these (acts of) kindness that I had done for him and constantly sought out evil (deeds). (iii 80) Aloud, with his lips, he was speaking friendship, (but) deep down, his heart was scheming for murder. He lied to the citizens of Babylon who had been devoted to Assyria, servants who belonged to me, and he spoke words of deceit with them. (iii 85) In a crafty maneuver, he sent them to Nineveh, before me, to inquire about my well-being. | |
iii 7979 | ||
iii 8080 | ||
iii 8181 | ||
iii 8282 | ||
iii 8383 | ||
iii 8484 | ||
iii 8585 | ||
iii 8686 | ||
iii 8787 | (iii 87) I, Ashurbanipal, king of Assyria, for whom the great gods determined a favorable destiny, whom they created in truth and justice, convened those citizens of Babylon at a sumptuous banquet, clothed them in garment(s) with multi-colored trim, (and) fastened gold bracelets around their wrists. | |
iii 8888 | ||
iii 8989 | ||
iii 9090 | ||
iii 9191 | ||
iii 9292 | ||
iii 9393 | (iii 93b) While those citizens of Babylon stayed in Assyria obediently awaiting my decisions, he, Šamaš-šuma-ukīn, (my) unfaithful brother who did not honor my treaty, incited the people of the land Akkad, Chaldea, Aram, (and) the Sealand, from the city Aqaba to the city Bāb-salimēti, servants who belonged to me, to rebel against me. | |
iii 9494 | ||
iii 9595 | ||
iii 9696 | ||
iii 9797 | ||
iii 9898 | ||
iii 9999 | ||
iii 100100 | (iii 100b) Moreover, (as for) Ummanigaš (Ḫumban-nikaš II), a fugitive who had grasped the feet of my royal majesty (and) whom I had installed as king in the land Elam, as well as the kings of the land Gutium, the land Amurru, and Meluḫḫa (Ethiopia), whom I had installed (as rulers) by the command of (the god) Aššur and the goddess Mullissu, he (Šamaš-šuma-ukīn) made all of them become hostile towards me and they sided with him. | |
iii 101101 | ||
iii 102102 | ||
iii 103103 | ||
iii 104104 | ||
iii 105105 | ||
iii 106106 | ||
iii 107107 | (iii 107) He (Šamaš-šuma-ukīn) locked the (city) gates of Sippar, Babylon, (and) Borsippa and (then) broke off (our) brotherly relations. On the wall(s) of those cities, (iii 110) he posted his fighting men and they were constantly doing battle with me. He withheld the performing of my offerings before the gods Bēl (Marduk), Son-of-Bēl (Nabû), the light of the gods — Šamaš — and the warrior — Erra — and he discontinued my giving (them) food offerings. (iii 115) He plotted evil (ways) to deprive (me) of the cult centers, the dwelling place(s) of the great gods whose sanctuaries I had renovated (and) decorated with gold (and) silver, (and) in whose midst I constantly established appropriate procedures. | |
iii 108108 | ||
iii 109109 | ||
iii 110110 | ||
iii 111111 | ||
iii 112112 | ||
iii 113113 | ||
iii 114114 | ||
iii 115115 | ||
iii 116116 | ||
iii 117117 | ||
iii 118118 | (iii 118) At that time, one young man lay down during the night and saw a dream, saying: “On a socle of the god Sîn, it is written ‘I will grant a cruel death to those who have plotted evil (deeds and) initiated sedition against Ashurbanipal, the king of Assyria. I will bestow on them a horrible death by a swift iron dagger, fire, famine, (and) plague.’” I heard these (words) and I trusted in the word(s) of the god Sîn, my lord. | |
iii 119119 | ||
iii 120120 | ||
iii 121121 | ||
iii 122122 | ||
iii 123123 | ||
iii 124124 | ||
iii 125125 | ||
iii 126126 | ||
iii 127127 | ||
iii 128128 | (iii 128) On my sixth campaign, I mustered my troops (and) took the direct road against Šamaš-šuma-ukīn. I confined him, together with his fighting men, inside Sippar, Babylon, Borsippa, (and) Cutha, and I cut off their escape route(s). I brought about his defeat countless (times) in city and steppe. (As for) the rest, they laid down their live(s) through plague, famine, (and) starvation. | |
iii 129129 | ||
iii 130130 | ||
iii 131131 | ||
iii 132132 | ||
iii 133133 | ||
iii 134134 | ||
iii 135135 | ||
iii 136136 | (iii 136) (As for) Ummanigaš (Ḫumban-nikaš II), the king of the land Elam installed by me (lit. “my hand”), who had accepted bribes from him (Šamaš-šuma-ukīn) and set out to help him, Tammarītu rebelled against him and struck him, together with his family, down with the sword. | |
iii 137137 | ||
iii 138138 | ||
Column iv | ||
iv 1iv 1 | ||
iv 22 | ||
iv 33 | (iv 3) Afterwards, Tammarītu, who sat on the throne of the land Elam after Ummanigaš (Ḫumban-nikaš II) (and) who did not inquire about the well-being of my royal majesty, came to the aid of Šamaš-šuma-ukīn — (my) hostile brother — and hastily sent his weapons to fight with my troops. As a result of the supplications that I had addressed to (the god) Aššur and the goddess Ištar, (iv 10) they accepted my prayers (and) listened to the utterance(s) of my lips. Indabibi, a servant of his, rebelled against him and brought about his defeat in a pitched battle. | |
iv 44 | ||
iv 55 | ||
iv 66 | ||
iv 77 | ||
iv 88 | ||
iv 99 | ||
iv 1010 | ||
iv 1111 | ||
iv 1212 | (iv 12b) (As for) Tammarītu, the king of the land Elam who had spoken insolent word(s) on account of the cutting off of the head of Teumman — which a low-ranking soldier of my army had cut off — saying: “Will they cut off the head of the king of the land Elam in his (own) land, among his assembled troops?” He spoke a second time: “Moreover, how could Ummanigaš kiss the ground (iv 20) before a messenger of Ashurbanipal, king of Assyria?” On account of these words that he had slanderously uttered, (the god) Aššur and the goddess Ištar attacked him and (then) Tammarītu, his brothers, his family, (and) the seed of his father’s house, together with eighty-five nobles who march at his side, fled to me from Indabibi, and (then) crawled naked on their bellies and came to Nineveh. | |
iv 1313 | ||
iv 1414 | ||
iv 1515 | ||
iv 1616 | ||
iv 1717 | ||
iv 1818 | ||
iv 1919 | ||
iv 2020 |