Ashurnasirpal II 038

(1) Ashurnasirpal (II), great king, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, son of Tukultī-Ninurta (II), great king, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, son of Adad-nārārī (II), (who was) also great king, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria; the valiant man who acts with the support of (the god) Aššur, his lord, and who has no rival among the rulers of the four quarters (of the world), the king who subdued (the territory stretching) from the opposite bank of the Tigris River to Mount Lebanon and the Great Sea, the land Lāqê in its entirety, (and) the land Sūḫu, including the city Rapiqu. He conquered from the source of the Subnat River to the interior of the land Nirbu.

(11) I brought within the boundaries of my land (the territory stretching) from the passes of the land Ḫabruri to the land Gilzānu, from the opposite bank of the Lower Zab to the city Tīl-bāri, which is upstream from the land Zabban, from the city Tīl-ša-Abtāni to the city Tīl-ša-Zabdāni, (and) the cities Ḫirimmu (and) Ḫarutu, (which are) fortresses of Karduniaš (Babylonia). Moreover, I gained dominion over the wide Naʾiri lands, to their (text: its) full extent.

(18b) I reorganized the city Kalḫu. At that time, the temple of the goddess Ištar, lady of the Kidmuri, which had previously existed (but had already) in the time of the kings, my ancestors, had crumbled and turned into ruin hills: (at that time,) with the skill that the god Ea, the king of the apsû (who) grants counsel (and) understanding, gave to me, I built that Bīt-Kidmuri anew for her. I created an icon of the goddess Ištar, lady of the Kidmuri, out of reddish gold (and) made it reside on her dais. I established her nindabû-offerings and her meal-offering(s) for her.

(28b) O future ruler, one of the kings, my sons, whom (the god) Aššur will name, (when) you see the foundation restore its dilapidated section(s). Do not allow it (the icon) to be exposed to the sun. Do not erase my inscription (but) write your name with my name (and) return (it) to its place. Restore the dilapidated section(s) of this temple. (The god) Aššur, the great lord, the god Šamaš, judge of heaven and netherworld, (and) the goddess Ištar, lady of the Kidmuri, will (then) listen to his prayers. May they lengthen his days; may they make him achieve success in wars with kings on the battlefield; (and) may they establish copious abundance in his land.

(39) As for the one who erases my inscription and (40) writes his (own) name or removes this commemorative inscription of mine, puts it in another place, throws (it) into water, burns (it) with fire, covers (it) with dirt, (or) takes it into a prison, may (the god) Aššur, the great lord, the god Adad, the canal inspector of heaven and netherworld, the god Erra, the lord of judgment and destruction, overthrow his kingship, take away from him his throne, make him sit in bondage before his enemies, establish in his land distress, famine, (and) hunger, (and) make his name (and) his seed disappear from the land.