Shalmaneser III 001

(1) Shalmaneser, king of all people, prince, vice-regent of Aššur, strong king, king of Assyria, king of all the four quarters, sun(god) of all people, ruler of all lands, the king (who is the) desired object of the gods, chosen of the god Enlil, trustworthy appointee of Aššur, attentive prince, who gives income and offerings to the great gods, (5) pious one, who ceaselessly provides for the Ekur, faithful shepherd who leads in peace the population of Assyria, exalted overseer who heeds the commands of the gods, the resplendent one who acts with the support of Aššur (and) Šamaš, the gods his allies, and at the beginning of his reign conquered the upper sea and the lower sea, (who) has no rival among the princes of the four quarters, who indeed has seen remote and rugged regions (and) trodden upon the mountain peaks in all the highlands;

(10) son of Ashurnasirpal (II), appointee of the god Enlil, vice-regent of Aššur, son of Tukultī-Ninurta (II), appointee of the god Enlil, vice-regent of Aššur, son of Adad-nārārī (II) (who was) also appointee of the god Enlil, vice-regent of Aššur:

(11) When Aššur, the great lord, chose me in his steadfast heart (and) with his holy eyes and named me for the shepherdship of Assyria, he put in my grasp a strong weapon which fells the insubordinate, he crowned me with a lofty crown, (and) he sternly commanded me to exercise dominion over and to subdue all the lands insubmissive to Aššur.

(14) At that time, in my accession year (and) in my first regnal year, after I nobly ascended the royal throne, (15) I mustered (my) chariots and troops. I entered the pass of the land Simesi (and) captured the city Aridu, the fortified city of Ninnu. I erected a tower of heads in front of the city. I burned ten cities in its environs. While I was residing in the same city Aridu, I received tribute of teams of horses from the people of the lands/mountains Ḫargu, Ḫarmasa, Sirišu, Ulmānu, (and) Simerra.

(19b) Moving on from the city Aridu, I smashed out with copper picks rough paths in mighty mountains (20) which rose perpendicularly to the sky like the points of daggers (and) into which no one among the kings my .fathers had ever passed. I moved (my) chariots (and) troops over (those paths and) approached the city Ḫubuškia. I burned the city Ḫubuškia (and) all the cities in its environs. Kakia (Kāki), king of the city Ḫubuškia, (and) the remainder of his troops became frightened in the face of my weapons and they ascended mountains (25) (where) they fortified themselves (lit. “they took as a fortress”). I climbed up the mountains after them. I waged mighty war in the mountains (and) defeated them. I brought back his chariots (and) troops from the mountains. Overwhelmed by fear of the radiance of Aššur, my lord, they came down (and) submitted to me. I imposed upon them tribute of teams of horses.

(29b) Moving on from the city Ḫubuškia I approached the city Sugunia, the fortified city of Aramu the Urarṭian. I besieged the city, captured (it), massacred many of its (people), (and) carried off booty from them. I erected two towers of heads in front of his city. I burned fourteen cities in its environs.

(33b) Moving on from the city Sugunia, I went down to the sea of the land Nairi. I washed my weapons in the sea (and) (35) made sacrifices to my gods. At that time, I made an image of myself (and) wrote thereon the praises of Aššur, the great lord, (and) the prowess of my power. I erected (it) by the sea. On my return from the sea I approached the city Gilzānu. I received tribute from Asû (Asua), the Gilzānean: teams of horses (and) camels with two humps. I brought (it) to my city Aššur.

(40b) ... In this first year I took the path to the western sea, also called the sea of the land Amurru. On my way I conquered the city Laʾlaʾtu, which belonged to Aḫunu, the man of Bīt-Adini. I received the tribute of Ḫabinu, the Tīl-Abnīan, of Gaʾunu, the Sarugean, (and) of Giri-Adad, the Immerinaean: silver, gold, tin, bronze, oxen, sheep, (and) wine.

(46) [Moving on from] the city ... I crossed the Euphrates, which was in flood. [...]

(53') Moving on [from the city] Gurgum I approached the city Lutibu, the [fortified) city of Hayyānu, the Samʾalite, Hayyānu, the Samʾalite, Sapalulme, (55´) the Patinean, [AIJunu], the man of Bīt-Adini, (and) Sangara, the [Carchemishite], put their trust in each other and prepared for war. They attacked me to do battle. With the exalted might of the divine standard which goes before me (and) with the fierce weapons [which] Aššur my lord gave tome, I fought (and) defeated them. I felled their fighting men with the sword, [rained down] upon them [destruction (lit. “flood”)] as the god Adad, (60´) piled up their (bodies) in ditches, [filled the extensive] plain with the corpses of their warriors, (and) with their blood I dyed the mountain red like red wool. I took from them (lit. “him”) numerous chariots (and) teams of horses. I erected a tower of heads in front of his city (and) [razed, destroyed, (and)] burned [his cities]. I made a colossal royal statue of myself (and) wrote [thereon] about my heroic deeds [and victorious actions. I erected (it)] before the source of the River Saluara at the foot of the [Amanus] range.

(64'b) Moving on [from the Amanus range] I crossed the Orontes River (and) approached the city Ali[ṣir (or Alimuš), the fortified city of Sapa]lulme, the Patinean. [To save] his life Sapalulme, the Patinean, [received] into [his] armed forces Aḫunu, the man of Bīt-Adini, Sangara, the Carchemishite, [Ha]yyānu, the Sa[mʾalite], Katê (Katia), the Quean, Piḫirim, the Ḫilukean, Bur-Anate, the Iasbuqean, (and) Adānu, the Iaḫanean. By the command of Aššur, my lord, (70´) I scattered their assembled forces. I besieged the city, captured (it), (and) carried off valuable [booty] from them, (namely) numerous chariots [(and) teams of horses]. I [felled 700 of their fighting men] with the sword. [In the midst of this battle] I captured [Bur-Anate, the Ias]buqean. [I captured] the great cities of [the Patinean. I overwhelmed the cities on the shore of the] upper sea [of the land Amur]ru, also called the [western] sea, [(so that they looked) like ruin hills (created by) the deluge. (75´) I received tribute from the kings] on the seashore. [I marched about by right of victory in the extensive area of the seashore. I made] an image of [my]lordship. [...]I approached [...]

(81') [I received] tribute [from Aramu, the man of Bīt-Agūsi: silver, gold, oxen, sheep], wine, (and) a [gold (and) silver] bed.

(82'b) [On the thirteenth day of the month Ayyāru, in the eponymy of] my own [name, I] moved out [from Nineveh], crossed the Tigris, traversed Mounts Ḫa[samu (and) Diḫnunu], (and) approached [the city Tīl-Barsip, the fortified city] of Aḫunu, the man of Bīt-Adini. [Trusting in the strength of his troops Aḫunu, the man of Bīt-Adini, attacked me. I defeated him (and) confined him to his city].

(85'b) Moving on [from Tīl-Barsip I crossed] the Euphrates, [...I] approached [..., a city belonging to] Aḫunu, the man of Bīt-Adi[ni ... I captured it]. I massacred many [of its (people) ...].

(88'b) [...] the plain [...] of royalty, his battle equipment, I carried off. [...] (90´) Moving on from [the city ...]ra I approached the city Dabigu. [...], the fortified [city] of Aḫunu, the man of Bīt-Adini. I besieged (and) captured (it). I massacred their (people) (and) carried off booty from them. I razed (and) destroyed the city (and) turned it into a devastated ruin hill.

(92'b) While. I was residing in the same city, Dabigu, I received the tribute of Qalpurunda, the Unqite, (of) Mutallu, the Gurgumite, (of) Ḫayyānu, the Samʾalite, (and of) Aramu, the man of Bīt-Agūsi: silver, gold, tin, bronze, iron, bronze, red-purple wool, elephant ivory, garments with multi-colored trim, linen garments, oxen, sheep, wine, (and) ducks (iṣṣirū rabûtu).