Shalmaneser III 001

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

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

(11) When (the god) 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 the fells the insubordinate, crowned me with a lofty crown, (and) sternly commanded me to exercise dominion over and to make all the lands insubmissive to (the god) Aššur bow down.

(14) At that time, in my accession year (and) in my first regnal year, after I sat on the throne of my royal majesty in a grandiose manner, (15) I mustered (my) chariots and troops. I entered the pass of the land Simesi (and) captured the city Aridu, the fortified city of Ninni. I erected a tower of heads in front of th(at) city. I burned with fire ten cities in its environs. While I was residing in the same city Aridu, I received the payment of teams of horses from the people of the lands Ḫargu, Ḫarmasa, Siriš, Ulmania, (and) Simerra.

(19b) Moving on from the city Aridu, I smashed out with copper picks rough paths in mighty mountains (20) that rose perpendicularly to the sky like the points of daggers (and) into which no one among the kings, my ancestors, had ever passed. I moved (my) chariots (and) troops over (those paths and) approached the city Ḫubuškia. I burned with fire the city Ḫubuškia (and) all of the cities in its environs. Kākī(a), the 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 (the god) Aššur, my lord, they came down (and) grasped my feet. I imposed upon them (a payment of) teams of horses.

(29b) Moving on from the city Ḫubuškia, I approached the city Sugunia, the fortified city of Arrāmu of the land Urarṭu. I besieged th(at) 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 with fire fourteen cities in its environs.

(33b) Moving on from the city Sugunia, I went down to the Sea of the Naʾiri land(s). 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 (the god) Aššur, the great lord, (and) the prowess of my power. I erected (it) by the sea. On my return march from the sea, I approached the city Gilzānu. I received the payment of Asû (Asua) of the city Gilzānu: teams of horses (and) camels with two humps. I brought (it) to my city, Aššur.

(40b) ... In this first (regnal) year (of mine), I took the path to the Sea of the Setting Sun, which is also (text: “and”) called the Sea of the land Amurru. On my way, I conquered the city Laʾlaʾtu, which belonged to Aḫūnu of (Bīt-)Adini (lit. “son of Adinu”). I received the payment of Ḫabīnu of the city Tīl-abnē, of Gaʾūnu of the city Sarugi, (and) of Gīr-Adda of the city Immerina: silver, gold, tin, bronze, oxen, sheep, (and) wine.

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

(53') Moving on [from the city] Gurgum, I approached the city Lutibu, the [fortified) city of Hayyānu of the land Samʾal, Hayyānu of the land Samʾal, Sapalulme (55´) of the land Pattinu, [Aḫūnu] of (Bīt-)Adini (lit. “son of Adinu”), (and) Sangara of the la[nd Carchemish], put their trust in each other and prepared for war. They attacked me to do battle. With the exalted might of the divine standard that goes before me (and) with the fierce weapons [that] (the god) Aššur my lord gave to me, I fought (and) defeated them. I struck down their fighting men with the sword, [rained down] upon them [destruction (lit. “flood”)] like the god Adad, (60´) piled up their (bodies) in ditches, [filled the extensive] plain with the corpses of their warriors, (and) dyed the mountain red with their blood 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. [I destroyed, demolished, (and)] burned with fire [his cities]. I made a colossal statue of my royal majesty (and) wrote [thereon] about my heroic deeds [and victorious actions. I erected (it)] before the source of the Saluara River, at the foot of Mount [Amanus].

(64'b) Moving on [from Mount Amanus], I crossed the Orontes River (and) approached the city Ali[MUŠ, the fortified city of Sapa]lulme of the land Pattinu. [In order to save] his (own) life, Sapalulme of the land Pattinu [received] into [his] armed forces Aḫūnu of (Bīt-)Adini (lit. “son of Adinu”), Sangara of the city Carchemish, [Ha]yyānu of the land Sa[mʾal], Katî of the land Que, Piḫirim of the land Ḫilakku, Bur-Anate of the land Yasbuqu, (and) Adānu of the land Yaḫānu. By the command of (the god) Aššur, my lord, (70´) I scattered their assembled forces. I besieged th(at) city (AliMUŠ), captured (it), (and) carried off valuable [booty] from them, (including) numerous chariots [(and) teams of horses]. I [struck down 700 of their fighting men] with the sword. [In the midst of this battle], I captured [Bur-Anate of the land Yas]buqu. [I captured] the large cities of [the Pattinean (Sapalulme). I overwhelmed the cities on the shore of the] Upper Sea [of the land Amur]ru, which is also called the Sea [of the Setting Sun, (so that they looked) like ruin hill(s) (created by) the Deluge. (75´) I received the payment of 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] lordly majesty. [...] I approached [...]

(81') [I received] the payment [of A(b)-rāmu (Abi-rāmu) of (Bīt-A)gūsi (lit. “son of Gūsu”): silver, gold, oxen, sheep], wine, (and) a [gold (and) silver] bed.

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

(85'b) Moving on [from Tīl-Barsip, I crossed] the Euphrates River, [...I] approached [..., a city belonging to] Aḫūnu of (Bīt-)Adi[ni (lit. “son of Adi[nu]”) ... 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 Aḫūnu of (Bīt-)Adini (lit. “son of Adinu”). I besieged (and) captured (it). I massacred their (people) (and) carried off booty from them. I destroyed (and) demolished th(and) city (and) turned it into a devastated ruin hill.

(92'b) While I was residing in the same city Dabigu, I received the payment of Qalparunda of the city Unqi, (of) Mutallu of the city Gurgum, (of) Ḫayyānu of the land Samʾal, (and of) A(b)-rāmu (Abi-rāmu) of (Bīt-)Agūsi (lit. “son of Agūsu”): 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).