Shalmaneser III 006

(i 1) The god Aššur, the great lord, the king of all of the great gods; the god Anu, the king of the Igīgū and Anunnakū gods; the lord of the lands, the god Enlil, the exalted one, the father of the gods, the creator of all; the god Ea, the king of the apsû, the lord of wisdom and understanding; the god Sîn, the king of the lunar disk, the lofty luminary; (i 5) god Šamaš, the exalted judge of heaven (and) netherworld, the lord of all; the god Ninurta, the strong and mighty one, the splendidly preeminent one of the gods; (and) the goddess Ištar, the mistress of war and battle whose game is fighting; the great gods who decree destinies, who aggrandize my kingship, who have made great my dominion, power, and leadership, (who) have richly established for me my honorable name (and) my lofty command over (all of) the lords.

(i 11) Shalmaneser (III), king of all of the people, the ruler, vice-regent of (the god) Aššur, strong king, 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 desired object of the gods, chosen of the god Enlil, trustworthy appointee of (the god) Aššur, the attentive ruler (i 15) who has seen remote and rugged regions, the one who has trodden upon the mountain peaks in all of the highlands, the receiver of booty and tax from all (four) quarters (of the world), the who opens paths above and below, at whose strong attack for combat the (four) quarters (of the world) are distressed (and) (i 20) cities convulsed, the strong male who acts with the support of the gods Aššur (and) Šamaš, the gods who support him, and has no rival among the rulers of the four quarters (of the world), the magnificent king of lands who has kept progressing by difficult ways through mountains and seas;

(i 24) son of Ashurnasirpal (II), exalted ruler, whose priesthood was pleasing to the gods and (who) made all of the lands bow down at his feet, pure offspring of Tukultī-Ninurta (II), who slew all of his enemies and annihilated (them) like a flood.

(i 28) At that time, in my accession year, after I sat on the throne of my royal majesty in a grandiose manner, I mustered my chariots and troops. I entered the pass of the land Simesi (and) (i 30) approached the city Aridu, the fortified city of Ninni. I besieged th(at) city, captured (it), massacred many of their (people), (and) carried off booty from them. Moving on from the city Aridu, I approached the city Ḫubuškia. I burned with fire the city Ḫubuškia, together with 100 cities in its environs. Kākī(a), the king of the city Ḫubuškia (i 35), became frightened in the face of the flash of my mighty weapons and fortified himself on a mountain. I climbed up th(at) mountain after him. I waged mighty war on th(at) mountain (and) brought down from the mountain the remains of his property. Moving on from the city Ḫubuškia, I marched to the Sea of the Naʾiri land(s). I washed my weapons in the sea (and) made sacrifices to my gods. On my return march from the sea, I received the payment of Asû of the land Gilzānu (and) brought (it) to my city, Aššur.

(i 42) In my first regnal year, I crossed the Euphrates River in flood (and) marched to the Sea of the Setting Sun. I washed my weapons in the sea (and) made sacrifices to my gods. I climbed up Mount Amanus (and) cut down beams of cedar (and) juniper. (i 45) I climbed up Mount Lallar (and) erected therein a statue of my royal majesty. I destroyed, demolished, (and) burned with fire the cities of the people of the land Pattinu, of Aḫūnu of (Bīt-)Adini (lit. “son of Adīnu”), of the people of the city Carchemish, (and) of the people of (Bīt-A)gūsi (lit. “son of Gūsu”), which are on the other side of the Euphrates River.

(i 49) In my second regnal year, I moved out from Nineveh (and) approached the city Tīl-Barsip (Barsaip). I destroyed, demolished, (and) burned with fire the cities of Aḫūnu of (Bīt-)Adini (lit. “son of Adīnu”) (and) confined him to his city. I crossed the Euphrates River in flood. On (this) second campaign of mine, I captured, destroyed, demolished, (and) burned with fire the city Dabigu, a fortress of the land Ḫatti, together with cities in its environs and the remaining cities of all of their lands. I received (i 55) tribute from all of the kings on the other side of the Euphrates River (and) accomplished everywhere my mighty victories over all of the lands.

(i 57) In my third regnal year, Aḫūnu of (Bīt-)Adini (lit. “son of Adīnu”) became frightened in the face of my mighty weapons, abandoned the city Tīl-Barsip (Bursaip), his royal city, (and) crossed the Euphrates River. Moving out from Nineveh, I took as my own the cities Tīl-Barsip (Bursaip) (and) Pitru (i 60), (cities) that are on the other side of the Euphrates River (and) that Tiglath-pileser (I), my ancestor, had established. On my return march, I entered the pass of the land Alzi. (I marched) from the land Alzi to the land Suḫnu, from the land Suḫnu to the land Daiaeni, from the land Daiaeni to the city Arṣaškun, the royal city (i 65) of Arrāmu of the land Urarṭu. Arrāmu trusted in the strength of his army and mustered his numerous cavalry to wage war and battle against me. I defeated him (and) deprived him of his cavalry (and) military equipment. In order to save his (own) life, he climbed up a rugged mountain (i 70). They (his people) became frightened in the face of my mighty weapons, abandoned their cities, and took to a rugged mountain. I captured the city Arṣaškun, his royal city, together with cities in its environs. I brought out his incalculable possessions and property. I destroyed, demolished (and) burned with fire th(ose) cities. (ii 1) I annihilated like a flood from the land Gilzānu to the city Ḫubuškia. From the pass of the land Ḫabruri, I emerged before Arbela.

(ii 3) In my fourth regnal year, on the thirteenth day of Ayyāru (II), I moved out from Nineveh (and) crossed the Euphrates River in flood in pursuit of Aḫūnu of (Bīt-)Adini (lit. “son of Adīnu”). He had made as his stronghold (ii 5) Mount Šītamrat, a mountain peak on the bank of the Euphrates River, which is suspended from heaven like a cloud. I besieged (and) captured th(at) mountain peak. Aḫūnu, together with his gods, his chariots, his horses, (and) 22,000 of his troops I uprooted (and) brought to my city, Aššur.

(ii 10) In this same year, I moved out from the Inner City (Aššur), crossed Mount Kullar, went down to the interior of the land Zamua, (and) captured the cities of Nikdēra of the land Idu. The remnant of their army boarded boats of papyrus and escaped by sea. I boarded boats of inflated skins (and) pursued them. I defeated them in the midst of the sea (and) plundered them.

(ii 16) In my fifth regnal year, I moved out from Nineveh and ascended Mount Kāšiāru. I captured eleven fortified cities (and) confined Anḫitti of the land Šubria to his city (and) received his payment.

(ii 19) In my sixth regnal year, I moved out from Nineveh and approached the cities on the banks of the Balīḫ (Palīḫ) River. They became frightened in the face of my mighty weapons and they killed Gē-ammu, their city ruler. I entered the city Tīl(-ša)-turāḫi (and) claimed the city as my own. Moving on from the banks of the Balīḫ (Palīḫ) River, I crossed the Euphrates River in flood. I received the payment of the kings of the land Ḫatti. (ii 25) Moving on from the land Ḫatti, I approached the city Aleppo (Ḫalman) (and) made sacrifices before the god Adad of Aleppo (Ḫalman). Moving on from the city Aleppo (Ḫalman), I approached the city Qarqar. Hadad-ezer (Adda-idrī) of Damascus (and) Irḫulena of the land Hamath, together with twelve kings on the shore of the sea, trusting in their united forces, (ii 30) attacked me to wage war and battle. I fought with them. I struck down 25,000 of their fighting men with the sword (and) captured from them their chariotry, cavalry, (and) military equipment. In order to save their (own) lives, they ran away. I boarded boats (and) went out upon the sea.

(ii 34) In my seventh regnal year, I marched to the cities of Ḫabīnu of the city Tīl-abnē. I captured (and) burned with fire the city Tīl-abnē, his fortified city, together with the cities in its environs. Moving on from the city Tīl-abnē, I marched to the source of the Tigris River, the place where the water comes out, (and) made sacrifices. I struck down (the inhabitants of) cities insubmissive to (the god) Aššur to the sword (and) received the payment of the Naʾiri land(s).

(ii 41) In my eighth regnal year, at the time of Marduk-zākir-šumi (I), king of Karduniaš (Babylonia), Marduk-bēl-usāti, his brother, rebelled against him. I marched out for vengeance (and) captured the cities Mê-Turnat and Laḫīru.

(ii 45) In my ninth regnal year, in my second campaign (to Babylonia), I captured the city Gannanāte. In order to save his life, Marduk-bēl-usāti went up to the city Ḫalman. I pursued him (and) struck down Marduk-bēl-usāti with the sword, together with the treacherous soldiers who were with him. I marched to Babylon (and) (ii 50) made sacrifices in Babylon, Borsippa, (and) Cutha. I went down to Chaldea (and) captured their cities. I marched to the sea called the Bitter Sea (and), in Babylon, received the payment of Adīnu of (Bīt-)Dakkūri (lit. “son of Dakkūru”) (and) Mušallim-Marduk of (Bīt-Am)ukkāni (lit. “son of Ukānu”): silver, gold, ebony, (and) elephant ivory.

(ii 55) In my tenth regnal year, I crossed the Euphrates River for the eighth time. I destroyed, demolished, (and) burned with fire the cities of Sangara of the city Carchemish. Moving on from the cities of the Carchemishite, I approached the cities of A(b)-rāmu (Abi-rāmu) (and) captured the city Arnê, his royal city. I destroyed, demolished, (and) burned (it) with fire, together with 100 cities in its environs. (ii 60) I massacred them (and) plundered them. At that time, Hadad-ezer (Adda-idrī) of Damascus (and) Irḫulena of the land Hamath, together with twelve kings on the shore of the sea, trusting in their united forces, attacked me to wage war and battle. I fought with them (and) (ii 65) defeated them. I took from them their chariotry, cavalry, and military equipment. In order to save their (own) lives, they ran away.

(ii 68) In my eleventh regnal year, I moved out from Nineveh (and) crossed the Euphrates River in flood for the ninth time. I captured ninety-seven cities of Sangara. (ii 70) I captured, destroyed, demolished (and) burned with fire 100 cities of A(b)-rāmu (Abi-rāmu). I took to the slopes of Mount Amanus, crossed Mount Yaraqu, (and) (iii 1) descended to the cities of the people of the land Hamath. I captured the city Aštammaku, together with eighty-nine (other) cities. I massacred their (inhabitants) (and) plundered them. At that time Hadad-ezer (Adda-idrī) of Damascus (and) Irḫulena of the land Hamath, together with twelve kings (iii 5) on the shore of the sea, trusting in their united forces, attacked me to wage war and battle. I fought with them (and) defeated them. I struck down 10,000 of their fighting men with the sword. (iii 10) I took from them their chariotry, cavalry, and military equipment. On my return march, I captured the city Apparāzu, the fortified city of A(b)-rāmu (Abi-rāmu). At that time, I received the payment of Qalparunda: silver, gold, tin, horses, donkeys, oxen, sheep, blue-dyed wool, (and) linen garments. I went (back) up Mount Amanus (and) cut beams of cedar.