Shalmaneser III 012

(1) For the god Adad, the canal inspector of heaven (and) netherworld, the lofty one, the lord of all, the almighty among the gods, the awesome (god) whose strength is unrivalled, the who bears a holy whip that chums up the seas, the who controls all of the winds, the who provides abundant water, the who brings down rain (and) makes lightning flash, the one who creates vegetation, at whose shout the mountains shake (and) the seas are churned up, the compassionate god whose sympathetic concern is life, the one who dwells in the city Kurbail — the holy shrine — the great lord, his lord:

(9) Shalmaneser (III), strong king, governor (appointed by) the great gods, son of Ashurnasirpal (II), king of Assyria, son of Tukultī-Ninurta (II), (who was) also king of Assyria; the conqueror from the Upper Sea to the Lower Sea of the Naʾiri land(s), and the Great Sea of the Setting Sun. From Mount Amanus to Mount Lebanon, I gained dominion over the land Ḫatti to its full extent. I conquered from the source of the Tigris River to the source of the Euphrates River. I conquered from the land Enzi, the lands Suḫnu, Melid, Tumme, Daiaeni, (and) Urarṭu, as far as Arṣaškun, the royal city of Arrāmu of the land Urarṭu. I overwhelmed the lands Gilzānu (and) Ḫubuškia like a flood. I raged like fire from Mount Kullar, as far as the lands Mannea (Munna), Parsua, Allabria, (Bīt-)Abdadāni, Namri, (and) (Bīt-)Ḫamban, as far as the land Tupliyaš (Tugliyaš).

(21) In my eighteenth regnal year, I crossed the Euphrates River for the sixteenth time. Hazael of Damascus, trusting in the might of his soldiers, carried out an extensive muster of his troops. He fortified Mount Saniru, a mountain peak that is before Mount Lebanon. I fought with him (and) defeated him. I struck down 16,000 of his fighting men with the sword (and) took away from him 1,121 of his chariots (and) 470 of his cavalry with his military camp. (25) In order to save his (own) life, he ran away, (but) I pursued (him). I imprisoned him in Damascus, his royal city, (and) cut down his gardens. I marched to Mount Ḫaurānu (and) destroyed, demolished, burned with fire, (and) plundered cities without number. I marched to Mount Baʾali-raʾasi, which is a cape (jutting out into) the sea, (and) erected a statue of my royal majesty there. At that time, I received the payment of the people of Tyre (and) Sidon, (as well as of) Jehu (Iāūa) of (Bīt-)Ḫumrî (Israel; lit. “son of Ḫumrî”).

(30b) In my nineteenth regnal year, I crossed the Euphrates River for the twentieth time (and) ascended Mount Amanus. I cut down beams of cedar.

(31b) In my twentieth regnal year, I crossed the Euphrates for the twenty-first time, crossed over Mount Amanus, (and) went down to the cities of Katî of the land Que. I destroyed, demolished, (and) burned with fire cities without number. I massacred many of them (and) took countless plunder from them. I received his payment (and) gave it to the god Adad, my lord, for my life so that my days might be long, my years be many, (for) the safekeeping of my vice-regal throne, for the scorching of my enemies, for the destruction of my dangerous foes, (and) to make the rulers who oppose me bow down at my feet.

(36b) I had made a holy, shining, precious statue of alabaster, the workmanship of which was beautiful to look at (and) the appearance of which was excellent. I erected (it) before the god Adad, my lord. When the god Adad, my lord, looks upon this statue, may he be truly pleased (and) command the lengthening of my days, proclaim the multiplication of my years, (and) daily decree the removal of illness from my body.