Sargon II 065

(1) May (all) be extremely well with the god Aššur, father of the gods, the great lord who dwells in Eḫursaggalkurkurra (“House, the Great Mountain of the Lands”), his great temple.

(2) May (all) be extremely well with the gods (that issue) divine decrees (and) with the goddesses, (the deities) who dwell in Eḫursaggalkurkurra, their great temple.

(3) May (all) be extremely well with the gods (that issue) divine decrees (and) with the goddesses, (the deities) who dwell in the city Aššur, their great temple.

(4) May (all) be well with the city and its people! May (all) be well with the palace (and) the one who dwells inside it.

(5) (All) is extremely well with Sargon (II) — the holy priest (and) servant who reveres your great divinity — (and) with his (military) camp.

(6) In the month of Duʾūzu (IV) — (the month) that determines matter(s) for humankind; the month of the mighty one, the eldest son of the god Enlil, the most powerful of the gods, the god Ninurta; (and the month) for which the lord of wisdom, the god Ninšiku (Ea), had inscribed on an ancient tablet the assembly of armies (and) the preparation of a (military) camp — I set out from my royal city Kalḫu and impetuously crossed the Upper Zab River while it was in full (flood). On the third day, in order to muzzle the mouth of the boastful (and) shackle the legs of the wicked, I reverently prostrated myself before the god Enlil (and) the goddess Mullissu. (10) I then had the troops of the gods Šamaš (and) Marduk leap across the Lower Zab River, whose fording is difficult, as if it were a ditch. I entered the passes of Mount Kullar, a high mountain of the land Lullumê, which is (also) called the land Zamua. I held a review of my army in the district of the land Sumbi and checked the number of horses and chariotry.

(13) With the great support of the gods Aššur, Šamaš, Nabû, (and) Marduk, I directed the march into the mountains for a third time. I turned the chariot(s) (lit.: “pointed the yoke”) of the gods Nergal (and) Adad, (whose) standards go before me, towards the lands Zikirtu and Andia. (15) I advanced in between Mount Nikippa (and) Mount Upâ, high mountains that are thickly covered with all kinds of trees, among which (one becomes completely) confused (as to direction), whose very entry is terrifying, (and) over whose (whole) environs, just as in a cedar forest, a shadow is cast with the result that the one who takes the road through them sees no sunlight. I then crossed the Būya River, the river (which flows) between them, twenty-six times, and (my) army did not fear the floodwaters, despite its (the river’s) massive size.

(18) Mount Simirria is a great mountain peak that points upward like the blade of a spear and who(se) top is higher than the mountains where the goddess Bēlet-ilī dwells. Its summit touches the sky above, and its roots are made to reach down below into the netherworld. (20) Moreover, like the back of a fish, there is no path from (one) side to (the other) side; (thus) ascending it is very difficult both from the front and from the back. Gorges of the outflows of the mountains are deeply cut into its flanks and to the sight of the eye it is shrouded in terror. It is not fit for the ascent of chariotry (or) for allowing horses to show their mettle and its access is very difficult for (even) the passage of foot soldiers. With the intelligence and broad understanding that the god Ea and the goddess Bēlet-ilī decreed for me and (because) they got me moving (lit.: “opened the legs”) to overwhelm the land of (my) enemy, I had my vanguard carry strong copper axes; (thus), they cut through high mountain crag(s) as if (they were) limestone and (thereby) improved the path. (25) I took the lead (in front) of my army and made the chariotry, cavalry, (and) battle troops who go at my side, fly over it (the mountain) as if (they were) brave eagles. I had the common soldiers (and) light infantry follow behind them; the camels (and) donkeys bearing the baggage leapt up its peaks like ibexes native to the mountains. I had the numerous troops of the god Aššur ascend its difficult slopes in a good order and I (then) set up camp on top of that mountain. (With regard to) Mount Sinaḫulzi (and) Mount Biruatti — remote mountains whose vegetation is the sweet-smelling leek (and) ṣumlalû-plant — Mount Turtani, Mount Sinabir, Mount Aḫšūru, and Mount Sūya, I crossed these seven mountains with (great) difficulty. As if (they were) ditches, I crossed the Rappâ (and) the Arattâ Rivers, the rivers flowing off their slopes, when they were in flood.

(31) I went down to the land Surikaš, a district of the land Mannea, which is on the border of the lands Karalla and Allabria. Because I do not cease avenging him every year, (when) Ullusunu, the Mannean, heard of the advance of my expeditionary force, without (even exchanging) hostages, he (Ullusunu), together with his magnates, elders, counselors, offsprimg of his father’s house, governors, and officials, who govern his land, speedily came out from his land with a joyful heart and a happy countenance, and, (35) (traveling) from his royal city Izirtu to the city Siniḫini, a border fortress of his land, he came into my presence. He brought me horses trained to the yoke, together with their trappings, oxen, and sheep and goats, as his tribute and he kissed my feet.

(37) I came to the city Latašê, a fortress that is (situated) on the river of the land Lāruete, a district of the land Allabria. I received horses, oxen, and sheep (and) goats as tribute from Bēl-aplu-iddina of the land Allabria.

(38b) I went down to the land Parsuaš. The city rulers of the lands Namri, Sangibutu, (and) Bīt-Abdadāni, and of the land of the powerful Medes heard of the advance of my expeditionary force; the laying waste of their lands that (had occurred) in my previous year was (still) in their minds (lit.: “their ears”) and deathly quiet overwhelmed them. They brought me their substantial tribute from their lands and handed (it) over to me in the land Parsuaš.

(42) From Taltâ (Daltâ) of the land Ellipi, U(a)ksatar, Dūrēsi, (and) Satarēšu, the city rulers of the river­(land), Anzî of the city Ḫalḫubarra, Payukku of the city Kilambāti, Uzî of the city Māli, Uakirtu of the city Nappi, Makirtu of the city Bīt-Sagbat, Kitakki of the city Uriangi, (45) Mašdayukku of the city Kingaraku, Uzitar of the city Qantāu, Payukku of the city Bīt-Kapsi, Ḫumbê of the city Bīt-Zualzaš, Uzumanda <of> the city Kisilaḫa, Burburazu of the city Bīt-Ištar, Baga-parna of the city Zakrute, Dārî of the land Šaparda, Ušrâ of the city Kanzabakanu, Sarruti of the city Karzinû, Mašdakku of the city Andirpattianu, Akkussu of the city Usigur, Birtātu of the city Ṣibur, Zardukka of the city Ḫarzianu, Mašdakku of the city Aratista, Satarpānu of the city Barikānu, (and) Karakku of the land Uriakku, I received swift horses, fiery mules, Bactrian camels native to their land(s), oxen, and sheep and goats.

(51) Moving on from the land Parsuaš, I came to the land Missi, a district of the land Mannea. With the whole-hearted intention of doing obeisance (to me), Ullusunu, together with the people of his land, waited for my expeditionary force in the city Sirdakka, his fortress. As if (he were one of) my (own) eunuchs, provincial governors of Assyria, he had piled up in heaps flour (and) wine to feed my army; he (then) presented to me his eldest son, with presents (and) gifts, and in order to firmly establish his position as king, he entrusted his stele to me. (55) I received from him large horses trained to the yoke, oxen, and sheep and goats as his tribute, and he prostrated himself before me in order to return the favors he had received (from me). He, together with the magnates (and) governors of his land, implored me to bar (the people of) the land Kakmê, an evil enemy, from (setting) foot in his land, to bring about the rout of Ursâ (Rusâ) on the battlefield, to restore the scattered land Mannea, to stand in triumph over his enemy, and to achieve whatever (he) wanted; they (Ullusunu and his officials) kept groveling before me on all fours like dogs. I had pity on them and accepted their supplications. I listened to their beseeching words and said to them “So be it” (lit.: “Enough”). (60) Because of the supreme might that the gods Aššur (and) Marduk had granted me and (so) had made my weapons prevail over (those of) all (other) rulers in the world, I promised them to overthrow the land Urarṭu, to restore their (true) boundaries, (and) to bring relief to the troubled people of the land Mannea; and, (as a result) they had confidence (again). I set out a table of honor before Ullusunu, the king, their lord, and (thereby) elevated his rule (lit.: “throne”) above that of Iranzi, the father who had begotten him. I had them sit at a festive table with the people of Assyria and they (then) blessed my kingship in the presence of (the god) Aššur and the gods of their own land.

(64) Zīzî of the city Appatar (and) Zalāya of the city of Kitpat — city rulers of the district Gizilbunda, who dwell in remote mountains, far-off place(s), and like a barricade bar (the way) into the region of the lands Mannea and Media — and the people who dwelt in those cities put their trust in their own strength and were not used to being ruled (lit.: “did not know lordship”). None of the kings, my predecessors, had ever seen their abode(s), heard their name(s), (or) received tribute from them. [At] the great command of the god Aššur, my lord — who had granted me as a gift the subjugation of the rulers of the mountain regions and the receipt of presents from them — they heard of the [progr]ess of my expeditionary force and fear of my brilliance overwhelmed them. Fear fell upon them in the midst of their (own) land. (70) From the cities Appatar and Kitpat they brought me as their tribute countless horses trained to the yoke, oxen, and sheep and goats; they brought (these) before me in the city Zirdiakka of the land Mannea. They besought me to spare their lives and they kissed my feet so that (I would) not demolish their (city) walls. Moreover, for the well-being of their land, I appointed a qīpu-official over them and assigned them to the authority of a eunuch (lit.: “eunuchs”) of mine, the governor of the land Parsuaš.

(74) Moving on from the city Zirdiakka, a fortress of the land Mannea, I marched furiously a distance of thirty leagues between (the territory of) the land Mannea, the land Bīt-Kabsi, and the land of the powerful Medes. I then came to the city Panziš, its strong fortress, which is situated as a guard post on (the border with) the lands Zikirtu and Andia (and) which is fortified against (these) two districts in order to prevent any fugitive getting away (and) to block any incursion by (lit.: “the feet of”) the [ene]my. I reinforced the defenses (lit.: “stucture”) of that fortress and sent up into it barley, oil, [wine], and [ba]ttle ge[ar].

(79) Moving on from the city Panziš, I crossed the Ištaraurâ River. I came to the land Aukanê, a district of the land Zikirtu. Mitatti of the land Zikirtu — who had thrown off the yoke of <the god Aššur>, held Ullusunu, the king, his lord, in contempt, and disregarded his position as vassal — put his trust in Ursâ (Rusâ), the Urarṭian, who like himself had no wisdom, an ally who could not save his life, and, full of fear, he went up onto Mount Uašdirikka, a rugged mountain. Then, (when) he saw from afar the advance of my expeditionary force, his body trembled (in fear). He gathered together all the people of his land and made (them) climb with (great) difficulty up distant mountains; their whereabouts have never been discovered. Moreover, (as for) him, his royal city Parda had no value in his eyes and (so) he abandoned the property of his palace and left town (lit.: “went outside”). (85) He mobilized his horses and his battle troops and brought (them as) auxiliary troops to the aid of Ursâ (Rusâ), his ally. I defeated his fierce combat troops who were stationed as a guard post in a pass at Mount Uašdirikka and I conquered all the cities Išta’ippa, Saktatuš, Nanzu, Aukanê, Kābani, Gurrusupa, Raksi, Gimdakrikka, Barunakka, Ubabara, Sitera, Taštami, (and) Tesammia — their twelve strong, walled cities — together with eighty-four settlements in their environs. I destroyed their (city) walls. I set fire to the houses inside them and, as if the Deluge had destroyed (them), I heaped up (their remains) into (ruin) mounds.