Names

  • Sargon II 116

Numbers

  • Q006597

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  • rock cliff
  • Neo-Assyrian
  • Tang-i Var
  • Royal Inscription

Sargon II 116

Obverse
11

[(x)] d-šur EN GAL-[ú?] MAN KIŠ? d?í-- (traces)

(1) The god Aššur, the great lord, king of a[ll the] Igīgū gods [and Anunnakū gods ...] ... [...; the god Mardu]k, lord of all, who provides [all] people with food (and) revives the dying [...; the god Nabû], perfect heir, ... lands [...; (5) the god S]în, lord of heaven and netherworld [...; the god Šamaš], great judge of heaven and netherworld [...]; the goddess []tar, who makes (men) ready for battle [...]; the Sebetti, who go before the gods, [stand] at the side of the king, [their favorite], in the place of battle, and bring about (his) victory;

22

[x (x)] x GA? x x x x [(x)] x LU (traces)

33

[d]MES? EN TIL e?-pir? kiš?-šat? UN?.MEŠ mu?-bal-liṭ1 (traces)

44

[dMUATI?] A gít-ma-lu x (x) x BI x [(x)] x KUR.MEŠ [...] (traces)

55

[d]30 e-tel AN-e u KI? (traces)

66

[dUTU] DI.KU₅.GAL AN-e u KI-tim (traces)

77

d[]-tar mu-šak-ṣi-rat? a-nun?-ti? (traces)

88

d?x x a?-li-kut ma-ḫar DINGIR.MEŠ šá a-šar x [(x) x] x x x (x) RI? x [x x x x x x (x)]-ma i-šak-ka?-nu? li?-i-ta [(x x)]

99

DINGIR.MEŠ? GAL.MEŠ mut-tab-bi-lu-ut AN-e ù? [KI]-tim? šá ti-bu-šú-nu (x) [(x x) tu-qu]-un-tu ù? [šá?]-áš-[(x)]-mu? [(x)]

(9) Great gods, managers of heaven and [nether­wo]rld, whose attack means [con]flict and [st]rife, who appoint (rulers) (lit.: “raise the eyes”) (and) name king(s), (and) [by who]se holy command they pla[ce] (one) land [(...)] over (another) land [and] make (its ruler) greater [(than other rulers)]:

1010

na-šú-u e-ni na-bu-u šu-um MAN ša? [ina? e]-peš? pi-i-šú-nu KUR? [(x x x x x)] UGU KUR i-šak-ka?-[nu-ma] ú-šar-bu-x [(x x)]2

1111

mMAN-GIN MAN GAL MAN dan-nu MAN ŠÚ MAN KUR -šur.KI? GÌR?.NÍTA .DINGIR.RA.KI MAN KUR [šu-me-ri u ak]-ka-de-e? mi?-gir DINGIR.MEŠ GAL.MEŠ [(...)]

(11) Sargon (II), great king, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of the land [of Sumer and Ak]kad, favorite of the great gods, perfect hero, ... man, pious [prince], admirable man, ... shepherd ...

1212

ur-šá-a-nu gít-ma-lu zi-ka-ru x x [(x) NUN?] na--du eṭ-lu tab-ra-a?-ti? ŠÁ? KI? [(x x x)] RE.É.UM x (x) x x.MEŠ x x (x) x [(...)]3

1313

d-šur dMUATI dMES DINGIR.MEŠ ti-ik-le-[(ia)] MAN-[(ut) la] šá-na-an ú-šat-li-mu?-in?-[ni]-ma zi?-[kir] MU-ia dam-qu ú?-še?-ṣu?-u? (x) x re-še-ti [(x x x)]

(13) The gods Aššur, Nabû, (and) Marduk, the gods, [(my)] helpers, granted [me] a reign [without] equal and exalted my good reputation to the heights.

1414

šá ZIMBIR.KI NIBRU?.KI .DINGIR.RA.KI? [za]-nin-[us]-su-un e-tep?-[pu]-šá šá ERIM.[MEŠ ki-din-ni] ma?-la ba-šu?-u? (x) ḫi-bíl-ta?-[šú-nu] a-rib-ma (x) [(x)]

(14) I co[ntinually ac]ted [as pro]vi[der] for (the cities) Sippar, Ni[ppur], (and) Babylon, (and) I made restitution for the wrongful damage suffered by the people [of privileged status], as many as there were (of them); I re[sto]red the exemption (from obligations) of (the city) Bal[til (Aššur) that had been l]apsed. (With regard to) the city Ḫarrān, for future days ... I set up a kidinnu-symbol (indicating their privileged status) in the gat[e of the pe]ople.

1515

za-kut bal-[til.KI] ba-ṭil-ta a-na áš-ri-[šá] ú?-ter URU.KASKAL a-na UD?.MEŠ x x x x [(x) te?]-ne-še-ti x [(x)] x az-qu-pa ki-din?-nu [(x)]4

1616

ú-par-ri-ir il?-lat mdḫum-ba-ni-ga-áš (x) ELAM?.MA?.KI-i ú-ab-bit KUR.kar?-[al]-lu KUR.šur-da URU.ki-[še-si]-im URU.ḫar-ḫar [KUR.ma]-da-a-a KUR.el-li-pi [(x)]5

(16) I dispersed the forces of Ḫumbanigaš (Ḫumban-nikaš I), the Elamite. I destroyed the land K[aral]la, the land Šurda, the city Ki[šes]im, the city Ḫarḫar, [the land Me]dia, (and) the land Ellipi. I laid waste to the land Urarṭu, plundered the city [Muṣaṣi]r (and) the land Mannea, slaughtered the lands Andia [(and) Zikirtu, (and)] allowed [(...) a]ll [th]eir settlements to dwell .... I struck down the rulers of the land Hamath, the city Carche[mish, the city Kummu]ḫu, (and) the land Kammanu; over their lands [...] I se[t] officials.

1717

ú-šaḫ-rib KUR.ur-ar-ṭu áš-lul URU.[(x x) mu-ṣa]-ṣir? <<MAN?>> KUR.man-na-a-a áš-giš KUR.an-di?-a? KUR?.[zi-kir-? (x x) gi]-mir da-ád-me?-[šú]-nu ú-še?-šib? (x x) MEŠ? [(x x)]

1818

a-na-ar mal-ki KUR.a-ma-at-ti URU.gar-ga-[miš URU.kúm-mu]-ḫi KUR.kam-ma-nu UGU KUR.MEŠ-šú-nu? x [x x (x) x x] áš-tak-ka?-[na] ?.šá?-ak?-nu?-ti? [(x x x)]

1919

áš-lul URU.as-du-du mia-ma-ni MAN-šú GIŠ.[TUKUL].MEŠ-ía e-du-ur-ma e-zib URU--šú a-na pa-aṭ KUR?.me-luḫ?-[(x)]-ḫa in-na-bit-ma šar-ra-qiš ú-šib [(x x x)]6

(19) I plundered the city Ashdod. Iāmānī, its king, took fright at my [weapon]s and abandoned his city. He fled to the border of the land Meluḫḫa and lived (there) stealthfully (lit.: “like a thief”). Šapatakuʾ (Shebitko), king of the land Meluḫḫa, heard of the mig[ht] of the gods Aššur, Nabû, (and) Marduk that I had esta[blished] over all lands, ... He put (Iāmānī) in handcuffs and manacles ... [...] he had him [brou]ght in bondage [in]to my presence.

2020

mšá-pa-ta-ku- MAN KUR.me-luḫ-ḫa da-na-[an (d)]-šur d?MUATI? dMES šá UGU kul-lat KUR.MEŠ áš-tak?-[ka?-nu?] (x) -ma-a (x) [(x)] NI? SA? ḪA? [(x x x)]7

2121

il-lu-ur- u ṣi-iṣ-ṣu ú-šat-me-ḫa x [x (x) x] x [(x)] x DU x (x) x (x) [x (x) x x a]-di maḫ-(x)-ri-ia ú-še-[bi]-la?-áš-šú ka-meš (x) [(x)]

2222

gi-mir KUR.ta-ba-lum KUR.kas-ku KUR.ḫi-lak-ku? [x (x)] x [x x] x x šá m-ta-a MAN KUR.mu?-us-ki da?-ád-me-šú e?-x-x-(x)-ma? ú-ṣa-ḫi-ir KUR-su? [(x x)]8

(22) [I deported (the people of)] all the lands Tabal, Kasku, (and) Ḫilakku; I took away settlements belonging to Mitâ (Midas), king of the land Musku, and reduced (the size of) his land. At the city Raphia I defeated the vanguard of the army of Egypt and counted as booty the king of the city Gaza who had not submitted to my [yo]ke. I subjugated seven kings of the land Yāʾ, a region of the l[and] Yadnana (Cyprus) whose abode is situated at a distance of ... [in the mid]dle of the Western Sea.

2323

ina URU.ra-pi-ḫi pa-an um-ma-na-ti [x] x x (x) x-ma MAN URU.ḫa-zi-ti šá a-na? [ni]-ri-ia la ik-nu-šú šal-la?-ti?- am-nu-šú [(x x x)]

2424

ú-šak-niš 7 MAN.MEŠ-ni šá KUR.ia- na-gi-i šá KUR?.ia?-ad-na-na šá ma-lak x [x (x) ina qa]-bal tam-tim e-reb dUTU-ši šit-ku-na-at šu-bat-sún [(x x)]9

2525

u mdMES-A-SUM.NA MAN KUR.kal-di a-šib ki-šad ÍD.mar-ra-ti šá ki-i la lìb-bi? [DINGIR.MEŠ] MAN-ut .DINGIR.RA.KI e-[pu?]-šú? ik-šú-da GAL- qa-a?-ti? (x x)

(25) Moreover, My great hand defeated Marduk-apla-iddina (II) (Merodach-Baladan), king of Chaldea, who dwelt on the shore of the sea (and) who ex[erc]ised kingship over Babylon against the wil[l of the gods]. Moreover, all the land Bīt-Yakīn ... [...] ...

2626

ù gi-mir KUR.É-mia-ki-ni NA? x (x) x x DA? [(x x)] x x LI? a-na x (x) [x (x) x] AD? RI? TU/LI? PAD?/ŠÁ (x) BE (x) [(x) x x x x x] x x--šú-nu? (x x)10

2727

ma-ḫu-un-da-ri MAN dil-mun.KI šá ma-lak x x (x) KASKAL.GÍD? [x x] x x x x [x x x x] x nar-ba-ṣu? da-na-[an be-lu]-ti?-ia -me-ma -šá-a ta-[mar-tuš]11

(27) Aḫundāra (Ḫundāru), king of Dilmun, who(se) lair [is situated] at a distance of ... leagues [in the middle] of the sea like that of a fish, heard of my [lord]ly mig[ht] and brought me [his] aud[ience gift].

2828

ina li-i-ti u da-na-ni šá DINGIR.MEŠ GAL.MEŠ EN?.MEŠ?-ía? [šá GIŠ.TUKUL.MEŠ-ia ú-šat-bu-ma ú-ra]-as?-si-bu na-[gab (x x) ga]-re?-[ia (x)]

(28) With the power and might (granted me) by the great gods, my lords, [who mobilized up my weapons, I cut] down al[l my fo]es. I ruled all together from the land Yadnana (Cyprus), which is in the middle of the [Western] Sea, [as far as the border(s) of Egyp]t [(and) the land M]usk[u, the wide land Amurru], the land [atti (Syria) (in its entirety)], (30) all of the land Gutium, the distant Medes [(who live) on the border of Mount Bikni, the land El]lipi, (and) the land Rāši on the border [of the land Elam], those who (live) beside the Tigris River the Ituʾu, Ru[buʾu, Ḫatal]lu, Labdudu, Ḫamrānu, Ubulu, [Ruʾ]uʾa, (and) Li[ʾtaʾu] (tribes) those who (live) beside the Surappu (and) the Uqnû Rivers the Gam[bulu], Ḫindaru, (and) Puqudu (tribes) the Sutians, people of the steppe of the land Yadburu, as many as [there are], from the city Samʾūna as far as the cities Bubê (and) Tīl-Ḫumba, ... which are on the border of Elam, Karduniaš (Babylonia) from one end to the other (lit.: “above and below”), the lands Bīt-Amukkāni, Bīt-Dakkūri, (...) Bīt-Šilāni, (and) Bīt-Saʾalli, (35) all of Chaldea, as much as there is (of it), (and) the land Bīt-Ya[k]īn, which is on the shore of the sea as far as the border of Dilmun. I s[e]t eunuchs of mine as provincial governors over them and I imposed the yoke of my lordship upon them.

2929

-tu? KUR.ia-ad-na-na šá qa-bal tam-tim? [šá-lam dUTU-ši a-di pa-aṭ KUR.mu-ṣu]-ri [(u) KUR].mu?-us-ki [KUR MAR.TU.KI DAGAL-tum] KUR?.ḫat?-[ti (...)]12

3030

nap-ḫa-ar KUR?.gu?-ti-um.KI KUR.ma-da-a-a ru-qu-u?-x (x) [x x x x x (x x) KUR.el]-li?-pi KUR.ra-a-ši ina i-te-e [KUR.ELAM.MA.KI (...)]13

3131

šá a-aḫ ÍD.IDIGNA .i-tu-ʾu .ru-[bu-ʾu .ḫa-tal]-lum .lab-du-du .ḫa-am-ra-nu .ú-bu-lum [.ru-ʾu]-x-a .li-[-ta-a-a]

3232

šá a-aḫ ÍD.su-rap-pi ÍD.uq-ni-i .gam-[bu-lu] .ḫi-in-da-ru .pu-qu-du .su-te-e ERIM.MEŠ EDIN šá KUR.ia?-ad-bu-ri ma-la [ba-šú-u]

3333

ul-tu URU.sa-am-ú-na a-di URU.bu--e URU.DU₆-d*ḫum-ba (text: TI? for DINGIR) x x x (x x x x) šá -ṣir ELAM.<<AN?⸣>>.MA.KI (...)

3434

KUR.kár?-dun-ía-áš e-liš u? šap-liš KUR.É-me-muk-ka-ni KUR?.É-mda-ku-ri (x x x x x) KUR.É-ma-šil-a-ni KUR.É-msa-ʾa-al-lu (...)

3535

si-ḫir-ti KUR.kal-di ma-la ba-šú-u KUR.É-mia-[ki]-in šá ki-šad ÍD.mar-ra-ti [(x)] a-di pa-aṭ (x) NI.TUK.KI (...)

3636

mit-ḫa-riš lu a-bél-ma .šu-ut SAG.MEŠ-ia [(x)] ?.EN.NAM.MEŠ UGU-šú-nu áš?-[tak]-kan?-ma ni-ir be-lu-ti-ía (x) e-mid-su?-nu?-ti (x)

3737

ina u₄-me-šú-ma te-ne-še-ti KUR.kar-al-li LUGAL/ x (x) x ÁŠ? šá a-na? šá-a-ṭu sèr-[de-e la] kan-šú-ma la i-du-u pa-laḫ be-lu-ti (...)14

(37) At that time the people of the land Karalla ... who had [not] submitted to pull (any ruler’s) chariot [pole] and did not know how to respect (any) authority, put their trust in the high mountains and (...) rose up against (...) a eunuch of mine, the governor [...] all the land NARbitu ... they established and prepared for battle. ... they became enraged like lions and cut down the people of their land. (40) Horses, mules, donkeys, (and) oxen ... their presence they appropriated for themselves and ... They made the paths through his land desolate and ... they were constantly, repeatedly robbing caravans while they were en route. They blocked the pathways. I sen[t] my soldiers, who were fearless in battle, against them. [Th]ey (the enemy) abandoned ... and ... to the clefts of rugged mountains like eagles, (...) their ... they established ... They (the Assyrian soldiers) filled the mountains with the corpse(s) of their warriors as (with) [...] ... The remainder of them ... mountain ... [...] and they (the Assyrians) counted (them) as booty.

3838

UGU ḫur-šá-a-ni zaq-ru-ti it-tak-lu-ma x x [x] (x) šu-ut SAG?-(x)-ia .GAR.KUR x [x x (x)] x gi-mir KUR.NAR-bi-tum/i it-bu?-ú? LAK? x x (...)15

3939

BU? x x -ku-nu-ma ik-ṣu-ru ta?-ḫa?-zu? x [(x)] x GE E E? x la-ab-bi-? -še-gu-ma ú-ra?-si-bu (x) UN.MEŠ KUR?-šú?-nu? (x) (...)16

4040

ANŠE.KUR.RA.MEŠ ANŠE.KUNGA.MEŠ ANŠE.MEŠ? GU₄?.MEŠ x [(x)] x x E? TI maḫ-ri-šú?-nu ra-ma-nu?-?-šú?-un ú-ter-ru-ma UL IM? (x) x x (x) (...)17

4141

ṭu?-da?-at? KUR-šú? -ḫa-ri-ru-ma Ú? x ṢU? x x (x) x a-lak? ger-ri ka-a-a-an iḫ-ta-nab-ba?-tu ip-ru-su (x) da-rag?-gu? (...)18

4242

.UKU..MEŠ-ia la a-dir? x-uq?-ma-ti ú?-ma-ʾe?-[ra?] ṣe-ru--šú-un x x x x [x (x) ú?]-ma?-še-ru-ma a-na šá-ḫat KUR.MEŠ mar-ṣu-te a-ra-niš (...)19

4343

IR/NI? x x (x) x-šú-nu (x) x x -ku-nu x x TA? [x (x)] (x) x muq-tab-li-šú-nu ki?-i? [x x x x] BU TI ú-mal?-lu?-u -reb ḫur-šá-a-ni (...)20

4444

si?-ta?-ti?-šú-nu x x IS? x QI? x x x x [x (x) x] (x) A PI KUR-i x x [x x x x x] x-ma im-nu-u šal-la-ti- (...)

4545

NA₄.NA..A ú-še-piš-ma ṣa-lam DINGIR.MEŠ GAL.MEŠ? [x x (x)] (x) x x x x x x (x) [x mu]-sa?-pu?-u DINGIR-ti-šú-un GAL-ti ma-ḫar-šú-un ul-ziz? (x) [(x x)]21

(45) I had a commemorative monument made and engraved upon it image(s) of the great gods, [my lords]. I had an image of myself as king stand before them [pr]aying to their great divine majesties. The victories of the god Aššur, father of the gods, lord [...] lord [...] all [... I had] inscribed upon it.

4646

li-ta-at d-šur a?-bu (x) DINGIR.MEŠ EN x [(x)] EN? (x) [x (x)] x kul?-lat? x (x) [x x x x (x x) ú-šá]-áš-ṭi-ra ṣe-ru--šu? (x x)

Possible traces of a line

Possible traces of a line

Gap

Gap

Possible traces of a line

Possible traces of a line

1'1'

(traces) [...] DINGIR?.MEŠ? ul-ziz-ma a-na MAN.MEŠ-ni DUMU.MEŠ-ía e-zib ṣa-ti- (x x)

(1') ... [... of] the gods I erected and left for future kings, my descendants.

2'2'

(traces) [...] x I? x x x [x] x a-na? x A? (x) ŠAK? a?-šar? la a-ri? x x (x) RA? x

(2') ... [...] ... place where one does not go ... [...] ... [...] ... [...] ... [... who] sees [...], may he anoint (it) with oil. ... [...]

3'3'

x x x x (x) x x x Ú x x [...] x x SA [...]

4'4'

x x x x LI? QI? x ? TE? x x [...] x [...]

5'5'

x x x MEŠ? x x x x x IA [...]

6'6'

im-ma-ru Ì.GIŠ lip-šú- x x x (x) [...]

1The translation “who revivesthe dying” assumes a reading mu-bal-liṭ mi-(i)-ti or mu-bal-liṭ ().ÚŠ.

2See the note to text no. 108 Fragment B, Face i 10´. We expect ú-šar-bu-ú UGU mal-ki at the end of the line; see text no. 103 line 28.

3One might expect dan-nu after zikaru based on such passages as text nos. 9 line 11, 43 line 7, and 44 lines 15–16; however, all the cases of zikaru dannu in the inscriptions of Sargon are followed by ḫālip/lābiš namurrati/namurrate, “who is clad/clothed in awesome splendor.”

4Possibly .GAL? [te?]-ne-še-ti? For the second half of the line, compare a-na u₄-me ṣa-a-te ina -šú-nu az-qu-up ki-din-nu (Leichty, RINAP 4 p. 124 no. 57 iii 13–15). Possibly a-na d30, “to/for the god Sîn,” after URU.KASKAL?

5Possibly KUR?.ELAM?.MA?.KI-i. For the end of this line, text no. 8 lines 7–8 have ... KUR.ma-da-a-a a-di pa-aṭ [KUR.bi-ik-ni] KUR.el-li-pi e--du ni-ir d-šur.

6Cf. text no. 8 lines 11–12.

7Some scholars have questioned the presence of the masculine determinative at the beginning of the line. It can be seen clearly on the laser scans and on enlarged prints of some of photos published in Orientalia NS 68 [1999] (in particular pl. IV), although it is just to the left and off the photo on pl. XI. For an attempt to find a different reading of the name and to dismiss the identification of the person here with the Nubian ruler Shebitko, in connection with a view to locating Meluḫḫa in Arabia and not in the Sudan, see Michaux-Colombot in Tavernier, Topography and Toponymy pp. 159–163.

8Possibly a form of the verb ekēmu before uṣaḫḫir (cf. text no. 7 lines 44 and 52).

9We expect ... ma-lak 7 u₄-me i-na qa-bal ... based on text no. 8 lines 17–18 (and other texts), but the traces after ma-lak do not seem to fit 7 u₄-me. Possibly ma-lak 30 [KASKAL.GÍD i-na qa]-bal ... (cf. text no. 7 line 144 and text no. 8 line 20).

10Cf. text no. 8 lines 19–20, text no. 9 lines 32–34, and text no. 13 lines 49–54. Possibly at?-tal?-ka? for AD? RI? TU/LI?.

11For Aḫundāra, see the commentary to text no. 74 vii 20.

12Possibly restore a-na si-ḫir-ti-šá at the end of the line, following text no. 7 line 17 and text no. 13 line 66.

13The translation assumes that the text originally had ... ru-qu-(ú)-ti šá/ša pa-aṭ KUR.bi-ik-ni KUR.el-li-pi ...; this reading is based on text no. 7 lines 17–18 and text no. 13 lines 68–69.

14See text no. 1 line 255 and text no. 3 line 9´ for the reading of the end of the line.

15Cf. text no. 2 line 443 for the first part of the line.

16Possibly pu?-uḫ?-ru? -ku-nu-ma, “They arranged a gathering (of their forces) and.”

17For the reading ra-ma-nu?-?-šú?-un ú-ter-ru-ma, cf. text no. 2 line 418 and text no. 7 line 136.

18Cf. text no. 74 vii 51–52 and 60. Cf. text no. 1 lines 381–382 (a-lak ger-ri DUMU .DINGIR.RA.KI iḫ-ta-nab-ba-tu ka-a-a-nu, “constantly, repeatedly robbing caravan(s) of the citizen(s) of Babylon while they were en route”) and text no. 2 lines 361–362 (mostly restored).

19la a-dir? x-uq?-ma-ti: The traces do not fit well for an expected a-dir tu-uq-ma-ti, with the third sign in particular unlike TU; cf. text no. 43 line 25 a-dir tuq-ma-te. For ú?-ma-ʾe?-[ra?] ṣe-ru--šú-un, cf. text no. 2 line 447. The reading [ú?]-ma?-še-ru-ma is based on text no. 65 line 214.

20The translation assumes some form and writing of the nouns pagru or šalamtu, “corpse,” before muq-tab-li-šú-nu. Text no. 65 line 144 has ADDA.MEŠ muq-tab-li, but the traces immediately before muq in this text do not fit either MEŠ or ÚŠ, although they might allow pag?-ri?.

21Cf. text no. 103 iv 43–46, text no. 117 ii 70, Streck, Asb. p. 270 iv 2–3, and Leichty, RINAP 4 p. 136 no. 60 line 28´.


Created by Grant Frame and the Royal Inscriptions of the Neo-Assyrian Period (RINAP) Project, 2019. Adapted for RINAP Online by Joshua Jeffers and Jamie Novotny and lemmatized by Giulia Lentini, Nathan Morello, and Jamie Novotny, 2019, for the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation-funded OIMEA Project at the Historisches Seminar - Abteilung Alte Geschichte of Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München. The annotated edition is released under the Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike license 3.0.