Ashurbanipal 003

(i 1) I, Ashurbanipal, great king, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, king of the four quarters (of the world), offspring of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of the land of Sumer and Akkad, descendant of Sennacherib, king of the world, king of Assyria —

(i 6) The great gods in their assembly determined a favorable destiny as [my] l[ot] (and) they granted me a broad mind (and) allowed my mind to learn all of the scribal arts. They glorified the mention of my name in the assembly of princes (lit. “stags”) (and) made my kingship great; they generously granted me power, virility, (and) outstanding strength; (and) they placed lands that had not bowed down to me into my hands (and) allowed me to achieve my heart’s desire.

(i 14) They required my priestly services (and) my giving (them) food offerings pleased their divinity. I completed the sanctuaries of the great gods, my lords, clad (them) with gold (and) silver, (and) had long-haired heroes, lion-headed eagles, (and) tall columns erected in their gate(s). (i 20) I made Ešarra, Emašmaš, Egašankalama, (and) Eḫulḫul shine like the stars (lit. “writing”) of [the heav]ens. I made every type of temple appurtenance from gold (and) silver, (and) I added (them) to those of the kings, my ancestors. I made regular offerings (and) contributions more plentiful than those of distant days. I was assiduous towards the sanctuaries of the gods (and) constantly followed their ways.

(i 27) The god Adad released his rains (and) the god Ea opened up his springs. Grain was five cubits high in its furrow (and) ear(s) of corn were five-sixths of a cubits long. Successful harvest(s and) an abundance of grain enabled pasture land to continually flourish, fruit orchards to be very lush with fruit, (and) cattle to successfully give birth to (their) young. During my reign, there was plenitude (and) abundance; during my years, bountiful produce was accumulated.

(i 35) Throughout my entire land, (on account of) abundant trade, for one [sh]ekel of silver one could purchase ten donkey-loads of grain, one homer of wine, two seahs of oil, (and) one talent of wool. Year after year, I shepherded [the subjects of the god Enlil] in prosperity and with justice.

(i 39) [I ruled] from the Upper Sea to the Lower S[ea and] kings from the rising sun and the se[tting sun] carried thei[r substantial] tribute to me. I made the people from the midst of the sea (and) those who live on hig[h] mountains bow down t[o] my [yok]e. By the command of (the god) Aššur and the god[dess Ištar, the kings who sit upon (royal) daises] kis[s] my feet (and) great rulers from (both) east [and west are anx]ious for me to be their ally.

(i 48) On m[y] first campaign, I marched to [Ma]kan (Egypt) and [Meluḫḫa (Ethiopia)]. Taharqa, the king of Egypt and K[ush], whose defeat Esar­[had­don] — king of Assyria, the father who had engendered me — [had brought about] (and) whose land he ruled over, forgot the might of (the god) Aššur, the goddess Ištar, and the great gods, my lords, and trusted in his [o]wn c[ounsel]. He marched against the kings (and) officials, (i 55) whom the father who had enge[nd]ered me had ap[po]inted insi[de Eg]ypt, to kill (and) rob (them) and to take away Egypt (from them). He entered and resided in the city Memphis, a city that the father who had engendered me had conquered (i 60) (and) made part of the territory of his land. A fast messenger came to Nineveh and reported (this) to me. My heart became enraged about these deeds and my temper turned hot. I mustered my elite forces that (the god) Aššur and the goddess Ištar had placed in my hands.

(i 66b) I quickly advanced to support (and) aid the kings (and) officials who were in Egypt, servants who belonged to me, and (i 70) I marched as far as the city Kār-Bānīte. Taharqa, the king of Egypt (and) Kush, heard about the advance of my expeditionary force (while he was) inside the city Memphis, and mustered his battle troops before me to wage armed battle (and) war. With the support of the gods Aššur, Bēl (Marduk), (and) Nabû, the great gods, my lords who march at my side, I brought about the defeat of his troops in a widespread pitched battle.

(i 76b) Taharqa heard about the defeat of his troops while (he was) inside the city Memphis. The awe-inspiring radiance of (the god) Aššur and the goddess Ištar overwhelmed him and he went into a frenzy. The brilliance of my royal majesty, with which the gods of heaven and netherworld had endowed me, covered him; (i 80) he abandoned the city Memphis and, in order to save his (own) life, he fled inside the city Thebes. I seized that city (Memphis) (and then) made my troops enter (and) reside there.

(i 82b) (As for) the kings (and) governors whom the father who had engendered me had appointed in Egypt, who had abandoned their post(s) in the face of Taharqa’s tactical advance, (and) had gone to (lit. “filled”) the countryside, where their post(s) were, I permitted them to serve in their (former) positions again. I reorganized Egypt (and) Kush, which the father who had engendered me had conquered. I strengthened its guard more than previously (and) concluded (new) agreements with it.

(i 91) (As for) the cities Sais, Mendes, (and) Tanis, which had rebelled (and) sided with Taharqa, I conquered those cities (and) I killed the people living inside them with the sword. I hung their corpses on poles, flayed them, (and) draped the city wall(s with their skins).

(ii 1b) (As for) Šarru-lū-dāri, whom my father had installed as a king in Egypt (and) who plotted evil (deeds) against the Assyrians, I captured (him and) brought (him) to Assyria.

(ii 4) (As for) Taharqa, in the place where he had fled, the awesome terror of the weapon of (the god) Aššur, my lord, overwhelmed him and he passed away.

(ii 5b) Afterwards, Tanutamon, the son of his sister, sat upon his royal throne. He made the cities Thebes (and) Heliopolis his fortresses (and) assembled his forces. To fight against the Assyrian troops who were inside the city Memphis, he mobilized his battle array, confined those people, and cut off their escape route. A fast messenger came to Nineveh and told (this) to me.

(ii 12) For a second time, I took the direct road to Egypt and Kush. Tanutamon heard about the advance of my expeditionary force and that I had set foot on Egyptian territory, he abandoned the city Memphis and, in order to save his (own) life, he fled inside the city Thebes. The kings, governors, (and) officials whom I had stationed in Egypt came to meet me and kissed my feet.

(ii 20) I took the road [in purs]uit of Tanutamon (and) I marched as far as the city Thebes, his fortified city. He saw the assault of my battle array and abandoned the city Thebes; he fled to the city Kipkipi. [With] the support of (the god) Aššur and the goddess Ištar, I conquered that city (Thebes) in its entirety.

(ii 26) [Si]lver, gold, precious stones, as much property of his palace as there was, garment(s) with multi-colored trim, linen garments, large horses, people — male and female — (ii 30) two tall obelisks cast with shiny zaḫalû-metal, whose weight was 2,500 talents (and which) stood at a temple gate, I ripped (them) from where they were erected and took (them) to Assyria. I carried off substantial booty, (which was) without number, from inside the city Thebes. (ii 35) I made my weapons prevail over Egypt and Kush and (thus) achieved victory. With full hand(s), I returned safely to Nineveh, my capital city.

(ii 38) On my third campaign, I marched against Baʾalu, the king of the land Tyre who resides in the middle of the sea. Because he did not honor my royal command(s and) did not obey the pronouncement(s) from my lip(s), I set up outposts against him. To prevent his people from leaving, I reinforced (its) garrison. By sea and dry land, I took control of (all of) his routes (and thus) cut off (all) access to him. (ii 45) I made water (and) food for the preservation of their lives scarce for their mouths. I confined them in a harsh imprisonment from which there was no escape. I constricted (and) cut short their lives. I made them (the people of Tyre) bow down to my yoke.

(ii 50) [He brou]ght before me his daughter, his own offspring, and the daughter(s) of his brothers to serve as housekeepers. He b[ro]ught his son, who had [nev]er crossed the se[a], to do obeisance to me. (ii 55) I received from him [his] dau[ghter a]nd the daughters of his brothers, together with a large marriage gift. I had mercy on him and (then) I gave (his) son, his offspring, back to him.

(ii 57b) I dismantled the outposts that I had constructed [agai]nst Baʾalu, the king of the land Tyre. By sea and dry land, I opened (all of) his routes, as many as I had seized. I received from him his substantial payment. I returned safely to Nineveh, my capital city.

(ii 63) Rulers (who reside in) the middle of the sea and kings who reside in the high mountains saw the might of these deeds of mine and became frightened of my lordly majesty. (As for) Yakīn-Lû, the king of the land Arwad, Mugallu, the king of the land Tabal, (and) Sanda-šarme of the land Ḫilakku (Cilicia), who had not bowed down to the kings, my ancestors, they bowed down to my yoke. (ii 70) They brought (their) daughters, their own offspring, to Nineveh to serve as housekeepers, together with a [sub]stantial dowry and a large marriage gift, and they kissed my feet. I imposed upon Mugallu an annual payment of large horses.

(ii 75) After Yakīn-Lû, the king of the land Arwad, had gone to (his) fate, Azi-Baʾal, Abī-Baʾal, (and) Adūnī-Baʾal, the sons of Yakīn-Lû who reside in the middle of the sea, came up from the middle of the sea, (ii 80) came with their substantial audience gift(s), and kissed my feet. I looked upon Azi-Baʾal with pleasure and installed (him) as king of the land Arwad. I clothed Abī-Baʾal (and) Adūnī-Baʾal in garment(s) with multi-colored trim (and) placed gold bracelets (around their wrists). I made them stand before me.

(ii 86b) (As for) Gyges, the king of the land Lydia — a region on the opposite shore of the sea, a remote place, the mention of whose name none of the kings, my ancestors, had (ever) heard — (the god) Aššur, (the god) who created me, made him see in a dream my royal name. On the (very) day he saw this dream, he sent his mounted messenger to inquire about my well-being.