Ashurbanipal 013

(i 1) I, Ashurbanipal, great king, [strong king], king of the world, king of Assyria, king of [the four quarters (of the world)], creation of the hands of (the god) Aššur (and) the goddess Mullissu; one who was chose[n by the gods Sîn, Šamaš, (and) Adad]; beloved of the god Marduk (and) the goddess Z[arpanītu]; (i 5) favorite of the god Nabû (and) [the goddess Ta]šmēt[u]; pious prince, [ca]pable govern[or], true shepherd, leade[r of a] widespre[ad population], one who prays piously [without ceas]ing; who (i 10) extols for [everlas]ting days the praise(s) of the gods Aššur, Mull[issu, Bēl (Marduk)], (and) Nabû; son of Esarhaddon, ki[ng of the world, king of Assyria]; (grand)son of Sennacherib, kin[g of the world, king of As]syria; descendant of Sargon (II), ki[ng of the world, king of Assyria], governor of Babylon, king of [the land of Sumer and] Akkad,

(i 15) provider of cult centers, one who c[ompletes shrine]s, one who (re)confirms inter[rupted] sattukku- (and) nindabû-offerings [...], one who reveres the deities Aššur, Mullissu, [Sîn, Šamaš, Adad, Mar]duk, Zarpanītu, Nabû, Tašmē[tu, Ištar of Nineveh], Ištar of Bīt-Kidmuri, [Ištar of Arb]ela, (i 20) Ninurta, Nergal, (and) Nusku; who constantly followed them from [his] ch[ildhood until he became an adult] and who continu[ally] re[vered] their [di]vinity. [I] cons[tantly knelt do]wn at their feet in supplication and prayer. While (I was still) in the womb of my mother, the great gods [nominated] me to [be king]; they spread their benevolent protection over [me; ...] th[ey] r[equired] my [priestly servic]es.

(i 26) [...] my [...]s [...] with pleasure [...] to/... [...].

(i 32) Kings [...] g[reat] rulers [from (both) east and we]st [are] anxious for me to be [their] al[ly]. The deities Aššur, [...] granted me a broad mind (and) [allowed] my mind [to lea]rn all of [the scribal arts]. They made [the mention of] my [na]me great [in the assembly of princes (lit. “stags”). In] my [st]ead, they stand in, [...] my enemies, [...] my foes, [...] ... [...] ...

(ii 1') the one who overwhelms [my enemies, I gave (the chariot) as a gift].

(ii 2') [I skillfully made] a bed of mus[ukkannu-wood, a durable wood, studded with] precious [stones], as a [pleasure] be[d for the god Bēl (Marduk) (and) the goddess Bēltīya (Zarpanītu)] to carry out the weddin[g (and) to make love]. I placed (it) in Kaḫili[su, the bed chamber of the goddess Zarpanīt]u, which [is laden with] sexual charm.

(ii 8') I presented the god Marduk, the one who lo[ves] my [reign], with a bed of ebony, a [durable] woo[d, (and) which] is clad [with red]dish [gold].

(ii 10') I had utensils of silver, gol[d, pre]­cious [stones], copper, (and) iron made for every type of te[mple] service, and had (them) deposited in Esagi[l, the palace of the g]ods.

(ii 13') [I built (and) co]mpleted Esabad, the temple of the goddess G[ula that is insid]e Babylon, [from] its foundation(s) to [its crenellations].

(ii 15') [I stationed] six [fierce wild bulls of silver, protectors of m]y [royal path], in the Lu[gudue­ne] Gate, [the Gate of the Rising Sun, and the Lamma-RA.BI Gate], in Ezi[da, which is inside Borsippa].

(ii 18') [I ...] a threshold of reddi[sh] gold, [whose weight is fifty minas], to ascend [to a high place ...], in Emešarra, the se[at of ...] as a mountain.

(ii 22') [I cast] Kizalaga, the seat of the god Nūru, [with eighty-three talents of] shiny zaḫalû-metal [and], to make (it) shine (like) [a bra]zier, I had the app[urtenance(s) of Ezida] expertly fashio[n]ed.

(ii 25'b) In (the gates) Kamaḫ and Kanamtila, for [the processional way of his exalted rulership], I heaped up like mountain(s) two [shiny silver] pirkus, whose [weight] is six talents each, (and) I constructed ... [...] ... [...] ... [...]

(iii 1') [I constricted (and) cut short their] lives. I [made them (the people of Tyre) bow down] to [m]y y[oke].

(iii 4') [He brought before me] his daughter and [the daughters of his brothers] to serve as housekeep[ers], together with [his substantial] payme[nt]. He sent at the same time Yāḫi-Milki, his son, who had n[ever crossed the sea], t[o do obeisance to me].

(iii 9') Yakīn-Lû, the king of the land Arw[ad, who resides in the middle of the sea], who [had not bowed down] to the kings, my ancestors, bowed down [to my yoke. He brought] his [daughter], with a [substantial] dowry, to Nineveh [to serve as a housekeep]er.

(iii 1'') U[allî ... incited] a rebellion against him (Aḫšēri) [...] Afterwards, Uall[î, his son, sat on his throne. He saw] the might of the deities Aššur, Mull[issu, ...], Ištar of Nineveh, [...], the great gods, [my] lords, [and bowed down to my yoke]. For the preservation of his (own) life, [he opened up his] han[ds to me (and) made an appeal to my lordly majesty. He sent] Erisinni, [his] heir desig[nate, to Nineveh and ...] ... [...]

(vii 1') (No translation possible)

(viii 1) [...] a remo[te] road [...] the[y] took [and ...] they came b[efore me]. Th[ey] in[quired about the well-being of my royal majesty, kissed my feet (and)] made appeals to [my] lor[dly majesty].

(viii 6) [... Tugdamm]î, a noma[d, ...] who does [n]ot bring [...] he t[rusted in] his own [streng]th, [... like an inva]sion of a swa[rm] of locusts [...] (viii 10) he muster[ed ... and to wage battle and war, he s]et up [his] camp [on the territory of Assyria. ...] ... [... The deities ... Ištar o]f Nineveh, Ištar of Arbela, [...] became furious [at] his provocative [spe]ech (lit. “[mo]uth”) and [it sickened them. (viii 15) By the command of their g]reat [divinity], where [they] had been situat[ed, ... fir]e fell from the sky and burned [him, his troops, (and) his camp. Tugdammî became frightened and] distressed. [...] ... to the city ḪARṣallê. [...] they carried him.

(viii 21) [... the people of] his land rebelled against him. [...] he laid down (his) life. He resided in a place of mourning and [...]. He was speaking about [the prai]se of my gods in the midst of his troops [...] their [...]. Fear of the deities Aššur, Sîn, Šamaš, (viii 25) [... Ištar of Nin]eveh, Ištar of Arbela, [the great gods, m]y [lords], who had encouraged me, overwhelmed him and [he sent his envoys (with messages) of go]odwill and peace. He sent me his [...] together with horses, [...] horses of his lordly vehicle, [...] equipment, (and) implements of war, [his substant]ial [payment], and he kissed m[y] feet.

(viii 32) I made him swear oath(s sworn) by the great gods, [my lords, not to infrin]ge on the territory of Assyria and I reinforced (them) with him. [I estab]lished the treaty. He broke the oath(s sworn) by the great gods, my lords; (viii 35) he transgressed [the lim]its (set) by them and plotted evil (deeds) against the territory of Assyria. [Where] flax [gr]ows, he sinned, by establishing himself on the territory of Assyria. [The awe-inspiring brilliance of the w]eapons of (the god) Aššur, my lord, overwhelmed him; [he we]nt [into a frenzy] and (tried) biting off his hands during a loss of (all) reason.

(viii 39) [...] he became hostile and I imposed upon him his gre[a]t punishment. [Half (of) his body was stricken with p]alsy and a piercing pain was lodged in his heart. [...] his [...] did not exist, his troops [... His tongue wa]s scratched and he became impotent. His life [en]ded [through dissolving and melting (like a wax figurine), (saying) “Woe! Alas!” ...] ... [...]

(viii 1') [...] fea[r of ...] Th[ey] were si[nging praise ...] thei[r] mounted messenger(s) [...] my horses [...]. They conquered with the furious weapons of your divinity the rest of the enemies who had not bowed down [...]. At the mere mention of my name, they became afraid (and) [they were requesting to be my] serva[nt(s)].

(viii 9') [I] paid careful attention to and humbled myse[lf] at the might of the deities Aššur, Mullissu, Marduk, Zarp[anītu], Nabû, (and) Tašmētu, [my] lords.

(viii 12') [(As for) the] akītu-[house] of your divine supremacy, [your] inner sanct[um, ...], the seat of [your] decre[es, ..., which] had become [ol]d [and ... who]se [foun]dation was not [...] ... [...]