RECORDS OF THE PAST

_______________

BEING
ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS
OF THE
ASSYRIAN AND EGYPTIAN MONUMENTS

PUBLISHED UNDER THE SANCTION
OF
THE SOCIETY OF BIBLICAL ARCHAEOLOGY
 

VOLUME FIVE:

ASSYRIAN TEXTS

___________________

NOTE

Every Text here given is either now translated for first time, or has been specially revised by the Author to the date of this publication.

CONTENTS

{p.i}

PREFACE

THE fifth volume of the "RECORDS OF THE PAST" contains translations from the Assyrian, Babylonian and Persian cuneiform inscriptions. Most of these are from historical monuments as being of the greatest value to ancient history. In the present volume are several of the most important Babylonian inscriptions, amongst them that of Nebuchadnezzar of whose history unfortunately but few contemporary documents are at present known, while of the earlier kings of Babylon mere fragmentary notices remain. The student as well as the general public will find this volume equal in interest to the preceding and the amount of new information considerable. Issued simultaneously with the fourth of the series in order to meet public demand and expectation, the rapidity with which it has been brought out is due to the cordial co-operation of the Assyrian scholars who have worked indefatigably for its production, and have in so short a time prepared or revised their different translations. Although historical texts have first engaged the attention of scholars, an unexhausted supply of literary or scientific import, as well as mythology and official records, still remain for selection, many of which have been as yet untouched. Amongst them are the so-called Izdubar legends comprising the account of the Babylonian and Assyrian Cosmogony, the creation of the world, and {p.ii} of man, his fall, the war of the gods in heaven, the deluge, and other traditions some of which have been translated, but others have not as yet been published. Some of these will form the material of subsequent volumes and afford a general idea of the mythology of the two great Semitic empires and will prove of great value for the comparative study of mythology at present so little understood on account of the investigations having been restricted to the myths of the Aryan nations. If freedom, eloquence and philosophy have had their home in the West, religion has always from the most remote ages had its cradle in the East. From the East originated germs of thought which grew up into blossoms amongst other races long after the parent stem had lain a sapless trunk in the distant regions of the Euphrates and the Nile. It must be again repeated that it is impossible to know the sources of Hellenic and Italian civilization by enquiries directed into purely Aryan sources. The orbit of vision has been enlarged, the decipherment and interpretations of these dead and extinct languages, like the discovery of the telescope in astronomy, carry the eye to the farthest realms of space, to enlarged human vision. So this newly acquired instrument of interpretation has pierced the hitherto unseen period which transcends the secondary history of the West. The classical and biblical scholar, alike require the valuable information now placed at their disposal as elements of primary instruction for their studies.

S. BIRCH.
London, 1st July, 1875.

{p.1}

THE LEGEND OF THE INFANCY OF SARGINA THE FIRST,
KING OF AGANI
TRANSLATED BY
H. F. TALBOT, F.R.S.

THE text of this story is lithographed in plate 4 of the third volume of Rawlinson's British Museum Inscriptions. I gave a translation of it in the Transactions of the Society of Biblical Archaeology, vol. I, p. 271.

One portion of it much resembles the history of the infancy of Moses as related in the second chapter of Exodus. We there read that the mother of Moses took for him an ark of bulrushes and daubed it with slime and with pitch and put the child therein, and she laid it in the flags by the river's brink? All this was done likewise by the mother of Sargina. The pitch was to prevent the entrance of the water. Exod. ii. v. 5, 6. "And Pharaoh's daughter saw the ark among the flags, and she sent her maid to fetch it. And when she had opened it she saw the child." This circumstance also agrees exactly. Sargina's mother had made a door to the ark, and closed it with pitch, of course only round the edges. The child would breathe freely through the interstices of the rushes and could not fall out of the ark.

{p.2} Similar traditions attend the birth of other great lawgivers or founders of nations. The story of Romulus offers in some respects a striking resemblance. The mother of Romulus was a king's daughter: but his fatJter was unknown. The new-born infant was placed in a boat (alveus, Livy) and launched on the waters of the Tiber. The boat coming ashore, was found by the king's herdsman, who with his wife Acca brought him up as his own child. When of sufficient age he became the head of a band of rustic and warlike youths and gradually reached sovereign power. Similarly Sargina was saved from the river by Akki the water-carrier (a name much resembling Acca) and brought up as his own son. When old enough he joined a rustic people and became their king, and afterwards a powerful monarch (sar dannu).

The god Dionysus when an infant was placed in an ark and thrown into the sea. The waves cast him ashore on the coast of Brasiae in Laconia (Pausanias). Cyrus, son of a princess, but brought up by a herdsman as his own son; elected king (though in sport) by his rustic companions; afterwards the founder of a great monarchy, has some points of similarity with the tale of Sargina: but the circumstance of the ark on the river is wanting.

These examples show that similar tales were current in antiquity concerning the infancy of many great sovereigns or legislators.

The date of Sargina's reign is very uncertain, but he lived probably about 15 or 16 centuries before the Christian era. I conjecture that this inscription was written upon the pedestal of his statue.

INFANCY OF SARGINA I

1 I AM SARGINA the great King; the King of Agani.
2 My mother knew not my father:¹ my family were the rulers of the land.
3 My city was the city of Atzu-pirani² which is on the banks of the river Euphrates.
4 My mother conceived me: in a secret place she brought me forth:
5 she placed me in an ark of bulrushes: with bitumen my door she closed up:
6 she threw me into the river, which did not enter into the ark to me.
7 The river carried me: to the dwelling of AKKI the water-carrier³ it brought me.
8 AKKI the water-carrier in his goodness of heart lifted me up from the river.
_____________
1 Considering that his mother belonged to the royal family, that she was delivered in secret, and that the child was abandoned, this passage affords a strong confirmation of certain statements made by Herodotus concerning the customs of the Babylonians: and it is also alluded to in the book of Baruch. Compare also the story of Rhea Sylvia the mother of Romulus, who was a king's daughter: the unknown father, and the abandonment of the child.
2 Atzu-pirani. The latter part of the name is the Chaldee Birani meaning Citadel, Tower, or Palace.
3 A water-carrier was a labourer of the lowest and meanest class, as we see from Joshua ix. 21: "And the princes said unto them, Let them live: but let them be bearers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation." And again, verses 23 and 27, "There shall none of you be freed from being bondmen and hewers of wood and drawers of water."

{p.4}

9 AKKI the water-carrier brought me up as his own son.
10 AKKI the water-carrier placed me with a tribe of Foresters.¹
11 Of this tribe of Foresters ISHTAR² made me King:
12 and for .....³ years I reigned over them.

[The rest of the inscription, consisting of several lines which are much broken, says that during his reign Sargina introduced civilization, or great improvements. But this part has not a mythic character, and is of less interest.]⁴
_______
1 These Woodmen or Foresters were probably a rude race of men. Sargina became the captain of the band.
2 Ishtar was the Babylonian Venus
3 Lacuna.
4 See pp. 56, 57, of this volume.

{p.5}

INSCRIPTION OF TIGLATH PILESER I
KING OF ASSYRIA
TRANSLATED BY
SIR H. RAWLINSON, K.C.B., D.C.L., etc.

THIS inscription of Tiglath Pileser I, is found on an octagonal prism and on some other clay fragments discovered at Kalah-Shergat and at present in the British Museum. The text is published in the Cuneiform Inscriptions of Western Asia, vol. I, p. ix-xvi. Four translations of this inscription made simultaneously in 1857 by Sir H. Rawlinson, Mr. Fox Talbot, Dr. Hincks and Dr. Oppert were published in that year under the title of Inscription of Tiglath Pileser I, King of Assyria, BC 1150. 8vo., Lond., 1857. Dr. Oppert has also given a revised translation in his Histoire de l'Empire de Chaldée et d'Assyrie, 8vo., Versailles, 1865, extracted from the Annales de la Philosophic Chretienne of the same year 5^e Series, p. 44 and foll. The translations simultaneously published were submitted to the Asiatic {p.6} Society in that year as a test of the advance made in Assyrian interpretations and the close approximation made by scholars in their interpretation of Assyrian texts. The notes contain some of the different readings of the other Assyrian scholars at that time and give a few of the principal varieties of reading some of the words. It was generally considered a very triumphant demonstration of the sound basis on which the then comparatively recent Assyrian researches were placed and a confutation of certain opinions then prevalent, that no certain or accurate advance had been made in the decipherment of Assyrian inscriptions. On the whole for its extent and historical information relating to the early history of Assyria this inscription is one of the most important of the series showing the gradual advance and rise of Assyria, while as one of the first interpreted it presents considerable literary interest in respect to the details of the progress of Assyrian interpretation. It is also nearly the oldest Assyrian text of any length which has been hitherto discovered and is very interesting from its account of the construction of the temples and palaces made by the king in the early part of his reign.

S. B.

{p.7}

INSCRIPTION OF TIGLATH PILESER I

I THE BEGINNING

Ashur, the great Lord, ruling supreme over the gods; the giver of sceptres and crowns; the appointer of sovereignty. BEL, the Lord; King of the circle of constellations;¹ Father of the gods; Lord of the world. SIN;² the leader the Lord of Empire the powerful the auspicious god; Shamas³ the establisher of the heavens and the earth;⁴ the vanquisher of enemies; the dissolver of cold. Vul;⁵ he who causes the tempest to rage over hostile lands and wicked countries. Abnil⁶  HERCULES; the champion who subdues heretics and enemies, and who strengthens the heart. Ishtar, the eldest⁷ of the gods; the Queen of Victory; she who arranges battles.

II

The great gods, ruling over the heavens and the earth, whose attributes I have recorded and whom I have named; the guardians of the kingdom of TIGLATH PILESER, the Prince inspiring your hearts with joy; the proud Chief whom in the strength of your hearts ye have made firm, (to whom) ye have confided the supreme crown, (whom) ye have appointed in might to the sovereignty of the country of BEL, to whom ye have granted pre-eminence, exaltation, and warlike power. May the duration of his empire continue for ever to his royal posterity, lasting as the great temple of BEL!
__________
1 Aratnaki. Fox Talbot
2 The moon.
3 The sun.
4 Lacuna.
5 Ninev. Fox Talbot. Ao. Dr. Oppert.
6 Ninip-Sumdan. Dr. Oppert.
7 Or source.

{p.8}

III

TIGLATH PILESER the powerful king; supreme King of Lashanan;¹ King of the four regions; King of all Kings; Lord of Lords; the supreme; Monarch of Monarchs; the illustrious Chief who under the auspices of the SUN GOD, being armed with the sceptre and girt with the girdle of power over mankind, rules over all the people of BEL; the mighty Prince whose praise is blazoned forth among the Kings: the exalted sovereign, whose servants ASHUR has appointed to the government of the country of the four regions (and) has made his name celebrated to posterity; the conqueror of many plains and mountains of the Upper and Lower Country; the conquering hero, the terror of whose name has overwhelmed all regions; the bright constellation who, according to his power² has warred against foreign countries (and) under the auspices of BEL, there being no equal to him, has subdued the enemies of ASHUR.³

IV

ASHUR (and) the great gods, the guardians of my kingdom, who gave government and laws to my dominions, and ordered an enlarged frontier to their territory, having committed to (my) hand their valiant and warlike servants, I have subdued the lands and the peoples and the strong places, and the Kings who were hostile to ASHUR; and I have reduced all that was contained in them. With a host⁴ of kings I have fought .... ⁵ and have imposed on them the bond of servitude. There is not to me a second in war, nor an equal in battle. I have added territory to Assyria and peoples to her people. I have enlarged the frontier of my territories, and subdued all the lands contained in them.⁶
___________
1 "Various tongues." Talbot.
2 Or "as he wished."
3 Or "has made them obedient to Ashur."
4 The Preamble concludes here.
5 Lacuna.
6 Literally, "a sixty."

{p.9}

V

In the beginning of my reign 20,000 of the Muskayans¹ and their 5 kings, who for 50 years had held the countries of Alza and Perukhuz, without paying tribute and offerings to ASHUR my Lord, and whom a King of Assyria had never ventured to meet in battle betook themselves to their strength, and went and seized the country of Comukha. In the service of ASHUR my Lord my chariots and warriors I assembled after me ...² the country of Kasiyaia³ a difficult country, I passed through. With their 20,000 fighting men and their 5 kings in the country of Comukha I engaged. I defeated them. The ranks of their warriors in fighting the battle were beaten down as if by the tempest. Their carcases covered the valleys and the tops of the mountains. I cut off their heads. The battlements of their cities I made heaps of, like mounds of earth, their movables, their wealth, and their valuables I plundered to a countless amount. 6000 of their common soldiers who fled before my servants and accepted my yoke, I took them, and gave them over to the men of my own territory.⁴

VI

Then I went into the country of Comukha⁵ which was disobedient and withheld the tribute and offerings due to ASHUR my Lord: I conquered the whole country of Comukha. I plundered their moveables, their wealth, and their valuables. Their cities I burnt with fire, I destroyed and ruined. The common people of Comukha, who fled before the face of my servants, crossed over to the city of Sherisha⁶ which was on the further banks of the Tigris, and made this city into their stronghold. I assembled my chariots and warriors. I betook myself to carts of iron⁷
__________
1 Sirki citizens. Fox Talbot.
2 Lacuna.
3 Mount Kasiyaia. Dr. Hincks.
4 As slaves.
5 Dummuk. Dr. Oppert.
6 Sharisha. Fox Talbot. Siris. Dr. Hincks.
7 Bridge. Fox Talbot.

{p.10}

in order to overcome the rough mountains and their difficult marches. I made the wilderness (thus) practicable for the passage of my chariots and warriors. I crossed the Tigris and took the city of Sherisha their stronghold. Their fighting men, in the middle of the forests, like wild beasts, I smote. Their carcases filled the Tigris, and the tops of the mountains. At this time the troops of the Akhe¹ who came to the deliverance and assistance of Comukha, together with the troops of Comukha, like chaff I scattered. The carcases of their fighting men I piled up like heaps on the tops of the mountains. The bodies of their warriors, the roaring² waters carried down to the Tigris. KILI TERU son of KALI TERU, son of ZARUPIN ZIHUSUN, their King,³ in the course of their fighting fell into my power. His wives and his children, the delight of his heart I dispossessed him of. 180⁴ iron vessels and 5 trays of copper, together with the gods of the people in gold and silver, and their beds and furniture I brought away. Their moveables and their wealth I plundered. This city and its palace I burnt with fire, I destroyed and ruined.

VII

The city of Urrakluiras their stronghold which was in the country of Panari, I went towards. The exceeding fear of the power of ASHUR, my Lord, overwhelmed them. To save their lives they took their gods, and fled like birds to the tops of the lofty mountains. I collected my chariots and warriors, and crossed the Tigris. Shedi Teru⁵ the son of Khasutkh,⁶ King of Urrakluiras on my arriving in his
_________
1 Aliens. Dr. Hincks.
2 Nami River. Fox Talbot. Blood River. Dr. Hincks.
3 Tirikali fil Tirikali. Fox Talbot. Kiliantiru eldest son of Campineiyusan. Dr. Hincks.
4 Literally, "three sixties."
5 Sadiyantim. Dr. Hincks. Tiridates. Fox Talbot.
6 Kuthakin. Fox Talbot. Khathukhi. Dr. Hincks.

{p.11}

country submitted to my yoke. His sons, the delight of his heart, and his favourites, I condemned to the service of the gods: 60 vessels of iron; trays¹ and bars of copper ...² with 120 cattle, and flocks he brought as tribute and offerings. I accepted (them) and spared him. I gave him his life, but imposed upon him the yoke of my empire heavily for ever. The wide spreading country of Comukha I entirely conquered, and subjected to my yoke. At this time one tray of copper and one bar of copper from among the service offerings and tribute of Comukha I dedicated to ASHUR my Lord, and 60 iron vessels with their gods I offered to my guardian god, Vul.³

VIII

From amongst my valiant servants, to whom ASHUR the Lord gave strength and power, in 30 of my chariots, select companies of my troops and bands of my warriors who were expert in battle, I gathered together. I proceeded to the extensive country of Miltis⁴ which did not obey me; it consisted of strong mountains and a difficult land. Where it was easy I traversed it in my chariots: where it was difficult I went on foot In the country of Aruma, which was a difficult land, and impracticable to the passage of my chariots, I left the chariots and marched in front of my troops. Like ....² on the peak of the rugged mountains, I marched victoriously. The country of Miltis, like heaps of stubble, I swept. Their fighting men in the course of the battle like chaff I scattered. Their moveables, their wealth and their valuables I plundered. Many of their cities I burned with fire. I imposed on them religious service⁵ and offerings and tribute.
__________
1 Nirmah mamkhar. Dr. Hincks.
2 Lacuna.
3 Yem. Fox Talbot.
4 Eshtish. Fox Talbot.
5 Hostages. Fox Talbot. For further and subsequent various readings, see the Edition of 1857.

{p.12}

IX

TIGLATH PILESER, the illustrious warrior, the opener of the roads of the countries, the subjugator of the rebellious ...¹ he who has overrun the whole Magian world.

X

I subdued the extensive country of Subair, which was in rebellion. The countries of Alza and Purukhuz, which deferred their tribute and offerings, the yoke of my empire heavily upon them I imposed, decreeing that they should bring their tribute and offerings into my presence in the city of Ashur. While I was on this expedition, which the Lord ASHUR, committing to my hand a powerful rebel subduing army, ordered for the enlargement of the frontiers of his territory, there were 4000 of the Kaskaya and Hurunaya rebellious tribes of the Kheti² who had brought under their power the cities of Subarta, attached to the worship of ASHUR, my Lord (so that) they did not acknowledge dependence on Subarta. The terror of my warlike expedition overwhelmed them. They would not fight, but submitted to my yoke. Then I took their valuables, and 120³ of their chariots fitted to the yoke, and I gave them to the men of my own country.

XI

In the course of this my expedition, a second time I proceeded to the country of Comukha. I took many of their cities. Their moveables, their wealth, and their valuables I plundered. Their cities I burnt with fire, I destroyed and overthrew. The soldiers of their armies, who from before the face of my valiant servants fled away, they would not engage with me in the fierce battle : to save their lives they took to the stony heights of the mountains, an
_________
1 Lacuna.
2 Hittites.
3 Two soss.

{p.13}

inaccessible region: to the recesses of the deep forests and the peaks of the difficult mountains which had never been trodden by the feet of men, I ascended after them: they fought with me; I defeated them: the ranks of their warriors on the tops of the mountains fell like rain: their carcases filled the ravines and the high places of the mountains: their moveables, their wealth, and their valuables I carried off from the stony heights of the mountains. I subdued the country of Comukha throughout its whole extent, and I attached it to the frontiers of my own territory.

XII

TIGLATH PILESER, the powerful King, the vanquisher of the disobedient, he who has swept the face of the earth.

XIII

In profound reverence to ASHUR my Lord, to the country of Kharia, and the far-spreading tribes of the Akhe, deep forests, which no former King (of Assyria) had ever reached, the Lord ASHUR invited me to proceed. My chariots and forces I assembled, and I went to an inaccessible region beyond the countries of Itni and Aya. As the steep mountains stood up like metal posts, and were impracticable to the passage of my chariots, I placed my chariots in waggons, and (thus) I traversed the difficult ranges of hills. All the lands of the Akhe and their wide-spreading tribes having assembled, arose to do battle in the country of Azutapis. In an inaccessible region I fought with them and defeated them. The ranks of their (slain) warriors on the peaks of the mountains were piled up in heaps; the carcases of their warriors filled the ravines and high places of the mountains. To the cities which were placed on the tops of the mountains I penetrated victoriously: 27 cities of Kharia, which were situated in the districts of {p.14} Aya, Suira, Itni, Shetzu, Shelgu, Arzanibru, Varutsu, and Anitku, I took; their moveables, their wealth, and their valuables I plundered; their cities I burnt with fire, I destroyed and overthrew.

XIV

The people of Adavas feared to engage in battle with me; they left their habitations, and fled like birds to the peaks of the lofty mountains. The terror of ASHUR my Lord overwhelmed them; they came and submitted to my yoke; I imposed on them tribute and offerings.

XV

The countries of Tsaravas and Ammavas, which from the olden time had never submitted, I swept like heaps of stubble; with their forces in the country of Aruma I fought, and I defeated them. The ranks of their fighting men I levelled like grass. I bore away their gods; their moveables, their wealth, and their valuables I carried off. Their cities I burnt with fire, I destroyed and overthrew, and converted into heaps and mounds. The heavy yoke of my empire I imposed on them. I attached them to the worship of ASHUR my Lord.

XVI

I took the countries of Itsua and Daria, which were turbulent and disobedient. Tribute and offerings I imposed on them. I attached them to the worship of ASHUR.

XVII

In my triumphant progress over my enemies, my chariots and troops I assembled; I crossed the lower Zab. The countries of Muraddan and Tsaradavas, which were near Atsaniu and Atuva, difficult regions, I captured; their warriors I cut down like weeds. The city of Muraddan, their capital city, and the regions towards the rising sun, {p.15} I took possession of. Their gods, their wealth, and their valuables, one soss bars of iron, 30 talents of iron, the abundant wealth of the Lords, of their palaces, and their moveables, I carried off. This city I burnt with fire, I destroyed and overthrew. At this time this iron to the god VUL, my great Lord and guardian, I dedicated.

XVIII

In the might and power of ASHUR my Lord, I went to the country of Tsugi, belonging to Gilkhi, which did not acknowledge ASHUR my Lord. With 4000 of their troops, belonging to the countries Khimi, Lukhi, Arirgi, Alamun, Nuni, and all the far-spread land of the Akhi, in the country of Khirikhi, a difficult region, which rose up like metal posts, with all their people I fought on foot. I defeated them; the bodies of their fighting men on the tops of the mountains I heaped in masses. The carcases of their warriors I strewed over the country of Khirikhi like chaff. I took the entire country of Tsugi. 25 of their gods, their moveables, their wealth, and their valuables I carried off. Many of their cities I burnt with fire, I destroyed and overthrew. The men of their armies submitted to my yoke. I had mercy on them. I imposed on them tribute and offerings. With attachment to the worship of ASHUR, my Lord, I entrusted them.¹

XIX

At this time 25 of the gods belonging to those countries, subject to my government, which I had taken, I dedicated for the honour of the temple of the Queen of glory, the great ancestress of ASHUR my Lord, of ANU, and of VUL, the goddess who is the guardian of all the public temples of my city of ASHUR, and of all the goddesses of my country.
________
1 That is, "I caused them to worship Ashur."

{p.16}

XX

TIGLATH-PILESER, the powerful King; the subduer of hostile races; the conqueror of the whole circle of kings.

XXI

At this time, in exalted reverence to ASHUR, my Lord, by the godlike support of the heroic "SUN," having in the service of the great gods, ruled over the four regions imperially; there being found (to me) no equal in war, and no second in battle, to the countries of the powerful Kings who dwelt upon the upper ocean and had never made their submission, the Lord ASHUR having urged me, I went. Difficult mountain chains, and distant (or inaccessible) hills, which none of our Kings had ever previously reached, tedious paths and unopened roads I traversed. The countries of Elama, of Amadana, of Eltfs, of Sherabili, of Likhuna, of Tirkakhuli, of Kisra, of Likhanubi, of Elula, of Khastare, of Sakhisara, of Hubira, of Miliatruni, of Sulianzt, of Nubandshe, and of Sheshe, 16 strong countries, the easy parts in my chariots, and the difficult parts in waggons of iron, I passed through; the thickets of the mountains I cut down; bridges for the passage of my troops I prepared; I crossed over the Euphrates; the King of Elammi, the King of Tunubi, the King of Tuhali, the King of Kindari, the King of Huzula, the King of Vanzamuni, the King of Andiabi, the King of Pilakinna, the King of Aturgina, the King of Kulibartzini, the King of Pinibirni, the King of Khimua, the King of Paiteri, the King of Vairam, the King of Sururia, the King of Abae'ni, the King of Adadni, the King of Kirini, the King of Albaya, the King of Vagina, the King of Nazabia, the King of Amalziu, the King of Dayeni, in all 23 Kings of the countries of Nairi, in their own provinces having assembled their chariots and troops, they came to fight {p.17} with me.¹ By means of my powerful servants I straitened them.² I caused the destruction of their far-spreading troops, as if with the destroying tempest of VUL. I levelled the ranks of their warriors, both on the tops of the mountains and on the battlements of the cities, like grass. Two soss³ of their chariots I held as a trophy from the midst of the fight; one soss⁴ of the Kings of the countries of Nairi, and of those who had come to their assistance, in my victory as far as the upper ocean I pursued them; I took their great castles; I plundered their moveables, their wealth and their valuables; their cities I burnt with fire, I destroyed and overthrew, and converted into heaps and mounds. Droves of many horses and mules, of calves and of lambs, their property, in countless numbers I carried off. Many of the Kings of the countries of Nairi fell alive into my hands; to these Kings I granted pardon; their lives I spared; their abundance and wealth I poured out before my Lord, the Sun god. In reverence to my great gods, to after times, to the last day, I condemned them to do homage. The young men, the pride of their royalty, I gave over to the service of the gods; 1,200 horses and 2,000 cattle I imposed on them as tribute, and I allowed them to remain in their own countries.

XXII

TSENI, the King of Daydni, who was not submissive to ASHUR nay Lord, his abundance and wealth I brought it to my city of ASHUR. I had mercy on him. I left him in life to learn the worship of the great gods from my city of Ashur. I reduced the far-spreading countries of Nafri throughout their whole extent, and many of their kings I subjected to my yoke.

XXIII

In the course of this expedition, I went to the city of
______
1 Literally, to make war and do battle.
2 Or, brought them into difficulties.
3 120.
4 60.

{p.18}

Milidia, belonging to the country of Khanni-rabbi, which was independent and did not obey me. They abstained from engaging in the rude fight with me; they submitted to my yoke, and I had mercy on them. This city I did not occupy, but I gave the people over to religious service, and I imposed on them as a token of their allegiance a fixed tribute of .....¹

XXIV

TIGLATH-PILESER, the ruling constellation; the powerful; the lover of battle.

XXV

In the service of my Lord ASHUR, my chariots and warriors I assembled; I set out on my march. In front of my strong men I went to the country of the Aramaeans, the enemies of my Lord ASHUR. From before Tsukha, as far as the city of Qarqamis² belonging to the country of Khatte,³ I smote with one blow. Their fighting men I slew; their moveables, their wealth, and their valuables in countless numbers I carried off. The men of their armies who fled from before the face of the valiant servants of my Lord ASHUR, crossed over the Euphrates; in boats covered with bitumen skins I crossed the Euphrates after them; I took six of their cities which were below the country of Bisri; I burnt them with fire, and I destroyed and overthrew; and I brought their moveables, their wealth, and their valuables to my city of Ashur.

XXVI

TIGLATH-PILESER, he who tramples upon the Magian world; he who subdues the disobedient; he who has overrun the whole earth.

XXVII

My Lord ASHUR having urged me on, I took my way to
________
1 Lacuna.
2 Carchemish.
3 The Hittites.

{p.19}

the vast country of Muzri, lying beyond Elammi, Tala, and Kharutsa; I took the country of Muzri throughout its whole extent; I subdued their warriors; I burnt their cities with fire, I destroyed and overthrew; the troops of the country of Comani hastened to the assistance of the country of Muzri: in the mountains I fought with them and defeated them. In the metropolis, the city of Ann, which was under the country of Ayatsa, I besieged them; they submitted to my yoke; I spared this city; but I imposed on them religious service and tribute and offerings.

XXVIII

At this time the whole country of Comani which was in alliance with the country of Muzri, all their people assembled and arose to do battle and make war. By means of my valiant servants I fought with 20,000 of their numerous troops in the country of Tala, and I defeated them; their mighty mass broke in pieces; as far as the country of Kharutsa, belonging to Muzri, I smote them and pursued; the ranks of their troops on the heights of the mountains I cut down like grass their carcases covered the valleys and the tops of the mountains; their great castles I took, I burnt with fire, I destroyed, and overthrew into heaps and mounds.

XXIX

The city of Khunutsa, their stronghold, I overthrew like a heap of stubble. With their mighty troops in the city and on the hills I fought fiercely. I defeated them; their fighting men in the middle of the forests I scattered like chaff. I cut off their heads as if they were carrion; their carcases filled the valleys and (covered) the heights of the mountains. I captured this city; their gods, their wealth, and their valuables I carried off, and burnt with fire. Three of their great castles, which were built of brick, and the entire city I destroyed and overthrew, and converted {p.20} into heaps and mounds, and upon the site I laid down large stones; and I made tablets of copper, and I wrote on them an account of the countries which I had taken by the help of my Lord ASHUR, and about the taking of this city, and the building of its castle; and upon it¹ I built a house of brick, and I set up within it these copper tablets.

XXX

In the service of ASHUR my Lord, my chariots and warriors I assembled, and I approached Kapshuna, their capital city; the tribes of Comani would not engage in battle with me; they submitted to my yoke, and I spared their lives. The great castle of the city and its brick buildings I trampled under foot; from its foundations to its roofs I destroyed it and converted it into heaps and mounds, and a band of 300 fugitive heretics who did not acknowledge my Lord ASHUR, and who were expelled from inside this castle, I took this band and condemned to the service of the gods, and I imposed upon the people tribute and offerings in excess of their former tribute; and the far-spreading country of Comani throughout its whole extent I reduced under my yoke.

XXXI

There fell into my hands altogether between the commencement of my reign and my fifth year 42 countries, with their kings, from beyond the river Zab, plain, forest, and mountain, to beyond the river Euphrates, the country of the Khatte² and the upper ocean of the setting sun. I brought them under one government; I placed them under the Magian religion, and I imposed on them tribute and offerings.

XXXII

I have omitted many hunting expeditions which were not connected with my warlike achievements. In pursuing after the game I traversed the easy tracts in my chariots,
__________
1 "The stone foundation."
2 Hittites.

{p.21}

and the difficult tracts on foot. I demolished the wild animals throughout my territories.¹

XXXIII

TIGLATH-PILESER, the illustrious warrior, he who holds the sceptre of Lashanan; he who has extirpated all wild animals.

XXXIV

The gods HERCULES and NERGAL gave their valiant servants and their arrows as a glory to support my empire. Under the auspices of HERCULES, my guardian deity, four wild bulls, strong and fierce, in the desert, in the country of Mitan, and in the city Arazik, belonging to the country of the Khatte,² with my long arrows tipped with iron, and with heavy blows I took their lives. Their skins and their horns I brought to my city of Ashur.

XXXV

Ten large wild buffaloes in the country of Kharran, and the plains of the river Khabur, I slew. Four buffaloes I took alive; their skins and their horns, with the live buffaloes, I brought to my city of Ashur.

XXXVI

Under the auspices of my guardian deity Hercules, two soss of lions fell before me. In the course of my progress on foot I slew them, and 800 lions in my chariots in my exploratory journeys I laid low. All the beasts of the field and the flying birds of heaven I made the victim of my shafts.³

XXXVII

From all the enemies of ASHUR, the whole of them, I exacted labour, I made, and finished the repairs of, the temple of the goddess ASTARTE, my lady, and of the temple of MARTU, and of BEL, and IL, and of the sacred buildings and shrines of the gods belonging to my city of Ashur. I purified their shrines, and set up inside the images of
_________
1 A very difficult paragraph.
2 Hittites.
3 A very doubtful sentence.

{p.22}

the great gods, my Lords. The royal palaces of all the great fortified cities throughout my dominions, which from the olden time our kings had neglected through long years, had become ruined. I repaired and finished them. The castles of my country, I filled up their breaches. I founded many new buildings throughout Assyria, and I opened out irrigation for corn in excess of what my fathers had done. I carried off the droves of the horses, cattle, and asses that I obtained, in the service of my Lord ASHUR, from the subjugated countries which I rendered tributary, and the droves of the wild goats and ibexes, the wild sheep and the wild cattle which ASHUR and HERCULES, my guardian gods, incited me to chase in the depths of the forests, having taken them I drove them off, and I led away their young ones like the tame young goats. These little wild animals, the delight of their parents' hearts, in the fullness of my own heart, together with my own victims, I sacrificed to my Lord ASHUR.

XXXVIII

The pine, the ....¹ and the algum tree, these trees which under the former kings my ancestors, they had never planted, I took them from the countries which I had rendered tributary, and I planted them in the groves of my own territories, and I bought fruit trees; whatever I did not find in my own country, I took and placed in the groves² of Assyria.

XXXIX

I built chariots fitted to the yoke for the use of my people³ in excess of those which had existed before. I added territories to Assyria, and I added populations to her population. I improved the condition of the people, and I obtained for them abundance and security.
__________
1 Lacuna.
2 Or "orchards."
3 Or "throughout my territories."

{p.23}

XL

TIGLATH-PILESER, the illustrious prince, whom ASHUR and HERCULES have exalted to the utmost wishes of his heart; who has pursued after the enemies of ASHUR, and has subjugated all the earth.

XLI

The son of ASHUR-RIS-ILI, the powerful King, the subduer of foreign countries, he who has reduced all the lands of the Magian world.

XLII

The grandson of MUTAGGIL-NABU, whom ASHUR, the great Lord, aided according to the wishes of his heart and established in strength in the government of Assyria.

XLIII

The glorious offspring of ASHUR-DAPUR-IL, who held the sceptre of dominion, and ruled over the people of BEL; who in all the works of his hand and the deeds of his life placed his reliance on the great gods, and thus obtained a prosperous and long life.

XLIV

The beloved child¹ of BARZAN-PALAKURA, the king who first organized the country of Assyria, who purged his territories of the wicked as if they had been ....² and established the troops of Assyria in authority.

XLV

At this time the temple of ANU and VUL, the great gods, my Lords, which, in former times, SHANSI-VUL, High-priest of ASHUR, son of ISMI DAGAN, High-priest of ASHUR, had founded, having lasted for 641 years, it fell into ruin. ASHUR-DAPUR-IL, King of Assyria, son of BARZAN-PALA-KURA, King of Assyria, took down this temple and did not rebuild it For 60 years the foundations of it were not laid.
__________
1 Or, "heart of hearts."
2' Lacuna.

{p.24}

XLVI

In the beginning of my reign, ANU and VUL, the great gods, my Lords, guardians of my steps, they invited me to repair this their shrine. So I made bricks; I levelled the earth, I took its dimensions; I laid down its foundations upon a mass of strong rock. This place throughout its whole extent I paved with bricks in set order, 50 feet deep I prepared the ground, and upon this substructure I laid the lower foundations of the temple of ANU and VUL. From its foundations to its roofs I built it up, better than it was before. I also built two lofty cupolas in honour of their noble godships, and the holy place, a spacious hall, I consecrated for the convenience of their worshippers, and to accommodate their votaries, who were numerous as the stars of heaven, and in quantity poured forth like flights of arrows.¹ I repaired, and built, and completed my work. Outside the temple I fashioned (everything with the same care) as inside. The mound of earth (on which it was built) I enlarged like the firmament of the rising stars, and I beautified the entire building. Its cupolas I raised up to heaven, and its roofs I built entirely of brick. An inviolable shrine for their noble godships I laid down near at hand. ANU and VUL, the great gods, I glorified inside² I set them up in their honoured purity, and the hearts of their noble godships I delighted.

XLVII

BIT-KHAMRI, the temple of my Lord VUL, which SHANSI-VUL, High-priest of ASHUR, son of ISMI-DAGAN, High-priest of ASHUR, had founded, became ruined. I levelled its site, and from its foundation to its roofs I built it up of brick, I enlarged it beyond its former state, and I adorned it. Inside of it I sacrificed precious victims to my Lord VUL.
___________
1 Very doubtful.
2 The shrine.

{p.25}

XLVIII

At this time I found various sorts of stone¹ in the countries of Nairi, which I had taken by the help of ASHUR, my Lord, and I placed them in the temple of BIT-KHAMRI, belonging to my Lord, VUL, to remain there for ever.

XLIX

Since a holy place, a noble hall, I have thus consecrated for the use of the great gods, my Lords ANU and VUL, and have laid down an adytum for their special worship, and have finished it successfully, and have delighted the hearts of their noble godships, may ANU and VUL preserve me in power. May they support the men of my Government. May they establish the authority of my officers. May they bring the rain, the joy of the year, on the cultivated land and the desert during my time. In war and in battle may they preserve me victorious. Many foreign countries, turbulent nations, and hostile Kings I have reduced under my yoke; to my children and descendants may they keep them in firm allegiance. I will lead my steps, firm as the mountains, to the last days before ASHUR and their noble godships.

L

The list of my victories and the catalogue of my triumphs over foreigners hostile to ASHUR, which ANU and VUL have granted to my arms, I have inscribed on my tablets and cylinders, and I have placed them to the last days in the temple of my Lords ANU and VUL, and the tablets of SHAMSI-VUL, my ancestor, I have raised altars and sacrificed victims (before them), and set them up in their places.

LI

In after times, and in the latter days ....² if the temple of the great gods, my Lords ANU and VUL, and these shrines should become old and fall into decay, may the prince who comes after me repair the ruins. May
_________
1 The particular sorts cannot be identified.
2 Lacuna.

{p.26}

he raise altars and sacrifice victims before my tablets and cylinders, and may he set them up again in their places, and may he inscribe his name on them together with my name. As ANU and VUL, the great gods, have ordained, may he worship honestly with a good heart and full trust

LII

Whoever shall abrade or injure my tablets and cylinders, or shall moisten them with water, or scorch them with fire, or expose them to the air, or in the holy place of god shall assign them a position where they cannot be seen or understood, or who shall erase the writing and inscribe his own name, or who shall divide the sculptures, and break them off from my tablets,

LIII

ANU and VUL, the great gods, my Lords, let them consign his name to perdition; let them curse him with an irrevocable curse; let them cause his sovereignty to perish; let them pluck out the stability of the throne of his empire; let not offspring survive him in the kingdom;¹ let his servants be broken; let his troops be defeated; let him fly vanquished before his enemies. May VUL in his fury tear up the produce of his land. May a scarcity of food and of the necessaries of life afflict his country. For one day may he not be called happy. May his name and his race perish in the land.

In the month of Kuzallu² on the 29th day, in the High Priesthood of Ina-iliya-hallik, (entitled) Rabbi-turi.
____________
1 Doubtful and faulty in text.
2 Chisleu.

{p.27}

THE BLACK OBELISK INSCRIPTION OF SHALMANESER II
TRANSLATED BY
REV. A. H. SAYCE, M.A.

THIS inscription is engraved on an obelisk of black marble, 5 feet in height, found by Mr. Layard in the centre of the Mound at Nimroud, and now in the British Museum. Each of its four sides is divided into five compartments of sculpture representing the tribute brought to the Assyrian king by vassal princes, Jehu of Israel being among the number. Shalmaneser, whose annals and conquests are recorded upon it, was the son of Assur-natsir-pal, and died in 823 BC, after a reign of 35 years. A {p.28} translation of the inscription was one of the first achievements of Assyrian decipherment, and was made by Sir H. Rawlinson; and Dr. Hincks shortly afterwards (in 1851) succeeded in reading the name of Jehu in it. M. Oppert translated the inscription in his Histoire des Empires de Chaldée et d'Assyrie and M. Menant has given another rendering of it in his Annales des Rois d'Assyrie (1874). A copy of the text will be found in Layard's Inscriptions in the Cuneiform Character (1851).

BLACK OBELISK OF SHALMANESER

FACE A

1 ASSUR, the great Lord, the King of all
2 the great gods; ANU, King of the spirits of heaven
3 and the spirits of earth, the god, Lord of the world; BEL,
4 the Supreme, Father of the gods, the Creator;
5 HEA, King of the deep, determiner of destinies,
6 the King of crowns, drinking in brilliance;
7 RIMMON, the crowned hero, Lord of canals;¹ the SUN-GOD,
8 the Judge of heaven and earth, the urger on of all;
9 (MERODACH), Prince of the gods, Lord of battles; ADAR, the terrible,
10 (Lord) of the spirits of heaven and the spirits of earth, the exceeding strong god; NERGAL,
11 the powerful (god), King of the battle; NEBO, the bearer of the high sceptre,
12 the god, the Father above; BELTIS, the wife of BEL, mother of the (great) gods;
13 ISTAR, sovereign of heaven and earth, who the face of heroism perfectest;
14 the great (gods), determining destinies, making great my kingdom.
15 (I am) SHALMANESER, King of multitudes of men, prince (and) hero of ASSUR, the strong King,
16 King of all the four zones of the Sun (and) of multitudes of men, the marcher over
17 the whole world; Son of ASSUR-NATSIR-PAL, the supreme hero, who his heroism over the gods
_________
1 Or, "fertility."

{p.30}

18 has made good and has caused all the world¹ to kiss his feet;

FACE B

19 the noble offspring of TIGLATH-ADAR
20 who has laid his yoke upon all lands hostile to him, and
21 has swept (them) like a whirlwind.
22 At the beginning of my reign, when on the throne
23 of royalty mightily I had seated myself, the chariots
24 of my host I collected. Into the lowlands² of the country of 'Sime'si
25 I descended. The city of Aridu, the strong city
26 of NINNI, I took. In my first year
27 the Euphrates in its flood I crossed. To the sea of the setting sun³
28 I went. My weapons on the sea I rested. Victims
29 for my gods I took.⁴ To mount Amanus⁵ I went up.
30 Logs of cedar-wood and pine-wood I cut. To
31 the country of Lallar I ascended. An image of my Royalty in the midst (of it) I erected.
32 In my second year to the city of Tel-Barsip I approached. The cities
33 of AKHUNI the son of ADIN I captured. In his city I shut him up. The Euphrates
34 in its flood I crossed. The city of Dabigu, a choice city of the Hittites
35 together with the cities which (were) dependent upon it I captured. In my third year AKHUNI
36 the son of ADIN, from the face of my mighty weapons fled, and the city of Tel-Barsip,

FACE C

37 his royal city, he fortified. The Euphrates I crossed.
_________
1 Or, "the countries the whole of them."
2 Or, "the descendings."
3 That is, the Mediterranean.
4 Namely, in sacrifice.
5 Khamanu in Assyrian.

{p.31}

38 The city unto Assyria I restored. I took it. (The town) which (is) on the further side
39 of the Euphrates which (is) upon the river 'Sagurri, which the Kings
40 of the Hittites call the city of Pitru,¹
41 for myself I took. At my return
42 into the lowlands of the country of Alzi I descended. The country of Alzi I conquered.
43 The countries of Dayaeni (and) Elam, (and) the city of Arzascunu, the royal city
44 of ARAME of the country of the Armenians, the country of Gozan (and) the country of Khupuscia.
45 During the eponymy of DAYAN-ASSUR from the city of Nineveh I departed. The Euphrates
46 in its upper part I crossed. After AKHUNI the son of ADIN I went.
47 The heights on the banks of the Euphrates as his stronghold he made.
48 The mountains I attacked, I captured. AKHUNI with his gods, his chariots,
49 his horses, his sons (and) his daughters I carried away. To my city Assur
50 I brought (them). In that same year the country of Kullar I crossed. To the country of Zamua
51 of Bit-Ani I went down. The cities of NIGDIARA of the city of the Idians
52 (and) NIGDIMA I captured. In my fifth year to the country of Kasyari I ascended.
53 The strongholds I captured. ELKHITTI of the Serurians (in) his city I shut up. His tribute
54 to a large amount I received. In my sixth year to the cities on the banks of the river Balikhi

FACE D

55 I approached. GI'AMMU, their Governor, I smote.
____________
1 Pethor in the Old Testament.

{p.32}

56 To the city of Tel-abil-akhi I descended.
57 The Euphrates in its upper part I crossed.
58 The tribute of the Kings of the Hittites
59 all of them I received. In those days RIMMON-IDRI¹
60 of Damascus, IRKHULINA of Hamath, and the Kings
61 of the Hittites and of the sea-coasts to the forces of each other
62 trusted, and to make war and battle
63 against me came. By the command of ASSUR, the great Lord, my Lord,
64 with them I fought. A destruction of them I made.
65 Their chariots, their war-carriages, their war-material² I took from them.
66 20,500 of their fighting men with arrows I slew.
67 In my seventh year to the cities of KHABINI of the city of Tel-Abni I went.
68 The city of Tel-Abni, his stronghold, together with the cities which (were) dependent on it I captured.
69 To the head of the river, the springs of the Tigris, the place where the waters rise,³ I went.
70 The weapons of ASSUR in the midst (of it) I rested. Sacrifices for my gods I took. Feasts and rejoicing
71 I made. An image of my Royalty of large size I constructed. The laws of ASSUR my Lord, the records
72 of my victories, whatsoever in the world I had done, in the midst of it I wrote. In the middle (of the country) I set (it) up.

FACE A, base

73 In my eighth year, MERODACH-SUMA-IDDIN King of of Gan-Dunias⁴
_______
1 This is the Ben-hadad of Scripture whose personal name seems to have been Rimmon-idri.
2 Or, "furniture of battle."
3 Or, "the place of the exit of the waters situated." The tablet is still to be seen near the town of Egil.
4 That is, Chaldea.

{p.33}

74 did MERODACH-BILA-YU'SATE his foster-brother against him rebel;
75 strongly had he fortified (the land). To exact punishment¹
76 against MERODACH-SUMA-IDDIN I went The city of the waters of the Dhurnat² I took.
77 In my ninth campaign a second time to the land of Accad I went.
78 The city of Gana-nate I besieged. MERODACH-BILA-YU'SATE exceeding fear
79 of ASSUR (and) MERODACH overwhelmed, and to save his life to
80 the mountains he ascended. After him I rode. MERO-DACH-BILA-YU'SATE (and) the officers
81 the rebels³ who (were) with him (with) arrows I slew. To the great fortresses
82 I went Sacrifices in Babylon, Borsippa, (and) Cuthah I made.
83 Thanksgivings to the great gods I offered up. To the country of Kaldu⁴ I descended. Their cities I captured.
84 The tribute of the Kings of the country of Kaldu I received. The greatness of my arms as far as the sea overwhelmed.
85 In my tenth year for the eighth time the Euphrates I crossed. The cities of 'SANGARA of the city of the Carchemishians I captured.
86 To the cities of Arame I approached. Arne his royal city with 100 of his (other) towns I captured.
87 In my eleventh year for the ninth time the Euphrates I crossed. Cities to a countless number I captured. To the cities of the Hittites
88 of the land of the Hamathites I went down. Eighty-
___________
1 Or, "to return benefits."
2 The Tornadotus of classical geographers.
3 Or, "the Lord of sin."
4 This is the primitive Chaldea. The Caldai or Chaldeans afterwards overran Babylonia and gave their name to it among classical writers.

{p.34}

nine cities I took. RIMMON-IDRI of Damascus (and) twelve of the Kings of the Hittites
89 with one another's forces strengthened themselves. A destruction of them I made. In my twelfth campaign for the tenth time the Euphrates I crossed.
90 To the land of Pagar-khubuna I went. Their spoil 1 carried away. In my thirteenth year to the country of Yaeti I ascended.
91 Their spoil I carried away. In my fourteenth year the country I assembled; the Euphrates I crossed. Twelve Kings against me had come.
92 I fought. A destruction of them I made. In my fifteenth year among the sources of the Tigris (and) the Euphrates I went. An image
93 of my Majesty in their hollows I erected. In my sixteenth year the waters of the Zab I crossed. To the country of Zimri
94 I went. MERODACH-MUDAMMIK King of the land of Zimru to save his life (the mountains) ascended. His treasure
95 .... his army (and) his gods to Assyria I brought. YAN'SU son of KHANBAN to the kingdom over them I raised.¹

FACE B, base

96 In my seventeenth year the Euphrates I crossed. To the land of Amanus I ascended. Logs
97 of cedar I cut. In my eighteenth year for the sixteenth time the Euphrates I crossed. HAZAEL
98 of Damascus to battle came. 1,221 of his chariots, 470 of his war-carriages with
99 his camp I took from him. In my nineteenth campaign for the eighteenth² time the Euphrates I crossed. To the land of Amanus
100 I ascended. Logs of cedar I cut. In my 2oth year for the 2oth time the Euphrates
________
1 Or, "I made."
2 The king counts his passage of the river on his return from Syria the seventeenth time of his crossing the Euphrates.

{p.35}

101 I crossed. To the land of Kahue I went down. Their cities I captured. Their spoil
102 I carried off. In my 21st campaign, for the 21st time the Euphrates I crossed. To the cities
103 of HAZAEL of Damascus I went. Four of his fortresses I took. The tribute of the Tyrians,
104 the Zidonians (and) the Gebalites I received. In my 22nd campaign for the 22nd time the Euphrates
105 I crossed. To the country of Tabalu¹ I went down. In those days (as regards) the 24
106 Kings of the country of Tabalu their wealth I received. To conquer
107 the mines of silver, of salt and of stone for sculpture I went. In my 23rd year
108 the Euphrates I crossed. The city of Uetas, his strong city,
109 (which belonged) to LALLA of the land of the Milidians I captured. The Kings of the country of Tabalu
110 had set out. Their tribute I received. In my 24th year, the lower Zab
111 I crossed. The land of Khalimmur I passed through. To the land of Zimru
112 I went down. YAN'SU King of the Zimri from the face
113 of my mighty weapons fled and to save his life
114 ascended (the mountains). The cities of 'Sikhisatakh, Bit-Tamul, Bit-Sacci
115 (and) Bit-Sedi, his strong cities, I captured. His fighting men I slew.
116 His spoil I carried away. The cities I threw down, dug up, (and) with fire burned.
117 The rest of them to the mountains ascended. The peaks of the mountains
118 I attacked, I captured. Their fighting men I slew. Their spoil (and) their goods
_______
1 The Tubal of the Old Testament and Tibareni of classical geographers.

{p.36}

119 I caused to be brought down. From the country of Zimru I departed. The tribute of 27 Kings
120 of the country of Par'sua¹ I received. From the country of Par'sua I departed. To
121 the strongholds of the country of the Amadai,² (and) the countries of Arazias (and) Kharkhar I went down.
122 The cities of Cua-cinda, Khazzanabi, Ermul,
123 (and) Cin-ablila with the cities which were dependent on them I captured. Their fighting men

FACE C, base

124 I slew. Their spoil I carried away. The cities I threw down, dug up (and) burned with fire. An image of my Majesty
125 in the country of Kharkhara I set up. YAN'SU son of KHABAN with his abundant treasures
126 his gods, his sons, his daughters, his soldiers in large numbers I carried off. To Assyria I brought (them). In my 25th campaign
127 the Euphrates at its flood I crossed. The tribute of the Kings of the Hittites, all of them, I received. The country of Amanus
128 I traversed. To the cities of Cati of the country of the Kahuians I descended. The city of Timur, his strong city,
129 I besieged, I captured. Their fighting men I slew. Its spoil I carried away. The cities to a countless number I threw down, dug up,
130 (and) burned with fire. On my return, the city of Muru, the strong city of ARAME the son of AGU'SI,
131 (as) a possession for myself I took. Its entrance-space I marked out. A palace, the seat of my Majesty, in the middle (of it) I founded.
132 In my 26th year for the seventh time the country of
__________
1 The Parthia of classical authors.
2 These seem to be the Madai or Medes of later inscriptions. This is the first notice that we have of them. It will be observed that they have not yet penetrated into Media but are still eastward of the Parthians.

{p.37}

the Amanus I traversed. For the fourth time to the cities of Cati
133 of the country of the Kahuians I went. The city of Tanacun, the strong city of TULCA I approached. Exceeding fear
134 of ASSUR my Lord overwhelmed him and (when) he had come out my feet he took. His hostages I took. Silver, gold,
135 iron, oxen, (and) sheep, (as) his tribute I received. From the city of Tanacun I departed. To the country of Lamena
136 I went. The men collected themselves. An inaccessible mountain they occupied. The peak of the mountain I assailed,
137 I took. Their fighting men I slew. Their spoil, their oxen, their sheep, from the midst of the mountain I brought down.
138 Their cities I threw down, dug up (and) burned with fire. To the city of Khazzi I went. My feet they took. Silver (and) gold,
139 their tribute, I received. CIRRI, the brother of CATI to the sovereignty over them
140 I set. On my return, to the country of Amanus I ascended. Beams of cedar I cut,
141 I removed, to my city Assur¹ I brought. In my 27th year the chariots of my armies I mustered. DAYAN-ASSUR
142 the Tartan,² the Commander of the wide-spreading army, at the head of my army to the country of Armenia I urged,
143 I sent. To Bit-Zamani he descended. Into the low ground of the city of Ammas he went down. The river Arzane he crossed.
144 'SEDURI of the country of the Armenians heard, and to the strength of his numerous host
__________
1 The Ellasar of Genesis, now Kalah Shergat.
2 Turlanu ("chief prince") in Assyrian.

{p.38}

145 he trusted; and to make conflict (and) battle against me he came. With him I fought.
146 A destruction of him I made. With the flower of his youth¹ his broad fields I filled. In my 28th year
147 when in the city of Calah I was stopping news had been brought (me, that) men of the Patinians
148 LUBARNI their Lord had slain (and) 'SURRI (who was) not heir to the throne to the kingdom had raised.
149 DAYAN-ASSUR the Tartan, the Commander of the widespreading army at the head of my host (and) my camp²
150 I urged, I sent. The Euphrates in its flood he crossed. In the city of Cinalua his royal city
151 a slaughter he made. (As for) 'SURRI the usurper, exceeding fear of ASSUR my Lord
152 overwhelmed him, and the death of his destiny he went.³ The men of the country of the Patinians from before the sight of my mighty weapons

FACE D, base

153 fled, and the children of 'SURRI together with the soldiers, the rebels, (whom) they had taken they delivered to me.
154 Those soldiers on stakes I fixed. 'SA'SITUR of the country of Uzza my feet took. To the kingdom
155 over them I placed (him). Silver, gold, lead, bronze, iron, (and) the horns of wild bulls to a countless number I received.
156 An image of my Majesty of great size I made. In the city of Cinalua his royal city in the temple of his gods I set it up. In
157 my 29th year (my) army (and) camp I urged, I sent.
__________
1 Or, "the chiefs of his young warriors."
2 The word properly means "baggage," and sometimes signifies "standard," which may be the translation here.
3 That is, he died as was fated.

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To the country of Cirkhi¹ I ascended. Their cities I threw down,
158 dug up, (and) burned with fire. Their country like a thunderstorm I swept. Exceeding
159 fear over them I cast. In my 30th year when in the city of Calah I was stopping, DAYAN-ASSUR
160 the Tartan, the Commander of the wide spreading army at the head of my army I urged, I sent. The river Zab
161 he crossed. To the midst of the cities of the city of Khupusca he approached. The tribute of DATANA
162 of the city of the Khupuscians I received. From the midst of the cities of the Khupuscians
163 I departed.² To the midst of the cities of Maggubbi of the country of the Madakhirians he approached. The tribute
164 I received. From the midst of the cities of the country of the Madakhirians he departed. To the midst of the cities of UDACI
165 of the country of the Mannians he approached. UDACI of the country of the Mannians from before the sight of my mighty weapons
166 fled, and the city of Zirta, his royal city, he abandoned. To save his life he ascended (the mountains).
167 After him I pursued. His oxen, his sheep, his spoil, to a countless amount I brought back. His cities
168 I threw down, dug up, (and) burned with fire. From the country of the Mannians³ he departed. To the cities of SULU'SUNU of the country of Kharru
169 he approached. The city of Mairsuru, his royal city, together with the cities which depended on it he captured. (To) SULU'SUNU
170 together with his sons mercy I granted. To his
________
1 The mountainous country near the sources of the Tigris.
2 That is, in the person of his Commander-in-chief, Dayan-Assur.
3 The modern Van.

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country I restored him. A payment (and) tribute of horses I imposed.
171 My yoke upon him I placed. To the city of Surdira he approached. The tribute of ARTA-IRRI
172 of the city of the Surdirians I received. To the country of Par'sua¹ I went down. The tribute of the Kings
173 of the country of Par'sua I received. (As for) the rest of the country of Par'sua which did not reverence ASSUR, its cities
174 I captured. Their spoil, their plunder to Assyria I brought. In my 31st year, the second time, the cyclical-feast
175 of ASSUR and RIMMON I had inaugurated.² At the time while I was stopping in the city of Calah, DAYAN-ASSUR
176 the Tartan, the Commander of my wide spreading army, at the head of my army (and) my camp I urged, I sent.
177 To the cities of Data of the country of Khupusca he approached. The tribute I received.
178 To the city of Zapparia, a stronghold of the country of Muzatsira, I went. The city of Zapparia together with
179 forty-six cities of the city of the Muzatsirians I captured. Up to the borders of the country of the Armenians
180 I went. Fifty of their cities I threw down, dug up (and) burned with fire. To the country of Guzani³ I went down. The tribute
181 of UPU of the country of the Guzanians, of the
__________
1 Parthia.
2 This refers to his assuming the eponymy a second time after completing a reign of 30 years. At this period the Assyrian kings assumed the eponymy on first ascending the throne, and the fact that Shalmaneser took the same office again in his 31st year shows that a cycle of thirty years was in existence.
3 The Gozan of the Old Testament.

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country of the Mannians, of the country of the Buririans, of the country of the Kharranians,¹
182 of the country of the Sasganians, of the country of the Andians,² (and) of the country of the Kharkhanians, oxen, sheep, (and) horses
183 trained to the yoke I received. To the cities of the country of .... I went down. The city of Perria
184 (and) the city of Sitivarya, its strongholds, together with 22 cities which depended upon it, I threw down, dug up
185 (and) burned with fire. Exceeding fear over them I cast. To the cities of the Parthians he went
186 The cities of Bustu, Sala-khamanu (and) Cini-khamanu, fortified towns, together with 23 cities
187 which depended upon them I captured. Their fighting-men I slew. Their spoil I carried off. To the country of Zimri I went down.
188 Exceeding fear of ASSUR (and) MERODACH over-whelmed them. Their cities they abandoned. To
189 inaccessible mountains they ascended. Two hundred and fifty of their cities I threw down, dug up (and) burned with fire.
190 Into the lowground of Sime'si at the head of the country of Khalman I went down.

THE EPIGRAPHS ACCOMPANYING THE SCULPTURES

i. The tribute of 'SU'A of the country of the Guzanians: silver, gold, lead, articles of bronze, sceptres for the King's hand, horses (and) camels with double backs: I received.
ii. The tribute of YAHUA³ son of KHUMRI:⁴ silver, gold, bowls of gold, vessels of gold, goblets of gold, pitchers of gold, lead, sceptres for the King's hand, (and) staves: I received.
_________
1 Haran or Harran in the Old Testament, called Carrhae by the classical geographers.
2 Andia was afterwards incorporated into Assyria by Sargon.
3 Jehu.
4 Omri.

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iii. The tribute of the country of Muzri:¹ camels with double backs, an ox of the river 'Saceya,² horses, wild asses, elephants, (and) apes: I received.
iv. The tribute of MERODACH-PAL-ITSTSAR of the country of the 'Sukhians:³ silver, gold, pitchers of gold, tusks of the wild bull, staves, antimony, garments of many colours, (and) linen; I received.
v. The tribute of GARPARUNDA of the country of the Patinians: silver, gold, lead, bronze, gums, articles of bronze, tusks of wild bulls, (and) ebony;⁴ I received.
_________
1 This is the Armenian Muzri, not Egypt.
2 This would seem from the sculpture to mean a rhinoceros. M. Lenormant, however, identifies it with the Yak.
3 Nomadic tribes in the south-west of Babylonia.
4 The word means literally "pieces of strong wood."

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TIGLATH-PILESER II
TRANSLATED BY
REV. J. M. RO DWELL, M.A.
RECTOR OF ST. ETHELBURGA, E.C.

TIGLATH-PILESER II was king of Assyria from BC 745 to BC 727. From the circumstance that no less than five Hebrew kings are mentioned in his annals, the greatest interest attaches to the fragments of his history which have come down to us. That they are only fragments is deeply to be regretted, especially, as will be seen from the translations given below, even these are in a deplorably mutilated and imperfect condition. The kings of Judah therein mentioned are Azariah and Jehoahaz (Ahaz); the Kings of Israel, Menahem, Pekah and Hoshea, with their cotemporaries Rezon of Damascus, Hiram of Tyre, and two queens of Arabia, previously unknown to history, Zabibi and Samsi. The title of {p.44} Rabshakeh mentioned by Isaiah occurs at line 66 of p. 67, vol. II of W. A. Inscr. as well as the name of Merodach Baladan mentioned by the same prophet, at line 19 of the Nimroud tablet. It need scarcely be added, that what has been thus providentially preserved, confirms the general accuracy of 2 Kings xv. especially which should be carefully compared with them.

The name Tiglath-Pileser or Tiglath-Pilneser probably means, according to Professor Schrader, (see his Keilinschriften, pp. 149-151,) who also identifies him with the Pul of Scripture, "He who puts his trust in Adar." The corruptions of this name since the time of the Septuagint translator who gives it as Θαλγαθφελλασαρ, by Greek Historians, are curious enough, viz., Thaglabanasar, Thagaphamasar, Thaglaphelladar and as a climax Thaglathphalnasar! The inscriptions of this monarch have been translated in full by Mr. G. Smith in his Assyrian Discoveries, pp. 254-287, and partially by M. Menant in his Annales des rois l'Assyrie, pp. 137-148.

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TIGLATH PILESER II
WAR WITH AZARIAH, KING OF JUDAH
ABOUT BC 739¹

1 ..... ²
2 ......  (in the) course of my expedition the tribute which ....
3 ..... (AZARI)AH of the land of Judah like ....
4 ..... AZARIAH³ of the land of Judah in ....
5 ..... without number to heaven were raised ....
6 ...... in their eyes like that which from heaven ....
7 ..... battle and to my yoke ....
8 .... of Assyria the great they heard and their heart feared .....
9 .... I pulled down, I razed ....
10 ..... (to AZARI)AH went over and strengthened him and ....
11 .... 
12 ..... in combat ....
13 ..... he closed his camp ....
14 .... placed and his going forth ....
I5 ..... he brought down and ....
16 .... his forces he marshalled up to ....
17 .... he caused them to be surrounded and ......
18 .... his great lake ....
____________
1 Inscriptions of Western Asia, vol. Ill, p. 9, No. 2.
2 Lacuna. The commencement of all the following lines is wanting.
3 Compare 2 King's xv. 17. Azariah is the same person as Uzziah who would therefore seem to have been known by both names. See a valuable note in Bagster's Comprehensive Bible, p. 434.

{p.46}

THE WAR OF TIGLATH PILESER IN SYRIA AND THE EAST
BC 738, 7. (Fragment No. 3.)

1 ....¹ then ....
2 .... (of) AZARIAH .... as a mighty conqueror
3 .... tribute like that of ....
4 .... as his alliance the city of Ma ....
5 .... the cities of Uznu, Sianu, Ma ... ka ... bu, near the sea as far as the cities of N .... (and) as far as the land of Saua.
6 The mountain which is in Lebanon obeyed me, the land of Bahalizephon as far as Ammana the land of Izku and Saua, throughout its whole extent, the district of Karanim
7 the city of Hatarika,² the district of Nuqudina, the land of Ha'za with the cities of the whole, the city of Ara .... their helpers,
8 the cities of their whole territory, the land of Sarbua, the entire mountain, the cities of Ashani and Yadabi and of Yaraqu the entire mountain,
9 the cities of ....ri, the cities of Illitarbi and Zitanu to the midst of the city Atinni .... Bumami nineteen districts.
10 belonging to the city of Hammatti³ together with the cities which were around them, which are beside the sea of the setting sun who in seditious rebellion to AZARIAH had gone over
11 to the boundaries of Assyria I added; my Civil Officers as Governors over them I appointed, .... 30,300 ...
___________
1 This fragment abounds with lacunae.
2 Hadrach.
3 Hamath.

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12 .... in their cities and the city of Ku ... I caused to capture. 1,223 men in the land of Alluba did I place. The people of Quru
13 .... I took the road. The people of Quru across the river Zab to the conquest of the Ahlamakkazi and the Gurumi ....
14 .... the Arumu¹ who were by the side of the river, their warriors they slew, their cities they took, their spoil they carried off ....
15 .... the Arameans came in numbers and .... set in order the battle array; the Arameans his supporters they slew ....
16 .... to save his life he fled away singly and went up to the city Birtu of Kinaya. The city of Saragitu ....
17 together with the cities of their environs they captured: 12,000 of their people as well as their children, their oxen, their sheep, ....
18 Dira .... to the land of the Hittites, to my presence they brought: my Viceroy, a man of Lullumi, the city of Mulugani ....
19 Kuridannitu belonging to the sons of Babylon, with the cities of their environs he captured, their warriors (he slew) ....
20 .... to the land of the Hittites to my presence they brought. My Viceroy, a man of the land of Nahiri, the city of Sabargillu
21 .... together with the cities of their environs, captured; their spoil he carried away. SIQUILA the Commander of the interior
22 .... to the land of the Hittites to my presence he brought. 600 women of the city of Amlate of the Damuni, 5,400 women of the city of Dur
______
1 Arameans.

{p.48}

23 in the city of Kunalie, .... the city of Huzarra, the city of Tae, the city of Tarmanazi, the city of Kulmadara, the city of Hatatirra, the city of Sagillu,
24 in the country of Unqui I placed .... women of the land of Gutie, of the land of Beth-sangibute, 1,200 men of Illilai, 6,208 of the tribes of Nakapai and Badai
25 .... (in) the city of Zimarra, the city of Arqae, the city of Uznu, the city of Ziannu which were on the seacoast I placed. 588 men of the Badai tribe and of the city of Dunai
26 .... 250 men of the Belai, 544 men of the Banitai, 380 men of Sidu-il-ziri, 460 men of Sagillu
27 .... men of the Illilai, 457 women of the land of Quti, and of the land of Beth-Sangibute in the district of the city of Tuhimmi I located; 555
28 women of Qutie and the city of Beth-sangabute in the city of Tul-garmi I placed; with the Assyrians I reckoned them; the performance of service like Assyrians
29 (I imposed upon them). The tribute of KUSTASPI of the city of Kummuhai, of RAZINU¹ of the land of Damascus,² of MINIHIMMI³ of the city Samirinai,⁴
30 of HIRUMMU⁵ of the city of Zurai,⁶ ISIBITTI BAHAL of the city Guplai,⁷ of URIKKI of the land of Quai, of PISIRIS of the city of Carchemish, of ENIEL
31 of the city of Hamath, PANAMMU Governor of the city of Samhalai, TARHULARA of the land of Gamgumai, SULUMAL of Militdai, DADILU
32 of the city of Kaskai, UASSURMI of the land of Tubalai, UHIDTI of the land of Tunai, URPALLA of the land of Tuhanai, TUHAMMI of the city of Istundai
33 URIMMI of the city of Husannai, ZABIBIE Queen of
_______
1 Rezin.
2 Syria.
3 Menahem.
4 Samaria.
5 Hiram.
6 Tyre.
7 Gebal.

{p.49}

the land of Aribi, gold, silver, lead, iron, skins of buffaloes, horn of buffaloes
34 vestments of wool and linen, tapestries of blue and purple, strong wood, wood for weapons, slave-girls, treasures of Royalty, the skins of sheep, their wool
35 of purple dye, birds of the sky, their wing-feathers of bright blue, horses, horses for the yoke of large size, oxen, sheep and droves of camels,
36 she camels together with their young ones I received. In the ninth year of my life ASSUR my Lord protected me and to the country of, etc., etc., etc.

The following fragment¹ refers to the Northern Campaigns.

1 .... The city of Histu, the city of Harabisina, the city of Barbaz, the city of Tusa, as far as the river Ulurus I captured, their warriors I slew, 8,650 persons
2 .... 300 horses for the yoke of large size, 660 asses, 1,350 oxen and 19,000 sheep I carried away; (the cities) I pulled down, razed and burned with fire,
3 (their territory) to the borders of Assyria I added. Those cities I built anew: people of the lands which my hands had acquired, I placed in the midst (of them)
4 .... in the midst I raised, and to province of Nairi I added. The cities of Daikansa, Sakka, Ippa, Elisansu,
5 .... Lugadangar, Quda, Elugia, Dania, Danziun, Ulai, Luqia, Abrania, Evasa
6 (I captured), their warriors I slew, 900 men, 150 oxen, 1000 sheep, horses, horses for the yoke of large size, and asses I carried off;
________
1 Inscriptions of Western Asia, p. 10, No. 1.

{p.50}

7 their cities I pulled down, razed and burned with fire. The people of the land of Muquani the marshalling of my expedition beheld, and the city Ura
8 which is in the midst of Muqun ....
9 their sons, their daughters, their families ....
10 I cut off, and in their land ....
11 horses, horses for carriages,
12 I pulled down, razed, burned with fire.
13 I captured and slew their warriors ....

{p.51}

Fragment No. 2¹

THE WAR IN PALESTINE

1 ....² the city of Hatarika³ as for the land of Saua
2 .... (the city) of Zimirra,⁴ the city of Arqa
3 .... the city of Uznu, (the city of Zihanu, the city of Ri)hanu, the city of Rihraba, the city of Rihisuzu,
4 .... the cities (on the coast of) the upper sea I mastered. Six officers
5 (as my Viceroys) over them I appointed ... Asbuna which is beside the upper sea,
6 the city Gaal ...⁵ ... Abil⁶ .... which is the boundary of the land of Humri⁷
7 .... the spacious, throughout its whole extent to the borders of Assyria I joined,
8 (my Officers) as Viceroys over them I appointed. HANUNU of the city of Ha'zata'i⁸
9 who before my arms had fled (and to the land) of Egypt escaped, (and) Gaza
10 (I captured:) ....  his furniture, his gods ... and a couch for My Majesty
11 .... within the palace .... the gods of their land I distributed and
12 .... I established .... and like a bird
13 .... to his land I brought him back.
14 .... gold, silver, vestments of wool and linen
__________
1 W. A. I., vol. Ill, p. 10.
2 Lacuna.
3 Hadrach.
4 Or land. Probably the Arkile and Zemarite mentioned in Gen. x. 17, 1 8 as Canaanite tribes. Both were to the West of Lebanon.
5 Gilead. Abel Beth-maacha.
7 Omri.
8 Gaza.

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15 .... great .... (I re)ceived. The land of Beth-Omri¹
16 .... the population .... the goods of its people
17 (and the furniture to) the land of Assyria I sent PAKAHA² their King they had slain . . . HUSIH³
18 to the kingdom over them I appointed. 10 talents of gold, 1000 of silver .... I received from them as their (tri)bute and
19 to the land of Assyria I sent. SAAMSI the Queen of the land of Aribu⁴ ....
20 .... men .... 30,000 camels, 20,000 oxen
21 .... 5,000 simi numerous images of her gods
22 .... her valuables I captured. To save her life
23 .... (fled) to Bazil an arid place, like an ass of the desert⁵ and ....⁶
__________
1 Samaria.
2 Pekah.
3 Hoshea.
4 Arabia.
5 Comp. Hosea viii. 9, "They are gone up to Assyria a wild ass alone by himself."
6 The remainder of the text is in too fragmentary a state to present any details of interest unless it be the fact that Tiglath-Pileser appointed an officer called Nigabuti in Egypt (Musri), 1.40. There was however a country N.E. of the Tigris which bore the same name. Norr. Dict. p. 671.

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EARLY HISTORY OF BABYLONIA
PART II
CONTINUED FROM VOLUME III¹
BY GEORGE SMITH

23 GA-SIN- ...²

This monarch is only known as the father of SIN-IDINNA.

24 SIN-I-DIN-NA-A, SIN-I-DIN-NA.

Sin-idinna, by the character of his legends is closely connected with Rim-agu.

INSCRIPTIONS OF SIN-IDINNA

³ " .... King of Bit .... his King, SIN-IDINNA the powerful man, son of GASIN .... nourisher of (c.)⁴ Ur, King of Larsa, King of Sumir and Akkad."
⁵ "SIN-IDINNA the powerful man, nourisher of (c.) Ur King of (c.) Larsa, King of Sumir and Akkad, who the old house to its place restored, in the throne of Larsa he was firmly established,
_______
1 P. 20.
2 The remainder of this King's name is wanting.
3 Cuneiform Inscriptions, vol. 1, p. 3, No. IX, from Senkereh.
4 This letter (c.) indicates that it is the proper name of a country, while (g.) that the name is that of a god.
5 Cuneiform Inscriptions, vol. 1, p. 5, No. XX, from Mugheir.

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powerful soldiers were committed to his hand; a delightful river, the river Kibigana, for the use of the country he excavated, perennial waters giving everlasting delight to his city and country, he has established. Ka-ne-nam-kar-ra-ma-ni (g.) UR eldest son of BEL marching before him in war, to intelligent ears he has proclaimed his glory. In (c.) Ur his renown is established, Bit-na-nun-na his delight to (g.) UR he built."

ON AN UNPUBLISHED CONE, FROM SENKEREH

"To (g.) SAMAS, the Lord establisher of life, the powerful head of heaven, the highest of the spirits, his King, SIN-IDINNA the powerful man, nourisher of (c.) Ur, King of (c.) Larsa King of Sumir and Akkad, Bit-parra for his preservation splendidly built he raised.

By command of (g.) UR and SAMAS in Bit-parra, and Bit-ner-gal Sin-idinna, for the glory of the spirits, festivals magnificently he celebrated."

At this time commences a series of dated tablets, which are of great interest, on account of the insight they give into the condition and history of Babylonia. These tablets, record sales and loans,¹ all are written in the Turanian language, but almost all the names are written phonetically in Semitic; they show us that the method of dating in the current years of the reigning sovereign was not then in use, the customary method on most tablets being to date from some particular event which happened in the year. A similar method of dating occurs in several passages in the Bible.²
_______
1 See Appendix B.
2 Compare Isaiah vi. i ; xiv. 28; and xx. i.

{p.55}

Some few tablets are dated in years of an era, and show us the earliest examples of the use of an era for chronological purposes.

One of these tablets in the reign of Sin-idinna has the following date: "(Month) Abu (in the year) when to (g.) Eri-ul-gar-ra (bit-)ganki he built and .... of gold Sin-idinna King of Larsa .... made."

25 NU-UR-VUL

Nur-vul rebuilt some of the temples at Ur, and his inscription was found near those of Kudur-mabuk and Ardu-sin. Although Nur-vul ruled after the capital was transferred from Ur to Larsa, the worship of Samas god of Larsa, had not yet advanced sufficiently to cause his name to be united with that of Ur on the contract tablets, from which I infer that Nur-vul ruled soon after the capital was changed.

INSCRIPTIONS OF NUR-VUL

¹ "To (g.) UR his King, NUR-VUL the powerful man, the ruler of (c.) Ur, King of Larsa, Bit-rubmah, Bit-minuni Bit-galzib to (g.) UR and (g.) NINGAL in (c.) Ur he built."

CHALDEAN CONTRACT TABLET OF THE REIGN OF NUR-VUL

This tablet is a lease of some land for eight years, at the price of 11 manehs of silver. The parties to the contract we are told, "By the name of (g.) UR and NUR-VUL the King swore." The date of the contract was in the "month Debitu in the year when a lofty throne with gold for (g.) SAMAS he decorated"
_______
1 Cuneiform Inscriptions, vol. 1, p. 2, No. IV, from Mugheir.

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26 AI ........

27 A-MAT-NIM ....

These are fragments of the names of the two predecessors of Sargon I.¹

28 SAR-GI-NA

Sargina I, or Sargon I, was one of the most celebrated of these ancient kings, and is often alluded to in the inscriptions. No original text of this reign is known, but we have two imperfect Assyrian copies of one of his inscriptions, part of which is printed in the Cuneiform Inscriptions:² a few new lines can now be added to this fragment, and part of the next column.

INSCRIPTION OF SARGON

³ "SARGINA the powerful King, King of Agade am I. My mother was enceint, my father knew not (of it). My father's brother oppressed the country. In the city of Azupirani, which by the side of the Euphrates is situated, she conceived me; my mother was enceinte, and in a grove brought me forth; she placed me in a cradle of wicker, with bitumen my exit she closed, and launched me on the river, which away from her carried me. The river to AKKI the Abal floated me, AKKI the Abal in tenderness of bowels lifted me; AKKI the Abal as his child brought me up; AKKI the Abal as his husbandman placed me, and in my husbandry ISHTAR prospered me ... 45 years, the kingdom I took. The people of the dark races I ruled,
_______
1 They are only known from the list printed in Cuneiform Inscriptions, vol. 2, p. 65.
2 Cuneiform Inscriptions, vol. 3, p. 4, No. VII.
3 Cuneiform Inscriptions, vol. 3, p. 4, No. VII.

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I .... over difficult countries, in chariots of bronze I rode. I governed the upper countries (I rule) the Kings of the Lower Countries, ....ti-ti-sal-lat I besieged a third time, ASMUN submitted DUR-AN-KI-GAL bowed ........ I destroyed and ...... When the King who arises after me in after (days) the people of the dark races (shall rule) over difficult countries in chariots of (bronze shall ride) shall govern the upper countries (and rule) the Kings of the Lower Countries ....ti-ti-sal-lat shall besiege the third time (ASMUN submitting) DUR-AN-KI-GAL bowing .... from my city Agane...."

This is evidently the text of an usurper, who pretends to be the son of a former monarch. There is a striking parallel between some points in this story, and the account in Exodus ii, of the concealment of the infant Moses. Sargon is often mentioned on the astrological and omen tablets, and an edition of those works was probably written in his reign. Many of the inscriptions on these tablets appear to belong to an earlier epoch, when the city of Ur was the national capital, but all these were incorporated with the tablets of Sargon and his son Naram-sin, and formed two great works, one on astrology or celestial omens, the other on terrestrial omens. He built a city called Dur-sargina, and we probably owe the preservation of this curious inscription, in which he states his early history, to the Assyrian king Sargon, who named himself after the earlier monarch, and also founded a city which is called Dur-sargina.

The further history of Sargon I, after he ascended the throne, is given on a tablet, which I did not discover until after the first part of this work had gone to press. This tablet, which is one of the most remarkable records in the {p.58} British Museum, gives the history of Sargon and of his son and successor Naram-sin; it is divided into fourteen paragraphs, by lines drawn across the tablet, each paragraph containing the account of one war or other celebrated event. At the head of every paragraph is a description of the omen from the Moon under which the work was undertaken, for the Babylonians never started on an expedition, or commenced any work without consulting the omens; and even the great king Nebuchadnezzar is recorded¹ to have done the same.

The first paragraph of the history of Sargon records a successful campaign in Elam, east of Babylonia, but Sargon does not appear to have met the Elamite monarch; the barbarous custom of mutilating the bodies of the enemy was practised by the Babylonians in this war.

The second division records a campaign in Syria, in which the king was again successful. It appears from the statement in this paragraph, that the kiprat arba, or four races, were in Syria, and that the title "King of the four races" indicated supremacy over Syria. This name "kiprat arba" was probably given to the Syrians on account of there being four races or principal states in that region. A similar division is given in Genesis x, 23, where Aram (Syria) has four sons or divisions, Uz, Hul, Gether, and Mash, corresponding with the four races of the Babylonian inscriptions.

The third clause relates the subjugation of all Babylonia, and the foundation of the new capital city Agane, which Sargon peopled with the conquered races.

The fourth and fifth paragraphs relate to campaigns in Syria; both are unfortunately much mutilated.

The sixth division is too mutilated to make much out of it; it may refer to a former period of the history.

The seventh clause records the greatest campaign of the
______
1 Ezekiel xxi. 21, 22.

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reign, it occupied three years, and in it Sargon penetrated to the sea of the setting sun (the Mediterranean); here he conquered the country, and set up memorial statues in commemoration of his triumph. At the close of this expedition, the spoil of these distant regions was carried in triumph to Babylonia.

The eighth division records the enlargement of the palace of Agani by Sargon, who named it Ekiam-izillik.

The ninth paragraph gives an account of the revolt of Kas-tu-bi-li of Ka-zal-la. Sargon made an expedition to Kazalla, and wasted the country with fire and sword.

In the next division we find a change of fortune, Sargon, who had carried his arms from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean, was now closely besieged in his own capital Agani, but he made a sally with his army, and, attacking the surrounding hosts, defeated them and obliged them to raise the siege and retire with the loss of their baggage. The besieging host is called by the name mak-kaka-bi, which I conjecturally read Kaldi or Chaldeans, but the meaning of the expression I should rather think to be "all countries."

The tenth paragraph shows Sargon resuming his career of conquest; he now attacked the kingdom of Subartu and conquered it; he occupied their territory, destroyed their army, and finally entered his capital Akkad with the spoil. The history of the reign of Sargon now closes, and the rest of this important inscription relates to the exploits of his son and successor Naram-sin.

The following is a translation of the inscription, omitting the astrological omens, several of which are imperfect, and all of them difficult,

1 "When the moon," &c., &c.¹ An omen for Sargina, who at this position
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1 The astronomical indications are omitted, not being required for historical information.

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2 to Elam marched, and the Elamites destroyed,
3 their overthrow he accomplished their limbs he cut off.
4 When the moon, &c., &c.
5 An omen for SARGINA, who to Syria marched and
6 the Syrians destroyed; the four races his hand conquered.
7 When the moon, &c., &c.
8 An omen for SARGINA, who at this position the whole of Babylonia subdued, and
9 the dust of the spoil of Babduna removed and
10 ... (c.) Akkad the city he built .....ki its name he proclaimed ...
11 .... in the midst he placed.
12 (When the moon), &c., &c.
13 &c. (An omen for SARGI-)NA, who at this position to Syria
14 (marched, and the) four races his hand conquered.
15 (When the moon), &c., &c.
16 (An omen for SARGINA, who at this position to) Syria marched, and
17 .....his ..... his leaders
18 ...... in the gate of his rising.
19 (When the moon), &c., &c. (An omen for SARGI)NA, who at this position
20 .....rz his left hand? .... ISTAR ....
21 ..... caused him to conquer; to the front his.
22 (When the moon), &c., &c. An omen for SARGINA, who at this position
23 ..... arose, and an equal or rival had not, his forces over

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24 (the countries of) the sea of the setting sun he crossed, and in the third year at the setting sun
25 .... his hand conquered, under one command he caused them to be only fixed, his image at the setting sun
26 he set up, their spoil in the countries of the sea he made to cross.
27 (When the moon), &c., &c.
28 (An omen) for SARGINA, who his palace padi five bathu enlarged
29 ... chief of the people established and Ekiam-izallak he called it ....
30 When the moon, &c., &c.
31 &c. The same. KASTU-BILA of Kazalla revolted against him; and to Kazalla
32 he marched, and their men he fought against, their overthrow he accomplished,
33 their great army he destroyed; Kazalla to mounds and ruins he reduced,
34 the nests of the birds he swept away.
35 When the moon, &c., &c,
36 &c. An omen for SARGINA, of whom at this position,
37 the elders of the people revolted against him, and in Akkad surrounded him, and
38 SARGINA came out and their men he fought against, their overthrow he accomplished.

REVERSE

1 their great army he destroyed.
2 the encampment he broke through.
3 When the moon, &c., &c.
4 &c. &c.

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5 An omen for SARGINA, who at this position
6 Subarti in its strength its people to the sword he subdued, and
7 SARGINA their seats caused to occupy, and
8 their men he fought against, their overthrow he accomplished, their great army
9 ... the spoil he collected, into (c.) Akkad he caused to enter.
10 When the moon, &c., &c.
11 &c. An omen for NARAM-SIN,
12 who at this position to (c.) Apirak marched, and
13 ..... ip-lu-su RIS-VUL King of (c.) Apirak
14 ...... and (c.) Apirak his hand conquered.
15 When the moon, &c., &c.
16 &c. An omen for NARAM-SIN, who at this position
17 (to Ma-)ganna marched, and Maganna he captured, and
18 .... King of Maganna his hand conquered.
19 .... seven and one-half to after him ...
20 .... may they not gather i-ba

The tablet contains at the end a colophon, which states that it is a copy made by order of a king of Assyria, whose name is lost by a fracture.

Sargon, who was one of the most memorable of the early kings of Babylonia, was a great builder, as well as a warrior; besides the rebuilding of his palace at Akkad, which is mentioned in this tablet, he also built a great temple at Akkad, dedicated to the goddess Anunit. The site of the city of Akkad has not yet been discovered, so at present we are not acquainted with the ruins of Sargon's buildings, but an {p.63} account of the temple of Anunit is found in an inscription of Nabonidus, the last native king of Babylon: his statement is as follows:¹

"(The memorial cylinders) of BITULMAS of (c.) Akkad from the time of (SAR-GINA) King of (c.) Babylon and NARAM-SIN his son the very ancient kings, to the time of NABU-NAHID King of (c.) Babylon were not seen."

29 NA-RA-AM-SIN, NA-RAM-SIN

Naram-sin the son and successor of Sargon is mentioned in the two last inscriptions. He appears by the historical tablet to have continued the conquests of his father, subjugating the kingdom of Apirak and afterwards that of Maganna. The name of the conquered king of Apirak is Ris-vul, which is Babylonian, and leads to the inference that Apirak was in or near Babylonia. Among the cities of Babylonia, the nearest name to Apirak is Karrak, which we know to have been a capital at this time. The reading Karrak is not quite certain, as the first character kar, is a polyphone, so that the name may possibly be Apirak. Maganna was the most ancient cuneiform name of Egypt, and the conquest of this country might lead us to suspect that Naram-sin invaded Egypt: hence the loss of the name of the conquered king of Maganna is a misfortune; but there may have been another country called Magan, nearer to Babylonia, in the same way that in later times there were two countries named Muzur. There is an inscription of Naram-sin on a vase which was discovered by M. Fresnel at Babylon, and since lost in the Tigris; the inscription² reads, "NARAMSIN King of the four races, conqueror of Apirak and Magan." A large omen tablet which was composed
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1 Cuneiform Inscriptions, vol. 1, p. 69, col. 2, lines 29-32.
2 Cuneiform Inscriptions, vol.1, p. 3, no. VII.

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during this reign has, with reference to one omen, the notice that it was "good" or "lucky for NARAM-SIN."

Another fragment of an inscription¹ which gives the names of some of the Babylonian-kings, does not contain the name of Naram-sin the successor of Sargon, but I attribute this to the imperfect state of the fragment

30 ELLAT-GULA

Ellat-gula was a queen, she probably succeeded Naram-sin and was the last of the dynasty of Sargon. Nothing is known of her reign, and at its close, Hammurabi a foreign prince, who was perhaps related to her by marriage, succeeded to her throne.

The history must now travel again to the south of the country which was ruled at this time by Rim-agu, the last native monarch.

31 RI-IM-AGU

Rim-agu was the son of Kudurmabuk; he was made King of (c.) Larsa during his father's lifetime. Extensive remains of buildings erected by Rim-agu have been discovered, and in his inscriptions he claims to have restored many of the national temples,

INSCRIPTIONS OF RIM-AGU

² "RIM-AGU the powerful man, the high Ruler, established by (g.) BEL nourisher of (c.) Ur, King of (c.) Larsa, King of Sumir and Akkad, son of KUDUR-MABUK the Lord of Elam, (c.) Ur the great he embellished, its he established, (g.) UR my King blessed me, the great wall of Harris-galla to prevent invasion, its circuit I raised I built, the city I encircled, the great tower of (g.) UR strongly I constructed."
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1 Cuneiform Inscriptions, vol. 2, p. 65.
2 Cuneiform Inscriptions, vol. 1, p. 5, No. XVI, from Mugheir.

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ON AN UNPUBLISHED CONE

"(g.) UR Lord of spirits and angels .... my King RIM-AGU nourisher of the temple, head Ruler of Bit-nergal the renowned man, Lord of Bit-parra, mizkin of ancient (c.) Eridu, who the religious festivals keeps, Bit-hansa of (c.) Zirgulla its site he restored, its great ramparts his hands made, UR and SAMAS .... to their places he restored. The Prince his begetter Bit-sarna for his life established .... in the service of his Lord who marches before him, for the preservation of his life he built his house, also he restored its site, and the four houses of Saggal, for his preservation and the preservation of KUDUR-MABUK the father his begetter, the house with rejoicing Bit-tingal he built, a statue before the house he...."

"To (g.) NIN .... bil gal-lu dub-ba ram-e ki-ka-de zi-gal-zu luh-mah lib-ka-va¹ great god his command si-ku-du his King, RIM-AGU ruler of the lordship of (c.) Nipur mizkin of ancient (c.) Eridu, nourisher of (c.) Ur and Bit-uddaimtiz, King of (c.) Larsa, King of Sumir and Akkad, worshipper of (g.) ANU (g.) BEL and (g.) HEA, the great gods- who the ancient city of Uruk into my hands have given.

To NIN-.... my King, exalter of my right hand, Bit-daram-semu the sanctuary of his delight, for my preservation I built"

Besides this inscription there are several tablets dated in
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1 The interpretation being very difficult and doubtful, the whole passage is here transliterated.

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the reign of Rim-agu, which give us some notice of the events of his reign. Probably the earliest of these are the tablets dated in the year of the fall of Karrak. One of these has upon it part of the name of Rim-agu. Now this cit