RECORDS OF THE PAST

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BEING
ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS
OF THE
ASSYRIAN AND EGYPTIAN MONUMENTS

PUBLISHED UNDER THE SANCTION
OF
THE SOCIETY OF BIBLICAL ARCHAEOLOGY
 

VOLUME NINE:

ASSYRIAN TEXTS

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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

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PREFACE

THE present volume, which in accordance with the plan of the "RECORDS OF THE PAST" is dedicated to translations from the Assyrian and Babylonian, will be found to contain several texts rendered from these languages by additional translators. As the work attracted European notice, it was at once perceived to be available for bringing into notice the most important texts and the translations of foreign scholars, and a considerable portion of the present volume will be found due to them. Dr. Oppert, whose early and successful researches place him in the first rank of Assyrian scholars, has contributed no less than three long translations, one in conjunction with M. Menant, who was formerly associated with him in his labours. Amongst the English translators may be cited Mr. Boscawen, and Mr. Pinches, of the young and rising school of Assyriology in this country, who has each contributed translations; and there is in the present volume one from the late Mr. George Smith, which he unfortunately did not live long enough to revise. The principal historical texts will be found comprised in the "RECORDS OF THE PAST," and the materials supplied for those who desire to use them, either for the purposes of general history or a comparison with the contemporary events of sacred or profane history. In fact they offer a new {p.ii} account of the events which took place in Western Asia, and must be considered as the authentic narrative of the annals of Babylonia and Assyria, compiled by contemporary writers under official supervision, and not traditions collected by foreigners imperfectly acquainted with the language of the countries whose history they narrated. Besides the historical texts, the mythological inscriptions reveal the subjective portion of these early religions hitherto not known, except by the names of a few gods who played an important part in them. The strange and weird tales, revealed for the first time to the modern mind, come upon it with all the attractions of a romance and the interest of early folklore ; for although novels or works of imagination have not been found, the legends recently discovered, whatever interpretation may be assigned to their object, have the greatest analogy with oriental epic, and that golden thread of traditional beginning which runs through the circle of mankind. In this volume will be found a translation of the Phoenician inscription on the sarcophagus of Esmunazar by Dr. Oppert. There are amongst the extant inscriptions a few which ought to enter into the Records, and this is one of them, but there has always been a difficulty about obtaining translations, partly owing, in some instances, to the imperfections of texts. It is to be hoped, however, that the inscription of Dhiban will enter into the series before the work closes.

S. BIRCH
2yd July, 1877.

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GREAT INSCRIPTION IN THE PALACE OF KHORSABAD
TRANSLATED BY
PROF. DR. JULIUS OPPERT.

THE document of which I publish a translation has been copied with admirable precision by M. Botta in his Monuments de Ninive. There are four specimens of this same text in the Assyrian palace, which bear the title of Inscriptions of the Halls, nos. iv, vii, viii, and x.

There is another historical document in the palace of Khorsabad containing more minute particulars, and classed in a chronological order, which I translated in my Dur-Sarkayan, 1870, and in the Records of the Past, vol. VII.

The several copies of this document have been united in one sole text in a work which I published in common with M. Menant in the Journal Asiatique, 1863.

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I published my translation of the "Great Inscriptions of Khorsabad," in the Annales de Philosophic Chretienne, July and August, 1862, tom. V. (New Series), p. 62; then in my Inscriptions des Sargonides, p. 20, 1862. The same text was inserted in the work which I edited in communion with my friend M. Joachim Menant, entitled La Grande Inscription des Salles de Khorsabad, Journal Asiatique, 1863. Some passages have been since corrected by me in my Dur-Sarkayan, Paris, 1870, in the great work of M. Victor Place, and these corrections have been totally admitted by M. Menant in a translation which he has given in his book, Annales des Rois l'Assyrie, Paris, 1874, p. 180. As the reader may easily convince himself in collating it with my previous attempts, this present translation is now amended according to the exigencies of the progressing science of Assyriology, as it is now understood.

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GREAT INSCRIPTION OF THE PALACE OF KHORSABAD

1 PALACE of SARGON, the great King, the powerful King, King of the legions, King of Assyria, Viceroy of the gods at Babylon, King of the Sumers and of the Accads, favourite of the great gods.
2 The gods ASSUR, NEBO, and MERODACH have conferred on me the royalty of the nations, and they have propagated the memory of my fortunate name to the ends of the earth. I have followed the reformed precepts of Sippara, Nipur, Babylon, and Borsippa; I have amended the imperfections which the men of all laws had admitted.
3 I have reunited the dominions of Kalu, Ur, Orchoe,¹ Erikhi, Larsa,² Kullab, Kisik, the dwelling-place of the god LAGUDA; I have subdued their inhabitants. As to the laws of Sumer² and of the town of Harran, which had fallen into desuetude from the most ancient times, I have restored to fresh vigour their forgotten customs.
4 The great gods have made me happy by the constancy
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1 Orchoe, the Erech of the Bible, is certainly the Warka of the present day; Sippara, Sofeira; Nipur, Niffar; Larsam, Senkereh. Ur (the Ur of the Bible) is Mug-heir; Kullab and Erikhi are unknown. (See Exped. en Mesopot. I. p. 255, et. seq.
2 The old empire Bal-bat-ki. The syllabaries explain this ideogram by "Assur," but it is very awkward that in these texts, the identification with Assur occurs nowhere. I therefore transcribe Sumer, which was the true name of the people and the language named wrongly Accadian. The term of Sumerian is supported by MM. Menant, Eneberg, Gelzer, Praetorius, Delitzsch, Olshausen, and other scholars.

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of their affection, they have granted me the exercise of my sovereignty over all Kings; they have re-established obedience upon them all. From the day of my accession there existed no princes who were my masters; I have not, in combats or battles, seen my victor. I have crushed the territories of the rebels like straws, and I have struck them with the plagues of the four elements. I have opened innumerable deep and very extensive forests, I have levelled their inequalities. I have traversed winding and thick valleys, which were impenetrable, like a needle, and I passed in digging tanks dug on my way.
5 By the grace and power of the great gods, my Masters, I have flung my arms; by my force I have defeated my enemies. I have ruled from Iatnan,¹ which is in the middle of the sea of the setting sun, to the frontiers of Egypt and of the country of the Moschians, over vast Phoenicia, the whole of Syria, the whole of gutimuski² of distant Media, near the country of Bikni, to the country of Ellip, from Ras which borders upon Elam, to the banks of the Tigris, to the tribes of Itu, Rubu, Haril, Kaldud, Hauran, Ubul, Ruhua, of the Litai who dwell on the borders of the Surappi and the Ukne, Gambul, Khindar, and Pukud.³ I have reigned over the suti hunters who are in the territory of latbur, in whatever it was as far as the towns of Samhun, Bab-Dur, Dur-Tilit, Khilikh, Pillat, Dunni-Samas, Bubi, Tell-Khumba, which are in the dependency of Elam,⁴ and
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1 Itanus, or Yatnan, in the Island of Crete, became afterwards the name of the Island of Cyprus.
2 For the words in italics no satisfactory translation has as yet been found.
3 The Pekod of the Bible (Jer. i. 21; Ezek. xxiii. 23).
4 Which belongs to Elam.

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Kar-duniyas¹ Upper and Lower, of the countries of Bit-Amukkan, Bit-Dakkur, Bit-Silan, Bit-Sa'alla, which together form Chaldea in its totality, over the country of Bit-Iakin, which is on the sea shore, as far as the frontier of Dilmun. I have received their tributes, I have established my Lieutenants over them as Governors, and I have reduced them under my suzerainty.
6 This is what I did from the beginning of my reign to my fifteenth year of reign: I defeated KHUMBANIGAS, King of Elam, in the plains of Kalu.
7 I besieged and occupied the town of Samaria, and took 27,280 of its inhabitants captive. I took from them 50 chariots, but left them the rest of their belongings. I placed my Lieutenants over them; I renewed the obligation imposed upon them by one of the Kings who preceded me.²
8 HANUN, King of Gaza, and SEBECH, Sultan³ of Egypt, allied themselves at Rapih⁴ to oppose me, and fight against me ; they came before me, I put them to flight. SEBECH yielded before my cohorts, he fled, and no one has ever seen any trace of him since. I took with my own hand HANUN, King of Gaza.
9 I imposed a tribute on PHARAOH, King of Egypt, SAMSIE, Queen of Arabia, IT-AMAR, the Sabean, of gold, sweet smelling herbs of the land, horses, and camels.
10 KIAKKU of Sinukhta had despised the god ASSUR, and refused submission to him. I took him prisoner, and seized his 30 chariots and 7350 of his soldiers. I gave
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1 Lower Chaldea. Nearly all the names of the Elamite towns are Semitic (see Gen. x. 22), but the Susian ones are not.
2 Tiglatpileser, whom Sargon would not acknowledge.
3 This is the word siltan, the Hebrew shilton, "power," the Arabic sultan.
4 Raphia, near the frontiers of Egypt.

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Sinuhta, the town of his royalty, to MATTI from the country of Tuna, I added some horses and asses to the former tribute and appointed MATTI as Governor.
11 AMRIS of Tabal, had been placed upon the throne of KHULLI his father; I gave to him a daughter and I gave him Cilicia¹ which had never submitted to his ancestors. But he did not keep the treaty and sent his ambassador to URZAHA, King of Armenia, and to MITA, King of the Moschians, who had seized my provinces. I transported AMRIS to Assyria, with his belongings, the members of his ancestors' families, and the magnates of the country, as well as 100 chariots; I established some Assyrians, devoted to my government, in their places. I appointed my Lieutenant Governor over them, and commanded tributes to be levied upon them.
12 JAUBID of Hamath, a smith,² was not the legitimate master of the throne, he was an infidel and an impious man, and he had coveted the royalty of Hamath. He incited the towns of Arpad, Simyra, Damascus, and Samaria to rise against me, took his precautions with each of them, and prepared for battle. I counted all the troops of the god ASSUR; in the town of Karkar which had declared itself for the rebel, I besieged him and his warriors, I occupied Karkar and reduced it to ashes. I took him, himself, and had him flayed, and I killed the chief of the rioters in each town, and reduced them to a heap of ruins. I recruited my forces with 200 chariots and 600 horsemen from among the inhabitants of the country of Hamath and added them to my empire.
13 Whilst IRANZU of Van³ lived, he was subservient and devoted to my rule, but fate removed him. His subjects
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1 Khilakku. It seems to be identical with the Sparda of Persian, the Sepharad of Obadiah.
2 The condition of Jaubid before his accession.
3 Or Minni.

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placed his son AZA on the throne. URZAHA the Armenian intrigued with the people of Mount Mildis, Zikirta, Misiandi, with the nobles of Van, and enticed them to rebellion; they threw the body of their Master AZA on the top of the mountains. ULLUSUN of Van, his brother, whom they had placed on his father's throne, did homage to URZAHA, and gave him 22 fortresses with their garrisons. In the anger of my heart I counted all the armies of the god ASSUR, I watched like a lion in ambush and advanced to attack these countries. ULLUSUN of Van saw my expedition approaching, he set out with his troops and took up a strong position in the ravines of the high mountains. I occupied Izirti the town of his royalty, and the towns of Izibia and Armit, his formidable fortresses, I reduced them to ashes. I killed all that belonged to URZAHA the Armenian, in these high mountains. I took with my own hand 250 royal members of his family. I occupied 55 royal towns of which 8 were ordinary towns and 11 impregnable fortresses. I reduced them to ashes. I incorporated the 22 strong towns, that ULLUSUN of Van had delivered to him with Assyria. I occupied 8 strong cities of the country of Tuaya and the districts of Tilusina of Andia; 4,200 men, with their belongings were carried away into slavery.
14 MITATTI, of Zikirta, had secured himself against my arms; he and the men of his country had fled into the forests; no trace of them was to be seen. I reduced Parda, the town of his royalty to ashes; I occupied twenty-three great towns in the environs, and I spoiled them. The cities of Suandakhul and Zurzukka, of the country of Van, took the part of MITATTI; I occupied and pillaged them. Then I took BAGADATTI of the Mount Mildis, and I had him flayed. I banished DAYAUKKU and his suite to Hamath, and I made them dwell there.

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15 Then ULLUSUN heard in his high mountains of my glorious exploits; he departed in haste like a bird, and kissed my feet; I pardoned his innumerable misdeeds, and I blotted out his iniquities. I granted pardon to him; I replaced him upon the throne of his royalty. I gave him the two fortresses and the 22 great towns that I had taken away from URZAHA and MITATTI. I endeavoured to restore peace to his country. I made the image of my Majesty: I wrote on it the glory of the god ASSUR, my Master, I erected many fac-similes of it in Izirti, the town of his royalty.
16 I imposed a tribute of horses, oxen and lambs upon IANZU, King of the river country, in Hupuskia, the town of his power.
17 ASSURLIH, of Kar-Alla, ITTI, of Allapur, had sinned against ASSUR and despised his power. I had ASSURLIH flayed. I banished the men of Kar-Alla, whoever they were, and ITTI, with his suite, I placed them in Hamath.
18 I took the inhabitants of the towns of Sukkia, Bala, Ahitikna, Pappa,¹ Lallukni away from their homes; I made them dwell at Damascus in Syria.
19 I occupied the 6 towns of the country of Niksamma, I took with my own hand NIRISAR, Governor of the town of Surgadia; I added these towns to the satrapy of Parsuas.²
20 BEL-SAR-USUR³ was King of the town of Kisisim; I had him transported to Assyria with all that he possessed, his treasure, the contents of his palace; I put my Lieutenant in as Governor of the town, to which I gave the name of Kar-Marduk. I had an image made of my Majesty and erected it in the middle of the town.
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1 It seems not to be Paphos.
2 Parthia.(?)
3 The same name as Belshazzar.

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I occupied 6 towns in the neighbourhood and I added them to his government.
21 I attacked and conquered KIBABA, Prefect of the town of Kharkhar, I took him and the inhabitants of his country captive, I rebuilt this city and made the inhabitants of the provinces, that my arm had conquered, live there. I placed my Lieutenant as Governor over them. I named the town Kar-Sarkin; I established the worship of the god ASSUR, my Master, there. I erected an image of my Royal self. I occupied 6 towns in the environs, and added them to his government.
22 I besieged and took the towns of Tel-Akhi-tub, Khindau, Bagai, and Anzaria; I transported the inhabitants of them to Assyria. I rebuilt them; I gave them the names of Kar-Nabu, Kar-Sin, Kar-Ben, Kar-Istar.
23 To maintain my position in Media, I have erected fortifications in the neighbourhood of Kar-Sarkin. I occupied 34 towns in Media and annexed them to Assyria and I levied annual tributes of horses upon them.
24 I besieged and took the town of Eristana, and the surrounding towns in the country of Bait-Ili; I carried away the spoil.
25 The countries of Agag¹ and Ambanda,² in Media, opposite the Arabs of the East, had refused their tributes, I destroyed them, laid them waste, and burnt them by fire.
26 DALTA of Ellip, was subject to me, and devoted to the worship of ASSUR; 5 of his towns revolted and no longer recognized his dominion. I came to his aid, I besieged and occupied these towns, I carried the men and their goods away into Assyria with numberless horses.
27 URZANA, of the town of Musasir, had attached himself to URZAHA the Armenian, and had refused me his allegiance.
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1 This Agag is very possibly the country of Haman the Agagite, if we must not read Agaz.
2 Ambanda is perhaps the Median Kampanda.

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With the multitude of my army, I covered the city of Musasir as if it were with ravens, and he to save his life, fled alone into the mountains.
28 I entered as a Ruler into Musasir. I seized as spoil URZANA'S wife, sons and daughters, his money, his treasures, all the stores of his palace whatever they were, with 20,100 men and all that they possessed, the gods HALDIA and BAGABARTA, his gods, and their holy vessels in great numbers.
29 URZAHA, King of Armenia, heard of the defeat of Musasir and the carrying away of the god HALDIA¹ his god, he cut off his life by his own hands with a dagger of his girdle. I held a severe judgment over the whole of Armenia. I spread over the men, who inhabit this country, mourning and lamentation.
30 TARHUNAZI, of the town of Melid, sought for revenge. He sinned against the laws of the great gods, and refused his submission. In the anger of my heart, I crushed like briars Melid, which was the town of his kingdom, and the neighbouring towns. I made him, his wife, sons and daughters, the slaves of his palace whoever they were, with 5000 warriors, leave Tel-Garimmi; I treated them all as booty. I rebuilt Tel-Garimmi; I had it entirely occupied by some archers from the country of Khammanua, which my hand had conquered, and I added it to the boundaries of this country. I put it in the hands of my Lieutenant, and I restituted the surface of the dominion, as it had been in the time of GUNZINAN, the preceding King.
31 TARHULAR, of Gamgum, had a son MUTTALLU, who had murdered his father by the arms, and sat on the
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1 We find in the inscriptions of Van, the god Haldi as god of the Armenians, which proves more forcibly than ever that the syllabary of the Armenian inscriptions is the same as the Assyrian syllabary.

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throne against my will, and to whom they had entrusted their country. In the anger of my heart, I hastily marched against the town of Markasi, with my chariots and horsemen, who followed on my steps. I treated MUTTALLU, his son and the families of the country of Bit-Pa'alla in its totality, as captives, and seized as booty the gold and silver and the numberless treasures of his palace. I reinstated the men of Gamgum and the neighbouring tribes, and placed my Lieutenant as Governor over them; I treated them like the Assyrians.
32 AZURI, King of Ashdod,¹ determined within himself to render no more tributes; he sent hostile messages against Assyria to the neighbouring Kings. I meditated vengeance for this, and I withdrew from him the government over his country. I put his brother AKHIMIT on his throne. But the people of Syria, eager for revolt, got tired of AKHIMIT'S rule, and installed IAMAN. who like the former, was not the legitimate master of the throne. In the anger of my heart, I did not assemble the bulk of my army nor divide my baggage, but I marched against Ashdod with my warriors, who did not leave the trace of my feet.
33 IAMAN learnt from afar of the approach of my expedition; he fled beyond Egypt towards Libya (Meluhhi),² and no one ever saw any further trace of him. I besieged and took Ashdod and the town of Gimtu-Asdudim;³ I carried away captive IAMAN'S gods, his wife, his sons, his daughters, his money and the contents of his palace, together with the inhabitants of his country. I built these towns anew and placed in them the men that my arm had conquered.
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1 See Isaiah xx. i.
2 Meluhhi is not Meroe, but Libya, and especially the Marmarica. The name seems to be the Milyes of Herodotus.
3 Asdudim seems to be an Hebraic plural.

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34 I placed my Lieutenant as Governor over them, and I treated them as Assyrians. They never again became guilty of impiety.
35 The King of Libya¹ lives in the middle of the desert, in an inaccessible place, at (a month's) journey. From the most remote times until the renewal of the lunar period² his fathers had sent no ambassadors to the Kings, my ancestors, to ask for peace and friendship and to acknowledge the power of MERODACH. But the immense terror inspired by my Majesty roused him, and fear changed his intentions. In fetters of iron he threw him (IAMAN), directed his steps towards Assyria and kissed my feet.
36 MUTTALLU, of Commagene, a fraudulent and hostile man, did not honour the memory of the gods, he plotted a conspiracy, and meditated defection. He trusted upon ARGISTI,³ King of Armenia, an helper who did not assist him, took upon himself the collection of the tributes and his part of the spoil, and refused me his submission. In the anger of my heart, I took the road to his country with the chariots of my power, and the horsemen who never left the traces of my feet. MUTTALLU saw the approach of my expedition, he withdrew his troops, and no one saw any further trace of him. I besieged and occupied his
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1 Meluhhi. This is the only passage, where small gaps occur.
2 This is one of the most important passages of the text; the period is the Chaldean eclipse period of 1805 years, and ended in 712 BC. Instead of this passage, the Stele of Larnaca, now in Berlin, has: "from the remotest times, the beginning of Assyria, until now." The commencement of the period, 2517 BC, coincided very nearly with the capture of Babylon by the Medes. This date commences the real history ; previous to this time reigned the 86 princes during twelve lunar periods of 1805, and twelve solar periods of 1460 years, viz., 39,180 years. The very event may have happened 11 years afterward, 2506 BC. The deluge happened, according to the Chaldeans, in 41,697 BC.
3 This royal name is still found in the Armenian texts of Van.

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capital and 62 large towns all together. I carried away his wife, his sons, his daughters, his money, his treasure, all precious things from his palace, together with the inhabitants of his country as spoil, I left none of them. I inaugurated this town afresh; I placed in it men from the country of Bit-Iakin, that my arm had conquered. I instituted my Lieutenant as Governor, and subdued them under my rule. I previously took from them 150 chariots, 1500 horsemen, 20,000 archers, 1000 men armed with shields and lances, and I confided the country to my Satrap.
37 Whilst DALTA, King of Ellip lived, he was submissive and devoted to my rule, the infirmities of age however came and he walked on the path of death. NIBIE and ISPABARA, the sons of his wives, claimed both the vacant throne of his royalty, the country and the taxes, and they fought a battle. NIBIE applied to SUTRUK-NAKHUNTI¹ King of Elam to support his claims, giving to him pledges for his alliance, and the other came as a helper. ISPA-BARA, on his side, implored me to maintain his cause, and to encourage him, at the same time bowing down, and humbling himself, and asking my alliance. I sent seven of my Lieutenants with their armies to support his claims, they put NIBIE and the army of the four rivers,² which had helped him, to flight, at the town of Mareobisti. I reinstated ISPABARA on the throne; I re-established peace in his country, and confided it to his care.
38 MERODACH-BALADAN, son of IAKIN,³ King of Chaldsea, the fallacious, the persistent in enmity, did not respect the memory of the gods, he trusted in the sea, and in the retreat of the marshes; he eluded the precepts of the
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1 The inscriptions of this prince are translated in the VIIth volume.
2 Elam. We are now certain of this identification.
3 The same who occurs in the Ptolemaic canon (721-709)

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great gods, and refused to send his tributes. He had supported as an ally KHUMBANIGAS, King of Elam. He had excited all the nomadic tribes of the desert against me. He prepared himself for battle, and advanced. During twelve years,¹ against the will of the gods of Babylon, the town of BEL which judges the gods, he had excited the country of the Sumers and Accads, and had sent ambassadors to them. In honour of the god ASSUR, the father of the gods, and of the great and august Lord MERODACH, I roused my courage I prepared my ranks for battle. I decreed an expedition against the Chaldeans, an impious and riotous people. MERODACH-BALADAN heard of the approach of my expedition, dreading the terror of his own warriors, he fled before it, and flew in the night time like an owl, falling back from Babylon, to the town of Ikbibel. He assembled together the towns possessing oracles, and the gods living in these towns he brought to save them to Dur-Iakin, fortifying its walls. He summoned the tribes of Gambul, Pukud, Tamun, Ruhua, and Khindar, put them in this place, and prepared for battle. He calculated the extent of a plethrum² in front of the great wall. He constructed a ditch 200 spans³ wide, and deep one fathom and a half.⁴ The conduits of water, coming from the Euphrates, flowed out into this ditch; he had cut off the course of the river, and divided it into canals, he had surrounded the town, the place of his revolt, with a dam, he had filled it with water, and cut off the conduits. MERODACH-BALADAN, with his allies and his soldiers had the insignia of his royalty kept as in an island on the banks of the river; he arranged his plan of battle. I stretched my combatants all along the river dividing them into bands; they con-
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1 From 721 to 709 BC.
2 32 m 91,39 yards.
3 54 m 85,65 yards.
4 4 m 94,17½ feet.

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quered the enemies. By the blood of the rebels the waters of these canals reddened like dyed wool. The nomadic tribes were terrified by this disaster which surprised him and fled; I completely separated his allies and the men of Marsan from him; I filled the ranks of the insurgents with mortal terror. He left in his tent the insignia of his royalty, the golden¹ the golden throne, the golden parasol, the golden sceptre, the silver chariot, the golden ornaments, and other effects of considerable weight; he fled alone, and disappeared like the ruined battlements of his fortress, and I entered into his retreat. I besieged and occupied the town of Dur-Iakin, I took as spoil and made captive, him, his wife, his sons, his daughters, the gold and silver and all that he possessed, the contents of his palace, whatever it was, with considerable booty from the town. I made each family and every man who had withdrawn himself from my arms, accountable for this sin. I reduced DurIakin the town of his power to ashes. I undermined and destroyed its ancient forts. I dug up the foundation stone;² I made it like a thunder-stricken ruin. I allowed the people of Sippara, Nipur, Babylon, and Borsippa, who live in the middle of the towns to exercise their profession, to enjoy their belongings in peace, and I have watched upon them. I took away the possession of the fields which from remote times had been in the hand of the Sufi Nomad, and restored them to their rightful owners. I placed the nomadic tribes of the desert again under my yoke, and I restored the forgotten land delimitations which had existed during the tranquillity of the land. I gave to each of the towns of Ur, Orchoe, Erikhi, Larsa, Kullab, and Kisik, the dwelling of the god LAGUDA, the god that resides in each, and I restored the
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1 Unexplained.
2 Timin, not "cylinder."

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gods who had been taken away, to their sanctuaries. I re-established the altered laws in full force.
39 I imposed tributes on the countries of Bet-Iakin, the high and low part, and on the towns of Samhun, Bab-Dur, Dur-Tilit, Bubi, Tell-Khumba, which are the resort of Elam. I transplanted into Elam the inhabitants of the Commagene, in Syria, that I had attacked with my own hand, obeying the commands of the great gods my Masters, and I placed them on the territory of Elam, in the town of Sakbat. NABU-PAKID-ILAN Avas authorised to collect the taxes from the Elamites in order to govern them; I claimed as a pledge the town of Birtu. I placed all this country in the hands of my Lieutenant at Babylon and my Lieutenant in the country of Gambul.¹
40 I returned alone to Babylon, to the sanctuaries of BEL, the judge of the gods, in the excitement of my heart and the splendour of my appearance; I took the hands of the great Lord, the august god MERODACH, and I traversed the way to the chamber of the spoil.
41 I transported into it 154 talents, 26 mines, 10 drams of gold russù;² 1804 talents, 20 mines of silver;³ ivory, a great deal of copper, iron in an innumerable quantity, some of the stone ka, alabaster, the minerals pi, digili, flattened pi, sirru for witness seals, blue and purple stuffs, cloth of berom and cotton, ebony; cedar, and cypress wood, freshly cut from the fine forests on Mount Amanus, in honour of BEL, ZARPANIT, NEBO, and TASMIT, and the gods who inhabit the sanctuaries of the
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1 Only two years after the commencement of the war.
2 12544, pd. troy 68.
3 152,227, pd. troy, 75. A royal silver drachm is nearly 3s., a royal mina £9, the state drachm and mina is the half of it. A silver talent is always very close £270 st.

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Sumers and Accads; all that from my accession to the third year of my reign.¹
42 UPIR, King of Dilmun who dwells at the distance of 30 parasanges,² in the midst of the sea of the rising sun and who is established as a fish, heard of the favour that the gods ASSUR, NEBO, and MERODACH had accorded me; he sent therefore his expiatory gift.
43 And the seven Kings of the country of Iahnagi, of the country of Iatnan (who have established and extended their dwellings, at a distance of seven days navigation in the midst of the sea of the setting sun, and whose name from the most ancient ages until the renewal of the lunar period,³ none of the Kings my fathers in Assyria and Chaldea⁴ had heard, had been told of my lofty achievements in Chaldea and Syria, and my glory, which had spread from afar to the midst of the sea. They subdued their pride and humbled themselves; they presented themselves before me at Babylon, bearing metals, gold, silver, vases, ebony wood, and the manufactures of their country; they kissed my feet.
44 Whilst I endeavoured to exterminate Bet-Iakin and reduce Aram, and render my rule more efficacious in the country of Iatbur, which is beyond Elam, my Lieutenant, the Governor of the country of Kue, attacked MITA, the Moschian, and 3000 of his towns; he demolished these towns, destroyed them, burnt them with fire, and led away many captives. And this MITA the Moschian, who had never submitted to the Kings my predecessors and had never changed his will, sent his envoy to me to
_________
1 Sargon speaks of his third year and not of his third campaign, in order to mark what he had already accomplished before the year 717.
2 110 English miles.
3 This is the second passage where Sargon alludes to this period ending under his reign.
4 Karduniyas.

{p.18}

the very borders of the sea of the rising sun, bearing professions of allegiance and tributes.
45 In these days, these nations and these countries that my hand has conquered, and that the gods ASSUR, NEBO, and MERODACH have made bow to my feet, followed the ways of piety. With their help I built at the feet of the musri, following the divine will and the wish of my heart, a town that I called Dur-Sarkin¹ to replace Nineveh.² NISROCH,³ SIN, SAMAS, NEBO, BIN, NINIP, and their great spouses, who procreate eternally in the lofty temple of the upper and the nether world (Aralli), blessed the splendid wonders, the superb streets in the town of Dur-Sarkin. I reformed the institutions which were not agreeable to their ideas. The priests, the nisi ramki, the surmahhi supar disputed at their learned discussions about the pre-eminence of their divinities, and the efficacy of their sacrifices.
46 I built in the town some palaces covered with the skin of the sea-calf,⁴ and of sandal wood, ebony, the wood of mastic tree, cedar, cypress, wild pistachio nut tree, a palace of incomparable splendour, as the seat of my royalty. I placed their dunu upon tablets of gold, silver, alabaster, tilpe stones, parut stones, copper, lead, iron, tin, and khibisti made of earth. I wrote thereupon the glory of the gods. Above, I built a platform of cedar beams.
_________
1 Or Dur-Sarkayan. The king passes rapidly over some other peculiarities which he inserts in other texts, namely, the measures of the town, and the ceremonies of its edification. The circuit is given as containing 31 ners (miles), 1 stadium, 3 canes, 2 spans, or 24,740 spans, and Botta's measurings afford 6790 metres, 7427 yards. This statement gives for the span, with a slight correction in the fourth decimal, 0m27425, 10,797 inches, and for the cubit 0m 5485, 21,594 inches.
2 At this time the palace of Nineveh was still in ruins. It was rebuilt by Sennacherib.
3 This is my former transcription of the divine name which is now pronounced Hea. But I think sincerely that the latter is not better than the former one.
4 This assimilation is not quite certain.

{p.19}

I bordered the doors of pine and mastic wood with bronze garnitures, and I calculated their distance. I made a spiral staircase similar to the one in the great temple of Syria, that is called in the Phoenician language, Bethilanni. Between the doors I placed 8 double lions whose weight is 1 ner, 6 soss, 50 talents,¹ of first-rate copper, made in honour of MYLITTA .......² and their four kubur in materials from Mount Amanus; I placed them on nirgalli.³ Over them I sculptured artistically a crown of beast of the fields, a bird in stone of the mountains. Towards the four celestial regions, I turned their front. The lintels and the uprights I made in large gypsum stone that I had taken away with my own hand, I placed them above. I walled them in and I drew upon me the admiration of the people of the countries.
47 From the beginning to the end, I walked worshipping the god ASSUR, and following the custom of wise men, I built palaces, I amassed treasures.
48 In the month of blessing, on the happy day, I invoked, in the midst of them, ASSUR, the father of the gods, the greatest sovereign of the gods and the Istarat,⁴ who inhabit Assyria. I presented vessels of glass, things in chased silver, ivory, valuable jewels and immense presents, in great quantities, and I rejoiced their heart. I exhibited sculptured idols, double and winged, some .... winged, some .... winged, serpents, fishes, and birds, from unknown regions and abysses, the .... in high mountains, summits of the lands that I have conquered with my own hand, for the glory of my royalty. As a worshipper of the gods and the god ASSUR, I sacrificed
________
1 1,010 talents, 602 hundredweights English.
2 Obscure.
3 A very difficult passage; the name of the god Nergal does not interfere with the object.
4 The Hebrew Astaroth, which signifies "goddesses." Compare Judges x. 6.

{p.20}

in their presence, with the sacrifice of white lambs, holy holocausts of expiation, in order to withdraw the gifts that had not been agreeable to the gods.
49 He has granted me, in his august power, a happy existence, long life, and I obtained a constantly lucky reign. I have entrusted myself to his favour.
50 The great Lord BEL-EL, the Master of the lands, inhabits the lofty tracts; the gods and Istarat inhabit Assyria; their legions remain there in pargiti, and martakni.
51 With the Chiefs of provinces, the Satraps, wise men, Astronomers, Magnates, the Lieutenants and Governors of Assyria, I have ruled in my palace, and administered justice.
52 I have bid them take gold, silver, gold and silver vessels, precious stones, copper, iron, considerable products of mountains the mines of which are rich, cloth of berom and cotton, blue and purple cloth, amber, skins of sea-calves, pearls, sandal-wood, ebony, horses from higher Egypt,¹ asses, mules, camels, oxen. With all these numerous tributes I have rejoiced the heart of the gods.
53 May ASSUR, the father of the gods, bless these palaces, by giving to his images a spontaneous splendour. May he watch over the issue even to the remote future. May the sculptured bull, the protector and god who imparts perfection, dwell in day and in night time in his presence, and never stir from this threshold!
54 With the help of ASSUR, may the King who has built these palaces, attain an old age, and may his offspring multiply greatly! May these battlements last to the most remote future! May he who dwells there come forth surrounded with the greatest splendour; may he rejoice in his corporal health, in the satisfaction of his heart accomplish his wishes, attain his end, and may he render his magnificence seven times more imposing!
________
1 It is not clear what animals are meant.

{p.21}

THE BAVIAN INSCRIPTION OF SENNACHERIB
TRANSLATED BY
THEOPHILUS GOLDRIDGE PINCHES.

THIS Inscription, a translation of which is now published in full for the first time, is engraved upon a rock at Bavian, a district to the North-east of Mosul. There are three tablets, more or less injured, all bearing the same legend. It is of great chronological value on account of the notice it contains (line 50) of the period of 418 years intervening between the reign of Sennacherib and that of Tiglath-Pileser I, who reigned from BC 1120 to BC 1100. The text itself is printed in the Cuneiform Inscriptions of Western Asia, vol. III, pl. xiv.

Sennacherib, the son of Sargon, and father of Esarhaddon, began to reign "on the twelfth day of the month Abu, in the eponymy of Pakhir-Bel, prefect of Amida; that is, according to our reckoning, about the sixteenth of July, BC 705; and was assassinated {p.22} about the month Dhabitu, in the eponymy of Nabu-akhi-eris, prefect of Samalla (December, BC 681), having reigned about twenty-four years and four months."¹

The records of Sennacherib's reign are numerous and very perfect. Translations of the Inscriptions on the Bellino and Taylor cylinders, as well as the Bull Inscription, have already appeared in these volumes.² The Bavian Inscription gives an account of his turning the course of the Khosr for the purpose of irrigating the arable land around Nineveh. It then narrates the events of his first campaign against Merodach-Baladan, King of Babylon, Ummanminanu, King of Elam, and many petty kings of the mountainous country West of Elam, and of the islands of the Persian Gulf. The second expedition to Babylon mentioned in this text, is identical with the fourth of the Taylor Cylinder, which describes how Sennacherib defeated the Babylonians under Suzub, who, after the flight of Merodach-Baladan, had proclaimed himself king, and become so powerful that Sennacherib was obliged to go against him in person.
___________
1 Smith's History of Assyria.
2 Records of the Past, vols. I, VII.

{p.23}

BAVIAN INSCRIPTION OF SENNACHERIB

1 ASSUR, ANU, BEL, HEA, SIN, SAMAS, RIMMON, MARDUK, NEBO, (NERGAL,) ISTAR, the 7 spirits, and the great gods
2 who among all the Rulers to the supremacy of the Dark Races, lo, they raise, they proclaim the Majesty of
3 SENNACHERIB, the great King, the powerful King, the King of multitudes, the King of Assyria, King of the four regions. The Prince the establisher of them at this time. Fixing the laws
4 from the Upper Sea to the Lower Sea. To the countries I went and the Kings of the regions I made submissive to my yoke, and
5 they performed my pleasure. In those days when Nineveh, that great seat (I caused to extend), its fortress and its outer wall which in former (days)
6 (were) not made, I caused to make anew, and I remembered the woody places surrounding it, which (were) without water. Murmurings ascended on high
7 from the assemblies (of) the (Princes) and its people: Drinking water they know not, and to the rains from the vault of heaven their eyes are directed.
8 I had drunk; and from the midst of the cities of Masiti, Kimbagabna, Sapparisu, Kar-Samsi-zakir, Kar-nuri, Rimusa,
9 Khata, 'Dalain, Res-eni, Sulu, Duran,¹ Sibaniba, Izparirra,
________
1 Duran or Deri, the seat of a governor whose business it was to watch the Elamites who held the fortress of Bit-imbi, was capital of Yamutbal, a district on the south-eastern border of Assyria, near the frontier of Elam.

{p.24}

10 Gingilinis, Nampagate, Tulu and Alumtsusi, waters which (were) against Khadabiti, sixteen rivers, I excavated; to the midst of
11 the river Khusur¹ I fixed their course. From the coast of the city Kisiri to (the midst of) Nineveh I excavated, their waters
12 I let flow within it: "The opening of Sennacherib," I proclaimed its name. (I brought?) the strength of those waters from the midst of the country of Taz,
13 a difficult mountain of the frontier of Akkad, within my country. Formerly that river the river .....² was called. The boundary lines again I, by command of
14 ASSUR, Lord of the great, my Lord, right and left of the mountains of the wall and foundations (fixed.) The city Me ..... Kuqqut, Bit-Urra,³
15 the cities surrounding it, to it I added. With stones of the river ...... Sennacherib,.... I recorded
16 its name. Above the waters the beautiful country and the waters before it I ex(cavated, to the midst of the river Khusur I) fixed their course,
17 to Nineveh, the mighty stronghold, the seat of My Majesty. From .... its seat he had not extended
18 he had not turned them; below, completely .... it I (made.) I, Sennacherib, King of Assyria, first of the Kings, who from the rising of the sun
19 to the set(ting of the sun the nations rule); the flowing
_______
1 Still called Khosr or Khausser, it passes through the mound of Koyounjik, and after rain becomes an impetuous torrent, capable of doing great mischief.
2 Lacunae.
3 It was the custom of the Assyrians to give their cities' very fanciful names, thus Kar-Samsi-zakir means: "The fortress of Shamas renowned;" Kar-nuri, "The fortress of Light;" Res-eni, "The raising of the Eyes;" Sulu and Tulu, "Mound" or "Ascent;" Bit-Urra, "House of Light" The exact positions of the cities mentioned in the text are unknown, but they were probably not far from Duran.

{p.25}

waters which I had excavated, (to) Nineveh, for its surroundings, enclosures, vines,
20 hedges, (I fixed their course) .....¹ the inhabitants of the forest-land, all of them, to choose the rulers
21 all .... and ..... the waters which were not channelled, to the arid lands I abandoned (them) and I (settled)
22 the boundaries .... of all in the coasts in the entrances of the delightful places above and below. From the midst of the city of Tarbitsi
23 to the city of the Assurites, a seat for the measuring-out of corn and barley, (which) I caused to be exchanged yearly ...... to the Kings
24 my sons who with my heart were perfect and to disobedience turn not ..... those hosts going forth
25 that river I caused to excavate. The worship of ASSUR, my great god .... thus in the midst of those hosts, I did not excavate that river
26 and in that year, the third month, I did not cut out its writing ..... they were completed, I cut out its ditch
27 to the openings of that river. The Masmasu (and) the Usku I (urged) and I .... blue stone, white stone, marble, zadhu stone, diamonds
28 (and other) choice precious stones, brass, (pleasant) odours, .... the sum of the measure of a beautiful altar for HEA, Lord of fountains,
29 and gifts for BEL, the Lord, the great-overlooker of rivers, the god of Lords, were poured forth, rich things to the great gods I (offered) and
30 my (prayer) they heard and they caused to bless the work of my hands. The gate of the river .... and an enclosure of corn for himself. It was opened and
31 I let flow in the waters of the great canal. By an
_______
1 Lacunae.

{p.26}

inscription from the hands of the (builder) of its gate .....¹ the hearts of the gods, I excavated (and) the waters from
32 the river I gathered and I directed. The inscription which to the great gods going by my side and establishing .... oxen ...
33 sheep, gazelles, sacrifices I killed, I sacrificed. Those men who had excavated that river, (with) costly linen clothing I covered them,
34 .... rings of gold, necklaces of gold I placed upon them. In that year the sum was (paid) for that river which I had excavated. Against UMMAN-MINANU,
35 King of Elam, and the King of Babylon, with the many Kings of the mountains and the sea, who were their helpers, in sight of the city of Khalule
36 I placed my line of battle. By command of ASSUR, Lord of the great, my Lord, cutting through (their) ranks I drove. Into their midst I went and an overthrow of their armies
37 I made: their army I did destroy, and I marched against their country. The great men of the King of Elam, with NABU-ZIKIR-ISKUN, son of MERODACH-BALA-DAN,
38 King of Gan-Dunyas, alive within the battle my hands captured. The King of Elam and the King of Babylon, the overwhelming number of my strong army
39 destroyed them and in their chariots they abandoned their people; to save their lives (to) their country they fled and
40 they returned not. Afterwards the King peace to Sennacherib, King of Assyria, speedily sent and to Elam fixed the return.
41 Terrible fear against the country of Elam (over) all of
________
1 Lacunae.

{p.27}

them was poured, and their country they forsook, to save their lives, like an eagle
42 a difficult mountain they (ascended), and like to a susudi bird I turned, and their hearts for battle failing them, the mountain pass
43 they opened not, and they did not make battle. In my second expedition to Babylon, which I went forth to capture, I saw the destruction of its power.
44 I went and like the coming of storms I poured out (my men); like a rushing wind I swept it. The city of Niti I besieged and by
45 fire and rebellion the hands ....¹ (one) of its people, small and great, I did not leave, and their corpses the streets of the city
46 filled. To save the life of the King of Babylon, himself, his family ...... alive to the midst of my country I took him.
47 The valuables of that city I destroyed. Gold, precious stones, furniture, valuables, to the hands (of my men) I distributed and to the place of their army they returned.
48 The gods dwelling within it, the hands of my men captured them and broke (them) and (their furniture) and valuables they brought out. RIMMON and SALA² the gods
49 of the temples; which MARDUK-NADIN-AKHI, King of Akkad, in the time of TIGLATH-PILESER, King of Assyria, had brought out and to Babylon had taken
50 for 418 years; from Babylon I caused to come forth and
________
1 Lacunae.
2 In a list containing the names and titles of the gods, W. A. I., vol. III, pl. 67, after naming Rimmon with the usual titles of god of lightning, storms, deluge of rain, etc., Rimmon and Sala are mentioned together, with the title of gods sa sadi, "of the mountains," showing that the Assyrian deities often changed their attributes when mentioned in conjunction with other gods.

{p.28}

to the temples to their places I restored them. The city and houses
51 from its foundation to its upper chambers I destroyed, dug up, in the fire I burnt. The fortress and outer wall, the temples of the gods, the tower of brickwork, the houses;¹ all there was
52 I captured it and in the river Arakhti I placed. In the stronghold of that city that multitude I shut up; and its ashes into the water I swept away; the fixing
53 of its foundations I destroyed and over it like a heap of corn its (ruins) I caused to turn. In after days the ground of that city and the houses of the gods
54 (which were) unrequired into the waters I swept it and I made an end with power. At the mouth of the river which I had excavated in the midst of the country of Taz,
55 6 stone tablets .....² an image of the great gods my Lords I made upon them, and an image of My Majesty. Brickwork
56 I built before them; not attending to the works of my hands, which within Nineveh I had done: upon them I caused to write and
57 to the Kings my (sons) ruling the country and the Prince afterwards who among the Kings my sons the ruling does:
58 he shall extend the streams beyond it, he shall open those opened waters from the environs of Nineveh (fixing) their course.
59 The great gods all (who) on these tablets (their) name (is) proclaimed by (the words) proceeding from its mouth,
60 turning upon (him) who (these things does) not, may they curse him and to the lower region remove his life.
________
1 Ishkhi, hollow places, evidently the houses of the poorer classes.
2 Lacuna.

{p.29}

INSCRIPTION OF MERODACH BALADAN III
TRANSLATED BY
REV. J. M. RODWELL, M.A.

THE stone upon which the following inscription is traced was found on the Western side of the Tigris opposite the town of Baghdad, by the late lamented George Smith. Its date was considered by him to be about BC 1340, and to have been written during, or shortly after, the reign of Merodach Baladan, king of Babylon, and grandson of Kuri-galzu, who ascended the throne about BC 1370.

This inscription records a grant of 90 acres of land made by the king to his officer Maraduk-zakir-iskur, in return for certain services rendered by him; and upon the back of the stone is a rudely carved picture {p.30} of the deities invoked to protect the property, and to punish any one who should remove the boundary stone or wall.

The strong language of the curses at the end of the third column at once remind us of the curse pronounced against those who remove their neighbour's landmark, Deut. xxvii. 1 7, as well as of those in Psalm cix, of which verses 16 and 17 should be compared with lines 32-34; verse 12 with line 36, where the words are almost the same in each.

It is curious and suggestive, that similar precatory curses for the protection of individuals and property are of common occurrence in the Babylonian and Assyrian inscriptions.

{p.31}

INSCRIPTION OF MERODACH BALADAN III

COLUMN I

40 enclosures of land, 90 acres,¹ on the required surface, in great cubits, a plot by the town of Dur-zizi, along-side the river Tigris, in the territory of Dur-Istar; the upper end towards the West of the river Tigris, the lower end toward the East, adjoining the house of NAZI-MARDUK, within the town of Dur-Istar; the headland towards the North, adjoining the city Ilu-Zaqari, and the house of TUNA-ISPATE the honourable; the lower end on the South, adjoining close upon the site of the city Dur-Istar, and of the city Dur-Ziki, which MERODACH BALADAN, Lord of thrones, Lord of Sumir and Accad, Son of MILI-SIHU King of the goodly land of Babylon,
_____________
1 Lit. sekal, said to contain about 40,000 square yards, i.e. an acre.

{p.32}

grandson of KURI-GALZU,¹ a King to whom is no like, to MERODACH-ZAKIR-IZKUR, as the proprietor of the territory, this temple and land, of the city of Idbi-mut, the perfection of heaven and earth, son of NABU-NADIN-AHI, whose grandfather RlMINI-MERODACH,
_________
1 Mili-Sihu, and Merodach-Baladan the first, are names of Babylonian kings not elsewhere recorded.

{p.33}

COLUMN II

the direct descendant of UBALLITSU-MERODACH, the descendant of ZICARU-SALMAN, in accordance with the tablets of the kingdom, of a family in the city of Adusu, a vassal who praises the god NEBO and the god SARU, and praises the god of corn, the god who begat him, ...¹ of heaven and earth, (in) the temple of the Sun at Borsippa, and the upholder of the temple of Zida in the day of dwelling therein, and in the day of service, in company with his Lord MERODACH BALADAN. (This land) is appointed for settled days, and months following months, and for years unbroken, to that man without interruption. For good have I given it like the treasure of heaven; as a land of acquisition have I settled it,
_______
1 Lacuna.

{p.34}

as the result of his labours; causing to come forward as a witness NlNIP-TUR-IDINA, Governor of the territory of Dur-Istar; (also) NABU-NAZIR, son of NAZI-MARDUK, a man of service, and NABU-SANISMU, son of ARDU-HEA, a man of Dugab.¹
________
1 Dugab was a king of Sape who was routed by Tiglath-Pileser the first. It is possible, however, that the name may be that of some office.

{p.35}

COLUMN III

If a leader, not of low degree, if a citizen shall this plot of land injure or destroy, the boundary stone so that it shall not be conspicuous, shall remove this stone (here) placed; whether an injurious person or a brother, whether as one who would take it all away, whether as an evil person, whether as an enemy or any other person, or the son of the owner of the land, shall act falsely, shall tamper with it, into water into fire shall cast it, with a stone shall break it, from the hand of MARADUK-ZAKIR-ISKUR and from his seed shall remove it, whether above or below shall break it in pieces, may the gods ANU, BEL, HEA, NINIP and GULA, the Lords of this land, {p.36} and all the gods whose memorials are made known on this tablet, violently make his name desolate; with unspeakable curse may they curse him; with utter desolation may they desolate him; may they gather his posterity together for evil and not for good; until the day of the departure of his life may he come to ruin, while the gods SHAMAS and MARDUK rend him asunder; and may his name be trodden down.

{p.37}

ANNALS OF ASSURBANIPAL
Continued from vol. I
(TEXT OF CYLINDER B)
TRANSLATED BY
THE LATE GEORGE SMITH.

IN the texts now before the reader, the chief points of interest are the details of the reduction of the Phoenician monarchs and the close of the Elamite war. As is usual in these historical texts, the various copies repeat one another and only incidentally vary in their statements; when, however, these variations occur, they are frequently of importance. The annals of all the Assyrian monarchs have very much in common; border raids and internecine revolts, treachery and cruelty, make up the chief portions of them all. The conduct of Assurbanipal towards his brother Saulmugina, and the captives taken in battle, may be compared with that of Assurnazirpal in his chief campaigns, and not suffer by the comparison. It is {p.38} considerably to be regretted that the late learned translator was unable to revise his present text before his last fatal mission to Assyria; but, on the other hand, the Annals of Assurbanipal are perhaps the most complete of any of those of the Assyrian kings; and as they have been longest before the world of scholars are the least in need of revision.

W. R. C.

{p.39}

ANNALS OF ASSURBANIPAL

CYLINDER B, COLUMN I, LINES 1 TO 24

1 I am ASSURBANIPAL the great King, the powerful King,
2 King of nations, King of Assyria, King of the four regions;
3 proceeding from the body of ESARHADDON, King of nations, King of Assyria,
4 High Priest of Babylon, King of Sumer and Akkad;
5 grandson of SENNACHERIB King of nations, King of Assyria.
6 The great gods in their assembly a good account have heard,
7 and attentive ears have given;
8 and to all the inscribed tablets they caused my mind to attend.
9 In the assembly of the mighty, the renown of my name they magnified,
10 and enlarged (my) empire,
11 strength, renown, and powerful forces
12 they increased to me and countries disobedient
13 into my hand they gave. They strengthened me and
14 the Priests ......¹
15 the gifts of my fingers, the gods over .....
16 the temples of the great gods my lords .....
17 ....bi of gold ....
18 winged figures columns ....
_______
1 Lacunae.

{p.40}

19 in their gates I set up, Bit....¹
20 Bit-mas-masu, Bit-bilat-matati, Bit.....
21 like a great ....
22 lady of life ....
23 over ....

VARIANT PASSAGE CYLINDER B, VARIANT FOR COLUMN I, LINES 65 TO 77.
CYLINDER A

a my heart was bitter, and much afflicted,
b I gathered my powerful forces,
c which ASSUR and ISTAR had placed in my hands.
d For the restoration of, etc.

CYLINDER B, COLUMN II, LINE 54 TO COLUMN III, LINE 4

54 I restored and favoured him. The towers
55 which over against BABEL King of Tyre
56 I had raised, I pulled down ; on sea and land
57 all his roads which I had taken I opened;
58 his abundant tribute I received;
59-60 peacefully I returned to Nineveh the city of my dominion.
61 Kings in the midst of sea, and Kings dwelling in the lofty mountains
62 these my mighty deeds
63 saw, and feared my power.
64 YAKINLU King of Arvad,
65 MUGALLU King of Tubal,
66 who to the Kings my fathers were not submissive,
67 submitted to my yoke.
________
1 Lacunae.

{p.41}

68 The daughters proceeding from their bodies
69 and their great dowries,
70 for concubines to Nineveh
71 they brought, and kissed my feet.¹
72 Over MUGALLU great horses
73 the tribute of the country the sum I fixed upon him.
74 From YAKINLU King of Arvad
75 I took away his county, AZIBAHAL
76 ABIBAHAL, and ADONIBAHAL,
77 sons of YAKINLU, dwelling in the midst of the sea,
78 from the midst of the sea arose, and
79 with their numerous presents came and
80 kissed my feet.
81 AZIBAHAL gladly I received,
82 and to the kingdom of Arvad I appointed
83 ABIBAHAL and ADONIBAHAL²
84 costly clothing .....³ rings .......
85 in my presence .....
86 GYGES, King of Lydia,⁴
87 a district which is across the sea, a remote place
88 of which the Kings my fathers had not heard speak of its name
________
1 Sandasarmi, king of Cilicia, a confederate of Mugallus, paid tribute and rendered submission at the same time. This action terminated the long border war between Assyria and Asia Minor.
2 The Baalite influence of the Phenician religion is indicated by the names of the ten sons of Yakinlu, viz., Azibaal, Abibaal, Adonibaal, Sapadiiaa, Budibaal, .Baalyashub, Saaihanan, Baalmelek, Abimelek, and Ahimelek.
3 Lacunae.
4 All these events are narrated in Cylinder A, which was written later than either of the other texts. From these facts, and the statement that Miluhha (Ethiopia) revolted with Saulmugina (Cylinder A, col. IV, 1. 35), I judge that the revolt of Gyges and Psammitichus took place at the time of the general rising against Assyria, in which Saulmugina, the king's brother, was concerned. Smith's Assurbanipal, p. 78.

{p.42}

89 the account of my grand kingdom in a dream was related to him by ASSUR, the god my creator,
90 thus: The yoke ........¹
91 In remembrance (of that dream) the yoke of my kingdom he had taken. The day he
92 saw the dream his messenger he sent
93 to pray for my friendship, the Cimmerians, extreme rebels,
94 who feared not my fathers and me, and took not the yoke of my kingdom.

COLUMN III

1 In the service of ASSUR and MERODACH my lords,
2 he took, and in fetters and chains he bound and
3 (with) his numerous presents he sent
4 to my presence (I saw the power of ASSUR his god).
5 (In my fourth) expedition to Karbat²
6 in Halehastu I went.
7 (TANDIA)³ their chief to the Kings my fathers
8 (had not been submissive to) the yoke, and the men dwelling in Karbat
9 (constantly) were carrying off the plunder of my country.
10 (In the service) of ASSUR, BEL, NEBO,
11 (Karbat I beseiged), I captured, I carried off its spoil.⁴
12 (TANDIA) their chief
13 (alive in hand I took, and) brought to Assyria;
________
1 Lacuna.
2 These events probably took place in the Dodecad, BC 660-648.
3 Variant Tandia.
4 This was one of the least of Assurbanipal's expeditions. Some copies claim the expedition as that of the kings, but there is no doubt, from the statement of K 2675, and Cylinder E, that an Assyrian general commanded. Karbat appears to have been situated on the mountains east of the Tigris, and between Assyria and Elam.

{p.43}

14 (the people) whom I had not carried off
15 (into the midst of) Egypt I caused to be taken.
16 (In my fifth expedition against) AHSERI
17 (King of Minni) I went.
18 ......¹ submit
19 ..... ti
20 .... Minni
21 ...... ASSUR
22 ..... and I had made ......
23 AHSERI, of the progress of (my) expedition (heard, and)
24 sent forth (his army)
25 in the middle of the night, secretly
26 to make war, they came
27 to fight my army.
28 My men of war, with them fought, and
29 accomplished their overthrow.
30 For a space of three kaspu of ground their slain filled the wide desert.²
31 By command of ASSUR, SIN, and SHAMAS, the great gods my lords
32 who protected me, into Minni I entered and
33 marched victoriously. In the progress of my expedition, Aiusias
34 the fortress, Pasa ..... su Pusut,
35 Asdias, Urkiyamun, Uppis, Sikhua,
36 and Naziniri, eight strong cities,
37 and smaller ones which were without number,
38 to the midst of Izirtu I captured,
39 I threw down, destroyed, and in the fire I burned.
40 People, horses, asses, oxen, and sheep,
________
1 Lacunae.
2 "In a space of twenty miles the battle-field was cumbered with the wrecks of the army of Ahsera, and the king fled to Izirtu, the capital of Minni." Smith, Hist. Assyria, p. 151.

{p.44}

41 from the midst of those cities
42 I brought out, and as a spoil I counted.
43 AHSERI of the progress of my expedition heard, and
44 abandoned Izirtu his royal city.
45 To Adrana, his castle, he fled,
46 and took refuge. Izirtu Urmiyate and
47 Uzbia his fortified cities, I surrounded,
48 the people dwelling in those cities
49 I beseiged, and their spirits I humbled, and caused to melt away.
50 That district I took, I threw down, destroyed, and in the fire I burned.
51 For 15 days' journey I laid waste, and the highlands
52 I conquered. In the progress of my expedition, the cities which were near Paddiri
53 which in the time of the Kings my fathers the Mannians had taken
54 and to their own (hands) had restored;
55 I captured. In the fire I burned and carried off their spoil.
56 Those cities to the boundaries of Assyria I restored.
57 The district of Arsiyanis
58 which bounded Azaqanani
59 of Harsi the mountain
60 which is at the top of Kumurda in the midst of Minni
61 I destroyed, and in the fire I burned, Raidisadi, commander of their fortresses I killed,
62 I carried off his spoil.
63 The district of Eristeyana
64 I captured, its cities I destroyed,
65 and in the fire I burned; I carried off its spoil.
66 By the shock of my army, that district I laid waste
67 I reduced the whole of his country.
68 With much plunder,

{p.45}

69 and numerous gifts, peacefully I returned,
70 and marched across the borders of Assyria.
71 Birua, Saruigbi,
72 Gusune, and Biruti,
73 cities near Assyria,
74 which in the time of the Kings my fathers
75 were captured by the Mannians,
76 those districts I took.
77 The Mannians from the midst I removed,
78 the horses and their instruments of war
79 I carried off to Assyria.
80 Those cities a second time I took,
81 and restored to the boundaries of Assyria.
82 AHSERI not fearing my power,
83 (the will) of ISHTAR delivered him into the hands of his servants.
84 The people of his country a revolt against him made, and
85 in front of his city his attendants threw his corpse.
86 Aftenvards VAALLI¹ his son
87 sat on his throne.
88 The power of ASSUR, SIN, SHAMAS, BEL, NEBO,
89 ISTAR of Nineveh, ISTAR of Arbela, NINIP, NUSKU, NERGAL,
90 the great gods my lords, he saw; and
91 submitted to my yoke.
92 To preserve his life he offered his hand,
93 and submitted to my dominion.
94 ERISINNI his eldest son,
95 to Nineveh he sent, and kissed my feet.
96 Favour I granted him, and
97 my messenger for an alliance I sent to him.
98 The daughter proceeding from his body, he sent for a concubine.
________
1 Or Baali.

{p.46}

99 The former tribute, which in the time of the Kings my fathers
100 they had broken off; he sent to my presence.
101 Thirty horses beside the former tribute, I added and
102 fixed on him. In those days also, BIRIZ-HADRI a chief of Media

COLUMN IV

1 SARITI and PARIZA sons of Gog¹
2 a Chief of the Saka² who had thrown off the yoke of my dominion,
3 seventy-five of their strong cities I took, I carried off their spoil:
4 themselves alive, in hand I took,
5 and brought to Nineveh the city of my dominion
6 ILUDARIA Tartan³ of Lubdu,⁴
7 who to capture Ubbummi and Kullimmir,
8 descended and went in the night.
9 The people dwelling in Kullimmir,
10 tributaries, dependent on me;
11 in the middle of the night his numerous army slew,
12 and there was not left anyone.
13 The head of ILUDARIA they cut off, and
14 to Nineveh before me, they brought.
15 In my sixth expedition, against URTAKI, King of Elam
16 I went; who the benefits of the father my begetter disregarded,
17 and had not heeded the famine. When in Elam
________
1 Gog (Ga-a-gi) resembles the גלג of Ezekiel.
2 The Scythians.
3 Prefect.
4 The city of Lubdu, of which Iludaria was governor, revolted once before in the reign of Shalmaneser II, BC 820.

{p.47}

18 a drought took place, there was a famine.
19 Corn to preserve the lives of the people I sent him, and
20 took his hand. His people, who from the face of the drought
21 fled, and dwelt in Assyria,
22 until the rain in his country rained, and there were crops:
23 those people, who in my country were preserved, I sent to him and
24 the Elamite; who his invasion, with heart ....¹
25 (did not) regard his good. BELBASU the (Gambulian) ....
26 (NEBO)ZIKIRESSES the Tigenna tributaries (dependent on me)
27 (MERODACH-ZIKIR)-IBNI General of URTAKI (King of Elam)
28 (with them) had set his face; to make war on Akkad I
29 .... and had gathered .... Elam
30 ........
31 ... gathered
32 within it .... he set about fighting
33 .... I was alarmed
34 ...... he came and
35 .....
36 concerning the men of the desert and .....
37 he sent ...
38 to see the King of .....
39 my envoy I commanded, I sent, and
40 he went. He returned, and ....
41 this was confirmed, and
42 he repeated to me,
43 thus: The Elamites like a flight of locusts,
44 overspreading Akkad cover over against Babylon
_______
1 Lacunae.
2 King of the Gambuli.

{p.48}

45 the camp is fixed and fortifications are raised. To the end of
46 BEL and NEBO, my gods whom, I worshipped their divinity
47 my men of war I gathered, and I took the march.
48 The progress of my expedition he heard, and fear overwhelmed him, and
49 he returned to his country. After him I took (the road), his overthrow I accomplished,
50 and drove him to the frontier of his country.
51 URTAKI King of Elam, who had not heeded the famine;
52 in the day of his misfortune, death (desired)
53 In lamentation he beat ....¹
54 on the level ground, his feet .....¹
55 In that year, his life he destroyed ....¹
56 BELBASA the Gambulian
57 who had thrown off the yoke of my dominion,
58 hiding in concealment, he passed his life.
59 NEBOZIKIRESSES the Tigenna, not keeping the covenant,
60 was overthrown by the lords strong and mighty
61 MARUDUK-ZIKIR-IBNI his General, his adviser,
62 who, evil caused to happen to URTAKI:²
63 MERODACH King of the gods fixed on him his great fear.
64 For one year in presence of each other,
65 they passed their lives.
66 The heart of ASSUR vengeful, let them not rest and
67 did not spare them.
68 The mighty goddess who protected me,
69 the time of his kingdom ended, and
70 the dominion of Elam passed to another.
71 Afterwards TEUMMAN like an evil spirit
72 sat on the throne of URTAKI;
__________
1 Lacunae.
2 Urtakt disgusted with his utter defeat committed suicide.

{p.49}

73 to slay the sons of URTAKI,
74 and the sons of UMMANALDUS
75 the brother of URTAKI, he devised evil.
76 UMMANIGAS, UMMANAPPA and TAMMARIT,
77 sons of URTAKI King of Elam
78 KUDURRU and PARU, sons of UMMANALDAS,
79 the King preceding URTAKI,
80 and sixty of the seed royal, innumerable bowmen
81 and children begotten in Elam;
82 who from the face of the massacre of TEUMMAN their uncle
83 fled, and took the yoke of my kingdom.
84 In my seventh expedition against TEUMMAN
85 King of Elam I went;
86 who against UMMANIGAS, UMMANAPPA, and TAMMARITU,
87 sons of URTAKI, King of Elam,
88 KUDURRU and PARU, sons of
89 UMMANALDASI, brother of URTAKI,
90 King of Elam;
91 his great men sent for the surrender of
92 these men, who had fled and
93 taken my yoke. Their surrender I did not grant him.
94 Concerning the demands, by the hand of UMBADARA
95 and NEBODANIK he sent a month.

COLUMN V

1 In the midst of Elam he set himself to work in gathering his army.
2 I trusted to ISTAR¹ who protects me.
__________
1 Istar was the favourite goddess of Assurbanipal. She appeared in a dream to a priest, as a winged figure, with a halo and a bow, which bow Assurbanipal mentions as having been given to him.

{p.50}

3 The demand of his vile mouth I did not accede to, I did not give him
4 those fugitives. TEUMMAN devised
5 evil; SIN devised against him
6 omens of evil; in the month Tammuz,¹ the darkness of the morning watch
7 he caused to retard the rising sun ; and like this also
8 three days he caused to retard; to the end that
9 the (King) of Elam shall be destroyed, his country
10 .....² this she selected in her power, which changeth not.³
11 In those days, before she received him,
12 her lips cursed, and her eyes flamed and
13 vengeance was fixed in her heart.
14 About these things which ASSUR and ISTAR
15 did to him, he knew not; he gathered his army.
16 In the month Ab,⁴ the month of the luminous Sagittarius,
17 in the festival of the mighty Queen the daughter of BEL;
18 to worship her greatly I sacrificed
19 in Arbela, the city the delight of her heart.
20 Of the invasion of the Elamite, who against the gods came;
21 they repeated word
22 thus: TEUMMAN even saith
23 Of ISTAR, they repeated the tenor of his words,
24 thus: I will not cease until I go
25 with him (to) make war.
26 Over this threat which TEUMMAN
27 had spoken; I prayed to the lofty ISTAR.
______
1 Tammuz (תמזן), June. Month of the warrior Ninip.
2 Lacuna.
3 Cf. Malachi iii. 6, "For I am the Lord, I change not."
4 Ab (אב), July.

{p.51}

28 I approached to her presence, I bowed under her,
29 her divinity I supplicated, and she came to save me.
30 Thus: Goddess of Arbela, I am ASSURBANIPAL King of Assyria
31 the work of thy hands ....¹ the father thy begetter,
32 to restore the temples of Assyria and adorn the cities of Akkad ....¹
33 I thy courts desire,² I go to worship ........
34 and he, TEUMMAN King of Elam, hater of the gods ...... to ......
35 O thou goddess of goddesses, terrible in battle, goddess in war, Queen of the gods ......
36 who in the presence of ASSUR the father thy begetter, speakest good in!
37 loved me ...........
38 to make glad the heart of ASSUR, and rejoice greatly MERODACH..... they ......
39 Of TEUMMAN King of Elam
40 who to ASSUR (King of the gods)
41 the father thy begetter ..........
a and to MERODACH thy good brother, his divinity .....
b and of me ASSURBANIPAL, who to rejoice the heart of ASSUR and .....
42 he gathered his army, and prepared for war,
43 he urges his fighting men to go to Assyria.
44 O thou archer of the gods like a weight
45 in the midst of battle throw him down and crush him; tear
46 .... My acceptable prayer ISTAR heard, and
47 Fear not, she said, she caused my heart to rejoice;
48 at the lifting up of thy hand which thou liftest, thine eyes shall be satisfied with the judgment
_______
1 Lacunae.
2 Cf. Psalm lxxxiv. 10, "a day in thy courts is better than a thousand.''

{p.52}

49 I will grant favour. In the midst of the night when I invoked her,
50 then a seer slept, and dreamed a
51 remarkable dream and during the night ISTAR spoke to him, and he
52 repeated it to me. Thus: ISTAR dwelling in Arbela,
53 entered, and right and left she was surrounded with glory
54 holding a bow in her hand,
55 projecting a powerful arrow on making war,
56-57 her countenance was set. She like a mother bearing, was in pain with thee
58 she brought thee forth. ISTAR exalted of the gods, appointeth thee a decree.
59 Thus: Carry off to make spoil,
60 the place before thee set, I will come to.
61 Thou shalt say to her thus: The place thou goest to
62 with thee I will go. The goddess of goddesses
63 she repeateth to thee thus: Thee I will guard.
64 Then I will rest in the place of the temple of NEBO,
65 eat food, drink wine,
66 music appoint, glorify my divinity,
67 until I go, and this message shall be accomplished.
68 I will cause thee to take the desire of thy heart¹
69 before thee he shall not stand, he shall not oppose thy feet.²
70 Do not regard thy skin. In the midst of battle,
71 in her beneficent generosity, she guards thee, and
72 overthrows all the unsubmissive.
73 Before her, a fire is blown (strongly);
74 to capture (thy) enemies .....³ to each other.
_________
1 Cf. Psalm xxxvii. 4.
2 See another translation of this text by Fox Talbot, in Trans. Soc. Bib. Arch., vol. I, p. 2.
3 Lacuna.

{p.53}

75 Against TEUMMAN King of Elam
76 who was hateful before her, she appointed
77 in the month Elul,¹ the festival of ASSUR the great,
78 the month of SIN the luminary of heaven and earth, I trusted to the power of
79 HUR the bright, and the message of ISTAR my goddess who is unchanged;
80 I gathered my men of war, the fighting men who by command of ASSUR, SIN and ISTAR
81 were arranged in order of battle.
82 Against TEUMMAN King of Elam, the road I took, and
83 directed the march. In front of me, TEUMMAN King of Elam
84 ......² camp was placed. Of my royal entry,
85 in the midst of Duril he heard ; and fear took hold of him. TEUMMAN feared, and
86 after him turned and entered into Shushan
87 ..... to save his life
88 ..... to the people of his country
89 .... his hand before him returned, and
90 ..... (he) sent to my presence.
91 The Ulai for himself he fortified
92 .... before my camp
93 .... MERODACH, the great gods my lords;
94-95 who protected me: in omens of a dream, had given a grand message.
96 In Tulliz his overthrow I accomplished;
97 with their corpses the Ulai I choked up
98 their wives, like bows and arrows,
99 filled the vicinity of Shushan.
100 The head of TEUMMAN King of Elam,
101 by command of ASSUR and MERODACH, the great gods
my lords before the assembly of (his) army (I cut off).
______
1 Elul (אלל), August. Month of Istar, mistress
2 Lacunae.

{p.54}

102 Terror of ASSUR and ISTAR, Elam
103 overwhelmed, and they submitted to my yoke.
104 UMMANIGAS who fled and
105 took my yoke, on his throne I seated.

COLUMN VI

1 TAMMARITU, his third brother,
2 in Hidalu to the kingdom, I appointed.
3 Chariots of war, horses and mules,
4 trained to the yoke instrument fashioned for war;
5 which in the service of ASSUR and ISHTAR, the great gods my lords,
6 near Shushan and the Ulai, my hands captured;
7 by command of ASSUR and the great gods my lords
8 from the midst of Elam, joyfully I brought out, and,
9 to all my army, for spoil they were given.
10 In my seventh expedition against DUNANU son of BELBASA
11 to Gambuli I went;
12 who to the King of Elam had trusted,
13 and did not submit to my yoke.
14 By my powerful attack Gambuli through its extent,
15 like a hailstorm I covered.
16 Sapibel its strong city;
17 which in the midst of the waters was situated, I captured.
18 DUNANU and his brothers from the midst of that city,
19 alive I brought out.
20 His wife, his sons, his daughters, his concubines
21 male musicians and female musicians, I brought out, and its spoil I counted.
22-23 Silver, gold, furniture, and musical instruments of his palace, I brought out, and as spoil I counted.

{p.55}

24 ...¹ standing before him ....
25 'I brought out, and as spoil I counted
26-27 .... all there was .... as spoil I counted.
28-29 MASSI the Officer of TEUMMAN (King of Elam);
30 who to aid (DANUNU)
31 dwelt within (Sapi)bel;
32 alive in (hand) I took,
33 with the Officers of DUNANU ....
34 That city I pulled down, destroyed (and into the waters I turned)
35 Until none were in the midst
36 that district I laid waste.
37 The passage of people, I cut off from over it
38 In the service of ASSUR, BEL, and NEBO, the great gods;
39 my enemies I rested from;
40 peacefully, I returned to Nineveh.
41 The head of TEUMMAN King of Elam,
42 round the neck of DUNANU I hung.
43-44 With the conquests of Elam and the spoil of Gambuli;
45 which by command of ASSUR, my hands had taken;
46 with musicians making music,
47 into Nineveh I entered with rejoicings.
48 UMBADARA and NEBODANIK,
49 great men of TEUMMAN King of Elam;
50 whom TEUMMAN by their hand sent
51 the threatening message, whom in my presence I confined,
52 and bound, until the fixing of my sentence:
53 the decapitated head of TEUMMAN their lord, in Nineveh
54 they saw, and another opinion took hold of them.
55 UMBADARA tore his beard,
______
1 Lacunae.

{p.56}

56 NEBODANIK with the steel sword of his girdle, pierced through his (own) body.
57 The decapitated head of TEUMMAN, in front of the great gate
58 situated in Nineveh; I raised on high.
59 By the power of ASSUR and ISTAR my lords the people reviled
60 the decapitated head of TEUMMAN King of Elam.
61 PALIA son of NEBOSAPAN, grandson of MERODACH BALADAN,
62 of whom from the face of the grandfather my begetter;
63 his father had fled to Elam;
64 from UMMANIGAS (whom) in Elam I had appointed to the kingdom;
65 PALIA son of NEBOSAPAN
66 he took, and sent to my presence.
67 DUNANU¹ and SAMGUNU
68 sons of BELBASA the Gambulian,
69 of whom their father against the Kings my fathers,
70 had made inroads; and they
71 opened the work of my kingdom;
72 within Assur and Arbela
73 to execute my judgment I brought them.
74 Of MANNUKIAHI ....... DUNANU
75 and NEBONZALLI, men who were over Gambuli
76 who against my gods uttered great curses
77 in Arbela their tongues I pulled out.
78 I flayed off their skin. DUNANU in Nineveh
79 over a furnace they placed him, and
80 consumed him entirely.
_________
1 Dunanu the Gambulian, captured in this war, was son of Belbasa, who assisted Urtaki, and grandson of a chief also named Dunanu. It is sometimes written Du-na-nu, and Bu-na-nu. Smith, Assurbanipal, p. 150.

{p.57}

81 The rest of the brothers of DUNANU
82 and PALIYA I threw down; his limbs I cut off,
83 and sent for the inspection, powerful country,
84 NABONIDAS and BELEDIR
85 sons of NABUZIKIRESSES Tigenna:
86 whose father their begetter, URTAKI brought
87 to fight with Akkad.
88 The attendants of NEBOZIKIRESSES who from the midst of Gambuli
89 I carried to Assyria:
90 those attendants in
91 front of the great gate in the midst of Nineveh;
92 I caused to crush his sons.
93 UMMANIGAS whom great benefits I had given him,
94 and appointed him the kingdom of Elam;
95 who the favour disregarded, and
96 did not keep the agreement and oath of the great gods.
97 From the hands of the messengers of SAULMUGINA¹

COLUMN VII, LINES 1 TO 87

1 my younger brother, my enemy, he received a bribe:
2 His forces with them he sent
3 to fight my army,
4 my men of war, who in Ganduniyas
5 marched, and trampled on Chaldea.
6 Against my hand into UNDASI
7 son of TEUMMAN King of Elam,
8 and ZAZAZ Chief of Billate,
_________
1 Saulmugina was made viceroy king of Babylon by Esarhaddon, who however placed him in strict subordination to his brother Assurbanipal, whom he was directed to address not as "brother" but as "the king my lord."

{p.58}

9 PARU Chief of Hilmu,
10 ATTAMETU Commanders of the archers,
11 and NESU leader of the army of Elam,
12 to fight with the army of Assyria,
13 UMMANIGAS sent them and
14 appointed them a decree.
15 UMMANIGAS to UNDASI, even said,
16 thus: Go; against Assyria
17 revenge the slaying of the father thy begetter.
18 UNDASU, ZAZAZ, PARU
19 ATTAMITU and NESU
20 with the messengers of SAULMUGINA
21 my rebellious brother; took the road, and
22 directed the march.
23 My men of war, who in Ganduniyas
24 marched, and trampled (on Chaldea)
25 .......¹
26 ..... Elam
27 ....... ATTAMITU
28 ....... they cut off and
29 (brought to) my presence
30 ........... these
31 .... UMMANIGAS
32 .... he ceased and
33 ..... my will
34 ..... (ASSUR) BEL NEBO NERGAL
35 the (great) gods (my lords) a certain judgment
36 against UMMANIGAS, appointed me.
37 TAMMARITU against him revolted, and
38 him and part of his family, he destroyed with the sword.
39 TAMMARITU who over him triumphed
40 sat on the throne of Elam.
41 Like him also, a bribe he received;
_______
1 Lacunae.

{p.59}

42 he did not seek alliance with my kingdom.
43 To the help of SAULMUGINA
44 my younger brother he went, and
45 to fight my army he prepared his soldiers.
46 In prayer ASSUR and ISTAR I had prayed;
47 my supplication they received, and heard the words of my lips.
48 His servants against him revolted, and
49 each other they destroyed, to my evil
50 INDABIGAS his servant, who the revolt
51 against him made, sat on his throne.¹
52 TAMMARITU King of Elam,
53 who untruth had spoken,
54 concerning the decapitated head of TEUMMAN;
55 which he had cut off in sight of my army:
56 and his brothers his kin, the seed of his fathers house,
57 with 85 Princes of Elam, marching before him;
58 who from the face of the soldiers of ASSUR and ISTAR fled, and

[Lines 59 to 68 are lost.]

69 .....²
70 TAMMARITU and part (of the seed of his father's house)
71 in my palace I placed (them).
72 INDABIGAS who after TAMMARITU,
73 sat on the throne of Elam;
74 the power of my servants saw.
75 Whom (from the first) I had caused to march over Elam.
76 The sons of ASSUR, whom I sent
77 to aid NEBOBELZIKRI
78 the son of MERODACH BALADAN who like an earth wall
79 guarding his country marched with him;
__________
1 Indabig-as was proclaimed king at Shushan, and defeated Tammaritu while his forces were preparing for war with Assurbanipal.
2 Lacuna.

{p.60}

80 whom NEBOBELZIKRI by treachery
81 had captured, and taken with him in a boat.
82 INDABIGAS King of Elam,
83 from the house of (his) fathers sent them.
84 When (their) capture I commanded, (he sent his) good messengers,
85 sorrowfully (from the) borders of his country.
86 By the hand of his envoy, (to make agreement) and alliance;
87 he sent to my presence.

CONTINUED ON CYLINDER C

88 About NEBOBELZIKRI¹ son of MERODACH BALADAN
89 tributary dependant on me;
90 who fled and went to Elam:
91 and the rest of the sons of ASSUR,
92 whom NEBOBELZIKRI by treachery,
93 had captured, and with him.
94 By the hand of his envoy to INDABIGAS
95 even I sent to him also,
96 If these men thou dost not send,
97 thus: I will march; thy cities I will destroy;
98 the people of Shushan, Madaktu and Hidalu I will earn-off;
99 from thy royal throne I will hurl thee; and
100 another on thy throne I will seat.
101 As, formerly TEUMMAN I crushed;
_______
1 Nebobelzikri is called in some copies the son, and in others the grandson of Merodach Baladan; the latter is probably the most correct relationship. He was probably the son of Nahid-maruduk, a younger son of Merodach Baladan, who was king of Chaldea in the time of Ksar-haddon. Smith, Assurbanipal, p. 203.

{p.61}

102 I will cause to destroy thee, (this is) to thee.
103 He, his envoy before him did not come,
104 did (not) repeat to him the fixing of my will.
105 (In) the service of ASSUR, SIN, SAMAS, BEL, NEBO,
106 (ISTAR of) Nineveh ISTAR of Arbela, NINIP, NUSKU, and NERGAL,
107 who march before me, and destroy my enemies;
108 (of the journey) of my envoy, whom to Diri I had sent;
109 (they) heard in Elam. The fear of my kingdom,
110 (which was) preserved to me by the great gods;
111 Elam overwhelmed, and
112 (and country against) INDABIGAS revolted,
113 and they destroyed him with the sword,
114 UMMANALDASI son of ATTAMITU,
115 sat on the throne.

CYLINDER B, COLUMN VII, LINES 88 TO 101

88 YAUTAH son of HAZAEL
89 King of Kedar, made submission to me;
90 for his gods which the father my begetter had carried off, he prayed me, and
91 submitted to my kingdom.
92 The names of the great gods I made him swear by, and
93 Adarsamain I restored and gave him.
94 Afterwards against my agreement he sinned, and
95 benefits did not regard, and threw off the yoke of my dominion.
96 To seek my alliance his feet broke off, and
97 he discontinued the presents.

{p.62}

98 The people of Arabia with him he caused to revolt, and
99 carried away the plunder of Syria.
100 My army which on the border of his country was stationed,
101 I sent against him;

COLUMN VIII

1 his overthrow they accomplished. The people of Arabia
2 all who came they destroyed with the sword,
3 the tents, the pavilions, their dwellings,
4 a fire they raised and gave to the flames.
5 Oxen, sheep, asses, camels,
6 and men they carried off without number.
7 The sweeping of all the country, through its extent
8 they collected through the whole of it.
9 Camels like sheep I distributed,
10 and caused to overflow to the people of Arabia
11 dwelling in my country. A camel for half a shekel in half shekels of
12 silver they valued in front of the gate
13 the spoil in the sale of captives among ....¹ the strong
14 gathered in droves, they bartered
15 camels and men
16 ..... the Arabians who from the face of my soldiers
17 fled; NINIP the warrior destroyed.
18 In want (and famine) their (life) was passed and
19 for their food they ate the flesh of their children
20 .....
21 ISTAR of Nineveh
_______
1 Lacunae.

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22 YAUTAH misfortune happened to him, and
23 alone he fled to Nabatea,
24 ABIYATEH son of TEHERI,
25 to Nineveh came and kissed my feet.
26 An agreement to make submission to me with him I make;
27 instead of YAUTAH or any one, I appointed him to the kingdom.
28 Gold, eyes of Pi stone guhlu camels and
29 stallion asses, tribute for every year
30 I fixed upon him.
31 AMMULADIN King of Kedar, who like him also
32 revolted and carried away the plunder of the Kings of Syria;
33 in the service of ASSUR, SIN, SHAMAS, VUL, BEL, NEBO,
34 ISTAR of Nineveh the divine Queen of Kitmuri,
35 ISTAR of Arbela,¹ NINIP, NERGAL, NUSKU,
36 by the power of (my) name (which) ASSUR had magnified,
37 KAMAZHALTA King of Moab,
38 a tributary dependant on me,
39 in the battle-field accomplished his overthrow.
40 AMMULADIN and the rest of his people,
41 who from the face of ....²
42 he captured in hand.
43 His hands and feet in bonds of iron he placed, and
44 to Nineveh to my presence he sent.
45 NATHAN King of Nabatea,
46 whose place is remote,
47 heard of the power of ASSUR and MERODACH, who protect me
_______
1 Another "Istar" is sometimes met with in the inscriptions, viz., "Istar of Erech" (Uruk).
2 Lacuna.

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48 who in times past to the Kings my fathers
49 his envoy did not send
50 and did not seek alliance with their kingdom.
51 Again to me his envoy for alliance
52 he sent; and kissed my feet.
53 To establish agreement and alliance, and make submission to me,
54 he submitted to my dominion.
55 I gladly received him, and
56 before me favours on him conferred
57 taxes and tribute for every year I fixed upon him.

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INSCRIPTIONS OF THE PERSIAN MONARCHS
(Corpus Inscriptionum Persicarum)
TRANSLATED BY
PROF. DR. JULIUS OPPERT.

THIS paper includes the translation of all the texts written by the Achaemenidae, except the most important of all, the Behistun Inscription, of which translations have already been given in the Records of the Past, vols. I. and VII.

The Persian texts have often been edited. Following the preparatory labours of Grotefend, Rask, Beer, Jacquet, the documents have been explained by MM. Burnouf, Lassen, Sir H. Rawlinson, Benfey, Spiegel, Kossowicz, and myself.

The Median versions appeared afterwards in the works of MM. Westergaard, De Saulcy, Holtzmann, Norris, and Mordtmann, and the present translator is preparing just now a new edition of the second kind of trilingual documents, together with a Grammar, Dictionary, and commentary.

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The Assyrian translations have been examined by MM. De Saulcy, Sir Henry Rawlinson, Schrader, and by the author in the second volume of the Expedition en Mesopotamie.

A great many very useful remarks have been suggested, especially on the Persian texts, by Holtzmann, Hincks, Bollensen, de Lagarde, Kern, and others. Moreover,