Chapter VII: Front Matter (7)

1 and their maidens I dishonored, the city I overthrew, razed
and burned with fire,
In those days the cities of the land of Nirbi
2 (and) their strong fortresses, I overthrew, demolished,
burned with fire: from Nirbi I withdrew and to the city
Tuskha
3 I approached; the city of Tuskha I again occupied; its
old fort I threw down: its place I prepared, its dimensions
I took; a new castle
4 from its foundation to its roof I built, I completed, I reared:
a palace for the residence of My Royalty with doors of _iki_
wood I made;
5 a palace of brick from its foundations to its roof I made, I
completed: a complete image of my person of polished
stone I made; the history
6 of my surpassing nation and an account of my conquests
which in the country of Nairi I had accomplished I wrote
upon it; in the city of Tuskha
7 I raised it; on suitable stone I wrote and upon the wall I
fixed it; (then) the men of Assyria, those who from the privation
of food to various countries
8 And to Rurie had gone up, to Tuskha I brought back and
settled there: that city to myself
9 I took; the wheats and barleys of Nirbi I accumulated in
it; the populace of Nirbi who before my arms had fled,
10 returned and accepted my yoke; of their towns, their Viceroys,
their many convenient houses I took possession; impost
and tribute, horses,
11 horses for the yoke, fish, oxen, sheep, goats in addition to
what I had before settled, I imposed upon them; their
youths as hostages
12 I took. While I was staying in Tuskha, I received the
tribute of Ammibaal son of Zamani, of Anhiti of the land
of Rurie
13 of Labduri son of Dubuzi of the land of Nirdun and the
tribute of the land of Urumi-sa Bitani, of the Princes of
the land of Nairi,
14 chariots, horses, horses for the yoke, tin, silver, gold, _kam_
of copper, oxen, sheep, goats.
15 Over the land of Nairi I established a viceroy: (but) on
my return the land of Nairi, and Nirbu which is in
16 the land of Kasyari, revolted; nine of their cities leagued
themselves with Ispilipri one of their fortified towns and
to a mountain difficult of access
17 they trusted; but the heights of the hill I besieged and
took; in the midst of the strong mountain their fighting
men I slew; their corpses like rubbish on the hills
18 I piled up; their common people in the tangled hollows of
the mountains I consumed; their spoil, their property I
carried off; the heads of their soldiers
19 I cut off; a pile (of them) in the highest part of the city I
built; their boys and maidens I dishonored; to the environs
of the city Buliyani
20 I passed; the banks of the river Lukia[1] I took possession
of; in my passage I occupied the towns of the land of
Kirhi hard by; many of their warriors
21 I slew; their spoil I spoiled; their cities with fire I burned:
to the city of Ardupati I went. In those days the tribute
22 of Ahiramu son of Yahiru of the land of Nilaai son of Bahiani
of the land of the Hittites[2] and of the Princes of the
land of Hanirabi, silver, gold,
23 tin, _kam_ of copper, oxen, sheep, horses, as their tribute I
received; in the eponym of Assuridin[3] they brought me
intelligence that
24 Zab-yav Prince of the land of Dagara had revolted. The
land of Zamua throughout its whole extent he boldly
seized; near the city of Babite
25 they constructed a fort; for combat and battle they
marched forth: in the service of Assur, the great god my
Lord and the great Merodach
26 going before me,[4] by the powerful aid which the Lord
Assur extended to my people, my servants and my soldiers
I called together; to the vicinity
27 of Babite I marched: the soldiers to the valor of their army
trusted and gave battle: but in the mighty force of the
great Merodach going before me
28 I engaged in battle with them; I effected their overthrow:
I broke them down; 1,460 of their warriors in the environs
29 I slew; Uzie, Birata, and Lagalaga, their strong towns,
with 100 towns within their territory I captured;
30 their spoil, their youths, their oxen, and sheep I carried
off; Zab-yav for the preservation of his life, a rugged
mountain
31 ascended; 1,200 of their soldiers I carried off; from the
land of Dagara I withdrew; to the city of Bara I approached;
the city of Bara
32 I captured; 320 of their soldiers by my weapons I destroyed;
their oxen, sheep, and spoil in abundance I removed;
33 300 of their soldiers I took off; on Tasritu[5] 15th from the
town Kalzi I withdrew, and came to the environs of Babite;
34 from Babite I withdrew; to the land of Nizir which they
call Lúlu-Kinaba I drew near; the city Bunasi one of their
fortified cities
35 belonging to Musazina and 20 cities of their environs I
captured; the soldiers were discouraged; they took possession
of a mountain difficult of access; I, Assur-nasir-pal
impetuously after them
36 like birds swooped down; their corpses lay thick on the
hills of Nizir; 326 of their warriors I smote down; his
horses I exacted of him,
37 their common people in the tangled hollows I consumed;
seven cities in Nizir, which were of their duly appointed
fortresses I captured; their soldiers
38 I slew; their spoil, their riches, their oxen, their sheep I
carried off; the cities themselves I burned; to these my
tents I returned to halt;
39 from those same tents I departed; to cities of the land of
Nizir whose place no one had ever seen I marched; the city
of Larbusa
40 the fortified city of Kirtiara and 8 cities of their territory
I captured; the soldiers lost heart and took to a steep
mountain, a mountain (which) like sharp iron stakes
41 rose high upward; as for his soldiers, I ascended after them;
in the midst of the mountain I scattered their corpses; 172
of their men I slew; soldiers
42 in numbers in the hollows of the mountain I hunted down;
their spoil, their cattle, their sheep, I took away; their
cities with fire
43 I burned; their heads on the high places of the mountain
I lifted up;[6] their boys and maidens I dishonored; to the
tents aforesaid I returned to halt;
44 from those same tents I withdrew; 150 cities of the territory
of Larbusai, Durlulumai, Bunisai and Barai I captured;
45 their fighting men I slew; their spoil I spoiled; the city of
Hasabtal I razed (and) burned with fire; 50 soldiers of
Barai I slew in battle on the plain.
46 In those days the Princes of the entire land of Zamua were
overwhelmed by the dread of the advance of Assur my
Lord and submitted to my yoke; horses, silver, gold,
47 I received; the entire land under a Prefect I placed; horses,
silver, gold, wheat, barley, submission, I imposed upon
them
48 from the city of Tuklat-assur-azbat I withdrew; the land
of Nispi accepted my yoke; I went down all night; to cities
of remote site in the midst of Nispi
49 which Zab-yav had established as his stronghold I went,
took the city of Birutu and consigned it to the flames.
In the eponym of Damiktiya-tuklat, when I was stationed
at Nineveh, they brough me news[7]
50 that Amaka, and Arastua withheld the tribute and vassalage
due to Assur my Lord. In honor of Assur mighty
Lord and Merodach the great going before me,
51 on the first of May[8] I prepared for the third time an
expedition against Zamua: my fighting men[9] before the
many chariots I did not consider: from Kalzi I withdrew;
the lower Zab
52 I passed; to the vicinity of Babite I proceeded; the river
Radanu at the foot of the mountains of Zima, my birthplace,
I approached; oxen,
53 sheep, goats, as the tribute of Dagara I received: near
Zimaki I added my strong chariots and battering rams as
chief of warlike implements to my magazines; by night
54 and daybreak I went down; the Turnat in rafts I crossed;
to Amali the strong city of Arastu I approached;
55 with vigorous assault the city I besieged and took; 800
of their fighting men I destroyed by my weapons; I filled
the streets of their city with their corpses;
56 their many houses I burned; many soldiers I took alive;
their spoil in abundance I carried off; the city I overthrew
razed and burnt with fire; the city Khudun
57 and 20 cities in its environs I took; their soldiers I slew;
their booty in cattle and sheep I carried off; their cities I
overthrew razed and burned; their boys
58 their maidens I dishonored; the city of Kisirtu a fortified
city of Zabini with 10 neighboring cities I took; their soldiers
I slew; their spoil
59 I carried off; the cities of Barai and Kirtiara, Bunisai together
with the province of Khasmar I overthrew razed and
burned with fire;
60 I reduced the boundaries to a heap, and then from the
cities of Arastua I withdrew: to the neighborhood of the
territory of Laara and Bidirgi, rugged land, which for the
passage
61 of chariots and an army was not adapted, I passed; to the
royal city Zamri of Amika of Zamua I drew near; Amika
from before the mighty prowess of my formidable attack
62 fled in fear and took refuge on a hill difficult of access: I
brought forth the treasures of his palace and his chariot;
from Zamri I withdrew and passed the river Lallu and to
the mountains of Etini,
63 difficult ground, unfit for the passage of chariots and
armies, whither none of the Princes my sires had ever penetrated;
I marched in pursuit of his army on the mountains
of Etini:
64 the hill I ascended: his treasure, his riches, vessels of copper,
abundance of copper, _kam_ of copper, bowls of copper,
pitchers of copper, the treasures of his palace and of his
storehouses,
65 from within the mountains I took away to my camp and
made a halt: by the aid of Assur and the Sun-god, the gods
in whom I trust, from that camp I withdrew and proceeded
on my march;
66 the river Edir I passed on the confines of Soua and Elaniu,
powerful lands; their soldiers I slew in numbers; their
treasure, their riches, _am_[10] of copper,
67 _kam_ of copper, _sapli_ and _namziete_ of copper,
vessels of copper
in abundance, _pásur_ wood, gold and _ahzi_, their oxen,
sheep, riches,
68 his abundant spoil, from below the mountains of Elani, his
horses, I exacted from him: Amika for the saving of his
life to the land of Sabue went up;
69 the cities Zámru, Arazitku, Amaru, Parsindu, Eritu, Zuritu
his fortified city, with 150 cities
70 of his territory I overthrew, razed, burned; the boundary
I reduced to a heap.
While in the vicinity of Parsindi I was stationed, the warlike
engines of the tribe of Kallabu
71 came forth against the place; 150 of the fighting men of
Amika I slew in the plain; their heads I cut off and put
them up on the heights of his palace;
72 200 of his soldiers taken by (my) hands alive I left to rot
on the wall of his palace:[11] from Zamri the battering-rams
and ... my banners I made ready;
73 to the fortress Ata, of Arzizai, whither none of the Kings
my sires had ever penetrated I marched: the cities of Arzizu,
and Arzindu
74 his fortified city, with ten cities situated in their environs
in the midst of Nispi a rugged country, I captured; their
soldiers I slew the cities I overthrew razed and burned with
fire:
75 to those my tents I returned. In those days I received copper,
_tabbili_ of copper, _kanmate_ of copper, and _sariete_
as the tribute of the land of Siparmina, such as women
76 collect: from the city of Zamri I withdrew; to Lara, (the
rugged hill-country, unfitted for the passage of chariots and
armies, with instruments [axes] of iron I cut through and
77 with rollers of metal I beat down) with the chariots and
troops I brought over to the city of Tiglath-assur-azbat in
the land of Lulu--the city of Arakdi they call it--I went
down;
78 the Kings of Zamue, the whole of them, from before the
impetuosity of my servants and the greatness of my power
drew back and accepted my yoke; tribute of silver, gold,
tin,
79 copper, _kam_ of copper, vestments of wool, horses, oxen,
sheep, goats, in addition to what I had before settled, I imposed
upon them; a Viceroy
80 in Kalach I created. While in the land of Zamue I was
stationed the cities Khudunai, Khartisai, Khutiskai Kirzanai
81 were overwhelmed by fear of the advance of Assur my
Lord; impost, tribute, silver, gold, horses, vestments of
wool, oxen, sheep, goats, they brought to me; the rebel
soldiers
82 fled from before my arms; they fled to the mountains; I
marched after them; within confines of the land of Aziru
they settled and got ready the city of Mizu as their strong
place;
83 the land of Aziru I overthrew and destroyed; from Zimaki
as far as the Turnat I scattered their corpses; 500 of their
fighting men I destroyed;
84 their spoil in abundance I carried off.
In those days in the land of Samua, (in which is) the
city of Atlila which Zibir King of Kardunias had taken,
devastated,
85 and reduced to a heap of ruins, I Assur-nasir-pal King of
Assyria took, after laying siege to its castle a second time;
the palace as a residence for My Majesty I therein strengthened,
made princely and enlarged beyond what of old was
planned;
86 the wheat and barleys of the land of Kalibi I accumulated
therein; I gave it the name of Dur-Assur.
On the first of May in the eponym of Sanmapakid[12] I
collected my chariots and soldiers
87 the Tigris I crossed; to the land of Commagene I passed
on; I inaugurated a palace in the city of Tiluli; the tribute
due from Commagene I received; from Commagene I
withdrew;
88 I passed on to the land of the Istarat;[13] in the city of Kibaki
I halted; from Kibaki I received oxen, sheep, goats,
and copper; from Kibaki I withdrew;
89 to the city of Mattyati I drew nigh; I took possession of
the land of Yatu with the town Kapranisa; 2,800 of their
fighting men I smote down with my weapons; their spoil
in abundance I carried off;
90 the rebels who had fled from before my arms now accepted
my yoke; of their cities I left them in possession; tribute
impost and an officer[14] over them I set;
91 an image of my person I made; collected laws I wrote upon
it and in the city of Mattiyati I placed it; from Mattiyati I
withdrew; at the city of Zazabuka
92 I halted; the tribute of Calach in oxen, sheep, goats and
various copper articles I received; from Zazabuka I withdrew;
93 at the city of Irzia I made a halt; that city I burned; but
received there the tributes due from Zura in oxen, sheep,
goats and _kam_ copper:
94 from Izria I withdrew; in the land of Kasyari I halted;
Madara (and) Anzi two cities of the territory I captured
and slew their soldiers;
95 their spoil I carried off; the cities I burned with fire; six
lakes I crossed over in Kasyari, a rugged highland for the
passage of chariots and an army
96 unsuited; (the hills with instruments of iron I cut through
[and] with rollers of metal I beat down;) the chariots and
army I brought over. In a city of Assur[15] on the sandy
side which is in Kasyari,
97 oxen, sheep, goats _kam_ and _gurpisi_ of copper I received;
by the land of Kasyari I proceeded; a second time to the
land of Nairi I went down; at the city of Sigisa
98 I made a halt; from Sigisa I withdrew; to Madara the
fortified city of Labduri the son of Dubisi I drew near, a
city extremely strong with four impregnable castles;
99 the city I besieged; they quailed before my mighty
prowess; I received, for the preservation of their lives,
their treasures, their riches, their sons, by tale; I imposed
upon them
100 tribute and duties; an officer[16] I appointed over them; the
city I demolished, razed, and reduced to a heap of ruins;
from Madara I withdrew; to Tuskha
101 I passed over; a palace in Tuskha I dedicated; the tribute
of the land of Nirdun, horses, yoke-horses, fish, _kam_ of
copper, _gurpisi_ of copper, oxen, sheep,
102 goats, in Tuskha I received; 60 cities and strong castles
below Kasyari, belonging to Labduri son of Dubuzi
I overthrew razed and converted to a heap of ruins.
103 In the service of Assur my Lord from Tuskha I withdrew.
The powerful chariots and battering-rams I put
up in my stores; on rafts
104 I passed the Tigris; all night I descended; to Pitura a
strong town of Dirrai I drew near--a very strong city--
105 two forts facing each other, whose castle like the
summit of a mountain stood up: by the mighty hands of
Assur my Lord and the impetuosity of my army and my
formidable attack
106 I gave them battle; on two days before sunrise like Yav
the inundator I rushed upon them; destruction upon them
I rained with the might[17]
107 and prowess of my warriors; like the rush of birds coming
upon them, the city I captured; 800 of their soldiers by
my arms I destroyed; their heads
108 I cut off; many soldiers I captured in hand alive; their
populace in the flames I burned; their spoil I carried off
in abundance; a trophy of the living and of heads
109 about his great gate I built;[18] 700 soldiers I there impaled
on stakes;[19] the city I overthrew, razed, and reduced to
a heap of ruins all round; their boys,
110 their maidens, I dishonored; the city of Kukunu[20] facing
the mountains of Matni I captured; 700 of their fighting
men I smote down with my weapons;
111 their spoil in abundance I carried off; 50 cities of Dira I
occupied; their soldiers I slew; I plundered them; 50 soldiers
I took alive; the cities I overthrew
112 razed and burned; the approach of my Royalty overcame
them; from Pitura I withdrew, and went down to Arbaki
in Gilhi-Bitani;
113 they quailed before the approach of my Majesty, and deserted
their towns and strong places: for the saving of
their lives they went up to Matni a land of strength
114 I went after them in pursuit; 1,000 of their warriors I left
in the rugged hills; their corpses on a hill I piled up;
with their bodies the tangled hollows
115 of the mountains I filled; I captured 200 soldiers and cut
off their hands; their spoil I carried away; their oxen,
their sheep
116 without number, I took away; Iyaya, Salaniba, strong
cities of Arbaki I occupied; the soldiers I slew; their spoil
I carried off
117 250 towns surrounded with strong walls in the land of
Nairi I overthrew demolished and reduced to heaps and
ruins; the trees of their land I cut down; the wheat
118 and barley in Tuskha I kept. Ammiba'al the son of
Zamani had been betrayed and slain by his nobles.[21] To
revenge Ammiba'al
119 I marched; from before the vehemence of my arms and
the greatness of my Royalty
120 they drew back: his swift chariots, trappings for men and
horses one hundred in number,
121 horses, harness, his yokes, tribute of silver and gold with
100 talents
122 in tin, 100 talents in copper, 300 talents in _annui_, 100 _kam_
of copper, 3,000 _kappi_ of copper, bowls of copper, vessels
of copper,
123 1,000 vestments of wool, _nui_ wood, _eru_ wood, _zalmalli_
wood, horns, choice gold,
124 the treasures of his palace, 2,000 oxen, 5,000 sheep, his
wife, with large donations from her; the daughters
125 of his chiefs with large donations from them I received.
I, Assur-nasir-pal, great King, mighty King, King of legions,
King of Assyria,
126 son of Tuklat-Adar great and mighty King, King of
legions, King of Assyria, noble warrior, in the strength of
Assur his Lord walked, and whose equal among the
Kings
127 of the four regions exists not;[22] a King who from beyond
the Tigris up to Lebanon and the Great Sea
128 hath subjugated the land of Laki in its entirety, the land
of Zuhi with the city of Ripaki: from the sources of
the Ani
129 (and) the Zupnat to the land bordering on Sabitan has he
held in hand: the territory of Kirrouri with Kilzani on the
other side the Lower Zab
130 to Tul-Bari which is beyond the country of the Zab; beyond
the city of Tul-sa-Zabdani, Hirimu, Harute, the land
of Birate
131 and of Kardunias I annexed to the borders of my realm
and on the broad territory of Nairi I laid fresh tribute.
The city of Calach I took anew; the old mound
132 I threw down; to the top of the water I brought it; 120
hand-breadths in depth I made it good; a temple to Ninip
my Lord I therein founded; when
133 an image of Ninip himself which had not been made before,
in the reverence of my heart for his great mighty god-ship,
of mountain stone and brilliant gold I caused to make
in its completeness;
134 for my great divinity in the city of Calach I accounted
him: his festivals in the months of January and September[23]
I established: Bit-kursi which was unoccupied I
closed:
135 an altar to Ninip my Lord I therein consecrated: a temple
for Beltis, Sin, and Gulanu, Hea-Manna[24] and Yav
great ruler of heaven and earth I founded.

[Footnote 1: Probably the Lycus or upper Zab.]

[Footnote 2: The term "Hittites" is used in a large sense, as the equivalent of "Syrians," including the northern parts of Palestine.]

[Footnote 3: About 881 B.C.]

[Footnote 4: A scriptural phrase of frequent occurrence.]

[Footnote 5: Corresponding to the Jewish month Tisri, and to part of our September, called in Accadian "the Holy Altar."]

[Footnote 6: Cf. Gen. xi. 19, "Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thy head from off thee."]

[Footnote 7: About 880 B.C.]

[Footnote 8: The Hebrew Sivan.]

[Footnote 9: I.e., in comparison with.]

[Footnote 10: "Am" may be the name of some weight, or figure; v. Norr. Assyr. Dict., pp. 127 and 720.]

[Footnote 11: Menant renders, "j'ai fait etouffer _dans_ le mur."]

[Footnote 12: About 879 B.C.]

[Footnote 13: Goddesses.]

[Footnote 14: Urasi.]

[Footnote 15: Or, "Assur-sidi-huli" may be taken as the name of the town.]

[Footnote 16: "Urasi"(?).]

[Footnote 17: Compare a similar expression, Job xx. 23, "God shall rain (his fury) upon him while he is eating."]

[Footnote 18: Cf. 2 Kings x. 8, "Lay ye them (the heads) in two heaps in the entering in of the gate."]

[Footnote 19: Or, crosses.]

[Footnote 20: On the upper Tigris.]

[Footnote 21: I follow Dr. Oppert in the rendering of this obscure passage. Compare with Ammiba'al the name of the father of Bathsheba, which like many other proper names is indicative of the close relations between Assyria, Phoenicia, Syria, and Judea.]

[Footnote 22: This frequently recurring expression refers to the four races of Syria.]

[Footnote 23: "Tabita" (Heb. "Tebeth") and "Tasritu" (Heb. "Tisri"). It should be remarked that after the captivity the names of the months were exchanged for the Chaldean; and the old Hebrew names, such as "Abib" (Exod. xiii. 4), "Zif" (1 Kings vi. 37), "Ethanim" (ib. viii. 2), "Bul" (ib. vi. 38), and the titles first, second, third month, etc., were dropped.]

[Footnote 24: This name has also been read as "Nisroch-Salmon."]

COLUMN III

l On the 22d day of the third month, May,[1] in the eponym
of Dagan-bel-ussur,[2] withdrew from Calach; I passed the
Tigris at its nearer bank
2 and received a large tribute; at Tabite I made a halt; on the
6th day of the fourth month, June,[3] I withdrew from
Tabite and skirted the banks of Kharmis;
3 at the town of Magarizi I made a halt; withdrew from it
and passed along by the banks of the Chaboras and halted
at Sadikanni;
4 the tribute due from Sadikanni, silver, gold, tin, _kam_ of
copper, oxen, sheep, I received and quitted the place.
5 At the city of Katni I made a halt; the tribute of Sunaya
I received, and from Katni withdrew;
6 at Dar-Kumlimi[4] halted; withdrew from it and halted at
Bit-Halupe, whose tribute
7 of silver, gold, tin, _kam_ of copper, vestments of wool and
linen, oxen and sheep I received, and withdrew from it;
8 at the city of Zirki I made a halt; the tribute of Zirki,
silver, gold, tin, oxen,
9 sheep, I received; withdrew from Zirki; halted at Zupri,
whose tribute
10 of silver, gold, tin, _kami_, oxen, sheep, I received; withdrew
from Zupri and halted at Nagarabani,
11 whose tribute in silver, gold, tin, _kami_, oxen, sheep, I
received and withdrew from it;
12 near Khindani, situated on the nearer banks of the Euphrates
I halted;
13 the tribute of Khindani, silver, gold, tin, _kami_, oxen, sheep,
I received. From Khindani
14 I withdrew; at the mountains over against the Euphrates[5]
I halted; I withdrew from those mountains and halted at
Bit-Sabáya near the town of Haridi
15 situate on the nearer bank of the Euphrates. From Bit-Sabáya
I withdrew; at the commencement of the town of
Anat[6]
16 I made a halt. Anat is situated in the midst of the Euphrates.
From Anat I withdrew. The city of Zuru the
fortified city of
17 Sadudu of the land of Zuhi I besieged: to the numerous
warriors of the spacious land of the Kassi he trusted and
to make war and battle to my presence advanced;
l8 the city I besieged; two days I was engaged in fighting; I
made good an entrance: (then) through fear[7] of my
mighty arms Sadudu and his soldiers
19 for the preservation of his life, into the Euphrates threw
himself: I took the city; 50 _bit-hallu_[8] and their soldiers
in the service of Nabu-bal-idin King of Kardunias;
20 Zabdanu his brother with 300 of his soldiers and Bel-bal-idin
who marched at the head of their armies I captured,
together with them
21 many soldiers I smote down with my weapons; silver, gold,
tin, precious stone of the mountains,[9] the treasure of his
palace,
22 chariots, horses trained to the yoke, trappings for men and
horses, the women of his palace, his spoil,
23 in abundance I carried off; the city I pulled down and razed;
ordinances and edicts I imposed on Zuhi; the fear of my
dominion to Kardunias reached;
24 the greatness of my arms overwhelmed Chaldæa;[10] on the
countries of the banks of the Euphrates my impetuous
soldiers I sent forth; an image
25 of my person I made; decrees and edicts upon it I inscribed;
in Zuri I put it up, I Assur-nasir-pal, a King who
has enforced his laws
26 (and) decrees and who to the sword hath directed his face
to conquests and alliances hath raised his heart. While
I was stationed at Calach
27 they brought me news that the population of Laqai and
Khindanu of the whole land of Zukhi had revolted and
crossed the Euphrates
28 on the eighteenth of May[11] I withdrew from Calach; passed
the Tigris, took the desert to Zúri
29 by Bit-Halupí I approached in ships belonging to me which
I had taken at Zúri: I took my way to the sources of the
Euphrates;
30 the narrows of the Euphrates I descended, the cities of
Khintiel and Aziel in the land of Laqai I took; their soldiers
I slew; their spoil
31 I carried off; the cities I overthrew, razed, burned with
fire. In my expedition marching westward of the banks of
the Chaboras to
32 the city Zibate of Zuhi, cities on the other side of the
Euphrates in the land of Laqai I overthrew, devastated and
burned with fire; their crops I seized 460 soldiers
33 their fighting men by (my) weapons I destroyed; I took
20 alive and impaled them on stakes;[12] on ships which I
had built--
34 in 20 ships which were drawn up on the sand at Haridi
I crossed the Euphrates. The land of Zuhaya and Laqai
35 and the city of Khindanai[13] to the power of their chariots
armies and hands trusted and summoned 6,000 of their
soldiers to engage in fight and battle.
36 They came to close quarters; I fought with them; I
effected their overthrow; I destroyed their chariots 6,500
of their warriors I smote down by my weapons; the remainder
37 in starvation in the desert of the Euphrates I shut up.
From Haridi in Zukhi to Kipina and the cities of Khin-danai[13]
38 in Laqai on the other side I occupied; their fighting men
I slew; the city I overthrew razed and burned. Aziel of
Laqai
39 trusted to his forces and took possession of the heights
of Kipina; I gave them battle; at the city of Kipina I
effected his overthrow; 1,000 of his warriors I slew;
40 his chariots I destroyed; spoil I carried off in plenty;
their gods I took away; for the preservation of his life he
took refuge on a rugged hill of Bizuru at the sources of
the Euphrates;
41 for two days I descended the river in pursuit: the relics
of his army with my weapons I destroyed; their hiding
place by the hills on the Euphrates I broke up;
42 to the cities of Dumite and Azmú belonging to the son of
Adini[14] I went down after him; his spoil, his oxen, his
sheep,
43 which like the stars of heaven were without number I
carried off.
In those days Ila of Laqai, his swift chariots and 500
soldiers
44 to my land of Assyria I transported; Dumutu and Azmu
I captured, overthrew, razed and burned; in the narrows of
the Euphrates I turned aside in my course and
45 I outflanked Aziel, who fled before my mighty power to
save his life. Ila; the Prince of Laqai, his army his chariots,
his harness,
46 I carried off and took to my city of Assur: Khimtiel of
Laqai I made prisoner in his own city. Through the might
of Assur my Lord, (and) in the presence of my mighty
arms and the formidable attack
47 of my powerful forces he was afraid, and I received the
treasures of his palaces, silver, gold, tin, copper, _kam_ of
copper, vestments of wool, his abundant spoil; and tribute
48 and impost in addition to what I had previously fixed I laid
upon them; in those days I slew 50 buffaloes in the neighborhood
of the nearer side of the Euphrates: eight buffaloes
I caught alive;
49 I killed 20 eagles, and captured others alive: I founded two
cities on the Euphrates; one on the farther bank
50 of the Euphrates which I named Dur-Assur-nasir-pal; one
on the nearer bank which I named Nibarti-Assur. On the
20th of May[16] I withdrew from Calach;
51 I crossed the Tigris; to the land of Bit-Adini I went; to
their strong city of Katrabi I approached, a city exceedingly
strong, like a storm rushing from heaven,[17]
52 the soldiers confided to their numerous troops, and would
not submit and accept my yoke: in honor of Assur the great
Lord, my Lord, and the god the great protector going before
me, I besieged the city
53 by the warlike engines[18] on foot and strong, the city I
captured; many of their soldiers I slew; 800 of their fighting
men I dispersed; their spoil and property I carried off,
2,400 of their warriors
54 I transported away and detained them at Calach; the city
I overthrew razed and burnt; the fear of the approach of
Assur my Lord over Bit-Adini I made good.
55 In those days the tribute of Ahuni son of Adini of Habini,
of the city of Tul-Abnai,[19] silver, gold, tin,[20] copper,
vestments of wool and linen, wood for bridges,
56 cedar wood, the treasures of his palace I received; their
hostages I took, _rimutu_[21] I imposed upon them.
In the month April[22] and on the eighth day I quitted
Calach; the Tigris
57 I passed; to Carchemish[23] in Syria I directed my steps; to
Bit-Bakhiani I approached; the tribute due from the son[24]
of Bakhiani, swift chariots, horses, silver,
58 gold, tin, copper, _kami_ of copper, I received; the chariots
and warlike engines of the officer of the son of Bakhiani I
added to my magazines;
59 I menaced the land of Anili: the tribute of Hu-immi of
Nilaya, swift war chariots, horses, silver, gold, tin,[25]
copper,
60 _kami_ of copper, oxen, sheep, horses, I received; the
chariots and warlike instruments of the officer I added to my
magazines. From Anili I withdrew; to Bit-Adini I approached;
61 the tribute of Ahuni son of Adini, silver, gold, tin,[5] copper,
wood of _ereru_ and _rabaz_, horns, _sai_-wood, horns[26]
62 of thrones horns of silver, and gold, _sari_, bracelets of gold,
_sahri_ fastenings for covers of gold, scabbards of gold, oxen,
sheep, goats as his tribute I received;
63 the chariots and warlike engines of the officer of Ahuni I
added to my magazines. In those days I received the tribute
of Habini of Tul-Abnai, four maneh of silver and 400
sheep;
64 ten maneh of silver for his first year as tribute I imposed
upon him: from Bit-Adini I withdrew; the Euphrates, in a
difficult part of it, I crossed in ships of hardened skins:
65 I approached the land of Carchemish: the tribute of Sangara
King of Syria, twenty talents of silver, _sahri_ gold, bracelets
of gold, scabbards of gold, 100 talents
66 of copper, 250 talents of annui _kami, harlate, nirmakate
kibil_[27] of copper, the extensive furniture of his palace,
67 of incomprehensible perfection[28] different kinds of woods,[29]
_ka_ and _sara_, 200 female slaves, vestments of wool,
68 and linen; beautiful black coverings, beautiful purple coverings,
precious stones, horns of buffaloes, white[30] chariots,
images of gold, their coverings, the treasures of his
Royalty, I received of him;
69 the chariots and warlike engines of the General of Carchemish
I laid up in my magazines; the Kings of all those
lands who had come out against me received my yoke; their
hostages I received;
70 they did homage in my presence; to the land of Lebanon[31]
I proceeded. From Carchemish I withdrew and marched
to the territory of Munzigani and Harmurga:
71 the land of Ahanu I reduced; to Gaza[32] the town of Lubarna[33]
of the Khatti I advanced; gold and vestments of
linen I received:
72 crossing the river Abrie I halted and then leaving that
river approached the town of Kanulua a royal city belonging
to Lubarna of the Khatti:
73 from before my mighty arms and my formidable onset he
fled in fear, and for the saving of his life submitted to my
yoke; twenty talents of silver, one talent of gold,
74 100 talents in tin, 100 talents in _annui_, 1,000 oxen, 10,000
sheep, 1,000 vestments of wool, linen, _nimati_ and _ki_
woods coverings,
75 _ahuzate_ thrones, _kui_ wood, wood for seats, their
coverings, _sarai, zueri_-wood, horns of _kui_ in abundance,
the numerous utensils of his palace, whose beauty
76 could not be comprehended:[34] ... _pagatu_(?)[35] from
the wealth of great Lords as his tribute
77 I imposed upon him; the chariots and warlike engines of
the land of the Khatti I laid up in my magazines; their
hostages I took.
In those days (I received) the tribute of Guzi
78 of the land of Yahanai, silver, gold, tin,[36] ... oxen,
sheep, vestments of wool and linen I received: from Kunalua
the capital of Lubarna I withdrew,
79 of the land of the Khatti, crossed the Orontes,[37] and after
a halt left it, and to the borders
80 of the land of Yaraki and of Yahturi I went round: the
land[38] ... had rebelled: from the Sangura after a
halt I withdrew;
81 I made a detour to the lands of Saratini and Girpani[39]
... I halted and advanced to Aribue a fortified city
belonging to Lubarna of the land of the Khatti:
82 the city I took to myself; the wheats and barleys of Luhuti
I collected; I allowed his palace to be sacked and settled
Assyrians there.[40]
83 While I was stationed at Aribua, I captured the cities of the
land of Luhiti and slew many of their soldiers; overthrew
razed and burned them with fire;
84 the soldiers whom I took alive I impaled on stakes close
by their cities.
In those days I occupied the environs of Lebanon; to the
great sea
85 of Phoenicia[41] I went up: up to the great sea my arms I
carried: to the gods I sacrificed; I took tribute of the
Princes of the environs of the sea-coast,
86 of the lands of Tyre, Sidon, Gebal, Maacah[42] Maizai Kaizai,
of Phoenicia and Arvad
87 on the sea-coast--silver, gold, tin, copper, _kam_ of copper,
vestments of wool and linen, _pagutu_[43] great and small,
88 strong timber, wood of _ki_[44] teeth of dolphins, the produce
of the sea, I received as their tribute: my yoke they accepted;
the mountains of Amanus[45] I ascended; wood for
bridges,
89 pines, box, cypress, _li_-wood, I cut down; I offered sacrifices
for my gods; a trophy[46] of victory I made, and in a
central place I erected it;
90 _gusuri_-wood, cedar wood from Amanus I destined for
Bit-Hira,
and my pleasure house called Azmaku, for the temple
of the Moon and Sun the exalted gods.
91 I proceeded to the land of Iz-mehri, and took possession
of it throughout: I cut down beams for bridges of _mehri_
trees, and carried them to Nineveh; (and)
92 to Istar Lady of Nineveh (on) my knees I knelt.[47] In the
eponym of Samas-nuri[48] in the honor of the great Lord
Assur my Lord on the 20th of April[49]
93 from Calach I withdrew--crossed the Tigris--descended
to the land of Kipani, and there, in the city of Huzirina,
received the tribute of the governors of its cities.
94 While stationed at Huzirana I received the tribute of
Ittiel of Nilaya, Giridadi of Assaya, in silver
95 gold, oxen, sheep. In those days I received the tribute in
beams for bridges, cedar wood, silver, gold of Qatuzili
96 of Commagene[50]--withdrew from Huzirina and took my
way upward along the banks of the Euphrates; to Kubbu.[51]
97 I crossed over into the midst of the towns of Assa in
Kirkhi over against Syria. The cities of Umalie and
Khiranu
98 powerful cities centrally situated in Adani I captured; numbers
of their soldiers I slew; spoil beyond reckoning
99 I carried off; the towns I overthrew and demolished; 150
cities of their territory I burned with fire; then from Khiranu
100 I withdrew; I passed over to the environs of the land of
Amadani; I went down among the cities of Dirrie, and
the cities within the lands of
101 Amadani and Arquanie I burned with fire: Mallanu which
is in the middle of Arquanie I took as my own possession;
I withdrew from Mallanu
102 to the cities of Zamba on the sandy outskirt, which I
burned with fire: I passed the river Sua, proceeding up
to the Tigris whose cities
103 on those banks and on these banks of the Tigris in Arkanie
to a heap I reduced: its waters overflowed all Kirkhi: my
yoke they took;
104 their hostages I exacted; a Viceroy of my own I appointed
over them: in the environs of the land of Amadani I
arrived: at Barza-Nistun
105 To Dandamusa the fortified city of Ilani son of Zamani
I drew near and laid siege to it: my warriors like birds
of prey rushed upon them;
106 600 of their warriors I put to the sword and decapitated;
400 I took alive;
107 3,000 captives I brought forth; I took possession of the
city for myself: the living soldiers, and heads to the city
of Amidi[52] the royal city, I sent;
108 heaps of the heads close by his great gate I piled; the
living soldiers I crucified on crosses[53] at the gates of the
town;
109 inside the gates I made carnage; their forests I cut down;[54]
from Amidi I withdrew toward the environs of Kasyari;
the city of Allabzie
110 to whose rocks and stones no one among the Kings my
fathers had ever made approach, I penetrated; to the town
of Uda the fortress of Labduri son of Dubuzi
111 I approached and besieged the city with _bilsi_(?) strengthened
and marching; the city I captured;[55] ... soldiers[56] ... with my
weapons I destroyed; 570 soldiers
112 I captured; 3,000 captives I took forth; soldiers alive I
caught; some I impaled on stakes;[57] of others
113 the eyes I put out: the remainder I carried off to Assur
and took the city as my own possession--I who am Assur-nasir-pal
mighty King, King of Assyria son of Tuklat-Adar, (Tuklat-Ninip)
114 great King, powerful King, King of legions, King of
Assyria son of Vul-nirari[58] great King, mighty King,
King of legions, King of Assyria, noble warrior, who in
the service of Assur his Lord proceeded, and among the
Kings of the four regions,
115 has no equal, a Prince[59] (giving) ordinances, not fearing
opponents, mighty unrivalled leader, a Prince subduer of
the disobedient, who all
116 the thrones of mankind has subdued; powerful King
treading over the heads of his enemies, trampling on the
lands of enemies, breaking down the assemblages of the
wicked; who in the service of the great gods
117 his Lords marched along; whose hand hath taken possession
of all their lands, laid low the forests of all of them,
and received their tributes, taking hostages (and) imposing
laws
118 upon all those lands; when Assur the Lord proclaimer
of my name, aggrandizer of my Royalty, who added his
unequivocal service to the forces of my government
119 I destroyed the armies of the spacious land of Lúlumi.
In battle by weapons I smote them down. With the help
of the Sun-god
120 and Yav, the gods in whom I trust, I rushed upon the
armies of Nairi, Kirkhi Subariya and Nirbi like Yav the
inundator;[60]
121 a King who from the other side the Tigris to the land of
Lebanon and the great sea has subjugated to his yoke the
entire land of Lakie and the land of Zukhi as far as the
city Rapik;
122 to whose yoke is subjected (all) from the sources of the
Zupnat to the frontiers of Bitani; from the borders of
Kirruri to Kirzani;
123 from beyond the Lower Zab to the town of Tulsa-Zabdani
and the town of Tul-Bari beyond the land of Zaban as far
as the towns of Tul-sa-Zabdani and
124 Tul-sa-Abtani; Harimu, Harutu in Birate of Kardunias[61]
to the borders of my land I added; (the inhabitants) of
the territory of Babite
125 with Khasmar among the people of my own country I
accounted: in the countries which I held I established a
deputy: they performed homage: submission
126 I imposed upon them; I, Assur-nasir-pal, great, noble, worshipper
of the great gods, generous, great, mighty
possessors of cities and the forests of all their domains,
King of Lords, consumer of
127 the wicked _taskaru_ invincible, who combats injustice,
Lord of all Kings, King of Kings, glorious, upholder of
Bar (Ninip) the warlike, worshipper
128 of the great gods, a King who, in the service of Assur
and Ninip, gods in whom he trusted, hath marched royally,
and wavering lands and Kings his enemies in all their
lands
129 to his yoke hath subdued, and the rebels against Assur,
high and low, hath opposed and imposed on them impost
and tribute--Assur-nasir-pal
130 mighty King, glory of the Moon-god[62] worshipper of Anu,
related[63] to Yav, suppliant of the gods, an unyielding
servant, destroyer of the land of his foes; I, a King vehement
in war,
131 destroyer of forests and cities, chief over opponents, Lord
of four regions, router of his enemies in strong lands and
forests, and who Kings mighty and fearless from the rising
132 to the setting of the sun to my yoke subjugated.

The former city of Calach which Shalmaneser King of
Assyria going before me, had built--
133 that city was decayed and reduced to a heap of ruins: that
city I built anew; the people captured by my hand of the
countries which I had subdued, Zukhi and Lakie,
134 throughout their entirety, the town of Sirku on the other
side of the Euphrates, all Zamua, Bit-Adini, the Khatti,
and the subjects of Liburna I collected within, I made
them occupy.[64]
135 A water-course from the Upper Zab I dug and called it
Pati-kanik: timber upon its shores I erected: a choice of
animals to Assur my Lord and (for) the Chiefs of my
realm I sacrificed;
136 the ancient mound I threw down: to the level of the water
I brought it: 120 courses on the low level I caused it
to go: its wall I built; from the ground to the summit I
built (and) completed.

[Additional clauses are found on the monolith inscription in the British Museum. They are not, however, of any great importance and amount to little more than directions for the preservation and reparation of the palace, with imprecations upon those who should at any time injure the buildings. On this same monolith is found an invocation to the great gods of the Assyrian Pantheon: namely, to Assur, Anu, Hea, Sin [the Moon], Merodach, Yav Jahve, Jah[?], Ninip, Nebo, Beltis, Nergal, Bel-Dagon, Samas [the Sun], Istar.]

[Footnote 1: Sivan.]

[Footnote 2: 878 B.C.]

[Footnote 3: Heb. "Tammuz," Assyr. "Duwazu."]

[Footnote 4: A city in Mesopotamia.]

[Footnote 5: "Burattu." In Hebrew (Gen. ii. 14). "Phrat."]

[Footnote 6: Dr. Oppert renders this "Anatho."]

[Footnote 7: Literally, "from the face of."]

[Footnote 8: Probably military engines used in sieges.]

[Footnote 9: Or, sadi-stone shining.]

[Footnote 10: "Kaldu." There are fragments existing in the British Museum of a treaty made between this Nabu-bal-idin, King of Kardunias (Babylonia), and Shalmaneser, son of Assur-nasir-pal. v. "Trans. Soc. Bib. Archæol.," i. 77.]

[Footnote 11: The Hebrew Sivan.]

[Footnote 12: Literally, "impaled on stakes." But Dr. Oppert and Mr. Norris generally adopt the rendering given in the text, I. 108, p. 194.]

[Footnote 13: It will be observed that this city is differently spelled in line 27. Irregularities of this kind are very frequent, especially in the termination of proper names.]

[Footnote 14: See note 3, p. 188.]

[Footnote 15: "Ahuni." See l. 61, p. 191.]

[Footnote 16: The Hebrew Sivan.]

[Footnote 17: Or, "as it were situated among the storm-clouds of heaven."]

[Footnote 18: The nature of these engines ("bilsi") is uncertain.]

[Footnote 19: I.e., stony-hill.]

[Footnote 20: Or, lead.]

[Footnote 21: Possibly "humiliation," from the Chaldee "rama."]

[Footnote 22: Airu.]

[Footnote 23: Carchemish. Cf. Jeremiah xlvi. 2.]

[Footnote 24: Tribe(?).]

[Footnote 25: Or, lead.]

[Footnote 26: Some projecting ornament, like "horns of an altar." Cf. Ps. cxviii. 27; Exod. xxx. 2.]

[Footnote 27: Probably some utensils, as explained by the Hebrew word "unutu" ("anioth").]

[Footnote 28: Or, with Mr. Norris, "the whole of it was not taken." Dict., p. 558.]

[Footnote 29: The words specified are "sa" or "issa," "passur," and probably "ebony"; the others have not been identified.]

[Footnote 30: Probably "in ivory."]

[Footnote 31: Labnana.]

[Footnote 32: Hazazi.]

[Footnote 33: Prince.]

[Footnote 34: The Inscription is here defaced.]

[Footnote 35: May this be the Hebrew word for garments, "beged"?]

[Footnote 36: Defaced.]

[Footnote 37: Arunte.]

[Footnote 38: Defaced.]

[Footnote 39: Defaced.]

[Footnote 40: Precisely thus: "The King of Assyria brought men from Babylon ... and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel."--2 Kings xvii. 24.]

[Footnote 41: "Akhari." Heb. [Hebrew: achari].]

[Footnote 42: Literally, Zurai, Sidunai, Gubalai, Makullat.]

[Footnote 43: See p. 192, note 5.]

[Footnote 44: Ebony.]

[Footnote 45: The mountain chain which divides Syria from Cilicia.]

[Footnote 46: Or, proof.]

[Footnote 47: Literally, sat.]

[Footnote 48: I.e., "the sun is my light."]

[Footnote 49: Assyr. "Airu," Heb. "Iyar." 866 B.C.]

[Footnote 50: Literally, Kumukhaya.]

[Footnote 51: Between Carchemish and the Orontes.]

[Footnote 52: Diarbekr, still known by the name of "Kar-Amid." Rawlinson's "Herodotus," l. 466. The name is of frequent occurrence in early Christian writers.]

[Footnote 53: See p. 188, note 2.]

[Footnote 54: Cf. Is. x. 34, "He shall cut down the thickets of the forest with iron"; also Ezek. xxxix. 10.]

[Footnote 55: The inscription is here defaced.]

[Footnote 56: Defaced.]

[Footnote 57: See p. 188, note 2.]

[Footnote 58: The grandfather of Assur-nasir-pal. His reign probably terminated at 889 B.C.]

[Footnote 59: Literally, shepherd. Thus, Isa. xliv. 28, "Cyrus is my shepherd."]

[Footnote 60: Cf. Ps. xxix. 10, "The Lord (Jhvh) sitteth upon the flood; yea the Lord sitteth King forever."]

[Footnote 61: This reads like an annexation of a portion of Babylonian territory.]

[Footnote 62: Or upholder, proclaimer of Sin, the moon; of. I. 127.]

[Footnote 63: Assyr. "Nalad." Cf. the Heb. yâlad "born of."]

[Footnote 64: Precisely thus were the Israelites carried away to Babylon.]

ASSYRIAN SACRED POETRY

TRANSLATED BY H.F. TALBOT, F.R.S.

The following translations are some of those which I published in the "Transactions of the Society of Biblical Archæology" in order to show that the Assyrians had a firm belief in the immortality of the soul: a fact which was previously unknown.

I have added specimens of their penitential psalms, and some notices of their numerous superstitions, such as the exorcism of evil spirits, the use of magic knots and talismans, the belief in inherited or imputed sins, and in the great degree of holiness which they attributed to the number _Seven_. In some of these respects we may evidently see how great an influence was exercised on the mind and belief of the Jews by their long residence at Babylon.

ASSYRIAN SACRED POETRY

A PRAYER FOR THE KING

1 "Length of days 2 long lasting years 3 a strong sword 4 a long life 5 extended years of glory 6 pre-eminence among Kings 7 grant ye to the King my Lord, 8 who has given such gifts 9 to his gods! 10 The bounds vast and wide 11 of his Empire 12 and of his Rule, 13 may he enlarge and may he complete! 14 Holding over all Kings supremacy 15 and royalty and empire 16 may he attain to gray hairs 17 and old age! 18 And after the life of these days, 19 in the feasts of the silver mountain,[2] the heavenly Courts 20 the abodes of blessedness: 21 and in the Light 22 of the _Happy Fields,_ 23 may he dwell a life 24 eternal, holy 25 in the presence 26 of the gods 27 who inhabit Assyria!"

[Footnote 1: From the "Trans. Soc. Bib. Arch.," vol. i. p. 107. The original is in "Cuneiform Inscriptions of Western Asia," vol. iii. pl. 66.]

[Footnote 2: The Assyrian Olympus. The epithet "silver" was doubtless suggested by some snowy inaccessible peak, the supposed dwelling-place of the gods.]

SHORT PRAYER FOR THE SOUL OF A DYING MAN [Footnote: "Trans. Soc. Bib. Arch.," vol. ii. p. 20.]

1 Like a bird may it fly to a lofty place! 2 To the holy hands of its god, may it ascend!

THE DEATH OF A RIGHTEOUS MAN [Footnote: Ibid., vol. ii. p. 31.]

1 Bind the sick man to Heaven, for from the Earth he is being torn away! 2 Of the brave man who was so strong, his strength has departed. 3 Of the righteous servant, the force does not return. 4 In his bodily frame he lies dangerously ill. 5 But Ishtar, who in her dwelling is grieved concerning him 6 descends from her mountain, unvisited of men. 7 To the door of the sick man she comes. 8 The sick man listens! 9 Who is there? Who comes? 10 It is Ishtar daughter of the Moon-god Sin: 11 It is the god (...) Son of Bel: 12 It is Marduk, Son of the god (...). 13 They approach the body of the sick man. (The next line, 14, is nearly destroyed.) 15 They bring a _khisibta_[1] from the heavenly treasury. 16 They bring a _sisbu_ from their lofty storehouse: 17 into the precious _khisibta_ they pour bright liquor. 18 That righteous man, may he now rise on high! 19 May he shine like that _khisibta_! 20 May he be bright as that _sisbu_! 21 Like pure silver may his garment be shining white! 22 Like brass may he be radiant! 23 To the Sun, greatest of the gods, may he ascend! 24 And may the Sun, greatest of the gods, receive his soul into his holy hands![2]

[Footnote 1: Probably a cup or drinking-vessel.]