Registros del pasado, 2.ª serie, Vol. IV

85. In the 10th year of my reign for the eighth time I crossed the Euphrates; I captured the cities of Sangara of Carchemish; 3

86. I approached the cities of Arame. I captured Arnê. his royal city and 100 of his towns.—

87. In the 11th year of my reign for the ninth time I crossed the Euphrates. I captured cities without number. To the cities of the land of the Hittites

88. (and) of the country of the Hamathites I descended. I captured 89 towns. Dadda-idri of the country of Damascus (and) twelve kings of the country of the Hittites 4

89. ranged themselves side by side; I overthrew them.—In the 12th year of my reign for the tenth time I crossed the Euphrates.

90. I marched against the country of Paqarkhubuna; I carried away their spoil.—In the 13th year of my reign I went up against the country of Yaeti;

91. I carried away their spoil.—In the 14th year of my reign I assembled (the men) of the country; I crossed the Euphrates; twelve kings met me;

92. I fought [with them]; I overthrew them.—In the 15th year of my reign I marched to the sources of the Tigris (and) Euphrates. An image

93. I erected in their caverns.—In the 16th year of my reign I crossed the Zab; 5 to the country of Namri 6

p. 44

94. I marched. Merodach-mudammiq king of Namri, to save his life, ascended (the mountain): his goods,

95. his troops (and) his gods I transported to Assyria. Yanzu 1 the son of Khanban I raised to the sovereignty over them.—

Face B, Base

96. In the 17th year of my reign I crossed the Euphrates; I ascended mount Amanus; logs

97. of cedar I cut.—In the 18th year of my reign for the sixteenth time I crossed the Euphrates. Hazael

98. of the country of Damascus advanced to battle: 1121 chariots, 470 litters (?) with

99. his camp I took from him. 2—In the 19th year of my reign for the eighteenth time I crossed the Euphrates. Mount Amanus

100. I ascended: logs of cedar I cut.—In the 20th year of my reign, for the twentieth time, the Euphrates

101. I crossed. Into the country of Qaue 3 I descended. I captured their cities. Their spoil

102. I carried away.—In the 21st year of my reign for the

p. 45

[paragraph continues] 21st time I crossed the Euphrates. Against the cities

103. of Hazael of the country of Damascus I marched; four of his cities I captured. The tribute of the Tyrians,

104. the Sidonians (and) the Gebalites 1 I received.—In the 22d year of my reign for the 22d time the Euphrates

105. I crossed. I descended into the country of Tubal. 2 At that time from the twenty-four

106. kings of Tubal I received gifts. To mount Tumar,

107. a mountain of silver, a mountain of mulî, 3 a mountain of marble, I marched.—In the 23d year of my reign

108. the Euphrates I crossed. Uetash the stronghold

109. of Lalla the Milidian 4 I captured. The kings of Tubal

110. had come; their tribute I received.—In the 24th year of my reign the Lower Zab

111. I crossed. I passed over mount Khashimur; into the country of Namri

112. I descended. Yanzû the king of Namri before

113. my powerful weapons trembled, and to save his life

114. ascended (the mountain). Sikhishalakh, Bit-Tamul, Bit-Sakki

115. (and) Bit-Shêdi his strong cities I captured. His soldiers I slew.

116. His spoil I carried away. I threw down, dug up (and) burned with fire the cities.

117. The survivors of them ascended the mountains. The mountain peaks

118. I assaulted, I captured: their soldiers I slew; their spoil (and) their goods

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119. I carried down. I departed from the country of Namri. The tribute of twenty-seven kings

120. of the country of Parsua 1 I received. From Parsua I departed. Into

121. the country of Messi, the country of the Amadians, 2 the country of Araziash (and) the country of Kharkhar I descended.

Face C, Base

122. The cities of Kuakinda, Khatstsanabi, 3 Esamul

123. (and) Kinablila as well as the towns dependent on them I captured. Their soldiers

124. I slew, their spoil I carried away. The cities I threw down, dug up (and) burned with fire. An image of my majesty

125. in the country of Kharkhâra I set up. Yanzû the son of Khaban, with his numerous goods,

126. his gods, his sons, his daughters (and) his many troops I carried away, to Assyria I brought (them).—In the 25th year of my reign

127. the Euphrates at its flood I crossed. I received the tribute of all the kings of the country of the Hittites. Mount Amanus

128. I passed over. I descended into the cities of Katê of the country of the Qauians. Timur his stronghold

129. I assaulted, I captured. I slew their soldiers. I carried away their spoil. The cities to a countless number I threw down, dug up

130. (and) burned with fire. On my return Mûru the stronghold of Arame the son of Agusi

131. I took for myself as a fortress. 4 I surrounded its enclosure (with a wall); I founded therein a palace as my royal abode.—

132. In the 26th year of my reign for the 7th time I passed

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over Mount Amanus; for the 4th time against the cities of Katê

133. of the country of the Qauians I marched. I besieged Tanakun 1 the stronghold of Tulka. The terror

134. of the glory of Assur my lord overwhelmed him and they came forth, they took my feet. I took hostages from him. Silver, gold,

135. iron, oxen (and) sheep I received from him as his tribute. I departed from Tanakun; against the country of Lamena

136. I marched. The inhabitants fled; they occupied an inaccessible mountain; the summit of the mountain I assaulted,

137. I captured. Their soldiers I slew; their spoil, their oxen (and) their sheep I brought down from the mountain.

138. I threw down, dug up (and) burned with fire their cities. Against the city of Tarzi 2 I marched. They took my feet. Silver (and) gold,

139. I received as their tribute. Kirrî the brother of Katê to the sovereignty over them

140. I appointed. On my return I ascended over mount Amanus. Logs of cedar I cut,

141. I removed, to my city of Assur I transported.—In the 27th year of my reign I assembled my chariots (and) my armies. Dayân-Assur

142. the Tartan, 3 the commander of my numerous armies, at the head of my troops against the country of Ararat I despatched,

143. I sent. Into the country of Bit-Zamani 4 he descended; into the defiles of the city of Ammash he entered; the river Arzania 5 he crossed.

p. 48

144. Seduri 1 of the country of the Araratians heard and to the strength of his numerous armies

145. trusted; he came against 2 me to make combat (and) battle. I 2 fought with him,

146. I defeated him; I filled the wide plain with the bodies of his warriors.—In the 28th year of my reign,

147. while I was staying in Calah, news was brought to me (that) the men of the country of the Patinians 3

148. had slain Lubarni their prince (and) had raised to the sovereignty over them Surri who had no right to the throne.

149. Dayan-Assur the Tartan, the commander of my numerous armies, at the head of my army (and) my train

150. I despatched, I sent. He crossed the Euphrates at its flood. In Kinalua, 4 the royal city of (Surri),

151. he made a massacre. As for Surri the usurper, the terror of the glory of Assur my lord

152. overwhelmed him and he died a natural death. The men of the country of the Patinians before the splendour of my powerful weapons

Face D, Base

153. trembled, and they seized the sons of Surri and the leaders in the rebellion (and) delivered (them) to me.

154. I hung these men on gibbets. Sasi a son of the country of Utstsâ took my feet; to the sovereignty

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155. over them I appointed (him). I received from them silver, gold, lead, copper, iron, (and) ivory to a countless amount.

156. I made a very lofty image of my majesty; I placed (it) in Kinalua his royal city in the house of his gods.—In the 29th

157. year of my reign my armies (and) train I despatched, I sent. I ascended to the country of Kirkhi. 1 Their cities I threw down,

158. dug up (and) burned with fire. Their country I swept like the tempest. The terror

159. of my glory I poured over them.—In the 30th year of my reign, while I was staying in Calah, Dayan-Assur

160. the Tartan, the commander of my numerous armies, I despatched, I sent at the head of my armies. The Zab

161. he crossed, he made his way to the cities of Khubushkâ. 2 The tribute of Datana

162. the Khubushkian I received. From the cities of the Khubushkian

163. I departed. He 3 approached the cities of Makdubi 4 the Malkhisian. Tribute

164. I received. He 3 departed from the cities of the Malkhisians. To the cities of Ualki

165. the Mannian 5 he approached. Ualki the Mannian before the splendour of my puissant weapons

166. trembled, and quitted Zirta his royal city, and to save his life ascended (the mountains).

167. I pursued after him; I brought back his oxen, his

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sheep (and) his goods to a countless number. His cities

168. I threw down, dug up (and) burned with fire. He 1 departed from the country of the Mannâ; to the cities of Shulusunu of the country of Kharru

169. he approached. He captured Masashuru his royal city as well as the cities dependent on it. To Shulusunu

170. and his sons I granted pardon. I restored him to his country. Gifts (and) tribute, horses trained

171. to the yoke I imposed upon him. He approached Shurdira. The tribute of Artasari

172. the Shurdirian I received. Into the country of Parsua 2 I descended. The tribute of the kings

173. of the country of Parsua I received. As for the rest of the country of Parsua (which was) not obedient to Assur, their cities

174. I captured, their spoil (and) their goods I carried away to Assyria.—In the 31st year of my reign, for the second time, the face

175. I fixed (?) on Assur (and) Hadad. 3 At that time, while I was staying in Calah, Dayan-Assur

176. the Tartan, the commander of my numerous armies, at the head of my armies (and) my train I despatched, I sent.

177. The cities of Datâ 4 the Khubushkian he approached. Tribute I received.

178. Against the city of Tsapparia the stronghold of the country of Mutsatsira 5 I marched. The city of Tsapparia together with

179. 46 cities of the Mutsatsirians he captured. As far as the fortresses of the people of Ararat

180. I marched. I threw down, dug up (and) burned with

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fire their cities. Into the country of Guzan  1 I descended. The tribute

181. of Ubû the Guzanian, of the Mannians, the … Burisians, the Kharranians, 2

182. the Shashganians, the Andians (and) the A … rians, oxen, sheep, and horses

183. trained to the yoke I received. I descended into the cities of the country of …; the cities of Perria

184. (and) Shitiuarya 3 his cities, with twenty-two towns dependent on it, I threw down, dug up

185. (and) burned with fire. I spread over them the terror of my glory. He marched against the cities of the Parsuans.

186. The cities of Bushtu, 4 Shala-Khamanu, (and) Kinikhamanu, strongholds, together with 22 cities

187. which (were) dependent on them I captured. I slew their fighting men, I carried away their spoil. Into the country of Namri I descended.

188. The terror of the glory of Assur (and) Merodach overwhelmed them; they abandoned their cities, to

189. inaccessible mountains they ascended. I threw down, dug up (and burned with fire 250 of their cities.

190. I descended through the pass of Simesi, the key 5 of the country of Khalman.

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THE EPITAPHS OVER THE BAS-RELIEFS

I

I have received the tribute of Sûa of the country of Guzan: silver, gold, lead, vases of copper, sceptres for the hand of the king, horses, (and) dromedaries with two humps.

II

I have received the tribute of Jehu, the son of Omri: 1 silver, gold, bowls of gold, chalices of gold, cups of gold, pails of gold, lead, sceptres for the hand of the king, (and) spear-shafts.

III

I have received the tribute of the country of Mutsri: 2 dromedaries with two humps, an ox of the river Sakeya (?) an antelope, elephants, 3 (and) apes with their young (?)

IV

I have received the tribute of Merodach-abil-utsur of the country of the Shuhites: 4 silver, gold, pails of gold, ivory, spear-shafts, bûya, embroidered vestments, (and) linen.

V

I have received the tribute of Garparunda of the country of the Patinians: silver, gold, lead, copper, vases of copper, ivory, (and) boxwood.

Footnotes

38:1 That is to say, of the spirits of heaven and earth.

38:2 [Ramman, Rimmon,—Ed.]

38:3 [Or Uras.—Ed.]

39:1 Tiglath-Uras.

39:2 [For the situation of ’Sime’si, see note on line 190.—Ed.]

39:3 Khamanu.

39:4 [Probably the Barsampsê of Ptolemy, though Delitzsch identifies it with Birejik.]

39:5 Bit-Adin or Til-Barsip.

39:6 [Or "the city Dabigu (and) the city Birtu of the land of the Hittites" (Khatti).—Ed.]

40:1 [''For Assur I have taken (it) again"; the name given by Shalmaneser to Pethor.—Ed.]

40:2 The modern Sajur.

40:3 [The Pethor of the Old Testament, to which Balaam belonged.—Ed.

40:4 For Alzi, at the sources of the Sebbeneh Su, see Records of the Past, new series, i. p. 94, note 4.

40:5 Ararat.

40:6 [B.C. 854. This was at the beginning of the fifth year of the king's reign.—Ed.]

40:7 [Or Siparrat.—Ed.]

40:8 [In Armenia, on the southern shores of Lake Van, so called to distinguish it from another Zamua in Kurdistan between Sulamaniyeh and p. 41 the Shirwan. The Lake of Van is called "the sea of Zamua of Bitani." The Armenian Zamua is also termed Mazamua. Bitâni in Assyrian signified "palace," but when applied to Armenia it seems to be intended for an incorrect representation of the native name Biaina(s) or Van.—Ed.]

41:1 [Mount Masius.—Ed.]

41:2 [Or perhaps, Ilu-Khitti, see Records of the Past, new series, ii. p. 148, note 2.—Ed.]

41:3 [The modern Belikh, which flows into the Euphrates north of the Khabour.—Ed.]

41:4 [Perhaps Tiele is right in reading Til-Balakhe, "the mound of Belikh. "—Ed.]

41:5 [Hadad-ezer, which in Aramaic would be Hadad-eder. He is the Ben-hadad of the Old Testament, Ben-Hadad "the son of Hadad," being, as we learn from the cuneiform inscriptions, the name or title of one of the Syrian gods.—Ed.]

41:6 [The Assyrian name of the kingdom of Damascus, possibly connected with the word Amorite.—Ed.]

41:7 ["The moon is our god."—Ed.]

42:1 Babylonia.

42:2 "The waters of the Turnat" or Tornadotus, the modern Dijâlah, which falls into the Tigris a little below Bagdad. With the name of the city compare that of the capital of Ammon, 2 Sam. xii. 27.

42:3 Northern Babylonia.

42:4 Now Tell-Ibrahim, east of Babylon.

43:1 Kaldi, in the marshes at the head of the Persian Gulf.

43:2 Literally "the bitter (river)," Marrati: cf. the Merathaim of Jer. l. 21.

43:3 [Gargamis, now Jerablûs, on the western bank of the Euphrates, a little to the north of the Sajur.—Ed.]

43:4 [The name is here extended so as to include Syria, Palestine, and even northern Arabia.—Ed.]

43:5 [Here written Me-Zaba, "the water of the (Lower) Zab."—Ed.]

43:6 [In the Kurdish mountains north of Holwân.—Ed.]

44:1 [In the Kassite language, spoken in the district adjoining Namri, yanzi signified "king."—Ed.]

44:2 [The following fragment (W. A. I., iii. 5, No. 6) gives an account of this campaign in further detail:—"In the 18th year of my reign for the 16th time I crossed the Euphrates. Hazael of Damascus trusted to the strength of his armies and assembled his armies to a large number. Saniru (the Biblical Shenir, Deut. iii. 9), a mountain summit as you come to Lebanon, he made his stronghold. I fought with him, I defeated him: 6000 of his soldiers I slew with weapons, 1121 of his chariots, 470 of his war-horses along with his camp I took from him. To save his life he ascended (the mountain). I pursued after him. In Damascus his royal city I shut him up. His plantations I cut down. As far as the mountains of the Hauran I marched. The cities to a countless number I threw down, dug up (and) burned with fire. Their spoil to a countless amount I carried away. As far as the mountain of Bahli-rahsi (Baal-rosh at the mouth of the Dog River), which (is) a headland of the sea, I marched: an image of my majesty I set up upon it. At that time I received the tribute of the Tyrians, the Sidonians (and) of Yahua (Jehu) the son of Khumrî (Omri)."—Ed.]

44:3 [Elsewhere written Que. They seem to have inhabited the northern shore of the Gulf of Antioch. Lenormant has suggested that the name occurs in 1 Kings x. 28, where the word translated "linen yarn" ought to be rendered "from Queh. "—Ed.]

45:1 See Josh. xiii. 5; 1 Kings v. 32; Ez. xxvii. 9. Gebal was the classical Byblos, eight miles north of Beyrout.

45:2 [Tabali, the Tibareni of classical geography. In the Assyrian period they lived between the Muskâ or Meshech and Komagênê, to the east of Malatiyeh.—Ed.]

45:3 [Perhaps "salt."—Ed.]

45:4 Milid is represented by the modern Malatiyeh.

46:1 [Also called Par´suas; in the Vannic inscriptions Bar´suas. It lay to the south-east of the Mannâ or Minni on the south-western shore of Lake Urumiyeh.—Ed.]

46:2 [Amadâ, probably to be identified with Madâ or "Medes." If so, this is the earliest mention we have of the latter people.—Ed.]

46:3 [Or Tarzanabi.—Ed.]

46:4 Birtu.

47:1 [Compare the name of Thanakê given by Apollodoros (iii. 14, 3, I) as the wife of Sandakos, who came from Syria to Kilikia and there founded Kelenderis; she was the mother of Kinyras and the daughter of king Megessaros.—Ed.]

47:2 Tarsus.

47:3 [Turtannu or "commander-in-chief." See Is. xx. 1; 2 Kings xviii. 17.—Ed.]

47:4 [Literally "the house of the country of Zamani."—Ed.]

47:5 [The Arsanias of classical geography, which joins the Euphrates near Mush to the west of Lake Van.—Ed.]

48:1 [Sarduris I., of the native Vannic texts, of whom we have two inscriptions in the Assyrian language, both found at Van. He introduced the cuneiform system of writing into Armenia, and seems to have founded the Vannic kingdom. In his inscriptions he calls himself the son of Lutipris and king of Nairi, and claims to have built the citadel of Van. His son and successor, Isbuinis, substituted the native language for Assyrian in his inscriptions. See my Memoir on the Cuneiform Inscriptions of Van, Jrl. R. A. S., xiv. 3, 4; xx. 1.—Ed.]

48:2 Shalmaneser here identifies himself with his commander-in-chief.

48:3 [The Patinâ inhabited the district between the eastern bank of the Afrin and the Gulf of Antioch, extending southward to the Orontes.—Ed.]

48:4 [Also called Kunulua and Kinalia, between the Afrin and the Orontes, perhaps the classical Gindarus.—Ed.]

49:1 [Probably the same as Qurkhi "opposite the land of the Hittites." See Records of the Past, new series, ii. p. 540, note 4.—Ed.]

49:2 [Khubuska, also called Khubuskia, lay on the north-eastern frontier of Assyria, between the Zab and the territory of the Minni.—Ed.]

49:3 That is to say Dayan-Assur.

49:4 [Or Maggubbi.—Ed.]

49:5 [The Mannâ, called the Manâ in the Vannic inscriptions, are the Minni of Old Testament (Jer. l. 27), who inhabited the country on the eastern border of the kingdom of Ararat or Van, and extended along the western shore of Lake Urumiyeh.—Ed.]

50:1 That is to say Dayan-Assur.

50:2 See p. 46, note 1, above.

50:3 [Or Rimmon.—Ed.]

50:4 Called Datana above, line 161.

50:5 [Mutsatsira lay on the southern border of the kingdom of Ararat or Van, and was destroyed by Sargon in B.C. 714. The cylinder of its last king Urzana is now in the Museum of the Hague. See my Memoir on the Vannic Inscriptions, p. 693.—Ed.]

51:1 [This northern Guzan or Gozan was different from the Gozan near Diarbekir, at the sources of the Khabour, to which the Israelites were transported according to 2 Kings xviii. 11. See Epigraph I.—Ed.]

51:2 [Not to be confounded with the famous city of Kharran or Haran in Mesopotamia, mentioned in Genesis.—Ed.]

51:3 [Called Satiraraus in the Vannic Inscriptions.—Ed.]

51:4 [Called the country of Bustus in the Vannic inscriptions, from which we learn that it lay to the south-east of the Mannâ. It would have occupied the southern shore of Lake Urumiyeh.—Ed.]

51:5 [Literally "at the head." Khalman, or rather Khalvan, is the modern Holwan. It was here, at Sir-Pul, that Sir H. Rawlinson discovered the cuneiform inscription of Kannubanini king of the Lulubini.—Ed.]

52:1 "Yahua the son of Khumrî." This was in B.C. 842. Shalmaneser was misinformed in regard to the relationship of Jehu to the dynasty of Omri. Samaria, however, was known to the Assyrians as "the House of Omri," in consequence of their first becoming acquainted with it in the reign of Ahab.

52:2 Mutsri lay to the north-east of Khorsabad on the caravan route from the east. See Records of the Past, new series, i. p. 109, note 7.

52:3 [Rather "female elephants." Perhaps the next word baziati is an adjective in agreement. The "ox" would be either a yak or a rhinoceros according to the bas-relief.—Ed.]

52:4 [Sukhâ. The Shuhites extended along the western bank of the Euphrates from the Khabour to the Belikh. Cf. Job ii. 11.—Ed.]

THE MONOLITH INSCRIPTION OF SHALMANESER II

[figure]

p. 53

THE MONOLITH INSCRIPTION OF SHALMANESER II

Translated by the Rev. V. Scheil.

The inscription of which a translation is here given is engraved on a monolith found at Kurkh, and now in the British Museum. Kurkh, which is probably the Karkathiokerta of classical geography, is upon the right bank of the Tigris, about 20 miles to the south of Diarbekir. The monument was erected to commemorate the exploits of the Assyrian king, Shalmaneser II, during the first four and a half years of his reign (B.C. 858–854). It gives in detail an account of the campaigns which are briefly noticed in the annals of the Black Obelisk.

The inscription has been translated by Ménant in the Annales des Rois d’Assyrie (1874), pp. 1051–113; by Sayce in the Records of the Past, 1st series, iii. pp. 81-100 (1874); by Craig in Hebraica, iii. pp. 201 sqq. (i 887); and by Peiser in the Keilinschriftliche Bibliothek, i. pp. 151-175 (1889). The geographical and historical information contained in it makes it a peculiarly valuable document, especially when studied in connection with the inscription of the Black

p. 54

[paragraph continues] Obelisk, and the long standard inscription of Assur-natsir-pal. It contains the first mention found in an Assyrian text of an Israelitish king, and proves that the death of Ahab could not have taken place until after B.C. 854.

THE MONOLITH INSCRIPTION OF SHALMANESER II

[figure]

p. 55

THE MONOLITH INSCRIPTION OF SHALMANESER II

COLUMN I

1. Assur the great lord, the king of all the great gods; Anu the king of the Igigi and Anunnaki, 1 the master of the world; Bel the father of the gods, who determines destiny,

2. who institutes the laws [of heaven and earth]; Ea, the wise, the king of the Abyss, the discoverer of cunning arts; Sin the illuminator of heaven (and) earth, the illustrious god; Shamash

3. the judge of the (four) zones, the director of mankind; Ishtar the lady of battles and combats, whose delight (is) conflict; the great gods who love my royalty,

4. my empire, my power, and my government have they magnified; a famous name, an illustrious renown, above all the sovereigns (of the world) have they bestowed on me in abundance!

5. Shalmaneser, the king of the multitudes of men, the sovereign pontiff of Assur, the powerful king, the king of Assyria, the king of all the four zones, the Sun-god 2 of the multitudes of men,

6. who governs all the world; the king who fears the gods, the favourite 3 of Bel, the appointed vicar of Assur, the august prince, who has traversed

p. 56

7. easy paths and difficult roads, who has trodden the summits of the mountains (and) all (their) ranges, who has received tribute and presents

8. from all regions, who has opened the mountains above and below; before the onset of whose mighty battle the regions (of the world) have yielded,

9. the world has trembled to its foundations before his warlike fury; the male hero who has marched under the protection of Assur (and) Shamash,the gods his allies;

10. who has no rival among the kings of the four zones (of the world); the royal despot of the world, who has traversed difficult roads, (and) has advanced over mountains and seas;

11. the son of Assur-natsir-pal, the vicegerent of Bel, the priest of Assur, whose priesthood has been pleasing to the gods, and who has subjected to his feet all lands; the illustrious descendant of Tukulti-Adar 1

12. who subjugated all his foes, and swept them like the tempest, when Assur the great lord in the determination of his [heart] had turned upon me his illustrious eyes, and

13. had called me to the government 2 of Assyria; had given me to hold the mighty weapon which overthrows the rebellious; had [invested] me with the [sacred] crown; the lordship over all lands

14. had granted me; had strongly urged me to conquer and subjugate: in those days at the beginning of my reign, in the first of my (regnal) years, 3

15. (when) I had seated myself in state on the throne of royalty, I summoned my chariots (and) armies; into the defiles of the country of Simesi I entered; to Aridu the fortified city

16. of Ninni I approached. The city I besieged, I captured; its numerous soldiers I slew; its spoil I

p. 57

carried away. I erected a pyramid of heads at the entrance of his city.

17. Their youths and maidens I delivered to the flames. 1 While I remained in Aridu the tribute of the people of Kharga, Kharmasa,

18. Simesi, Simera, Sirisha, (and) Ulmania, horses trained to the yoke, oxen, sheep, (and) wine I received. From Aridu

19. I departed; difficult paths (and) inaccessible mountains whose peaks rose to the sky like the point of an iron sword I cut with axes of bronze (and) copper. The chariots

20. (and) troops I caused to cross (them). To the city of Khupushkia I approached. Khupushkia with 100 towns which (were) dependent on it I burned with fire. Kakia

21. a king of the country of Nairi and the rest of his troops trembled before the splendour of my arms, and occupied the strong mountains. After them I ascended the mountains,

22. I fought a hard battle in the midst of the mountains (and) utterly destroyed them. I brought back from the mountains chariots, troops, (and) horses trained to the yoke. The terror of the glory

23. of Assur my lord overwhelmed them; they descended (and) took my feet. Taxes and tribute I imposed upon them. From the city of Khupushkia I departed.

24. To Sugunia the stronghold of Arame of Ararat 2 I approached. The city I besieged, I captured; their numerous soldiers I slew.

25. Its spoil I carried away. I erected a pyramid of heads at the entrance of his city; 14 towns which (were) dependent on it I burned with fire. From Sugunia

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26. I departed; to the sea of the country of Nairi 1 I descended. I purified my weapons in the sea; I sacrificed victims to my gods. In those days an image of my person

27. I made; I inscribed upon it the glory of Assur the great lord, my lord, and the mightiness of my empire; I erected (it) overlooking the sea. On my return

28. from the sea I received the tribute of Asû of the land of Guzan in abundance, horses, oxen, sheep, wine, (and) two camels with two humps;

29. to my city of Assur I brought (them).—In the month Iyyar, on the 13th day, 2 I departed from Nineveh. I crossed the Tigris. I passed through the mountains 3 Of Khasamu and Dikhnunu.

30. To La’la’te 4 a city of Akhuni the son of Adini I approached. The terror of the glory of Assur my lord overwhelmed [them, to the mountains …]

31. they ascended. The city I threw down, dug up (and) burned with fire. From La’la’te I departed. [To Ki … qa the stronghold]

32. of Akhuni the son of Adini I approached. Akhuni the son of Adini to the multitude [of his troops trusted, and to make] combat and battle [came against] me. Under the protection of Assur

33. and the great gods, my lords, I fought with him; I utterly defeated him. I shut him up in his city. From the city of Ki … qa I departed;

34. to Bur-mar’âna 5 a city of Akhuni the son of Adini [I approached. The city] I besieged, I captured. I destroyed with my weapons 300 of his fighting-men. A pyramid of heads

35. I erected [at the entrance to his city]. The tribute of

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[paragraph continues] Khapini 1 of Til-abna, 2 of Ga’uni of Sa[llu], … of Giri-Dadda 3

36. [of Assu], silver, gold, oxen, sheep, (and) wine I received. From the city of Bur-mar’âna I departed; in boats of seal-skin the Euphrates

37. I crossed. The tribute of Qata-zilu of Kummukh, 4 silver, gold, oxen, sheep, (and) wine I received. To the city of Paqarrukhbuni 5

38. (and) the cities of Akhuni the son of Adini on the farther bank of the Euphrates I approached. I utterly destroyed the country. Its cities to ruins

39. I reduced. I filled the broad plain with the corpses of his warriors; 1300 of his fighting-men I slew with weapons.

40. From the city Paqarrukhbuni I departed; to the cities of Mutalli 6 of the city of the Gamgumians I approached. The tribute

41. of Mutalli of the city of the Gamgumians, silver, gold, oxen, sheep, wine, (and) his daughter with a large dowry I received. From the city of Gamgumê

42. I departed; Lutibu the stronghold of Khânu of the country of the Sam’alians I approached. Khânu of the country of the Sam’alians, Sapalulme 7

43. of the country of the Patinians, 8 Akhuni the son of Adini, Sangara of the country of the Carchemishians, trusted to their mutual alliance and prepared for

44. battle; they came against me to fight. By the supreme

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power of Nergal who marches before me, with the forceful weapons

45. which Assur the lord has granted (me) I fought with them, I utterly defeated them. Their combatants

46. I slew with weapons; like Hadad 1 I poured the deluge upon them, I heaped them up in the ditches; with the bodies

47. of their warriors I filled the broad plain; with their blood I dyed the mountains like wool. (His) many chariots [and troops], (and) horses

48. trained for the yoke I took from him. 2 I erected a pyramid of heads at the entrance to his city. His cities I threw down, dug up (and) burned with fire.

49. In those days I celebrated the greatness of the great gods; I proclaimed for ever the valour of Assur and Shamash. A great image of my royalty

50. I made; I inscribed upon it the exploits of my valour (and) the deeds of my glory. At the source of the river Saluara

51. at the foot of mount Amanus I erected (it). From mount Amanus I departed; the Orontes 3 I crossed; to Alimush 4

52. the stronghold of Sapalulme the Patinian I approached. Sapalulme the Patinian to save

53. his life [called to his aid] Akhuni the son of Adini, Sangara the Carchemishian, Khayânu the Sam’alian, Kate-[zilu the Komagenian], …

54. the Quan, 5 Pikhirim the Cilician, 6 Bur-anate the Yasbukian, Ada … the country of Assyria

COLUMN II

1. …

2. … I shattered [his forces]; the city I besieged, I captured. …

3. … his numerous chariots (and) horses trained to the yoke … I carried away …

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4. [His fighting-men] I slew [with] weapons. In the midst of this battle Bur-anate

5. … my hands captured. The great cities of the Patinian I in[vested. The countries]

6. of the Upper [Sea] 1 of Syria 2 and of the sea of the setting sun I swept like a mound under a storm.

7. The tribute of the kings of the sea-coast I received. On the shores of the broad sea, straight before me, victoriously

8. I marched. An image of my majesty I made to perpetuate my name for ever, overlooking the sea I e[rected it].

9. To the mountains of Amanus I ascended. Logs of cedar and thuya I cut. To the mountains

10. of mount Atalur where the image of Assur-irbi 3 was set up I marched. I erected an image by the side of his image. From the sea I went [down];

11. the cities of Taya …, Khazazu, 4 Nulia (and) But-âmu belonging to the Patinian I captured; 2800 fighting-men

12. I slew; 14,600 prisoners I carried away. The tribute of Arame the son of Gusi, 5 silver, gold, oxen,

13. sheep, wine, (and) couches of gold and silver I received.—In the year of my own eponymy, 6 on the 13th day of the month Iyyar from [Nineveh]

14. I departed; the Tigris I crossed, the mountains 7 of Khasamu and Dikhnunu I traversed. To Til-Bursip 8 the stronghold of Akhuni

15. the son of Adini I approached. Akhuni the son of

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[paragraph continues] Adini trusted to the multitude of his troops and came to meet me. I utterly defeated him. In [his city]

16. I shut him up. From Til-Bursip I departed; in boats of seal-skin the Euphrates at its flood I crossed. Al (?) … gâ, Tagi …

17. Sûrunu, Paripa, Til-Basherê 1 (and) Dabigu, six strongholds of Akhuni the son of Adini I [besieged], I captured. His numerous fighting-men

18. I slew: their spoil I carried away; 200 towns which (were) dependent on them I threw down, dug up (and) burned with fire. [From] Dabigu I (departed);

19. to Sazabê the stronghold of Sangara the Carchemishian I approached. The city I besieged, I captured. Their numerous fighting-men I slew;

20. their spoil I carried away. The towns which (were) dependent on him I threw down, dug up (and) burned with fire. The kings of the country [of the Hittites] all of them,

21. trembled before the splendour of my powerful weapons and my violent onset, and they took my feet. From … shun 2 the Patinian

22. 3 talents of gold, 100 talents of silver, 300 talents of copper, 300 talents of iron, i000 vases of copper, i000 vestments of embroidered stuff (and) linen, his daughter

23. with her abundant dowry, 20 talents of blue purple, 300 oxen, (and) 5000 sheep, I received. A talent of gold, 2 talents of blue purple, (and) 100 logs of cedar

24. I imposed upon him as tribute; each year I receive (it) in my city of Assur. From Khayânu the son

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of Gabbaru who (dwells) at the foot of mount Amanus 10 talents of silver, 90 talents

25. of copper, 30 talents of iron, 300 vestments of embroidered stuff (and) linen, 300 oxen, 3000 sheep, 200 logs of cedar … 2 homers of cedar-resin

26. (and) his daughter with her dowry I received. I laid upon him as tribute 10 manehs of silver, 200 logs of cedar, (and) a homer of cedar-resin; each year

27. I receive (it). From Aramu the son of Agûsi 10 manehs of gold, 6 talents of silver, 500 oxen, (and) s000 sheep I received. From Sangara the Carchemishian 2 talents

28. of gold, 70 talents of silver, 30 talents of copper, 100 talents of iron, 20 talents of blue purple, 500 weapons, his daughter with a dowry, and 100 daughters of his nobles,

29. 500 oxen, (and) 5000 sheep, I received. I laid upon him as tribute a maneh of gold, a talent of silver, (and) 2 talents of blue purple; each year I receive (it). From Qata-zilu

30. the Komagenian I receive each year 20 manehs of silver (and) 300 logs of cedar.—In the eponymy of Assur-bel-kain, 1 on the 13th day of the month Tammuz, I departed from Nineveh;

31. the Tigris I crossed; the mountains of Khasamu and Dikhnunu I traversed. At Til-Barsip the stronghold of Akhuni the son of Adini I arrived. Akhuni

32. the son of Adini, before the splendour of my powerful weapons and my violent onset, to save his life, crossed [to the western bank] of the Euphrates;

33. to other countries he passed over. By the command of Assur the great lord, my lord, the cities of Til-Barsip (and) Aligu [I occupied. The city of] … Shaguqa as my royal city

34. I chose. I settled men of Assyria within (it). I founded palaces within it for the habitation of my

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majesty. To Til-Barsip the name of Kar-Shalmaneser, 1

35. to Nappigu the name of Lita-Assur, 2 to Aligu the name of Atsbat-la-kunu, 3 to Ruguliti the name of Qibit-[Assur] 4 I gave. In those days

36. the city of Ana-Assur-utir-atsbat, 5 which the Hittites call Pitru, 6 which (is) upon the river Sagura on the farther side of the Euphrates,

37. and the city of Mutkînu which is upon the hither side of the Euphrates, which Tiglath-Pileser, 7 the royal forefather who went before me had [captured] (and which) in the time of Assur-Irbi (?), 8

38. the king of Assyria, the king of the country of Aram 9 had taken away by force, these cities I restored to their (former) position, I settled men of Assyria in them.

39. While I was staying in the city of Kar-Shalmaneser the tribute of the kings of the sea-coast and of the kings of the banks of Euphrates, silver, gold, lead, copper,

40. vases of copper, oxen, sheep, (and) embroidered and linen vestments I received. From Kar-Shalmaneser I departed; mount 10 Sumu I traversed.

41. Into the country of Bit-Zamâni I descended. From Bit-Zamâni I departed; the mountains 11 of Namdanu (and) Merkhisu I traversed. Difficult paths (and) mountains

42. inaccessible whose peaks rose to the sky like the point

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of a sword I cut with axes of bronze. I caused chariots (and) troops to pass (them). Into the country of Enzite 1 in mount Shua 2

43. I descended. My hand conquered the country of Enzite throughout its extent. Their cities I threw down, dug up and burned with fire. Their spoil, their goods, their riches without number

44. I carried away. A great image of my majesty I made; I inscribed upon it the glory of Assur the great lord, my lord, and the power of my empire; I set (it) up (in) the city of Saluria at the foot (?) of Qirêqi.

45. From the country of Enzite I departed; the river Arsania 3 I crossed. To the country of Sukhme I approached. Uashtal its stronghold I captured. The [land] of Sukhme throughout its extent

46. I overthrew, dug up (and) burned with fire. Sua their governor with my hand I captured. From the country of Sukhme I departed; into the country of Dayaeni 4 I descended. The city of Dayaeni

47. with all its territory I conquered. Their cities I threw down, dug up (and) burned with fire. Their spoil, their goods (and) abundant wealth I took. From the country of Dayaeni I departed;

48. to Arzasku 5 the royal city of Arrame of Ararat I approached. Arramu of Ararat before the splendour of my powerful weapons

49. and my violent onset trembled and abandoned his city; to the mountains of Adduri he ascended.

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[paragraph continues] After him I ascended the mountains. A hard battle in the mountains I fought; 3400

50. of his soldiers I slew with weapons. Like Hadad 1 I poured a deluge upon them. (With) their blood I dyed (the mountains) like wool. His camp I took from him;

51. his chariots, his litters (?), his horses, his colts, (his) calves, his riches, his spoil, (and) his abundant goods I brought back from the mountains. Arramu, to save

52. his life ascended the inaccessible mountains. In the energy of my manhood I trampled on his country like a wild bull; I reduced his cities to ruins. Arzasku together with the towns

53. which (were) dependent on it I threw down, dug up (and) burned with fire. I erected pyramids of heads at the entrance of his great gate. [Some of the survivors] alive within

54. [the pyramids I immured]; others I impaled on stakes round about the pyramids. From Arzasku I departed; to the mountains

55. [of Eritia I ascended]. A great image of my majesty I made. The glory of Assur my lord and the mighty deeds of my empire which I had wrought in the land of Ararat upon it

56. [I inscribed. On the mountains of Eri]tia I set (it) up. From mount Eritia I departed; the city of Aramale 2 I approached. Its towns I threw down, dug up (and) burned with fire.

5 7. From Aramale I departed; to the city of Zanziuna [I approached], … he trembled; he took my feet.

58. Horses trained to the yoke, oxen (and) sheep I received from him. I granted pardon to [him] … [On] my [return?], to the sea

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59. of the country of Nairi 1 I descended; I purified the forceful weapons of Assur in the sea. [I sacrificed] victims. [An image of my majesty] I made; the glory

60. of Assur the great lord, my lord, the exploits of my valour and the deeds of my renown I inscribed upon it. [From the sea] I departed; to the country of Guzan

61. I approached. Asâu the king of the country of Guzan with his brothers (and) his sons came forth to meet me [and took the feet] of my majesty. Horses

62. trained to the yoke, oxen, sheep, wine (and) 7 camels with two humps I received from him. A great image of my majesty I made. The glory of Assur the great lord, my lord,

63. and the illustrious deeds of my empire which I had wrought in the land of Nairi I inscribed upon it; in the middle of his city, in his temple, I set (it) up. From the country of Guzan I departed;

64. to Shilaya the stronghold of Kâki the king of the city of Khupushkia I approached. The city I besieged, I captured. Their numerous fighting men I slew; 3000 of them as prisoners, their oxen,