Tukulti-Ninurta II 05

(1) I [entered] the mountains of the Naʾiri lands. I crossed Mount Sueia. I changed [direction] (and), on my return march, from the Naʾiri lands [I burned] fire [(...)] the city Ki[...]. I [uprooted] his sons, his daughters, his wives, the property of his palace, (and) his horses [and brought them to my city, Aššur].

(4) With the support of (the god) Aššur, my lord, I overwhelmed the lands, all of them, with my fear. Bi[..., ...].... of Ammi-Ba[ʾal], wrote to me: “With regard to Bialasi, I have sent my forces against him. [They pursued him and] he went from the city Udu to the city Ša[...]...” [He (Bi...) took his (Bialasi’s) son, together with the (other) guilty men, [...] his property, his possessions, his booty, the extensive [treasure of] his palace, his gods, (and) his herds, as gifts [and] they were removed from his custody to Nineveh (and) brought before me.

(9) [While] I resided [with] my outstanding power in Nineveh, there was a rebellion and I sent my forces to [...]. They conquered him/it, as far as the mountains, difficult terrain. His silver, gold, property, [... were brought] to me.

(11) [...]...lâ, the military governor at that time, wrote to me: “To the fortified Naʾiri lands [...] his heart is set upon traversing their mountains ...” With the support [of (the god) Aššur, my lord], in Simānu (III), the first day, (in the) eponymy of Il-milkī (886), I moved out from Nineveh. [I marched] to the [Naʾiri] lands [...] I crossed over to Mount Kāšiāru [at] the Subnat River. I drew near to the city P[a]tiškun [(...) of Ammi-Baʾal] (15) of Bīt-Zamāni (lit. “son of Zamāni”). I established ... against ... [...] I destroyed two cities in its environs. I carried off the grain (and) straw of his land, ... [...], (and) the people of his land. I brought about their defeat. (As for) his sons [...], I struck many with the sword. I had mercy on him. (As for) his son, ... [...]. In order to save his (own) life, he grasped my feet (and) I was merciful towards him. [...] (20) my officers inside ... hostages [...] bronze, tin, iron, pots, ... [...], horses, mules, in the presence of my officers … [...] I took away for myself.

(23b) I was merciful towards Ammi-Baʾal of Bīt-Zamāni (lit. “son of Zamāni”). I established (them) in abandoned cities (and) settled them in peaceful dwellings. (25) I made him take an oath by (the god) Aššur, my lord, before the statue of ... [...], (swearing): “If you give horses to my enemies (and) foes, may the god Adad [strike your] land with terrible lightning.” At that time, Tukultī-Ninurta (II) fashioned his magnificent steles (and) two kurību-genii, (and) made [(them) enter] into the temple. I stationed (them) in the walls of the main forecourt of the god N[un]namnir, at the gate of the god Enpi. (As for) the silver of the Naʾiri lands, [...] of Ammi-Baʾal of Bīt-Zamāni (lit. “son of Zamāni”), booty that I had taken away, [I gave] two-thirds to the god [...] (and) I deposited one-third in my palace. At that time, [I sacrificed] sixty ducks (and) (other) fowl to (the god) Aššur, my lord.

(30) In Tašrītu (VII), (on) seventeenth day, I moved out from the Inner City (Aššur) (and) entered the passes of the land Ḫabruri. Moving on from the passes of [the land Ḫabruri], I entered into Mounts Urrubnu (and) Išrun, mighty mountains within which not one of the kings, my ancestors, had done [battle] and no one had ... the caravans of Assyria [...]. I marched over difficult terrain and I glided through rough territory where not [one] of the kings, my ancestors, had passed (and) penetrated therein. I approached the cities of the land Ladāni, which the A[ramaeans and] (35) the Lullu(mê) held. I conquered thirty of their cities (that are situated) between the mountains. I carried off their two [...]. I destroyed, devastated, (and) burned with fire their cities. The rest of them became frightened (and) took to difficult mountains.

(37b) On the second day, in the mountains of Mount Išrun, one could cross neither with my chariots nor with (my) cavalry [...]. I ascended after them on foot up the mountains of Mount Išrun, difficult terrain wherein even the winged eagle of the heavens [cannot go. I pursued] them from the steppe of the mountains of Mount Išrun to the Lower Zab. I took from them booty without number. (As for) the rest of them, [they crossed] the Lower Zab in order to save their (own) lives.

(41) In Nisannu (I), (on) the twenty-sixth day, (in the) eponymy of Naʾdi-ilu (885), I moved out from the Inner City (Aššur). I* pitched camp (and) spent the night in the desert. Moving on from the desert, I crossed the Wadi Tharthar, pitched camp, (and) spent the night. By midday, all of the water was drawn (and) I had exhausted (lit. “destroyed”) the 470 wells in (its) environs. On foot, I killed … at the well. On the second day, at the well [...] the water was too bitter to satisfy the troops. Moving on from the wells, I [took to] the desert, (45) pitched camp, (and) spent the night by the Wadi Tharthar. For four days, I* followed the banks of the Wadi Tharthar. On my* expedition along the banks of the Wadi [Tharth]ar, I killed eight wild bulls. I* pitched camp (and) spent the night at the mouth of the Wadi Tharthar. Water was drawn (there).

(46b) Moving on from the mouth of the Wadi Tharthar, I continued through the ḫamātu, difficult terrain. I sighted streams in the grasslands. The wells around them were fallen in (lit. “destroyed”). (Nevertheless) water was abundant (and) I* pitched camp (and) spent the night. Water was drawn all day and all night. I approached the Tigris River and captured the settlements of the land of the Ituʾu (Utuʾu), together with their villages, which were situated by the Tigris River. I massacred them (and) carried off much booty from them. I* pitched camp (and) spent the night in the city Aṣūṣi. Moving on from the city Aṣūṣi, I continued through the forest without a leader or guide on the third day.

(52) I approached the city Dūr-Kurigalzu, pitched camp, (and) spent the night. Moving on from the city Dūr-Kurigalzu I crossed the Patti-Enlil Canal, pitched camp, (and) spent the night. Moving on from the Patti-Enlil Canal, I* pitched camp (and) spent the night in the city Sippar of the god Šamaš. Moving on from the city Sippar of the god Šamaš, I took (the way) towards the Euphrates River, (55) pitched camp (and) spent the night in the city Sallāte. Moving on from the city Sallāte, I* pitched camp (and) spent the night before the city Dūr-balāṭi; the city Dūr-balāṭi is situated on the other bank of the Euphrates River. Moving on from Dūr-balāṭi, I* pitched camp (and) spent the night in the city Raḫimme, which is before the city Rapiqu; Rapiqu is situated on the other bank of the Euphrates River.

(57b) Moving on from Raḫimme, I* pitched camp (and) spent the night in the area of the city Kabsite, which is situated by the Euphrates River. Moving on from the city Kabsite, I* pitched camp (and) spent the night in the city Dayašeti. Moving on from the city Dayašeti, (60) I* pitched camp (and) spent the night before the city Idu, at the bitumen spring, where the stele of the great gods is erected; the city Idu is situated on the other bank of the Euphrates River. Moving on from the city Idu, I* pitched camp (and) spent the night in the city Ḫarbê; Ḫarbê is situated on the other bank of the Euphrates River. Moving on from Ḫarbê, I tramped about in the meadow of the Euphrates River. Water was drawn at night (and) all day. In a desolate mountainous region where there was no vegetation, I* set out for the most desolate part of the plain (and) pitched camp (and) spent the night in the mountains, (in) the land of thirst.

(64b) Moving on from the land of thirst, I* pitched camp (and) spent the night in the meadow of the city Ḫudubili, which is situated by the Euphrates River. Moving on from the city Ḫudubili, I* pitched camp (and) spent the night between the city Zadidāni (and) Sabirutu; Sabirutu is situated (on an island) in the Euphrates River. Moving on from the city Zadidāni, I* pitched camp (and) spent the night before the cities Sūru (and) Talbiš; the city Talbiš (Talmiš) is situated (on an island) in the Euphrates River. Moving on from the city Sūru, I approached the city Anat of the land Sūḫu; the city Anat lies (on an island) in the Euphrates River. I* pitched camp (and) spent the night before Anat. I received a bountiful audience gift (70) from Ilu-ibni, governor of the land Sūḫu: three talents of silver, twenty minas of gold, an ivory couch, three ivory chests, eighteen tin bars, forty furniture legs of {meskannu}-wood, a bed of {meskannu}-wood, six dishes of {meskannu}-wood, a bronze bath-tub, linen garments, garments with multi-colored trim, purple wool, oxen, sheep, bread, (and) beer.

(73b) Moving on from Anat, I* pitched camp (and) spent the night in the city Mašqīte. Moving on from Mašqīte, I* pitched camp (and) spent the night in the city Ḫaradu; Ḫaradu is situated on the other bank of the Euphrates River. Moving on from the city Ḫaradu, I* pitched camp (and) spent the night in the city Kailete. Moving on from the city Kailete, I approached the city Ḫindānu. I received tribute from Ammi-alaba of the city Ḫindānu: 10 minas of liqtu-gold, 10 minas of silver, 2 talents of tin, 1 talent of myrrh, 60 bronze ..., 10 minas of antimony preparation, 8 minas of antimony mineral, 30 dromedaries, 50 oxen, 30 asses, 14 ducks, 200 sheep, bread, beer, straw, (and) fodder. I* pitched camp (and) spent the night. The city Ḫindānu (80) is situated on the other bank of the Euphrates River.

(80b) I killed ostriches on my* hunting forays in the desert. I captured the young of the ostriches. I killed ayyalu-deer on my* hunting forays on the banks of the Euphrates River. I captured the young of the ayyalu-deer.

(82b) Moving on from the land Ḫindānu, I cut into the mountains in the direction of the Euphrates River, with ... iron axes (and) passed through (them). I* pitched camp (and) spent the night in the city Nagiāte. Moving on from the city Nagiāte, I approached the meadow of the city Aqarabāni.

(85b) I received the audience gift of Mudadi of the land Lāqê: 200 sheep, 30 oxen, grain, straw, bread, (and) beer. I* pitched camp (and) spent the night. Moving on from Aqarabāni, I approached the city Ṣupria. I received the audience gift of Ḫamatāyu of the Lāqê: 200 sheep, 50 oxen, bread, beer, grain, (and) straw. Moving on at noon, I* pitched camp (and) spent the night in the city Arbate. I received the audience gift of Ḫārānu of the land Lāqê: 200 sheep, 30 oxen, bread, beer, grain, (and) straw. Moving on from Arbate, I* pitched camp (and) spent the night in the plain. (90)