Shalmaneser III 008

(1) Shalmaneser (III), king of all of the people, the ruler, vice-regent of (the god) Aššur, strong king, king of all (5) four quarters (of the world), sun(god) of all of the people, ruler of all of the lands, the king who is desired object of the gods, chosen of the god Enlil, (10) trustworthy appointee of (the god) Aššur, the attentive ruler who has seen remote and rugged regions, the who has trodden upon the mountain peaks in all of the highlands, the receiver of booty (and) tax from all (four) quarters (of the world), the one who opens paths above and below, at whose strong attack for combat (15) the (four) quarters (of the world) are distressed (and) cities convulsed, the strong male who acts with the support of the gods Aššur (and) Šamaš, the gods who support him, and has no rival among the rulers of the four quarters (of the world), the magnificent king of lands who has kept progressing by difficult ways through mountains and seas;

(20) son of Ashurnasirpal (II), exalted ruler, whose priesthood was pleasing to the gods and (who) made all of the lands bow down at his feet, pure offspring of Tukultī-Ninurta (II), who slew all of his enemies and annihilated (them) like a flood;

(24b) the conqueror from the Upper and Lower Seas of the Naʾiri land(s) and the Great Sea of the Setting Sun, as far as Mount Amanus. I gained dominion over the land Ḫatti to its full extent. I conquered from the source of the Tigris River to the source of the Euphrates River. I annihilated like a flood from the land Enzi to the land Suḫnu, from the land Suḫnu (30) to the land Melid, from the land Melid to the land Daiaeni, from the land Daiaeni to the land Arṣaškun, (35) from the land Arṣaškun to the land Gilzānu, from the land Gilzānu to the city Ḫubuškia <from> the land Namri to the Sea of Chaldea, which is called the Bitter Sea.

(1') [In my third regnal year, ... to the city Arṣaškun], the royal city of A[rāmu of the land Urarṭu. Arrāmu trusted in the strength of his army and] mustered [his numerous cavalry to wage war and battle against me. I defeated him (and) deprived him of his cavalry (and) military equipment. In order to save his (own) life, he climbed] up a [rugged] mountain. [They (his people) became frightened] in the face of my mighty [weapons, abandoned their cities, and took to a rugged mountain]. I captured [the city Arṣaškun], his royal [city], together with the cities in its environs. [I brought out his incalculable possessions and property. I destroyed, demolished (and) burned with fire th(ose) cities. I annihilated like a flood] from the land Gilzānu to the city Ḫubuškia. [From the pass of the land Ḫabruri, I] emerged [before Arbela].

(5'b) In my fourth regnal year, [on the thirteenth day of Ayyāru (II), I moved out from Nineveh (and) crossed the Euphrates River in flood] in pursuit [of Aḫūnu of (Bīt-)Adini (lit. “son of Adīnu”). He had made as his stronghold] Mount Šītamrat, a mountain peak [on the bank of the Euphrates River, which is suspended from heaven like a cloud]. I besieged (and) captured th(at) mountain peak. [I uprooted Aḫūnu, together with his gods, his chariots, his horses, (and) 22,000 of his troops (and) brought (them) to my city, Aššur].

(8'b) [In this same year, I moved out from the Inner] City (Aššur), [crossed] Mount Kullar, [went down to the interior of the land Zamua, (and)] captured [the cities of Nikdēra of the land Id]u. The remnant of (10´) their army [boarded boats of papyrus and escaped by sea. I boarded boats of inflated skins (and)] pursued them. [I defeated] them in the midst of [the sea (and) plundered them].

(11'b) [In my fifth regnal year, I moved out from Nineveh] and ascended Mount Kāšiāru. I captured eleven fortified cities (and) [confined Anḫitti of the land Šubria to his city] (and) received [his payment].

(12'b) In my sixth regnal year, I moved out from Nineveh and approached the cities on the banks of the Balīḫ River. They became frightened in the face of my mighty weapons and [killed] Gē-ammu, [their city] ruler. I entered the city Tīl-(ša)-turāḫi (and) claimed the city as my own. Moving on from the banks of the Balīḫ River, [I crossed the Euphrates River in flood]. (15´) I received [the payment] of the kings of the land Hatti. Moving on from the land Ḫatti, I approached Aleppo (Ḫalman) (and) made sacrifices [before the god Adad] of Aleppo (Ḫalman). Moving on from Aleppo (Ḫalman), I approached the city Qarqar. Hadad-ezer (Adda-idrī) of Damascus (and) Irḫulena of the land Hamath, together with twelve kings on the shore of the sea, trusting in their united forces, attacked me to wage war and battle. I fought with them. I struck down 25,000 of their fighting men with the sword (and) captured from them their chariotry, cavalry, (and) military equipment. In order to save their (own) lives, they ran away. I boarded boats (and) went out upon the sea.

(20') In my seventh regnal year, I marched to the cities of Ḫabīnu of the city Tīl-abnē. I captured (and) burned with fire the city Tīl-abnē, his fortified city, together with the cities in its environs. Moving on from the city Tīl-abnē, I marched to the source of the Tigris River, the place where the water comes out, (and) made sacrifices. I struck down (the inhabitants of) cities insubmissive to (the god) Aššur with the sword (and) received the payment of the Naʾiri land(s).

(23'b) In my eighth regnal year, at the time of Marduk-zākir-šumi (I), the king of Karduniaš (Babylonia), Marduk-bēl-usāti, his brother, rebelled against him. I marched out for vengeance (and) captured the cities Mê-Turnat and Laḫīru.

(24'b) In my ninth regnal year, in my second campaign (to Babylonia), I captured the city Gannanāte. In order to save his (own) life, Marduk-bēl-usāti went up to the city Ḫalman. I pursued him (and) struck down Marduk-bēl-usāti with the sword, together with the treacherous soldiers who were with him. I marched to Babylon (and) made sacrifices in Babylon, Borsippa, (and) Cutha. I went down to Chaldea (and) captured their cities. I marched to the sea, which is called the Bitter Sea, (and), in Babylon, received the payment of Adīnu of (Bīt-)Dakkūri (lit. “son of Dakkūru”) (and) Mušallim-Marduk of (Bīt-)Amukkāni (lit. “son of Ukkānu”): silver, gold, ebony, (and) elephant ivory.

(29'b) In my tenth regnal year, I crossed the Euphrates River for the eighth time. I destroyed, demolished, (and) burned with fire the cities of Sangara of the city Carchemish. Moving on from the cities of the Carchemishite, I approached the cities of A(b)-rāmu (Abi-rāmu) (and) captured the city Arnê, his royal city. I destroyed, demolished, (and) burned (it) with fire, together with 100 cities in its environs. I massacred them (and) plundered them. At that time, Hadad-ezer (Adda-idrī) of Damascus (and) Irḫulena of the land Hamath, together with twelve kings on the shore of the sea, trusting in their united forces, attacked me to wage war and battle. I fought with them (and) defeated them. I took from them their chariotry, cavalry, and military equipment. In order to save their (own) lives, they ran away.

(35') In my eleventh regnal year, I moved out from Nineveh (and) crossed the Euphrates River in flood for the ninth time. I captured ninety-seven cities of Sangara. I captured, destroyed, demolished, (and) burned with fire 100 cities of A(b)-rāmu (Abi-rāmu). I took to the slopes of Mount Amanus, crossed Mount Yaraqu, (and) descended to the cities of the people of Hamath. I captured the city Aštammaku, together with ninety-nine (other) cities. I massacred their (inhabitants) (and) plundered them. At that time, Hadad-ezer (Adda-idrī) of Damascus (and) Irḫulena of the land Hamath, together with twelve kings on the shore of the sea, trusting in their united forces, attacked me to wage war and battle. I fought with them (and) defeated them. I struck down 10,000 of their fighting men with the sword. I took from them their chariotry, cavalry, and military equipment. On my return march, I captured the city Apparāzu, the fortified city of A(b)-rāmu (Abi-rāmu). At that time, I received the payment of Qalparunda of the land Pattinu: silver, gold, tin, horses, oxen, sheep, (and) linen garments. I went (back) up Mount Amanus (and) cut down beams of cedar.

(41'b) In my twelfth regnal year, I moved out from Nineveh (and) crossed the Euphrates River for the tenth time. I marched to the land Paqarḫubuni, (where) the people became frightened (and) took to a rugged mountain. I besieged (and) captured th(at) mountain peak. I massacred them (and) brought plunder and possessions of theirs down from th(at) mountain.

(43'b) In my thirteenth regnal year, I entered the pass of the city Ištarāte, marched to (the city) Matiātu, (and) captured (the city) Matiātu in its entirety. I slaughtered their (inhabitants) (and) took countless plunder from them.

(44'b) In my fourteenth regnal year, I mustered (the troops of my) extensive land in countless numbers (and) crossed the Euphrates River in flood with 120,000 troops. At that time, Hadad-ezer (Adda-idrī) of Damascus (and) Irḫulena of the land Hamath, together with twelve kings on the shore of the sea, above and below, mustered their troops, which were too numerous to be counted. They attacked me, I fought with them, (and) defeated them. I destroyed their chariotry (and) cavalry — (and) took away their military equipment. In order to save their (own) lives, they ran away.

(47'b) In my fifteenth regnal year, I marched to the Naʾiri land(s). I created at the source of the Tigris River, on a mountain cliff where its water comes out, a statue of my royal majesty. I wrote thereon praises of my power (and) my heroic deeds. I entered the pass of Mount Ṭunibuni (and) destroyed, demolished, (and) burned with fire the cities of Arrāmu of the land Urarṭu, as far as the source of the Euphrates River. I marched to the source of the Euphrates River, made sacrifices to my gods, (and) washed the weapons of (the god) Aššur therein. Asia, the king of the land Daiaeni, grasped my feet (and) I received from him tax and tribute of horses. I fashioned a statue of my royal majesty (and) erected (it) inside his city.
$ Lacuna

(1'') In my eighteenth regnal year, I crossed the Euphrates River for the sixteenth time. Hazael of Damascus, trusting in the might of his soldiers, (5´´) carried out an extensive muster of his troops. He fortified Mount Saniru, a mountain peak that is before Mount Lebanon. I fought with him (and) defeated him. (10´´) I struck down 16,000 of his fighting men with the sword (and) took away from him 1,121 of his chariots (and) 470 of his cavalry with his military camp. In order to save (15´´) his (own) life, he ran away, (but) I pursued him. I imprisoned him in Damascus, his royal city, (and) cut down his gardens. I marched to Mount Ḫaurānu (and) destroyed, demolished, (and) (20´´) burned with fire cities without number. I carried off more booty than could be counted. I marched to Mount Baʾali-raʾasi, which is a cape (jutting out into) the sea, (and) erected a statue of my royal majesty there. At that time, I received (25´´) the payment of the people of Tyre (and) Sidon, (as well as of) Jehu (Iāūa) of (Bīt-)Ḫumrî (Israel; lit. “son of Omri”).