Three fragments of a sculpted and inscribed slab discovered at Kalḫu (Nimrud) are inscribed with seven lines of Tiglath-pileser III's Annals. The text contains part of the king's epithets and represents Annals Series A, Unit 1, which corresponds to Ann. 1a+b in Tadmor, Tigl. III.
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Two of the three fragments (exs. 1a and 1b) are now in the Archaeological Museum of Zurich (inventory nos. 1918 and 1917 respectively). After A.H. Layard's excavations, the slab was cut horizontally into two pieces to facilitate its transport to Europe and thus line 4 was severely damaged. Once in Zurich, the fragments were placed on opposite walls of the gallery in which they were displayed. Because of this, their relationship to one another was long overlooked; for details on the indirect join, see Tadmor, PIASH 2/9 (1967) pp. 182–183. Utilizing a photograph of exs. 1a and 1b, the text was recopied by E. Weissert (Tadmor, Tigl. III pl. I). The new copy gave E. Frahm (AfO 44/45 [1997–98] p. 400) an opportunity to significantly improve the reading of the damaged signs in line 4.
Frahm (ibid. p. 400) suggested that NA 12/76 may contain the end of the seven lines inscribed on Zurich 1918 (+) 1917; that piece (ex. 1c) is a fragment of a corner slab that was discovered during the Polish excavations at Nimrud in 1976 and that preserves part of an inscription along the central portion of its inner left surface. The exact size of the gap between NA 12/76 (ex. 1c) and the Zurich pieces (exs. 1a and 1b) is not known, although it may be small as suggested by the fact that lines 1, 5, and 6 can be restored with no missing signs between fragments. NA 12/76 (ex. 1c) has an image of a soldier sculpted in its upper and lower registers. This figure may be part of the scenes carved on exs. 1a and 1b, which include images of an Assyrian archer and a shield bearer, along with other military men. Following Frahm, NA 12/76 is tentatively regarded as belonging to the same slab as Zurich 1918 + 1917. This fragment was not collated from the original since the object was left in the field. It was, however, collated from photographs published by R. Sobolewski and E. Bleibtreu, from an unpublished excavation photograph that was in the possession of H. Tadmor (possibly supplied by the late J. Meuszyński), as well as from an electronic photo supplied by S. Paley to S. Yamada. Moreover, a partial copy of the inscription is found in an unpublished inventory of slabs held at the Polish Center of Mediterranean Archaeology (Warsaw). Due to the poor quality of the available photographs, the preserved text on ex. 1c is difficult to read. That piece is tentatively read as: 1) -ru-a AB? BA? x x; 2) AN/TI? AL/ŠID? x; 3) x x x ma?; 4) šu-ri-⸢in?-ni?⸣; 5) mal-⸢ki⸣ x x-ti; 6) na-ki-ri šá ḫur-sa-⸢a?-ni?⸣; and 7) ú x x x x. This text is incorporated into the edition as the final signs of each line.
These seven lines of Tiglath-pileser III's Annals are written on a fragment of a carved corner slab that once lined the wall of a room of this king's palace at Kalḫu. The text, which is a direct continuation of the previous unit of the Kalḫu Annals, contains part of the inscription's prologue and represents Annals Series A, Unit 2.
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This text is on the same corner slab as text no. 1; it is inscribed on the central portion of its inner right surface. This unit of the Annals has been overlooked and has not been previously edited. The extant text, which comprises the beginning of seven lines, is written over the right side of an image of a sacred tree; see Bleibtreu, Flora pl. 6b. The text was not collated from the original since NA 12/76 was left in the field. However, it was collated from a photograph, as well as from a copy found in an unpublished inventory of slabs held at the Polish Center of Mediterranean Archaeology (Warsaw) (see the commentary to text no. 1).
Although text no. 3 is a continuation of this text, the length of the gap between the two texts is not known. More specifically, it is uncertain how many signs are missing at the end of text no. 2 lines 1–7 and at the beginning of text no. 3 lines 1–7, and if this text and text no. 3 are actually different units of the Kalḫu Annals (Series A). Since the ends of text no. 3 lines 1–2 do not appear to have been continued in the beginnings of lines 2–3 of this text, it seems unlikely that text nos. 2 and 3 are part of the same Annals unit. Thus, they are edited separately.
A fragment of an inscribed and sculpted corner entryway slab that once decorated the interior of Tiglath-pileser III's palace at Kalḫu is inscribed with two seven-line units of this king's Annals, this text and text no. 4. This section of the Kalḫu Annals, which is the first unit on the slab and which is a continuation of text no. 2, contains the end of the inscription's prologue and represents Annals Series A, Unit 3.
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This corner slab was discovered during the Polish excavations at Nimrud in 1976. The seven lines of text are preserved on the left outer side of the object. As R. Sobolewski has suggested, slab NA 9/76 is inscribed with the last words of the final seven lines of the inscription's prologue and the beginning of these lines "must have been on another slab positioned at a right angle to 9/76" (ZA 71 [1981] p. 267); see below for further details. The extant text contains several epithets of Tiglath-pileser III. Text no. 4, a unit of the Kalḫu Annals reporting on events of the king's 1st palû (his accession year, 745), is inscribed on the right outer side of the same corner slab after a divider (a narrow, uninscribed vertical band). Unlike most of the other sculpted orthostats in the Hall of the Seven-Line Series (Series A), which have reliefs carved in the upper and lower registers (with seven lines of text written between them), at least one of the two Annals units preserved on slab NA 9/76 is written over sculpture. Text no. 4 is inscribed over the image of a large left-facing wingless genius whose right hand is raised in a gesture of benediction toward those entering the hall. The left outer side of the slab, upon which text no. 3 is written, is not sufficiently preserved for it to be know what type of sculpture that unit of the Annals was inscribed over. This arrangement of text and image is used only on corner slabs; the palace of Ashurnasirpal II at Kalḫu also employs this combination of text and image.
This fragment was not collated from the original or from a photograph since the object was left in the field and since no photograph of the inscription is known. Therefore, the edition is based on an unpublished copy that was in the possession of H. Tadmor (possibly supplied by the late J. Meuszyński) and on another copy found in an unpublished inventory of slabs held at the Polish Center of Mediterranean Archaeology (Warsaw). A few of the restorations provided in the translation are conjectural. For the relationship between this text and text no. 2, see the commentary to text no. 2.
This seven-line unit of the Kalḫu Annals is written on the same corner entryway slab that once decorated the interior of Tiglath-pileser III's palace as text no. 3. The text, which contains the beginning of the historical narration, is a direct continuation of the previous unit of the Annals and represents Annals Series A, Unit 4. These seven lines record the beginning of the king's first campaign, which was directed against Aramean tribes in Babylonia, in the fifth month after Tiglath-pileser ascended the Assyrian throne (Tašrītu [VII] 745; Tiglath-pileser became king on 13 Ayyāru [II]); the Eponym Chronicle (see p. 17 and Millard, SAAS 2) also records the start date of the campaign.
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This slab was discovered during the Polish excavations at Nimrud in 1976. The seven lines of inscription are preserved on the right outer side of the object. Text no. 3, a unit of the Kalḫu Annals containing the end of the inscription's prologue, is inscribed on the left outer side of the same corner slab before a narrow, uninscribed band (a text divider). For further details on NA 9/76, see the commentary to text no. 3. This section of the Annals was not collated from the original since the object was left in the field. However, it was collated from an unpublished excavation photograph that was in the possession of H. Tadmor (possibly supplied by the late J. Meuszyński), as well as from an electronic photo supplied by S. Paley to S. Yamada. These two photos are more legible than the photographs published by R. Sobolewski (Études et Travaux 11 [1979] p. 261 fig. 9) and E. Bleibtreu (Flora pl. 8a). The reading of some of the more difficult-to-read signs were confirmed by a copy found on pp. 36–37 of an unpublished inventory of slabs held at the Polish Center of Mediterranean Archaeology (Warsaw).
A fragment of a large carved orthostat found during nineteenth-century exploratory excavations of Kalḫu preserves parts of two twelve-line units of Tiglath-pileser III's Annals that were inscribed in the horizontal band between its sculpted upper and lower registers; these units are this text and text no. 6. This section of the Kalḫu Annals, which follows text no. 4 after a gap of unknown length, preserves part of a report of events of the king's 1st palû (745), the first campaign to Babylonia. This text represents Annals Series B, Unit 1, which corresponds to Ann. 9 in Tadmor, Tigl. III.
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This Annals unit is inscribed on the left half of the same slab (BM 118934) as text no. 6. Four to six signs are missing at the beginning of each line. The upper register depicts the siege of a city, probably in Syria, and the lower register is carved with a scene showing the removal of divine images from a conquered foreign city, a place also in the west, in Syria or Philistia. See Barnett and Falkner, Tigl. p. 29 Relief 35; Tadmor, Tigl. III pp. 238–259 (Supplementary Study B), esp. p. 240 and fig. 12; and C. Uehlinger, Studies Weippert pp. 92–125. A.H. Layard made a draft copy of the inscription while he was in the field (MS A pp. 113–114; reproduced in Tadmor, Tigl. III pl. V). The present edition is based on collation of the original in the British Museum and on published photographs. The edition is supplemented by Layard's draft copy, which preserves text now missing from BM 118934.
The same sculpted and inscribed orthostat upon which text no. 5 is inscribed also preserves part of this twelve-line unit of Tiglath-pileser III's Annals. This passage, which is a direct continuation of text no. 5, preserves part of a report of events of the king's 1st palû (745), his first campaign to Babylonia (lines 1–7a), and the beginning of an account of events of his 2nd palû (744), when Tiglath-pileser III launched a campaign against lands in the Zagros mountains (lines 7b–12). This text represents Annals Series B, Unit 2, which Tadmor referred to as Ann. 10 in Tigl. III.
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This unit and the previous unit of the Annals are written on the same slab (BM 118934). This text is inscribed to the right of the text divider (a narrow, uninscribed band). Altogether, one quarter of the original length of each line is preserved. A.H. Layard made a draft copy of the inscription while he was in the field (MS A p. 114; reproduced in Tadmor, Tigl. III pl. VI). The present edition is based on collation of the original in the British Museum and on published photographs. The edition is supplemented by Layard's draft copy, which preserves text now missing from BM 118934, i.e., several (one to eight) signs of lines 2–10 and all of lines 11–12.
A large fragment of a sculpted and inscribed slab discovered at Kalḫu in the nineteenth century is inscribed with two twelve-line units of the Kalḫu Annals; the two Annals units are this text and text no. 8. This passage, which is a direct continuation of text no. 6, preserves part of a report of events of the king's 2nd palû (744), when Tiglath-pileser III launched a campaign against lands in the Zagros mountains. This text represents Annals Series B, Unit 3, which corresponds to Ann. 11 in Tadmor, Tigl. III.
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Two large fragments of the same slab were brought back to London by A.H. Layard. The top fragment (149×239 cm) preserves part of the upper register, which depicts soldiers marching to the left, and a horizontal band with twelve lines of text. The bottom fragment (121×239 cm) preserves part of the lower register, which is carved with a scene showing Tiglath-pileser placing his foot on the neck and back of a prostrate local ruler who had been captured in battle and several of the Assyrian king's attendants. For the identity of the local ruler, see Tadmor, Tigl. III p. 240 (Tutammû of Unqi); and Uehlinger, Studies Weippert pp. 92–125 (Ḫanūnu of Gaza). Both pieces share the museum number BM 118933. This text and text no. 8 are both inscribed on BM 118933, in the horizontal band that runs between the upper and lower registers. This text is written on the left half of the slab, while text no. 8 is written on the right half of the slab. Approximately 10–12 signs are missing at the beginning of each line of this text. A.H. Layard made a draft copy of this unit of the Annals while he was in the field (MS A pp. 111–112; reproduced in Tadmor, Tigl. III pl. VII). The present edition is based on collation of the original in the British Museum and on published photographs. The edition is supplemented by Layard's draft copy, which preserves text now missing from BM 118933, i.e., several signs at the beginning of lines 1–3.
This twelve-line unit of the Kalḫu Annals is inscribed on the same carved orthostat as text no. 7. This Annals unit, which is a direct continuation of the previous text, preserves part of a report of the events of the king's 2nd palû (744), when Tiglath-pileser III marched into the Zagros mountains. This text represents Annals Series B, Unit 4, which Tadmor referred to as Ann. 12 in Tigl. III.
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This unit and the previous unit of the Annals are written on the same slab. This text is inscribed to the right of the text divider (a narrow, uninscribed band). For further details on BM 118933, see the commentary to text no. 7. Only one-third of the original length of each line is preserved. A.H. Layard made a draft copy of this unit of the Kalḫu Annals while he was in the field (MS A p. 112; reproduced in Tadmor, Tigl. III pl. VIII). The present edition is based on collation of the original in the British Museum and on published photographs. The edition is supplemented by Layard's draft copy, which preserves text now missing from BM 118933, mainly several signs at the end of lines 1–12.
Sixteen lines of Tiglath-pileser III's Annals are preserved on a fragment of a colossal sculpted slab unearthed at Kalḫu. The beginning and end of this section of the Kalḫu Annals are completely broken away, and thus it is uncertain how many lines of text were originally inscribed on this orthostat. The extant portion of this Annals unit, which follows text no. 8 after a gap of unknown length, contains the end of a report of events of Tiglath-pileser's 2nd palû (744; lines 1'–2'a) and the first part of an account of events of his 3rd palû (743; lines 2'b–16'), a year in which he did battle in northern Syria with the Urarṭian army and its Anatolian and north Syrian allies. The Eponym Chronicle records for the year 743 (the eponymy of Tiglath-pileser) that "the land Urarṭu [was defea]ted at the city Arpad" (Millard, SAAS 2 pp. 43 and 59). This text represents Annals Series C, Unit 1, which corresponds to Ann. 17 in Tadmor, Tigl. III.
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The colossal slab, which was left at Nimrud, is reported to have had an inscription written "across [a] winged figure" (Layard, ICC pp. 71–72; see Barnett and Falkner, Tigl. p. 30). This unit of the Annals, however, was copied in the field by A.H. Layard (MS A pp. 69–70; reproduced in Tadmor, Tigl. III pl. XIII) and H. Rawlinson (Notebook 1 fols. 123r–122v [see below]; reproduced in Tadmor, Tigl. III pl. XIV). Rawlinson made a draft of the text for his private use at Nimrud, probably during 1853–54. The unusual numbering of the folios in Rawlinson, Notebook 1 is due to the fact that Rawlinson had flipped his notebook upside down after numbering the pages and before copying the inscriptions. Thus, the texts were copied upside down in Notebook 1, with the hand-drawn facsimile starting in the bottom of what should have been the right-hand page (i.e., now the top of the left-hand page). Therefore, recto (according to the original page numbering) preceded verso. For example, Rawlinson's copy of this text begins on 123r (now the left-hand page) and continues on 122v (now the right-hand page).
Layard copied the text in two fragments: the left fragment (which he designated as "a" in his field journal) preserves parts of fourteen lines (= the left part of lines 3'–16'); and the right fragment (which he designated as "b" in his field journal) preserves parts of sixteen lines (= lines 1'–2' and the right part of lines 3'–16'). In contrast, Rawlinson copied the extant text as a single inscription; he did not indicate the space taken up by the sculpted figure over which the inscription runs. The inscription was not collated since the original was not available for study. The present edition is based on the copies of Layard and the draft copy of Rawlinson.
Hayim Tadmor & Shigeo Yamada
Hayim Tadmor & Shigeo Yamada, 'Annals, Part 1', RINAP 1: Tiglath-pileser III and Shalmaneser V, The RINAP 1 sub-project of the RINAP Project, 2019 [http://oracc.org/rinap/rinap1/Tiglath-pileserIII:TextIntroductions/Annals/]