Sennacherib 041

(1') [I made (them) an obj]ect of wonder.

(2'b) I decorated them (the doors) with silver [and copper] knobbed [nails]. I adorned the arches, friezes, and all of their copings with baked bricks (glazed in the color of) obsidian (and) lapis lazuli.

(7'b) So that the construction of my palace might be carried out correctly and that my handiwork be completed, at that time, the god Aššur and the goddess Ištar, who love my priestly service (and) who selected me (lit. “who called my name”), revealed to me a source of trunks of cedar, which since distant days grew tall and very thick as they stood in seclusion in the Sirāra mountain range.

(15'b) In the uplands of Mount Ammanāna (northern Anti-Lebanon), they (Aššur and Ištar) disclosed to me the location of alabaster, which in the time of the kings, my ancestors, was too expensive (even) for the pommel of a sword.

(18'b) Moreover, breccia, as much as is needed (for making) burzigallu-bowls,

(1'') [I made ...] bull colossi and sp[hinxes of white limestone, hold the door bolts of my palatial halls].

(2'') [I fastened bands of copper on] magnificent copper columns, as well as [on large cedar] col[umns, which are the product of Mount Amanus, and (then)] I installed (them) [upon lion colossi] and [positioned] cross-beams (upon them) as a cornice for [their] gates.

(3''b) [Sphinxes of alabaster, as well as sphinxes of cast] urudû-copper that [were overlaid with] zaḫalû-silver, [and sphinxes of cast ...-metal, whose] features [were brilliant]: I ere[cted] over them columns of ebony, cyp[ress, cedar, daprānu-juniper, juniper, and tatīdu-wood, with pašallu-gold] and silver [inlays], and (then) [I positioned the architraves of the inner rooms of my lordly residence (on those columns)].

(6''b) [I surrounded their (the palace rooms’) lower courses with slabs of] breccia (and) alabaster, and [large] lim[estone slabs] (and) made (them) an object of wonder.

(8''b) In order to [be able to draw] water [by bucket] every day, I had [bronze wire chains] and bronze cables made and, instead of [poles], I had [tree trunks and date palm(s)] placed [over] wells.

(10''b) I made those palatial halls beautiful. [To be an object of wonder for] all of the people, I raised the superstructure of [the en]ti[re palace]. I called it the “Palace Without a Rival.”

(12'') By the command of the god Aššur, father of the gods, and the goddess Ištar, the queen, may the good šēdu (and) the good lamassu last forever and ever in that palace. May they never leave it.