Sennacherib 044

(1) Palace of Sennacherib, great king, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, king of the four quarters (of the world), (and) favorite of the great gods:

(5) The god Aššur, father of the gods, looked steadfastly upon me among all of the rulers and he made my weapons greater than (those of) all who sit on (royal) daises.

(7b) In a pitched battled, I repulsed Marduk-apla-iddina (II) (Merodach-baladan), the king of Karduniaš (Babylonia), (and) took away his rulership. I killed with the sword all of the Chaldeans, together with the massed body of Elamite troops, his allies.

(11b) I placed Aššur-nādin-šumi, my first-born son, on his royal throne and entrusted him with the wide land of Akkad.

(13b) I uprooted all of the Aḫlamû (Arameans) (and) Sutians. I put to the sword the inhabitants of the city Ḫirimmu, not sparing (any of) their offspring. I conquered (the land of) the Yasubigallians, a dangerous enemy. I ruined the land Ellipi and destroyed its settlements.

(17) Moreover, Lulî, the king of the city Sidon, became frightened of doing battle with me, fled to Yadnana (Cyprus), which is in the midst of the sea, and took refuge (there). In that same land, he disappeared on account of the awesome terror of the weapon of the god Aššur, my lord. I placed Tu-Baʾlu on his royal throne and imposed upon him payment (in recognition) of my overlordship.

(20b) I ruined the wide district of the recalcitrant (and) strong land Judah (and) I made Hezekiah, its king, bow down at my feet.

(22b) I put to the sword the men of the city Tumurrum, who live on Mount Nipur, a rugged mountain. I destroyed the city Ukku, together with every one of its settlements, (so that they looked) like a ruin hill (created by) the Deluge.

(24) I slaughtered the people of the land Ḫilakku, who live in the high mountains, like sheep. I conquered the city Tīl-garimmu, which is on the border of the land Tabal, and turned (it) into ruins.

(25b) The inhabitants of Chaldea, who had become frightened by my battle array, and (then) had dislodged the gods of their entire land from their abodes, had crossed the sea, and had taken up residence inside the city Nagiatu (Nagītu) — I crossed the sea after them in boats of the land Ḫatti. (30) I conquered the cities Nagiatu (Nagītu), Nagiatu-diʾbina (Nagītu-diʾbina), Ḫilmu, Pillatu, and Ḫupapanu, districts on the other shore of the Bitter Sea, and (then) I carried off the people of Chaldea, together with their gods, (and) the people of the king of the land Elam. I did not leave (behind) a (single) escapee.

(32b) At that time, [I made the] enemy [pe]ople whom I had captured [carry] baskets (of earth) [and they made bricks].

(33b) [The palace in the citadel of Ni]nev[eh], whose extent was 3[60 cu]bits on (its) longer side (and) [95 cubits on (its) shorter side, and whose site was too small]; alongside of wh[ich] the Tebilti River [had flow]ed, (35) [caused erosion in its foundations, (and) shaken its base; (and) which earl]ier [kings], my ancestors, [had had constructed] for their lo[rdly] dwelling, [but whose construction they had carried out inexpertly]:

(36b) I tore down [that small palace in] its [ent]irety. [I diverted] <the course of> the Tebilti River fr[om the ce]nter of the city [and] directed its outflow [into the meadow behind the city].

(37b) In the hidden depths of its subterranean waters I very firmly bonded reeds [be]low (and) [bitumen above with large (blocks of) limestone. I raised a plot of land that] was 554 cubits long (and) 289 [cu]bits wide out of the water [and] converted (it) [into] an empty lot. (40) [I added (it)] to the former dimensions of the terra[ce, and] raised its superstructure [in its entirety 190 cou]rses of brick. [I en]larged [the structure of the palace] to 914 large cubits [along (its) longer side] and 440 [large cubits along (its) shorter side] and (thus) I made its site bigger.

(41b) [I built] palatial halls of gold, silver, bronze, [...]...-stone, [breccia, alabaster, elephant ivory], ebony, boxwood, musukkannu-wood, cedar, cypress, juniper, elammaku-wood, (and) [Ind]ian wood, [for my lordly residence; then I h]ad a house with double doors, a replica of a Hittite palace, constructed opposite (its) gates.

(44) [I roofed] them (the palatial halls) [with beams of cedar (and) cypress. I fast]ened bands of silver (and) copper on doors of white cedar (and) cypress and [I installed (them) in their gates].

(45b) [In the corrido]rs, I made openings for latticed windows. [At their gates, I sta]tioned apotropaic figures of alabas[ter] (and) elephant [ivory, whose hands are folded], and (thus) I made (them) an object of wonder.

(46b) [I decora]ted [them] 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].

(47b) [So that the construction of] my [palace might be carried out correctly, at that time, the god Aššur and the goddess Ištar, who l]ove my priestly service (and) who selected me (lit. “who called my name”), re[vealed to me a source of trunks of cedar, which since distant days grew thick] as they stood in seclusion [in the Sirāra mountain range].

(50) [In the uplands of Mount Ammanā]na (northern Anti-Lebanon), [they (Aššur and Ištar) disclosed to me the locat]ion [of alabaster], which [i]n the time of [the kings, my ancestors, was too expensive (even) for the pommel of a sword].

(51b) Moreover, breccia, [as much as is needed (for making) burzigallu-bowls, (a stone) that had never been seen before, revealed its]elf [at Kapridar]gilâ (“Dargilâ Village”).

(52b) Near Nineveh, i[n the territory of the city Balāṭāya, by divine will, white limestone was di]scovered [in abundance, and (then) I created bull co]lossi of alabaster that [are sculpted] from a sin[gle stone, (whose) proportions are perfect; sphinxes of alabaster whose features are exquisite] (and) whose bodies shine [li]ke a [brillia]nt day; (and) [magnificent] slabs of [breccia]. I cut (them) free [on bo]th sides [fr]om their mountains, and (then), for the construction of my palace, [I had (them) dragged into Nineveh].

(55b) I had [large bull colossi] and sphinxes of whit[e] limestone created [in] the territory of the city Balāṭāya and [their forms] perfec[ted through the craft of the deity Ninkura].

(57b) [By divine will, I created clay mold(s) of] tree trunks together with date palm(s), [the tree of abundance], (of) twelve raging lions, [as well as] (of) twelve magnificent bull colossi [with per]fect features (and) twenty-two sphi[nxes that are coa]ted in allure [and charm (and) that have] pri[de (and) exuberance heaped upon them, and I poured] copper into [it. Just like the cast work of (an object weighing only) a half shekel, I perfected their form(s)].

(60b) I made [bull colossi with copper features, two of wh]ich were overl[aid] with [zaḫa]lû-silver, (and) [bull coloss]i of alabas[ter, together with bull colossi] (and) sphinxes of white limestone, [hold the door bolts of] my [palatial halls].

(62b) [I fastened] bands of copper [on] magnificent [copper columns], as well as on large cedar columns, which are the product of Mount Amanus, and (then) [I installed] (them) upon lion colo[ssi and] positioned [cross-beams (upon them) as a cornice for] their [gate]s.

(63b) Sphinxes of alabaster, as well as sphinxes of [cas]t urudû-copper [that were overlaid with zaḫalû-silver, and sp]hinxes of cast ...-metal, whose features were brilliant: [I erected] over [them columns of] ebony, cypress, [cedar, daprānu-juniper], juniper, and Indian wood, with pašallu-gold and silver inlays, [and (then)] I positioned the architraves of [the inner rooms of] my [lo]rdly [residence (on those columns)].

(67) [I surrounded] their (the palace rooms’) lower courses with slab[s of brecc]ia (and) [alabaster, and] large limestone slabs (and) [made (them) an object of wonder].

(68b) In order to [be able to draw] water by bucket every day, I had bronze [wire ch]ains [and] bronze [cables] made and, instead of poles, I had [tree trunks] together with date palm(s) of copper placed over [well]s.

(70b) I made those palatial halls beautiful. To be an object of wonder for all of the people, I raised the superstructure of the entire palace. I called it the “Palace Without a Rival.”

(72b) 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.