Sennacherib 155

(1') [...] ... [...] did not know, moa[t(s) ... the one who makes brickwork structures (lit. “the craft of the god Kulla”) secure, from buildings for the living to tombs be]fitting the dead (made) from l[imestone, ...]:

(4') [(The god) Aššur], the one who regulates the Igīgū and Anunnakū gods, the father of al[l of the gods, ...] made [my weapons] gre[ater than (those of) al]l who sit on (royal) daises. [... From] from the Upper Sea of the Setting [Sun to the Lower Sea of the Rising Sun] he made [(all of) the rulers of the (four) qua]rters (of the world) bow down at my feet and th[ey (now) pull my yoke].

(7'b) [At that time, Nineveh, the] exalted [cult cent]er, ... [... who]se site had become too small, the outstanding city [...] ... and which in former days, its site [no] one [...] ... Egalzagdinu[tukua (the “Palace Without a Rival”) ...] ... [... Moreover, its people did not know artificial irrigation, but] had [their eyes] turn[ed for rain (and) showers from the sky. ...]

(r 1') [...] I provided irrigat[ion annually for the cultivation of grain and sesame].

(r 2'b) [(To) a later ruler, one of the kings, my descendants, who del]iberates (the matter) [in (his) heart but is not able to believe (it) (and) says “How did he have this canal dug] out [with (only) these few men?”: I swear] by the god Aššur, my [great] god, [that I dug out this canal with (only) these men. Moreover], I completed [the work on it within one year] (and) three months; [... was completed (and) I finished its excavation].

(r 6') [In order to open] that canal, [I sent] an exorcist (and) [a lamentation singer and ... Carnelian, lapis lazuli], muššāru-stone, pappardilû-stones, [precious] stone[s, turtles (and) tortoises whose likeness(es) are cast in silver (and) gold, aromatics], (and) fine oil, I gave [as gifts] to the god Ea, [the lord of underground waters, cisterns, and ..., (and to) the god Enbilulu, the inspector of canals, (and) the god Enʾeʾimdu, the lord of] dike(s) and canal(s). [I prayed to the great gods; they heeded my supplications and ma]de [my] hand[iwork] prosper.

(r 10'b) [This (sluice) gate of the watercourse opened by itself without (the help) of spade or shovel and] let [an abundance of water] flow through. [...] ... [...]