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Sennacherib, great king, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, king of the four quarters (of the world), (i 5) capable shepherd, favorite of the great gods, [guar]dian of truth who loves justice, renders assistance, goes to the aid of the weak, (i 10) (and) strives after good deeds, perfect man, virile warrior, foremost of all rulers, the bridle that controls the insubmissive, (and) the one who strikes enemies with lightning:
The god Aššur, the great mountain, granted to me unrivalled sovereignty and made my weapons greater than (those of) all who sit on (royal) daises. He made all of the black-headed (people) from the Upper Sea (i 20) of the Setting Sun to the Lower Sea of the Rising Su[n] bow [down at my feet]. Thus did recalcitrant rulers come to fear [battle with me]. While they were ab[andoning] their settlements, (i 25) they flew away alone like bats (living) in crev[ices] to inac[cessible] place(s).
ruling
On [my] first campaign, [I brought about the defeat] of Marduk-apla-[iddina] (II) (Merodach-baladan), king of Kardun[iaš] (Babylonia), (i 30) together with the troops of (the land) Elam, [his allies], in the plain of Kish. In the midst of [that] battle he abandoned his camp, [fled] a[lone, and] (thereby) saved his life. (i 35) I seized the chariots, ho[rses], wagons, (and) mu[les] that he had abandoned in the thick of ba[ttle].
I joyfully entered his palace, which is in Babylon, then (i 40) I opened his treasury and brought [out] gold, silver, gold (and) silver utensils, precious stones, all kinds of possessions (and) property without number, [a substantial] tribute, (together with) his palace women, c[ourtier]s, attendants, (i 45) male [singers], female singers, all of the craftsmen, as many as there were, (and) his palace attendants, [and] I counted (them) as booty.
With the [strength of the god] Aššur, my lord, I surrounded, conquered, (and) plundered 75 of his fortified cities, fortresses of Chaldea, and 420 small(er) settlements [in] their environs. I brought out the auxiliary forces of the Arameans (and) Chaldeans (i 55) who were in Uruk, Nippur, Kish, Ḫur[sagkala]ma, Cutha, (and) Sippar, [together with the] guilty [cit]izens, and I counted (them) as booty.
[On] my [retu]rn march, I defeated all together the [Tuʾu]muna, Riḫiḫu, [Yadaq]qu, Ubudu, [Gibr]ê, Malaḫu, [Guru]mu, Ubulu, [Damu]nu, Gambulu, (i 65) [Ḫin]daru, Ruʾuʾa, Puqudu, Ḫamrānu, Ḫagarānu, Nabatu, (and) Liʾtaʾu, insubmissive Arameans. I carried off into Assyria a substantial booty (i 70) (consisting of) 208,000 people, young (and) old, male and female, horses, mules, donkeys, camels, oxen, and sheep and goats, which were without number.
In the course of my campaign, I received a substantial audience gift from Nabû-bēl-šumāti, the official in charge of the city Ḫararatu: gold, silver, large musukkannu-trees, donkeys, camels, oxen, and sheep and goats.
I put to the sword the population of the city Ḫirimmu, a dangerous enemy, and I did not spare a single one. I hung their corpses on poles and (ii 1) placed (them) around the city. I reorganized that district (and) imposed for eternity one ox, ten sheep, ten homers of wine, (and) twenty homers of dates as his first-fruits offerings to the gods of Assyria, my lords.
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On my second campaign, the god Aššur, my lord, encouraged me and I marched to the land of the Kassites and the land of the Yasubigallians, who since time immemorial had not submitted to the kings, (ii 10) my ancestors. In the high mountains, difficult terrain, I rode on horseback and had my personal chariot carried on (men’s) necks. In very rugged terrain I roamed about on foot like a wild bull.
[I surrounded (and) conquered] the cities Bīt-Kilamzaḫ, Ḫardišpu, (and) Bīt-Ku[batti], their fortif[ied] walled cities. [I brought out] of [them] people, horses, [mules], donkeys, oxen, and she[ep and goats, and I counted] (them) as boo[ty. Moreover, I destroyed, devastated, (and) turned] into ruins [their small(er) settlements], (ii 20) which were [with]out num[ber. I burned with fire pavilions (and) tents], their [ab]odes, [and] reduced (them) [to ashes].
[I made th]at [city Bīt-Kilamzaḫ a fortress again (and) I streng]thened [its walls more than be]fore, then I settled therein [the people of the lands that] I [had conquered]. I brought down from the mountains [the people of the land of] the Kassites [and the land of the Ya]subigallians (ii 30) [who] had fled [from] my weapons and I made (them) dwell in the cities Ḫardišpu (and) Bīt-Kubatti. I placed them under the authority of a eunuch of mine, the governor of the city Arrapḫa. (ii 35) I had a stele made, had all the victorious conquests that I achieved over them written on it, and I erected (it) in (that) city.
I turned around (lit. “I turned the front of my yoke”) and (ii 40) took the road to the land Ellipi. Before my arrival, Ispabāra, their king, abandoned his fortified cities (and) his treasury and fled far away. I overwhelmed all of his wide land like a fog. (ii 45) I surrounded, conquered, destroyed, devastated, (and) burned with fire the cities Marʾubištu (and) Akkuddu, cities of his royal house, together with thirty-four small(er) settlements in their environs.
I carried off people, young (and) old, male and female, horses, mules, donkeys, camels, oxen, and sheep and goats without number, then I brought him (Ispabāra) to nought and made his land smaller. I detached from his land the cities Ṣi(ṣ)ṣirtu (and) Kummaḫlum, (ii 55) fortified cities, together with the small(er) settlements in their environs (and) the district of the land Bīt-Barrû in its entirety, and I added (this area) to the territory of Assyria.
I took the city Elenzaš as a royal city and a fortress for that district, then I changed its former name and called it Kār-Sennacherib. (ii 65) I settled therein the people of the lands that I had conquered. I placed (it) under the authority of a eunuch of mine, the governor of the city Ḫarḫar, and (thus) enlarged my land.
On my return march, I received a substantial payment from the distant Medes, of whose land none of the kings, my ancestors, had heard mention. (Thus) I made them bow down to the yoke of my lordship.
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On my third campaign, I marched to the land Ḫatti. Fear of my lordly brilliance (iii 1) overwhelmed Lulî, the king of the city Sidon, and he fled afar into the midst of the sea and disappeared. The awesome terror of the weapon of the god Aššur, my lord, overwhelmed the cities Great Sidon, Lesser Sidon, (iii 5) Bīt-Zitti, Ṣarepta, Maḫalliba, Ušû, Akzibu, (and) Acco, his fortified cities (and) fortresses, an area of pasture(s) and water-place(s), (iii 10) resources upon which he relied, and they bowed down at my feet.
I placed Tu-Baʾlu on the royal throne over them and imposed upon him tribute (and) payment (in recognition) of my overlordship (to be delivered) yearly (and) without interruption.
As for Min(u)ḫimmu of the city Samsimuruna, Tu-Baʾlu of the city Sidon, Abdi-Liʾti of the city Arwad, Ūru-Milki of the city Byblos, Mitinti of the city Ashdod, (iii 20) Būdi-il of the land Bīt-Ammon, Kammūsu-nadbi of the land Moab, Aya-rāmu of the land Edom, all of the kings of the land Amurru, they brought extensive gifts, four times (the normal amount), as their substantial audience gift before me and kissed my feet.
Moreover, (as for) Ṣidqâ, [the king of the city As]hkelon who had not bowed down [to my yoke], I forcibly removed [the god]s of his father’s house, himself, [his wife, his sons, his daughters, his brothers, (and other) offspring of his father’s house (iii 30) and took him to Assyria].
I set Šarru-lū-dāri, [son of Rūkibtu, their] forme[r king, over the people of the city Ashkelon] and imposed upon him the pay[ment of] tribute (and) [gif]ts (in recognition) of [my] overlordship so that he (now) pulls [my] yo[ke].
In the course of [my] campaign, I surrounded, conquered, (and) plundered the cities Bīt-Daganna, Joppa, Banayabarqa, (and) Azuru, the cities of Ṣidqâ that had not submitted to me quickly.
(As for) the governors, the nobles, and the people of the city Ekron who had thrown Padî, their king who was bound by treaty and oaths to Assyr[ia], into iron fetters and who had ha[nded him over] to [Hezekiah] of the land Judah [in a hostile manner], (iii 45) [they became frightened] on account of the villainous acts they had committed. They fo[rmed a confederation with] the kings of Egypt (and) [the archers], chariots, (and) horses of [the king of the land Meluḫḫa], forces without number, [and] they came to [their] ai[d].
In the plain of the city [Eltekeh], they sharpened [their weapons while drawing up in] battlel[ine] before me. With the support of the god Aššur, [my] lord, I fought with them and defeat[ed them]. (iii 55) In the thick of battle, I captured alive the Egyptian charioteers and [princes (lit. “the sons of the king”)], together with the charioteers of [the king of] the land Meluḫḫa.
I surrounded, conquered, (and) plundered the cities Eltekeh (and) Tamnâ. I approached the city Ekron and I killed the governors (and) nobles who had committed crime(s) and hung their corpses on towers around the city; (iii 65) I counted the citizens who had committed the criminal acts as booty; (and) I commanded that the rest of them, (those) who were not guilty of crimes or wrongdoing, (to) whom no penalty was due, be allowed to go free.
I brought out Padî, their king, from the city Jerusalem and placed (him) on the lordly throne over them, then I imposed upon him payment (in recognition) of my overlordship.
Moreover, (as for) Hezekiah of the land Judah, who had not submitted to my yoke, I surrounded (and) conquered forty-six of his fortified cities, fortresses, and small(er) settlements in their environs, which were without number, by having ramps trodden down and battering rams brought up, (iv 1) the assault of foot soldiers, sapping, breaching, and siege engines. I brought out of them 200,150 people, young (and) old, male and female, horses, mules, donkeys, camels, oxen, and sheep and goats, which were without number, and I counted (them) as booty.
As for hi[m] (Hezekiah), I confined him inside the city Jerusalem, his [roy]al [city, like a bird] in a cage. I set up blockades against him and made him dread exiting his city gate. I detached from his land the cities of his that I had plundered and (iv 15) I gave (them) to Mitinti, the king of the city Ashdod, Padî, the king of the city Ekron, and Ṣilli-Bēl, the king of the city Gaza, and (thereby) made his land smaller. To the former tribute, their annual giving, I added the payment (of) gifts (in recognition) of my overlordship and imposed (it) upon them.
As for him, Hezekiah, fear of my lordly brilliance overwhelmed him and, after my (departure), he had the auxiliary forces and his elite troops (iv 25) whom he had brought inside to strengthen the city Jerusalem, [his] roy[al] city, thereby gaining [reinforcements], along with 30 talents of gold, [800 talents of si]lver, choice antimony, large [blocks of] ..., (iv 30) [ivory beds], armchairs of ivory, elephant hide(s), elephant ivory, ebony, boxwood, every kind of valuable treasure, as well as his daughters, his palace women, [male] singers, (and) female singers brought into Nineveh, my capital city, and he sent a mounted messenger of his to me to deliver (this) payment and to do obeisance.
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[O]n my fourth campaign, the god Aššur, my lord, encouraged me (iv 40) so that I mustered my numerous troops and ordered the march to the land Bīt-Yakīn. In the course of my campaign, I defeated Šūzubu (Mušēzib-Marduk), a Chaldean who lives in the marshes, at the city Bittūtu. (iv 45) As for him, terror of doing battle with me fell upon him and his heart pounded. He fled alone like a lynx and his (hiding) place could [not] be found.
I turned [ar]ound (lit. “I turned the front of my yoke”) and took the road [to] the land Bīt-Yakīn. [H]e — Marduk-apla-iddina (II) (Merodach-baladan), [wh]om [I had defeated and] whose forces [I had scatter]ed during my first campaign — (iv 55) [became frightened by the clangor of my mig]hty [weapons and] my fierce [battle array. He] flew away [like a bird to the city Nagīte]-raqqi, [which is in the midst of the sea]. I brought [his] brothers, [the seed of his father’s house], whom he had abandoned at the shore of the sea, together with the rest of the people of his land, (iv 60) out of the land Bīt-Yakīn, which is in the swamps (and) marshes, and I counted (them) as booty.
Once again I destroyed (and) devastated his cities, (and) turned (them) into ruins. I poured out awe-inspiring brilliance upon his ally, the king of the land Elam.
On my return march, I placed Aššur-nādin-šumi, my first-born son (whom I) raised on my (own) knee, on his lordly throne and entrusted him with the wide land of Sumer and Akkad.
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On my fifth campaign: The population of the cities Tumurrum, Šarum, Ezāma, Kibšu, Ḫalbuda, Qūa, (and) Qana, whose dwellings are situated like the nests of eagles, the foremost of birds, (iv 75) on the peak of Mount Nipur, a rugged mountain, and who had not bowed down to the yoke — I had my camp pitched at the foot of Mount Nipur.
Like a fierce wild bull, with my select bodyguard and my merciless combat troops, I took the lead of them (the soldiers in my camp). (v 1) I proceeded through the gorges of the streams, the outflows of the mountains, (and) rugged slopes in (my) chair. Where it was too difficult for (my) chair, I leapt forward on my (own) two feet like a mountain goat. I ascended the highest peaks against them. (v 5) Where my knees became tired, I sat down upon the mountain rock and drank cold water from a water skin to (quench) my thirst.
I pursued them on the peaks of the mountains and defeated them. I conquered, (v 10) plundered, destroyed, devastated, (and) burned with fire their cities.
I turned around (lit. “I turned the front of my yoke”) and took the road against Maniye, the king of the city Ukku (and) an insubmissive mountain-dweller. (v 15) Before my time, none of the former kings of the past had marched through the untrodden paths (and) difficult trails on account of the rugged mountains. I had my camp pitched at the foot of Mount Anara and Mount Uppa, mighty mountains, and I myself, in an armchair, with my crack combat troops, (v 20) entered their narrow passes with great difficulty and ascended with a struggle the steep mountain peaks.
He, Maniye, saw the dust cloud (stirred up) by the feet of my troops, then [he abandoned] the city Uk[ku], his royal [city, and] (v 25) fled afar. I surrounded, conquered, (and) plundered the city Ukku. I brought out of it every kind of possession (and) property, the treasures of his palace, and I counted (it) [as boo]ty.
Moreover, I conquered thirty-three cities on the borders of his [district] and (v 30) carried off [from th]em people, donkeys, oxen, and sheep and goats. (Then) I destroyed (them), devastated (them), (and) burned (them) with fire.
From the booty of those lands that I had plundered, I conscripted 20,000 archers (and) 15,000 shield bearers and added (them) to my royal contingent. I divided up the rest of the substantial enemy booty like sheep and goats among my entire camp and my governors, (and) the people of my great cult centers.
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At [that time], Nineveh, the exal[ted] cult center, [the city] loved by the goddess Ištar in which all of [the rit]uals for gods and god[desses] are present; (v 45) the en[during] foundation (and) eternal [ba]se whose plan had been designed [by] the stars (lit. “writing”) of the firmam[ent and whose] arrangement [was made manife]st since time immemorial; a sophisticated place (and) site of se[cret lore in which every kind of] skilled craftsmanship, all [of the rituals], (v 50) (and) the secret(s) of the lalgar (cosmic subterranean water) [are apprehended];
in which since time immemorial [earlier kings], my ancestors, be[fore me] exercised [dominion over Assyria] and rul[ed the subjects of the god En]lil; (but) not one among them had conceived of and put his mind towards [increasing the site of] the city, (v 55) building wall(s), straightening the st[ree]ts, or dredging the river (and) planting or[ch]ards; nor had any (of them) paid heed to (or) shown interest in the palace inside it, the seat of lordly dwelling whose site had become too small (and) whose construction was inexpert:
(But) as for me, Sennacherib, king of the world, king of Assyria, the performing of this work came to my attention by the will of the gods and I put my mind to it. I forcibly removed the people of Chaldea, Aramean (tribes), the land of the Manneans, the lands Que, Ḫilakku, (and) Philistia, and the city Tyre, who had not submitted to my yoke, then I made them carry baskets (of earth) and they made bricks.
The former palace, which was 360 cubits long, 80 cubits wide opposite the zamû-wall of the ziggurrat, 134 cubits wide opposite the tower of the temple of the goddess Ištar, (v 75) (and) 95 cubits wide opposite the tower of the Bīt-Kidmuri; which earlier kings, my ancestors, had had constructed for their lordly dwelling, but whose construction they had carried out inexpertly:
They quarried mountain sheep colossi of white limestone in the city Tastiate, which is across the Tigris River, to be their (the palatial halls’) gatekeepers. (vi 1) Throughout their entire land they depleted forests of large trees to have boats built. In the month Ayyāru (II), the time of spring floods, they brought (the colossi) across to this side (of the river) with difficulty in magnificent boats. (vi 5) They sank large boats at the quay dock (and then) made their crews struggle (and) strain. With might and main, they struggled to transport (the colossi) and install (them) in their gates.
The Tebilti River, a tempestuous flood (of water) which had flowed from distant days by the side of the palace and which had caused erosion in its foundation when its flood was in full spate (vi 15) (and) had shaken its base:
I tore down that small palace in its entirety, then I changed the course of the Tebilti River, repaired (the effects of) the erosion, and directed its outflow.
In the hidden depths of its subterranean waters I bonded together, with bitumen, reeds below (and) strong mountain stone above, then [I raised] a plot of land that was 340 cubits long (and) 288 cubits wide out [of the Ḫusur River and] converted (it) to dry land. (vi 25) [I added (it) to] the dimensions of the former terrace. I filled in a terrace of 700 large aslu-cubits along (its) longer side, 176 large aslu-cubits along (its) upper, northern shorter side, 268 large aslu-cubits along the inner, shorter side, (which is) opposite (vi 30) the zamû-wall of the shrine behind (the temple of) [the goddess] Ištar, 443 large aslu-cubits along the other, parallel, inner shorter side, (which is) on the west behind the ziggurrat of the temple of the goddess Ištar, (and) 386 large aslu-cubits (vi 35) along the lower, southern shorter side, (which is) beside the Tigris River. I raised its superstructure 190 courses of brick high.
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 [rev]ealed to me the presence of white limestone [in] the city Balāṭāya. (vi 45) Therein, I quarried mighty [moun]tain [sheep] colossi, [sphi]nxes, and large stone slabs [for] the construction of my lordly palace.
In order to prevent the foundation of the terrace from being weakened over the passage [of time b]y cresting flood(s), I surro[und]ed its base with large limestone (slabs and thereby) reinforced its base.
I had a palace of [brec]cia, alabaster, elephant ivory, ebony, boxwood, musukkannu-wood, (vi 55) cedar, cypress, juniper, and e[lammaku]-wood, (a palace that I named) Egalzagdinutukua (“The Palace Without a Rival”), constructed thereon as my royal residence.
I roofed them (the palatial halls) with beams of cedar (and) cypress, whose scent is sweet, product(s) of Mount Amanus (vi 60) (and) the yield of Mount Sirāra, the holy mountains. I fastened bands of shining silver (and) bright copper on magnificent doors of cedar, cypress, (and) juniper and I installed (them) in their gates. (vi 65) I decorated them (the doors) with silver and copper knobbed nails. I adorned the arches, friezes, and all of the copings with baked bricks (glazed in the color of) obsidian (and) lapis lazuli.
For my lordly pleasure, I had a portico, a replica of a Hittite palace, (vi 70) which is called bīt-ḫilāni in the language of the land Amurru, constructed inside them.
Twelve striding lions of shining copper (and) fierce demeanor, (which were) standing opposite one another, which were skillfully cast through the craftsmanship of the god Ninagal, and which were filled with radiance — upon (those) lion colossi I installed two identical columns that were cast from bronze, (vi 80) together with four large cedar columns, and I positioned cross-beams (upon them) as a cornice for their gates.
I covered ten sphinxes of cast bright urudû-copper with shining zaḫalû-silver and (over them), over ten sphinxes of alabaster, (and) over twelve sphinxes of cast ...-metal I erected two magnificent ebony columns, whose inlays are pašallu-gold, and columns of cedar, cypress, (and) daprānu-juniper with ešmarû-silver and bronze inlays, and I positioned the architraves of my lordly palatial halls (on those columns).
Moreover, I [made] twelve mountain sheep colossi of cast bright urudû-copper, which are splendid in form (and) perfect in shape, two mountain sheep colossi of alabaster, (and) seventy-two mountain sheep colossi and sphinxes of white limestone suitable for holding the door bolt(s) for leaving and entering.
[I engrav]ed on slabs of br[ec]cia (and) alabaster, and on large limestone slabs (images of) the enemy settlements that I had conquered. I surro[unded] their (the palace rooms’) lower courses (with them and) made (them) an object of wonder.
I planted alongside it (the palace) a botanical garden, a replica of Mount Amanus, which has all kinds of aromatic plants (and) fruit trees, trees that are the mainstay of the mountains and Chaldea, together with cotton trees (lit. “trees bearing wool”), collected inside it.
Nineveh, the site of whose circumference had been 9,300 cubits since former times (and) for which no earlier ruler had had an inner or outer wall built — I added 12,515 (cubits) in the plain around the city to (its) previous measurement and (thus) established its dimensions as 21,815 large cubits.
I laid the foundation of its great wall, Badnigalbilukurašušu, (which means) “Wall Whose Brilliance Overwhelms Enemies,” upon limestone and made (it) 40 bricks thick. I raised its superstructure 180 courses of brick high.
I had fourteen gates opened up in it in four directions, in front and behind, (and) along both sides, for entering and leaving.
“The God Šarur Is the One Who Cuts Down the King’s Enemy”: (this is) the Ḫandūru Gate. (vii 40) “May the Vice-Regent of the God Aššur Endure”: (this is) the Aššur Gate, which (leads to) the Inner City (Aššur). “The One Who Flattens All Enemies”: (this is) the Sennacherib Gate, which (leads to) the land Ḫalzi. “The God Enlil Is the One Who Makes My Reign Firm”: (vii 45) (this is) the Šamaš Gate, which (leads to) the land Gagal. “O Ištar Bless the One Who Provides for You!”: (this is) the Mullissu Gate, which (leads to) the city Kār-Mullissi. “The One Who Exorcises the ‘Flesh’ of the Asakku-demon”: (this is) the Step Gate. “The Choicest of Grain and Flocks (vii 50) Are Constantly Inside It”: (this is) the gate (that leads to) the city Šiba[ni]ba. “The Bearer of the Produce of the Mountains”: (this is) the gate (that leads to) [the land Ḫalaḫḫu. In] total, eight gate[s] (facing) the rising sun, [to]wards [the south] and east, (and) I gave them (these) names.
“The God Adad Is the Provider of Prosperity to the Land”: (this is) the Adad Gate, which (leads to) the game preserve. “The God Erra Is the One Who Cuts Down Enemies”: (this is) the Nergal Gate, which (leads to) the city Tarbiṣu. “The God Igisigsig Is the One Who Makes Orchards Flourish”: (vii 60) (this is) the Gate of the Gardens. In total, three gates (facing) towards the nor[th] (and) I gave them (these) names.
“The God Ea Is the One Who Properly Directs (Water Flow into) My Cisterns”: (this is) the Mašqû Gate. (vii 65) “The One Who Brings in Income from the Settlements”: (this is) the Quay Gate. “The One Who Regulates Everything”: (this is) the Armory Gate. In total, three gates (facing) towards the west (and) I gave them (these) names.
I opened up a foundation pit for the outer wall, Badnigerimḫuluḫa, (which means) “Terrorizer of Enemies,” then I dug down forty-five nindanu and made (it) reach the water table. I bound together strong mountain stone in the water below and above I expertly carried out its construction with large limestone (blocks) up to its copings.
I enlarged the site of Nineveh, my capital city. I broadened its squares, making (them) as bright as day. I had an inner (and) outer wall built and I raised (them) as high as mountain(s).
So that there would be outflow from the Ḫusur River in the city (and) the passage of water upstream and downstream, I built aqueducts beneath it (the city wall) with baked bricks, ...
I had a bridge constructed opposite the Citadel Gate with paving stones of white limestone for the passage of my lordly chariot.
Beside the city, in a botanical garden (one) pānu (in size and) a garden (one) pānu (in size) for a game preserve, (viii 5) I gathered every type of aromatic tree of the land Ḫatti, fruit trees of [all lands], (and) trees that are the mainstay of the mountains and Chaldea. Upstream of the city, on newly tilled so[il], (viii 10) I planted vines, every type of fruit tree, and olive tre[es].
For the expansion of orchards, I subdivided the meadowland upstream of the city into plots of two pānu each for the citizens of Nineveh and I handed (them) over (viii 15) to them. To make (those) planted areas luxuriant, I cut with iron picks a canal straight through mountain and valley, from the border of the city Kisiru to the plain of Nineveh. (viii 20) I caused an inexhaustible supply of water to flow there for a distance of one and a half leagues from the Ḫusur River (and) made (it) gush through feeder canals into those gardens.
I provided irrigation for 500 seeded field[s] in the high fields of Nineveh with (that) water (and thereby) [I made] grain and cereals grow high and luxuriantly on ... and in furrows.
I created [a m]arsh to moderate the flow of water for (those) gardens and had a canebrake planted (in it). I let loose in it herons, wild boars (lit. “pigs of the reeds”), (and) roe deer. By divine will, (viii 35) vines, all kinds of fruit trees, olive trees, and aromatic trees flourished greatly in (those) gardens (planted) on newly tilled soil. Cypress trees, musukkannu-trees, (and) all kinds of trees grew tall and sent out shoots. (viii 40) The marshes thrived gre[atly]. Birds of the heavens, heron(s) whose [home(s)] are far away, [made] nest(s) and wild boars (and) [roe de]er ga[ve birth] in abundance.
I cut down musukkannu-trees (and) [cypr]ess trees grown in the orchards (and) marsh [reed]s from the swam[ps] and I used (them) in the work required (to build) my lordly palatial halls. (viii 50) [They picked cot]ton (lit. “[trees] bearing wool”) (and) wove (it) into [clot]hing.
[After] I had finished [the work on] my palace, [I invited] inside it [the god Aššur, the] great [lord], (and) the gods and goddesses [living in Assyria, (viii 55) then I made] splendid [offerings and presented] my gift(s). [I made fine] oil [from olives and ar]omatics [from the orchards (planted) on newly] tilled soil. (viii 60) At the inauguration [of] the pa[lace], I had the heads of the subjects of my land drenched (and) I watered their insides with sweet wine.
In the future, may one of the kings, my descendants, whom the god Aššur names for shepherding the land and people, renovate its dilapidated section(s) when that wall becomes old and dilapidated. May he find an inscribed object bearing my name, (viii 70) anoint (it) with oil, make an offering, (and) return (it) to its place. The god Aššur and the goddess Ištar will (then) hear his prayers.
ruling
Abu (V), the third day, eponymy of Aššur-bēlu-uṣur, governor of the city Šaḫuppa (695).
Araḫsamna (VIII), the [...th] day, eponymy of Šulmu-[Bēl], governor of the city Talmu[su] (696).