Esarhaddon 003

(i 1') [...] ... [...] they reared [...] they ordered him to his [...]ship [...] ... they went and

(i 5') (No translation possible)

(i 16') [... Nabû-zēr-kitti-lī]šir, [...] ... [...] ... heard [of the approach of] my campaign and fled like [a fox t]o the land Ela[m]. (i 20′) [Be]cause of the oath of the great gods [which] he had transgressed, the gods [Aš]šur, Sîn, Šamaš, B[ēl], and Nabû imposed a grievous [punishme]nt on him and they [ki]lled him with the sword [in the mi]dst of the land Elam. Naʾid-Marduk, his brother, (i 25′) saw [the] deeds that they had done [to] his brother in Elam, fled from the land Ela[m], ca[me] to Nineveh to s[erv]e me, [...] ... [...] ... [...]

(ii 1') [... Furthermore, A]bdi-Milk[ūti, king of Sidon], agreed to help him [and] they swore [an oath by the great gods] with one another and [trusted] in [their own strength]. I trust[ed] in the god Aššur, my lord, [and] caught him (ii 5′) like a bird from the midst of [the mountains], and cut off his head. To show the people the might of the god Aššur, [m]y lo[rd, I hung] the heads of Sanda-ua[rri and] Abdi-Milkūti around the necks of th[eir] nobles [an]d [I] paraded in [the squares of Nineveh] with singers and lyre(s).

(ii 11') The one who plundered the city Ar[zâ, which is in the district of the Brook of] Egypt — I threw Asuḫīli, [its king], into fetters [along with] his [coun]selors [and] brought (them) [to Assyria]. I seated them, bound, near the cita[del] gate [of (the city of) Nineveh] along with bear(s), dog(s), and pig(s).

(ii 16') [Moreover, I] struck with the sword Teu[šp]â, [a Cimmeria]n, a barbarian [whose home is remote], together with [his] e[ntire army, in the territory of the lan]d Ḫubušnu.

(ii 19') The one who treads on the n[ecks of the people of] Cilicia, mountain dwellers who [live in mountains in the neighbor]hood of the land Tabal, (ii 20′) who tru[sted] in their mountains [and who from] earliest [d]ays had not been submissive to the yo[ke — I su]rrounded, conquered, plunde[red, demolished, destro]yed, (and) burned with fire [twenty-one of their for]tified [cities] together with small cities in [thei]r en[virons]. (As for) the rest [of them], who were not guilty of [(any) sin] or crime, I [imposed the heavy yoke of] my lordship [upon them].

(ii 28') [The] one who crushed the Parnaki, [a dangerous] enemy, [who live in] the city Tīl-Aššurri, which is called Pittānu in the language of [the people of the city Meḫrānu];

(ii 31') [the one who scat]tered the Mannean people, [undisciplined] G[utians, who put to the sword the army of Iš]pakāia, a [Scythian, an ally who could not save himself];

(iii 1') I had [the might of the god Aššur, my lord, and (an inscription) wri]tten in my name inscribed [on them] and I gave (them) back to him. I placed the lady Tabūʾa, who was raised in my palace, as ruler over them and returned her to her land with her gods.

(iii 6') I added sixty-five camels to the previous tribute (which was paid to) my father and imposed (it) on him. Later, Hazael died and I put Iaʾlû (Iataʾ), his son, on his throne. (iii 10′) I added ten minas of gold, one thousand choice stones, fifty camels, (and) one thousand bags of aromatics to the tribute of his father and imposed (it) on him.

(iii 13') (As for) the land Bāzu, a district in a remote place, a forgotten place of dry land, s[al]ine [grou]nd, a place of thirst, (iii 15′) one hundred and twenty leagues of desert, thistles, and gazelle-tooth stones, where snakes and scorpions fill the plain like ants — [I le]ft Mount Ḫazû, the [mountai]n of saggilmud-stone, twenty leagues behind me and crossed over (iii 20′) (to that district) to which [no] king before me [had go]ne since earl[iest] days. By the command of the god Aššur, m[y] lord, I marched [triumph]antly [in its midst]. I defeated eight kings from that [district (and) carried o]ff [thei]r [gods], their goods, [their possessions], (and) their people to Assyria. (iii 25′) [L]aial[ê, king of the city Y]adiʾ, [who had] fled [before my weapons, heard of the plundering of his gods and came to Nineveh], my capital city, [before me], and kissed [my feet. I had pity on him an]d said to him [‘Aḫulap!’ I put] that [province of Bā]zu [un]der him (and) imposed on [him] my [lordly tribute (and) payment].

(iii 33') [(As for) Bēl-iqīša, son of Bunn]annū, a [Gambulian ...]

(iv 1') I carried off to Assyria [...], their riding horses, oxen, [sheep and goats, donkeys], (and) Bactrian camels, their heavy plunder.

(iv 3') (As for) Uppis, chieftain of the city Partakka, Zanasana, chieftain of the city Partukka, (and) (iv 5′) Ramateia, chieftain of the city Urakazabarna, Medes whose country is remote (and) who had not crossed the boundary of Assyria nor trodden on its soil in the time of the kings, my [ances]tors — the awesome fear of the god Aššur, my lord, overwhelmed them and (iv 10′) they brought to Nineveh, my capital city, large thoroughbreds (and blocks of) lapis lazuli, hewn from its mountain, and they kissed my feet. Because of the chieftains who had threatened them, they implored my lordship and begged me for help. I sent my officials, (iv 15′) the governors of the boundary areas of their [lan]d, with them and they trampled the people living in those cities and made (them) bow down at their feet. I [imposed] the tribute (and) [payment] of my lordship [upo]n them yearly.

(iv 20') After the gods Aššur, Šam[aš, B]ēl, Nabû, Ištar of Nineveh, (and) Išt[ar of] Arbela made me stand [victorious]ly over [my] enemies and I attain[ed everything] I wanted, with the b[ooty of the va]st [enemies] which my hands had captured (iv 25′) through the help of [the grea]t [gods], my lords, I had the shrines of cult centers built in [Assyria] and Akkad; I decorated (them) with silver (and) go[l]d and made (them) shine like daylight.

(iv 30') At that time, the armory of Nineveh which the kings who came before (me), my ancestors, had built [t]o maintain the camp (and) to keep thoroughbreds, mules, chariots, military equipment, implements of war, [and] (iv 35′) the plunder of enemies, everything [that the god Aš]šur, king of the gods, gave me as my royal share — [that place had become too small for me to have] horses show their mettle (and) to train with chariots.

(v 1') [They had ... girimḫilibû]-stone, [(everything that was) needed for my palace], dragged with much trouble (and) [effort from the midst of the mountains], the place of [their] origin, to Nineveh.

(v 5') In a favorable month, on a propitious day, I built great palatial halls upon that terrace for my lordly residence. I built a great (royal) house ninety-five large cubits long (and) thirty-one large cubits wide, (v 10′) something none of kings who came before (me), my ancestors, had done. I roofed it with magnificent cedar beams. [I faste]ned bands of silver and bro[nze] on doors of cypress, whose [fragrance] is sweet, and installed (them) in its [gat]es.

(v 17') [I had stone] šēdus [and lamass]us, [whose appearance re]pels [evil, placed to the right and the left of their gate(s) as protectors of the walk (and) guardia]ns of [the path of the king who made th]em. [I had] the palace skillfully [built of interlocking lime]stone [and cedar], for [my lordly] pleasure. I set [up] inside it tw[in] copper lamassu-statues, with each pair looking (both) forward and back[ward].

(v 27') I placed crossbeams on tall cedar columns (thus forming) a cornice in their gates. I had the frieze(s) (and) coping(s) of the whole of that palace made of black (and) blue (glazed bricks) and I put (them) around (it) like a wreath. I surrounded all of the gates with an arch (and) a vault like a rainbow. I embedded nails of pure silver and shin[ing] bronze in [them]. Through the craft of the sculptor, I depicted on it (the frieze of the palace) the might of the god Aššur, my lord, (the deeds) that I had accomplished in enemy lands.

(v 38') I set up alongside it (the palace) a botanical garden, a replica of Mount Amanus, with all kinds of aromatic plants and fruit trees.

(vi 1') [I seated ... at] fes[tive tables, and] I made [their mood] jubil[ant. I watered their insides with] wine (and) kurunnu-wine. [I had (my servants) drench their (the guests’)] heads with fine oil (and) perfumed oil.

(vi 5') By the command of the god Aššur, the king of [the gods], and the gods of Assyria, all of th[em], let me dwell in it forever in good health, happi[ness], bright spirit(s), (and) with the satisfaction of growing old, and (vi 10′) let me be sated with its splendor. At new year, in the first month, yearly, without ceasing, let me inspect in [it] all of the thoroughbreds, mules, donkeys, camels, military equipment, implements of [war], (and) all of the captured ene[my] soldiers. (vi 17′) Let the good lamassu (and) the good šēdu, who guard [my] royal path (and) [who] make me happy, la[st forever] and ever in th[at] palace. [May they] never lea[ve] it.