Lacuna

Moreover, I struck with the sword Teušpa, [a Cimmerian, together with his entire army, in the territory of the land Ḫubušna]; I conquered [Sidon, which is in the midst of the sea, caught [Abdi-Milkūti, its king], like a fish, and cut off his head; I conqu[ered the city Arzâ, which is in the neighborhood of the] Brook of Egypt, threw Asuḫīli, its king, into fetters and took [him to Assyria; I con]quered the city Bāsu (Bāzu), a district in a remote place; I fixed the tribute of my lordship on Qanâ, king of Dilmun;

I conquered the land Šubria to its full extent; I killed with the sword Ik-Teššup, its king, who would not listen to the words of my command; I conquered Tyre, which is in the midst of the sea, (and) took away all of the cities (and) possessions of Baʾalu, its king, who had trusted in Taharqa, king of Kush; (and) I conquered (Lower) Egypt, Upper Egypt, and Kush, struck Taharqa, its king, five times with arrows, and ruled his entire land.

I wrote to all of the kings who are in the midst of the sea, from Iadnana (Cyprus) (and) Ionia to Tarsus, (and) they bowed down at my feet. I received [their] heavy tribute. I achieved victory over the rulers of the four quarters and I sprinkled the venom of death over all of (my) enemies. I carried off gold, silver, goods, possessions, people — young (and) old — horses, oxen, (and) sheep and goats, their heavy booty that was beyond counting, to Assyria.

I placed kings, governors, officials, (and) harbormasters over their lands, and I imposed the yoke of the god [Aššur], my lord, upon them. I confirmed sattukku (and) ginû offerings for the god Aššur [and] the great gods, [m]y lords, forever. I imposed upon them, yearly, without ceas[ing], the tribute (and) payment of my lordship (and) they (now) pull my yoke.

At that time, the former temple of the god Aššur that [Sh]almaneser (I), son of Adad-nārā[rī (I)], son of Arik-dēn-il[i], my ancestor, had built earlier, [be]came dilapidated (and) old. I razed that temple (and) (20′) reached its foundation pit. I la[id] its foundations with limestone, a strong mountain stone, (making it) like bedrock. I built (and) completed (it) from its foundation to its parapets. I roofed it with magnificent cedar beams, grown on Mount Sir[āra], which I had cut down in the course of a campaign of mine.

I fastened bands of gold on doors of cypress, whose fragrance is sweet, and installed (them) in its gates. I overlaid the cella of the god Aššur, my lord, with gold (and) set up side by side laḫmu-monsters (and) kurību-genii (made) of red ṣāriru-gold. I set up golden statues of creatures from the apsû on the ri[ght] and left of the chapel of the god Aššur, my lord, (and) I covered (its) walls with g[ol]d as if (it were) plaster.

The dais of destiny, the lofty dais on which the god Aššur lives (and) where they (the gods) decree the destiny of heaven and netherworld, which the kings, my ancestors, had made of baked bricks and covered with silver (zaḫalû), I (now) had (it) skillfully made of 180 talents of [ca]st ešmarû-silver. I fashioned on it (the dais) my royal image (shown) praying to their divinity (and) imploring (them) constantly to give me life, and an image of Ashurbanipal, my crown prince.

I cast from shining bronze two bison positioned opposite each other, (with) their faces looking forward and backward, to bear (the columns which support) crossbeams (forming) the cornice in (its) gate and I set (them) up in the Gate of the Path of the Enlil-Stars. I had two fierce Deluge monsters made with skillf[ul] craftsmanship and I placed (them) in the Ro[ya]l Gate, to the rig[ht and] left of the gate. I (also) set up twin Deluge monsters cast of shining silver (zaḫalû) [...] the Kamsu-Igīgū [Ga]te.

In that (same) year, I built an[ew] Esagil, the pala[ce of the god]s, Imgur-Enlil, its (Babylon’s) wall, (and) N[ēmed-En]lil, its (Babylon’s) outer wall, from their (text: “its”) foundations to their (text: “its”) battl[ement]s, and made (them) much bigger than b[efor]e.

The god Bēl and the goddess Bēltīya, the divine lovers, were created [in] the city Aššur by their own command and were truly born in Eḫursaggalkurkura. The gods Bēlet-Bābili, Ea, (and) Mandānu were made in the city Aššur, place of the creation of gods, and I completed their figures. I sumptuously adorned their feature(s) with fifty talents of red ṣāriru-gold, the creation of Mount Arallu (and) an ore from its mountain that had not been refined. I adorned their necks (and) covered their chests with magnificent adornments (and) precious [je]welry that greatly befitted their lordship.

They moved forward and went out from Eḫursaggalkurkura radiantly, like the sun to the land. They took the road to Šuanna (Babylon), a joyful path. From Baltil (Aššur) to [the quay] of Babylon, (piles) of brushwood were lit every third of a league (and) they slew (45′) fattened bulls at each league. Moreover, I, Esarhad[don], took [the] hand of his great divinity and ... before him. I had them joyfully enter into Babylon, th[eir] home city.

They (the gods) entered the orchards, groves, canals, (and) gardens of Ekarzagina, a pure place (where) the craft of the sage, “the washing of the mouth,” “the opening of the mouth,” “bathing,” (and) “purification” (were recited) before the sta[rs of heaven: the gods Ea], Šamaš, Asalluḫi, Bēlet-ilī, Kusu, Ningirima, [Ninkurra, Ninagal, Kusibanda, Ninildu, (and) Ninzadim]. ... [...] ...

Lacuna