Ashurbanipal 004

(i 1) I, Ashurbani[pal], great [king], strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, [king of the fou]r [quarters (of the world)], offspring of Esarh[addon, king of Assyria], governor of Babylon, ki[ng of the land of Sumer and Akkad], descendant of Sennacher[ib, king of the world, king of Assyria] —

(i 6) The great gods in their assembly [determined] a favo[rable] destiny [as my lot] (and) they granted me a broad mind (and) [allowed] my mind [to learn] all of the scr[ibal arts. They glorified] the mention of [my] na[me] in the assembly of princes (lit. “stags”) (and) made my kingship great; they generously granted me power, vir[ility], (and) outstanding strength; (and) they placed lands that had not bowed down to me into my hands (and) allowed me to achieve my heart’s desire.

(i 12b) They required my priestly services (and) my giving (them) food offerings pleased their divinity. I completed the sanctuaries of the great gods, my lords, clad (them) with gold (and) silver, (and) had long-haired heroes, lion-headed eagles, (and) tall columns erected in their gate(s). I made Ešarra, Emašmaš, Egašankalama, (and) Eḫulḫul shine like the stars (lit. “writing”) of the heavens. I made every type of temple appurtenance from gold (and) silver, (and) I added (them) to those of the kings, my ancestors. (i 20) I made regular offerings (and) contributions more plentiful than those of distant days. I was assiduous towards the sanctuaries of the gods (and) constantly followed their ways.

(i 22) The god Adad released his rains (and) the god Ea opened up his springs. Grain was five cubits high in its furrow (and) ear(s) of corn were five-sixths of a cubits long. Successful harvest(s and) an abundance of grain enabled pasture land to continually flourish, fruit orchards to be very lush with fruit, (and) cattle to successfully give birth to (their) young. During my reign, there was plenitude (and) abundance; during my years, bountiful produc[e] was accumulated.

(i 28) Throughout my entire land, (on account of) abundant trade, for (one) shekel of sil[ver] one could purchase ten donkey-loads of grain, one homer of wine, two seahs of oil, (and) one talent of woo[l]. Year after year, I shepherded the subje[cts of the god Enlil] in prosperity and with justice.

(i 31) I ru[led] from the Upper Sea to the Lower Sea [and] kings from the rising sun and the setting [sun] carried their substantial tribute to me. I made the people from the midst of the sea (and) those who live on high mountains bow down t[o] my [yo]ke. By the command of (the god) Aššur and the goddess Ištar, the kings who sit upon (royal) daises kiss my feet (and) great rulers from (both) east and west are anxious for me to be their ally.

(i 38) On my first campaign, I marched to Makan (Egypt) and Meluḫḫa (Ethiopia). Taharqa, the king of Egypt and Kush, whose defeat Esarhaddon — king of Assyria, the father who had engendered me — had brought about (and) whose land he ru[l]ed over, forgot the might of (the god) Aššur, the goddess Ištar, and the great gods, my lords, and trusted in his own counsel. (i 45) He marched against the kings (and) officials, whom the father who had engendered me had appointed inside Egypt, to kill (and) rob (them) and to take away Egypt (from them). He entered and resided i[n the city M]emphis, a city that the father who had engendered me had conquere[d] (and) made part of the territory of his land. A fast messenger came to Nineveh and reported (this) to me. (i 50) My heart became enraged about these deeds an[d my] tempe[r] turned hot. I mustered my elite forces that (the god) Aššur and the goddess Ištar had placed in my hands.

(i 52b) I quickly advanced to support (and) a[i]d the kings (and) officials who were in Egypt, servants who belonged to me, and I marched as far as the city Kār-Bānīte. Taharqa, the king of Egypt and Kush, heard about the advance of my expeditionary force (while he was) inside the city Memphis, and mustered his battle troops before me to wage armed battle (and) war. With the support of the gods Aššur, Bēl (Marduk), (and) Nabû, the great gods, my lords who march at my side, I brought about the defeat of his troops in a widespread pitched battle.

(i 60b) Taharqa heard about the defeat of his troops while (he was) inside the city Memphis. The awe-inspiring radiance of (the god) Aššur (and) the goddess Ištar overwhelmed him and he went into a frenzy. The brilliance of my royal majesty, with which the gods of heaven and netherworld had endowed me, covered him; he abandoned the city Memphis and, in order to save his (own) life, he fled inside the city Thebes. I seized that city (Memphis) (and then) made my troops enter (and) reside there.

(i 67) (As for) the kings (and) governors whom the father who had engendered me had appointed in Egypt, who had abandoned their post(s) in the face of Taharqa’s tactical advance, (and) had gone to (lit. “filled”) the countryside, where their post(s) were, I permitted them to serve in their (former) positions again. I reorganized Egypt (and) Kush, which the father who had engendered me had conquered. I strengthened its guard more than previously (and) concluded (new) agreements with [it].

(i 76) (As for) the cities Sais, Mendes, (and) Tanis, [which] had rebelled (and) sided with Taharqa, I conquered [tho]se cities (and) I killed the pe[ople livi]ng inside them with the sword. I hun[g their corpses on p]oles, fla[yed] them, (and) drape[d] the city wall(s with their skins).

(i 82) [(As for) Šarru-lū-dāri, whom my father had installed as a ki]ng in Egypt [(and) who] plotted [evi]l (deeds) [again]st the Assyrians, I capt[ured] (him and) brought (him) to Assyria.

(i 86) [(As for) Taharqa, in the place where] he had fled, [the a]wesome terr[or of the weapon of (the god) Aššur, my lord, ov]erwhelmed him and he p[as]sed away.

(ii 1) Afterwards, Tanutamon, the son of his sister, sat upon his [ro]yal th[rone]. He made the cities Thebes (and) Heliopolis his fo[rtre]sses (and) [ass]embled his forces. (ii 5) [To] fight against [the A]ssyrian troo[ps] who were inside the city Memphis, [he mobiliz]ed his battle array, confined [tho]se [people], and [cut o]ff t[heir] escape route. [A] fast [me]ssenger cam[e to Ninev]eh [and tol]d (this) to me.

(ii 9) [For a second time, I] took the direct road to Egypt (and) [Kush. Tanut]amon heard about [the advance of] my [expeditionary forc]e and

(ii 1') he (Tanutamon) fl[ed to the city Kipkipi. With the support of (the god) Aššur and the goddess Ištar], I [conquered that city (Thebes)] in [its entirety].

(ii 3'b) [Silver, gold, precious stones], as much [property of his palace as there was, garment(s) with multi-colored trim, linen garments, large horses], (ii 5´) people — [male and female — two tall obelisks cast with] shiny [zaḫalû-metal], wh[ose weight was 2,500 talents (and which) stood at a temple gate, I ripped (them)] from where [they] were erecte[d and took (them) to Assyria. I carried off] substantial booty, [(which was) without number], from inside the city Thebes. (ii 10´) I made [m]y [weapons] prevail over Egy[pt and Kush] and (thus) ach[ieved victory]. With full hand(s), [I returned] safely to Nineveh, my capital city.

(ii 12') On my third campaign, I marched against Baʾalu, the king of the land Tyre who resides in the middle of the sea. Because he did not honor my royal command(s and) (ii 15´) [did not obey the pro]nouncement(s) from my lip(s), I set up [outpost]s against him. To prevent his people from leaving, [I reinforc]ed (its) garrison. By sea and dry land, I took control of (all of) [h]is ro[utes] (and thus) cut off (all) access to him. (ii 20´) I made the water (and) fo[o]d for the preservation of their lives scarce for their mouths. I confined them in a harsh impri[sonm]ent from which there was no escape. I constricted (and) cut short their lives. I made them (the people of Tyre) bow down to my yoke.

(ii 23') He brought before me (his) daughter, his own off[s]pring, and the daughters of his brothers to serve as housekeepers. He brought his son, who had never crossed the sea, to do obeis[an]ce to me. I received from him his daughter and the daughters of his brothers, together with a large marriage gift. I had mercy on him and (then) I gav[e] (his) son, his offspring, back to him.

(ii 29'b) I dismantled the outposts that I had [co]n­struc­ted against Baʾalu, the king of the land Tyre. By sea and dry land, I opened (all of) his routes, as many as I had seized. I received from him his substantial payment. I returned safely to [N]ineveh, my capital city.

(ii 34') Rulers (who reside in) the middle of the sea and kings who reside in the hi[g]h mountains saw the might of t[hese] deeds of mine and became frightened of my lordly majesty. (As for) Yakīn-Lû, the king of the land Arwad, Mugallu, the king of the land Tabal, (ii 40´) (and) San[da]-šarme of the land Ḫi[l]akku (Cilicia), who had [not] bowed down to the kings, m[y] ancestors, they bowed down to my yoke. (ii 45´) They brought [(their) daughters], their own offspring, to Nineveh to serve as housekeepers, togethe[r with a] substantial [dowry] and a large marriage gift, and they kissed [my] fe[et]. I imposed upon Mugallu an annual payment of [large] horses.

(ii 49') After Yakī[n-Lû, the king of the land] Arwad, had gone [to (his) fa]te, [Azi-Baʾal], Abī-Baʾa[l], (and) Adūnī-Baʾal, the sons of Ya[kīn-Lû who reside in] the middle of the sea, came up from the middle of [the sea], came with [their sub]stantial audience gif[t(s)], and (ii 55´) kisse[d] my feet. I looked upon Azi-Baʾal with pleasure and installed (him) as king of the land Arwad. I [clothed] Abī-Baʾal (and) Adūnī-Baʾal in garment(s) with multi-colored trim (and) placed gold bracelet(s around their wrists). I m[ade t]hem [stand] before me.

(ii 61') (As for) Gyges, the king of the land Lydia — a region on the opposite shore of the sea, a remote place, the mention of whose name none of the kings, my ancestors, had (ever) heard — (the god) Aššur, the god who created me, made [him] se[e] in a dream my royal name. On the (very) day he saw this dream, he sent his mounted messenger to inquire about my well-being.