Ashurbanipal 005

(i 1) [I, Ashurbanipal, great king, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, king of the four quarters (of the world), off]spring [of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, gov]ernor of B[abylon, kin]g of the land of Sumer and [Akkad, desce]ndant of Sennac[herib, kin]g of the world, king of A[ssyria] —

(i 8) The great [go]ds in [their] as[sembly] determined a favorable [de]stiny [as my lot (and)] th[ey] gra[nted me a] broad [m]ind (and) allowed [my] mi[nd] to learn [a]ll of the scribal [arts]. They [glorified the] mention of my name (and) [made my] lord[ship greater] than (those of all other) kings who sit on [(royal) daises].

(i 1') [I completed] E[ḫursaggalkurkurra, the temple of (the god) Aššur, my] lo[rd, (and) I clad its] w[alls with gold (and) silver. I fastened band(s) of silver on tall] col[umns (and) I erected (them)] at [the Gate of the Abundance of the Lands. I made] (the god) Aššur [enter into Eḫursaggula and] m[ade (him) reside on (his) eternal dais].

(i 8') [I (re)built] E[sagil, the palace of the gods, (and)] co[mpleted its designs. I brought] the deities Bēl (Marduk), [Bēltīya (Zarpanītu), the Lady of Babylon, Ea, (and) Mandānu out of Ešarra (and) made (them) enter into Šuanna (Babylon)].

(i 13') [(As for) the throne-dais, the seat of his (Marduk’s) exalted divinity, I cast] fifty [talents of shiny zaḫalû-silver] in[to bricks and (thereby)] e[nlarged it].

(i 17') [...]

(ii 1) I [skill]fully m[ade a bed of musukkannu-wood ... as a] pleasure [b]ed for the god [Bēl (Marduk) (and) the goddess Bēltīya (Zarpanītu) to carry out the we]dding (and) to make [love. I placed (it) in Kaḫ]ilisu, the bed cha[mber of the goddess Zarpanītu, which] is la[den with sexu]al charm.

(ii 6) [I stationed four fierce wild bull]s of silver, [prote]ctors of [my royal] pa[th, in the Gate of the Rising] Sun [and (in) the Gate of Lamma-RA.BI],

(ii 1') I set u[p ... in the gateway(s) of Egallammes, the temple of the god Nergal of the city Tarbiṣu].

(ii 2') [Before my father] was bo[rn (and) my birth-mother] was created in [her mother]’s womb, [the god Sîn, who c]reated me to be ki[ng], named [me to (re)build] Eḫulḫul, [saying: “A]shurbanipal will (re)bui[ld] that temple [and] make me dwell [therein] upon an et[ernal] dais.” [The word of the god S]în, which he had spoke[n] in distant [days, (ii 10´) h]e [now] revealed to the people of a lat[er generation]. He allow[ed the temple of the god Sîn — which S]halmaneser (III), son of Ashurna[sirpal (II), a king of the past (who had come) b]efore me, had b[uilt — to become ol]d [and he entru]sted (its renovation) to [me].

(ii 15') [(As for) that temple, which] had be[come o]ld, [I removed its] dilapidated sectio[n(s) by the command of the gods Sîn (and) Nusk]u. [I made] it[s] structure [larger than the one in the days of the pa]st. [...]

(iii 1') I [had statues of my royal majesty] skillfully [m]ade [... through the craft of the deities Ninagal, Kusibanda, (and) Nin]kurra, and, [as cons]tant petitioners for my life, [I installed (them)] in their positions [before the go]ds who support me. [From] my [childho]od until I became an adult, [I was assiduous towards the sanctuar]ies of the great gods. They required [my priestly services (and) they (now) enjoy] my [giving (them) fo]od offerings.

(iii 9') [The god Adad re]leased [his rains (and) the god Ea opened up] his [spr]ings. Grain was [five c]ubits hi[gh in] its [fur]row (and) ear(s) [of corn] were [five]-sixths of a cubits [lo]ng. [Succe]ssful harvest(s and) an abundance of [g]rain enabled [pas]ture land to [conti]nually flourish, [fruit orc]hards to be very lus[h with f]ruit, (and) [catt]le to successfully give birth to (their) young. During my reign, there was plenitude (and) abundance; [during] my [year]s, bountiful produce was accumulated.

(iii 19') Throughout my entire land, (on account of) [abun]dant [trade], for one shekel of silv[er] one could purchase [ten donkey-loads of gr]ain, three homers of wine, two seahs of oil, (and) [one ta]lent of wool. [Year after yea]r, [I shepherd]ed the subjects of the god Enlil in prosperity and with justice.

(iii 24') [The great gods, whose divinity I constantly revered, generous]ly granted m[e power, viril]it[y, (and) outstanding strength]. Th[ey] placed [lands that had not bowed down to me into] my hands (and) [allowed me to achieve my] heart’s desire. [I marched from the Upper Sea to the] Low[er] Sea, [where the kings, my ancestors, had regularly t]rave[led].

(iv 1) [I made the people living in those lands bow down] to my yoke (and) [I imposed] annual [tribute payment up]on them. [By the command of the deities Sîn, N]ingal, Šamaš, and Aya, [the kings who s]it upon (royal) daises [kiss] my feet (and) [great rulers from (both) east] and west [are a]nxious for me [to be their ally].

(iv 9) [At that time, the temple of the deities Sîn, Ningal], Šamaš, (and) Aya [that is inside Nineveh (and) which Esarhaddon, kin]g of Assyria, [the father who had engendered me, had b]uilt, [had become o]ld — [that temple had become dilapid]ated and its [wa]lls [had buckled. (iv 15) I built (and) completed that temple in] its [entir]ety (and) [I raised up] its superstructure. [I roofed it with] long [beams of cypress] (and) fi[xed doors of white cedar], who[se] frag[rance is sweet, in its gateways]. After [I had thoroughly co]mplete[d that] te[mple (and) finished its construction, I brought] the deities Sîn, [Ningal, Nusku, Šamaš, and Aya, the god]s [who support me, in]side [it and] made (them) dw[ell (on their) eternal dais(es)].

(iv 28) [May they (the gods) always look with pleasure upon] m[y good] d[ee]ds. The deities Sîn, [Ningal, Nusku, Šamaš, and Aya], the gods [who support me], (with regard) to m[e — Ashurbanipal], the ki[n]g [who is the favorite of their hearts], the builder of their [exalted] ce[llas], (and) the one who reveres their gre[at] divinity — from (sun)ris[e] to (sun)set, wherever ... [...] ... the heav[ens ... monthly] without interr[uption may they discu]ss with [each other favorable] o[mens] concerning the lengthening of the days of [my] re[ign, ... of my] kingship, [the securing of the foundation(s) of the] throne of [my] lordshi[p. ...] their [...]

(v 1) [W]ith their great support, may [I rule] wherever [I desire (lit. “I say”) (and) achieve] whatever (lit. “the place”) [I] strive for.

(v 3) In the future, may one of the sons, [grandsons], (great grand)sons, or (great, great grand)sons, one of the kings, [my descendants], whom the gods Aššur, Sîn, (and) Šamaš choose and nomi[nate] for ruling over [the land and people], renov[ate] their dilapidated section(s) when the[se] shrines become old and dilapid[ated]. May he find an inscribed object bearing [my] name, anoin[t] (it) with oil, make an offering, (and) return (it) to its place.

(v 13) Just as I found an inscribed object bearing the name of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, the father who had engendered me, anointed (it) with oil, made an offering, (and) placed (it) with an inscribed object bearing my name, you should be just like me, find an inscribed object of mine and (then) anoin[t] (it) with oil, make an offering (and) place (it) with an inscribed object bearing your name. May the [great] gods, as many as are recorded on t[his] inscribed object, constantly bless your [kings]hip (and) [pr]otect your reign.

(v 27) [(As for) the one] who destroys [an in]scribed object beari[ng] the name of the father who engendered me [or] bearing my na[m]e, makes (it) disappear [by som]e crafty device, (or) does [not] place (it) [wit]h an inscribed obje[ct] bearing his name, may [the] great [god]s of heaven and netherworld overthrow his [kings]hip (and) make his name (and) <seed> disappear from [the land].

(v 35) Abu (V), the eighth day, [eponymy of] Bēlšunu, gove[rnor of the city] Ḫindā[nu] (648).