Ashurbanipal 015

(i 1') [...] the god Marduk, the sage of the god[s, granted me a broad mind] (and) extensive knowledge [as a gift]; the god Nabû, the scribe of everything, bestowed on me the pr[ecepts of his wisdom] as [a present]; (and) the gods Ninurta (and) Nergal endowe[d my body] with power, viri[lity], (and) unrivalled strength. [I learned] as much as the sage A[dapa], the secr[et (and) hidden lore of all of the scribal arts].

(ii 1) [...] my [yea]rs that [I sat] proudly [on the] throne of the father who had engendered me.

(ii 3) I completed [Eḫursaggalku]rkurra, the temple of (the god) Aššur, my lord. I clad [its walls] with reddish [gold (and) made (them) shin]e like daylight. I made [(the god) Aššur, the grea]t [lord], enter inside there (and) made (him) reside [in Eḫursagg]ula, the inner sanctum of his divinity. I offered [sump]tuous [offerings] before him and [presente]d (him) with m[y] gifts.

(ii 10) [...] Esagil and Babyl[on, ... the lord of l]ords (Marduk), I built anew. [...] I firmly established its designs and (then) made [its daises] shine [like the sta]rs (lit. “[writ]ings”) of the heavens.

(ii 14) [I had a c]anopy, which rivals the heavens, [made] from musukkannu-wood, [a durab]le [wood. I c]lad [its perimeter with thirty-four talents (and) twenty] minas of reddish gold and (thereby) [reinforced] its [b]onds.

(ii 19) [(As for) the throne-dais, the inner sanctum of] his (Marduk’s) exalted [divini]ty, [which is placed over the massive body of the ro]iling [sea (Tiāmat), ...] the god Marduk

(iii 1') [my huge] force[s, I] quickly [gave] the o[rder to them] to sup[port (and) aid the kings] (and) governors, [servants who belonged to me, (and) I made (them) take] the road to [Egypt. They traveled] furiously (and) [quickly (and) marched] as far as [the city Kār-Bānīte].

(iii 8') Taharq[a, the king of Kush, ...]