Ashurbanipal 220

(i 1') [governor of B]abylon, king of [the land of Sumer and Akkad; grands]on of Sennacherib, [great] kin[g, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria; de]scen[da]nt of Sargon (II), gre[at] king, [strong king, king of the world, king of Assyri]a, [governo]r of Babylon, king of the land of S[umer and Akkad] —

(i 5') [(The god) Aššur], the father of the gods, [determined] a roya[l] destiny [as my lot] (while I was) in my mother’s womb; [the goddess Mul]lissu, the great mother, nominate[d me] for ruling over the land and people; [the god] Ea (and) (the goddess) Bēlet-ilī sk[illfully] fashioned (my) form fit for lordship; [the god S]în, the holy god, made a favorable sign visible regarding my exercising the kingship; [the gods Šamaš (and) Adad] entrusted me with the lore of the diviner, a craft that cannot be changed; (i 10´) [the god Mardu]k, the sage of the gods, granted me a broad mind (and) extensive knowledge as a gift; the god Nabû, the scribe of everything, bestowed on me the precepts of his wisdom as a present; the gods Ninurta (and) Nergal endowed my body with power, virility, (and) unrivalled strength.

(i 13') I learned [the c]raft of the sage Adapa, the secret, hidden (lore), all of the scribal arts. I am able to recognize celestial and terrestrial [om]ens (and) can discuss (them) in an assembly of scholars. (i 15´) I am capable of deliberating with skilled diviners about (the series) “If the liver is an image of the heavens.” I can resolve complex (mathematical) divisions (and) multiplications that do not have a(n easy) solution. I have read cunningly written text(s) in obscure Sumerian (and) Akkadian that are difficult to interpret. I have carefully examined inscriptions on stone from before the Deluge who(se meanings are) hidden (lit. “sealed”), muddled (lit. “stopped up”), (and) confusing.

(i 19') With select companion(s), this is how I would spend all of my days: I would canter on thoroughbreds (and) ride stallions that were raring to go; I would hold a bow (and) make arrow(s) fly as befits a warrior; I would throw quivering lances as if they were arrows; I would take the reins like a charioteer (and) execute (pinpoint) turns of the chariot; (and) [I] would forge arītu-shields (and) kabābu-shields like an engineer. I am proficient in the great technical lore of all the specialists, every one of them.

(i 26') [A]t the same time, I was learning proper lordly behavior (and) becoming familiar with the ways of kingship. I would stand before the king who had engendered me (and) regularly give orders to officials. N[o] governor would be appointed without me (and) no administrator would be installed without my consent.

(i 29') The father who had engendered me would constantly see the heroism that the great gods had determined for me. By the command of the great gods, he (Esarhaddon) loved me much (more than anyone else in) the assembly of my <<...>> brothers. With regard to my exercising the kingship, he appealed to (the god) Aššur — the king of the gods, the lord of everything — beseeched the goddesses Mullissu (and) Šērūa — the queens of goddesses, the ladies of ladies — prayed to the gods Šamaš (and) Adad — the diviners of heaven (and) netherworld, judge(s) of the (four) quarters (of the world) — (and) [prayed devo]utly to the gods Nabû (and) Marduk — the ones who bestow scepter (and) throne, the ones who firmly establish kingship — (i 35´) [saying] “Proclaim one of my sons as [my] replace[ment in] your [ass]embly.” [...]

(ii 1') [In front of] the great gods of heaven [and netherworld, whose command(s) cannot be changed], he (Esarhaddon) reinforced, wrote out, (and) establi[shed tr]eaties [for future days]. In the month Ayyāru (II), the month of the god Ea — the lord of humankind, the one who fashione[d the physique of my royal majesty] — I entered the House of Succession, a place of instruction and coun[sel for kingship], and (ii 5´) by the command of (the god) Aššur — the father of the gods — (and) the god Marduk — the lord of lords, the king of the god[s] — he (Esarhaddon) elevated me above the (other) sons of the king (and) nominated me for king[ship].

(ii 7') When I entered the palace, the entire camp rejoiced (and) was filled with joyous cel[ebrations]. Nobles (and) eunuch(s) were happy (and) they heeded the pronouncement(s) from [my] li[ps]. Before the king, the father who had engendered me, I would intercede on their behalf (and) I would annul [their] si[ns].

(ii 10') The great gods looked with pleasure upon my good deeds and, by their exalted command, I sat gladly on the throne of the father who had engendered me. Nobles (and) eunuch(s) required my lordship (and) loved my exercising the kingship. Being happy at the mention of my honored name, the four quarters (of the world) rejoiced.

(ii 14') Kings of the Upper (and) Low[er] Sea(s), servants who belonged to the father who had engendered me, kept sending glad tidings to m[e] regarding my exercising the kingship. The enemies’ readied weapons eased to rest (and) they dissolved t[heir] well-organized battle array. Their sharpened axes lay at rest (and) they unstrung their ar[med] bows. Dangerous men who desi[re] war against those who had not submitted to them calmed down.

(ii 19') Within city and household, no one took anything from his fellow by for[ce]. Throughout the entire land, not a single man committ[ed] a crime. A traveler on his own walked in safe[ty] on remo[te] road(s). There was no thief (or) m[ur]derer (lit. “on[e who s]heds blood”) (and) no obstac[le] intervened (on the path).

(ii 23') The lands dwelt in peace[ful] abode(s) (and) the four quarters (of the world) were placid [li]ke the finest oil. The Elamites sent and brought mes[sages] to inquire about my well-being. By the command of the god Marduk, the lord, I had no rival (and) there was no one to oppose me.

(ii 26') During my first regnal year, wh[en] the god Marduk, the king of everything, [entrust]ed me with lordship, I took hold of the hem of his great divinity, was assiduous towards his sanctuaries, (and) constantly appealed to (and) beseeched his great divinity regarding the journey of his divinity, (saying):

(ii 29') “Remember Babylon, which you yourself destroyed in your anger. Relent (lit. “turn your neck”) (and) turn [your] atte[ntion] back to Esagil, the palace of your lordship. It is enough (that) you have abandoned your city (and) have taken up residence in a place not befitting you. You are the supreme one of the gods, O Marduk. Give the command to travel to Šuanna (Babylon). At [your hol]y command, which cannot be changed, may (your) entry into Esa[gil] be established. Who [...]?”

(iii 1') [m]e, [Ashurbanipal, ...]. Āšipu-priest(s) ... [...], lamentation priests with manz[û-drums (and) ḫalḫallatu-drums ...], (and) singers with lyre(s) [were singing] the praise of [his] lordshi[p]. (iii 5´) Šamaš-šuma-ukīn, (my) favorite brother whom I presen[ted to the god Marduk], took the hands of his great divinity and was marching be[fore him].

(iii 7') From the quay of Baltil (Aššur) to the quay of Babylon, wherever they stopped for the n[ight], sheep were butchered, bulls were slaughtered, (and) armannu-aromatics were scattered o[n] ...s. They brought befo[re him] everything there was for morning (and) evening meals. (iii 10´) Piles of brushwood were lit (and) torches ignited (so that) [th]ere was lig[ht] for one league. All of my troops were arranged in a circle (around him) like a rainbow (and) there were joyous celebrations day and night.

(iii 12') The deities the Lady of Akkad, Nanāya, Uṣur-amāssa, Ḫanibiya, (and) Ada... had taken up residence on the banks of the river, waiting for the king of the gods, the lord of lords. The god Nergal, mightiest of the gods, came out of Emeslam, his princely residence, (and) (iii 15´) approached the quay of Babylon amidst a joyous celebration, arriving safely. The god Nabû, the triumphant heir, took the direct ro[ad] from Borsippa. The god Šamaš rushed from Sippar, emitting radiance onto Babylon. The gods of the land of Sumer and Akkad (in their hurry) looked exhausted like tired foals.

(iii 19') With the craft of the sage — “the wa[shing] of the mouth,” [“the opening of the mouth,” bathing, (and) purification] — he (Marduk) entered the fruit orchards of the luxuriant gardens of Karzagina (“Pure Quay” or “Quay of Lapis Lazuli”), a pur[e] place, before the stars of heaven — the deities Ea, Šamaš, Asalluḫi, Bēlet-ilī, Kusu, (and) Nin[girima] — an[d ... inside] it (Esagil) he took up residence on (his) [eternal] d[ais].

(iii 23') Be[fore him], I offered [choic]e prized bull[s] (and) fattened sheep. I brought before him f[ish and bird(s)], the abundance of the apsû. (iii 25´) I made [..., h]oney, (and) oil flow like a downpour. As my gifts, I presented (him) with [...] (and) extensive [prese]nts.

(iii 27') I placed at his service [ramku-priests, p]ašīšu-priests, (and) ecstatics. [I set befor]e him [āšipu-priests, lamentation priests, (and) singers who] have acqu[i]red (their) [entire] craft.

(iii 29') [...] ... was pleased [...] like [...]

(iv 1') At that time, I had a stele bearing my name made and I engraved image(s) of the great gods, my lords, on it (and) erected before them an image of my royal majesty beseeching their divinity. I had the praise of the god Marduk, my lord, (and) my good deeds inscribed upon it and I l[eft] (it) for the future.

(iv 6') (As for) m[e, Ashurbanipal], he determined [a favorab]le [destiny] as my lot.

(iv 7') ... [...]

(iv 8') From Eḫur(saggalkurkurra)

(iv 9') The remnants

(iv 10') The gods of the land of Sumer

(iv 11') Its bank

(iv 12') Me, Ashurbanipal

(iv 13') [He] blessed

(iv 14') Šamaš-šuma-ukīn

(iv 15') [The hands of] his divinity

(iv 16') [Ā]šipu-priest(s)

(iv 17') [Lam]entation priests

(iv 18') [Si]ngers

(iv 19') ... Maumuša (“Boat of Command”)

(iv 20') [From the quay of B]altil (Aššur)