Ashurbanipal 229

(i 1) [I, A]shurbanipal, great king, [strong king, ki]ng of the world, king of Assyria, [king of the] four [quarters (of the world), governor of Baby]lon, (i 5) [king of the land of Sumer and] Akkad; [offspring of Esarh]addon, [king of the world, king of A]ssyria; [descendant of Sennach]erib, [king of the world, king of A]ssyria —

(i 10) [...] the god Nergal [...] my [...]s [... From my childhood until] I became an [a]dult [...] me (and) they [gra]nted me [a broad mind (and) (i 15) allo]wed my [m]ind [to l]ea[rn all of the scriba]l arts. They made the mention of [m]y na[me] greater (and) made my lordship more surpassing than (those of all other) kings [who sit on] (royal) daises.

(i 20) (As for) the sanctuaries of Assyria (and) the land Akka[d] whose foundation(s) Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, [the father who had engendered me, had laid, (but) whose construction he had] not finis[hed, I myself] now [...]

(i 1') [I gave (it) (a chariot)] a[s a gift to the god Marduk, the king of the totality of heaven and netherworld, the one who overwhelms my enemies].

(i 2') [I] skillfully [made] a b[ed of musukkannu-wood, a durable wood], that [is clad with] p[ašallu-gold (and) studded with] p[recious] stones, as a [pleasure] be[d for the god Bēl (Marduk) (and) the goddess Bēltīya (Zarpanītu)] to carry out the weddin[g (and) to make love. I placed (it)] in Kaḫil[isu, the bed chamber of the goddess Zarpanītu], which [is laden with] sexual [charm].

(i 10') [I stationed] four [fierce] wild bulls [of silver], protector[s of my royal path, in] the “Gate of the Ri[sing Sun” (and) in the “Gate of Lamma-RA.BI,” in gateway(s) of Ezida, which is inside Borsippa].

(ii 1) I [completed] the sanctuaries of Assyria (and) [the land Akkad] in their entirety. I decorated the walls of the temples o[f ...] with silver (and) gold, (and) [filled (them) with] splen[dor]. (ii 5) I made regular offerings (and) contributions more [plentiful] than those of [distant] da[ys]. The great gods [looked] with pleasure [upon my good] deed[s]. They made [my] weapons great(er) [...] (and) rendered judgment [...]

(ii 11) (No translation possible)

(ii 1') [they (the god Aššur and the god Nergal) accepted my pra]yer[s (and) listened to the utterance(s) of my lips. I]ndabibi, a s[ervant of his, rebelled against him and] b[rought about his defeat i]n a pitched battle.

(ii 4') (As for) Tammarītu, the king of the land Elam wh[o had] s[poken insolent wor]d(s) [on account of the cutting off of the head of Teum]m[an — which a low-ranking sol]die[r of my army had cut off — saying: “Will they cut off the he]ad of the king of [the land Elam in his (own) land, in the assembly of his] troops?” [He spoke (again): “Moreover, how could Ummanigaš] kiss [the ground (ii 10´) before a messenger of Ashurbani]pal, king of A[ssyria?” On account of] th[ese words that he had slanderously uttered, (the god) Aššur and the god Nergal] attacke[d him and (then) Tammarītu, his brothers], his [fa]mily, (and) the seed of [his] fat[her’s] house, [together with eighty-five noble]s who march at his side, (ii 15´) fled to me [from In]dabibi, and (then) [grasped] the feet of my royal majesty.

(iii 1') [... fled to the city Dūr-Und]āsi. [He cr]ossed the [Idide] Riv[er] and pr[epared himse]lf to fight with me.

(iv 1) With the support of (the god) Aššur and the god Nergal, I advanced and marched against Ummanaldašu (Ḫumban-ḫaltaš III), the king of the land Elam. In the course of my campaign, I conquered the city Dūr-Undāsi, a royal city of his.

(iv 5) I crossed that river and conquered fourteen cities, his royal residence(s), and smal[l(er)] settlements, which were without number, together with twenty villages in the district of the city Ḫunnir, (which is) on the bo[rder of the city] Ḫidalu. I destroyed (and) [demolished] the city Baš[imu and the villages in its envir]ons.

(iv 12b) [As for the people living inside them, I a]nni[hilated them. ...]

(v 1) [Paʾê, who had exercised dominion over] the land Elam [in opposition to] Ummanaldašu (Ḫumban-ḫaltaš III), [thought about the awe-inspiring brilliance of the] fierce [weapons of (the god) Aššur and the god Nergal that] (v 5) they had poured [over the land Elam, (not) once (or) twice, (but) thrice, and he beca]me disheartened. He fled to me [from the land Ela]m and [grasped the fee]t of my royal majesty.

(v 8) [(As for) Ummanaldašu (Ḫumban-ḫaltaš III)], the king of the land Elam, [who] had fled [from] the weapon of (the god) Aššur (and) (v 10) [who had taken to] the mountain(s), he returned [from the mountain(s)], his [place of] refuge, and [he entered the city Madakt]u, a city [that]

(v 1') (No translation possible)

(v 1'') [I fastened] band(s) of silver [on doors of white cedar], who[se] fragr[ance is sweet], (and) I fixed (them) in [its gateways].

(v 4'') When the god Nergal takes up residence (on) his [(eternal)] dais inside [..., ...] me, Ashurbanipal, [...], the builder of [this] temple. (vi 1) May he (the god Nergal) tur[n his radiant] fac[e towards me, lengthen] m[y] days, [(and) increase my] yea[rs]. (vi 5) May he [determine as my fate] go[od health (and) happiness]. May he [... (my)] sh[epherdship ... (vi 10) (so that) I may rule] wh[erever I desire (lit. “I say”) (and) a[chieve] wha[tever (lit. “the place”) I strive for].

(vi 1') Inscribed object for the temple of the god Nergal that (is inside) Cutha.