Ashurbanipal 231

(1') [...] ... [... of Babyl]on, true shepherd, who makes the foundations of the land firm, who [...] by his clever knowledge [... with]in the eternal city he elevated. The city of privileged-status, which is depicted as the “Crab” in the heavens and ... [...] its foundations were tottering. The abode of his city was torn out and one could not examine [its] structu[re ... (5´) ...] its [plain]s were full of lions instead of oxen and sheep. In [my] ro[yal] chariot [... whi]ch (with) mighty strength, the fierce bow, the me[rciless] arrow [...]s, I slew and totally destroyed (them). The plains ... [...] I cut off [from] inside it and I made the people happy [...].

(9') [... in S]ippar he/it made chaos inc[rease ... The Araḫtu River, (normally) a rive]r of abundance, [turned into] an angry wave, a ragin[g ti]de, [a huge flood like the deluge ...] ... [...] ... [...]

(r 1') [...] ... [...] ... [...] for Šamaš-šuma-ukīn, their governor, who reveres the gods Nabû and [Marduk ...] ... of the lands who established all settlements ... [...].

(r 4') [... I] had bricks made. In a favorable month with the ... [...]. I transported its [...]s (and) [I installed long] beams [of ced]a[r] at its entrances. [(As for its ...), I made its workmanship pleasing (with) [...] (and) cyprus. [I ...] (its) ced[ar] doors. [...] its gates, (on) the eighth day, a festival day, all day long [...]. I made [...] enter the [... o]f the splendid abode. Like the god Šamaš, [I illuminated] the entire [...].

(r 9') [... were sl]aughtered (and) sheep were abundant. Lamentation-priests [...]. I poured out libation(s) of oil and [...] ... a fate without equal, the great gods ... [... for whom the god] Ea, their father, interceded ... [...] substantial [trib]ute, the amount [of which was countless ...] ... by the command of the god [...]