SAA 02 006. Esarhaddon’s Succession Treaty (VTE)
| Obverse | ||
| o io i | (i) Seal of the god Aššur, king of the gods, lord of the lands — not to be altered; seal of the great ruler, father of the gods — not to be disputed. | |
| o iiii | ||
| o iiiiii | ||
| o iviv | ||
| §1 Preamble | §1 Preamble | |
| o 11 | (1) The treaty of Esarhaddon, (king of the world), king of Assyria, son of Sennacherib, (likewise king of the world), king of Assyria, with Humbareš, city-ruler of Nahšimarti (etc.), his sons, his grandsons, with all the Nahšimarteans (etc.), the men in his hands young and old, as many as there are from sunrise to sunset, all those over whom Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, exercises kingship and lordship, (with) you, your sons and your grandsons who will be born in days to come after this treaty, | |
| o 22 | ||
| o 33 | ||
| o 44 | <TAv> DUMU-MEŠ-šú DUMU—DUMU-MEŠ-šú TAv URU.na-aḫ-ši-mar-ta-a.a | |
| o 55 | ||
| o 66 | ||
| o 77 | ||
| o 88 | ||
| o 99 | ||
| o 1010 | ||
| o 1111 | <šá ina UGU maš-šur—DÙ—A DUMU—MAN GAL ša É—UŠ-ti DUMU maš-šur—PAB—AŠ> | (11) (concerning Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, son of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, on behalf of whom he has concluded this treaty with you,) |
| o 1212 | <MAN KUR—aš-šur ša ina UGU-ḫi-šú a-de-e is-si-ku-nu iš-ku-nu-ni> | |
| §2 Divine Witnesses | §2 Divine Witnesses | |
| o 1313 | (13) (which he) confirmed, made and concluded in the presence of Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Mercury, Mars and Sirius; | |
| o 1414 | ||
| o 1515 | ||
| o 1616 | (16) in the presence of Aššur, Anu, Ill[il], Ea, Sin, Šamaš, Adad, Marduk, Nabû, Nusku, Uraš, Nergal, Mullissu, Šerua, Belet-ili, Ištar of Nineveh, Ištar of Arbela, the gods dwelling in heaven and earth, the gods of Assyria, the gods of Sumer and [Akka]d, all the gods of the lands. | |
| o 1717 | ||
| o 1818 | ||
| o 1919 | ||
| o 2020 | ||
| o 2121 | ||
| o 2222 | ||
| o 2323 | ||
| o 2424 | ||
| §3 Adjuration | §3 Adjuration | |
| o 2525 | (25) Sw[ear ea]ch individually by Aššur, father of the gods, lord of the lands! | |
| o 2626 | (26) Ditto by Anu, Illil and Ea! | |
| o 2727 | (27) Ditto by Sin, Šamaš, Adad and Marduk! | |
| o 2828 | (28) Ditto by Nabû, Nusku, Uraš and Nergal! | |
| o 2929 | (29) Ditto by Mullissu, Šerua and Belet-ili! | |
| o 3030 | (30) Ditto by Ištar of Nineveh and Ištar of Arbela! | |
| o 3131 | (31) Ditto by all the gods of the Inner City! | |
| o 3232 | (32) Ditto by all the gods of Nineveh! | |
| o 3333 | (33) Ditto by all the gods of Calah! | |
| o 3434 | (34) Ditto by all the gods of Arbela! | |
| o 3535 | (35) Ditto by all the gods of Kilizi! | |
| o 3636 | (36) Ditto by all the gods of Harran! | |
| o 3737 | DINGIR-MEŠ KÁ.DINGIR.RA.KI BÁR.SÍPA.KI EN.LÍL.KI <DÙ-šú-nu MIN> | (37) Ditto by all the gods of Babylon, Borsippa and Nippur! |
| o 3838 | (38) Ditto by all the gods of Assyria! | |
| o 3939 | (39) Ditto by all the gods of Sumer and Akkad! | |
| o 4040 | (40) Ditto by all the gods of the lands; ditto by all the gods of heaven and earth! Ditto by all the gods of one's land and one's district! | |
| o 40A40A | ||
| o 40B40B | ||
| §4 Assurbanipal Designated Heir to Throne | §4 Assurbanipal Designated Heir to Throne | |
| o 4141 | a-de-e ša maš-šur—PAB—AŠ MAN KUR—aš-šur ina IGI DINGIR-MEŠ GAL-MEŠ | (41) (This is) the treaty which Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, has concluded with you, in the presence of the great gods of heaven and earth, on behalf of Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, son of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, your lord, whom he has named and appointed to the crown-princeship: |
| o 4242 | ||
| o 4343 | ||
| o 4444 | DUMU maš-šur—PAB—AŠ MAN KUR—aš-šur EN-ku-nu šá a-na DUMU—MAN-u-te | |
| o 4545 | ||
| o 4646 | (46) When Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, passes away, you will seat Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, upon the royal throne, and he will exercise the kingship and lordship of Assyria over you. You shall protect him in country and in town, fall and die for him. You shall speak with him in the truth of your heart, give him sound advice loyally, and smooth his way in every respect. | |
| o 4747 | ||
| o 4848 | ||
| o 4949 | šá KUR—aš-šur ina UGU-ḫi-ku-nu up-pa-áš ina A.ŠÀ ina bir-ti URU | |
| o 5050 | ||
| o 5151 | ||
| o 5252 | ||
| o 5353 | ||
| o 5454 | ||
| o 5555 | (55) You shall not depose him nor seat (any)one of his brothers, elder or younger, on the throne of Assyria in stead of him. | |
| o 5656 | ||
| o 5757 | tu-še-šab-a-ni šum-ma a-bu-tú šá maš-šur—PAB—AŠ MAN KUR—aš-šur.KI | (57) You shall neither change nor alter the word of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, but serve this very Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, whom Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, your lord, has presented to you, and he shall exercise the kingship and dominion over you. |
| o 5858 | te-na-a-ni tu-šá-an-na-a-ni šum-ma maš-šur—DÙ—A DUMU—MAN GAL-u | |
| o 5959 | ||
| o 6060 | ||
| o 6161 | LUGAL-u-tú EN-u-tú šá KUR—aš-šur ina UGU-ḫi-ku-nu la ú-[pa]-áš-u-ni | |
| §5 Obligation to Protect Heir | §5 Obligation to Protect Heir | |
| o 6262 | (62) You shall protect Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, whom Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, has presented and ordered for you, and on behalf of whom he has confirmed and concluded (this) treaty with you; you shall not sin against him, nor bring your hand against him with evil intent, nor revolt or do anything to him which is not good and proper; | |
| o 6363 | ||
| o 6464 | ||
| o 6565 | ||
| o 6666 | ||
| o 6767 | ||
| o 6868 | ||
| o 6969 | (69) you shall not oust him from the kingship of Assyria by helping one of his brothers, elder or younger, to seize the throne of Assyria in his stead, nor set any other king or any other lord over you, nor swear an oath to any other king or any other lord. | |
| o 7070 | ||
| o 7171 | LUGAL [šá-nu]-⸢um⸣-ma EN šá-nu-um-ma ina UGU-ḫi-ku-nu ta-šá-kan-a-ni | |
| o 7272 | ||
| §6 Obligation to Report Opposition to Succession | §6 Obligation to Report Opposition to Succession | |
| o 7373 | (73) If you hear any improper, unsuitable or unseemly word concerning the exercise of kingship which is unseemly and evil against Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, either from the mouth of his brothers, his uncles, his cousins, his family (var. his people), members of his father's line; or from the mouth of magnates and governors, or from the mouth of the bearded and the eunuchs, or from the mouth of the scholars or from the mouth of any human being at all, you shall not conceal it but come and report it to Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate. | |
| o 7474 | ||
| o 7575 | ||
| o 7676 | lu-u ina pi-i ŠEŠ-MEŠ-šú ŠEŠ-MEŠ—AD-MEŠ-šú DUMU—ŠEŠ-MEŠ—AD-MEŠ-šú | |
| o 7777 | ||
| o 7878 | ||
| o 7979 | lu-u ina pi-i LÚ.um-ma-ni lu-u ina pi-i nap-ḫar ṣal-mat—SAG.DU | |
| o 8080 | ||
| o 8181 | ||
| o 8282 | ||
| §7 Succession at Esarhaddon's Untimely Death | §7 Succession at Esarhaddon's Untimely Death | |
| o 8383 | šum-ma maš-šur—PAB—AŠ MAN KUR—aš-šur ina ṣa-ḫa-ri šá DUMU-MEŠ-šú | (83) If Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, passes away while his sons are minors, you will help Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, to take the throne of Assyria, and you will help Šamaš-šumu-ukin, his equal brother, the crown prince designate of Babylon, to ascend the throne of Babylon. You will reserve for him the kingship over the whole of Sumer, Akkad and Karduniaš. He will take with him all the gifts that Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, his father, gave him; do not hold back even one. |
| o 8484 | ||
| o 8585 | ||
| o 8686 | ||
| o 8787 | šá KÁ.DINGIR.RA.KI ina GIŠ.GU.ZA LUGAL-ti šá KÁ.DINGIR.RA.KI | |
| o 8888 | tu-še-šá-ba LUGAL-ti KUR—šu-me-ri u URI.KI KUR.kar—ddun-ía-[áš] | |
| o 8989 | ||
| o 9090 | ||
| o 9191 | ||
| §8 Definition of Loyalty | §8 Definition of Loyalty | |
| o 9292 | (92) You shall keep absolute honesty with respect to Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate whom Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, has presented to you, and (with respect to) his brothers, sons by the same mother as Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, on behalf of whom Esarhaddon, king of Assyria has concluded (this) treaty with you; you shall always serve them in a true and fitting manner, speak with them with heartfelt truth, and protect them in country and in town. | |
| o 9393 | ||
| o 9494 | ||
| o 9595 | šá É—UŠ-ti šá maš-šur—PAB—AŠ MAN KUR—aš-šur ina UGU-ḫi-šú-nu | |
| o 9696 | ||
| o 9797 | ||
| o 9898 | ||
| o 9999 | ||
| o 100100 | ||
| §9 Prohibition of Disloyal Conduct | §9 Prohibition of Disloyal Conduct | |
| o 101101 | (101) You shall not sin against Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, whom Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, has ordered for you, nor against his brothers, sons by the same mother as Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, concerning whom he has concluded (this) treaty with you; you shall not bring your hands to (do) evil against them nor make insurrection or do anything which is not good to them. | |
| o 102102 | ||
| o 103103 | ||
| o 104104 | ||
| o 105105 | ||
| o 106106 | ||
| o 107107 | ||
| §10 Obligation to Report Treason | §10 Obligation to Report Treason | |
| o 108108 | (108) If you hear any evil, improper, ugly word which is not seemly nor good to Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, son of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, your lord, either from the mouth of his enemy or from the mouth of his ally, or from the mouth of his brothers or from the mouth of his uncles, his cousins, his family, members of his father's line, or from the mouth of your brothers, your sons, your daughters, or from the mouth of a prophet, an ecstatic, an inquirer of oracles, or from the mouth of any human being at all, you shall not conceal it but come and report it to Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, son of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria. | |
| o 109109 | ||
| o 110110 | DUMU maš-šur—PAB—AŠ MAN KUR—aš-šur EN-ku-nu la tar-ṣa-at-u-ni | |
| o 111111 | ||
| o 112112 | ||
| o 113113 | ||
| o 114114 | ||
| o 115115 | ||
| o 116116 | ||
| o 117117 | ||
| o 118118 | ||
| o 119119 | ||
| o 120120 | ||
| o 121121 | ||
| o 122122 | ||
| §11 Injunction against Treason | §11 Injunction against Treason | |
| o 123123 | (123) You shall not do (anything) that is evil and improper to Assurbanipal the great crown prince designate, whom Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, has ordered for you; you shall not seize him and put him to death, nor hand him over to his enemy, nor oust him from the kingship of Assyria, nor sw[ear an oa]th to any other king or any other lord. | |
| o 124124 | ||
| o 125125 | ||
| o 126126 | ||
| o 127127 | ||
| o 128128 | ||
| o 129129 | ||
| §12 Action against Those Suborning Treason | §12 Action against Those Suborning Treason | |
| o 130130 | šum-ma me-me-ni a-na maš-šur—DÙ—A DUMU—[MAN GAL] ⸢šá⸣ É—UŠ-te | (130) If anyone should speak to you of rebellion and insurrection (with the purpose) of ki[lling], assassinating, and eliminating Assurbanipal, the [great crown] prince designate, son of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, your lord, concerning whom he has concluded (this) treaty with you, or if you should hear it from the mouth of anyone, you shall seize the perpetrators of insurrection, and bring them before Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate. |
| o 131131 | DUMU maš-šur—PAB—AŠ MAN KUR—aš-šur EN-ku-nu šá ina ⸢UGU⸣-ḫi-šú | |
| o 132132 | ||
| o 133133 | ||
| o 134134 | ||
| o 135135 | ||
| o 136136 | ||
| o 137137 | ||
| o 138138 | (138) If you are able to seize them and put them to death, then you shall destroy their name and their seed from the land. If, however, you are unable to seize them and put them to death, you shall inform Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, and assist him in seizing and putting to death the perpetrators of rebellion. | |
| o 139139 | ||
| o 140140 | ||
| o 141141 | ||
| o 142142 | ||
| o 143143 | ||
| o 144144 | ||
| o 145145 | ||
| o 146146 | ||
| §13 Action against Traitors | §13 Action against Traitors | |
| o 147147 | šum-ma e-pi-šá-nu-te šá bar-te lu-u e-ṣu-te lu-u ma-aʾ-du-te | (147) If you should come into contact with perpetrators of insurrection, be they few or many, and hear (anything, be it) favourable or unfavourable, you shall come and report it to Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, son of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, being totally loyal to him. |
| o 148148 | ||
| o 149149 | ||
| o 150150 | ||
| o 151151 | ||
| o 152152 | ||
| o 153153 | ša DINGIR-MEŠ-ni ú-še-šá-bu-u-ni a-de-e ina IGI DINGIR-MEŠ-ni | (153) You shall not take a mutually binding oath with (any)one who produces (statues of) gods in order to conclude a treaty before gods, (be it) by sett[ing] a table, by drinking from a cup, by kindling a fire, by water, by oil, or by holding breasts, but you shall come and report to Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, son of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, your lord, and shall seize and put to death the perpetrators of insurrection and the traitorous troops, and destroy their name and seed from the land. |
| o 154154 | ||
| o 155155 | ||
| o 156156 | <a-na> a-ḫe-iš tu-tam-ma-a-ni a-na maš-šur—DÙ—A DUMU—MAN GAL-u | |
| o 157157 | ||
| o 158158 | ||
| o 159159 | ||
| o 160160 | ||
| o 161161 | ||
| §14 Action against Open Rebellion | §14 Action against Open Rebellion | |
| o 162162 | (162) If an Assyrian or a vassal of Assyria, or a bearded (courtier) or a eunuch, or a citizen of Assyria or a citizen of any other country, or any living being at all besieges Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, in country or in town, and carries out rebellion and insurrection, | |
| o 163163 | ||
| o 164164 | lu DUMU KUR šá-ni-tim-ma lu ina šik-nat—ZI-tim ma-la ba-šú-u | |
| o 165165 | ||
| o 166166 | <lu> ina ŠÀ URU e-ta-as-ru-šú si-ḫu bar-tú ina UGU-ḫi-šú e-tap-šu | |
| o 167167 | (167) you shall take your stand with and protect Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, wholeheartedly defeat the men who revolted against him, and rescue Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, and his brothers, sons by the same mother. | |
| o 168168 | ||
| o 169169 | LÚ.ERIM-MEŠ šá bar-ti e-pa-šú-ni-šú-u-ni ina gam-mur-ti ŠÀ-bi-ku-nu | |
| o 170170 | ||
| o 171171 | ||
| o 172172 | ||
| §15 Obligation to Escape from Rebels | §15 Obligation to Escape from Rebels | |
| o 173173 | (173) You shall not make common cause with (any)one who may revolt against Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, son of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, your lord, concerning whom he has concluded (this) treaty with you, but, should they seize you by force, you shall flee and come to Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate. | |
| o 174174 | DUMU maš-šur—PAB—AŠ MAN KUR—aš-šur EN-ku-nu šá ina UGU-ḫi-šú | |
| o 175175 | ||
| o 176176 | ||
| o 177177 | ||
| o 178178 | ||
| o 179179 | ||
| §16 Rejection of Rebellion | §16 Rejection of Rebellion | |
| o 180180 | (180) You shall not, whether while on a guard duty [......] or on a [day] of rest, while resid[ing] within the land or while entering a tax-collection point, set in your mind an unfavourable thought against Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate; you shall not revolt against him, nor make rebellion, nor do anything to him which is not good. | |
| o 181181 | ||
| o 182182 | ||
| o 183183 | ||
| o 184184 | ||
| o 185185 | ||
| o 186186 | ||
| o 187187 | ||
| §17 Succession of Assurbanipal | §17 Succession of Assurbanipal | |
| o 188188 | (188) On the day that Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, your lord passes away, (on that day) Assurbanipal, the great crown prince desi[gnate], son of Esarhaddon, your lord, shall be your king and your lord; he shall abase the mighty, raise up the lowly, put to death him who is worthy of death, and pardon him who deserves to be pardoned. | |
| o 189189 | DUMU maš-šur—PAB—AŠ MAN KUR—aš-šur EN-ku-nu ina UD-me šá maš-šur—PAB—AŠ | |
| o 190190 | ||
| o 191191 | ||
| o 192192 | ||
| o 193193 | ||
| o 194194 | ||
| o 195195 | (195) You shall hearken to whatever he says and do whatever he commands, and you shall not seek any other king or any other lord against him. | |
| o 196196 | ||
| o 197197 | ||
| §18 Rejection of Palace Revolt against Esarhaddon | §18 Rejection of Palace Revolt against Esarhaddon | |
| o 198198 | (198) If anyone in the Palace makes an insurrection, whether by day or by night, whether on a campaign or within the land against Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, you must not obey him. | |
| o 199199 | ||
| o 200200 | ||
| o 201201 | (201) If a messenger from within the Palace at an unexpected time, whether by day or by night, comes to the prince saying: "Your father has summoned you; let my lord come", you must not listen to him nor let him go away but you must guard him strongly until one of you, who loves his lord and feels concern over the house of his lords, goes to the palace and ascertains the well-being of the king, his lord. (Only) afterwards you may go to the Palace with the prince, your lord. | |
| o 202202 | ||
| o 203203 | ||
| o 204204 | ||
| o 205205 | ||
| o 206206 | ||
| o 207207 | ||
| o 208208 | ||
| o 209209 | ||
| o 210210 | ||
| o 211211 | ||
| §19 Prohibition against Seditious Meetings | §19 Prohibition against Seditious Meetings | |
| o 212212 | (212) You shall not hold an assembly to adjure one another and give the kingship to one of you. | |
| o 213213 | tu-tam-ma-a-ni a-na 01-en ina ŠÀ-bi-ku-nu LUGAL-u-tu ta-dan-a-ni | |
| §20 Action against Pretenders to Throne | §20 Action against Pretenders to Throne | |
| o 214214 | (214) You shall not help (anyone) from among his brothers, his uncles, his cousins, his family, or members of his father's line, whether those who are in Assyria or those who have fled to another country, or (anyone) in the closer palace groups or in the more remote palace groups or (any) groups great or small, or (any) of the old or young, of the rich or the poor, whether a bearded (courtier) or a eunuch, or (one) of the servants, or (one) of the bought (slaves) or any citizen of Assyria or any foreigner or any human being at all, any one of you, to seize the throne of Assyria, nor shall you hand over to him the kingship and lordship of Assyria. | |
| o 215215 | ||
| o 216216 | lu-u šá ina KUR—aš-šur šu-nu-u-ni lu šá ina KUR šá-ni-tim-ma | |
| o 217217 | ||
| o 218218 | ||
| o 219219 | ||
| o 220220 | ||
| o 221221 | ||
| o 222222 | ||
| o 223223 | ||
| o 224224 | 01-en ina ŠÀ-bi-ku-nu GIŠ.GU.ZA KUR—aš-šur tu-šá-aṣ-bat-a-ni | |
| o 225225 | ||
| o 226226 | (226) You shall help Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate to seize the throne of Assyria, and he will exercise the kingship and lordship over you. | |
| o 227227 | ||
| o 228228 | LUGAL-tú EN-tú šá KUR—aš-šur ina UGU-ḫi-ku-nu la ú-pa-áš-ú-ni | |
| §21 Allegiance to Assurbanipal | §21 Allegiance to Assurbanipal | |
| o 229229 | šum-ma at-tu-nu ina UGU maš-šur—DÙ—A DUMU—MAN GAL šá É—UŠ-te | (229) You shall fall and die for Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, son of Esarhaddon, your lord, and seek to do for him what is good. |
| o 230230 | DUMU maš-šur—PAB—AŠ MAN KUR—aš-šur EN-ku-nu la ta-ma-qut-a-ni | |
| o 231231 | ||
| o 232232 | ||
| o 233233 | (233) You shall not do for him what is not good, nor give him an improper counsel or direct him in an unwholesome course, but continually serve him in a true and fitting manner. | |
| o 234234 | ||
| o 235235 | ||
| o 236236 | ||
| §22 Action against Murderer of Assurbanipal | §22 Action against Murderer of Assurbanipal | |
| o 237237 | šum-ma maš-šur—PAB—AŠ MAN KUR—aš-šur EN-ku-nu ina ṣa-ḫa-ri šá DUMU-MEŠ-šú | (237) If Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, passes away during the minority of his sons, and if either a bearded (courtier) or a eunuch puts Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, to death, and takes over the kingship of Assyria, you shall not make common cause with him and become his servant but shall break away and be hostile (to him), alienate all lands from him, instigate a rebellion against him, seize him and put him to death, and then help a son of Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate to take the throne of Assyria. |
| o 238238 | ||
| o 239239 | ||
| o 240240 | ||
| o 241241 | ||
| o 242242 | ||
| o 243243 | ||
| o 244244 | ||
| o 245245 | KUR.KUR gab-bu is-si-šú la tu-šam-kar-a-ni si-ḫu ina UGU-ḫi-šú la ta-šá-kan-a-ni | |
| o 246246 | ||
| o 247247 | ||
| o 248248 | ||
| o 249249 | (249) You shall wait for a woman pregnant by Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, (or) for the wife of Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate (to give birth), and after (a son) is born, bring him up and set him on the throne of Assyria, seize and slay the perpetrators of rebellion, destroy their name and their seed from the land, and by shedding blood for blood, avenge Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate. | |
| o 250250 | šá maš-šur—PAB—AŠ MAN KUR—aš-šur.KI ù DAM maš-šur—DÙ—A DUMU—MAN GAL-u | |
| o 251251 | ||
| o 252252 | ||
| o 253253 | ||
| o 254254 | ||
| o 255255 | ||
| o 256256 | ||
| o 257257 | ||
| o 258258 | ||
| §23 Prohibition against Killing Assurbanipal | §23 Prohibition against Killing Assurbanipal | |
| o 259259 | (259) You shall not give Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, son of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, your lord, a deadly drug to eat or to drink, nor anoint him with it, nor practice witchcraft against him, nor make gods and goddesses angry with him. | |
| o 260260 | ||
| o 261261 | ||
| o 262262 | ||
| o 263263 | ||
| o 264264 | ||
| o 265265 | ||
| §24 Action in Favour of Assurbanipal's Brothers | §24 Action in Favour of Assurbanipal's Brothers | |
| o 266266 | (266) You shall love Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, son of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, your lord, like yourselves. | |
| o 267267 | ||
| o 268268 | ||
| o 269269 | šum-ma at-tu-nu ina IGI maš-šur—DÙ—A DUMU—MAN GAL šá É—UŠ-ti | (269) You shall not slander his brothers, his mother's sons, before Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, nor speak anything evil about them, nor lift your hands against their houses or commit a crime against them, nor take anything away from the gift which their father has given them, or the acquisitions which they themselves have made. |
| o 270270 | ||
| o 271271 | ||
| o 272272 | ||
| o 273273 | TAv ŠÀ-bi ti-din-tú šá maš-šur—PAB—AŠ MAN KUR—aš-šur AD-šú-nu i-din-na-šá-nu-ni | |
| o 274274 | ||
| o 275275 | (275) The gift of lands, houses, orchards, peoples, implements, horses, mules, donkeys, cattle and flocks which Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, has given to his sons, shall be theirs. | |
| o 276276 | ||
| o 277277 | ANŠE-MEŠ GUD-MEŠ UDU-MEŠ šá maš-šur—PAB—AŠ MAN KUR—aš-šur.KI | |
| o 278278 | a-na DUMU-MEŠ-šú id-din-u-ni la ina pa-ni-šú-nu la šu-tú-u-ni | |
| o 279279 | (279) You shall speak good of them before Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate. They shall stand before him and be united with you. | |
| o 280280 | ||
| o 281281 | ||
| o 282282 | ||
| §25 Perpetuating Allegiance to Assurbanipal | §25 Perpetuating Allegiance to Assurbanipal | |
| o 283283 | (283) This treaty which Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, has confirmed and concluded with you on behalf of Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate and his brothers, sons by the same mother as Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, by making you take an oath, you shall speak to your sons and grandsons, your seed and your seed's seed which shall be born in the future, and give them orders as follows: | |
| o 284284 | ||
| o 285285 | ||
| o 286286 | ||
| o 287287 | ||
| o 288288 | ||
| o 289289 | a-na NUMUN—NUMUN-[ku]-⸢nu⸣ šá EGIR a-de-e a-na UD-me ṣa-a-ti | |
| o 290290 | ||
| o 291291 | ||
| o 292292 | (292) "Guard this treaty. Do not sin against your treaty and annihilate yourselves, do not turn your land over to destruction and your people to deportation. May this matter which is acceptable to god and mankind, be acceptable to you too, may it be good to you. May Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, be protected for (his) lordship over the land and the people, (and) may his name later be proclaimed for the kingship. Do not place any other king or any other lord over you." | |
| o 293293 | ||
| o 294294 | ||
| o 295295 | ||
| o 296296 | ||
| o 297297 | ||
| o 298298 | ||
| o 299299 | ||
| o 300300 | ||
| o 301301 | ||
| §26 Action against Usurper of Esarhaddon's Throne | §26 Action against Usurper of Esarhaddon's Throne | |
| o 302302 | (302) If anyone makes rebellion or insurrection against Esarhaddon, king of Assyria and seats himself on the royal throne, you shall not rejoice over his kingship but shall seize him and put him to death. If you are unable to seize and put him to death, you shall not submit to his kingship nor swear an oath of servitude to him, but shall revolt against him and unreservedly do battle with him, make other lands inimical to him, take plunder from him, defeat him, destroy his name and his seed from the land, and help Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, to take his father's throne. | |
| o 303303 | ||
| o 304304 | ||
| o 305305 | ||
| o 306306 | ||
| o 307307 | ||
| o 308308 | ||
| o 309309 | ||
| o 310310 | ||
| o 311311 | ||
| o 312312 | ||
| o 313313 | ||
| o 314314 | ||
| o 315315 | ||
| o 316316 | ||
| o 317317 | ||
| §27 Injunction against Fomenting Strife between King and Crown Prince | §27 Injunction against Fomenting Strife between King and Crown Prince | |
| o 318318 | (318) If (any) one of his brothers, his uncles, his cousins, his family, (any) one of his own dynastic line, or any descendant of former royalty or (any) one of the magnates, governors or eunuchs, (or any) one of the citizens of Assyria, (or) any foreigner, involves you in a plot, saying to you: "Malign Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, in the presence of his father. Speak evil and improper things about him," you shall not make it come to a fight between him and his father by stirring up mutual hatred between them. | |
| o 319319 | ||
| o 320320 | ||
| o 321321 | ||
| o 322322 | ||
| o 323323 | ||
| o 324324 | ||
| o 325325 | ||
| o 326326 | ||
| o 327327 | ||
| §28 Response to Fomentors of Strife | §28 Response to Fomentors of Strife | |
| o 328328 | (328) (Instead) say to the envious person who commands you and would make you become accursed: "Where are his brothers or the servants who made themselves accursed to his father by slandering him in the presence of his father? Has not what Aššur, Šamaš and [Adad] said about him proved to be true? Did your father ...... without (the consent of) Aššur and Šamaš? Let your brother be honoured, and stay alive." | |
| o 329329 | ||
| o 330330 | ||
| o 331331 | ||
| o 332332 | ||
| o 333333 | ma-a la šá daš-šur dUTU ù [dIM? ina] ⸢UGU⸣-šú iq-bu-u-ni ta-kun | |
| o 334334 | ||
| o 335335 | ||
| §29 Injunction against Fomenting Strife between Prince and His Brothers | §29 Injunction against Fomenting Strife between Prince and His Brothers | |
| o 336336 | (336) If someone involves you in a plot, be it one of his brothers, his [unc]les, his relations, a member of his father's line, a e[unuch] or a bearded (courtier), an Assyrian or a foreigner, or any human being at all, saying: "Slander his brothers, sons by his own mother, before him, make it come to a fight between them, and divide his brothers, sons of his own mother, from him", you shall not obey nor speak evil about his brothers in his presence, nor divide him from his brothers; you shall not let those who speak such things go free but shall come and report to Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate as follows: "Your father imposed a treaty on us and made us swear an oath concerning it." | |
| o 337337 | TA ŠÀ-bi ŠEŠ-MEŠ-šú ŠEŠ—AD-MEŠ-šú [DUMU—ŠEŠ]-MEŠ—AD-MEŠ-šú qin-ni-šú | |
| o 338338 | NUMUN É—AD-šú lu ⸢LÚ⸣.[SAG] lu LÚ.šá—ziq-ni lu DUMU KUR—aš-šur | |
| o 339339 | ||
| o 340340 | ||
| o 341341 | ||
| o 342342 | ||
| o 343343 | ||
| o 344344 | ||
| o 345345 | ||
| o 346346 | ||
| o 347347 | ||
| o 348348 | ||
| o 349349 | ||
| o 350350 | ||
| o 351351 | ||
| o 352352 | ||
| §30 Response to Attempts to Foment Strife | §30 Response to Attempts to Foment Strife | |
| o 353353 | šum-ma ta-da-ga-la-⸢ni?⸣ [ina? IGI? maš-šur—DÙ—A DUMU—MAN] GAL šá É—UŠ-ti | (353) You shall not look on [...... Assurbanipal], the great crown [prince], his brothers [......]. You shall contest them as you would on [your] own behalf, and rouse [fear] in their heart, saying: "Your father set (this) in a treaty and made [us] swear it." |
| o 354354 | ŠEŠ-MEŠ-šú [x] kan šu ⸢x⸣+[x x]+⸢x⸣-ku-uš | |
| o 355355 | ma*-ṣar-⸢tu⸣ [x x x x x x x] at-tu-nu | |
| o 356356 | ||
| o 357357 | pu-⸢x⸣+[x x x x x x] ina ŠÀ-bi-šú-nu | |
| o 358358 | ||
| o 359359 | ||
| §31 Injunction against Fomenting Strife after Assurbanipal's Accession | §31 Injunction against Fomenting Strife after Assurbanipal's Accession | |
| o 360360 | šum-ma at-tu-nu ki-ma maš-⸢šur⸣—PAB—AŠ MAN KUR—aš-šur EN-ku-nu | (360) When Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, your lord, passes away and Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, ascends the royal throne, you shall not say any evil word about his bro[thers, sons of] his own mo[ther], before their brother nor try to make them accursed (saying): "Bring your hand against them for an evil deed." You shall not alienate them from Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, nor shall you say any evil word about them in the presence of their brother. (As for) the positions which Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, their father, assigned them, you shall not speak in the presence of Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, (trying to make him) remove them [from these positions]. |
| o 361361 | ||
| o 362362 | DUMU—MAN GAL-u šá É—UŠ-ti ina GIŠ.GU.ZA LUGAL-u-te it-⸢tu⸣-[šib] | |
| o 363363 | ||
| o 364364 | ||
| o 365365 | ||
| o 366366 | ||
| o 367367 | ||
| o 368368 | ||
| o 369369 | ||
| o 370370 | MAN KUR—aš-šur AD-šú-nu ú-kal-lim-u-šú-nu-[ni] ina IGI maš-šur—DÙ—A | |
| o 371371 | ||
| o 372372 | ⸢x⸣+[x x x x x x] ú-na-kar-šú-[nu-u-ni] | |
| §32 Prohibition against Invalidation of Oath | §32 Prohibition against Invalidation of Oath | |
| o 373373 | (373) You shall not smear your face, your hands, and your throat with ... against the gods of the assembly, nor tie it in your lap, nor do anything to undo the oath. | |
| o 374374 | ||
| o 375375 | ||
| o 376376 | ||
| §33 Prohibition against Undoing the Oath | §33 Prohibition against Undoing the Oath | |
| o 377377 | (377) You shall not try to revoke or undo (this) oath ... [...]; you shall neither think of nor perform a ritual to revoke or undo this oath. You and your sons to be born in the future will be bound by this oath concerning Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, son of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, your lord, from this day on until what(ever) comes after this treaty. | |
| o 378378 | ma-mit ta-pa-šar-a-ni ši-in-ga-te [x x x] | |
| o 379379 | [ina] ⸢IGI⸣-ni šá ⸢tur⸣-tu tur-ri ma-mit pa-šá-a-ri ta-ḫa-sa-sa-[a-ni] | |
| o 380380 | ⸢te⸣-pa-šá-a-ni ta-me-tu an-[ni-tu ina UGU?] maš-šur—DÙ—A DUMU—MAN GAL | |
| o 381381 | ||
| o 382382 | ||
| o 383383 | ||
| o 384384 | ||
| §34 Attitude toward Swearing the Oath | §34 Attitude toward Swearing the Oath | |
| o 385385 | (385) While you stand on the place of this oath, you shall not swear this oath with your lips only but shall swear it wholeheartedly; you shall teach it to your sons to be born after this treaty; you shall not feign incurable illness but take part in this treaty of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, concerning Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate. In the future and forever Aššur will be your god, and Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, will be your lord. May your sons and your grandsons fear him. | |
| o 386386 | ||
| o 387387 | ta-tam-ma-a-ni ina gu-mur-⸢ti⸣ ŠÀ-ku-nu la ta-tam-ma-a-ni a-na DUMU-MEŠ-ku-nu ša EGIR a-de-e | |
| o 388388 | ||
| o 389389 | ||
| o 390390 | ||
| o 391391 | šá maš-šur—PAB—AŠ MAN KUR—aš-šur šá ina UGU maš-šur—DÙ—A DUMU—MAN GAL-u | |
| o 392392 | ||
| o 393393 | ||
| o 394394 | ||
| o 395395 | ||
| o 396396 | ||
| §35 Obligation to Guard the Treaty Document | §35 Obligation to Guard the Treaty Document | |
| o 397397 | (397) Whoever changes, disregards, transgresses or erases the oaths of this tablet or [dis]regards ... this treaty and transgresses its oath, [may the guardian(s) of] this treaty tablet, [Aššur], king of the gods, and the great gods, my lords, [......] the statue of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, or the statue of Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, or the statue of [his] b[rother ......] the seal of the [great] ru[ler, father] of the gods, [......]. You shall guard [this treaty tablet which] is sealed with the seal of Aššur, king of the gods, and set up in your presence, like your own god. | |
| o 398398 | i-ḫa-ṭu-u i-pa-sa-su x šú a-de-e ⸢x x⸣ | |
| o 399399 | ||
| o 400400 | ||
| o 401401 | ||
| o 402402 | [x x x]-⸢šú?⸣ lu-u ṣa-lam maš-šur—PAB—AŠ MAN KUR—aš-šur | |
| o 403403 | ||
| o 404404 | lu ṣa-lam ⸢ŠEŠ?⸣-[MEŠ?-šú x x x x x x x x] | |
| o 405405 | NA₄.KIŠIB NUN-⸢e*⸣ [GAL-e AD] DINGIR-MEŠ [x x x x] | |
| o 406406 | ||
| o 407407 | ||
| o 408408 | ||
| o 409409 | ||
| §36 Injunction against Destroying the Document | §36 Injunction against Destroying the Document | |
| o 410410 | (410) If you should remove it, consign it to the fire, throw it into the water, [bury] it in the earth or destroy it by any cunning device, annihilate or deface it, | |
| o 411411 | ||
| o 412412 | ||
| o 413413 | ||
| §37-56 Standard Curse Section | §37-56 Standard Curse Section | |
| o 414414 | (414) May Aššur, king of the gods, who decrees [the fates], decree an evil and unpleasant fate for you. May he not gra[nt yo]u long-lasting old age and the attainment of extreme old age. | |
| o 415415 | ||
| o 416416 | ||
| §38 | §38 | |
| o 417417 | (417) May Mullissu, his beloved wife, make the utterance of his mouth evil, may she not intercede for you. | |
| o 418418 | ||
| §38A | §38A | |
| o 418A418A | (418A) May Anu, king of the gods, let disease, exhaustion, malaria, sleeplessness, worries and ill health rain upon all your houses. | |
| o 418B418B | ||
| o 418C418C | ||
| §39 | §39 | |
| o 419419 | (419) May Sin, the brightness of heaven and earth, clothe you with leprosy and forbid your entering into the presence of the gods or king. Roam the desert like the wild-ass and the gazelle! | |
| o 420420 | li-ḫal-lip-ku-nu ina IGI DINGIR-MEŠ u LUGAL e-rab-ku-nu a.a iq-bi | |
| o 421421 | ||
| §40 | §40 | |
| o 422422 | (422) May Šamaš, the light of heaven and earth, not judge you justly. May he remove your eyesight. Walk about in darkness! | |
| o 423423 | ||
| o 424424 | ||
| §41 | §41 | |
| o 425425 | dMAŠ a-šá-rid DINGIR-MEŠ ina šil-ta-ḫi-šu šam-ri li-šam-qit-ku-nu | (425) May Ninurta, the foremost among the gods, fell you with his fierce arrow; may he fill the plain with your blood and feed your flesh to the eagle and the vulture. |
| o 426426 | ||
| o 427427 | ||
| §42 | §42 | |
| o 428428 | ddil-bat na-bat MUL-MEŠ ina ni-ṭil IGI.2-ku-nu ḫi-ra-a-te-ku-nu | (428) May Venus, the brightest of the stars, before your eyes make your wives lie in the lap of your enemy; may your sons not take possession of your house, but a strange enemy divide your goods. |
| o 429429 | ||
| o 430430 | ||
| §43 | §43 | |
| o 431431 | (431) May Jupiter, exalted lord of the gods, not show you the entrance of Bel in Esangil; may he destroy your life. | |
| o 432432 | ||
| §44 | §44 | |
| o 433433 | dAMAR.UTU DUMU.UŠ reš-tu-u ḫi-ṭu ⸢kab⸣-[tu] ma-mit la pa-šá-ri | (433) May Marduk, the eldest son, decree a heavy punishment and an indissoluble curse for your fate. |
| o 434434 | ||
| §45 | §45 | |
| o 435435 | (435) May Zarpanitu, who grants name and seed, destroy your name and your seed from the land. | |
| o 436436 | ||
| §46 | §46 | |
| o 437437 | dbe-lit—DINGIR-MEŠ dbe-lit nab-ni-ti ta-lit-tu ina KUR-ku-nu | (437) May Belet-ili, the lady of creation, cut off birth from your land; may she deprive your nurses of the cries of little children in the streets and squares. |
| o 438438 | ||
| o 439439 | ||
| §47 | §47 | |
| o 440440 | ⸢d⸣IM GÚ.GAL AN-e KI.TIM ⸢A⸣.[KAL?] ina KUR-⸢ku⸣-[nu] lip-ru-[us] | (440) May Adad, the canal inspector of heaven and earth, cut off sea[sonal flooding] from your land and deprive your fields of [grain], may he [submerge] your land with a great flood; may the locust who diminishes the land devour your harvest; may the sound of mill or oven be lacking from your houses, may the grain for grinding disappear from you; instead of grain may your sons and your daughters grind your bones; may not (even) your (first) finger-joint dip in the dough, may the [...] of your bowls eat up the dough. May a mother [bar the door] to her daughter. In your hunger eat the flesh of your sons! In want and famine may one man eat the flesh of another; may one man clothe himself in another's skin; may dogs and swine eat your flesh; may your ghost have nobody to take care of the pouring of libations to him. |
| o 441441 | ||
| o 442442 | ina ri-iḫ-ṣi dan-ni KUR-ku-[nu x x x] BURU₅ | |
| o 443443 | mu-ṣa-ḫi-ir KUR BURU₁₄-ku-nu ⸢le⸣-[kul] ik-kil NA₄.UR₅ u NINDU | |
| o 444444 | ||
| o 445445 | ||
| o 446446 | DUMU-MEŠ-ku-nu DUMU.MÍ-MEŠ-ku-nu li-ṭi-nu ki-ṣir šá ŠU.SI-ku-nu | |
| o 447447 | ina le-e-še lu la i-ṭa-ab-bu [x x x] a-ṣu-da-ti-ku-nu le-e-šu | |
| o 448448 | ||
| o 449449 | ina bu-ri-ku-nu UZU-MEŠ DUMU-MEŠ-ku-nu ak-la ina bu-⸢bu⸣-[ti] | |
| o 450450 | ||
| o 451451 | ||
| o 452452 | ||
| §48 | §48 | |
| o 453453 | dIŠ.TAR be-lit MURUB₄ MÈ ina MÈ dan-ni GIŠ.BAN-ku-nu liš-bir | (453) May Ištar, lady of battle and war, smash your bow in the thick of ba[ttle], may she bind your arms, and have you crouch under your enemy. |
| o 454454 | ||
| §49 | §49 | |
| o 455455 | (455) May Nergal, hero of the gods, extinguish your life with his merciless sword, and send slaughter and pes[til]ence among you. | |
| o 456456 | li-bal-li šá-ga-áš-tú mu-⸢ta⸣-[a]-nu ina ŠÀ-bi-ku-nu liš-kun | |
| §50 | §50 | |
| o 457457 | (457) May Mullissu, who dwells in Nineveh, tie a flaming sword at your side. | |
| o 458458 | ||
| §51 | §51 | |
| o 459459 | (459) [May] Ištar, who dwells in Arbela, [no]t show you mercy and compassion. | |
| o 460460 | ||
| §52 | §52 | |
| o 461461 | (461) May Gula, the great physician, put sickness and weariness [in your hearts] and an unhealing wound in your body. Bathe in [blood and pus] as if in water! | |
| o 462462 | ||
| o 463463 | ||
| §53 | §53 | |
| o 464464 | (464) [May] the Pleiades, the [heroic] gods, mas[sacre you with their] fierce [weapons]. | |
| o 465465 | ||
| §54 | §54 | |
| o 466466 | [d]a-ra-miš EN im? ⸢x⸣+[x x x x x x x x x]-ku-⸢nu⸣ [x x x x x x x x x x x]-tu | (466) [May] Aramiš, lord of [..., ... you, [...]... |
| §54A | §54A | |
| o 467467 | (467) May [Bethel and Ana]th-Bethel hand you over to the paws of [a man-eating] lion. | |
| o 468468 | ||
| §55 | §55 | |
| o 469469 | (469) May Kubaba, the god[dess of] Carchemish, put a serious venereal disease within you; may your [urine] drip to the ground like raindrops. | |
| o 470470 | ||
| o 471471 | ||
| §56 | §56 | |
| o 472472 | ⸢DINGIR⸣-[MEŠ] ⸢GAL⸣-MEŠ šá AN-e KI.TIM a-ši-bu-tu kib-ra-⸢a-ti⸣ | (472) May all the grea[t go]ds of heaven and earth who inhabit the universe and are mentioned by name in this tablet, strike you, look at you in anger and curse you grimly with a painful curse. |
| o 473473 | ||
| o 474474 | ||
| o 475475 | ||
| o 476476 | (476) Above, may they take possession of your life; below, in the netherworld, may they make your ghost thirst for water. May shade and daylight always chase you away, and may you not find refuge in a hidden cor[ner]. May food and water abandon you; may want and famine, hunger and plague never be removed from you. | |
| o 477477 | ||
| o 478478 | ||
| o 479479 | ||
| o 480480 | ||
| o 481481 | (481) Before your very eyes may dogs and swine drag the teats of your young women and the penises of your young men to and fro in the squares of Assur; may the earth not receive your corpses but may your burial place be in the belly of a dog or a pig. | |
| o 482482 | mat-nat šá LÚ.GURUŠ-MEŠ-ku-nu ina ni-ṭil IGI.2-ku-nu UR.KU ŠAḪ-MEŠ | |
| o 483483 | ||
| o 484484 | ||
| o 485485 | (485) May your days be dark and your years dim, may darkness which is not to be brightened be declared as your fate. May your life end in exha[ustion and slee]plessness. | |
| o 486486 | ||
| o 487487 | ||
| o 488488 | (488) May an irresistible flood come up from the earth and devastate you; may anything good be forbidden to you, anything ill be your share; may tar and pitch be your food; may urine of an ass be your drink, may naphtha be your ointment, may duckweed be your covering. May demon, devil and evil spirit select your houses. | |
| o 489489 | li-la-a-ma na-aš-pan-ta-ku-nu liš-kun mim-ma DÙG.GA lu ik-kib-ku-nu | |
| o 490490 | mim-ma GIG lu ši-mat-ku-nu qi-i-ru ku-up-ru lu ma-ka-la-ku-nu | |
| o 491491 | ||
| o 492492 | ||
| o 493493 | ||
| §57 Vow of Allegiance to Assurbanipal | §57 Vow of Allegiance to Assurbanipal | |
| o 494494 | DINGIR-MEŠ an-nu-te lid-gu-lu šum-ma a-ni-nu ina UGU maš-šur—PAB—AŠ | (494) May these gods be our witnesses: we will not make rebellion or insurrection against Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, against Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, against his brothers, sons by the same mother as Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, and the rest of the sons of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, our lord, or make common cause with his enemy. |
| o 495495 | MAN KUR—aš-šur <EN*-ni> ina UGU maš-šur—DÙ—A DUMU—MAN GAL šá É—UŠ-ti | |
| o 496496 | ŠEŠ-MEŠ-šú DUMU AMA-šú šá maš-šur—DÙ—A DUMU—MAN GAL šá É—UŠ-ti | |
| o 497497 | ú re-eḫ-ti DUMU ṣi-it—ŠÀ-bi šá maš-šur—PAB—AŠ MAN KUR—aš-šur EN-i-ni | |
| o 498498 | ||
| o 499499 | ||
| o 500500 | (500) Should we hear of instigation to armed rebellion, agitation or malicious whispers, evil, unseemly things, or treacherous, disloyal talk against Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, and against his brothers by the same mother as Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, we will not conceal it but will report it to Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, our lord. | |
| o 501501 | ||
| o 502502 | ||
| o 503503 | ||
| o 504504 | ||
| o 505505 | ||
| o 506506 | ||
| o 507507 | (507) As long as we, our sons (and) our grandsons are alive, Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, shall be our king and our lord, and we will not set any other king or prince over us, our sons or our grandsons. May all the gods mentioned by name (in this treaty) hold us, our seed and our seed's seed accountable (for this vow). | |
| o 508508 | DUMU—DUMU-MEŠ-ni bal-ṭa-a-ni-ni maš-šur—DÙ—A DUMU—MAN GAL šá É—UŠ-ti | |
| o 509509 | la LUGAL-ni-ni la EN-ni-ni šum-ma LUGAL MAN-ma DUMU—LUGAL MAN-ma | |
| o 510510 | ||
| o 511511 | ||
| o 512512 | ||
| §58-106 Ceremonial Curse Section | §58-106 Ceremonial Curse Section | |
| o 513513 | šum-ma at-tú-nu ina ŠÀ a-de-e an-nu-te ⸢šá⸣ maš-šur—PAB—AŠ MAN KUR—aš-šur EN-[ku-nu] | (513) If you should sin against this treaty which Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, [your] lord, [has concluded] with you concerning Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, (and concerning) his [brother]s, sons by [the same mother as Ass]urba[nipal], the great crown prince designate, and the re[st of the off]spring of Esar[haddon, king] of Assyria, your lord, |
| o 514514 | ||
| o 515515 | [ŠEŠ]-MEŠ-šú DUMU [AMA-šú ša maš]-⸢šur—DÙ⸣—[A] DUMU—MAN GAL-u šá É—UŠ-te | |
| o 516516 | u re-⸢eḫ⸣-[ti DUMU-MEŠ] ṣi-it—ŠÀ-bi šá maš-šur—[PAB—AŠ MAN] KUR—aš-šur | |
| o 517517 | ||
| o 518518 | daš-šur AD DINGIR-MEŠ ina GIŠ.TUKUL-⸢MEŠ⸣-[šú ez-zu-u-ti li-šam]-qit-[ku-nu] | (518) May Aššur, father of the gods, st[ri]ke [you] down with [his] fierce weapons. |
| §59 | §59 | |
| o 519519 | (519) May Palil, the fore[most] lord, let eagles and vultures [eat your f]lesh. | |
| o 520520 | ||
| §60 | §60 | |
| o 521521 | (521) May Ea, king of the Abyss, lord of the springs, give you deadly water to drink, and fill you with dropsy. | |
| o 522522 | ||
| §61 | §61 | |
| o 523523 | DINGIR-MEŠ GAL-MEŠ šá AN-e KI.TIM A-MEŠ Ì-MEŠ [a-na NÍG.GIG]-ku-nu liš-ku-nu | (523) May the great gods of heaven and earth turn water (and) oil [into a curse for] you. |
| §62 | §62 | |
| o 524524 | (524) May Girra, who gives food to small and great, burn up your name and your seed. | |
| o 525525 | ||
| §63 | §63 | |
| o 526526 | KI.MIN KI.MIN DINGIR-MEŠ ma-la ina ṭup-pi a-⸢de⸣-e an-[ni-e MU-šú-nu zak-ru] | (526) Ditto, ditto, may all the gods that are [mentioned by name] in th[is] treaty tablet make the ground as narrow as a brick for you. May they make your ground like iron (so that) nothing can sprout from it. |
| o 527527 | ||
| o 528528 | ||
| o 529529 | ||
| §64 | §64 | |
| o 530530 | (530) Just as rain does not fall from a brazen heaven so may rain and dew not come upon your fields and your meadows; instead of dew may burning coals rain on your land. | |
| o 531531 | ||
| o 532532 | ||
| o 533533 | ||
| §65 | §65 | |
| o 534534 | (534) Just as lead does not stand up before a fire, so may you [not s]tand before yo[ur] enemy (or) take your sons and your daughters in your hands. | |
| o 535535 | at-tu-nu ina ⸢IGI LÚ⸣.KÚR-[ku-nu la] ⸢ta⸣-za-za DUMU-MEŠ-ku-nu | |
| o 536536 | ||
| §66 | §66 | |
| o 537537 | (537) Just as a m[ule has n]o offspring, may your name, your seed, and the seed of your sons and your daughters disappear from the land. | |
| o 538538 | ||
| o 539539 | ||
| §67 | §67 | |
| o 540540 | (540) Just as a germinal shoot of ma[lt, if it] is soaked with ma[sh ...], does not sprout (and) a [...] does not return [...], may your [see]d and the seed of y[our] s[ons] and your daughters disappear [from] the face of your ground. | |
| o 541541 | ina ŠÀ-bi šak-nu-ni ⸢KI⸣ [x x x x] la i-par-ru-ʾu-u-ni | |
| o 542542 | [x x] šú? ra ⸢x⸣+[x x x]+⸢x⸣-ni-šá la ta-sa-ḫar-u-ni | |
| o 543543 | ⸢NUMUN⸣-ku-nu NUMUN-MEŠ šá ŠEŠ-MEŠ-[ku-nu DUMU-MEŠ]-ku-nu DUMU.MÍ-[MEŠ-ku-nu] | |
| o 544544 | ||
| §68 | §68 | |
| o 545545 | (545) May Šamaš with an iron plough [overtu]rn yo[ur] city and your district. | |
| o 546546 | ||
| §69 | §69 | |
| o 547547 | <KI.MIN KI.MIN> ki-i šá ⸢U₈⸣ [an-ni]-tú šal-qa-⸢tu⸣-u-ni UZU šá DUMU-[šá] | (547) (Ditto, ditto;) just as [thi]s ewe has been cut open and the flesh of [her] young has been placed in her mouth, may they make you eat in your hunger the flesh of your brothers, your sons and your daughters. |
| o 548548 | ||
| o 549549 | ||
| o 550550 | ||
| §70 | §70 | |
| o 551551 | (551) Just as young sheep and ewes and male and female spring lambs are slit open and their entrails rolled down over their feet, so may your entrails (and) the entrails of your sons and your daughters roll down over your feet. | |
| o 552552 | ||
| o 553553 | ir-ri-ku-nu ir-ri šá DUMU-MEŠ-ku-nu DUMU.MÍ-MEŠ-ku-nu TA GÌR.2-<MEŠ>-ku-nu | |
| o 554554 | ||
| §71 | §71 | |
| o 555A555A | [šum-ma at-tu-nu ina ŠÀ a-de]-⸢e⸣ an-nu-ti šá maš-šur—PAB—AŠ MAN KUR—⸢aš-šur⸣ | (555A) [If you] should sin [against] this [trea]ty of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, [concerning Assurbanipal, the great crown prince design]ate, (ditto;) just as a sna[ke] and a mongoose do not enter the same hole to lie there together but think only of cutting each other's throat, so may you and your women not enter the same room to lie down in the same bed; think only of cutting each other's throats! |
| o 555B555B | [šá ina UGU maš-šur—DÙ—A DUMU—MAN GAL šá É]—⸢UŠ⸣-ti ta-ḫa-ṭa-a-ni | |
| o 555555 | [KI].⸢MIN⸣ ki-i šá ⸢MUŠ⸣ ù dNIN.KILIM ina ŠÀ-bi 01-et ḫu-ri-ti | |
| o 556556 | ||
| o 557557 | ||
| o 558558 | ||
| o 559559 | ina UGU 01-et GIŠ.NÁ la ta-ta-la ina UGU na-kas ZI-MEŠ šá a-ḫe-iš du-ub-ba | |
| §72 | §72 | |
| o 560560 | KI.MIN KI.MIN ki-i šá NINDA-MEŠ u GEŠTIN-MEŠ ina ŠÀ-<bi> ir-ri-[ku-nu] er-rab-u-ni | (560) (Ditto, ditto;) just as bread and wine enter into [your] intestines, [so] may they (= the gods) make this oath enter into [your] intestines and into those of [your] so[ns] and your [daught]ers. |
| o 561561 | ||
| o 562562 | ||
| §73 | §73 | |
| o 563563 | KI.[MIN KI.MIN] ⸢ki⸣-i šá A-MEŠ ina ŠÀ ⸢tak-ku⸣-si ta-nap-pa-ḫa-a-ni | (563) (Dit[to, ditto;) j]ust as you blow water out of a t[ub]e, may they blow out you, your women, your sons and your daughters; may your streams and your springs make their waters flow backwards. |
| o 564564 | a-⸢na ka⸣-šú-nu MÍ-MEŠ-ku-nu DUMU-MEŠ-ku-nu DUMU.MÍ-MEŠ-ku-nu | |
| o 565565 | ||
| o 566566 | ||
| §74 | §74 | |
| o 567567 | KI.MIN KI.MIN NINDA-MEŠ ina pi-it-ti KUG.GI ina KUR-ku-nu lu-šá-li-ku | (567) Ditto, ditto; may they make bread to be worth gold in your land. |
| §75 | §75 | |
| o 568568 | <KI.MIN KI.MIN> ki-i šá LÀL ma-ti-qu-u-ni MÚD-MEŠ šá MÍ-MEŠ-ku-nu | (568) (Ditto, ditto;) just as honey is sweet, so may the blood of your women, your sons and your daughters be sweet in your mouth. |
| o 569569 | ||
| §76 | §76 | |
| o 570570 | (570) (Ditto;) just as a worm eats ..., so may the worm eat, while you are (still) alive, your own flesh and the flesh of your wives, your sons and your daughters. | |
| o 571571 | ||
| o 572572 | ||
| §77 | §77 | |
| o 573573 | <KI.MIN> DINGIR-MEŠ ma-la ina ṭup-pi a-de-e an-ni-i MU-šú-nu zak-ru GIŠ.BAN-ku-nu liš-bi-ru ina KI.TA LÚ.KÚR-ku-nu | (573) (Ditto;) may all the gods who are called by name in this treaty tablet break your bow and subject you to your enemy; may they turn over the bow in your hands and make your chariots run backwards. |
| o 574574 | ||
| o 575575 | ||
| §78 | §78 | |
| o 576576 | (576) (Ditto;) as a stag is pursued and killed, so may your [mortal] enemy pursue and kill you, your brothers and your sons. | |
| o 577577 | a-na ka-šú-nu ŠEŠ-MEŠ-ku-nu DUMU-MEŠ-ku-nu EN—[MÚD]-⸢MEŠ⸣-ku-nu | |
| o 578578 | ||
| §79 | §79 | |
| o 579579 | (579) (Ditto;) as a caterpillar does not see and does not return to its cocoon, so may you not return to your women, your sons, your daughters, and to your houses. | |
| o 580580 | ina bi-iš-ka-ni-šá la ta-sa-ḫar-u-ni ki-i ḫa-an-ni-e at-tu-nu | |
| o 581581 | ina UGU MÍ-MEŠ-ku-nu DUMU-MEŠ-ku-nu DUMU.MÍ-MEŠ-ku-nu a-[na] É-MEŠ-ku-nu la ta-sa-aḫ-ḫu-ra | |
| §80 | §80 | |
| o 582582 | (582) (Ditto, ditto;) just as one seizes a bird by a trap, so may they deliver you, your brothers and your sons into the hands of your mortal enemy. | |
| o 583583 | a-na ka-šú-nu ŠEŠ-MEŠ-ku-nu DUMU-MEŠ-ku-nu ina ŠU.2 EN—MÚD-MEŠ-ku-nu | |
| o 584584 | ||
| §81 | §81 | |
| o 585585 | <KI.MIN KI.MIN> UZU-MEŠ-ku-nu UZU šá MÍ-MEŠ-ku-nu ŠEŠ-MEŠ-ku-nu | (585) (Ditto, ditto;) may they make your flesh and the flesh of your women, your brothers, your sons and your daughters as black as [bitu]men, pitch and naphtha. |
| o 586586 | ||
| o 587587 | ||
| §82 | §82 | |
| o 588588 | (588) Ditto; just as a ... beast is caught in a snare, may you, your [women], your brothers, your sons and your daughters be seized by the hand of your enemy. | |
| o 589589 | is-sa-pa-ku-u-ni ⸢at-tu⸣-nu [MÍ-MEŠ]-ku-nu ŠEŠ-MEŠ-ku-nu DUMU-MEŠ-ku-nu | |
| o 590590 | ||
| §83 | §83 | |
| o 591591 | <KI.MIN ⸢KI.MIN⸣> UZU-MEŠ-ku-nu UZU-MEŠ šá MÍ-MEŠ-ku-nu ŠEŠ-MEŠ-ku-nu | (591) ( Ditto, ditto;) may your flesh and the flesh of your women, your brothers, your sons and your daughters be altogether like the flesh of a chameleon. |
| o 592592 | ||
| o 593593 | ||
| §84 | §84 | |
| o 594594 | (594) (Ditto, ditto;) just as the honeycomb is pierced with holes, so may they pierce your flesh, the flesh of your women, your brothers, your sons and your daughters with holes while you are alive. | |
| o 595595 | ||
| o 596596 | ||
| o 597597 | ||
| o 598598 | ||
| §85 | §85 | |
| o 599599 | <KI.MIN KI.MIN> BURU₅ NUMUN* bar*-mu kal-mu-tú mu-nu a-ki-lu | (599) (Ditto, ditto;) may they cause locusts, ..., lice, caterpillars and other field pests devour your towns, your land and your district. |
| o 600600 | ||
| §86 | §86 | |
| o 601601 | KI.MIN <KI.MIN> ki-i zu-um-bi ina ŠU.2 LÚ.KÚR-ku-nu le-pa-šu-ku-nu | (601) Ditto, ditto; may they make you like a fly in the hand of your enemy, and may your enemy squash you. |
| o 602602 | ||
| §87 | §87 | |
| o 603603 | (603) Just as (this) bug stinks, just so may your breath stink before god and king (and) mankind. | |
| o 604604 | ||
| o 605605 | ||
| §88 | §88 | |
| o 606606 | <[KI].MIN KI.MIN> a-na ka-na-šú-nu MÍ-MEŠ-ku-nu ŠEŠ-MEŠ-ku-nu DUMU-MEŠ-ku-nu | (606) (Ditto, ditto;) may they strangle you, your women, your brothers, your sons and your daughters with a cord. |
| o 607607 | ||
| §89 | §89 | |
| o 608608 | (608) Just as an image of wax is burnt in the fire and one of clay dissolved in water, (so) may your figure be burnt in the fire and sunk in water. | |
| o 609609 | ||
| o 610610 | ||
| o 611611 | ||
| §90 | §90 | |
| o 612A612A | [šum-ma at-tu-nu ina ŠÀ a]-⸢de⸣-e an-nu-ti šá maš-šur—PAB—AŠ MAN KUR—aš-šur | (612A) ([If you should sin against] this [treaty] of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, [and of] his sons and grandsons,) ditto; just as this chariot is drenched with blood up to its base-board, so may your chariots be drenched with your own blood in the midst of your enemy. |
| o 612B612B | ||
| o 612612 | ||
| o 613613 | ||
| o 614614 | ||
| o 615615 | ||
| §91 | §91 | |
| o 616A616A | <DINGIR.MEŠ ma-la ina ṭup-pi a-de-[e] an-ni-e MU-šu-nu zak-[ru]> | (616A) May all the gods who are called by name in this treaty tablet spin you around like a spindle-whorl, may they make you like a woman before your enemy. |
| o 616616 | ||
| o 617617 | ||
| §92 | §92 | |
| o 618A618A | (618A) May all the gods who are mentioned by name in this treaty tablet make you, your brothers, your sons, and your daughters go backward like a crab. | |
| o 618618 | ||
| o 619619 | ||
| o 620620 | ||
| §93 | §93 | |
| o 621621 | (621) May they make evil and wicked things surround you like fire. | |
| §94 | §94 | |
| o 622622 | (622) Just as oil enters your flesh, so may they cause this oath to enter into your flesh, the flesh of your brothers, your sons and your daughters. | |
| o 623623 | <ki-i ḫa-an-ni-e> ta-me-tú an-ni-tu ina ŠÀ-<bi> UZU-MEŠ-ku-nu | |
| o 624624 | ||
| o 625625 | ||
| §95 | §95 | |
| o 626626 | (626) Just as the Cursers sinned against Bel and he cut off their hands and feet and blinded their eyes, so may they annihilate you, and make you sway like reeds in water; may your enemy pull you out like reeds from a bundle. | |
| o 627627 | ||
| o 628628 | ||
| o 629629 | ||
| o 630630 | ||
| o 631631 | ||
| §96 | §96 | |
| o 632632 | (632) If you should forsake Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, (his brothers, [sons by the same mother] as Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, and the other sons, the offspring of [Esa]rhaddon, king of Assyria), going to the south or to the north, may iron swords consume him who goes to the south and may iron swords likewise consume him who goes to the north; | |
| o 633633 | ||
| o 633A633A | ||
| o 633B633B | ||
| o 633C633C | ||
| o 634634 | ||
| o 635635 | ||
| o 636636 | ||
| §96A | §96A | |
| o 636A636A | (636A) may they [slaughter] you, your women, your brothers, your sons, and your daughters like a spring lamb and a kid. | |
| o 636B636B | ||
| o 636C636C | ||
| §97 | §97 | |
| o 637637 | (637) (Ditto;) just as the noise of (these) doves is persistent, so may you, your women, your sons and your daughters have no rest or sleep and may your bones never come together. | |
| o 638638 | ||
| o 639639 | ||
| o 640640 | ||
| §98 | §98 | |
| o 641641 | (641) Just as the inside of a hole is empty, may your inside be empty. | |
| o 642642 | ||
| §99 | §99 | |
| o 643643 | (643) When your enemy pierces you, may there be no honey, oil, ginger or cedar-resin available to place on your wound. | |
| o 644644 | ||
| o 645645 | ||
| §100 | §100 | |
| o 646646 | (646) Just as gall is bitter, so may you, your women, your sons and your daughters be bitter towards each other. | |
| o 647647 | ||
| o 648648 | ||
| §101 | §101 | |
| o 649649 | KI.MIN dUTU ḫu-ḫa-ru šá UD.KA.BAR ina UGU-ḫi-ku-nu DUMU-MEŠ*-ku-[nu] | (649) Ditto; may Šamaš clamp a bronze bird trap over you, (your sons and your [daught]ers); may he cast you into a trap from which there is no escape, and never let you out alive. |
| o 650650 | [DUMU].⸢MÍ⸣-MEŠ-ku-nu li-is-ḫu-pu ina giš-par-ri šá la na-par-šu-di | |
| o 651651 | ||
| §102 | §102 | |
| o 652652 | (652) Just as (this) waterskin is split and its water runs out, so may your waterskin break in a place of severe thirst; die [of th]irst! | |
| o 653653 | ||
| o 654654 | ||
| o 655655 | ||
| §103 | §103 | |
| o 656656 | (656) Just as (these) shoes are split, so may your [shoes] be torn in a region of brier. [Go around barefooted!] | |
| o 657657 | ||
| o 658658 | ||
| §104 | §104 | |
| o 659659 | (659) May Illil, lord of the throne, [overthrow] your throne. | |
| §105 | §105 | |
| o 660660 | (660) May Nabû, bearer of the tablet of fates of the gods, erase your name, and destroy your seed from the land. | |
| o 661661 | ||
| §106 | §106 | |
| o 662662 | GIŠ.IG ina IGI-MEŠ-ku-nu lu ⸢x⸣+[x x x x x] | (662) May the door [...] before your eyes, may your doors [......]. |
| o 663663 | GIŠ.IG-MEŠ-ku-⸢nu⸣ [x x x]+⸢x⸣+[x x x x x] | |
| §107 Date and Colophon | §107 Date and Colophon | |
| o 664664 | ITI.GUD.SI.SÁ UD 18-KÁM | (664) 18th day of Iyyar, eponymy of Nabû-belu-uṣur, governor of Dur-Šarrukku. The treaty of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, conclu[ded] on behalf of Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate of Assyria, and Šamaš-šumu-ukin, the crown prince designate of Babylon. |
| o 665665 | ||
| o 666666 | a-de-e šá maš-šur—PAB—AŠ MAN KUR—aš-šur.KI [šá*] ina UGU maš-šur—DÙ—A | |
| o 667667 | ||
| o 668668 | ||
| o 669669 | ||
| o 670670 | ||
Adapted from Simo Parpola and Kazuko Watanabe, Neo-Assyrian Treaties and Loyalty Oaths (State Archives of Assyria, 2), 1988. Lemmatised by Mikko Luukko, 2016, as part of the research programme of the Alexander von Humboldt Chair in the Ancient History of the Near and Middle East at LMU Munich (Karen Radner, Humboldt Professorship 2015). The annotated edition is released under the Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike license 3.0. Please cite this page as http://oracc.org/saao/Q009186/.