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The palace of Esarhaddon, great king, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of Sumer and Akkad, son of Sennacherib, king of Assyria, descendant of Sargon II, king of Assyria, the king who with the help of the gods Aššur, Sîn, Šamaš, Nabû, Marduk, Ištar of Nineveh, and Ištar of Arbela, the great gods, his lords, marched from the rising sun to the setting sun and had no equal therein; |
the one who conquered the city Sidon, which is in the midst of the sea, and the one who leveled all of its dwellings — I tore out its walls and its dwellings, and threw them into the sea; and I even made the site where it stood disappear. I caught Abdi-Milkūti, its king, who had fled in the face of my weapons into the midst of the sea, like a fish from the midst of the sea and cut off his head. I carried off his amassed possessions, gold, silver, precious stones, elephant hides, ivory, ebony, boxwood, garments with trimming and linens, everything of value from his palace in huge quantities, and took away his far-flung people who were beyond counting, oxen, sheep and goats, and donkeys to Assyria. I gathered the kings of Ḫatti (Syria-Palestine) and the seacoast, all of them, and had them build a city in another place, and I named it Kār-Esarhaddon. I settled in it people plundered by my bow from the eastern mountains and sea and I placed my official as governor over them. |
Moreover, Sanda-uarri, king of the cities Kundi and Sissû, a dangerous enemy, who did not fear my lordship and abandoned the gods, trusted in the impregnable mountains. Furthermore, Abdi-Milkūti, king of Sidon, agreed to help him and they swore an oath by the great gods with one another and trusted in their own strength. I trusted in the god Aššur, my lord, caught him like a bird from the midst of the mountains, and cut off his head. To show the people the might of the god Aššur, my lord, I hung the heads of Sanda-uarri and Abdi-Milkūti around the necks of their nobles and I paraded in the squares of Nineveh with singers and lyres. |
The one who plundered the land Arzâ, which is in the district of the Brook of Egypt — I threw Asuḫīli, its king, into fetters along with his counselors and brought them to Assyria. I seated them, bound, near the citadel gate of the city of Nineveh along with bears, dogs, and pigs. |
The one who crushed the Barnaki, a dangerous enemy, who live in the land Tīl-Ašurri, which is called Pitānu in the language of the people of the city Miḫrānu; |
the one who scattered the Mannean people, undisciplined Gutians, who put to the sword the army of Išpakāia, a Scythian, an ally who could not save himself; |
The one who sacked the land Bīt-Dakkūri, which is in Chaldea, an enemy of Babylon; the one who captured Šamaš-ibni, its king, a rogue and outlaw, who did not respect the oath of the lord of lords and who took away fields of the citizens of Babylon and Borsippa by force — because I know the fear of the gods Bēl and Nabû, I returned those fields and entrusted them to the citizens of Babylon and Borsippa. I placed Nabû-šallim, the son of Balāssu, on his throne and he now pulls my yoke. |
As for the city Adumutu, the fortress of the Arabs, which Sennacherib, king of Assyria, my father, who engendered me, conquered and whose goods, possessions, and gods, together with Apkallatu, the queen of the Arabs, he plundered and brought to Assyria — Hazael, the king of the Arabs, came to Nineveh, my capital city, with his heavy audience gift and kissed my feet. He implored me to give back his gods, and I had pity on him. I refurbished those gods and I had the might of the god Aššur, my lord, and an inscription written in my name inscribed on them and I gave them back to him. I placed the lady Tabūa, who was raised in my palace, as ruler over them and returned her to her land with her gods. |
I added sixty-five camels to the previous tribute which was paid to my father and imposed it on him. Later, Hazael died and I placed Iaʾlû Iataʾ, his son, on his throne. I added ten minas of gold, one thousand choice stones, fifty camels, and one thousand bags of aromatics to the tribute of his father and imposed it on him. |
As for Bēl-iqīša, son of Bunnannū, a Gambulian whose residence is located twelve leagues distance in water and swamps like that of a fish, by the command of the god Aššur, my lord, fear fell upon him and of his own free will he took tribute and payment, uncastrated bulls, and teams of white mules from the land Elam and brought them to Nineveh, before me, and he kissed my feet. I had pity on him and encouraged him. I strengthened the city Ša-pī-Bēl, the city which is his strong fortress, and I put him together with his archers therein as a garrison and thus locked it the fortress up like a door against the land Elam. |
As for the land Patušarri, a district in the area of the salt desert, which is in the midst of the land of the distant Medes, borders Mount Bikni, the lapis lazuli mountain, and upon the soil of whose land none of the kings, my ancestors, had walked — I carried off to Assyria Šidir-parna and E-parna, mighty chieftains, who were not submissive to my yoke, together with their people, their riding horses, oxen, sheep and goats, donkeys, and Bactrian camels, their heavy plunder. |
As for Uppis, chieftain of the city Partakka, Zanasana, chieftain of the city Partukka, and Ramateia, chieftain of the city Urakazabarna, Medes whose country is remote and who had not crossed the boundary of Assyria nor trodden on its soil in the time of the kings, my ancestors — the awesome fear of the god Aššur, my lord, overwhelmed them and they brought to Nineveh, my capital city, large thoroughbreds and blocks of lapis lazuli, hewn from its mountain, and they kissed my feet. Because of the chieftains who had threatened them, they implored my lordship and begged me for help. I sent my officials, the governors of the boundary areas of their land, with them and they trampled the people living in those cities and made them bow down at their feet. I imposed the tribute and payment of my lordship upon them yearly. |
After the gods Aššur, Šamaš, Bēl and Nabû, Ištar of Nineveh, and Ištar of Arbela made me stand victoriously over my enemies and I attained everything I wanted, with the booty of the vast enemies which my hands had captured through the help of the great gods, my lords, I had the shrines of cult centers built in Assyria and Akkad; I decorated them with silver and gold and made them shine like daylight. |
At that time, the armory of Nineveh which the kings who came before me, my ancestors, had built to maintain the camp and to keep thoroughbreds, mules, chariots, military equipment, implements of war, and the plunder of enemies, everything that the god Aššur, king of the gods, gave me as my royal share — that place had become too small for me to have horses show their mettle and to train with chariots. I made the people of the lands plundered by my bow take up hoe and basket, and they made bricks. I razed that small palace in its entirety, took a large area from the fields for an addition, and added it to it the palace. I raised the terrace with limestone, strong stone from the mountains. |
I summoned twenty-two kings of Ḫatti (Syria-Palestine), the seacoast, and the midst of the sea, and I sent orders to all of them for large beams, tall columns, and planks of cedar and cypress from Mount Sirāra and Mount Lebanon, and they had lamassu-statues, zebus, paving stones, slabs of marble, pendû-stone, breccia, colored marble, engišû-stone, brownish limestone, and girimḫilibû-stone, everything that was needed for my palace, dragged with much trouble and effort from the midst of the mountains, the place of their origin, to Nineveh. |
In a favorable month, on a propitious day, I built great palatial halls upon that terrace for my lordly residence. I built a great royal house ninety-five large cubits long and thirty-one large cubits wide, something none of the kings who came before me, my ancestors, had done. I roofed it with magnificent cedar beams. I fastened bands of silver and bronze on doors of cypress, whose fragrance is sweet, and installed them in its gates. |
I had stone šēdus and lamassus, whose appearance repels evil, placed to the right and the left of their gates as protectors of the walk and guardians of the path of the king who made them. I had the palace skillfully built of interlocking limestone and cedar for my lordly pleasure. I set up inside it twin copper lamassu-statues, with each pair looking both forward and backward. |
I placed crossbeams on tall cedar columns thus forming a cornice in their gates. I had the friezes and copings of the whole of that palace made of black and blue glazed bricks and I put them around it like a wreath. I surrounded all of the gates with an arch and a vault like a rainbow. I embedded nails of pure silver and shining bronze in them. Through the craft of the sculptor, I depicted on it the frieze of the palace the might of the god Aššur, my lord, the deeds that I had accomplished in enemy lands. |
I set up alongside it the palace a botanical garden, a replica of Mount Amanus, with all kinds of aromatic plants and fruit trees. I greatly enlarged its courtyard and made its approach much wider. I led a canal into it the park as a watering place for horses and I made it murmur with running water like an irrigation ditch. |
I built and completed that palace from its foundations to its parapets and filled it with splendor. I named it Ešgalšiddudua, ‘The palace that administers everything.’ |
I invited the god Aššur, the goddess Ištar of Nineveh, and the gods of Assyria, all of them, into it. I made sumptuous pure offerings before them and presented them with my gifts. Those gods, in their steadfast hearts, blessed my kingship. I seated all of the officials and people of my country in it at ceremonial meals and banquets, and at festive tables, and I made their mood jubilant. I watered their insides with wine and kurunnu-wine. I had my servants drench their (the guests’) heads with fine oil and perfumed oil. |
By the command of the god Aššur, the king of the gods, and the gods of Assyria, all of them, let me dwell in it forever in good health, happiness, bright spirits, and with the satisfaction of growing old, and let me be sated with its splendor. At new year, in the first month, yearly, without ceasing, let me inspect in it all of the thoroughbreds, mules, donkeys, camels, military equipment, implements of war, and all of the captured enemy soldiers. Let the good šēdu and the good lamassu, who guard my royal path and who make me happy, last forever and ever in that palace. May they never leave it. |
heard of the approach of my campaign and fled like a fox to the land Elam. Because of the oath of the great gods which he had transgressed, the gods Aššur, Sîn, Šamaš, Bēl, and Nabû imposed a grievous punishment on him and they killed him with the sword in the midst of the land Elam. Naʾid-Marduk, his brother, saw the deeds that they had done to his brother in Elam, fled from the land Elam, came to Nineveh to serve me, |
Furthermore, Abdi-Milkūti, king of Sidon, agreed to help him and they swore an oath by the great gods with one another and trusted in their own strength. I trusted in the god Aššur, my lord, and caught him like a bird from the midst of the mountains, and cut off his head. To show the people the might of the god Aššur, my lord, I hung the heads of Sanda-uarri and Abdi-Milkūti around the necks of their nobles and I paraded in the squares of Nineveh with singers and lyres. |
The one who plundered the city Arzâ, which is in the district of the Brook of Egypt — I threw Asuḫīli, its king, into fetters along with his counselors and brought them to Assyria. I seated them, bound, near the citadel gate of the city of Nineveh along with bears, dogs, and pigs. |
Moreover, I struck with the sword Teušpa, a Cimmerian, a barbarian whose home is remote, together with his entire army, in the territory of the land Ḫubušna. |
The one who treads on the necks of the people of Cilicia, mountain dwellers who live in mountains in the neighborhood of the land Tabal, who trusted in their mountains and who from earliest days had not been submissive to the yoke — I surrounded, conquered, plundered, demolished, destroyed, and burned with fire twenty-one of their fortified cities together with small cities in their environs. As for the rest of them, who were not guilty of any sin or crime, I imposed the heavy yoke of my lordship upon them. |
The one who crushed the Barnaki, a dangerous enemy, who live in the city Tīl-Ašurri, which is called Pitānu in the language of the people of the city Miḫrānu; |
I had the might of the god Aššur, my lord, and an inscription written in my name inscribed on them and I gave them back to him. I placed the lady Tabūa, who was raised in my palace, as ruler over them and returned her to her land with her gods. |
I added sixty-five camels to the previous tribute which was paid to my father and imposed it on him. Later, Hazael died and I put Iaʾlû Iataʾ, his son, on his throne. I added ten minas of gold, one thousand choice stones, fifty camels, and one thousand bags of aromatics to the tribute of his father and imposed it on him. |
As for the land Bāzu, a district in a remote place, a forgotten place of dry land, saline ground, a place of thirst, one hundred and twenty leagues of desert, thistles, and gazelle-tooth stones, where snakes and scorpions fill the plain like ants — I left Mount Ḫazû, the mountain of saggilmud-stone, twenty leagues behind me and crossed over to that district to which no king before me had gone since earliest days. By the command of the god Aššur, my lord, I marched triumphantly in its midst. I defeated eight kings from that district and carried off their gods, their goods, their possessions, and their people to Assyria. Laialê, king of the city Iadiʾ, who had fled before my weapons, heard of the plundering of his gods and came to Nineveh, my capital city, before me, and kissed my feet. I had pity on him and said to him ‘Aḫulap!’ I put that province of Bāzu under him and imposed on him my lordly tribute and payment. |
As for Uppis, chieftain of the city Partakka, Zanasana, chieftain of the city Partukka, and Ramateia, chieftain of the city Urakazabarna, Medes whose country is remote and who had not crossed the boundary of Assyria nor trodden on its soil in the time of the kings, my ancestors — the awesome fear of the god Aššur, my lord, overwhelmed them and they brought to Nineveh, my capital city, large thoroughbreds and blocks of lapis lazuli, hewn from its mountain, and they kissed my feet. Because of the chieftains who had threatened them, they implored my lordship and begged me for help. I sent my officials, the governors of the boundary areas of their land, with them and they trampled the people living in those cities and made them bow down at their feet. I imposed the tribute and payment of my lordship upon them yearly. |
After the gods Aššur, Šamaš, Bēl, Nabû, Ištar of Nineveh, and Ištar of Arbela made me stand victoriously over my enemies and I attained everything I wanted, with the booty of the vast enemies which my hands had captured through the help of the great gods, my lords, I had the shrines of cult centers built in Assyria and Akkad; I decorated them with silver and gold and made them shine like daylight. |
At that time, the armory of Nineveh which the kings who came before me, my ancestors, had built to maintain the camp and to keep thoroughbreds, mules, chariots, military equipment, implements of war, and the plunder of enemies, everything that the god Aššur, king of the gods, gave me as my royal share — that place had become too small for me to have horses show their mettle and to train with chariots. |
In a favorable month, on a propitious day, I built great palatial halls upon that terrace for my lordly residence. I built a great royal house ninety-five large cubits long and thirty-one large cubits wide, something none of kings who came before me, my ancestors, had done. I roofed it with magnificent cedar beams. I fastened bands of silver and bronze on doors of cypress, whose fragrance is sweet, and installed them in its gates. |
I had stone šēdus and lamassus, whose appearance repels evil, placed to the right and the left of their gates as protectors of the walk and guardians of the path of the king who made them. I had the palace skillfully built of interlocking limestone and cedar, for my lordly pleasure. I set up inside it twin copper lamassu-statues, with each pair looking both forward and backward. |
I placed crossbeams on tall cedar columns thus forming a cornice in their gates. I had the friezes and copings of the whole of that palace made of black and blue glazed bricks and I put them around it like a wreath. I surrounded all of the gates with an arch and a vault like a rainbow. I embedded nails of pure silver and shining bronze in them. Through the craft of the sculptor, I depicted on it the frieze of the palace the might of the god Aššur, my lord, the deeds that I had accomplished in enemy lands. |
I set up alongside it the palace a botanical garden, a replica of Mount Amanus, with all kinds of aromatic plants and fruit trees. |
By the command of the god Aššur, the king of the gods, and the gods of Assyria, all of them, let me dwell in it forever in good health, happiness, bright spirits, and with the satisfaction of growing old, and let me be sated with its splendor. At new year, in the first month, yearly, without ceasing, let me inspect in it all of the thoroughbreds, mules, donkeys, camels, military equipment, implements of war, and all of the captured enemy soldiers. Let the good lamassu and the good šēdu, who guard my royal path and who make me happy, last forever and ever in that palace. May they never leave it. |
The one who treads on the necks of the people of Cilicia, mountain dwellers who live in inaccessible mountains in the neighborhood of the land Tabal, evil Hittites, who from earliest days had not been submissive to the yoke — I surrounded, conquered, plundered, demolished, destroyed, and burned with fire twenty-one of their fortified cities and small cities in their environs. As for the rest of them, who were not guilty of any sin or crime, I imposed the heavy yoke of my lordship upon them. |
As for the land Bāzu, a district in a remote place, a forgotten place of dry land, saline ground, a place of thirst, one hundred and forty leagues of desert, thistles, and gazelle-tooth stones, where snakes and scorpions fill the plain like ants — I left Mount Ḫazû, the mountain of saggilmud-stone, twenty leagues behind me and crossed over to that district to which no king before me had gone since earliest days. By the command of the god Aššur, my lord, I marched triumphantly in its midst. I defeated eight kings from that district and carried off their gods, their goods, their possessions, and their people to Assyria. |
As for the land Patušarri, a district in the area of the salt desert, which is in the midst of the land of the distant Medes, borders on Mount Bikni, the lapis lazuli mountain, and upon the soil of whose land none of the kings, my ancestors, had walked — I carried off to Assyria Šidir-parna and E-parna, mighty chieftains, who were not submissive to my yoke, together with their people, their riding horses, oxen, sheep and goats, donkeys, and Bactrian camels, their heavy plunder. |
As for Uppis, chieftain of the city Partakka, Zanasana, chieftain of the city Partukka, and Ramateia, chieftain of the city Urakazabarna, Medes whose country is remote and who had not crossed the boundary of Assyria nor trodden on its soil in the time of the kings, my ancestors — |
I am my older brothers’ youngest brother and by the command of the gods Aššur, Sîn, Šamaš, Bēl and Nabû, Ištar of Nineveh, and Ištar of Arbela, my father, who engendered me, elevated me firmly in the assembly of my brothers, saying: ‘This is the son who will succeed me.’ He questioned the gods Šamaš and Adad by divination, and they answered him with a firm ‘yes,’ saying: ‘He is your replacement.’ He heeded their important words and gathered together the people of Assyria, young and old, and my brothers, the seed of the house of my father. |
Before the gods Aššur, Sîn, Šamaš, Nabû, and Marduk, the gods of Assyria, the gods who live in heaven and netherworld, he made them swear their solemn oaths concerning the safe-guarding of my succession. In a favorable month, on a propitious day, in accordance with their sublime command, I joyfully entered the House of Succession, an awe-inspiring place within which the appointing to kingship takes place. |
that place had become too small for me to have horses show their mettle and to train with chariots. I made the people of the lands plundered by my bow take up hoe and basket, and they made bricks. I razed that small palace in its entirety, took a large area from the fields for an addition, and added it to it the palace. I laid its foundations with limestone, strong stone from the mountains, and raised the terrace. |
I summoned the kings of Ḫatti and Across the River (Syria-Palestine): Baʾalu, king of Tyre, Manasseh, king of Judah, Qaʾuš-gabri, king of Edom, Muṣurī, king of Moab, Ṣil-Bēl, king of Gaza, Mitinti, king of Ashkelon, Ikausu, king of Ekron, Milki-ašapa, king of Byblos, Mattan-Baʾal, king of Arvad, Abī-Baʾal, king of Samsimurruna, Būdi-il, king of Bīt-Ammon, Aḫī-Milki, king of Ashdod — twelve kings from the shore of the sea; Ekištūra, king of Idalion, Pilagurâ, king of Kitrusi, Kīsu, king of Salamis, |
I did not hesitate one day or two days. I did not wait for my army. I did not look for my rear guard. I did not check the assignment of horses harnessed to the yoke nor that of my battle equipment. I did not stock up travel provisions for my campaign. I was not afraid of the snow and cold of Šabāṭu XI, the severest cold season. Like a flying eagle I spread my wings to drive back my enemies |
and they killed him with the sword in the midst of the land Elam. Naʾid-Marduk, his brother, saw the deeds that they had done to his brother in Elam, fled from the land Elam, came to Assyria to serve me, and beseeched my lordship. I made the entire Sealand, the domain of his brother, subject to him. Now he comes yearly, without ceasing, to Nineveh, my capital city, with his heavy audience gift and kisses my feet. |
In my second campaign, as for Abdi-Milkūti, king of Sidon, who did not fear my lordship and did not listen to the words of my lips, who trusted in the rolling sea and threw off the yoke of the god Aššur — I leveled Sidon, his stronghold, which is situated in the midst of the sea, like a flood, tore out its walls and its dwellings, and threw them into the sea; and I even made the site where it stood disappear. |
Abdi-Milkūti, its king, in the face of my weapons, fled into the midst of the sea. By the command of the god Aššur, my lord, I caught him like a fish from the midst of the sea and cut off his head. I carried off his wife, his sons, his daughters, his palace retainers, silver, gold, goods and property, precious stones, garments with trimming and linens, everything of value from his palace in huge quantities, and took away his far-flung people who were beyond counting, oxen, sheep and goats, and donkeys in huge numbers to Assyria. I gathered the kings of Ḫatti (Syria-Palestine) and the seacoast, all of them, and had them build a city in another place, and I named it Kār-Esarhaddon. |
The inhabitants of the cities Bīt-Ṣupūri, Sikkû, Giʾ, Inimme, Ḫildūa, Qartimme, Biʾrû, Kilmê, Bitirume, Sagû, Ampa, Bīt-Gisimeya, Birgiʾ, Gambūlu, Dalaimme, and Isiḫimme, cities in the environs of Sidon, places of pasturing and watering for his stronghold, which I captured with the help of the god Aššur, my lord, I settled in it together with the people plundered by my bow from the eastern mountains and sea and I restored the city to Assyrian territory. I reorganized that province, placed my official as a governor over them, and increased and imposed upon it tribute and payment greater than before. |
whose goods, possessions, and gods, together with Apkallatu, the queen of the Arabs, he Sennacherib plundered and brought to Assyria — Hazael, the king of the Arabs, came to Nineveh, my capital city, with his heavy audience gift and kissed my feet. He implored me to give back his gods, and I had pity on him. I refurbished the gods Atar-samayin, Dāya, Nuḫāya, Ruldāwu, Abirillu, and Atar-qurumâ, the gods of the Arabs, and I inscribed the might of the god Aššur, my lord, and an inscription written in my name on them and gave them back to him. I placed the lady Tabūa, who was raised in the palace of my father, as ruler over them and returned her to her land with her gods. |
I added sixty-five camels and ten donkeys to the previous tribute and imposed it on him. Hazael died and I placed Iataʾ, his son, on his throne. I added ten minas of gold, one hundred choice stones, fifty camels, and one hundred bags of aromatics to the tribute of his father and imposed it on him. Later, Uabu, to exercise kingship, incited all of the Arabs to rebel against Iataʾ. |
I, Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, king of the four quarters, who loves loyalty and abhors treachery, sent my battle troops to the aid of Iataʾ, and they trampled all of the Arabs, threw Uabu, together with the soldiers who were with him, into fetters, and brought them to me. I placed them in neck stocks and tied them to the side of my gate. |
As for Uppis, chieftain of the city Partakka, Zanasana, chieftain of the city Partukka, and Ramateia, chieftain of the city Urakazabarna, Medes whose country is remote and who had not crossed the boundary of Assyria nor trodden on its soil in the time of the kings, my ancestors — the awesome fear of the god Aššur, my lord, overwhelmed them and they brought to Nineveh, my capital city, large thoroughbreds and blocks of lapis lazuli, hewn from its mountain, and |
I plundered the land Bīt-Dakkūri, which is in Chaldea, an enemy of Babylon. I captured Šamaš-ibni, its king, a rogue and outlaw, who did not respect the oath of the lord of lords, who took away fields of the citizens of Babylon and Borsippa by force and turned them over to himself. Because I know the fear of the gods Bēl and Nabû, I returned those fields and entrusted them to the citizens of Babylon and Borsippa. I placed Nabû-šallim, son of Balāssu, on his throne and he now pulls my yoke. |
As for Bēl-iqīša, son of Bunnannū, a Gambulian whose residence is located twelve leagues distance in water and swamps, by the command of the god Aššur, my lord, unprovoked fear fell upon him and of his own free will he took tribute and payment, |
I sent my officials, the governors of the boundary areas of their land, with them and they trampled the people living in those cities and made them bow down at their feet. I imposed the tribute and payment of my lordship upon them. |
As for the land Patušarri, a district in the area of the salt desert, which is in the midst of the land of the distant Medes, borders Mount Bikni, the lapis lazuli mountain, and upon the soil of whose land none of the kings, my ancestors, had walked — I carried off to Assyria Šidir-parna and E-parna, mighty chieftains, who were not submissive to my yoke, together with their people, their riding horses, oxen, sheep and goats, and Bactrian camels, their heavy plunder. |
th campaign, as for the land Bāzu, a district in a remote place, a forgotten place of dry land, saline ground, a place of thirst, one hundred and twenty leagues of desert, thistles, and gazelle-tooth stones, where snakes and scorpions fill the plain like ants — I left Mount Ḫazû, the mountain of saggilmud-stone, twenty leagues behind me and crossed over to that district to which no king before me had gone since earliest days. By the command of the god Aššur, my lord, I marched triumphantly in its midst. I defeated Kīsu, king of the land Ḫaldisu, Akbaru, king of the city Ilpiatu, Mansāku, king of the land Magalani, Iapaʾ, queen of the land Diḫrāni, Ḫabīsu, king of the land Qadabaʾ, Niḫaru, king of the city Gaʾuani, Baslu, queen of the city Iḫilum, and Ḫabaziru, king of the city Pudaʾ, eight kings from that district |
the festival of Erua, that is Zarpanītu, I prayed to the gods Aššur, Sîn, Šamaš, Adad, Bēl, Bēltīya, Nabû, Ištar of Nineveh, Ištar of Arbela, and Gušea, the gods, my helpers, and they heard my prayers. I raged like a lion, put on my coat of mail, and put on my head a helmet appropriate for battle. I held in my hands the mighty bow and the strong arrow, which the god Aššur, king of the gods, placed in my hands. Like a furious eagle, my wings were spread before my army and I was marching like the flood. The merciless arrow bestowed by the god Aššur shot out angrily and furiously |
The gods Šarur and Šargaz were marching at my side. By the command of the god Aššur, the king of the gods, my lord, I prayed to the great gods and they heard my prayers and |
Esarhaddon, king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of Sumer and Akkad, who knows how to greatly revere the gods and goddesses, the one who reconstructed the temple of the god Aššur and rebuilt Esagil and Babylon; son of Sennacherib, king of the world and king of Assyria; descendant of Sargon II, king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, and king of Sumer and Akkad — |
In future days, may one of the kings, my descendants, whom the gods Sîn and Šamaš select and name to rule the lands and people, renovate the dilapidated sections of these shrines when they become old and dilapidated, read an inscription written in my name, and may he anoint it with oil, make an offering, write my name with his name, and return it to its place. Then may the gods Sîn and Šamaš order good things for him monthly, without ceasing. |
; and by their immutable command discuss with one another my reaching extreme old age, the abundance of my offspring, the increase of my progeny, |
May they kill my enemies, flatten my enemies, cut down my foes, and allow me to stand over my enemies in victory and triumph so that I may rule and govern wherever my heart wishes |
In future days, may one of the kings, my descendants, whom the gods Sîn and Šamaš select and name to rule the land and people, renovate the dilapidated sections of these shrines when they become old and dilapidated, read an inscription written in my name, and may he anoint it with oil, make an offering, write my name with his name, and return it to its place. Then may the gods Sîn and Šamaš order good things for him monthly, without ceasing. |
The palace of Esarhaddon, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of Sumer and Akkad, king of the kings of Lower Egypt, Upper Egypt, and Kush, son of Sennacherib, king of Assyria, descendant of Sargon II, king of Assyria. |
The palace of Esarhaddon, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria, son of Sennacherib, king of Assyria, descendant of Sargon II, king of Assyria. |
The palace of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, son of Sennacherib, king of Assyria, descendant of Sargon II, king of Assyria. |
I, Esarhaddon, great king, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria, built anew an annex onto the House of Succession in the midst of the city of Nineveh. |
The palace of Esarhaddon, great king, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of Sumer and Akkad, son of Sennacherib, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria, descendant of Sargon II, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria. |
The palace of Esarhaddon, king of the world, king of Assyria, king of Sumer and Akkad, king of Karduniaš Babylonia. |
The palace of Esarhaddon, great king, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of the land of Sumer and Akkad, king of Karduniaš Babylonia, |
He (Nabû-zēr-kitti-līšir) trusted in his own strength and mustered his army and camp, besieged Ningal-iddin, a servant who was loyal to me, and cut off his escape route. I mustered my army and took the direct route to the Sealand. Nabû-zēr-kitti-līšir, son of Marduk-apla-iddina II (Merodach-baladan), the rebel, the traitor, heard of the approach of my army and fled like a fox to the land Elam. Because he failed to keep the oath of the god Aššur, his lord, they killed him with the sword in the midst of the land Elam. Naʾid-Marduk saw what they had done to his brother in Elam and he came to Assyria, before me, and kissed my feet. I made the domain of his brother subject to him and imposed my lordly tribute on him. |
The people of the city Arzâ, whose king Asuḫīli threw off my yoke, I threw them into fetters and brought them to Assyria. |
I struck with the sword Teušpa, a Cimmerian, with his entire army, in the territory of the land Ḫubušna, and I imposed upon him a heavy tribute. |
Nabû-zēr-kitti-līšir, the rebel, the traitor, heard of the approach of my army and fled like a fox to the land Elam. Because of the oath of the great gods which he had transgressed, the gods Aššur, Sîn, Šamaš, Bēl, and Nabû imposed a grievous punishment on him and they killed him with the sword in the midst of the land Elam. Naʾid-Marduk, his brother, saw the evil deeds that they had done to his brother in Elam, he fled from the land Elam to save his life, and came to Assyria, before me. I had pity on Naʾid-Marduk and Ummanigaš (Ḫuban-nikaš), his brother, and I made the Sealand subject to him (Naʾid-Marduk). I imposed upon him the tribute and payment of my lordship yearly, without ceasing. |
As for Bēl-iqīša, son of Bunnannū, a Gambulian whose residence is located twelve leagues distance in swamps and canebrakes, fear of the god Aššur, king of the gods, and the awesomeness of my lordship overwhelmed him, and unprovoked fear fell upon him. He brought tribute and payment of my lordship, yearly, without ceasing, before me, in |
I had pity on him and encouraged him. I strengthened Ša-pī-Bēl, the city which is his strong fortress, and I put him together with his archers therein as a garrison and thus locked it the fortress up like a door against the land Elam. |
The awesomeness of my lordship overwhelmed Hazael, and he brought with him gold, silver, and precious stones, his heavy audience gift, to Nineveh, before me, and kissed my feet. I added sixty-five camels and ten donkeys to the tribute which was paid to my father and imposed it on him. Later, Hazael died and I placed Iaʾutâ Iataʾ, his son, on his throne. I added ten minas of gold, one thousand choice stones, fifty camels, and one hundred bags of aromatics to the tribute of his father and imposed it on him. Uabu, the king of |
He (Nabû-zēr-kitti-līšir) fled like a fox to the land Elam. Because of the oath of the great gods which he had transgressed, the gods Aššur and Šamaš imposed a grievous punishment on him and they killed him with the sword in the midst of the land Elam. Naʾid-Marduk, his brother, saw the deeds that they had done to his brother in Elam. |
He heard my royal message, which burns my enemy like a flame, and he doubled over at the hips; his heart stopped and his knees trembled. He tore off his royal garment and clothed his body with sackcloth, the garment of a sinner. His appearance became miserable and he became like a slave and counted himself among his servants. With entreaty, prayer, expressions of humility, kneeling against the wall of his city, he was bitterly crying ‘woe,’ beseeching my lordship with open hands, and saying ‘Aḫulap!’ again and again to the heroic Aššur, my lord, and the praise of my heroism. |
Thus he wrote to me, saying: "O, king, to whom abomination, untruth, plundering, and murdering are taboo; trustworthy shepherd, who keeps safe his camp, the strength of his army, whose attack can not be withstood, knowledgeable in battle, war, and combat, capable in all deeds, for whom the god Aššur made mighty his weapons and whom he made greater than the kings, his ancestors — let the land Šubria, the land that sinned against you, serve you in its entirety. Place your official over them and let them pull your yoke! Lay tribute and payment upon them, yearly, without ceasing! I am a thief and for the sin I have committed I will restore the losses fifty-fold. |
"For each runaway Assyrian fugitive, let me replace him one hundred-fold. Let me live so that I may proclaim the fame of the god Aššur and praise your heroism. May the one who is neglectful of the god Aššur, king of the gods, the one who does not listen to the word of Esarhaddon, king of the world, his lord, and the one who does not return runaway Assyrian fugitives to his owner, learn from my example. I said thus: ‘The nobles, my advisors, spoke unwholesome lies to me. Consequently I committed a great sin against the god Aššur and thus I did not listen to the word of the king, my lord, did not return to you the citizens of Assyria, your servants, nor did I do myself any good. Now the oath of the great gods, which I transgressed, and the word of your kingship, which I despised, have caught up with me. May the anger of your heart be appeased. Have mercy on me and remove my punishment!’" |
I, Esarhaddon, mighty king, whose word is immutable, whose princely command cannot be annulled, who does not turn back from unsheathed weapons and the onslaught of fierce battle, whose battle none of the kings among all of his enemies ever sought a second time and before whom no ruler, his opponent, ever stood in the place of battle, |
I did not listen to his prayer, did not accept his plea, did not admit his entreaty, and did not turn back my anger from him. My fury did not relent towards him; my angry heart was not appeased. I had no pity for him and did not say ‘Aḫulap!’ to him. |
I put out to fine pasture sheep and goats, oxen, and cattle destined for offerings to my lords and for the royal table in Assyria. |
through the strength of the god Aššur, my lord, I returned by the command of the god Aššur, my lord, and |
and called them by new names. I settled the people plundered by my bow from the Upper Sea to the Lower Sea in them. I divided that land, in its entirety, in two and placed two of my officials over them as governors. |
I am sending the best report to the god Aššur, my lord, by so-and-so. One charioteer, two cavalrymen, and three scouts are dead. |
In the course of my campaign, I set up fortifications against Baʾalu, the king of Tyre, who trusted in his friend Taharqa, the king of Kush, threw off the yoke of the god Aššur, my lord, and kept answering me with insolence. I cut off the supply of food and water that sustained their lives. I removed my camp from (this so-called) ‘Egypt’ and headed straight for Meluḫḫa, covering a distance of thirty leagues from the city Aphek, which is in the region of Samaria, to the city Raphia, which is in the neighborhood of the Brook of Egypt, a place that has no rivers. By means of ropes, chains, and sweeps, I provided water for my troops drawn from wells. |
I, Esarhaddon, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, the one who reveres the great gods and pacifies the mood of the gods Anu and Aššur, beloved of the god Marduk and the goddess Zarpanītu, who is assiduous towards the shrines of the god Nabû and the goddess Tašmētu, the one who reconstructed the temple of the god Aššur and rebuilt Esagil and Babylon, whom the god Aššur, the father of the gods, called by name to the kingship of Assyria and the governorship of Sumer and Akkad — |
, gave me a royal destiny as a gift while I was still in the womb of my mother. To refurbish the gods |
may all of the great gods be present for my entreaties and expressions of humility, and let them receive my prayers. Every year let me walk before them in safety. Decree as my fate a life of long days, years of good health and happiness, a destiny of longevity, secure reign, and healthy offspring. |
For the future prince who respects my inscription and is attentive to my deeds, may the god Marduk, the great lord, sage of heaven and netherworld, lord of springs and seas, decree for him a fate of divine favor and riches; may he entrust to him |
; may he prolong his name and his progeny; may he rule all of the lands and shepherd his people in plenty, abundance, fertility, and riches; may the summer grass last until winter and the winter grass until summer in his land; may the ability to give orders, to listen, and to find favor, and truth and justice be unceasing in the mouth of his populace; may he exercise kingship over all of the lands and may he attain whatever he desires; may he achieve his wish; should he require something, may it not be |
As for the residence of the god Aššur, Ešarra, the ancestral house, the place of renewal, which together with your city, Babylon, and your temple, Esagil, they found |
and its people were exhausted. May the foundations of Eḫursaggalkurkura, the place of my renewal, be as solid as a mountain. May all of the abundance, plenty, and produce of the four quarters flow annually into it like a babbling brook. |