The palace of Esarhaddon, great king, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of Sumer and Akkad, king of the four quarters, true shepherd, favorite of the great gods, i 5 whom from his childhood the gods Ashur, Shamash, Bel, and Nabû, Ishtar of Nineveh, and Ishtar of Arbela named for the kingship of Assyria —

I am my older brothers' youngest brother and by the command of the gods Ashur, Sîn, Shamash, Bel, and Nabû, Ishtar of Nineveh, and Ishtar 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 Shamash and Adad by divination, and they answered him with a firm 'yes,' saying: 'He is your replacement.' i 15 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 Ashur, Sîn, Shamash, 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. i 20 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.

Persecution and jealousy fell over my brothers and they forsook the will of the gods. They trusted in their arrogant deeds, and they were plotting evil. They started evil rumors, calumnies, and slander about me against the will of the gods, and they were constantly telling insincere lies, hostile things, behind my back. They alienated the well-meaning heart of my father from me, against the will of the gods, but deep down he was compassionate and his eyes were permanently fixed on my exercising kingship.

I pondered and thought thus: 'Their deeds are arrogant and they trust only in their own counsel. What will they not do against the will of the gods?' i 35 I prayed to the god Ashur, king of the gods, and the merciful god Marduk, to whom treacherous talk is an abomination, with benedictions, supplications, and expressions of humility, and they accepted my words. By the command of the great gods, my lords, they the gods settled me in a secret place away from the evil deeds, i 40 stretched out their pleasant protection over me, and kept me safe for exercising kingship. Afterwards, my brothers went out of their minds and did everything that is displeasing to the gods and mankind, and they plotted evil, girt their weapons, and in Nineveh, without the gods, they butted each other like kids for the right to exercise kingship.

The gods Ashur, Sîn, Shamash, Bel, Nabû, Ishtar of Nineveh, and Ishtar of Arbela saw the deeds of the usurpers which had been done wrongly against the will of the gods and they did not support them. They changed their strength to weakness and forced them to bow down to me. i 50 The people of Assyria, who swore by oil and water to the treaty, an oath bound by the great gods, to protect my right to exercise kingship, did not come to their aid.

I, Esarhaddon, who with the help of the great gods, his lords, does not turn back in the heat of battle, quickly heard of their evil deeds. I said 'Woe!' and rent my princely garment. I cried out in mourning, I raged like a lion, and my mood became furious. In order to exercise kingship over the house of my father I beat my hands together. I prayed to the gods Ashur, Sîn, Shamash, Bel, Nabû, and Nergal, Ishtar of Nineveh, and Ishtar of Arbela i 60 and they accepted my words. With their firm 'yes,' they were sending me reliable omens, saying: 'Go! Do not hold back! We will go and kill your enemies.'

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 i 65 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 Shabatu XI, the severest cold season. Like a flying eagle I spread my wings to drive back my enemies. With difficulty and haste, I followed the road to Nineveh and i 70 before my arrival in the territory of the land Hanigalbat all of their crack troops blocked my advance; they were sharpening their weapons. Fear of the great gods, my lords, overwhelmed them, and when they saw my mighty battle array, they became like crazed women.

The goddess Ishtar, the lady of war and battle, who loves my priestly duties, stood at my side, broke their bows, and she split open their tight battle ranks. In their assembly, they said thus: 'This is our king!' Through her sublime command they began coming over to my side and marching behind me. They were gamboling like lambs and begging my sovereignty. i 80 The people of Assyria, who had sworn by the treaty, an oath bound by the great gods, concerning me, came before me and kissed my feet. Moreover, those rebels, the ones engaged in revolt and rebellion, when they heard of the advance of my campaign, they deserted the army they relied on and fled to an unknown land. I reached the embankment of the Tigris River and i 85 by the command of the gods Sîn and Shamash, the divine lords of the embankment, I made all of my troops hop over the wide Tigris River as if it were a small canal.

In Addaru XII, a favorable month, on the eighth day, the esheshu-festival of the god Nabû, I joyfully entered Nineveh, my capital city, and I sat happily on the throne of my father. The south wind, the breeze of the god Ea, the wind whose blowing is favorable for exercising kingship, blew upon me. ii 5 Favorable signs came in good time to me in heaven and on earth. They the gods continually and regularly encouraged me with oracles through ecstatics, the messages of the gods and goddesses. I sought out every one of the guilty soldiers, who wrongly incited my brothers to exercise kingship over Assyria, and imposed a grievous punishment on them: I exterminated their offspring.

I am Esarhaddon, king of the world, king of Assyria, valiant warrior, foremost of all rulers, son of Sennacherib, king of the world and king of Assyria, ii 15 descendant of Sargon II, king of the world and king of Assyria, creation of the god Ashur and the goddess Mullissu, beloved of the gods Sîn and Shamash, chosen by the gods Nabû and Marduk, favorite of the goddess Ishtar — the queen — desired by the great gods, capable, able, intelligent, learned, the one whom the great gods ii 20 raised to be king in order to restore the great gods and to complete the shrines of all of the cult centers of the great gods; the one who reconstructed the temple of the god Ashur, rebuilt Esagil and Babylon, and restored the gods and goddesses who live in it; the one who returned the plundered gods of the lands from the city Ashur to their proper place and let them dwell in security —

As soon as I had completed the temples and had installed them on their daises as their eternal dwellings, with their great help I marched triumphantly from the rising sun to the setting sun and I had no rival therein. I made the rulers of the four quarters bow down at my feet and they the gods entrusted to me any land that had sinned against the god Ashur.

The god Ashur, the father of the gods, gave me the power to let cities fall into ruins and to repopulate them, and to enlarge Assyrian territory; the god Sîn, lord of the crown, decreed heroic strength and robust force as my fate; the god Shamash, the light of the gods, elevated my important name to the highest rank; the god Marduk, king of the gods, made the fear of my kingship ii 35 sweep over the mountain regions like a dense fog; the god Nergal, mightiest of the gods, gave me fierceness, splendor, and terror as a gift; and the goddess Ishtar, the lady of battle and war, gave me a mighty bow and a fierce arrow as a present.

At that time, Nabû-zer-kitti-lishir, son of Marduk-apla-iddina II Merodach-baladan, governor of the Sealand, who did not keep his treaty nor remember the agreement of Assyria, forgot the good relations of my father. During the disturbances in Assyria, he mustered his army and his camp, besieged Ningal-iddin, the governor of Ur, a servant who was loyal to me, and ii 45 cut off his escape route. After the gods Ashur, Shamash, Bel and Nabû, Ishtar of Nineveh, and Ishtar of Arbela joyously seated me, Esarhaddon, on the throne of my father and handed over to me the lordship of the lands, he was not respectful, did not stop his evil deeds, and would not leave my servant alone. Moreover, he did not send his messenger before me and did not ask after the well-being of my kingship.

I heard of his evil deeds while in Nineveh; my heart became angry and my liver was inflamed. I sent my officials, the governors on the border of his land, against him. Furthermore, he, Nabû-zer-kitti-lishir, the rebel, the traitor, heard of the approach of my army and ii 55 fled like a fox to the land Elam. Because of the oath of the great gods which he had transgressed, the gods Ashur, Sîn, Shamash, Bel, and Nabû imposed a grievous punishment on him and they killed him with the sword in the midst of the land Elam. Na'id-Marduk, his brother, saw the deeds that they had done to his brother in Elam, fled from the land Elam, ii 60 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 with his heavy audience gift and kisses my feet.

As for Abdi-Milkuti, 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 Ashur — 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 ii 70 threw them into the sea; and I even made the site where it stood disappear. Abdi-Milkuti, its king, in the face of my weapons, fled into the midst of the sea. By the command of the god Ashur, 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, ii 75 his palace retainers, gold, silver, goods, property, precious stones, garments with trimming and linens, elephant hides, ivory, ebony, boxwood, 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 ii 80 to Assyria. I gathered the kings of Hatti Syria-Palestine and the seacoast, all of them, and had them build a city in another place, and I named it Kar-Esarhaddon.

The inhabitants of the cities Bit-Shupuri, Sikkû, Gi', Inimme, Hildua, Qartimme, Bi'rû, Kilmê, Bitirume, Sagû, Ampa, iii 5 Bit-Gisimeya, Birgi', Gambulu, Dalaimme, and Isihimme, cities in the environs of Sidon, places of pasturing and watering for his stronghold, which I captured with the help of the god Ashur, my lord, I settled in it iii 10 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. iii 15b From among those cities of his I handed over the cities Ma'rubbu and Sharepta to Ba'alu, king of Tyre. I increased my lordly tribute beyond his earlier, annual giving and imposed it on him.

Moreover, Sanda-uarri, king of the cities Kundu and Sissû, a dangerous enemy, who did not fear my lordship and abandoned the gods, trusted in the impregnable mountains. He and Abdi-Milkuti, king of Sidon, iii 25 agreed to help one another, swore an oath by their gods with one another, and trusted in their own strength. I trusted in the gods Ashur, Sîn, Shamash, Bel, and Nabû, the great gods, my lords, iii 30 besieged him, caught him like a bird from the midst of the mountains, and cut off his head. "In Tashritu VII — the head of Abdi-Milkuti! In Addaru XII — the head of Sanda-uarri!" I beheaded both in the same year: iii 35 With the former I did not delay, with the latter I was quick. To show the people the might of the god Ashur, my lord, I hung the heads around the necks of their nobles and I paraded in the squares of Nineveh with singers and lyres.

I plundered the city Arzâ, which is in the district of the Brook of Egypt, and threw Asuhili, its king, into fetters and brought him to Assyria. I seated him text: "them", bound, near the citadel gate of the city of Nineveh along with bears, dogs, and pigs.

Moreover, I struck with the sword Teushpâ, a Cimmerian, a barbarian whose home is remote, together with his entire army, in the territory of the land Hubushnu.

I trod on the necks of the people of Cilicia, mountain dwellers who live in inaccessible mountains in the neighborhood of the land Tabal, evil Hittites, iii 50 who trusted in their mighty 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 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.

I crushed the wicked Parnaki, who live in the land Til-Ashurri, which is called Pittanu in the language of the people of the land Mehranu.

I scattered the Mannean people, undisciplined Gutians, and its army; I put to the sword Ishpakaia, a Scythian, an ally who could not save himself.

I plundered the land Bit-Dakkuri, which is in Chaldea, an enemy of Babylon. I captured Shamash-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 iii 65 and Borsippa by force and turned them over to himself. Because I know the fear of the gods Bel and Nabû, I returned those fields and entrusted them to the citizens of Babylon and Borsippa. I placed Nabû-shallim, the son of Balassu, on his throne and he now pulls my yoke.

As for Bel-iqisha, son of Bunnannu, a Gambulian whose residence is located twelve leagues distance in water and canebrakes, by the command of the god Ashur, my lord, unprovoked fear fell upon him and iii 75 of his own free will he took tribute and payment, uncastrated bulls, and teams of white mules from the land Elam and came to Nineveh, before me, and he kissed my feet. I had pity on him and encouraged him. iii 80 I strengthened the city Sha-pi-Bel, 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 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, iv 5 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. iv 10 I refurbished the gods Atar-samayin, Daya, Nuhaya, Ruldawu, Abirillu, and Atar-qurumâ, the gods of the Arabs, and I inscribed the might of the god Ashur, my lord, and an inscription written in my name on them and gave them back to him. iv 15 I placed the lady Tabu'a, 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 Iata', his son, iv 20 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. Later, Uabu, to exercise kingship, incited all of the Arabs to rebel against Iata'.

I, Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, king of the four quarters, who loves loyalty and abhors treachery, sent my battle troops to the aid of Iata', 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, iv 35 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 Ashur, 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. iv 40 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.

As for the land Patusharra, 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 Shidir-parna and E-parna, mighty chieftains, iv 50 who were not submissive to my yoke, together with their people, their riding horses, oxen, sheep and goats, and Bactrian camels, their heavy plunder.

As for the land Bazu, a district in a remote place, a forgotten place of dry land, saline ground, a place of thirst, iv 55 one hundred and twenty leagues of desert, thistles, and gazelle-tooth stones, where snakes and scorpions fill the plain like ants — I left Mount Hazû, the mountain of saggilmud-stone, twenty leagues behind me and crossed over to that district to which iv 60 no king before me had gone since earliest days. By the command of the god Ashur, my lord, I marched triumphantly in its midst. I defeated Kisu, king of the city Haldisu Handasu, Akbaru, king of the city Ilpi'atu Alpiyana, Mansaku, king of the city Magalanu, Iapa', queen of the city Dihranu, iv 65 Habisu, king of the city Qadaba' Qatabu', Niharu, king of the city Ga'uani, Baslu, queen of the city Ihilu, and Habaziru, king of the city Puda' Padê, eight kings from that district iv 70 and laid out the bodies of their warriors like drying malt. I carried off their gods, their goods, their possessions, and their people to Assyria. As for Laialê, king of the city Yadi', who had fled before my weapons, unprovoked fear fell upon him, and he came to Nineveh, before me, and kissed my feet. I had pity on him and put that province of Bazu under him.

Through the strength of the gods Ashur, Sîn, Shamash, Nabû, Marduk, Ishtar of Nineveh, and Ishtar of Arbela, I conquered all of my arrogant enemies. iv 80 At the words of their divinity the rulers, my enemies, trembled like reeds in a storm. The kings who live in the sea, whose inner walls are the sea and whose outer walls are the waves, who ride in boats instead of chariots, and who harness rowers instead of horses, were seized by fear; their hearts were pounding and v 1 they were vomiting gall. There was no rival that my weapons could not face and there was no one among the rulers who came before me who could equal me. Those who used to ignore the kings, my ancestors, or answer them constantly with hostility, by the command of the god Ashur, my lord, were delivered into my hands. v 5 I smashed their hard stone walls like a potter's vessel and let the vultures eat the unburied bodies of their warriors. I carried off their heaped-up possessions to Assyria and counted the gods, their helpers, as booty. I led their prosperous people away like sheep and goats.

The one who fled into the sea to save his own life did not escape my net and did not save himself. The swift runner who took to the stepped ridges of remote mountains, I caught him like a bird from the midst of the mountains and bound his arms. I made their blood flow like floodwater in mountain gullies. I ripped out the roots of the Sutû, who live in tents in a remote place, like the onslaught of a raging storm. Neither he who made the sea his fortress nor he who made the mountain his stronghold escaped my net or succeeded in escaping. v 20 I ordered the resettling of those of the sea to the mountains and those of the mountains to the sea. At the command of the god Ashur, my lord, who can rival me in kingship? Moreover, who among the kings, my ancestors, was there whose dominion was as great as mine? From the midst of the sea, my enemies spoke thus: 'Where can the fox go to get away from the sun?'

The Elamites and Gutians, obstinate rulers, who used to answer the kings, my ancestors, with hostility, heard of what the might of the god Ashur, my lord, had done among all of my enemies, and fear and terror poured over them. So that there would be no trespassing on the borders of their countries they sent their messengers with messages of friendship and peace to Nineveh, before me, and they swore an oath by the great gods.

After the gods Ashur, Shamash, Bel, Nabû, Ishtar of Nineveh, and Ishtar 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 v 45 that the god Ashur, 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 laid its foundations with limestone, strong stone from the mountains, and raised the terrace.

I summoned the kings of Hatti and Across the River Syria-Palestine: v 55 Ba'alu, king of Tyre, Manasseh, king of Judah, Qa'ush-gabri, king of Edom, Mushuri, king of Moab, Shil-Bel, king of Gaza, Mitinti, king of Ashkelon, Ikausu, king of Ekron, Milki-ashapa, king of Byblos, v 60 Mattan-Ba'al, king of Arvad, Abi-Ba'al, king of Samsimurruna, Budi-il, king of Bit-Ammon, Ahi-Milki, king of Ashdod — twelve kings from the shore of the sea; Ekishtura, king of Idalion, Pilagurâ, king of Kitrusi, v 65 Kisu, king of Salamis, Ituandar, king of Paphos, Eresu, king of Soloi, Damasu, king of Curium, Admesu, king of Tamassos, Damysos, king of Qarti-hadasti, v 70 Unasagusu, king of Lidir, Bushusu, king of Nuria — ten kings of Yadnana Cyprus in the midst of the sea; in total, twenty-two kings of Hatti Syria-Palestine, the seacoast, and the midst of the sea.

I sent orders to all of them for large beams, tall columns, and very long planks v 75 of cedar and cypress, grown on Mount Sirara and Mount Lebanon, which from early days grew thick and tall, and they had bull colossi made of pendû-stone, lamassu-statues, zebus, paving stones, slabs of marble, pendû-stone, breccia, colored marble, brownish limestone, and girimhilibû-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, my capital city.

In a favorable month, on a propitious day, I built great palatial halls upon that terrace for my lordly residence. vi 5 I built a royal house ninety-five large cubits long and thirty-one large cubits wide, something none of the kings, my ancestors, had done. I had its lower courses surrounded with limestone paving stones and I roofed it with magnificent cedar beams.

I had a room of white alabaster and palatial halls of ivory, ebony, boxwood, musukkannu-wood, cedar, and cypress skillfully built for my royal residence and my lordly leisure. I roofed it with magnificent cedar beams. I fastened bands of silver and copper on doors of cypress, whose fragrance is sweet, and installed them in their gates. vi 15 I had placed to the right and left of their gates bull colossi and zebus made of pendû-stone and whose appearance repels evil, large stone bull colossi, lions that are facing one another, and zebus that are facing one another, and twin lamassu-statues, that I cast in shining copper, and bull colossi made of white limestone.

I placed crossbeams on large copper columns and 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 silver, gold, and shining copper in them. Through the craft of the sculptor, I depicted on it the frieze of the palace the might of the god Ashur, my lord, and the deeds that I had accomplished in enemy lands.

I planted 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.

After I built and completed that palace from its foundations to its parapets and filled it with splendor, its mortar was mixed with fine beer, its kalakku-clay was mixed with wine. The bearers of the spade, the hoe, and the basket, the workers who carry baskets of bricks, passed their time in joyous song, in rejoicing, with pleasure, and with radiant mien. I finished its work with rejoicing, jubilation, and melodious songs, and I named it Eshgalshiddudua, 'The palace that administers everything.'

I invited the gods Ashur, Bel, Nabû, Ishtar of Nineveh, and Ishtar of Arbela, vi 45 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 vi 50 at festive tables, ceremonial meals, and banquets, 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 Ashur, the king of the gods, and the gods of Assyria, all of them, vi 55 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, camels, military equipment, implements of war, and vi 60 all of the captured enemy soldiers. Let the good shedu 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.

In the future, may one of the kings, my descendants, whom the god Ashur and the goddess Ishtar name to rule the land and people, renovate the dilapidated sections of that palace when it becomes old and dilapidated. Just as I placed an inscription written in the name of the king, my father, who engendered me, vi 70 beside an inscription written in my name, so you too should be like me and read an inscription written in my name, anoint it with oil, make an offering, and place it beside an inscription written in your name. The god Ashur and the goddess Ishtar will then hear your prayers.

Addaru XII, eponymy of Atar-ili, governor of the land Lahiru 673 BC.

Month "Opening of the Door," eponymy of Atar-ili, governor of the land Lahiru 673 BC.

Month "Opening of the Door," eponymy of Atar-ili, governor of the land Lahiru 673 BC.

Month of the goddess Belet-ili, eponymy of ..., in the year when ... its booty.

Addaru XII, eponymy of Idri Atar-ili governor of the land Lahiru 673 BC.

Addaru XII, eponymy of Atar-ili, governor of the land Lahiru 673 BC.

Nisannu I, eponymy of Nabû-belu-ushur, governor of Dur-Sharrukku 672 BC.

The palace of Esarhaddon, great king, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of Sumer and Akkad, i 5 son of Sennacherib, king of Assyria, descendant of Sargon II, king of Assyria, the king who with the help of the gods Ashur, Sîn, Shamash, Nabû, Marduk, Ishtar of Nineveh, and Ishtar of Arbela, i 10 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, i 15 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-Milkuti, its king, i 20 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, i 25 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 i 30 to Assyria. I gathered the kings of Hatti Syria-Palestine and the seacoast, all of them, and had them build a city in another place, and I named it Kar-Esarhaddon. i 35 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 Kundu and Sissû, a dangerous enemy, who did not fear my lordship and abandoned the gods, trusted in the impregnable mountains. Furthermore, Abdi-Milkuti, king of Sidon, agreed to help him i 45 and they swore an oath by the great gods with one another and trusted in their own strength. I trusted in the god Ashur, my lord, caught him like a bird from the midst of the mountains, and cut off his head. i 50 To show the people the might of the god Ashur, my lord, I hung the heads of Sanda-uarri and Abdi-Milkuti around the necks of their nobles and i 55 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 Asuhili, its king, into fetters along with his counselors and i 60 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 Teushpâ, a Cimmerian, a barbarian whose home is remote, together with his entire army, in the territory of the land Hubushnu.

The one who treads on the necks of the people of Cilicia, mountain dwellers who live in mountains in the neighborhood of 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 ii 10 twenty-one of their 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 Parnaki, a dangerous enemy, who live in the land Til-Ashurri, which is called Pittanu in the language of the people of the city Mehranu;

the one who scattered the Mannean people, undisciplined Gutians, who put to the sword the army of Ishpakaia, a Scythian, an ally who could not save himself;

the one who drove out Nabû-zer-kitti-lishir, son of Marduk-apla-iddina II Merodach-baladan, who had put his trust in the king of the land Elam, but could not save his life — Na'id-Marduk, his brother, fled from the land Elam to serve me, ii 30 came to Nineveh, my capital city, and kissed my feet. I made the entire Sealand, the domain of his brother, subject to him.

The one who sacked the land Bit-Dakkuri, which is in Chaldea, an enemy of Babylon; the one who captured Shamash-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 — ii 40 because I know the fear of the gods Bel and Nabû, I returned those fields and entrusted them to the citizens of Babylon and Borsippa. I placed Nabû-shallim, the son of Balassu, 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. ii 55 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 Ashur, my lord, and an inscription written in my name inscribed on them and I gave them back to him. ii 60 I placed the lady Tabu'a, 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 Ia'lû Iata', his son, iii 5 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 Bazu, 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, twenty leagues of land where snakes and scorpions fill the plain like ants — iii 15 I left mount Hazû, 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 Ashur, my lord, iii 20 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 Yadi', iii 25 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. iii 30 I had pity on him and said to him 'Ahulap!' I inscribed the might of the god Ashur, my lord, on his gods that I had carried off and I gave them back to him. I put that province of Bazu under him and imposed on him my lordly tribute and payment.

As for Bel-iqisha, son of Bunnannu, a Gambulian whose residence is located twelve leagues distance in water and swamps like that of a fish, iii 40 by the command of the god Ashur, 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, iii 45 and he kissed my feet. I had pity on him and encouraged him. I strengthened the city Sha-pi-Bel, the city which is his strong fortress, and iii 50 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 Patusharra, a district in the area of the salt desert, which is in the midst of the land of the distant Medes, iii 55 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 Shidir-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 iv 5 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 Ashur, my lord, overwhelmed them and they brought to Nineveh, my capital city, large thoroughbreds and blocks of lapis lazuli, hewn from its mountain, iv 10 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 iv 15 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 Ashur, Shamash, Bel and Nabû, Ishtar of Nineveh, and Ishtar 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, iv 35 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 Ashur, king of the gods, iv 40 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 iv 45 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 Hatti 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 Sirara and Mount Lebanon, and they had lamassu-statues, zebus, paving stones, slabs v 5 of marble, pendû-stone, breccia, colored marble, engishû-stone, brownish limestone, and girimhilibû-stone, v 10 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, v 20 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 shedus and lamassus, whose appearance repels evil, placed to the right and the left of their gates as v 30 protectors of the walk and guardians of the path of the king who made them. I had the palace v 35 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. v 45 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 Ashur, 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. vi 1 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 Eshgalshiddudua, 'The palace that administers everything.'

I invited the god Ashur, the goddess Ishtar 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 Ashur, 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 vi 35 all of the captured enemy soldiers. Let the good shedu 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.

Ayyaru II, twenty-second day, eponymy of Banbâ, the deputy minister sukkallu shanû 676 BC.

....

... ... ... they reared ... they ordered him to his ...ship ... ... they went and

No translation possible

... Nabû-zer-kitti-lishir, ... ... ... ... heard of the approach of my campaign and fled like a fox to the land Elam. i 20′ Because of the oath of the great gods which he had transgressed, the gods Ashur, Sîn, Shamash, Bel, and Nabû imposed a grievous punishment on him and they killed him with the sword in the midst of the land Elam. Na'id-Marduk, his brother, i 25′ 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-Milkuti, 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 Ashur, my lord, and caught him ii 5′ like a bird from the midst of the mountains, and cut off his head. To show the people the might of the god Ashur, my lord, I hung the heads of Sanda-uarri and Abdi-Milkuti 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 Asuhili, 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 Teushpâ, a Cimmerian, a barbarian whose home is remote, together with his entire army, in the territory of the land Hubushnu.

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, ii 20′ 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 Parnaki, a dangerous enemy, who live in the city Til-Ashurri, which is called Pittanu in the language of the people of the city Mehranu;

the one who scattered the Mannean people, undisciplined Gutians, who put to the sword the army of Ishpakaia, a Scythian, an ally who could not save himself;

I had the might of the god Ashur, my lord, and an inscription written in my name inscribed on them and I gave them back to him. I placed the lady Tabu'a, 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 Ia'lû Iata', his son, on his throne. iii 10′ 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 Bazu, a district in a remote place, a forgotten place of dry land, saline ground, a place of thirst, iii 15′ one hundred and twenty leagues of desert, thistles, and gazelle-tooth stones, where snakes and scorpions fill the plain like ants — I left Mount Hazû, the mountain of saggilmud-stone, twenty leagues behind me and crossed over iii 20′ to that district to which no king before me had gone since earliest days. By the command of the god Ashur, 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. iii 25′ Laialê, king of the city Yadi', 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 'Ahulap!' I put that province of Bazu under him and imposed on him my lordly tribute and payment.

As for Bel-iqisha, son of Bunnannu, a Gambulian ...

I carried off to Assyria ..., 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 iv 5′ 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 Ashur, my lord, overwhelmed them and iv 10′ 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, iv 15′ 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 Ashur, Shamash, Bel, Nabû, Ishtar of Nineveh, and Ishtar 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 iv 25′ 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 iv 35′ the plunder of enemies, everything that the god Ashur, 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.

They had ... girimhilibû-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, v 10′ 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 shedus 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 Ashur, 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 seated ... 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 Ashur, 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 vi 10′ 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. vi 17′ Let the good lamassu and the good shedu, who guard my royal path and who make me happy, last forever and ever in that palace. May they never leave it.

In the future, may one of the kings, my descendants, whom the god Ashur and the goddess Ishtar name to rule the land and people, renovate the dilapidated sections of that palace when it becomes old and dilapidated. Just as I placed an inscription written in the name of the king, my father, who engendered me, beside an inscription written in my name, so you too should be like me and read an inscription written in my name, anoint it with oil, make an offering, and place it beside an inscription written in your name. The god Ashur and the goddess Ishtar will then hear your prayers.

Abu V, eighteenth day, ....

No translation warranted

Moreover, I struck with the sword Teushpa, a Cimmerian, a barbarian whose home is remote, together with his entire army, in the territory of the land Hubushnu.

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.

... 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, ii′ 10′ 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 ... ... ... and I inscribed the might of the god Ashur, my lord,

I added ... fifty camels, and one thousand bags of aromatics to the tribute of his father and imposed it on him.

As for the land Bazu, 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 ii′ 30′ Mount Hazû, 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 Ashur, 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.

I locked it the fortress up like a door against the land Elam.

As for the land Patusharra, 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, iii′ 5′ and upon the soil of whose land none of the kings, my ancestors, had walked — I carried off to Assyria Shidir-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 Ashur, Sîn, Shamash, Bel and Nabû, Ishtar of Nineveh, and Ishtar of Arbela, my father, who engendered me, elevated me firmly in the assembly of my brothers, i 5′ saying: 'This is the son who will succeed me.' He questioned the gods Shamash 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 Ashur, Sîn, Shamash, 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 Hatti and Across the River Syria-Palestine: Ba'alu, king of Tyre, Manasseh, king of Judah, Qa'ush-gabri, king of Edom, Mushuri, king of Moab, Shil-Bel, king of Gaza, Mitinti, king of Ashkelon, vi 10′ Ikausu, king of Ekron, Milki-ashapa, king of Byblos, Mattan-Ba'al, king of Arvad, Abi-Ba'al, king of Samsimurruna, Budi-il, king of Bit-Ammon, Ahi-Milki, king of Ashdod — twelve kings from the shore of the sea; Ekishtura, king of Idalion, Pilagurâ, king of Kitrusi, Kisu, king of Salamis,

... ... ... I cried out in mourning, I raged like a lion, and my mood became furious. In order to exercise kingship over the house of my father I beat my hands together. I prayed to the gods Ashur, Sîn, Shamash, Bel, Nabû, and Nergal, Ishtar of Nineveh, and Ishtar of Arbela and they accepted my words. With their firm 'yes', they were sending me reliable omens, saying: 'Go! Do not hold back! We will go and kill your enemies.'

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 Shabatu 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. Na'id-Marduk, his brother, saw the deeds that they had done to his brother in Elam, fled from the land Elam, ii 5′ 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-Milkuti, 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 Ashur — 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-Milkuti, its king, in the face of my weapons, fled into the midst of the sea. By the command of the god Ashur, 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, ii 20′ 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 Hatti Syria-Palestine and the seacoast, all of them, and had them build a city in another place, and I named it Kar-Esarhaddon.

The inhabitants of the cities Bit-Shupuri, Sikkû, Gi', Inimme, Hildua, Qartimme, Bi'rû, Kilmê, Bitirume, Sagû, Ampa, Bit-Gisimeya, Birgi', ii 30′ Gambulu, Dalaimme, and Isihimme, cities in the environs of Sidon, places of pasturing and watering for his stronghold, which I captured with the help of the god Ashur, 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 ii 35′ 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.

Moreover, Sanda-uarri, king of the cities Kundu and Sissû, a dangerous enemy, who did not fear my lordship and abandoned the gods, ii 40′ trusted in the impregnable mountains. He and Abdi-Milkuti, king of Sidon, agreed to help one another, swore an oath by their gods with one another, and trusted in their own strength. I trusted in the gods Ashur, Sîn, Shamash, Bel, and Nabû, ii 45′ the great gods, my lords, besieged him, caught him like a bird from the midst of the mountains, and cut off his head. "In Tashritu VII — the head of Abdi-Milkuti! In Addaru XII — the head of Sanda-uarri!" I beheaded both in the same year: With the former I did not delay, ...

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 iii 5′ I had pity on him. I refurbished the gods Atar-samayin, Daya, Nuhaya, Ruldawu, Abirillu, and Atar-qurumâ, the gods of the Arabs, and I inscribed the might of the god Ashur, my lord, and an inscription written in my name on them and gave them back to him. I placed the lady Tabu'a, 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 Iata', his son, on his throne. I added ten minas of gold, one hundred choice stones, fifty camels, and iii 15′ 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 Iata'.

I, Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, king of the four quarters, who loves loyalty and abhors treachery, sent iii 20′ my battle troops to the aid of Iata', 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 — iii 30′ the awesome fear of the god Ashur, my lord, overwhelmed them and they brought to Nineveh, my capital city, large thoroughbreds and blocks of lapis lazuli, hewn from its mountain, and ...

and its army; I put to the sword Ishpakaia, a Scythian, an ally who could not save himself.

I plundered the land Bit-Dakkuri, which is in Chaldea, an enemy of Babylon. I captured Shamash-ibni, its king, a rogue and outlaw, i′ 5′ 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 Bel and Nabû, I returned those fields and entrusted them to the citizens of Babylon and Borsippa. I placed Nabû-shallim, son of Balassu, on his throne and he now pulls my yoke.

As for Bel-iqisha, son of Bunnannu, a Gambulian whose residence is located twelve leagues distance in water and swamps, by the command of the god Ashur, my lord, unprovoked fear fell upon him and of his own free will he took tribute and payment,

who ... to the land ...; they did not listen .... The people of Assyria, who had committed sins, ... robbers, thieves, murderers, ... ii′ 5′ those people who did not fear the oath of his lord, ... overseers, leaders, soldiers, ... or those who ... at the feet ... .... They stole ... ... ... to his land ... ... to take revenge ...

... ... ... 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 Patusharra, 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 Shidir-parna and E-parna, mighty chieftains, i′ 10′ who were not submissive to my yoke, together with their people, their riding horses, oxen, sheep and goats, and Bactrian camels, their heavy plunder.

In my ...th campaign, as for the land Bazu, a district in a remote place, a forgotten place of dry land, saline ground, a place of thirst, i′ 15′ one hundred and twenty leagues of desert, thistles, and gazelle-tooth stones, where snakes and scorpions fill the plain like ants — I left Mount Hazû, 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 Ashur, my lord, i′ 20′ I marched triumphantly in its midst. I defeated Kisu, king of the land Haldisu Handasu, Akbaru, king of the city Ilpi'atu Alpiyana, Mansaku, king of the land Magalanu, Iapa', queen of the land Dihranu, Habisu, king of the land Qadaba' Qatabu', Niharu, king of the city Ga'uani, Baslu, queen of the city Ihilu, and Habaziru, king of the city Puda' Padê, eight kings from that district ... ... ...

before ... ... on the third day, in the evening ... the festival of Erua, that is Zarpanitu, I prayed to the gods Ashur, Sîn, Shamash, Adad, Bel, Beltiya, Nabû, Ishtar of Nineveh, ii′ 5′ Ishtar of Arbela, and Gushea, 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 Ashur, king of the gods, placed in my hands. ii′ 10′ 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 Ashur shot out angrily and furiously .... The gods Sharur and Shargaz were marching at my side. By the command of the god Ashur, the king of the gods, my lord, I prayed to the great gods and they heard my prayers and ....

I, Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, the center of my army, the army of .... I was following their great divinity. With their great help, I blew between them like the onslaught of a raging storm, dispersed their concentrated troops, overwhelmed his troops, ..., ii′ 20′ the leaders of his army, his brothers, his governors, and his third-men from the city Ishhupri to Memphis, a distance of fifteen days march. By the command of the god Ashur, every day, without ceasing, I set up my order of battle for combat .... I slaughtered their ... like sheep and goats. ... ii′ 25′ who had fled from my fierce weapons ... they came out and before the gate of ... ... Taharqa, the king of Kush, ... to save his servants ...

... regular ... baked bricks ... ... tribute and ... precious stones without number i′ 5′ ... ... they blackened ... the seed of his father's house, descendants of earlier kings, ditto; ... of his house, third-men, charioteers, ..., ... rein-holders, archers, shield bearers, ditto; ... ..., incantation priests, dream interpreters, i′ 10′ ... veterinarians, Egyptian scribes, ..., snake-charmers, together with their helpers, ditto; ..., kashiru-craftsmen, singers, bakers, ..., brewers, together with their supply managers, ditto; ... clothes menders, hunters, leather workers, ditto; i′ 15′ ... wheelwrights, shipwrights ... of their ..., ditto; ... iron-smiths, ditto,

... ...-an: PN; over the city Mukin-palê-kussishû: A...; over the city Mahri-garê-sharri: Sha...; over the city Ashur-massu-urappish: Shi-Huru ...; ii′ 5′ over the city Ashur-nasih-gallî: Puti-...; over the city Limmer-ishâk-Ashur: Shulmu-...; over the city Kar-Banite: Sîn-napishti-...; over the cities Bit-Marduk, Sha-Ashur-taru, and ...; Urdu-Nanaya, my marshal, to ...; ii′ 10′ Uarbisi in the city ...; Kishir-Ishtar in the city Sha-emuq-Ashur ....

Sattukku and ginû offerings for the god Ashur and the great gods ... 6 talents, 19 minas of gold, 300 ..., 1,586 bolts of woven linen, ...+7 homers ... ii′ 15′ ...+24 ebony, 199 leather ...+40 stallions, 24 ..., 30,418 sheep, 10+... 19,323 homers, measured by 1 seah, of malt, ... my lordly tribute, yearly ... the message of the god Ashur, my lord, ... boat ... ... ...

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 Ashur 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 —

... from former days in the courtyard of Emashmash ... its area was too small; moreover, the temple of the god Shamash ... ... ...

... ... ... ... may a future ruler, whom ... name to shepherd the land and people, read an inscription written in my name when those shrines become old and 5′ dilapidated, 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 Shamash order good things for him monthly, without ceasing.

Ululu VI, twentieth day, eponymy of Abi-ramu, grand vizier sukkallu rabû 677 BC.

Esarhaddon, ... king, ... king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of Sumer and Akkad, pious prince, humble, ... who knows how to revere all of the gods and goddesses, ... ...

... ... ... and the immutable words from their lips may they Sîn and Shamash discuss with one another ... my heart, 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 Shamash select and name to rule the lands and people, renovate the dilapidated sections of these shrines when they become old and dilapidated, 10′ 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 Shamash order good things for him monthly, without ceasing.

..., governor of the land Hanigalbat.

Esarhaddon, ... king, ... king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of Sumer and Akkad, pious prince, humble, ... who knows how to revere all of the gods and goddesses, of fine intellect, ... ... who from his youth ... 5 whom ... to renew ... the one who reconstructed the temple of the god Ashur, ... respectful king, the one who completed ...; son of Sennacherib, king of ... the images of the gods Sîn, Ningal, ... made and ... ... the cella, which he did not build as their lordly living quarters, ... —

I, Esarhaddon, king of the world, king of Assyria, ... the temple of the gods Sîn, Ningal, Shamash, and Aya ... in the citadel of the city of Nineveh as residence of .... 15 In a favorable month, on a propitious day, I laid its foundations upon that terrace with limestone, strong stone from the mountains, .... I built and completed that temple in its entirety. .... I roofed it with magnificent cedar beams ... and I fastened bands of silver and copper on doors of cypress, whose fragrance is sweet, and installed them in its gates. 20 I ... whatever utensils were needed for the temple, whether silver or gold .... When I had completed that temple and brought its construction to an end ... the gods Sîn, Ningal, Shamash, and Aya, the great gods, ... monthly, without ceasing.

Thereupon, may the gods Sîn and Shamash, the great lords, ... ... me — Esarhaddon, the king, favorite ...; in their appearance at the height of heaven and in the month Nisannu I, ... good omens concerning the lengthening of my days ... ...; and by their immutable command discuss with one another my reaching extreme old age, the abundance of my offspring, the increase of my progeny, .... 30 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 Shamash 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 Shamash order good things for him monthly, without ceasing.

Month ....

Ashur-etel-ilani-mukin-apli, the senior son of the king, who resides in the House of Succession, ... ... is complete, surpassing in intelligence, ... whose mind has learned ... of all of the experts, ...; son of Sennacherib, king of the world and king of Assyria; descendant of Sargon II, king of the world and king of Assyria —

... in the city Bashi Bazu ...

... when I brought its construction to an end, ... I invited ... into it, and I offered sumptuous pure offerings before them and I presented them with my gifts.

Those gods, in their steadfast hearts, truly blessed me. ... ... in that small palace. May ... last forever and ever. May they never leave it the palace.

....

... ... ... its site had become too small and not ... ... ... my wish ... a small palace for my princely residence ... 5′ ... I built and completed it from its foundations to its parapets ... ... he returned ... ... ... days ... ... ... ...

... ... ... situated ... all of my army ... ... ... army of the enemy, I called and ... ... 5′ which I constantly did ... ... Taharqa, king of Kush, together with his entire army ... I counted his wives, his concubines, his sons, ... everything else, which was without number, as booty ... I assigned ... to my servants. A march of ... my ... ... Assyria ...

... Esarhaddon ... chosen by the god Ashur, my lord, ... a good shedu, which is in ... Egypt and Meluhha ... palace of Sennacherib, ... Sargon II, king of the four quarters, ...

king of the world, king of Assyria; son of Sennacherib, great king, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria —

As for the temple of the goddess Ishtar of Nineveh, his lady, the one who reconstructed the temple of the god Ashur and rebuilt Esagil and Babylon, for the preservation of his life, the lengthening of his days, the well-being of his offspring, and the overthrow of his enemies, he Esarhaddon ordered the dilapidated temple torn down ... ... ...

... opened ...; whom she selected and raised for kingship; ... king of the four quarters, favorite of the great gods, ...; the one who is assiduous towards the shrines of their great divinity; ... 5′ ... ... the god Ea, king of the apsû, ... shrines; who ...; who returned the plundered gods of the lands to their places and seated them on their eternal daises; ...; who reconfirmed sattukku- and ginû-offerings in them; ... their ... the great gods ... 10′ ... made them enter and sit ...; who ... all of the people under my protection, as many as there are; ... without ceasing; who observes the days of the god and the esheshu-festival ...

... ... ...

... the gods Ninurta, Adad, ... the gods of Assyria, all of them, into it. I made sumptuous pure offerings before them and presented them with my gifts. ... I seated all of the officials and people of my country in it at festive tables, ceremonial meals, and banquets ... ... ... I had my servants drench their the guests' heads with fine oil and perfumed oil. ... ... ...

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 Karduniash Babylonia.

... Esarhaddon ... booty from Kush ....

The palace of Esarhaddon, ... king of the world, king of Assyria, son of Sennacherib, ....

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 Karduniash Babylonia, ....

The palace of Esarhaddon, great king, mighty king, ....

... ... ... when they were coming to Nineveh ... when they were clothing him in linen and garments with multicolored trim, putting gold rings on his hands and ... his ..., then he no longer said 'woe!' and no longer uttered cries of mourning.

He Nabû-zer-kitti-lishir 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-zer-kitti-lishir, 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. 10′ Because he failed to keep the oath of the god Ashur, his lord, they killed him with the sword in the midst of the land Elam. Na'id-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.

As for Bel-iqisha, whose residence is located twelve leagues distance in the midst of swamps and canebrakes, the awe-inspiring terror of my lordship overwhelmed him and unprovoked fear fell upon him. He came before me to serve me and now he kisses my feet.

The people of the city Arzâ, whose king Asuhili threw off my yoke, I threw them into fetters and brought them to Assyria.

I struck with the sword Teushpâ, a Cimmerian, with his entire army, in the territory of the land Hubushnu, and I imposed upon him a heavy tribute.

... ... ... Ba'alu, king of Tyre, who dwells in the midst of the sea, ... who trusted in ... and who threw off my yoke, ... the god Ashur, king of the gods, and the splendor of my lordship rev. 5′ ... kneeling and beseeched my lordship ... ... heavy tribute, his daughters with their dowries, ... all of his annual giving which he had stopped, ... and he kissed my feet. ... I took away from him cities of his that were on on dry land ... I established and I returned to Assyrian territory ... I assigned to Badi-... ...

... the reign ....

Nabû-zer-kitti-lishir, 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 Ashur, Sîn, Shamash, Bel, and Nabû imposed a grievous punishment on him and they killed him with the sword in the midst of the land Elam. 5′ Na'id-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 Na'id-Marduk and Ummanigash Huban-nikash, his brother, and I made the Sealand subject to him Na'id-Marduk. I imposed upon him the tribute and payment of my lordship yearly, without ceasing.

As for Bel-iqisha, son of Bunnannu, a Gambulian whose residence is located twelve leagues distance in swamps and canebrakes, 10′ fear of the god Ashur, 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 Sha-pi-Bel, 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.

I conquered the city Arzâ, which is in the district of the Brook of Egypt, and threw Asuhili, its king, together with his counselors, into fetters and brought him to Assyria, ... heavy .... I bound him like a pig near the citadel gate of the city of Nineveh and seated him therein.

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 rev. 5 imposed it on him. Later, Hazael died and I placed Ia'utâ Iata', 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 ..., to exercise kingship, incited all of the Arabs to rebel against Ia'utâ Iata'.

I, Esarhaddon, who loves loyalty and abhors treachery, sent archers, cavalry, and forces to the aid of Ia'utâ Iata'. I subdued and subjected Uabu for him. I threw Uabu, together with all of the soldiers who were with him, into fetters and brought them here and bound them to the left side of the citadel gate of the city of Nineveh.

... ... ... Abdi-Milkuti, king of Sidon ... Sanda-uarri, king of the lands Kundu and Sissû ... ... ...

No translation possible

He Nabû-zer-kitti-lishir fled like a fox to the land Elam. Because of the oath of the great gods which he had transgressed, the gods Ashur and Shamash imposed a grievous punishment on him and they killed him with the sword in the midst of the land Elam. Na'id-Marduk, his brother, saw the deeds that they had done to his brother in Elam.

... who did not keep the oath of the god Ashur, king of the gods, who did not fear my lordship, ... ..., robbers, thieves, or those who had sinned, those who had shed blood, ... officials, governors, overseers, leaders, and soldiers who fled to the land Shubria ... thus I wrote to him, saying: "Have a herald summon these people in your land and ii 5 ... gather them and do not release a single man; ... have them brought before the goddess Piriggal, the great lady, in the temple; ... ... a message concerning the preservation of their lives ... ... let them take the road to Assyria with my messenger."

... he forgot the good ... that saved his life ...s of Assyria, my servants, before him ... ... ... together with a standard in the hands of the messenger of .... He repeated to me whatever they answered him. ... my mood became angry ... ... ... ... ...

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 'Ahulap!' again and again to the heroic Ashur, 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 Ashur made mighty his weapons and whom he made greater than the kings, his ancestors — let the land Shubria, 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 Ashur and praise your heroism. May the one who is neglectful of the god Ashur, 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 20 I said thus: 'The nobles, my advisors, spoke unwholesome lies to me. Consequently I committed a great sin against the god Ashur 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,

thus I said to him, saying: "Did you ever hear a mighty king give his order twice? But I am an almighty king and I have written to you three times and you have not listened to the words of my lips! You had no fear of deceiving me and you paid no attention to my messages. You began war and battle against me and by so doing you called up the fierce weapons of the god Ashur from their sheaths."

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 'Ahulap!' to him.

Moreover, against the city Uppume, his royal city, which is situated like a cloud atop a mighty mountain, I had soldiers construct, laboriously and with great difficulty, a ramp by piling up dirt, wood, and stones. I made it taboo for him to stand atop the wall of his city. ...

While I was marching about victoriously in the midst of that district, in Ululu VI, the twenty-first day, an evil day, a bad day, the birthday of the asakku-demon, in the dead of night, they sprinkled with naphtha the ramp that I constructed against Uppume, his royal city, and set fire to it. ii 5 By the command of the god Marduk, king of the gods, the north wind, the sweet breeze of the lord of the gods, blew and turned the tongues of roaring flame back on the city Uppume. The fire did not seize the ramp ... it burned its wall and turned it into ashes. ... my troops crossed over the siege wall to do battle and combat; ... they attacked them like a ... and established their defeat. ii 10 ... ... them and they built towers of their skulls; they hung their ... on stakes and completely surrounded their city with them. After I achieved my victory and did everything I pleased, I took ... and set up my camp by the city Uppume.

... ... he saw the ramp that I had constructed against him and he, the one who had given himself the unfortunate advice, who had endangered his own life, who had turned to his ... ..., who caused the destruction of his inhabited settlements, and ... and who had dissipated his well-organized army, he made a statue of ... and clothed it with sackcloth. He placed it in ... fetters, as befitted slavery, ii 20 made it hold a grindstone for milling in its .... Like a replica of skin, he applied a skin of red gold ... and placed the statue in the hands of Sher-... and ...gi-Teshup, his sons, and sent it out before me to make me have pity on him and to save his life.

Thus they said to me: "Put the ... ... crimes and disobedience on the asakku-demon. Let me come to sing your praises. Let me alone ... ... all of the arrogant enemies. Let the unsubmissive ... ... and let the disrespectful honor your lordship."

Thus I wrote him the king of Shubria, saying: "These ... ... before an offering. Like an idiot ... ... you bathe after your offerings! Like ... ... ... you put in drain pipes after the rain! Thus ... the highest divine orders have been spoken twice. Your days have elapsed! Your ... has arrived! Your appointed time is here! Let ... be .... At the command of the gods of heaven and netherworld ... ... came forth for the destruction of your land. ii 35 ... ... the carrying off of your people was decreed. ... ... is firmly fixed and its place cannot be changed. ... who appeases the heart of the god ..., ... ... did not turn back ... ... their utterances." ... I did not say 'Ahulap!' to him ... my angry mood

... ... ... ... ... he plundered it ... they brought ... before me.

I carried off to Assyria ..., which was more numerous than locusts, ... from the midst of the land Shubria. I gave ... ... as a gift to the gods Ashur, Mullissu, Sherua, ..., Ninurta, Gula, Nergal, Ishtar of Nineveh, Ishtar of Arbela, and Nusku, ... who march at my side and kill my enemies, ... ... of my ..., who allow me attain everything I want.

I examined and selected ... ... ..., soldiers, skilled in battle and combat, iii 15′ from ... and I attached them to my royal guard. With regard to ... ..., a group of charioteers, a group of cavalry, commanders of ..., officials, engineers, troops, light troops, shield bearers, scouts, farmers, shepherds, and orchard keepers — I added them in great numbers to the massive forces of the god Ashur and to the guard of the former kings, my ancestors, and I filled Assyria in its entirety like a quiver. I distributed the rest of them like sheep and goats among my palaces, my nobles, the entourage of my palace, and the citizens of Nineveh, Calah, Kalzu, and Arbela.

As for all of the runaway fugitives who had abandoned their owners and fled to the land Shubria, ... ... I cut off their hands and removed their noses, eyes, and ears. iii 25′ As for ... who had not run away to another country, I punished them. I returned every ... ... to their text: "his" land and to their owners. ... and they celebrated, rejoiced and blessed my kingship.

... ... concerning the Urartians who had fled from Urartu to the land Shubria and about whom Ursa, king of Urartu, wrote, he the king of Shubria did not listen to his command, iii 30′ did not agree to give them back, wrote to him Ursa in anger, and replied with hostility. After I captured the land Shubria with the help of the god Ashur, my lord, and counted his people as booty, in order to keep the treaty and because of the truth and justice the great gods gave to me, I inquired, questioned, investigated, and denounced those people. I did not hold back a single Urartian fugitive and not one escaped. I returned them to their land.

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.

very good and beautiful .... Those cities which I ...., demolished, destroyed, burned with fire, ... through the strength of the god Ashur, my lord, I returned by the command of the god Ashur, my lord, and ... ... I built and completed those cities from their foundations to their parapets.

I changed the former names of the cities Kullimeri, Markuha, Kalzu, ... ... 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 Ashur, my lord, by so-and-so. One charioteer, two cavalrymen, and three scouts are dead.

Their list gloss: the cities Ashur-massu-uter, Mannu-shanin-Ashur, Ashur-mannu-ishannan, Abat-Ashur-la-teni, Abat-sharri-la-teni, Mannu-lishissu, Kunush-la-kanshu, Liter-ay-imti, amirshu-liglud, Mushakshid-nakiri, Kashissu-lilbur, Shabissu-likun, Lilbur-munih-libbi-Ashur, Dur-Esarhaddon, Shanini-ay-irshi, iv 20′ Shipir-shulmi-amat-sharrishu, Pilahma-matka-shallim, La-iplah-massu-ihpi, Ashur-inar-garû'a, Ashur-nirshu-urappish, and Ashur-nirka-urappish.

... no happy person was walking its streets, no merrymaker was encountered; I cut off the traffic of ... from the meeting place of the fortified city; ... in their frightened cities, the fox and hyena made dens; ... I drove out ..., rebellion, disorder, and ... ... good, ... ...; that diviner will gather ... ...; ... I/he will send ... ... to them.

... ... ... I divided that land in two, and placed two of my officials over them as governors. I settled in it ... I placed Bi-ilu in the city Uppumu ... and Bel-iddina in the city Kullimeri. I restored it to Assyrian territory and reorganized that province. I imposed the tribute and payment of my lordship yearly, without ceasing upon them.

In my tenth campaign, the god Ashur ... had me take ... and made me set out to Magan and Meluhha, which are called Kush and Egypt in their native tongue. I mustered the vast troops of the god Ashur, who are in .... 10′ In Nisannu I, the first month, I set out from my city, Ashur, and crossed the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers when they were at flood level, and marched over difficult mountains like a wild bull.

In the course of my campaign, I set up fortifications against Ba'alu, the king of Tyre, who trusted in his friend Taharqa, the king of Kush, threw off the yoke of the god Ashur, my lord, and kept answering me with insolence. I cut off the supply of food and water that sustained their lives. 15′ I removed my camp from this so-called 'Egypt' and headed straight for Meluhha, covering a distance of thirty leagues from the city Aphek, which is in the region of Samaria, to the city Raphia Rapihu, 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.

In accordance with the command of the god Ashur, my lord, it occurred to me and my heart prompted me and thus I collected camels from all of the Arab kings and loaded them with water skins and water containers. I advanced twenty leagues distance, a journey of fifteen days, over difficult sand dunes, where one is always thirsty. I went four leagues distance through terrain full of alum, mushu-stones, and .... rev. 5 I trampled over four leagues distance, a journey of two days, through terrain full of two-headed snakes ... ... whose venom is deadly and I crossed over four leagues distance, a journey of two days through terrain full of ... flying green dragonflies. ... four leagues distance, a journey of two days ... ... I advanced sixteen leagues distance, a journey of eight days ... ... very much.

The god Marduk, the great lord, came to my aid ... rev. 10 he revived my troops. Twenty days and seven ... of the border of Egypt, I stayed overnight. ... from the city Migdol to Memphis ... I advanced a distance of forty leagues ... that terrain is like gazelle-tooth stone ... rev. 15 like the head of an arrow ... blood and gore ... ... a dangerous enemy, together with ... to the city Ishupri ... ... ...

... whose country is remote, ... I besieged and plundered it.

... the chieftain of the city Partukka, ... Medes whose country is remote, ... large thoroughbreds and blocks of lapis lazuli, hewn from its mountain, ... they kissed my feet ... I imposed ... upon them.

... borders Mount Bikni ... mighty chieftains ... I counted as booty. I ... them.

... ... water channels ... ... like ... ... ..., horses, he constantly ... Kush, black Meluhhians, ... ... with whom he formed a confederation ... a difficult place ... ... ... ... ... the goddess Erua ... ... ...

No translation possible

... ... I did not take ... my ... I set out and ... in the neighborhood of the city of the Brook of Egypt, a place that has no rivers ... water drawn by bucket ... where thirst and hunger ....

In accordance with the god Ashur, my lord and by my own intelligence, it occurred to me ... in water skins and bags ... where snakes and scorpions ... in its midst, he heard my prayer ... The god Adad produced heat lightning high over the entire sky. In the city ... intertwined trees that I saw, the light ... ... ...

... he returned ... which she had entrusted to me ... she stood at my side ... ... she brought about ... and poverty ... 5′ ... the great gods, as many as there are, ... me — Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, ... of the great gods, king of the upper and lower lands — ... in the womb of my mother, who bore me, ... to exercise the lordship of all lands ... ... 10′ ... they invoked the heart of the god Ashur and ... ... Kush, which none of my ancestors ... they were sending but not returning ... ... a place where no bird flaps its wings ...

No translation possible

I took out ashgigû-stones, like ...-stone ... horses whose ... are ... gold ... I brought out and 600 of his wives ... N+600 princesses, ... ... ... ... ... ...

... submissive ... 5′ ... ... governor of Babylon, ... judicious prince, ... ... reverent king, ... chosen in the month ... ... his land ...

... ... full, thin ... ... ... the god Sîn, they were paying constant attention ... the goddess Ningal and the god Nusku, in the midst of the land. 5′′ ... will establish good things ... what is required by the great gods ... the god Nannar ... set straight; ... organization of their rites 10′′ ... goddesses ... he fixed ... ... 15′′ ... divination ... their ... ... let it grow old ... ...

... ... ... Assyria ... he/I fixed ... with my spoken word ... they imposed upon him and he died.

No translation possible

... Taharqa ... ... I took it away from him ... earlier ... gave rev. 20′ ... king of the world, his son, ... ... lord ... in ... ... personal attendants, his wives, ... ... without number; gold, silver, precious stones, property ... I carried off to Assyria. rev. 25′ Herds of oxen, sheep and goats, ... ... The kings and governors ... I established and ... my yoke; ... sattukku and ginû offerings ... rev. 30′ eight oxen, 370 ... in tribute and payment ...

At that time, a statue of ...

... ... ... I established ... by means of arrows, I inflicted Taharqa ... five times with wounds ... boat-towers ... Memphis ... ... ...

No translation possible

... his ally ... I trusted ... ... ... ... in his city 5 ... Abdi-Milkuti, king of Sidon, ... were fixed and they were listening ... Sidon ... he heard the mention of my name ... overwhelmed him ... ... ... ...

... ... herald ... my heart became angry ... against Abdi-Milkuti ... 5 not fearing the lord of lords ..., who like a bear ... the lordship of the god Ashur, my lord, ... to the god Ashur, my lord, ... the king of Sidon ... the god Ashur, my lord, ... ... to appease his divine heart ... awesome sheen ... I sent ...

... to perform that work ... their eternal protection ... ... evil years, ... days ... plotting murder, not ... 5′ ... in confusion ... their ... ... and they dyed red ... ... ... gods to ... ... to exercise my kingship ... Esarhaddon, who trusts him, ... their exalted divinity ... ... ...

... ... ... entrusted ... to me ... Lower Egypt, Upper Egypt ... ... he established ... 5′ ... where I trod, the border of ... Karduniash Babylonia ... ... ... ... which is in the midst of ...

I, Esarhaddon, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, the one who reveres the great gods and pacifies the mood of 5 the gods Anu and Ashur, beloved of the god Marduk and the goddess Zarpanitu, who is assiduous towards the shrines of the god Nabû and the goddess Tashmetu, the one who reconstructed the temple of the god Ashur and rebuilt Esagil and Babylon, 10 whom the god Ashur, the father of the gods, called by name to the kingship of Assyria and the governorship of Sumer and Akkad —

The goddess Ishtar, ..., gave me a royal destiny as a gift while I was still in the womb of my mother. To refurbish the gods ... ... ...

god ... ... ... I erected ... to make ... on my neck ... rev. 5′ will restore the rites ... may all of the great gods be present for my entreaties and expressions of humility, and let them receive my prayers. Every year rev. 10′ 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.

That which is written on the symbols of the gods that are around the neck of the king.

I, Esarhaddon, ... favorite of the god Enlil, pious man, beloved of the god Marduk and the goddess Zarpanitu, true shepherd, ... of the great gods, expert governor, ... of the god Son-of-Bel Nabû, 5 judicious ruler, ... shrines, the one entrusted with the sattukku offerings, ... of the daises, the one who brings abundance to the temples, ... and cult centers; the one who reconfirmed the cereal offerings, ... everything, who makes the cult centers shine and completes their rites; 10 the one who knows the totality of everything, ... ... everything, ... ... plains, ..., fallen; the one who makes good the damages suffered by the weak, holds the hand of the feeble; ... ... with ... cripples; ... truth; ... criminals; ... ... ... ... ...

... ... ... ... the god Bel, the mood ... From my youth, my ancestors ... ... ... he gave me to shepherd the black-headed people ... the god Ashur ... in all of their lands, he killed my enemies ...; he subdued all of the unsubmissive and now they kiss my feet. Moreover, I care for the ginû and sattukku offerings and ....

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 ...; and may he not experience evil. ... ... the praises of the great lord, the god Marduk.

Written on the pedestal of the great lord, the god Marduk.

I, Esarhaddon, knowledgeable, intelligent, expert, cautious, ... ... who performs the work of ..., foremost one, who is assiduous towards the shrines ... ... ... goddess ... goddess ...

No translation possible

... ... to ... and ... hand of the goddess ... iii 5′ purification priests, ... lamentation priests, ... ... praise of his heroism ... singers with lyres ... all of my troops ... iii 10′ ... ... in the quay ... ... for one league ... pure sheep ... morning repast ... iii 15′ the god Nabû, son of ... ... ... the god Nergal ... ... ...

... Esagil ... heaven and netherworld to ... I irrigated; I ... the great gods of heaven and netherworld, the people ... made bow down to his feet, overwhelmed his enemies, ... ...

As for the residence of the god Ashur, Esharra, 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 Ehursaggalkurkura, 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.

Written on the pedestal of the statue of the god Bel. Like its original, written and collated. Tablet belonging to Marduk-shakin-shumi, the young apprentice scribe. Written by Nabû-zera-ikshur, scribe, son of Ina-teshî-etir, scribe and descendant of Nabû-nashir, scribe.

The palace of Esarhaddon, great king, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria, descendant of Sennacherib, great king, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria, ... ... ...

... which/that ... ... official ... ... which/that ...

foremost son of Sennacherib, king of the world and king of Assyria; grandson of Sargon II, king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of Sumer and Akkad; descendant of the eternal line of Bel-bani, king of Assyria, 5′ ancient stock, whose place of ultimate origin is Baltil Ashur, governor of Babylon, ... who holds the nose-ropes of ... shepherd of the black-headed people ...

... ... ...

... the goddess Tashmetu, the goddess ... great queen ... whom she selected and raised for kingship ... king of the four quarters, favorite of the great gods, ... 5′ ... the one who rebuilt Esagil and Babylon, ..., who made them dwell on their eternal daises, ..., who reconfirmed the sattukku and ginû offerings in them, ... who does not fail to make offerings and fulfill rites, who observes the days of the god and the esheshu-festival, ... made take up his weapons to overthrow the enemies of Assyria, ... 10′ ..., who had ... and who found no rival ..., who marched freely from the rising sun to the setting sun and ... before him ... ...

... ... ... the Enlil of the gods, ... the sun of all of the people, ... eternal royal seed, precious offspring of Baltil Ashur ... who sets straight ... ... ...

No translation possible

the great gods were truly created in Esharra, the temple of their progenitor, and they grew beautiful in figure. I sumptuously adorned their features with red shariru-gold, the creation of Mount Arallu and an ore from its mountain. I adorned their necks and covered their chests with magnificent ornaments and precious jewelry, iv 5 all that the great lord, the god Marduk, had in mind and that the queen, the goddess Zarpanitu, wanted. They fashioned images of their great divinity more artfully than before and greatly adorned them. They provided them with awe-inspiring vigor and made them shine like the sun.

... for the goddess Tashmetu, the great lady, who lives in Eumusha. iv 10 ... who lives in Esabad ... the gods Abshushu and Abtagigi of Egishhurankia ... ... who live in Esagil ... established and gave ... ... Babylon

... ... ... the gods of Sumer and Akkad took the road to Babylon. Like tired foals which ... ... together in their assembly ... ... 5′ splendid .... As for me, Esarhaddon, the one who renewed the great gods, they decreed my fate and I made them enter Babylon in joy and rejoicing. I docked Maumusha "Boat of Command" at the quay of Babylon. 10′ They entered the orchards, groves, canals and gardens of Ekarzagina, a pure place where the craft of the exorcist, "the washing of the mouth," and "the opening of the mouth" are recited before the stars of heaven: the gods Ea, ...

... ... ... the goddess Nin... ... ... his important city ... 5′ ... his ..., the contributions of his eternal dais; I brought before him choice oxen, fattened sheep, strings of fish and birds, the abundance of the apsû which never lessens, ... honey, ghee, suitable for his pure sattukku offerings. 10′ I gave Shamash-shuma-ukin, my son, my offspring, as a present to the god Marduk and the goddess Zarpanitu. I presented them with tribute, payment, abundant gifts, and unceasing contributions as my gifts, and I looked after Adedihegal Edadihegal.

I placed at their service ramku-priests, pashishu-priests, ecstatics, those initiated in secret rites, purification priests, ashipu-priests, lamentation priests, and singers, who have mastered their entire craft.

No translation possible

No translation possible

... let him see their design. ... I measured their cords ... I installed them in their gates. ... its twins, like the heavens ... ... its lower course 10′ ... ... and ... to the god Ashur and the goddess Mullissu ... lock. I placed before him ... chief musicians, lamentation priests ... I decided ... ... like ... and ...

... sheep ... I imposed ... of my ... 20′ ... I imposed on the city Kar-Esarhaddon. ... three barley-homers of honey, ... which I imposed ... groats, ... homers of chufa from the city Kar-Ashur; of ... sheep, twenty-four homers of groats 25′ from the city Kar-bel-matati, which is called Sais in Egypt. Six homers of pinigu-flour, 70 homers of ... three barley-homers of honey, 612 ... from those lands which the god Ashur, the great lord, handed over to me, I imposed.

I decorated the sanctuaries of Sumer and Akkad with ... ..., gold, silver and precious stones, my plunder, and the booty of Egypt and Kush, which I captured with the help of the god Ashur, my lord, and I made them shine like daylight. 30′ I made ... and placed inside them. ... of the god Dagan, firstborn son of the king of the gods, the god Ashur, ... skilled architects who lay out plans ... I laid out its foundations as a replica of Pegasus.

I gathered together ... as one and I clothed .... I established the remission of their debts. I encouraged them ... and to plant orchards. I fashioned ... through the refining techniques of the god Ninagal in shining bronze. ... ... and gave it to the god Ea, my lord, as a gift. ... ..., which had become old, ... with skilled craftsmen, I laid its foundations.

I gave ... as a gift to the god Nabû, my lord. I built and completed .... The gods living in them ... of shining ... and a spade of red gold ... that had become old, I had built anew. rev. 5 ... I had ... made of silver and ... in Emashmash, the chapel of the goddess Mullissu, my lady. I renewed what was old of the ... of the god Nabû and the goddess Tashmetu, and repaired what had fallen off. ... ... in it and I made kneel before them. As for ... which had not been built previously in Nineveh, near the citadel gate, I had ... ... lions, anzû-birds, and lahmu-monsters made of silver and shining copper and ....

As for Ezida, the temple of the god Nabû, which is in Borsippa, I skillfully created gold ..., two wild bulls of silver, two wild bulls of bronze, two goat-fish of bronze, ... according to the techniques of the gods Kusibanda and Ninagal. As for ... the dais of destiny, the place of council of the god Nabû, the caretaker of all of heaven and netherworld, I skillfully fashioned ... of shining silver and ... a chariot of bright bronze. ... I skillfully fashioned ... ..., wild bulls of shining bronze and ....

As for Egashankalama, the temple of the goddess Ishtar, which is in Arbela, I overlaid it with silver and gold and made it shine like daylight. I had ... made of bronze and installed locks on its gates. I built ... ... inside it and surrounded its exterior .... After the goddess Ishtar, my lady, made my kingship greater than that of the kings, my ancestors, rev. 20 ... I expanded its features. As for the akitu-house of the steppe, the house of joyful singing, ... and I was restoring its rites, .... I built that ... with black and blue glazed baked bricks, ... timber, magnificent cedars and ... its load.

... Ululu VI, seventeenth day, ... before them ... they were bringing their offerings in good time ... with far-reaching intelligence and vast understanding ... I seated them inside the akitu-house and ... their ... rev. 30 I placed before them inside the akitu-house ...s, ten sheep, ten fowl, seven homers of wine, four homers of ... ..., groats, this image, for their divine meal, .... ... of my lord ... ... I made offerings to their ... rev. 35 ... I laid its foundations and secured its brickwork. ... ... I brought in; like ... ... residence of relaxation of ... returning ... together with the gods, her counselors, ... I brought her in and placed her in a peaceful dwelling.

... I laid its foundations and secured its brickwork. I brought ... into ... and Esheriga and I made them reside in their dwellings. ... ... of the god Nergal ... I made ... ... from silver, gold, and iron. ... the city Mushashir which ... ... which Sennacherib ... I skillfully fashioned from shining bronze ... ... ...

... his ... ... to establish my reign, to keep ... intact, ... my good deeds, the goddess ... wide ..., the statue, socle, and ... ... Esarhaddon, true shepherd ... the akitu-house, images ...

... ... ... merciful god, ... who resides in Ehulhul, ...:

Esarhaddon, great king, ..., pious prince, the one who ..., the one who loves truth, ... ... ... ...

Esarhaddon, great king, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria, appointed by the god Enlil, priest of the god Ashur; i 5 son of Sennacherib, great king, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria, appointed by the god Enlil, priest of the god Ashur; i 10 the king who has revered the utterances of the gods Ashur, Shamash, Bel, and Nabû and has extolled their might ever since his childhood;

by the broad knowledge and wide understanding that the sage of gods gave me, ... ...

they the gods named me for shepherding the land and people.

In order to give the land and the people verdicts of truth and justice, the gods Sîn and Shamash, the twin gods, took the road of truth and justice monthly.

They made their simultaneous appearance regularly on days ... and fourteen. Venus, the brightest of the stars, was seen in the west, ii 1 in the Path of the Ea-stars. Concerning the securing of the land and the reconciliation of its gods, it Venus ii 5 reached its hypsoma and then disappeared. Mars, the giver of decisions on the land Amurru, shone brightly in the Path of the Ea-stars and it revealed its sign ii 10 concerning the strengthening of the ruler and his land. Messages from ecstatics were constantly available.

Good signs occurred for me concerning the securing of the foundation of the throne of my priestly office forever. Favorable omens concerning ii 20 the securing of my throne and the prolongation of my reign came to me in dreams and through oracles. I saw those signs, was encouraged, and my mood felt good.

As for Baltil Ashur, the foremost cult city, whose privileged status had been established with that of the people of Anu and Enlil from early days and ii 35 whose kanakku-status ... — I, Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, love the inhabitants of Baltil Ashur ii 40 like my own precious life and thus it occurred to me and my heart prompted me to greatly increase their freedom more than before.

I wrote anew the tablet of their exemptions. I made them larger and bigger than before; I raised them up and glorified them. I exempted them from barley taxes and straw taxes, and from the dues levied on the quays and crossing points throughout my land. I established the remission of their debts and set up divine protection in their gates forever.

The former temple of the god Ashur, which Ushpia, my ancestor, priest of the god Ashur, first built, became dilapidated and Erishum I, son of Ilu-shuma, my ancestor, priest of the god Ashur, rebuilt it; one hundred and twenty-six years passed and it became dilapidated again, and Shamshi-Adad I, iii 25 son of Ila-kabkabi, my ancestor, priest of the god Ashur, rebuilt it; four hundred and thirty-four years passed and that temple was destroyed in a conflagration, and Shalmaneser I, son of Adad-narari I, my ancestor, priest of the god Ashur, rebuilt it; five hundred and eighty years passed and iii 35 the inner cella, the residence of the god Ashur, my lord, the bit-shahuru, the temple of the god Kubu, the temple of the god Dibar, and the temple of the god Ea became dilapidated, aged, and antique.

I was worried, afraid, and hesitant about renovating that temple. In the diviner's bowl, iv 1 the gods Shamash and Adad answered me with a firm 'yes' and they had their response concerning the rebuilding of that temple and the renovation of its chapel written on a liver.

I, Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, reverent king, pious prince, iv 10 favorite of the great gods, gathered the people conquered by me and made them take up hoe and basket. I razed that temple from its battlements to its foundations and mixed the mud for its revetment with oil, honey, iv 20 ghee, wine, and cedar resin. They made bricks in brickmolds of ivory, boxwood, ebony, musukkannu-wood, cedar, and cypress.

I, the pious slave who reveres him, put on an apron and made bricks with my own pure hands. iv 35 I let the people of the lands see the might of the god Ashur, my lord. I raised a basket on my head and carried it by myself. iv 40 I showed it to the people in order to inspire awe in the lands. The people of the lands, the brick makers, made bricks for one year in happiness, joy, and rejoicing.

In a favorable month, on a propitious day, I laid its foundations v 10 with limestone, a strong mountain stone, over gold, silver, stones, antimony, all kinds of aromatics, puru-oil, fine oil, honey, ghee, beer, and wine, and laid them on bedrock. v 15 I made foundation documents bearing inscriptions written in my name and placed them in it. I mixed its mortar with oil, fine oil, v 20 puru-oil, honey, ghee, and cedar resin. For the preservation of my life and the lengthening of my days, I carried v 25 the first brick on my neck and then laid its foundations and secured its brickwork.

When the second year arrived, I raised the top of Esharra, the residence of the god Ashur, my lord, to the sky. v 35 Above, I made it tower to the heavens, and below, I secured its foundations in the netherworld. I made Ehursaggula, v 40 the temple of the great mountain, glisten like the stars lit. "writing" of the firmament. I heaped it up like a mountain.

I built and completed that temple from its foundations to its parapets and filled it with splendor to be seen. vi 10 I roofed it with beams of cedar and cypress, grown on Mount Sirara and Mount Lebanon, whose fragrance is sweet. I fastened bands of gold on doors of cypress and installed them in its gates.

I restored the shrines, daises, cult platforms, and ruined ground plans; I made them good and made them shine vi 20 like the sun. Its top was high and reached the heavens; below, its foundations were entwined with the apsû. I made anew whatever furnishings vi 25 were needed for Esharra and put them in it.

I had the god Ashur, king of the gods, dwell in his lordly, sublime chapel on his eternal dais and I placed the gods Ninurta, Nusku, and all of the gods and goddesses in their stations vi 35 to the right and left. I slaughtered a fattened bull and butchered sheep; I killed birds of the heavens and fish from the apsû, vii 1 without number; and I piled up before them the harvest of the sea and the abundance of the mountains. The burning of incense, vii 5 a fragrance of sweet resin, covered the wide heavens like heavy fog. I presented them with gifts from the inhabited settlements, vii 10 their heavy audience gifts, and I gave them gifts. I banned access to A.RI.A.TA.BAR, that is 'Foreign Seed,' from its midst and appeased his Ashur's anger.

The god Ashur, king of the gods, truly looked on my good deeds and vii 20 his heart became joyful, his mood shone. He blessed me with a blessing of long days and vii 25 named me as the builder of the temple. I, together with my nobles and the people of my land, vii 30 held a celebration in the courtyard of Esharra for three days. I appeased the heart of his great divinity and placated his mood.

I made foundation inscriptions, wrote the deeds that I had done on them, and left them forever for future kings, my descendants.

May one of the kings, my descendants, whom the god Ashur names to rule over the land and people, read my foundation inscription, viii 10 anoint it with oil, make an offering, and return it to its place. The god Ashur will then hear his prayers.

As for the one who alters

May the god Ashur, king of the gods, look upon him with fury, overthrow his kingship, make his name and his seed disappear from the land, and have no pity on him.

Du'uzu IV, nineteenth day, eponymy of Itti-Adad-anenu, governor of Megiddo 679 BC.

Simanu III, ...th day, eponymy of Itti-Adad-anenu, governor of Megiddo 679 BC.

Esarhaddon, king of the world, king of Assyria, pious prince, beloved of the god Ashur and the goddess Mullissu, upon whom i 10 you placed your protection and whom you safeguarded for kingship, all of whose enemies ii 1 you killed and whose wish you caused him to attain, upon whose father's throne you placed in greatness, and whom you entrusted with the lordship of the lands; ii 10 son of Sennacherib, king of the world, king of Assyria, the one who made the statues of the god Ashur and the great gods; iii 1 descendant of Sargon II, king of the world, king of Assyria, who is assiduous towards the shrines of the god Ashur and the goddess Mullissu —

The former temple of the god Ashur that Shalmaneser I, son of Adad-narari I, king of Assyria, a ruler who came iii 15 before me, had built: Five hundred and eighty-six years passed and then it became dilapidated.

I did not change the location of that temple and I laid its foundations on gold, silver, iv 10 precious stones, aromatics, and hashuru-resin, and I secured its brickwork. v 1 I built and completed it, and greatly made it an object of wonder for the people.

I built it for my life, the prolongation of my days, the securing of my reign, the well-being of my seed, the safeguarding of the throne of my priestly office, the overthrowing of my enemies, the prospering of the harvest of Assyria, and the well-being of Assyria.

Esarhaddon, king of the world, king of Assyria, pious prince, beloved of the god Ashur and the goddess Mullissu, upon whom you placed your protection and whom you safeguarded for kingship, all of whose enemies you killed and i 10 whose wish you caused him to attain, upon whose father's throne you placed in greatness, and whom you entrusted with the lordship of the lands; son of Sennacherib, king of the world and king of Assyria; descendant of Sargon II, king of the world and king of Assyria —

The former temple of the god Ashur that Shalmaneser I, son of Adad-narari I, king of Assyria, a ruler who came before me, had built, became dilapidated: Five hundred and eighty-six years passed and ii 1 then it became dilapidated.

I did not change the location of that temple and I laid its foundations on gold, silver, precious stones, aromatics, and hashuru-resin, and I secured its brickwork. ii 10 I built and completed it, and greatly made it an object of wonder for the people.

I built it for my life, the prolongation of my days, the securing of my reign, the well-being of my seed, the safeguarding of the throne of my priestly office, the overthrowing of my enemies, the prospering of the harvest of Assyria, and the well-being of Assyria.

Moreover, I struck with the sword Teushpâ, a Cimmerian, together with his entire army, in the territory of the land Hubushnu; I conquered Sidon, which is in the midst of the sea, caught Abdi-Milkuti, its king, like a fish, and cut off his head; I conquered the city Arzâ, which is in the neighborhood of the Brook of Egypt, threw Asuhili, its king, into fetters and took him to Assyria; I conquered the city Basu Bazu, a district in a remote place; I fixed the tribute of my lordship on Qanâ, king of Dilmun;

I conquered the land Shubria to its full extent; I killed with the sword Ik-Teshup, its king, who would not listen to the words of my command; I conquered Tyre, which is in the midst of the sea, and took away all of the cities and possessions of Ba'alu, its king, who had trusted in Taharqa, king of Kush; and I conquered Lower Egypt, Upper Egypt, and Kush, struck Taharqa, its king, five times with arrows, and ruled his entire land.

I wrote to all of the kings who are in the midst of the sea, from Yadnana Cyprus and Ionia to Tarsus, and they bowed down at my feet. I received their heavy tribute. I achieved victory over the rulers of the four quarters and I sprinkled the venom of death over all of my enemies. I carried off gold, silver, goods, possessions, people — young and old — horses, oxen, and sheep and goats, their heavy booty that was beyond counting, to Assyria.

I placed kings, governors, officials, and harbormasters over their lands, and I imposed the yoke of the god Ashur, my lord, upon them. I confirmed sattukku and ginû offerings for the god Ashur and the great gods, my lords, forever. I imposed upon them, yearly, without ceasing, the tribute and payment of my lordship and they now pull my yoke.

At that time, the former temple of the god Ashur that Shalmaneser I, son of Adad-narari I, son of Arik-den-ili, my ancestor, had built earlier, became dilapidated and old. I razed that temple and 20′ reached its foundation pit. I laid its foundations with limestone, a strong mountain stone, making it like bedrock. I built and completed it from its foundation to its parapets. I roofed it with magnificent cedar beams, grown on Mount Sirara, which I had cut down in the course of a campaign of mine.

I fastened bands of gold on doors of cypress, whose fragrance is sweet, and installed them in its gates. I overlaid the cella of the god Ashur, my lord, with gold and set up side by side lahmu-monsters and kuribu-genii made of red shariru-gold. I set up golden statues of creatures from the apsû on the right and left of the chapel of the god Ashur, my lord, and I covered its walls with gold as if it were plaster.

The dais of destiny, the lofty dais on which the god Ashur lives and where they the gods decree the destiny of heaven and netherworld, which the kings, my ancestors, had made of baked bricks and covered with silver zahalû, I now had it skillfully made of 180 talents of cast eshmarû-silver. I fashioned on it the dais my royal image shown praying to their divinity and imploring them constantly to give me life, and an image of Ashurbanipal, my crown prince.

I cast from shining bronze two bison positioned opposite each other, with their faces looking forward and backward, to bear the columns which support crossbeams forming the cornice in its gate and I set them up in the Gate of the Path of the Enlil-Stars. I had two fierce Deluge monsters made with skillful craftsmanship and I placed them in the Royal Gate, to the right and left of the gate. I also set up twin Deluge monsters cast of shining silver zahalû ... the Kamsu-Igigu Gate.

In that same year, I built anew Esagil, the palace of the gods, Imgur-Enlil, its Babylon's wall, and Nemed-Enlil, its Babylon's outer wall, from their text: "its" foundations to their text: "its" battlements, and made them much bigger than before.

The god Bel and the goddess Beltiya, the divine lovers, were created in the city Ashur by their own command and were truly born in Ehursaggalkurkura. The gods Belet-Babili, Ea, and Mandanu were made in the city Ashur, place of the creation of gods, and I completed their figures. I sumptuously adorned their features with fifty talents of red shariru-gold, the creation of Mount Arallu and an ore from its mountain that had not been refined. I adorned their necks and covered their chests with magnificent adornments and precious jewelry that greatly befitted their lordship.

They moved forward and went out from Ehursaggalkurkura radiantly, like the sun to the land. They took the road to Shuanna Babylon, a joyful path. From Baltil Ashur to the quay of Babylon, piles of brushwood were lit every third of a league and they slew 45′ fattened bulls at each league. Moreover, I, Esarhaddon, took the hand of his great divinity and ... before him. I had them joyfully enter into Babylon, their home city.

They the gods entered the orchards, groves, canals, and gardens of Ekarzagina, a pure place where the craft of the sage, "the washing of the mouth," "the opening of the mouth," "bathing," and "purification" were recited before the stars of heaven: the gods Ea, Shamash, Asalluhi, Belet-ili, Kusu, Ningirima, Ninkurra, Ninagal, Kusibanda, Ninildu, and Ninzadim. ... ... ...

The palace of Esarhaddon, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of Sumer and Akkad, son of Sennacherib, great king, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria — I had the gatehouse, which is in the palace in Baltil Ashur, built anew for coming and going and I firmly founded its foundation with white limestone.

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 the world and king of Assyria — I had the gatehouse, which is in the palace in Baltil Ashur, built anew for coming and going and I firmly founded its foundation with white limestone.

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 — I had the gatehouse, which is in the palace in Baltil Ashur, built anew for coming and going and I firmly founded its foundation with white limestone.

I, Esarhaddon, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of Sumer and Akkad; the one who reconstructed the temple of the god Ashur, rebuilt Esagil and Babylon, renewed the statues of the great gods; son of Sennacherib, king of the world and king of Assyria; descendant of Sargon II, king of Assyria — 5 during my kingship, when the god Ashur and the goddess Mullissu stretched out their protection over me and when the great gods called my name for lordship over the land and people, and when I made Ashurbanipal, the senior son of the king, enter the House of Succession, it was at that time, that I raised that terrace and built a palace for my royal residence on it.

Esarhaddon, king of the world, king of Assyria; son of Sennacherib, king of the world and king of Assyria; the one who reconstructed the temple of the god Ashur, rebuilt Esagil 5 and Babylon, ..., restored the shrines of cult centers, completed the rites and ..., 10 and reconfirmed the sattukku offerings ... of the great gods, am I.

... Esarhaddon, king of the world, king of ... son of Sennacherib ... the one who reconstructed the temple of the god Ashur, rebuilt ... ... ...

To the god Ashur, his lord: Esarhaddon, king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of all of Karduniash Babylonia, king of the kings of Lower Egypt, Upper Egypt, 5 and Kush, king of the four quarters, placed and gave this door socket for his long life, the prolongation of his days, and the well-being of his offspring.

To the god Ashur, his lord: Esarhaddon, king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of Karduniash Babylonia, 5 king of the kings of Lower Egypt, Upper Egypt, and Kush, gave this door socket for his long life and the well-being of his offspring.

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 the world and king of Assyria, descendant of Sargon II, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of Sumer and Akkad — an amphora filled with oil fit for princes, which was with the vast possessions and goods without number, the treasures of the palace of Abdi-Milkuti, the king of Sidon — which is in the midst of the sea — that my great hands captured with the help of the gods Ashur, Sîn, Shamash, Bel, Nabû, Ishtar of Nineveh, and Ishtar of Arbela.

The palace of Esarhaddon, great king, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of Sumer and Akkad, skilled in battle and warfare, who leveled his enemies, son of Sennacherib, king of the world and king of Assyria, descendant of Sargon II, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of Sumer and Akkad — an amphora filled with oil fit for princes, which was with the vast possessions and goods without number, the treasures of the palace of Abdi-Milkuti, the king of Sidon, that my great hands captured with the help of the gods Ashur, Sîn, Shamash, Bel, Nabû, Ishtar of Nineveh, and Ishtar of Arbela.

... king of Assyria, son of Sennacherib, ....

I, Ashur-etel-ilani-mukin-apli, king of the world, king of Assyria, son of Sennacherib, king of the world and king of Assyria, descendant of Sargon II, king of the world and king of Assyria; the one who reconstructed the temple of the god Ashur, 5 rebuilt Esagil and Babylon, restored the shrines of cult centers, completed the rites, and reconfirmed the offerings of the great gods; I am also the one who knows how to greatly revere the gods and goddesses of heaven and netherworld.

I, Ashur-etel-ilani-mukin-apli, king of the world, king of Assyria, son of Sennacherib, 5 king of the world and king of Assyria, descendant of Sargon II, king of the world and king of Assyria; the one who reconstructed the temple of the god Ashur, rebuilt Esagil 10 and Babylon, restored the shrines of cult centers, completed 15 the rites, and reconfirmed the offerings of the great gods, am I.

The god Ashur ... great gods in its midst ... ... lasting ... ..., he was giving a command to Esarhaddon, ..., his chosen one, and he was ordering him. 5 He called his name for kingship to be the one who renovates Esharra and makes its cult complete, saying: "Build lofty Esharra, the dais of my desire and make its design artful like the stars lit. "writing" of the firmament."

Esarhaddon, trusted ruler, the one who is rebuilding the temple of the god Ashur, mustered the workmen of the god Ashur from all of the settlements and mustered the rulers of all four quarters. They carried baskets to the capital city.

In Baltil Ashur, the lofty cult center, city of the king of the gods, the god Ashur, to perform the work on Esharra ... he Esarhaddon poured .... 15 Into ..., they mixed milk, ghee, fine oil, hashuru-resin, and mortar, and they made bricks. Big, small, the daughter of the king,

Esarhaddon, great king, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of Sumer and Akkad, the true shepherd who reorganized the confused people and made light shine forth for them; to whom the great gods gave as a gift the ability to create, build, and renew; 5 the one who reconstructed the temple of the god Ashur, rebuilt Esagil and Babylon, completed all of the cult centers, renewed the statues of the great gods, and who returned the plundered gods of the lands to their proper place from Assyria; who plated Egashankalama, the temple of the goddess Ishtar of Arbela, his lady, with silver zahalû and made it shine like daylight — I had lions, screaming anzû-birds, lahmu-monsters, and kuribu-genii fashioned from silver and copper and set them up in its entry doors.

The king, who with the help of the gods Ashur, Sîn, Shamash, Nabû, Marduk, Ishtar of Nineveh, and Ishtar of Arbela, marched freely from the Upper Sea to the Lower Sea and made all of his enemies and the rulers who were unsubmissive to him bow down at his feet; 15 the one who conquered the city Sidon, which is in the midst of the sea, and the one who leveled all of its dwellings; the one who plundered the city Arzâ, which is in the neighborhood of the Brook of Egypt, and who threw Asuhili, its king, into fetters along with his counselors and brought them to Assyria; moreover, I am the one who struck with the sword Teushpâ, a Cimmerian, together with his entire army, in the territory of the land Hubushnu; the one who treads on the unsubmissive people of Cilicia;

the one who drove out Nabû-zer-kitti-lishir, son of Marduk-apla-iddina II Merodach-baladan; the one who sacked Bit-Dakkuri, which is in Chaldea, an enemy of Babylon; the one who captured Shamash-ibni, its king, a rogue and outlaw — I surrounded, captured, plundered, destroyed, devastated, and burned with fire the cities Handasu, Magalanu, Alpiyana, Dihranu, 25 Qatabu', Padê, and Uderu, fortified cities in the district of the land Bazu, together with small cities in its environs.

The one who crushed the Parnaki, a dangerous enemy, who live in the city Til-Ashurri, which is called Pittanu in the language of the people of the land Mehranu; 30 the one who scattered the Mannean people, undisciplined Gutians — as for the land Patusharra, a district in the area of the salt desert, which is in the midst of the land of the distant Medes, borders Mount Bikni, and upon the soil of whose land none of the kings, my ancestors, had walked, I carried off to Assyria Shidir-parna and E-parna, mighty chieftains, who were not submissive to my yoke, together with their people and their heavy plunder.

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, king of Sumer and Akkad —

At that time, by means of the prisoners from the lands that I had conquered with the help of the god Ashur, my lord, the arsenal, which was in Kalhu, that Shalmaneser III, king of Assyria, son of Ashurnasirpal II, a ruler who came before me, had built, had no terrace and its site had become too small.

As for me, Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, pious prince, to whom the prince, the god Ninshiku Ea, gave wisdom equal to that of the sage Adapa, that terrace was on my mind and I text: "he" thought about it. I incorporated unused land as an addition and raised the terrace with massive stone blocks from the mountains. 50 I raised its walls by 120 brick courses, built palatial halls for my royal residence upon it, and built and completed it from its foundations to its parapets. I roofed them with magnificent cedar beams, grown on Mount Amanus, and installed doors of cypress, whose fragrance is sweet, in their gates. I filled it with splendor making it an object of wonder for all of the people.

I made foundation inscriptions, had the might of the god Ashur, my lord, and the deeds that I had done written on them, and placed these inscriptions in them the foundations.

In the future, in far-off days, may a future ruler, one of the kings, my descendants, renovate its dilapidated sections. 60 May he read a foundation inscription written in my name, make an offering, anoint it with oil, write my name with his name, and return it to its place. The god Ninurta, son of the god Enlil, will then hear his prayers.

Abu V, fifth day, eponymy of Nabû-belu-ushur, governor of the city Dur-Sharrukku 672 BC.

Ayyaru II, eighteenth day, eponymy of Nabû-belu-ushur, governor of the city Dur-Sharrukku 672 BC, when the treaty concerning Ashurbanipal, the senior son of the king, who resides in the House of Succession, was made.

Esarhaddon, great king, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of Sumer and Akkad, the true shepherd who reorganized the confused people and made light shine forth for them; to whom the great gods gave as a gift the ability to create, build, and renew; 5 the one who reconstructed the temple of the god Ashur, rebuilt Esagil and Babylon, completed all of the cult centers, renewed the statues of the great gods, and who returned the plundered gods of the lands to their proper place from Assyria; who plated Egashankalama, the temple of the goddess Ishtar of Arbela, his lady, with silver zahalû and made it shine like daylight — I had lions, screaming anzû-birds, lahmu-monsters, and kuribu-genii fashioned from silver and copper and set them up in its entry doors.

The king, who with the help of the gods Ashur, Sîn, Shamash, Nabû, Marduk, Ishtar of Nineveh, and Ishtar of Arbela, marched freely from the Upper Sea to the Lower Sea and made all of his enemies and the rulers who were unsubmissive to him bow down at his feet; the one who conquered the city Sidon, which is in the midst of the sea, and the one who leveled all of its dwellings; 15 the one who plundered the city Arzâ, which is in the neighborhood of the Brook of Egypt, and who threw Asuhili, its king, into fetters along with his counselors and brought them to Assyria; moreover, I am the one who struck with the sword Teushpâ, a Cimmerian, together with his entire army, in the territory of the land Hubushnu; the one who treads on the unsubmissive people of Cilicia;

the one who drove out Nabû-zer-kitti-lishir, son of Marduk-apla-iddina II Merodach-baladan; 20 the one who sacked Bit-Dakkuri, which is in Chaldea, an enemy of Babylon; the one who captured Shamash-ibni, its king, a rogue and outlaw — I surrounded, captured, plundered, destroyed, devastated, and burned with fire the cities Handasu, Magalanu, Alpiyana, Dihranu, Qatabu', Padê, and Uderu, fortified cities in the district of the land Bazu, together with small cities in its environs.

The one who crushed the Barnaki, a dangerous enemy, who live in the city Til-Ashurri, which is called Pittanu in the language of the people of the land Mehranu; the one who scattered the Mannean people, undisciplined Gutians — as for the land Patusharra, a district in the area of the salt desert, which is in the midst of the land of the distant Medes, 30 borders Mount Bikni, and upon the soil of whose land none of the kings, my ancestors, had walked, I carried off to Assyria Shidir-parna and E-parna, mighty chieftains, who were not submissive to my yoke, together with their people and their heavy plunder.

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, king of Sumer and Akkad —

At that time, by means of the prisoners from the lands that I had conquered with the help of the god Ashur, my lord, I repaired and renovated the dilapidated parts of the ruined wall, city gates, and palaces, which are in Kalhu. I built and completed them and made them greater than ever before.

I made foundation inscriptions, had the might of the god Ashur, my lord, and the deeds that I had done written on them, and placed these inscriptions in them the foundations.

In the future, in far-off days, may a future ruler be like me and renovate their dilapidated sections and write my name with his name. The god Ninurta, son of the god Enlil, will then hear his prayers.

Ululu VI, tenth day, eponymy of Banbâ, deputy minister sukkallu shanû 676 BC.

Abu V, twenty-first day, eponymy of Banbâ, deputy minister sukkallu shanû 676 BC.

Abu V, twenty-fifth day, eponymy of Banbâ, deputy minister sukkallu shanû 676 BC.

Esarhaddon, great king, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of Sumer and Akkad, the true shepherd who reorganized the confused people and made light shine forth for them; to whom the great gods gave as a gift the ability to create, build, and renew; 5 the one who reconstructed the temple of the god Ashur, rebuilt Esagil and Babylon, completed all of the cult centers, renewed the statues of the great gods, and who returned the plundered gods of the lands to their proper place from Assyria; who plated Egashankalama, the temple of the goddess Ishtar of Arbela, his lady, with silver zahalû and made it shine like daylight — I had lions, screaming anzû-birds, lahmu-monsters, and kuribu-genii fashioned from silver and copper and set them up in its entry doors.

The king, who with the help of the gods Ashur, Sîn, Shamash, Nabû, Marduk, Ishtar of Nineveh, and Ishtar of Arbela, marched freely from the Upper Sea to the Lower Sea and made all of his enemies and the rulers who were unsubmissive to him bow down at his feet; the one who conquered the city Sidon, which is in the midst of the sea, and the one who leveled all of its dwellings; 15 the one who plundered the city Arzâ, which is in the neighborhood of the Brook of Egypt, and who threw Asuhili, its king, into fetters along with his counselors and brought them to Assyria; moreover, I am the one who struck with the sword Teushpâ, a Cimmerian, together with his entire army, in the territory of the land Hubushnu; the one who treads on the unsubmissive people of Cilicia;

the one who drove out Nabû-zer-kitti-lishir, son of Marduk-apla-iddina II Merodach-baladan; the one who sacked Bit-Dakkuri, which is in Chaldea, an enemy of Babylon; the one who captured Shamash-ibni, its king, a rogue and outlaw — I surrounded, captured, plundered, destroyed, devastated, and burned with fire the cities Handasu, Magalanu, Alpiyana, Dihranu, Qatabu', Padê, and Uderu, fortified cities in the district of the land Bazu, together with small cities in its environs.

The one who crushed the Parnaki, a dangerous enemy, who live in the land Til-Ashurri, which is called Pittanu in the language of the people of the land Mehranu; the one who scattered the Mannean people, undisciplined Gutians — as for the land Patusharra, a district in the area of the salt desert, which is in the midst of the land of the distant Medes, 30 borders Mount Bikni, and upon the soil of whose land none of the kings, my ancestors, had walked, I carried off to Assyria Shidir-parna and E-parna, mighty chieftains, who were not submissive to my yoke, together with their people and their heavy plunder.

No translation possible

... that ... ... bedrooms ... for the pleasure of Ashurbanipal, the senior son of the king, who resides in the House of Succession, my beloved son, whom the gods Ashur, Sîn, Shamash, Bel, Nabû, Nergal, Ishtar of Nineveh, and Ishtar of Arbela called to exercise kingship — I greatly enlarged its small ... ... I built and completed that palace from its foundations to its parapets. I roofed them with magnificent cedar beams, grown on Mount Amanus and 10′ installed doors of cypress, whose fragrance is sweet, in their gates. I filled it with splendor making it an object of wonder for all of the people.

I had a foundation inscription written in my name and written in the name of Ashurbanipal, the senior son of the king, who resides in the House of Succession, my beloved son, and placed this inscription in it.

... when that palace becomes old and dilapidated. ... ... ... and may he anoint it with oil, make an offering, and place it with an inscription written in his name. The god Ninurta, son of the god Enlil, will then hear his prayers.

Month ..., ...th day, eponymy of Nabû-belu-ushur, governor of Dur-Sharrukku 672 BC.

Son of Sennacherib, king of the world, king of Assyria, descendant of Sargon II, king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of Sumer and Akkad —

... that I had conquered with the help of the god Ashur, my lord, ... 5′ ... the armory, which is in Kalhu, ... — I made it greater than before. ... the previous kings, my ancestors, for the son ... a bit-hilani, a place for his leisure ... ... ... the sides of that building ... ... I incorporated unused land as an addition ... of the city ...

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 the world and king of Assyria, descendant of Sargon II, king of the world and king of Assyria — with regard to the armory, which is in Kalhu, that Shalmaneser III, king of Assyria, son of Ashurnasirpal II, a ruler who came before me, had built, I incorporated unused land as an addition to it, raised the terrace with massive stones from the mountains, and built a palace for my lordly pleasure on it.

The palace of Esarhaddon, great king, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of Sumer and Akkad — with regard to the armory, which is in Kalhu, that Shalmaneser III, king of Assyria, son of Ashurnasirpal II, a ruler who came before me, had built, I incorporated unused land as an addition to it, raised the terrace with massive stones from the mountains, and built palatial halls for my lordly pleasure on it — son of Sennacherib, king of the world and king of Assyria, descendant of Sargon II, king of the world and king of Assyria.

The palace of Esarhaddon, great king, 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, king of the four quarters.

The palace of Esarhaddon, great king, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of Sumer and Akkad; the one who reconstructed the temple of the god Ashur, rebuilt Esagil and Babylon, and renewed the statues of the great gods; king of Egypt, the one who defeated the king of Meluhha, king of the four quarters, son of Sennacherib, king of the world and king of Assyria, descendant of Sargon II, king of the world and king of Assyria.

The palace of Esarhaddon, great king, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of Sumer and Akkad; the one who reconstructed the temple of the god Ashur, rebuilt Esagil and Babylon, and renewed the statues of the great gods; king of Egypt, the one who defeated the king of Meluhha, son of Sennacherib, king of Assyria.

The palace of Esarhaddon, great king, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of Sumer and Akkad, king of Egypt, ..., the one who defeated the king of Meluhha, king of the four quarters, ...; the one who reconstructed the temple of the god Ashur, rebuilt Esagil and Babylon, ... 5 and renewed the statues of the great gods; son of Sennacherib, king of Assyria, descendant of Sargon II, king of Assyria.

... ... ... the one who raised the downfallen, avenger of ... ... capable ..., the one who provides pleasant protection over the people am I; son of Sennacherib, great king, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria; descendant of Sargon II, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of Sumer and Akkad; descendant of Bel-bani, son of Adasi, king of Assyria, ancient stock —

... the former Tebiltu canal that Ashurnasirpal II, a ruler who came before me, had dug from the Upper Zab over the plain of Kalhu ... — that canal, not turning ... ... ... clogged up with loose earth, ..., path, track ... ... 10 ... was filled with sediment deposits and thus became level with the ground. ... ... became ... and turned into an abandoned plot. All of the fruit and aromatics, as many as there are, ... ... its tall beams ... ... ... was devastated and ... furrow ... upon it ... not true ... ....

The palace of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, 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.

Palace of Esarhaddon, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria.

Property of Esarhaddon, king of the world, king of Assyria, son of Sennacherib, king of the world and king of Assyria, which was placed in the midst of the platform, more or less.

Esarhaddon, great king, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of Sumer and Akkad, the true shepherd who reorganized the confused people and made light shine forth for them; to whom the great gods gave as a gift the ability to create, build, and renew; the one who reconstructed the temple of the god Ashur, rebuilt Esagil and Babylon, completed all of the cult centers, renewed the statues of the great gods, and who returned the plundered gods of the lands to their proper place from Assyria; who plated Egashankalama, the temple of the goddess Ishtar of Arbela, his lady, with silver zahalû and made it shine like daylight — I had lions, screaming anzû-birds, lahmu-monsters, and kuribu-genii fashioned from silver and copper and set them up in its entry doors.

The king, who with the help of the gods Ashur, Sîn, Shamash, Nabû, Marduk, Ishtar of Nineveh, and Ishtar of Arbela, marched freely from the Upper Sea to the Lower Sea and made all of his enemies and the rulers who were unsubmissive to him bow down at his feet; the one who conquered the city Sidon, which is in the midst of the sea, and the one who leveled all of its dwellings; the one who plundered the city Arzâ, which is in the neighborhood of the Brook of Egypt, and who threw Asuhili, its king, into fetters along with his counselors and brought them to Assyria; moreover, I am the one who struck with the sword Teushpâ, a Cimmerian, together with his entire army, in the territory of the land Hubushnu; the one who treads on the unsubmissive people of Cilicia;

the one who drove out Nabû-zer-kitti-lishir, son of Marduk-apla-iddina II Merodach-baladan; the one who sacked Bit-Dakkuri, which is in Chaldea, an enemy of Babylon; the one who captured Shamash-ibni, its king, a rogue and outlaw — I surrounded, captured, plundered, destroyed, devastated, and burned with fire the cities Handasu, Magalanu, Alpiyana, Dihranu, Qatabu', Padê, and Uderu, fortified cities in the district of the land Bazu, together with small cities in their environs.

The one who crushed the Parnaki, a dangerous enemy, who live in the land Til-Ashurri, which is called Pittanu in the language of the people of the land Mehranu; the one who scattered the Mannean people, undisciplined Gutians — as for the land Patusharra, a district in the area of the salt desert, which is in the midst of the land of the distant Medes, borders Mount Bikni, and upon the soil of whose land none of the kings, my ancestors, had walked, I carried off to Assyria Shidir-parna and E-parna, mighty chieftains, who were not submissive to my yoke, together with their people and their heavy plunder.

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, king of Sumer and Akkad —

At that time the site of the small palace, which is in the city Tarbishu, had become too small. I added more land as an addition making it bigger than before and I completely raised its terrace. I built and completed a magnificent palace, whose site is very extensive, 25 for the pleasure of Ashurbanipal — senior son of the king, who resides in the House of Succession, my beloved son, whom the gods Ashur, Sîn, Shamash, Bel, Nabû, Nergal, Ishtar of Nineveh, and Ishtar of Arbela called to exercise kingship — from its foundations to its parapets. I roofed them with magnificent cedar beams, grown on Mount Amanus, and installed doors of cypress, whose fragrance is sweet, in their gates. I filled it with splendor making it an object of wonder for all of the people.

I had a foundation inscription written in my name and written in the name of Ashurbanipal, the senior son of the king, who resides in the House of Succession, my beloved son, and placed this inscription in it.

After I finished the work on that palace and completed its construction, I invited the god Nergal and the goddess Lash, gods who live in the city Tarbishu, into it. I made large, pure offerings before them and presented them with my gifts.

May the god Nergal and the goddess Lash decree for me a blessing of long days and years of good health and happiness, and may they give the same to Ashurbanipal, my beloved son, as a gift.

May a future ruler, one of the kings, my descendants, whom the god Ashur and the goddess Ishtar name to rule the people, renovate the dilapidated sections of that palace when it becomes old and dilapidated. May he read a foundation inscription written in my name and written in the name of Ashurbanipal, the senior son of the king, who resides in the House of Succession, my beloved son, and may he anoint it with oil, make an offering, and place it with a foundation inscription written in his name. The god Nergal and the goddess Lash will then hear his prayers.

Ayyaru II, eighteenth day, eponymy of Nabû-belu-ushur, governor of the city Dur-Sharrukku 672 BC, when the treaty concerning Ashurbanipal, the senior son of the king, who resides in the House of Succession, was made.

I, Esarhaddon, great king, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of Sumer and Akkad, built and completed a palace in the city Tarbishu as the residence of Ashurbanipal.

I, Esarhaddon, great king, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of Sumer and Akkad, king of the kings of Lower Egypt, 5 Upper Egypt, and Kush built and completed a palace in the city Tarbishu as the residence of Ashurbanipal, the senior son of the king, who resides in the House of Succession, my offspring.

Esarhaddon, king of the world, king of Assyria, had a palace built anew in the city Tarbishu from its foundations to its parapets.

No translation possible

... Hazael, the king of the Arabs, who came to Nineveh, my capital city, with his heavy audience gift and kissed my feet, implored me to give back his gods, and 10 I had pity on him. I refurbished the gods Atar-samayin, Daya, Nuhaya, Ruldawu, Abirillu, and Atar-qurumâ, the gods of the Arabs, and ... I gave them back to him. I appointed the lady Tabu'a, who was raised in the palace of my father, as ruler and returned her to her land with those gods of the Arabs.

Later, Hazael died and I placed Iauta' Iata', his son, on his throne. I imposed upon him tribute and payment greater than the payment I fixed on his father. Uabu, who ... my ..., took for himself the kingship of Iauta'. I sent my officials and my battle troops to the aid of Iauta' ... and ... Uabu and the troops, his trusted helpers, together with ... his gods, ... his possessions, his goods that ... I appointed as ... and I carried them off to Assyria.

The one who treads on the necks of the people of Cilicia; the one who depopulated the land Ellipi, the Parnaki, a dangerous enemy, ... ... the Manneans; who put to the sword the army of Ishpakaia, a Scythian, ..., an ally who could not save himself — ... I plundered the land Ki...ar, a district whose ... ...; I ... Shidir-parna and E-parna, chieftains of the city Be.... I struck with the sword Teushpâ, a Cimmerian, together with his entire army, in the territory of the land Hubushnu, a district in the land Ish...ar.

Abdi-Milkuti, king of Sidon, ...

... the awesome fear of the god Ashur ...

I had a stele made, and ... my victory and triumph ...

The god Ashur, father of the gods, who loves my priestly service; the god Anu, the powerful, the foremost, the one who called my name; the god Enlil, lofty lord, the one confirmed my reign; the god Ea, wise one, knowing one, who decrees my destiny; 5 the god Sîn, shining Nannar, the one who makes signs favorable for me; the god Shamash, judge of heaven and netherworld, the one who provides decisions for me; the god Adad, terrifying lord, the one who makes my troops prosper; the god Marduk, hero of the Igigu and Anunnaku gods, the one who makes my kingship great; the goddess Ishtar, lady of war and battle, who goes at my side; the Sebitti, valiant gods, the ones who overthrow my enemies; and the great gods, all of them, who decree destiny and give victorious might to the king, their favorite,

Esarhaddon, great king, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of Sumer 15 and Akkad, king of Karduniash Babylonia, king of all of them; king of the kings of Lower Egypt, Upper Egypt, and Kush; the one who reveres the great gods, majestic dragon; beloved of the gods Ashur, Shamash, Nabû, and Marduk; king of kings, 20 the merciless, the one who curbs the insolent ones, the one who is clothed in splendor, fearless in battle, perfect warrior, merciless in combat, almighty prince, the one who holds the nose-rope of rulers, raging lion, 25 avenger of his father, who engendered him; the king, who with the help of the gods Ashur, Shamash, Nabû, and Marduk, the gods, his helpers, marched freely and 30 attained his wish — he broke all of those disobedient to him and rulers unsubmissive to him like a reed in the swamp and trampled them underfoot.

The one who provides provisions for the great gods, knows how to revere the gods and goddesses, rev. 1 ... ...; the one who reconstructed the temple of the god Ashur, completed its ornaments, rebuilt Esagil and Babylon, restored the rites, and who returned the plundered gods of the lands rev. 5 to their proper place from the city Ashur; the king whose food offerings the great gods love and whose priestly service they established forever in the temples;

to whose lordship they gave their merciless weapons as a gift; the king, whom the lord of lords, the god Marduk, made greater than the kings of the four quarters, rev. 10 whose lordship he made the greatest; the one who made the lands, all of them, bow down at his feet and who imposed tribute and payment on them; the one who conquered his enemies and destroyed his foes; the king whose passage is the deluge and whose deeds are a raging lion — before he comes it is a city, when he leaves it is a tell. The assault of his fierce battle is a blazing flame, a restless fire.

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, king of Sumer and Akkad; royal descendant of the eternal line of Bel-bani, son of Adasi, founder of the kingship of Assyria, whose place of ultimate origin is Baltil Ashur —

By the command of the gods Ashur, Shamash, Nabû, and Marduk, the great gods, lordship fell to me. I am mighty, I am almighty, I am lordly, I am proud, I am strong, rev. 20 I am important, I am glorious, and I have no equal among all of the kings. Chosen by the gods Ashur, Nabû, and Marduk; called by the god Sîn, favorite of the god Anu, beloved of the queen — the goddess Ishtar, goddess of everything — and the merciless weapon that makes the enemy land tremble, am I. A king, expert in battle and war, the one who slaughters the settlements of his enemies, the one who kills his foes, the one who dissolves his adversaries, the one who makes the unsubmissive bow down, and the one who rules over all of the people of the world —

The gods Ashur, Shamash, Nabû, and Marduk, my lofty lords, whose word cannot be changed, decreed as my destiny an unrivaled kingship. The goddess Ishtar, the lady who loves my priestly service, put in my hands a strong bow and a mighty arrow, the slayer of the disobedient; she allowed me to achieve my wish and made all of the unsubmissive kings bow down at my feet.

When the god Ashur, the great lord, wanted to reveal the glorious might of my deeds to the people, he made my kingship the most glorious and made my name greatest of the kings of the four quarters, made my hands carry a terrible staff to strike the enemy, and empowered me to loot and plunder any land that had committed sin, crime, or negligence against the god Ashur rev. 35 and to enlarge the territory of Assyria. After the god Ashur and the great gods, my lords, had ordered me to march far along remote roads, through rugged mountains and great sand dunes, where one is always thirsty, I marched safely and in good spirits.

As for Taharqa, the king of Egypt and Kush, the accursed of their great divinity, from the city Ishhupri to Memphis, his royal city, a march of fifteen days overland, rev. 40 I inflicted serious defeats on him daily, without ceasing. Moreover, with regard to he himself, by means of arrows, I inflicted him five times with wounds from which there is no recovery; and as for the city of Memphis, his royal city, within half a day and by means of mines, breaches, and ladders, I besieged it, conquered it, demolished it, destroyed it, and burned it with fire.

I carried off to Assyria his wife, his court ladies, Ush-Anahuru, his crown prince, and the rest of his sons and his daughters, his goods, his possessions, his horses, his oxen, rev. 45 and his sheep and goats, without number. I tore out the roots of Kush from Egypt. I did not leave a single person there to praise me. Over Egypt, all of it, I appointed anew kings, governors, commanders, customs officers, trustees, and overseers. I confirmed sattukku and ginû offerings for the god Ashur and the great gods, my lords, forever. I imposed the tribute and payment of my lordship on them, yearly, without ceasing.

I had a stele written in my name made and I had inscribed upon it the renown and heroism of the god Ashur, my lord, and the might of my deeds which I had done with the help of the god Ashur, my lord, and my victory and triumph. I set it up for all time for the admiration of all of my enemies.

Whoever takes away this stele from its place and erases my inscribed name and writes his name, covers it with dirt, throws it into water, burns it with fire, or puts it in a place where it cannot be seen, may the goddess Ishtar, lady of war and battle, change him from a man into a woman, and may she seat him, bound, at the feet of his enemy. May a future ruler look upon a stele written in my name, read it aloud while standing in front of it, anoint it with oil, make an offering, and praise the name of the god Ashur, my lord.

Esarhaddon, king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, ... majestic dragon; beloved of the gods Ashur, Nabû ... the one who is clothed in splendor, fearless in battle, perfect warrior, merciless in combat, almighty prince, the one who holds the nose-rope of rulers, raging lion, avenger of his father, who engendered him; 5 the king, who with the help of the gods Ashur, Sîn, Shamash, Nabû, and Marduk, the gods, his helpers, marched freely and attained his wish — he broke all of those disobedient to him and rulers unsubmissive to him like a reed in the swamp and trampled them underfoot.

The one who knows how to revere all of the gods and goddesses; ... by the commands ... ... people, young and old, ...; the one who renewed ...s of Assyria and Akkad, ... 10 rebuilt Esagil and Babylon, ... the goddess ... whatever its name, abundance ... who returned the plundered gods of the lands to their proper place from the city Ashur; ... ... ... ... ...

... ... ... ... ... large ... ... the left ... rev. 5′ the gods ..., Nabû, Ishtar of ... ... shining face ... ... ... ... abundance of the four quarters ... ... ... to my reign ... the bull colossus and the deity who makes safe the path of my royal person ...

That which is written on a bull colossus in a doorway ... ...

... before he comes it is a city, when he leaves it is a tell. The assault of his fierce battle is a blazing flame, a restless fire.

Son of Sennacherib, great king, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria, descendant of Sargon II, great king, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of Sumer and Akkad; royal descendant of the eternal line of Bel-bani, son of Adasi, founder of the kingship of Assyria, whose place of ultimate origin is Baltil Ashur —

... ... .... I am mighty, I am almighty, I am lordly, I am proud, I am strong, I am important, I am glorious, and I have no equal among all the kings. Chosen by the gods Ashur, Nabû, and Marduk; called by the god Sîn, favorite of the god Anu, rev. 5′ beloved of the queen — the goddess Ishtar, goddess of everything — and the merciless weapon that makes the enemy land tremble, am I. A king, expert in battle and war, the one who slaughters the settlements of his enemies, the one who kills his foes, the one who dissolves his adversaries, the one who makes the unsubmissive bow down, and the one who rules over all of the people of the world —

The gods Ashur, Shamash, Nabû, and Marduk, my lofty lords, whose word cannot be changed, decreed as my destiny an unrivaled kingship. ... truth ... ... ... ...

The gods Ashur, Anu, Enlil, Ea, Sîn, Shamash, Adad, Marduk, Ishtar, and the Sebitti, the great gods, all of them, who decree destiny and give might and victory to the king, their favorite, Esarhaddon, great king, mighty king, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of Sumer and Akkad, king of Karduniash Babylonia, king of all of them, king of the kings of Lower Egypt, Upper Egypt, and Kush, king of the four quarters; son of Sennacherib, great king, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria —

With rejoicing and jubilation, I went into the city Memphis, his royal city, and I sat joyfully upon his gold-mounted stool. ... my ... weapons ... ... was placed; a message with gold and silver ... ... afterwards ... the march ... I entered and

I counted as booty ... of his palace, the gods and goddesses of Taharqa, king of Kush, together with their possessions ... I ... his wife, his court ladies, Ush-Anahuru, his crown prince, ... ... courtiers, his personal attendants, ..., possessions, goods, ... ..., lapis lazuli, ivory, gold-mounted ... their openings 15 ... ditto, gold and silver utensils, and all kinds of stones fit for the palace, which were without number, and skillfully built ....

I opened their ... and a chest ... ... his kingship ... ... ... mirror ... ... words ... king whose box, ..., possessions, ... ... ... they left them, together with 15 crowns ... 30 crowns of wives, ditto 20 ... good ..., stone ..., baked bricks, stone ..., in great number, ... from the treasury, gold, silver, antimony, ... which were without number, a saddinu-garment made of byssus, ... which all ... ... copper, tin, lead, ivory, ... ... ... ... ... possessions, ..., ... ..., his ..., his in-laws, his clan, 25 ... ... stone ..., his ..., and the sons of the kings ... ... ... ... ... physicians, diviners, ... ... ... carpenters, gold-smiths, metal-workers, ... ... ... ... ... ...

... son of Binzuqi, ... Ashkelon ... which Taharqa ... to their fortresses ... Tyre ... 32 kings ... ...

Esarhaddon, great king, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of Sumer and Akkad, true shepherd, favorite of the lord of lords, pious prince, beloved of the goddess Zarpanitu — the queen, the goddess of the entire universe — reverent king who from the days of his childhood was attentive to their rule and praised their valor, pious slave, humble, submissive, the one who reveres their great divinity —

At that time, in the reign of a previous king, bad omens occurred in Sumer and Akkad. The people living there were answering each other yes for no and were telling lies. They led their gods away, neglected their goddesses, abandoned their rites, and embraced quite different rites. They put their hands on the possessions of Esagil, the palace of the gods, an inaccessible place, and they sold the silver, gold, and precious stones at market value to the land Elam.

The Enlil of the gods, the god Marduk, became angry and plotted evilly to level the land and to destroy its people. The river Arahtu, normally a river of abundance, turned into an angry wave, a raging tide, a huge flood like the deluge. It swept its waters destructively across the city and its dwellings and turned them into ruins. The gods dwelling in it flew up to the heavens like birds; the people living in it were hidden in another place and took refuge in an unknown land. The merciful god Marduk wrote that the calculated time of its abandonment should last 70 years, but his heart was quickly soothed, and he reversed the numbers and thus ordered its reoccupation to be after 11 years.

You truly selected me, Esarhaddon, in the assembly of my older brothers to put these matters right, and you are the one who placed your sweet protection over me, swept away all of my enemies like a flood, killed all of my foes and made me attain my wish, and, to appease the heart of your great divinity and to please your spirit, you entrusted me with shepherding Assyria.

At the beginning of my kingship, in my first year, when I sat in greatness on my royal throne, good signs were established for me; in heaven and on earth, he the god Marduk constantly sent me his omens. The angry gods were reconciled and they repeatedly disclosed favorable signs concerning the rebuilding of Babylon and the renovation of Esagil.

Bright Jupiter, the giver of decisions on Akkad, came near in Simanu III and stood in the place where the sun shines. It was shining brightly and its appearance was red. It reached its hypsoma for a second time in the month "Opening of the Door" and stayed in its place.

He the god Marduk ordered me to complete the cult centers, to renovate the shrines, and to organize well the rites of Esagil, the palace of the gods. Every month, the gods Sîn and Shamash together, at their appearance, answered me with a firm 'yes' concerning the avenging of Akkad.

By means of the great intelligence and vast understanding that the sage of the gods, the prince, the god Nudimmud, gave to me, it occurred to me to repopulate that city, to renovate the shrines, and to make the cult center shine, and my heart prompted me to perform that work.

I was afraid and worried to preform that work and I knelt before the gods Shamash, Adad, and Marduk, the great judges, the gods, my lords. In the diviner's bowl, trustworthy oracles were established for me, and they had their response concerning the rebuilding of Babylon and renovation of Esagil written on a liver.

I trusted in their firm 'yes' and I mustered all of my craftsmen and the people of Karduniash Babylonia to its full extent. I had them wield hoes and I imposed baskets on them. I mixed the mud for its revetment with fine oil, honey, ghee, kurunnu-wine, muttinnu-wine, and pure mountain beer. In order to show the people his great divinity and to inspire awe in his lordship, I raised a basket onto my head and carried it myself. I had its bricks made in brickmolds of musukkannu-wood. I gathered together expert craftsmen and skilled master builders, who lay out plans, exposed the place where Esagil stands, and inspected its structure.

In a favorable month, on a propitious day, I laid its foundation platform over its previous foundations and in exact accordance with its earlier plan I did not diminish it by one cubit nor increase it by half a cubit. I built and completed Esagil, the palace of the gods, an image of the apsû, a replica of Esharra, a likeness of the abode of the god Ea, and a replica of Pegasus; I had Esagil ingeniously built and I laid out its square. For its roof, I stretched out magnificent cedar beams, grown on Mount Amanus, the pure mountain, and fastened bands of gold and silver on doors of cypress, whose fragrance is sweet, and installed them in its gates.

I repaired the woeful desecrated state of the gods and goddess who lived in it, who had been displaced by floods and storm, and whose appearances had become dim; I made their dimmed appearance bright, cleaned their dirty garments, and had them permanently installed on their daises. As for the shedus, lamassus, and rabishu-demons of the temple, I repaired their dilapidated parts, and I restationed them ... where their ... are.

No translation possible

With the large aslu-cubit, I measured the dimensions of Imgur-Enlil, its great wall — each length and width was 30 ashlus. I had it built as it was before and raised its top up like a mountain. I built and completed Nemetti-Enlil, its outer wall, and filled it with splendor making it an object of wonder for all of the people.

I established anew the remission of debts of the wronged citizens of Babylon, people entitled to the privileged status and freedom guaranteed by the gods Anu and Enlil. I gathered the bought people who had become slaves and who had been distributed among the foreign riffraff and counted them once again as Babylonians. I returned their looted possessions, provided the naked with clothing, and let them take the road to Babylon. I encouraged them to resettle the city, build houses, plant orchards, and dig canals.

I restored their interrupted privileged status that had fallen into disuse. I wrote anew the tablet of their exemptions. I opened roads for them in all directions so that they could establish an important position by having commercial relations with all countries.

...

Let the seed of my priestly office endure along with the foundations of Esagil and Babylon; let my kingship be sustaining to the people forever like the plant of life so that I may shepherd their populace in truth and justice; and let me reach old age, attain extreme old age, and be sated with the prime of life until far-off days. Truly I am the provider.

Let me enlarge my family, gather my relatives, and extend my progeny so that they branch out widely; let him make the foundations of the throne of my priestly office be as secure a great mountain; let my reign endure as long as heaven and earth; let me stride beaming daily in joy, gladness, happiness, shining face, and happy mood; and let a happy fate, a good fate, one for the lengthening of the days of my reign, the protection of the throne of my priestly office, and the well-being of my offspring be placed in their the gods' mouths.

May he allow my hands to grasp the righteous scepter that enlarges the land and the fierce staff that humbles the unsubmissive; may they cause my weapons to rise up so that I may kill my enemies; and may he allow me to stand over my enemies in victory and triumph.

Let them allow there to be in my land rains and floods, successful harvests, an abundance of grain, plenty, and prosperity, and let them store it in piles of grain.

I had foundation inscriptions made of silver, gold, bronze, lapis lazuli, alabaster, basalt, pendû-stone, elallu-stone, and white limestone, as well as inscribed objects of baked clay, and then I depicted on them hieroglyphs representing the writing of my name. I wrote on them the might of the great hero, the god Marduk, and the deeds that I had done, my pious work, and I placed these inscriptions in the foundations and left them for far-off days.

In future days, in far-off days, may one of the kings, my descendants, whom the king of the gods, the god Marduk, names to rule the land and the people, read an inscription written in my name, and anoint it with oil, make an offering, and return it to its place. The god Marduk, king of the gods, will then hear his prayers.

As for the one who changes an inscription written in my name, defaces my representations, annuls the privileged status of Babylon, and breaks the covenant of the lord of lords, may the god Marduk, the Enlil of the gods, the lord of the lands, look with fury on him and order his destruction among all of the black-headed people. May he the god Marduk make his word bad in Ubshukkinnaku, the courtyard of the assembly of the gods, the place of council, and order that his life not last even a single day.

Accession year of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria.

Esarhaddon, great king, king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of Sumer and Akkad, true shepherd, favorite of the lord of lords, pious prince, beloved of the goddess Zarpanitu — the queen, the goddess of the entire universe — reverent king who from the days of his childhood was attentive to their rule and praised their valor, pious slave, humble, submissive, the one who reveres their great divinity —

At that time, in the reign of a previous king, bad omens occurred in Sumer and Akkad. The people living there were answering each other yes for no and were telling lies. They led their gods away, neglected their goddesses, abandoned their rites, and embraced quite different rites. They put their hands on the possessions of Esagil, the palace of the gods, an inaccessible place, and they sold the gold, silver, and precious stones at market value to the land Elam.

The Enlil of the gods, the god Marduk, became angry and plotted evilly to level the land and to destroy its people. The river Arahtu, normally a river of abundance, turned into an angry wave, a raging tide, a huge flood like the deluge. It swept its waters destructively across the city and its shrines and turned them into ruins. The gods and goddesses dwelling in it flew up to the heavens like birds; the people living in it were hidden in another place and took refuge in an unknown land. The merciful god Marduk wrote that the calculated time of its abandonment should last 70 years, but his heart was quickly soothed, and he reversed the numbers and thus ordered its reoccupation to be after 11 years.

You truly selected me, Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, in the assembly of my older brothers, to put these matters right, and you are the one who placed your sweet protection over me, swept away all of my enemies like a flood, killed all of my foes and made me attain my wish, and, to appease the heart of your great divinity and to please your spirit, you entrusted me with shepherding Assyria.

At the beginning of my kingship, in my first year, when I sat in greatness on my royal throne, good signs were established for me; in heaven and on earth, he the god Marduk constantly sent me his omens. The angry gods were reconciled and they repeatedly disclosed favorable signs concerning the rebuilding of Babylon and the renovation of Esagil.

Bright Jupiter, the giver of decisions on Akkad, came near in Simanu III and stood in the place where the sun shines. It was shining brightly and its appearance was red. It reached its hypsoma for a second time in the month "Opening of the Door" and stayed in its place.

He the god Marduk ordered me to complete the cult centers, to renovate the shrines, and to organize well the rites of Esagil, the palace of the gods. Every month, the gods Sîn and Shamash together, at their appearance, answered me with a firm 'yes' concerning the avenging of Akkad.

By means of the great intelligence and vast understanding that the sage of the gods, the prince, the god Nudimmud, gave to me, it occurred to me to repopulate that city, to renovate the shrines, and to make the cult center shine, and my heart prompted me.

I was afraid and worried to perform that work and I knelt before the gods Shamash, Adad, and Marduk, the great judges, the gods, my lords. In the diviner's bowl, trustworthy oracles were established for me, and they had their response concerning the rebuilding of Babylon and the renovation of Esagil written on a liver.

I trusted in their firm 'yes' and I mustered all of my craftsmen and the people of Karduniash Babylonia to its full extent. I had them wield hoes and I imposed baskets on them. I mixed the mud for its revetment with fine oil, honey, ghee, kurunnu-wine, muttinnu-wine, and pure mountain beer. In order to show the people his great divinity and to inspire awe in his lordship, I raised a basket onto my head and carried it myself. I had its bricks made in brickmolds of musukkannu-wood. I gathered together expert craftsmen and skilled master builders, who lay out plans, exposed the place where Esagil stands, and inspected its structure.

In a favorable month, on a propitious day, I laid its foundation platform over its previous foundations and in exact accordance with its earlier plan I did not diminish it by one cubit nor increase it by half a cubit. I built and completed Esagil, the palace of the gods, an image of the apsû, a replica of Esharra, a likeness of the abode of the god Ea, and a replica of Pegasus; I had Esagil ingeniously built and I laid out its square. For its roof, I stretched out magnificent cedar beams, grown on Mount Amanus, the pure mountain.

Moreover, I built it up ... with musukkannu-wood, cedar, and terebinth, natural wood, together with bricks, so that the temple would be made permanent, the bonds of the wall would not disintegrate, and none of Esagil's ornaments would be neglected.

At that time, I had the terrace, the place where the gods Marduk, Zarpanitu, and Nabû dwell, dug down 16 cubits, where I reached ground water. With bitumen and baked brick, I enlarged its lower part beyond the water table and I built up its foundations as the god Nudimmud had instructed me. I raised it up and heaped it up like a mountain for the residence of his great divinity. I built the home of the gods Marduk, Zarpanitu, and Nabû in their midst.

I fastened bands of gold, silver, and copper on doors of cypress, whose fragrance is sweet, and installed them in its gates. I refurbished the statues of the great gods and had them dwell on their daises as an eternal dwelling. As for the shedus, lamassus, and rabishu-demons of the temple, I repaired their dilapidated parts, and I restationed them ... where their ... are.

I had whatever furnishings were needed for Esagil skillfully made with artful craftsmanship from gold and silver, each of whose weight is 50 minas. I restored the holy rites of Esagil and made them more splendid than before. I set out before them the gods their pure guqqû offerings, their pure nindabû offerings, and their interrupted sattukku offerings. I placed at their service the former ramku-priests, pashishu-priests, and ecstatics, those initiated in secret rites. I set before them purification priests, ashipu-priests, lamentation priests, and singers, who have mastered their entire craft.

I built anew Etemenanki, the ziggurrat, on the site where it previously stood — its length is one ashlu and one shuppan, and its width is one ashlu and one shuppan.

With the large aslu-cubit, I measured the dimensions of Imgur-Enlil, its great wall — each length and width was 30 ashlus. I had it built as it was before and raised its top up like a mountain. I built and completed Nemetti-Enlil, its outer wall, and filled it with splendor making it an object of wonder for all of the people.

I returned the plundered gods of the lands from Assyria and the land Elam to their proper places, and I set up proper procedures in all of the cult centers.

I established anew the remission of debts of the wronged citizens of Babylon, people entitled to the privileged status and freedom guaranteed by the gods Anu and Enlil. I gathered the bought people who had become slaves and who had been distributed among the foreign riffraff and counted them once again as Babylonians. I returned their looted possessions, provided the naked with clothing, and let them take the road to Babylon. I encouraged them to resettle the city, build houses, plant orchards, and dig canals.

I restored their interrupted privileged status that had fallen into disuse. I wrote anew the tablet of their exemptions. I opened roads for them in all directions so that they could establish an important position by having commercial relations with all countries.

May the god Marduk and the goddess Zarpanitu, the gods, my helpers, look with joy upon my good deeds and bless my kingship in their steadfast hearts. Let the seed of my priestly office endure along with the foundations of Esagil and Babylon; let my kingship be sustaining to the people forever like the plant of life so that I may shepherd their populace in truth and justice; and let me reach old age, attain extreme old age, and be sated with the prime of life until far-off days. Truly I am the provider.

Let me enlarge my family, gather my relatives, and extend my progeny so that they branch out widely; let him make the foundations of the throne of my priestly office as secure as a great mountain; let my reign endure as long as heaven and earth; let me stride beaming daily in joy, gladness, happiness, shining face, and happy mood; and let a happy fate, a good fate, one for the lengthening of the days of my reign, the protection of the throne of my priestly office, and the well-being of my offspring be placed in their the gods' mouths.

May he allow my hands to grasp the righteous scepter that enlarges the land and the fierce staff that humbles the unsubmissive; may they cause my weapons to rise up and kill my enemies; and may he allow me to stand over my enemies in victory and triumph.

May they allow there to be in my land rains and floods, successful harvests, an abundance of grain, plenty, and prosperity, and let them store it in piles of grain.

I had foundation inscriptions made of silver, gold, bronze, lapis lazuli, alabaster, basalt, pendû-stone, alallu-stone and white limestone, as well as inscribed objects of baked clay, and then I depicted on them hieroglyphs representing the writing of my name. I wrote on them the might of the great hero, the god Marduk, and the deeds that I had done, my pious work, and I placed these inscriptions in the foundations and left them for far-off days.

In future days, in far-off days, may one of the kings, my descendants, whom the king of the gods, the god Marduk, names to rule the land and the people, read an inscription written in my name, and anoint it with oil, make an offering, and return it to its place. The god Marduk, king of the gods, will then hear his prayers.

As for the one who changes an inscription written in my name, defaces my representations, annuls the privileged status of Babylon, and breaks the covenant of the lord of lords, may the god Marduk, the Enlil of the gods, the lord of the lands, look with fury on him and order his destruction among all of the black-headed people. May he the god Marduk make his word bad in Ubshukkinnaku, the courtyard of the assembly of the gods, the place of council, and order that his life not last even a single day.

Accession year of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria.

Esarhaddon, king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of Sumer and Akkad, pious prince who reveres the gods Nabû and Marduk —

Before my time the great lord, the god Marduk, became angry, trembled with rage, and was furious with Esagil and Babylon; his heart was full of rage. Because of the wrath in his heart and his bad temper, Esagil and Babylon became a wasteland and turned into ruins.

Its Babylon's gods and goddesses became frightened, abandoned their cellas, and went up to the heavens. The people living in it Babylon were distributed among the foreign riffraff and became slaves.

At the beginning of my kingship, in my first year, when I sat in greatness on my royal throne and when they the gods entrusted me with the lordship of the lands, the heart of the great divine lord, the god Marduk, was appeased, his mood was soothed; he became reconciled with Esagil and Babylon, both of which he had punished.

As for me, Esarhaddon, the servant who reveres his great divinity, it occurred to me and my heart prompted me to rebuild Esagil and Babylon, renovate its gods and goddesses, complete its shrines, and reconfirm its sattukku offerings. I was encouraged and ordered the rebuilding.

I gathered the peoples of the lands conquered by me and had them take up hoe and basket. I mixed the mud for its revetment with fine oil, honey, ghee, kurunnu-wine, muttinnu-wine and pure mountain beer. In order to show the people his great divinity and to inspire awe in his lordship, I raised a basket onto my head and carried it myself.

I had its bricks made for a whole year in brickmolds of ivory, ebony, boxwood, and musukkannu-wood. I built anew and completed Esagil, the palace of the gods, together with its shrines, from its foundations to its battlements. I made it greater than before, raised it up, glorified it, and made it glisten like the stars lit. "writing" of the firmament. I filled it with splendor making it an object of wonder for all of the people.

I refurbished the gods and goddesses who lived in it and iv 1 had them dwell on their daises as an eternal dwelling. I reconfirmed their interrupted sattukku offerings. I had whatever furnishings iv 10 were needed for Esagil and its shrines made from gold, silver, and bronze, and I placed them in their midst.

I had Babylon, which was measured by the aslu-cubit checked by the gods, Imgur-Enlil, its wall, and Nemetti-Enlil, its outer wall, built anew with the work of the god Kulla and I raised them like mountains.

I am the one who rebuilt Babylon, reconstructed Esagil, renewed it gods and goddesses, completed its shrines, reconfirmed its sattukku offerings, and who gathered its Babylon's scattered people.

May the Enlil of the gods, the god Marduk, and the goddess Zarpanitu, the queen, look with joy upon the work of my good deeds and order the prolongation of my days, and discuss my years to be many; may they decree as my fate the protection of my offspring, the increase of my progeny, the expansion of my family so that they branch out widely; like a father and mother, may they come over to my side in battle and warfare; may they come to my aid; and may they make my weapons rise up and kill my enemies.

Let me attain whatever my heart desires and may they allow me to stand in victory and triumph over my enemies; let me squash all of my enemies like ants; let him the god Marduk make the foundation of the throne of my priestly office be as secure as a great mountain; and let my reign endure as long as the foundations of Esagil and Babylon. May all of the great gods who sit on daises in Babylon bless my kingship until far-off days and may they order security for my reign forever.

I had foundation inscriptions made of silver, gold, lapis lazuli, alabaster, basalt, pendû-stone, elallu-stone, and white limestone, as well as inscribed objects of baked clay, and then I wrote the might of the great hero, the god Marduk, and the deeds that I text: "he" had done, my pious work. I placed these inscriptions in the foundations and left them for far-off days.

In future days, in far-off days, may one of the kings, my descendants, whom the king of the gods, the god Marduk, names to rule the land and people, read an inscription written in my name, and anoint it with oil, make an offering, and return it to its place. The god Marduk, the king of the gods, will then hear his prayers.

As for the one who changes an inscription written in my name, defaces my representations, destroys my handiwork, may the great divine lord, the god Marduk, glare at him angrily among all of the rulers, and make his name and his descendants disappear from the land. May he have no pity on him forever.

Accession year of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria.

from gold, each of whose weight is fifty minas.

I built and completed Nemed-Enlil, its outer wall, and had it filled with splendor, making it an object of wonder for all of the people.

I returned the plundered gods of the lands from Assyria and the land Elam to their place and I set up proper procedures in all of the cult centers.

I restored their interrupted privileged status that had fallen into disuse. I wrote anew the tablet of their exemptions. I opened roads for them in all directions so that they could establish an important position by having commercial relations with all countries.

I restored order to the disturbances at Kish and made light shine forth for the confused people.

The god Marduk and the goddess Zarpanitu, the gods,

I am indeed the provider.

Let me enlarge my family, gather my relatives, and extend my progeny so that they branch out widely; let him the god Marduk make the foundation of the throne of my priestly office be as secure as a great mountain; let my reign endure as long as heaven and earth; let me stride beaming daily in joy, gladness, happiness, shining face, and happy mood; and let a happy fate, a good fate, one for the lengthening of the days of my reign, the protection of the throne of my priestly office, and the well-being of my offspring be placed in their the gods' mouths.

The scepter

Let them allow there to be in my land rains and floods, successful harvests, an abundance of grain, plenty, and prosperity, and let them store it in piles of grain.

I had foundation inscriptions made of silver, gold, bronze, lapis lazuli, alabaster, basalt, pendû-stone, elallu-stone, and white limestone, as well as inscribed objects of baked clay, and then I depicted on them hieroglyphs representing the writing of my name. I wrote on them the might of the great hero, the god Marduk, and the deeds that I had done, my pious work, and I placed these inscriptions in the foundations and for far-off days.

May he a future king read an inscription written in my name, and anoint it with oil, make an offering, and return it to its place. The god Marduk, king of the gods, will then hear his prayers.

As for the one who changes an inscription written in my name, defaces my representations, annuls the privileged status of Babylon, and breaks the covenant of the lord of lords, may the god Marduk, the Enlil of the gods, the lord of the lands, look with fury on him and among all

... ... ... ... ... matter. They were afflicted by thieving and murdering. They were stealing from the poor and giving to the mighty; there was oppression and the taking of bribes in the city. Every day, without ceasing, they stole goods from each other, a son i 15′ cursed his father in the street, a slave ... to his owner,

... ... ... His mood became furious. The Enlil of the gods, the lord of the lands, plotted evilly to scatter the land and people; his heart schemed to level the land and to destroy its people. A bitter curse was set in his mouth.

Bad omens concerning the destruction of mankind occurred in heaven and on earth.

... ... ... He the god Marduk brought about the destruction of the city Babylon and reed-marshes and poplars grew profusely in it and threw out many offshoots. There were birds of the heavens and fish of the apsû, without number, in it.

... ... good signs were established for me; in heaven and on earth, he the god Marduk constantly sent me his omens concerning the resettling of the city and the renovation of its shrines. I mustered all of the craftsmen throughout Karduniash Babylonia. They cut down the trees and reeds with axes and tore out their roots. I diverted the waters of the Euphrates River, the washout, from its midst and redirected them to their previous channels.

Let ... ... be placed in his mouth; let him the god Marduk bless me with a blessing of long days and order the well-being of my reign forever.

Ayyaru II, accession year of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria.

true shepherd, favorite of the lord of lords, pious ruler, the one who is loved by the goddess Zarpanitu — the queen, goddess of the entire universe — reverent king who was attentive to their rule and praised their valor, pious slave, humble, submissive, the one who reveres their great divinity —

You are the one who entrusted him with renovating the destroyed shrines, making the cult centers shine, and shepherding all of the people; elevated him to the kingship to organize well the forgotten rites and to avenge the land of Akkad; and to appease the heart of your great divinity and to please your spirit, you chose him for power.

At that time, in the reign of a king who preceded me, bad omens occurred.

The people of all of the cult centers ... ...

... ... they abandoned their rites and ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... they were inciting criminal acts and infringing on a taboo, in ... ... ... ... ... ... and they fomented a conspiracy.

They put their hands on the possessions of Esagil and the citizens of Babylon and plundered its goods, gold, silver, ... from inside the temple and sold it at market value to the land Elam.

... ... ... ... ... and ... ... the glory of the god Marduk, the great lord, my lord, and the deeds that I had done ... ... ... ... ... the writing of my name ... I depicted and ... ... I placed them ....

May the god Marduk, the great lord, look with joy upon my good deeds and

I placed at their service the former ramku-priests, pashishu-priests, and ecstatics, those initiated in secret rites. I set before them purification priests, ashipu-priests, lamentation priests, and singers, who have mastered their entire craft.

I built anew Etemenanki,

May the god Marduk and the goddess Zarpanitu, the gods, my helpers, look with joy upon my good deeds and bless my kingship in their steadfast hearts. Let the seed of my priestly office endure along with the foundations of Esagil and Babylon; let my kingship be sustaining to the people forever like the plant of life so that I may shepherd their populace in truth and justice; ... ...

... basalt. The glory of the great lord, my lord, and the deeds I had done ... ...

The people living there were answering each other yes for no. They neglected their goddesses, abandoned their rites, and embraced quite different rites. They put their hands on the possessions of Esagil, the palace of the gods, an inaccessible place, and they sold the gold, silver, and precious stones at market value to the land Elam.

The Enlil of the gods, the god Marduk, became angry and plotted evilly to level the land and to destroy its people.

I built and completed Esagil ... a replica of Esharra, a likeness of the abode of the god Ea, and a replica of Pegasus, and I laid out its square. For its roof, I stretched out magnificent cedar beams, grown on Mount Amanus, the pure mountain, and fastened bands of gold and silver on doors of cypress, whose fragrance is sweet, and installed them in its gates.

As for the shedus, lamassus, and rabishu-demons of the temple, I repaired their dilapidated parts and I restationed them where their ... are.

I gathered the bought people who had become slaves and who had been distributed among the foreign riffraff and counted them once again as Babylonians. I returned their looted possessions, provided the naked with clothing, and let them take the road to Babylon. I encouraged them to resettle the city, build houses, plant orchards, and dig canals.

I restored their interrupted privileged status. I wrote anew the tablet of their exemptions.

Let me stride beaming daily in joy, gladness, happiness, shining face, and happy mood; and let a happy fate, a good fate, one for the lengthening of the days of my reign, the protection of the throne of my priestly office, and the well-being of my offspring be placed in their the gods' mouths.

May he allow my hands to grasp the righteous scepter that enlarges the land and the fierce staff that humbles the unsubmissive;

May he the god Marduk make his name and his descendants disappear from the land. May he have no pity on him forever.

Accession year of Esarhaddon, king of the world, king of Assyria.

Esarhaddon, great king, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria, king of the kings of Lower Egypt, Upper Egypt, and Kush, king of the four quarters, the king who has no rival in all of the lands; son of Sennacherib, great king, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria; ...s of Sumer and Akkad,

... ... ... ... ... placed before them ... the temples, all of them, ... ... that were ruined ... brought ... ... ... the god Shamash

of Sumer and Akkad, which previously no one had ...; who piles up heaps of grain, who drove out hunger and famine during his days and established prosperity; who brought to the land stable prices, bountiful harvests, and an abundance of grain; in whose reign the land Elam was disobedient; the evil enemy, the powerful offspring of the gods, rose up against the wishes of the gods and set out to attack ... of Akkad; ... ... his wide land; ... he mustered ... and ... men and women; they frequently entered ... ... and neighborhoods ... ...

... ... weapons ... may they kill my enemies and cut down my foes.

May the god Nergal, lord of pestilence and murder, stretch out his protection over them, spare the lives of their people, and save them, their army, and their camp from anguish.

May the god Adad, the canal inspector of heaven and netherworld, make plentiful rains and widespread floods long lasting in their land.

Night and day, may the great gods of heaven and netherworld look upon them with joy in their steadfast hearts; may a god ... their ... to another god.

May their days be long and their years be long lasting; in Esagil, the palace of the gods, ... may their offspring thrive; may ... be cursed; wherever the gods Sîn and Shamash ... let them order good things for them; ... with the black-headed people forever.

Whoever among the future kings ... who comes up and searches for ..., may he read an inscription written in my name and anoint it with oil, ... ... write my name with his name, ... my deeds ... ... ...

Esarhaddon, great king, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of Sumer and Akkad, chosen by the god Marduk and the goddess Zarpanitu, true shepherd, favorite of the god Ashur and the goddess Mullissu, the king who from his childhood trusted in the gods Nabû, Tashmetu, and Nanaya and knew their power; son of Sennacherib, great king, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria; descendant of Sargon II, great king, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of Sumer and Akkad; descendant of the eternal line of Bel-bani, whose ultimate origin is Baltil Ashur —

Before my time, the great lord, the god Marduk, became furious with Esagil and Babylon, and his heart was full of rage. His people were answering each other with yes for no and were speaking untruthfully. They put their hands on the possessions of the great lord, the god Marduk, and gave them to the land Elam as a bribe. Their deeds were displeasing to the god Marduk and the goddess Zarpanitu, and they the gods ordered their scattering. He the god Marduk made its waters sweep destructively across the city and he turned it into fallow land. Its gods and goddesses took fright and went up to the heavens. The site of the city was torn out and its foundation platforms could not be seen.

At the beginning of my kingship, in my first year, when I sat in greatness on my royal throne, the merciful god Marduk's heart was appeased and he became reconciled with the city that had angered him. I had Esagil and Babylon built anew. I renovated the statues of the great gods and had them dwell on their seats as an eternal dwelling. I completed the temple of the god Ashur and set up proper procedures in all of the cult centers.

At that time, Eniggidrukalamasuma, the temple of the god Nabû of the harû, its site had become a heap of ruins and changed into a tell so that the top of its foundations could not be seen and its shape could not be determined. I, Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, whose mind the gods Ashur, Sîn, Shamash, Bel, and Nabû opened for completing the cult centers and renovating their shrines — it occurred to me and my heart prompted me to rebuild Eniggidrukalamasuma.

I opened up its dirt piles and surveyed and examined its structure. I measured its foundation platform in exact accordance with its earlier plan and did not add even a single brick more. In a favorable month, on a propitious day, I laid its foundation and secured its brickwork. I built and completed that temple from its foundations to its parapets and made it shine like daylight.

May the god Nabû, the sublime son, look with joy upon this work, bless my kingship with his steadfast heart, and allow my hand to grasp the righteous scepter that widens the land. For Ashurbanipal, crown prince of Assyria, and Shamash-shuma-ukin, crown prince of Babylon, both brothers, my offspring, may they decree as their destiny a good fate, a favorable fate, one of the lengthening of the days of their reigns and the protection of the thrones of their priestly offices; may their kingships ... lead my land in truth and justice; and may the gods Sîn and Shamash together keep answering the true princes with a firm 'yes'!

In future days, in far-off days, may a future ruler, who renovates the dilapidated sections of this temple when it becomes dilapidated and old, place my inscribed name with his name. The god Nabû, the sublime son, the one who gives scepter, throne, and reign, will then hear his prayers.

Esarhaddon, king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of Sumer and Akkad, pious prince, who reveres the gods Nabû and Marduk —

Before my time, in the reign of a previous king, bad omens occurred in Sumer and Akkad. The people living there were answering each other yes for no and were telling lies. They put their hands on the possessions of Esagil, the palace of the gods, and they sold the gold, silver, and precious stones at market value to the land Elam.

The Enlil of the gods, the god Marduk, became angry and plotted evilly to level the land and to destroy its people. The river Arahtu, normally a river of abundance, turned into a huge flood like the deluge, and swept its waters destructively across the city, its dwellings, ..., and its shrines, and turned them into ruins. The gods and goddesses dwelling in it went up to the heavens; the people living in it were distributed among the foreign riffraff and became slaves.

The merciful god Marduk wrote that the calculated time of its abandonment should last 70 years, but his heart was quickly soothed, and he reversed the numbers and thus ordered its reoccupation to be after 11 years.

You truly selected me, Esarhaddon, in the assembly of my older brothers, to put these matters right, and you are the one who placed your sweet protection over me, swept away all of my enemies like a flood, killed all of my foes and made me attain my wish, and, to appease the heart of your great divinity and to please your spirit, you entrusted me with shepherding Assyria.

At the beginning of my kingship, in my first year, when I sat in greatness on my royal throne, good signs were established for me; in heaven and on earth, he the god Marduk constantly sent me his omens.

I was afraid and worried to preform that work and I knelt before the gods Shamash, Adad, and Marduk, the great judges, the gods, my lords. In the diviner's bowl, trustworthy oracles were established for me, and they had their response concerning the rebuilding of Babylon and the renovation of Esagil written on a liver.

I trusted in their firm 'yes' and I mustered all of my craftsmen and the people of Karduniash Babylonia to its full extent. I had them wield hoes and I imposed baskets on them. I mixed the mud for its revetment with fine oil, honey, ghee, kurunnu-wine, and pure mountain beer. I raised a basket onto my head and carried it myself. I had its bricks made for one year in brickmolds of ivory, ebony, boxwood, and musukkannu-wood.

I had Esagil, the palace of the gods, and its shrines, Babylon, the privileged city, Imgur-Enlil, its wall, and Nemetti-Enlil, its outer wall, built anew from their foundations to their parapets. I made them greater than before, raised them up, and glorified them.

I refurbished the statues of the great gods and I had them dwell on their daises as an eternal dwelling. I reconfirmed their interrupted sattukku offerings.

I gathered the citizens of Babylon who had become slaves and who had been distributed among the foreign riffraff and I counted them once again as Babylonians. I established anew their privileged status.

... ... ... the slave girl did not listen to her mistress. They led their gods away, neglected their goddesses, abandoned their rites, and embraced quite different rites; ... they were inciting criminal acts and infringing on a taboo; ... they discontinued sattukku offerings. They fomented a conspiracy. They Babylon's citizens put their hands on the possessions of Esagil and the citizens of Babylon and they plundered its goods, gold, silver, and stones from inside the temple and sold them at market value to the land Elam.

The god Enlil saw ... and his heart became angry and his mood became furious. The Enlil of the gods, the lord of the lands, plotted evilly to scatter the land and people; to level the land and to destroy its people, his heart was angry. A bitter curse was placed in his mouth.

Many bad omens concerning the destruction of mankind occurred in heaven and on earth. The path of the Enlil-stars, the path of the Anu-stars, and the path of the Ea-stars changed their positions for the worse and they constantly revealed signs portending destruction. ... ... in the same way, its signs became increasingly bad.

The river Arahtu, normally a river of abundance, turned into an angry wave, a raging tide, a huge flood like the deluge. It swept its waters destructively across the city, its dwellings, and its shrines, and turned them into a swamp. The gods and goddesses dwelling in it flew up to the heavens like birds. The shedus and lamassus ... fled and were wandering around outside. The people living in it were hidden in another place and took refuge in an unknown land.

As time passed, the heart of the great lord, the god Marduk, was soothed and he became reconciled with the land that he had punished. As the seventy years passed, ... he the god Marduk wrote '11 years', had pity, and said 'Ahulap!'

As for me, Esarhaddon, ..., who knows how to revere his great divinity, ... were established for me at the beginning of my kingship, in my first year, when I sat on the throne of my priestly office, when I wore the crown of lordship, and .... They the gods constantly revealed good omens to me concerning the repopulation of the city and the temple.

Bright Jupiter, the giver of decisions on Akkad, came near in Simanu III and stood in the place where the sun shines. It was shining brightly and its appearance was red. ... and there were copious rains and regular floods in Akkad. It Jupiter reached its hypsoma for a second time in the month "Opening of the Door" and stayed in its place.

In order to triumph and to show overpowering strength, he the god Marduk revealed to me good omens concerning the re-entering of Esagil. Every month, the gods Sîn and Shamash together, at their appearance, answered me with a firm 'yes' concerning the renewing of the gods, the completion of the shrines and cult centers, the stability of my reign and the securing of the throne of my priestly office.

By means of the great intelligence and vast understanding which the sage of the gods, the prince, the god Nudimmud, gave to me, it occurred to me to repopulate that city, to renovate its shrines, and to make the cult center shine, and my mind prompted me.

I was afraid and worried to perform that work and I knelt before the gods Shamash, Adad, and Marduk, the great judges, the gods, my lords. In the diviner's bowl, good signs were established for me, and they had their response concerning the repopulation of the city and the renovation of Esagil written on a liver.

I trusted in their firm 'yes' and I mustered all of my craftsmen and the people of Karduniash Babylonia. I imposed baskets on them and had them wield hoes. I mixed the mud for its revetment with fine oil, honey, ghee, kurunnu-wine, muttinnu-wine, and mountain beer. I had its bricks made for a whole year in brickmolds of musukkannu-wood. I gathered together expert craftsmen and skilled master builders, who lay out plans.

I laid the foundations of Esagil, the palace of the gods, and secured its brickwork. ... fashioned skillfully and I drew its ground plan exactly as it had been written. With the large aslu-cubit, I measured the dimensions of ..., in exact accordance with its earlier plan. ... I made its foundation platform as strong as the base of a mighty mountain, ... ... and built its structure as it was in former days.

I built Etemenanki, the ziggurrat, as it was before — its length is one ashlu and one shuppan, and its width is one ashlu and one shuppan.

I offered pure offerings to ... the great gods and the god Kulla, the lord of foundations and bricks. I laid their foundations with ... ..., wine, and kurunnu-wine, and I secured their footings.

I had foundation inscriptions made of ... basalt and I wrote on them the glory of the great lord, my lord, and I placed them in their Esagil's and Etemenanki's midst. ... I restored its precious rituals and ... I established ... ... ... ... ...

... ... ... pious ruler, beloved of the goddess Zarpanitu, ..., reverent king who is attentive to their rule, ..., pious slave, humble, ... —

You are the one who entrusted to him with ... renovating the destroyed shrines ... ... to organize well the forgotten rites ... to appease the heart of your great divinity ....

In the reign of a king who preceded me, ....

The people of all of the cult centers, all of ... who dwell within it ... ... no one ... ... ...

For the god Marduk, his lord: Esarhaddon, king of the world, king of Assyria, and king of Babylon, made the processional way of Esagil and Babylon shine with baked bricks from a ritually pure kiln.

For the god Marduk, his lord: Esarhaddon, king of Assyria and king of Babylon, had baked bricks made anew for Esagil and Babylon.

For the god Marduk, his lord: Esarhaddon, king of Assyria and king of Babylon, had baked bricks made anew for Esagil and Etemenanki.

For the god Marduk, his lord: Esarhaddon, king of Assyria and king of Babylon, had baked bricks made anew for Esagil and Etemenanki.

For the god Marduk, his lord: Esarhaddon, king of Assyria and king of Babylon, had baked bricks made anew for Esagil and Etemenanki.

For the god Marduk, his lord: Esarhaddon, king of Assyria and king of Babylon, had Etemenanki built anew.

For the god Marduk, his lord: Esarhaddon, king of Assyria and king of Babylon, had baked bricks made anew for Etemenanki.

For the god Asari Marduk, his lord: Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, king of the world, king of the four quarters, governor of Babylon, and king of Sumer and Akkad, reconstructed Etemenanki for the sake of his life.

Copy of a text from Babylon; copied and collated.

Tablet of Shamash-nashir, descendant of the Miller.

... ... ... ... ...

... who to his ... not ... ...

... ... paid attention to the mention of his name, his command ...

... brings quickly before ...

... unsubmissive to the command

... destroyed that one, making the inhabited world shake

... the god, his helper,

... with his help, they knelt, beseeching his lordship

... did not bear my yoke lit. "pull my yoke-rope"

who took away the fields of the citizens of Babylon and Borsippa, appropriating them for himself

... did not fear his command or the mention of his name, and was not afraid of his lordship

... inundated and leveled like a flood.

... his own fear overwhelmed him and his life ended.

... he took as booty and brought to Assyria.

Esarhaddon, great king, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria, king of the four quarters of the world, governor of Babylon, king of the land of Sumer and Akkad, descendant of the eternal line of Bel-bani, son of Adasi, king of Assyria, precious scion of Baltil Ashur, one of royal lineage and ancient stock —

At that time ... the temple of the goddess Gula of Borsippa, the site of which had become weak due to the strength of the river's destructive flooding, ... I re-erected its dilapidated parts and reinforced its structure.

May the goddess Gula, ..., look upon this work of mine with pleasure and

No translation possible

For the goddess Queen-of-Nippur, ruler of Uzumua, august, eminent, most splendid of the gods, the goddess Innini, supreme lady who always cares like a mother for the king — her favorite — who makes his reign lengthy and bestows on him power and might, queen of Nippur, who dwells in Ebaradurgara, the temple which makes firm the royal abode, the great lady, his lady:

Esarhaddon, great king, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria, king of the four quarters of the world, governor of Babylon, king of the land of Sumer and Akkad, selected by the steadfast heart of the god Enlil; who from his childhood trusted in the gods Ashur, Enlil, Sîn, Shamash, Adad, Marduk, Nabû, Nergal, and the other great gods, his lords, who allowed him to attain his desire; the one who recognized their power, the one over whom the gods extended their eternal protection in order to appease their divine hearts and set their minds at rest; the one who by the might of the gods Ashur, Enlil, Bel Marduk, and the Son-of-Bel Nabû, the gods, his helpers, ruled over all lands and made all rulers submissive to him; the one who reconstructed the temple of the god Ashur, renovated Ekur, rebuilt Esagil and Babylon, completed the sanctuaries and cult centers, and reconfirmed their sattukku offerings; the king during the days of whose reign the great lord, the god Marduk, became reconciled to Babylon and again took up his residence in Esagil, his palace; the one who made the god Great-Anu enter into his city Der and his temple Edimgalkalama "House, Great Bond of the Land" and had him sit upon his eternal dais; the one who restored the splendid appearance of the plundered gods of the lands, returned them from Assyria to their proper places, and reconfirmed their income; wise prince, expert who knows every craft, who constantly established appropriate procedures in the great cult centers and has purification rites performed correctly; son of Sennacherib, king of the world and king of Assyria; descendant of Sargon II, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, and king of the land of Sumer and Akkad; descendant of the eternal line of Bel-bani, son of Adasi, king of Assyria; precious scion of Baltil Ashur, one of royal lineage and ancient stock —

At that time Ebaradurgara, the temple of the goddess Queen-of-Nippur, the great lady, my lady, which a previous king had built, became old and its walls buckled. I sought its original emplacement, removed its dilapidated parts, and surveyed its entire foundation. I completely rebuilt it with the work of the god Kulla according to its ancient specifications and raised its top as high as a mountain.

May the goddess Queen-of-Nippur, supreme lady, my lady, look upon this work with pleasure and may a good word for me be set upon her lips! May she determine as my fate a long life, fullness of old age, good health, and happiness!

If at any time in the future, during the days of the reign of some future ruler, this temple falls into disrepair and becomes dilapidated, may that ruler seek out its original emplacement and repair its dilapidated parts! May he anoint an inscription written in my name with oil, make an offering, and set it back in its place! The gods will then hear his prayers. He will lengthen his days and enlarge his family.

But as for the one who by some crafty device destroys an inscription written in my name or changes its position, may the goddess Queen-of-Nippur, great lady, glare at him angrily and make his name and his descendants disappear from every land!

Property of Ebaradurgara.

For the god Enlil, lord of the lands, whose command cannot be revoked, ... whose utterance cannot be rejected, ... gods ... ... ... ruler ... ... ... the great lord, his lord:

Esarhaddon, great king, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria, king of the four quarters of the world, governor of Babylon, king of the land of Sumer and Akkad, selected by the steadfast heart of the god Enlil; who from his childhood trusted in the gods Ashur, Enlil, Sîn, Shamash, Adad, Marduk, Nabû, Nergal, and the other great gods, his lords, who allowed him to attain his desire; the one who recognized their power, the one over whom the gods extended their eternal protection in order to appease their divine hearts and set their minds at rest; the one who by the might of the gods Ashur, Enlil, Bel Marduk, and the Son-of-Bel Nabû, the gods, his helpers, ruled over all lands and made all rulers submissive to him; the one who reconstructed the temple of the god Ashur, renovated Ekur, rebuilt Esagil and Babylon, completed the sanctuaries and cult centers, and reconfirmed their sattukku offerings; the king during the days of whose reign the great lord, the god Marduk, became reconciled to Babylon and again took up his residence in Esagil, his palace; the one who made the god Great-Anu enter into his city Der and his temple Edimgalkalama "House, Great Bond of the Land" and had him sit upon his eternal dais; the one who restored the splendid appearance of the plundered gods of the lands, returned them from Assyria to their proper places, and reconfirmed their income; wise prince, expert who knows every craft, who constantly established appropriate procedures in the great cult centers and has purification rites performed correctly; son of Sennacherib, king of the world and king of Assyria; descendant of Sargon II, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, and king of the land of Sumer and Akkad; descendant of the eternal line of Bel-bani, son of Adasi, king of Assyria; precious scion of Baltil Ashur, one of royal lineage and ancient stock —

At that time, Ekur "House, Mountain", the temple of the god Enlil, lord of the lands, my lord, which a previous king had built, became old and its walls buckled. I sought its original emplacement, removed its dilapidated parts, and surveyed its entire foundation. I completely rebuilt it with the work of the god Kulla according to its ancient specifications and raised its top as high as a mountain.

On account of this, may the god Enlil, the god who helps me, look upon my works with pleasure and may a good word for me be set upon his lips! May he determine as my fate a long life, fullness of old age, good health, and happiness!

If at any time in the future, during the days of the reign of some future ruler, this temple falls into disrepair and becomes dilapidated, may that ruler seek out its original emplacement and repair its dilapidated parts! May he anoint an inscription written in my name with oil, make an offering, and set it back in its place! The gods will then hear his prayers. He will lengthen his days and enlarge his family.

But as for the one who by some crafty device destroys an inscription written in my name or changes its position, may the god Enlil ... glare at him angrily and determine a bad fate for him! May he make his name and his descendants disappear from the land and have no pity on him!

For the god Enlil, king of the gods, valiant, who drives out the enemies in battle, ... the sublime, who walks at the side of the king — his favorite — the one who conquers the enemies ... ... — which is in Nippur Duranki — great lord, his lord:

Esarhaddon, great king, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria, king of the four quarters of the world, governor of Babylon, king of the land of Sumer and Akkad, selected by the steadfast heart of the god Enlil;

who from his childhood trusted in the gods Ashur, Enlil, Sîn, Shamash, Adad, Marduk, Nabû, Nergal, and the other great gods, his lords, who allowed him to attain his desire; the one who recognized their power,

the one over whom the gods extended their eternal protection in order to appease their divine hearts and set their minds at rest;

the one who by the might of the gods Ashur, Enlil, Bel Marduk, and the Son-of-Bel Nabû, the gods, his helpers, ruled over all lands and 10 made all rulers submissive to him; the one who reconstructed the temple of the god Ashur, renovated Ekur, rebuilt Esagil and Babylon, completed the sanctuaries and cult centers, and reconfirmed their sattukku offerings; the king during the days of whose reign the great lord, the god Marduk, became reconciled to Babylon and again took up his residence in Esagil, his palace; the one who made the god Great-Anu enter into his city Der and his temple Edimgalkalama "House, Great Bond of the Land" and had him sit upon his eternal dais; ...

... ... ... and make his name and his descendants disappear from every land!

For the god Enlil, lord of the lands, his lord: Esarhaddon, king of the world, king of Assyria, king of Babylon, and king of the land of Sumer and Akkad, son of Sennacherib, king of the world and king of Assyria, descendant of Sargon II, king of the world and king of Assyria, renovated Ekur, the temple of the god Enlil, my lord, and made its processional way shine like daylight.

For the god Enlil, divine lord of the lands: Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, king of Babylon, and king of the land of Sumer and Akkad, for the sake of his life enlarged Pukudadaga in the courtyard of the god Enlil with baked bricks from a ritually pure kiln.

For the goddess Ishtar, supreme lady, sovereign of heaven and netherworld, most valiant of the gods, splendid, the goddess Ishtar of Uruk, august princess who has taken unto herself all divine offices of highest rank and has gathered to herself all ordinances, beloved, eminent, who looks upon the king — her favorite — with steady favor, makes his reign lengthy, and bestows on him power and victory, empress of the world, most exalted of the gods, who dwells in Enirgalana "House, Prince of Heaven" — which is inside Eanna — lady of Uruk, great lady, his lady:

Esarhaddon, great king, mighty king, king of the world, king of Assyria, king of the four quarters of the world, governor of Babylon, king of the land of Sumer and Akkad; the one to whom the god Ashur has stretched out his hand, permanently selected by the god Enlil, who was chosen by the god Marduk, favorite of the goddess Irnini; who from his childhood trusted in the gods Ashur, Anu, Enlil, Ea, Sîn, Shamash, Adad, Marduk, Nabû, Nergal, and Ishtar, the great gods, his lords, who allowed him to attain his desire, the one who recognized their power, the one over whom the gods extended their eternal protection in order to appease their divine hearts and set their minds at rest; the one who by the might of the gods Ashur, Bel Marduk, the Son-of-Bel Nabû, and Ishtar, the gods, his helpers, ruled over all lands and made all rulers submissive to him; the one who reconstructed the temple of the god Ashur, rebuilt Esagil and Babylon, renovated Eanna, completed the sanctuaries and cult centers, and reconfirmed their sattukku offerings; the king during the days of whose reign, the great lord, the god Marduk, became reconciled to Babylon and again took up his residence in Esagil, his palace; the one who made the god Great-Anu enter into his city Der and his temple Edimgalkalama "House, Great Bond of the Land" and had him sit upon his eternal dais; the one who restored the splendid appearance of the great gods who had rushed to Assyria, returned them from Assyria to their proper places and reconfirmed their income; wise prince, expert who knows every craft, who constantly established appropriate procedures in the great cult centers and has purification rites performed correctly; son of Sennacherib, king of the world and king of Assyria; descendant of Sargon II, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, and king of the land of Sumer and Akkad; descendant of the eternal line of Bel-bani, son of Adasi, king of Assyria; precious scion of Baltil Ashur, one of royal lineage and ancient stock —

When Eanna, the temple of highest rank, beloved of the goddess Ishtar, my lady, which a previous king had built, became old and its walls buckled, I sought its original emplacement, removed its dilapidated parts, and surveyed its entire foundation. I completely rebuilt it with the work of the god Kulla according to its ancient specifications and raised its top as high as a mountain.

May the goddess Ishtar, supreme lady, look upon this work with pleasure and may a good word for me be set upon her lips! May she make my weapons prevail over all my enemies!

If at any time in the future, during the days of the reign of some future ruler, this work falls into disrepair and becomes dilapidated, may that ruler seek out its original emplacement and repair its dilapidated parts! May he anoint an inscription written in my name with oil, make an offering, and set it back in its place! The gods will then hear his prayers. He will lengthen his days and enlarge his family.

But as for the one who by some crafty device destroys an inscription written in my name or changes its position, may the goddess Ishtar, great lady, glare at him angrily and make his name and his descendants disappear from every land!

For the goddess Ishtar of Uruk, sovereign of heaven and netherworld, most valiant of the gods, august, supreme lady, who has gathered to herself all divine offices of highest rank, the one into whose hand all purification rites are appointed, empress of the goddesses, whose words are pre-eminent in heaven and netherworld, goddess of war and battle, who goes at the side of the king, her favorite, and slays his foes, who dwells in Enirgalana "House, Prince of Heaven — which is inside Eanna — lady of Uruk, great lady, his lady:

Esarhaddon, king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of the land of Sumer and Akkad; respectful king who is assiduous toward the sanctuaries of the great gods; who reveres the lord of lords; the one who reconstructed the temple of the god Ashur, rebuilt Esagil and Babylon, provided for Ezida, renovated Eanna, completed the sanctuaries of cult centers, and constantly established appropriate procedures in them; son of Sennacherib, king of the world and king of Assyria; descendant of Sargon II, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, and king of the land of Sumer and Akkad —

Enirgalana "House, Prince of Heaven", the cella of the goddess Ishtar, my lady, which is inside Eanna, which a previous king had built, became old and dilapidated. I sought its original emplacement and repaired its dilapidated parts with baked bricks from a ritually pure kiln. I grasped the hands of the goddess Ishtar of Uruk, great lady, brought her inside, and caused her to take up residence there forever. I offered splendid offerings and made her doorbolt extremely fine.

O goddess Ishtar of Uruk, august lady, when you are happily dwelling inside that cella, may a good word for me — Esarhaddon, king of Assyria — be set upon your lips! Determine as my fate a long life, fullness of old age, good health, and happiness! Come to my side in war and battle so that I may squash all my enemies like ants!

If at any time in the future, during the reign of some future ruler, this cella falls into disrepair, may that ruler repair its dilapidated state! May he write my name with his name! May he anoint with oil an inscription written in my name, make an offering, and set that inscription with an inscription written in his name! The gods will then hear his prayers.

But as for the one who erases my inscribed name by some crafty device, destroys my royal inscription, or changes its position, may the goddess Ishtar of Uruk glare at him angrily and determine a bad fate for him! May she make his name and his descendants disappear from the land and have no pity on him!

For the goddess Nanaya, veiled one of the goddesses, who is adorned with attractiveness and joy and full of glamour, splendid daughter of the god Anu, whose lordship is supreme among all ladies, eminent spouse of the god Muzibsâ, praised sekretu, beloved of his majesty, compassionate goddess, who goes to the help of the king who reveres her, who prolongs his reign, who dwells in Ehiliana "House, Luxuriance of Heaven" — which is inside Eanna — queen of Uruk, great lady, his lady:

Esarhaddon, king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of the land of Sumer and Akkad; respectful king who is assiduous toward the sanctuaries of the great gods; who reveres the lord of lords; the one who reconstructed the temple of the god Ashur, rebuilt Esagil and Babylon, provided for Ezida, renovated Eanna, completed the sanctuaries of cult centers, and constantly established appropriate procedures in them; son of Sennacherib, king of the world and king of Assyria; descendant of Sargon II, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, and king of the land of Sumer and Akkad —

Ehiliana "House, Luxuriance of Heaven", the cella of the goddess Nanaya, my lady, which is inside Eanna, which a previous king had built, became old and dilapidated. I sought its original ground-plan and repaired its dilapidated parts with baked bricks from a ritually pure kiln. I grasped the hands of the goddess Nanaya, great lady, brought her inside, and caused her to take up residence there forever. I offered splendid offerings and made her doorbolt extremely fine.

O goddess Nanaya, august lady, when you are happily dwelling inside that cella, speak well of me — Esarhaddon, the prince who reveres you — before the god Nabû, your husband! Determine as my fate a long life, fullness of old age, good health, and happiness! Make the foundation of my royal throne as secure as a great mountain! Establish my reign as firm as heaven and netherworld!

If at any time in the future, during the reign of some future ruler, this cella falls into disrepair, may that ruler repair its dilapidated state! May he write my name with his name! May he anoint with oil an inscription written in my name, make an offering, and set that inscription with an inscription written in his name! The gods will then hear his prayers.

But as for the one who erases my inscribed name by some crafty device, destroys an inscription written in my name, or changes its position, may the goddess Nanaya, supreme lady, glare at him angrily and determine a bad fate for him! May she make his name and his descendants disappear from the land and have no pity on him!

For the goddess Nanaya, queen of Uruk, great lady, his lady:

Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of the land of Sumer and Akkad; who is assiduous toward the sanctuaries of the great gods; the one who reconstructed the temple of the god Ashur, rebuilt Esagil and Babylon, renovated Eanna, completed the sanctuaries of all of the cult centers, and constantly established appropriate procedures in them; the one who conquered from the Upper Sea to the Lower Sea and the one who made all rulers submissive to him; son of Sennacherib, king of Assyria; descendant of Sargon II, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, and king of the land of Sumer and Akkad —

Ehiliana "House, Luxuriance of Heaven", the cella of the goddess Nanaya, my lady, which Nazi-Maruttash, king of Babylon, had built, and which Eriba-Marduk, king of Babylon, had shored up, became old and dilapidated. I sought its original emplacement and repaired its dilapidated parts with baked bricks from a ritually pure kiln. I grasped the hands of the goddess Nanaya, my lady, brought her inside, and caused her to take up residence there forever.

When the goddess Nanaya looks upon this work with pleasure, may a good word for me — Esarhaddon, king of Assyria and king of Babylon — be set upon her lips before the god Nabû, my lord!

But as for the one who erases my inscribed name by some crafty device, destroys my royal inscription, or changes its position, may the goddess Nanaya glare at him angrily and make his name and his descendants disappear!

For the goddess Ishtar of Uruk, lady of the lands: Esarhaddon, king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, and king of the four quarters, son of Sennacherib, king of the world and king of Assyria, descendant of Sargon II, king of the world and king of Assyria, renovated Eanna "House of Heaven", the temple of highest rank, for the sake of his life, and made it shine like daylight.

For the goddess Ishtar of Uruk, lady of the lands: Esarhaddon, king of Assyria and king of Babylon, renovated Eanna "House of Heaven", the temple of highest rank, for the sake of his life, and made it shine like daylight.

For the goddess Ishtar of Uruk, lady of Eanna, lady of the lands, his lady: Esarhaddon, king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of the land of Sumer and Akkad, son of Sennacherib, king of the world, king of Assyria, descendant of Sargon II, king of the world, king of Assyria, renovated Eanna, the temple of highest rank, and made it shine like daylight.

For the god Adad, who resides in the city Guzana, his lord: Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, son of Sennacherib, king of Assyria, made this bucket for his long life.

The palace of Esarhaddon, king of the world, king of Assyria: this is booty from Egypt and Kush.

To the god Marduk, his lord: Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, gave this eyestone for his long life.

For the goddess Tashmetu, his lady:

Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, made and dedicated this object for his long life and for the long life of his children.

... ... ... ... the sun ... heart was angry ... ... ... ... ... I raised and ... Imgur-Enlil ... ... ... ... ... a wall a king ... to be as secure as a great mountain for far-off days.

... oath ... ... to ... he placed and ... the people. He built their ... ... and ... over ...

As for Edurgina, the dwelling of the god Bel-sharbi that is inside of Bash, he took its ... and built it anew. The gods Bel-sharbi, Nabû and Marduk, and Ninsaggirgi and Dumuzi, the gods living in it, they raised up their ....

As for Edurgina, the dwelling of the god Bel-sharbi that is inside of Bash, he took its ... and built it anew. The gods Bel-sharbi, Nabû and Marduk, and Ninsaggirgi and Dumuzi, the gods living in it, they raised up their ....

The gods Ea and Asalluhi, by their exalted wisdom,

to be as secure as a great mountain for far-off days. ... cast bronze ... he oversaw its smelting and examined ... He built from its foundations to its parapets, ... all of its copings ... ... ... Cutha,

The gods Ea and Asalluhi, by their exalted wisdom, opened their mouths with "the washing of the mouth" and "the opening of the mouth" rites and had them dwell on their pure pedestals in their lofty cellas for all time. The one who expanded the cult centers, enlarged the temples of the great gods, which from ancient times ... ... ...

Through their good deeds, may the god Marduk, the great god, my lord, ... the foundation of their royal throne ... ... ...

... ... the one who distributes shares to the ... people, ..., the one who opens canals, and the one who makes the pasturage and watering places flourish; whose countenance is excellent, the awe-inspiring god, the bearer of the furious mace, the one who conquered the enemy, overthrew evil, ... ...

... ..., ancient stock, sublime ruler, governor of Babylon, true prince, the one to whom the god Enlil has stretched out his hand, reverent servant,

No translation possible

May one of the kings, my descendants, who comes forth to rule the land, read an inscription written in my name when this temple becomes old and when he renovates its dilapidated sections, and may he anoint it with oil, make an offering, write my name with his name, and return it to its place. May he respect my inscriptions ...

... king ... ... I settled ... in a peaceful dwelling ... ... mountain, my lord ... ... ... that road, property of/that ... ... ... of Esagil and Babylon ....

... ... I brought them in ... ... ... ... my gifts ... he received ... ... and he ... in the land they made ... disappear ....

No translation possible

... they ... its ... and ... they were soothed ... ... ... the land ... 5′ ... ... king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, ... ... my father, who engendered me, ... his lordship ... ... made splendid the courtyard of Emashmash ... ... the house of his father ... ... my lords ... pure sanctuaries ...

... ... of Enlil, prudent ruler, ... ... and they were constantly blessing ... ..., true shepherd, ... whose ... they made pleasing to the people, i 5′ governor of Babylon, king of Sumer and Akkad, beloved of the god Marduk and the goddess Zarpanitu, intelligent, learned, ... ... ... of the god Nabû, ..., valiant young man, foremost of all rulers, 10′ ... hero of all rulers, whom the goddess Ishtar of Arbela entrusted to rule the lands; king of all of the four quarters, favorite of the great gods, the sun of all of the people, whose deeds are pleasing to all of the gods, i 15′ who knows how to greatly revere the great gods and is respectful of their divinity; ... ...

... ... ... ... ilku-service ... which is in ... ii 5′ its site ... ground ... the temple ... ... I built and completed from its foundations to its parapets. ... ii 10′ written in my name ... ... ...

... ... ... I tore out the roots of Kush from Egypt ... ... ... kings, governors ... 5′ ... I reappointed ... the god Ashur and the great gods ... I set for all times ...

... and my victory and my conquest I had written upon it and I set it up for all time for the admiration of all my enemies.

Whoever takes away this stele from its place and erases my inscribed name and writes his name, covers it with dirt, throws it into water, burns it with fire, ...

... Sennacherib ... Tiglath-pileser ... abundance ... had built ....

... the scattered people of Uruk, who caused to return ....

At that time, the scattered herds of the goddesses Ishtar and Nanaya ..., those scared away from their watering place and having no caretaker ... I gathered, and 60,000 sheep and goats together with ..., 6,000 cows together with their herdsmen ..., a present of my grandfather Sargon II ... which he/they had scattered with the herds, I brought back to their places ....

The sons of Samiku, the sons of ..., the sons of Bel-rammeni, the sons of ..., the sons of ..., and me, Esarhaddon, ... ... and I inscribed their freedom on a tablet. ... in the presence of the goddess Ishtar ... and the scattered herds to ... in all lands ... 15′ ... ... I established their privileged status ....

On account of this, may the goddess Ishtar, ... look upon my good deeds with pleasure and ...

... like my very name, the king who builds Eanna, the one who was chosen by the god/goddess ...

... ... ... ... ... controlling bridle, ... dragon, ..., important one, magnificent one, who ... ..., who ... among the gods ... ... mighty one, brilliant one, ... radiant, ... ... ... ruler ...,

giver of the scepter ... ... god ... and ... ... the one who ... ... who renovated ... ... ... ... ...

... ... on whom a capital punishment was imposed ... I returned their looted possessions ... provisions to go out on campaign ... ... I encouraged them to seize the city and build houses, plant orchards ... ... I let them dwell in security ... with joyful heart and shining countenance ...

... their privileged status, which ... ... the people with rejoicing and celebration ... ... ... in every direction ... their ... more than ... the goddess Zarpanitu ... ... ...

... king of the land Urartu ... ... ... not carry, the plunder of ... whom my father, who engendered me, ... ... ... ... the god Enlil concerning ...

... the land Ba... ... ... ... ... my head ... over it/him ... ... they committed an offense against him and ... ... -shuma-ishkun, son of Nin... ... I placed on his throne. ...

... ... ... before me the lordship of Assyria ... ... his/its ... was ... ... did not exist and he was not mindful ... king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, ... 5′ ... that he established in all of the cult centers ... my ..., the one who rebuilt the akitu-house ... erasure ....

... it was on my mind and I thought about it ... like a mountain, I built and completed ... 10′ ... ... one ... I built its brickwork and ... of/which a king ... made them work hard and in addition to ... ... my ... and as many of the gods and goddesses as ... ... I carved ... ... and strengthened ... magnificent cedar beams, grown on Mount Amanus ... ... ...

No translation warranted

No translation possible

... ... ... creator of the royal crown ... diviners ... ... the oil expert ... ... difficult ... who makes decisions, filled with radiance, i 5′ ... perfect lambs that had no black spots. He repeated to me all that was in his heart. He did not impart it to the wise diviners, but rather he wrote it on a tablet, put it in an envelope, sealed it, and gave it to them. He did not sleep all night until the giver of decisions, the lord of lords, the god Shamash shone. i 10′ To obtain correct decisions, hands were raised praying. His favorite son prayed to the gods Shamash and Adad concerning me and he made skilled diviners kneel down before them. Until they had assigned a station and ... ... ... distressed ... ...

No translation possible

No translation possible

The appointed time ... Jupiter ... hypsoma ... to ... ... in heaven and on earth ... I/he thought/remembered ...

... ... ... the going of his divinity ... v 5 order of the god Shamash ... encouraging, propitious omens ... the month Ayyaru II arrived ... the god Adad released his rains and ... the Tigris River flood rose .... v 10 The seventh day, the vigil ceremony of the goddess ..., in the courtyard of Esharra, where the creation of ..., before the stars of heaven, the god Ea, ..., through the craft of the sage "the washing of the mouth" .... The eighth day, the day ... from ... ... ...

... ... the god Marduk, the goddess ... ... the goddess Zarpanitu they seated them on a peaceful seat in Kahilisu. ... ... may they make his kingship firm and make his reign endure; may the god Anu and the goddess Antu forever pronounce for him a blessing of long days; vi 5 may the god Enlil and the goddess Mullissu decree as his destiny a good destiny and a destiny of long life; may the god Ea and the goddess Belet-ili grant him progeny and expand his offspring; may the god Sîn and the god Shamash, together, give him favorable signs monthly, without ceasing; may the god ... ... abundance, establish constant plenty and prosperity in his land; ... ... ... old age, the attainment of extreme old age ... ...; ... his favorable ...; and ... from his enemies.

... ... ... ... perfect lambs that had no black spots ... I did not impart it to the wise diviners, but rather I wrote it on a tablet, put it in an envelope, 5′ sealed it, and gave it to them. I did not sleep all night ... I waited for the shining lord of lords, the god Shamash, ... To obtain correct decisions, hands were raised praying ... I prayed to Shamash and Adad and made skilled diviners kneel down before them.

Until they had assigned a station and inspected ... ... I was reverent with supplicating lips .... The Igigu gods took counsel and decided ... encouraging, propitious omens ... rev. 5 ... ... the gods Shamash and Adad ... ... ... will rule the land ... ... ... ...

... ... river ... ... ... the goddess Ishtar ... ... I plundered ... ... ... its heart, its lungs ... ... its ... ... my messenger ... ... ... year ... ...

... ... I mustered my camp ... ... my ... quickly ... ... ... they prayed ... ... ... ...

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... that I, Ashur- ..., king of Assyria, ... at the command of the god Ashur ...

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Not preserved

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... ... and there was no one who could find him ... his troops, who march at his side, ... ... they started out toward Memphis, their city; ... in the city gates, its streets and its squares ... I captured them and killed them with the sword .... 15 Jostled, I ... ... thoroughbreds and the ... of chariots. I heaped their corpses upon each other in the city square ...; I made piles with their heads ....

After I had prayed to the gods Ashur, Marduk, Shamash, ... and the great gods of heaven and netherworld, as many as there are, ... and after they had granted my heart's desire ... I ... ... into his plundered palace ... his wives, his sons, and his daughters ... whose skin, like his, was as black as pitch, ... the plunder of his palace: eight thousand talents of silver, ore from its mountain, ... talents of red gold, precious stones, ...,

every kind of thing, vast amounts of goods, ... ... hundred and twenty large gold headdresses from the heads of ... on which were set golden vipers and golden serpents ... two pieces of ashgigû-stone, a creation of the mountains, ... 30 whose weight was five talents each, ... fifty thousand strong horses, broken to the yoke, ... sixty thousand fattened choice oxen destined for his princely banquets, ... countless ..., sheep with tails of oxen, ... and innumerable choice linen robes, festive garments, ... 35 utensils of silver, gold, bronze, ebony, leather, ... ... everything that there is, which ... ... for his kingship ... ..., living creatures, ... whose body was red and white, ... ... ... ... which have the ... of a stag and which no one ... which cannot be found in city or land ... ... ...

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... Ashur-...-etel-ilani-...

The palace of Esarhaddon ... king of Assyria.

... son of Sennacherib, king ....

... Esarhaddon ....

... Esarhaddon, king of the world, ....

... son of Sennacherib, king of Assyria.

The palace of Esarhaddon ....

... king of the world, king of Assyria, son of Sennacherib, ....

... Esarhaddon, king of the world, king of Assyria, son of Sennacherib, king of Assyria, descendant of Sargon II, king of Assyria.

Property of Esharra-hammat, wife of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria.

... ... ... that house ... ..., the tomb of Esharra-hammat, his wife, ... ....

I, Zakutu/Naqi'a, ... wife of Sennacherib, king of the world, king of Assyria, daughter-in-law of Sargon II, king of the world, king of Assyria, i 5′ mother of Esarhaddon, king of the world and king of Assyria; the gods Ashur, Sîn, Shamash, Nabû, and Marduk, Ishtar of Nineveh, and Ishtar of Arbela,

... ... who flattened his foes and fastened lead-ropes on the kings of the four quarters —

He Esarhaddon gave to me as my lordly share the inhabitants of conquered lands, foes plundered by his bow. I made them carry hoe and basket, and they made bricks.

I ... a cleared tract of land in the citadel of the city of Nineveh, behind the temple of the gods Sîn and Shamash, for a royal residence of Esarhaddon, my beloved son, ... ...

... ... ... I roofed it with ... and I installed matching doors of cypress, a gift for my son, in its gates. I built and completed that house and filled it with splendor.

I invited the gods Ashur, Ninurta, Sîn, Shamash, Adad and Ishtar, Nabû and Marduk, and the gods who reside in Nineveh inside it and offered sumptuous pure offerings before them.

king ... over ... ... whatever ... ... ... ... ... ...

who resides ... may ... endure. The ... shedu and the safeguarding lamassu took care of its interior and constantly looked after it.

I invited Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, my beloved son, inside it and established ... ...

... ... ... I had ... ... instituted. I ... for Esarhaddon, my beloved son, anything of value that a palace requires and is befitting kingship.

... king ... Zakutu/Naqi'a ... wife ... ... Sennacherib, king of the world, king of Assyria, daughter-in-law of Sargon II, king of the world, king of Assyria, mother of Esarhaddon, king of the world and king of Assyria;

the gods Ashur, Sîn, Shamash, Nabû, and Marduk, Ishtar of Nineveh, and Ishtar of Arbela gladly placed Esarhaddon, my offspring, upon the throne of his father, ... whose good ... ... they made pre-eminent ... who marched ... from the Upper Sea to the Lower Sea and who does not have an equal therein; and who flattened his foes and fastened lead-ropes on the kings of the four quarters —

He Esarhaddon gave to me as my lordly share and as a gift the inhabitants of conquered lands, foes plundered by his bow. I made them carry hoe and basket, and they made bricks.

I ... a cleared tract of land in the citadel of the city of Nineveh, behind the temple of the gods Sîn and Shamash,

To the goddess Belet-Ninua, who resides in Emashmash, great queen, her lady:

Naqi'a, wife of Sennacherib, king of Assyria, daughter-in-law of Sargon II, king of the world, king of Assyria, commissioned a pectoral of red gold, which was inlaid with precious stones weighing 3 3/4 minas.

She presented and dedicated this object for the preservation of the life of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, her son, and for her own life, for the stability of her reign, and for the well-being of her offspring.