THE HISTORY OF ESARHADDON

(SON OF SENNACHERIB)

KING OF ASSYRIA, 681-668 BC

THE histories of Sennacherib and Assurbanipal, kings of Assyria, have already been written by the late Mr. George Smith. Sennacherib ruled over Assyria from 705 to 681; Assurbanipal from 668 to 626. But from 681 to 668 a king called Esarhaddon reigned, and the annals of this king have been translated to form the present history.

Esarhaddon was the son of Sennacherib, and father of Assurbanipal. Thus we have the history of father, son, and grandson; consequently, a fair knowledge of the warlike expeditions which were undertaken, and what countries were subdued by the Assyrians, between the years 705 and 626.

Sennacherib, Esarhaddon and Assurbanipal were certainly three of the greatest kings that ever ruled over Assyria. Their reigns, taken together, cover nearly eighty years; but an exact idea of the influence that this family had upon Assyria can only be made out clearly from the records and documents which they themselves caused to be written. Sennacherib was the true type of the Oriental conqueror - delighting in war for its own sake, proud, cruel, and fond of power. The Bible preserves for us a speech of the Rabshakeh of Sennacherib, so well known on account of the boastfulness and pride so vividly portrayed in every word. The commencement, thus saith "the great king, the King of Assyria," is the oft-repeated formula beginning all the inscriptions of this monarch. We can quite understand such a king asking, "Where are the gods of Hamath and of Arpad? who are they among all the gods of the countries, that the Lord should deliver Jerusalem out of mine hand?" for he frequently boasts, "the gods of his country I carried off, I spoiled."

The sway of Esarhaddon was, however, milder, and although he warred as much as "the king his father, who went before," yet he exhibits many signs of gentleness, and it is evident that he tried to pacify all those subjects that successful warfare had allowed him to conquer. It must be clear to all how valuable are the cuneiform inscriptions that give us the history of this monarch. The Bible mentions him but three times by name; he is alluded to once.

Esarhaddon's son, Assurbanipal, was the literary king par excellence, and he records of himself that "Nebo and Tasmit gave him broad ears, and his seeing eyes regarded the engraved characters of the tablets, the secrets of Nebo, the literature of the library, as much as is suitable, on tablets I wrote, I engraved, I explained, and for the inspection of my subjects in the midst of my palace I placed" 

The following is his full and interesting account of his subjection of Tirhakah, King of Egypt and Cush, translated from the large decagon cylinder containing the "Annals of Assurbanipal," recently brought from the East:

"In my first expedition to the land of Mägan and Melukhkha, then I went.

Tirhakah, King of Egypt and Cush, of whom Esarhaddon, King of Assyria, the father, my begetter, his overthrow had accomplished, and had ruled over his land, then he, Tirhakah, the power of Assur (and) Istar, the great gods, my lords, despised, and he trusted to his own might. Against the kings, prefects, which within Egypt, the father, my begetter, had appointed to slay, plunder, and capture Egypt, he came against them, he entered and dwelt within Memphis, the city which the father, my begetter, had captured, and to the border of Assyria had added it.

I was walking within Nineveh, (when) one came and repeated to me concerning these deeds. My heart groaned and was smitten down my liver. I lifted up my two hands; I besought Assur and Istar, the holy one.

(Then) I assembled my powerful forces, (with) which Assur and Istar had filled my two hands. Against the lands of Egypt and Cush.

I set straight the expedition.........................................

Tirhakah, King of Egypt and Cush, within Memphis, of the march of my expedition heard, and to make battle; (his) weapons and army against me he assembled, (with) his soldiers. In the service of Assur, Bel, the great gods, my lords, the marchers before me in a great field battle, I accomplished the overthrow of his army. Tirhakah, within Memphis, heard of the defeat of his army, the terror of Assur and Istar overwhelmed him, and he went backward, the fear (approach) of my lordship covered him.

The city Memphis he turned from, and for the saving of his life he fled to the midst of Thebes.

That city I captured, my army I caused to enter and to dwell within it.

Tirhakah fled from his locality, (but) the fire of the weapon of Assur, my lord, overwhelmed him, and he went to his dark destiny".

His grandest work was the institution of the great library of clay tablets at Koyunjik.

E. A. BUDGE. CHRIST'S COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE, October, 1880.

THE GENEALOGY AND ACCESSION OF ESARHADDON, AND PRINCIPAL EVENTS OF HIS REIGN.

ESARHADDON was the son of Sennacherib, king of Assyria, 705-681 B.C. The sons of Sennacherib were

1 Sharesar, Biblical (Nergal-sarra-yutsur);

2 Adrammelech

3 Esarhaddon

The account of the death of Sennacherib is told us by the Bible, and very briefly, for we read (2 Kings XIX. 37): "And it came to pass as he (Sennacherib) was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Shareser his sons smote him with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Armenia. And Esarhaddon his son reigned in his stead."

Josephus says that Sennacherib was buried "in his own temple called Araske". It has been generally thought that Esarhaddon was Sennacherib's eldest son, and this seems to have been the idea of Polyhistor, who made Sennacherib place a son, Asordanes, on the throne of Babylon during his own lifetime. The testimony of a small tablet supports this view.

It has been aptly called the "Will of Sennacherib." It reads: "I, Sennacherib, king of multitudes, king of Assyria, have given chains of gold, etc., to Esarhaddon, my son, who was afterwards named Assur-ebil-mucin-pal, according to my wish."

The name of Esarhaddon is written in the following ways: Assur - akha-IDIN –na, Assur-akha-idinna. It means "Assur gave a brother."

Esarhaddon began to reign 681, and he reigned until 668. His brothers Adrammelech and Shareser attempted to obtain the throne, but Esarhaddon drew up his army, and, marching against them, gained a complete victory at Khani­rabbat, a district on the Upper Euphrates. According to some, Adrammelech was killed in battle; according to others, he escaped with his brother and took refuge in Armenia. According to local tradition, the king of Armenia received the vanquished with great kindness, and gave them land to dwell in.

A tablet, containing "addresses" to Esarhaddon, was probably drawn up at the time when Esarhaddon was preparing to fight against his brothers. Column II speaks thus:

Fear not, Oh Esarhaddon,

I (am) Bel, thy strength.

I will ease the supports of thy heart.

Respect, as for thy mother,

Thou hast caused to be shown to me.

(Each) of the sixty great gods, my strong ones,

Will guide thee with his life­

Upon mankind trust not, (but)

Bend thine eyes

Upon me—trust to me !

I am Istar of Arbela.

After the battle (680), Esarhaddon marched into Nineveh. But about this time Nabu-zir-napisti-eser, son of Merodach-Baladan, an old enemy of Assyria, raised an army and went to attack the city of Ur, whose eponym's name was Nin-gal-iddina. He was successful in his siege, and captured the city. Esarhaddon sent out his officers, and Nabu­zir-napisti-esir, knowing this, fled to Elam, asking protection from Ummanaldas, king of that country. But this was refused; and we read that "he had trusted to the king of Elam, who had not caused his life to be spared." Nahid-Marduk, another son of Merodach-Baladan, hearing of the death of his brother, came to Nineveh and sought alliance with Esarhaddon, who received him graciously; and gave him the sea-coast to rule over.

Another revolt in Syria now claimed the attention of the Assyrian king. Abdi-milcutti, king of the city of Zidon, had made alliance with Sanduarri, king of Cundi and Sizu. Esarhaddon marched against Zidon, besieged and captured it. He cut off the heads of Abdi-milcutti and Sanduarri, and, hanging them upon the necks of their great men, exhibited them in the wide spaces (Rehoboth) in Nineveh.

All Palestine and the neighbouring regions now submitted to Esarhaddon: twelve districts in Palestine, and ten in Cyprus. Each king sent presents.

At this time, also, he captured the city of Arzani, perhaps a city of Egypt.

Esarhaddon's next expedition was against the Gimirrai, or Kimmerians, whose king was called Teuspa. He conquered them, and, at the same time, the inhabitants of Cilicia and Duha submitted.

Soon after this, Esarhaddon attacked the Mannai, but in this attempt he appears not to have been quite as successful. However, five Median chiefs came to Nineveh and submitted to Esarhaddon.

Esarhaddon now attempted the conquest of Arabia. Many of the Assyrian kings before Esarhaddon had made some conquests in the land of Edom. But he went farther, and reached two cities, called Bazu and Khazu (the Biblical Huz and Buz), and conquered eight kings and queens. The journey, however, was very difficult, and little more is said about it.

A king, called Lailie, asked that the gods which Esarhaddon had captured from him might be restored. His request was granted, and Esarhaddon says—"I spoke to him of brotherhood, and entrusted to him the sovereignty of the districts of Bazu."

Esarhaddon being master of Arabia, Syria, Media, and the other countries which had rebelled against him, was now troubled by Egypt. Before the reign of Esarhaddon, an Ethiopian, called Sabaka, had conquered Egypt. He died, and Sabatok, his successor, made good his cause, and was recognised as king. But now Tirhakah fought Sabatok, who was vanquished, taken prisoner, and put to death.

Tirhakah had been a stubborn and rebellious enemy against Sennacherib, the father of Esarhaddon. It was his army that had opposed Sennacherib at the time of the overthrow of the Assyrian army. Tirhakah, having reigned about twenty years, considered himself well established on the Egyptian throne, so he made an alliance with Bahlu, king of Tyre, and as it is said:

"The yoke of Assur, my lord, they despised; they were insolent and rebellious."

Esarhaddon had entered into a convention with Bahal, by which, in return for services rendered by the Tyrians, the Assyrian monarch ceded to the king of Tyre a considerable portion of the coast of Palestine, including Accho, Dor, and all the northern coast of the Philistines, with the cities and Gebal, and Lebanon, and the cities in the mountains behind Tyre.

This very serious rebellion aroused Esarhaddon and brought him and his army against the rebels. He started from the city Aphek, and marched as far as Rapikhi (?), a journey of 30 casbu, or 210 miles.

The Assyrian army was short of water, and was obliged to drink whatever water could be found, for he says:

"Marsh waters from buckets I caused my army to drink."

He then marched into Egypt, and Tirhakah was beaten. Esarhaddon next divided Egypt into twenty provinces; all, except two, being governed by Egyptian generals. The exceptions are:

Sarludari, king of the city of Tsiahnu (Zoan, or Tanis), and Bucur-Ninip, king of the city of Pakhnuti.

Esarhaddon caused to be carved upon the rocks of the Nahr-el-Kelb a long inscription, in which he called himself "King of Egypt, Thebes, and Ethiopia".

Esarhaddon now began his buildings. He first built "ten fortresses" in Assyria and Accad. He then repaired and enlarged the palace at Nineveh, which had been made for the "custody of the camp-baggage." The twenty-two kings of Syria brought him materials for his works. He began a palace at Calah, but it was never finished; and he built one for his son, Assurbanipal, at Tarbitsi (modern Sheref Khan).

While Esarhaddon was yet king, he set his son Assurbanipal upon the throne to reign with him. This is evident from his own words:

Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, the father, my begetter.

The will of Assur and Beltis the gods, his ministers, he exalted.

Which (gods) commanded him to establish my kingship.

The inscription then goes on to say that, on the 12th day of May, Esarhaddon gathered together the principal men of the kingdom, and it was decreed that Assurbanipal should be made king. This event must have taken place between 671 and 668.

When Esarhaddon returned to Assyria, Tirhakah raised a large army and went to besiege Memphis. The city fell into his hands after a "murderous siege." The account of his defeat is given by the annals of Assurbanipal. Esarhaddon died in the year 668.

He left one son, Assurbanipal, king of Assyria, and another called generally Saulmugina, king of Babylon.

Esarhaddon was truly "the great king," and he adopted the policy of holding court at Nineveh and Babylon. Babylon was the scene of many great battles, and during its existence was fought for oftener than, perhaps, any other city in the Babylonian and Assyrian empires. It was said to have been built in very early times, became capital under Khammuragas, and held this position for 1200 years. Khammuragas (about 1700) calls himself "king of Babylon." He built there a temple to Merodach. It was conquered by Tuculti-Ninip, 1271; by Tiglath­Pileser I, 1110; by Tiglath-Pileser II, 731; by Merodach-Baladan, 722; by Sargon, 721; it was sacked and burnt by Sennacherib, 692, but restored by Esarhaddon, 675; captured by Assurbanipal, 648, also by Nabupal-Yutsur, 626, and finally taken by the Medes and Persians, 539 BC.

In his capacity of ruler he was comparatively merciful and kind, for the phrase "I showed mercy to him" occurs frequently in the inscriptions; also his restoration to his enemies of the gods which he had captured is probably without equal among the deeds of the mighty kings of Assyria "who went before." Another proof of his generosity to his enemies is shown by the fact of his releasing Manasseh, king of Judah, and restoring to him his kingdom after he had been carried captive to Babylon (2 Chron. XXXIII. II). He extended the Assyrian empire by the conquests of Arabia and Egypt, and does not appear to have taken delight in warlike expeditions for their own sake, but only undertook them when necessity required for the submission of his enemies.

THE WILL OF SENNACHERIB.

Sennacherib, King of multitudes, King of Assyria, bracelets of gold, heaps of ivory, a cup of gold, crowns of gold, and chains with them, these benefits of which there are heaps crystal stone, bird stone. One and a-half mane, two and a half shekels, according to their weight to Esarhaddon my son who afterwards Assur-ebil-mucin-pal his name was named according to my wish.

TITLES OF ESARHADDON.

Esarhaddon

the powerful king, king of multitudes, king of the country of Assyria,

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

The king of multitudes,(king of) the land of the Hittites, of Egypt, (and) Cush, (Ethiopia).

I am Esarhaddon, the great king, the strong king, king of multitudes, king of Assyria, priest of Babylon, king of Sumer and Accad, king of the kings of Egypt of the country of the Hittites, Egypt (?) of Cush.

Upon the land which is within Tarbitsi (a palace) for the seat of Assurbanipal, the son of the great king of the harems, the son, the offspring of my body, I built, I caused to be completed.

Esarhaddon king, king of the country of kar-duniyas, king of multitudes, king of Assyria, priest of Babylon, king of the country of Sumer and Accad, the exalted prince, the worshipper of Marduk Nebo, and Marduk.

BATTLE OF ESARHADDON AGAINST HIS BROTHER, AT KHANIRABBAT, 680 BC.

... I caused to descend and I caused to take ...

In heart I was discouraged, and was stricken down my liver.

As regards the making of the royalty of the house of my father, the extension of my dominion, to the gods Assur, Sin, Samas, Bel, Nebo, and Nergal, the goddess Istar of Nineveh, and the goddess Istar of Arbela, my hands I lifted up and they were kind to my prayers.

By their grace established, a trusting heart they sent, and said! do not restrain thy hands, we march; and we abhor thy enemies.

On the first day and second day I fought not, the front of my army I set not in array, the hinder part I formed not, the overseers of the horses trained to bear the yoke, without the furniture of my battle, I did not set in line, provisions for my journey I issued not.

Snow, storming the month Sebat came the mighty darkness, I feared not, like a sisinni bird flying against the officer Gab-khakh, of the land I opened out my forces; the road to Nineveh, with difficulty quickly I descended, and beyond me, in the region of the country of Khanirabbat, the whole of their warriors, powerful in front of my army placed themselves and girded on their weapons.

The fear of the great gods, my lords, overwhelmed them, and the onset of my powerful attack they saw, and collected in front.

The goddess Istar, the lady of war (and) battle, the lover of my obedience, my forces she fixed, their bows she broke, their assembled fighting men she struck and in their assembly disturbed, the army turns away from me. By her supreme command, my hands the standard which I had raised, I caused to carry.

THE WAR AGAINST NABU-ZIR-NAPISTI­ESIR, SON OF MERODACH-BALADAN, ABOUT 680 BC.

... he had been troublesome ...

His camp he assembled and against Nin-gal the governor of the city Ur, a servant, a dependant upon me, battle he brought against him, and had captured his place of exit.

From the time when Assur, Samas, Bel and Nebo, Istar of Nineveh, Istar of Arbela, myself Esarhaddon upon the throne of my father well caused me to be seated, and the government of the country they caused to be entrusted to me, he himself did not reverence the gifts of a brother he presented not, and homage he approached not, and his ambassador to my presence he sent not, and the peace of my kingdom he asked not, his evil deeds within Nineveh I heard, and my heart groaned and was stricken down my liver.

My officers, the prefects of the borders of his country I hastened against him, and he Nabu-zir-napisti-esir, a rebel, of the march of my army heard, and to the country of Elam, like a fox he fled away.

Since the covenant of the great gods he had broken, Assur, Sin, Samas, Bel and Nebo, sin and guilt placed upon him, within the land of Elam they overwhelmed him with weapons.

Nahid-Merodach his brother, of the matter in the country of Elam, which to his brother had happened, saw and from the country of Elam had fled and to make submission to me, to the country of Assyria came and he besought my lordship.

The sea coast, to its whole extent, the dominion of his brother, I entrusted to him. Yearly a sum unvarying with his numerous presents to Nineveh he came and he kissed my two feet.

EXPEDITION AGAINST ABDI-MILCUTTI, KING OF SIDON, AND SANDUARRI, KING OF CUNDI AND S'IZU.

…(Sumer) and Accad ...and the country of Assyria ...king of the country of Assyria, ....the gods Assur, Sin, Samas, Nebo, Marduk, the goddess Istar of Nineveh, the goddess Istar of Arbela, the great gods his lords, (who) from the rising of the sun to the setting of the sun he hath marched, and an opponent has not had.

The conqueror of Sidon, upon the border of the sea, sweeping away all its inhabitants, its fortress, and its site I captured and into the midst of the sea I cast and the region of its habitation I desolated.

Abdi-milcutti its king who from before my weapons into the midst of the sea had fled like a fish, from the midst of the sea I drew him out and cut off his head.

Spoiling his goods, gold, silver, precious stones, skin of the wild bull, horn of the wild bull, strong wood, chair wood, clothing, and linen, whatever its name the treasures of his palace, to a great (number) I carried off his men and women which number had not, oxen and sheep, asses I turned to the midst of the country of Assyria.

I assembled also the kings of the land of the Hittites, and the sea coast the whole of them into my presence. Another city I caused to make, the city of Esarhaddon. I called its name. The men, the spoil of my bow from the mountains and the sea of the rising sun in the midst of it I caused to dwell, my general as prefect over them I established.

Sanduarri king of the city Cundi, and the city Siza, an enemy, not a reverer of my lordship, whom the gods had deserted, and to the rugged mountains trusted, also Abdi-milcutti, king of the city Sidon to his help established and the name of the great gods to each other they remembered, and to their forces they trusted. But I, to Assur my lord trusted, and like a bird from within the mountain, I drew him out and I cut off his head.

By the might of Assur, my lord, the men all of them, whoever they were, the heads of Sanduarri and Abdi-milcatti upon the necks of their great men I hung and together with the musicians, both male and female.

EXPEDITION AGAINST THE CIMMERI AND CILICIA.

... he gathered it...

to the country of Assyria I brought.

In front of the great gate at the border of the city Nineveh, with wild bulls, dogs and bears.

I caused them to dwell in a heap, and Teuspd, king of the country of the Gimirrai, a barbarous soldier, whose country remote in the territory of the country of Khupusna, together with the whole of his army, I ran through with the sword; I trampled the necks of the men of the country of Cilicia, the country of Duha, the inhabitants of the forests ) opposite the country of Tabal, who upon their mountains had trusted, and from the days of old did not submit to my yoke, twenty-one of their strong cities, together with the small cities which bordered them I besieged, I captured, I spoiled of their spoil; I threw down, I dug up, with fire I burned.

The remainder of them, who rebellion and curses had not, the heavy yoke of my lordship I placed upon them.

I trampled upon the country of Parnaci, an enemy, destroying the inhabitants of the country of Tel-Assur, which in the language of the men of the city Mekhranu, the city Pitänu they call their name.

I scattered the men of the country of Van, Gutium disobedient, who the armies of Ispacai,the country of the Asguzai, a rebel force, not saving him, I overwhelmed with weapons.

The repeller of Nabu-zir-napisti-esir, son of Merodach­Baladan, who to the king of the country of Elam had trusted and had not caused his life to be saved.

Nahid-Merodach, his brother, in order to make my submission, from within the country of Elam had fled, and to Nineveh, the city of my lordship came and kissed my feet.

The country of the sea to its whole extent, the dominion of his brother I caused to be entrusted to him.

The disturber of the country of Beth-Dakkurri, within the land of Chaldea, an enemy of Babylon, I burned Samas-ibni its king a ravager wicked, not revering the memory of the lords, who the lands of the sons of Babylon and Borsippa, by violence had carried away. And as for myself, the fear of the gods Bel and Nebo those lands I restored, and to the sons of Babylon and Borsippa I caused to be entrusted. Nebo-sallim, son of Balagu, upon his throne I caused to be seated, and he repented of his transgressions.

THE ARABIAN WAR OF ESARHADDON

It is stated that Sennacherib had conquered the city of Edom, in Arabia. A notice of this event is found on a tablet, very much defaced. The invasion by Sennacherib took place about 691. At the time of Esarhaddon, Khazail was king of Arabia, and when he died Esarhaddon bestowed the throne upon Yautah or Yahlua, the son of Khazail. This occurred during the reign of Esarhaddon, and Yautah paid his appointed tribute, as Khazail had done before him, until some time after the death of Esarhaddon. Assurbanipal, was king of Assyria, and Saulmugina, his brother, had revolted. It was then that Yautah joined in the revolt and raised two armies; one he sent to Palestine, and the other to the help of the Babylonians. He had refused to pay his tribute, and his conduct is thus tersely described by Assurban-pal: "For when Elam was speaking sedition with Accad, he heard, and then he disregarded fealty to me, (even) myself Assurbanipal, the King, the noble hero, the powerful chief, the work of the hands of the god Assur. He forsook me, and to Abiyateh and Aimu, sons of Teahri, his forces with them, for the assistance of Saulmugina, my rebellious brother, lie sent, and established his face. The people of Arabia he caused to revolt with him, and carried off the plunder of the people whom Assur, Istar, and the great gods had given me". His was, however, totally defeated, for another notice says: "The Arabians who escaped from before my warriors the god Ninip destroyed. In want and famine their life was passed, and for food they eat the flesh of their children…To Yautah misfortune happened, and he fled away alone to Nabaiti." Assurbanipal placed Abiyateh upon the throne of Yautah. The account of these events goes on to state that Assurbanipal brought Yautah out from Nabatea, and kept him chained in the Gate of the Rising Sun, in Nineveh.

To the city of Edom, a fortified city of the country of Arabia

which Sennacherib, king of the land of Assyria,

the father, my begotter, had conquered, and

its wealth, its riches, its gods,

had carried away to the country of Assyria.

... I brought

Khazail of the land of Arabia, with his numerous presents, to Nineveh, the city of my lordship. He came and he kissed my two feet. Then compassion I showed him, and of these gods their injuries I repaired, and the mighty of the god Assur, my lord, and the writing of my name upon them I caused to be written and, I restored and I gave to him.

The woman Tabua, one reared in my palace, to the sovereignty over them I established, and, together with her gods, to her land I restored her.

Sixty-five camels more than the tribute paid to my father in former times I added, and I placed upon her.

Afterwards Khazail, a plague carried him off, and Yahlu, his son, upon his throne I caused to be seated; and ten manehs of gold, one thousand carved stones, fifty camels, one thousand dromedaries, more than the tribute of his father I added, I appointed him the country of Bazu, a district of which its situation remote, a journey of desert-land, a land of loathsomeness, a place of thirst, one hundred and forty cask of ground, dusty broken, and stones deceitful, snakes and scorpions which, like grasshoppers, they filled the ground.

Twenty kasha of the land of Khazu, a mountain of SAGIL­MUT stone, behind me I left, and I passed through that district, which, from ancient times, had not marched king preceding me.

By the command of Assur, my lord, within it royally I marched. Eight kings, which within that district, I slew; their gods, their wealth, their riches and their men I spoiled. To the interior of the land of Assyria, Lailie, king of the city of Yadiah, which from before my weapons had fled, of the spoiling of his gods he heard, and to Nineveh, the city of my lordship, to my presence he came, and he kissed my two feet.

Compassion I showed him, and I spoke to him of brotherhood; his gods which I had carried off the mighty of Assur my lord upon them I wrote, and I restored and I gave to him. The districts of this land of Bizu I caused to be entrusted to him, offering tribute to my lordship I fixed upon him, Bel-basa, son of Bunani, king of the Gambubli who over twelve kasbu of ground among the waters and reedy marshes like a fish they were establishing their dwelling-place.

By the command of Assur, my lord, terror shook him and according to his own decree offering and tribute ...

THE WAR AGAINST SIDIR-PARNA AND EPARNA, KINGS OF MEDIA.

…he brought and he kissed my feet,

compassion I showed him, and I caused to be washed away his rebellion.

The city of Sapi-Bel, the city of his strength, its strength I strengthened and he himself, together with his bowmen within, I made him go up and like a door, the land of Elam I shut it up.

The land of Patusarra a district from which the birds return, which within the land of the Medes afar off which on the borders of the land of Bicni, the mountains of marble which among the kings, my fathers, none had trod the territory of their country.

Sidir-parna and Eparna, the lords of the powerful cities who had not submitted to my yoke, they themselves together with their men, horses, chariots, oxen, sheep, asses, flocks, their great spoil I carried off to the land of Assyria.

Uppits, lord of the city of Partacca, Zanagana, lord of the city of Partacca, Ramateya lord of the city of Uracazabarna, of the country of the Medes, whose territory afar off, who in the time of the kings, my fathers, the country of Assyria had not crossed over, neither had they trodden its soil. The fear and terror of the god Assur my lord over­whelmed them and great war horses, choice marble of his land to Nineveh, the city of my lordship they had brought, and they kissed my two feet.

As regards the lords of cities who my hands had struck them, my lordship they implored and they asked of me a treaty.

My officers, the prefects of the borders of their country with them I urged on and the men, inhabitants of those cities, they trampled and they made to submit to their feet offering tribute to my lordship, yearly the sum, I fixed upon them.

From the gods Assur, Samas, Bel, and Nebo. The goddess Istar of Nineveh, the goddess Istar of Arbela over my enemies by the law they had caused to fix for me, I found the fulness of my heart.

By the acquisitions from enemies which in the service of the great gods my lords my two hands have captured.

Ten strongholds of the land of Assyria and the land of Accad I caused to be made, and silver and gold I decorated, and I made brilliant as the day.

At that time also the principal palace within the city Nineveh which the preceding kings, my fathers, they caused to be made for the custody of the camp-baggage and the oversight of the war horses, cows, chariots, arms, the furniture of battle, and the spoil of enemies, all whatever its name.

Which the god Assur, the King of gods to the hand of my kingship hath granted for the establishment of horses, of chariots and the men of the countries

THE BUILDING OF THE PALACE.

… which I captured ravishing with my bow...

full tax I caused them to bear and they made many bricks.

That small palace to its whole extent I dug up and much earth like the line of a rope from the interior of the lands I dug and upon it, I added; with alabaster a stone from the great mountain the mound I filled up.

I gathered twenty-two kings of the land of the Hittites of the sea-coast and the middle of the sea, the whole of them I hastened them on and great beams, a great floor, Abime wood, cedar wood, sherbin wood from the interior of the land of S'irara,the land of Lebanon, sphinxes, a height of statuary work door posts of burnt brick, of Samulla stone, Cumina stone, stone from the interior of the forests, the place of their production, for the requirements of my palace, laboriously with difficulty to Nineveh they had caused to be brought.

In a fortunate month a favourable day, upon that mound, great palaces for the dwelling of my lordship I built upon it.

A strong temple of ninety-five great baru in length, thirty-one great baru in width, which among the preceding kings, my fathers, any one had not made, I made.

Beams of cedar, great, I caused to be placed upon it.

Doors of Sherbin wood, of which their foundation good, a band of silver and copper I bound, and I hung in its gates bulls and cologgi, who, according to their fixed command, against the wicked they turn ; they protect the footsteps, making peace the path of the King, their creator.

To the right hand I caused to occupy he avenue.

A palace of alabaster and of cedar wood for the renown of my lordship completely I caused to be made.

Female colossi of painted bronze, which on this side, in front and behind, I raised.

  The doors of great planks of cedar wood, of Abime wood, the completion of the gates I placed.

The whole extent of that palace, a battlement broken of eye-stone and marble crystal I caused to be made, and I completed its summit with stairs to the roof.

I caused to surround all the doors coverings of white silver and shining copper and I hung them within it.

The mighty of the god Assur my lord with which in hostile lands he had clothed himself, priests I established within it.

A great plantation like that of the land of Amanus, which contained all spices and trees, its ditch, its walls, I made to stand; its altar in size I made large, and its paths greatly I enlarged for the reception of horses within it.

An opening I caused to make straight, and I caused that palace from its foundation to its roof.