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akkadian_english_corpus

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I carried off into Assyria a substantial booty consisting of 208,000 people, male and female, 7,200 horses and mules, 11,073 donkeys, 5,230 camels, 80,100 oxen, and 800,100 sheep and goats. This is apart from the people, donkeys, camels, oxen, and sheep and goats that all of my troops had carried away and appropriated for themselves.

Moreover, I struck with the sword the soldiers of the enemy, a recalcitrant force who had not submitted quickly to my yoke, and hung their corpses on poles.

At that time, Egallammes, the temple of the god Nergal that is inside the city Tarbiṣu, which Shalmaneser III, a former ruler, son of Ashurnasirpal II, and grandson of Tukultī-Ninurta II, had built, became dilapidated. I tore down that temple in its entirety and reached its foundation pit. I filled in a terrace in an area measuring 200 cubits along its longer side and 100 cubits along its shorter side, thus adding to the size of the former temple. I made Egallammes larger than before. I built and completed it from its foundations to its battlements through the craft of clever master builders. For the god Nergal, who lives in the city Tarbiṣu, my lord, I indeed did a splendid job, which surpassed previous work and was worthy of high praise.

I brought the god Nergal, the lord of exalted strength, almighty and perfect, the foremost warrior who has no rival, inside it and I graciously settled him in his august dwelling. I made splendid and pure offerings of plump bulls and fattened sheep before him, and I held festivities inside that temple. I had the victorious conquests that I achieved over all of my enemies with his great support written on my inscribed objects and I deposited them for posterity, for the kings, my descendants.

In the future, may a future ruler, when this temple becomes old and dilapidated, find my inscribed objects, anoint them with oil, make an offering, and securely place them with inscribed objects bearing his name. The god Nergal will then hear his prayers.

For the god Nergal, his lord: I, Sennacherib, king of Assyria, built Egallammes, which is in the city Tarbiṣu, from its foundations to its crenellations for my life, the well-being of my offspring, the overthrow of my enemies, the success of the harvest of Assyria, and the well-being of Assyria. I deposited my clay cones therein.

Sennacherib, great king, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, had Egallammes, the temple of the god Nergal, which is in the city Tarbiṣu, built and I made it as bright as day.

Sennacherib, great king, king of the world, king of Assyria, had the inner wall and the outer wall of the city Kilīzu built anew and raised as high as mountains.

Sennacherib, king of the world, king of Assyria, had the outer wall of the city Kilīzu built with baked bricks.

The deities Aššur, Sîn, Šamaš, Adad, Ninurta, and Ištar, the great gods who stand at the side of the king, their favorite, and make his weapons prevail over all enemies:

Sennacherib, great king, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, the attentive prince who is your protégé, who by your firm ‘yes’ marched about and who made the insubmissive lands and disobedient people of the mountains bow down at his feet:

At that time, the cities Tumurrum, Šarum, Ḫalbuda, Kibšu, Ezāma, Qūa, and Qana, which were on the border of the land Katmuḫu, which were situated like the nests of eagles on the peaks of Mount Nipur, and which since time immemorial were an obstinate force that did not known how to respect any authority during the reigns of the kings, my ancestors — during the reign of my lordship, their gods abandoned them and made them vulnerable.

Like a fierce wild bull, I took the lead of them the soldiers in my camp. Where it was too difficult for my chair, I leapt forward on my own two feet like a mountain goat. Where my knees became extremely tired, I sat down upon the mountain rock and drank cold water from a water skin to quench my thirst.

I had a stele made and had written on it the mighty victories of the god Aššur, my lord. I erected it for ever after on the peak of Mount Nipur, where

As for the one who alters my inscription, may the god Aššur and the great gods glare at him angrily and overthrow him.

Deities Aššur, Anu, Enlil, Ea, Sîn, Šamaš, Adad, Marduk, Nabû, Nergal, Ištar, and the Sebetti, the great gods, who install the lord and name the ruler to lead the black-headed people all over the inhabited world:

Sennacherib, great king, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, king of the four quarters of the world, the prince who provides for them, by your firm ‘yes’ I marched about safely from the Upper Sea to the Lower Sea, and then I made rulers of the four quarters of the world bow down at my feet and they now pull my yoke:

At that time, I greatly enlarged the site of Nineveh. I had its inner wall and its outer wall, which had never been constructed before, built anew and I raised them as high as mountains. Its fields, which had been turned into wastelands due to lack of water, were woven over with spider webs. Moreover, its people did not know artificial irrigation, but had their eyes turned for rain and showers from the sky.

Now, I, by the command of the god Aššur, the great lord, my lord, added to it the waters on the right and left of the mountain, which are beside it, and the waters of the cities Mēsu, Kukkinu, and Piturra, cities in its environs.

I dug that canal with only seventy men and I named it Nār-Sennacherib. I added its water to the water from the wells and the canals that I had previously dug, and then I directed their courses to Nineveh, the exalted cult center, my royal residence, whose site the kings, my ancestors, since time immemorial had not made large enough, nor had they expertly carried out its artful execution.

To a later ruler, one of the kings, my descendants, who deliberates the matter in his heart but is not able to believe it, and says "How did he have this canal dug out with only these few men?": I swear by the god Aššur, my great god, that I dug out this canal with only these men. Moreover, I completed the work on it within one year and three months;

This sluice gate of the watercourse opened by itself without the help of spade or shovel and let an abundance of water flow through. Its sluice gate was not opened through the work of human hands. According to the heart’s desire of the gods, I made it gurgle with water. After I inspected the canal and made sure its construction was performed correctly, I offered pure sacrifices of fattened oxen and an abundance of sheep to the great gods, who march at my side and who make my reign secure. I clothed those men who dug out this canal with linen garments and garments with multi-colored trim, and I placed gold rings and gold pectorals on them.

In this year with the flowing (going) of this canal which I had dug, I drew up a battleline with Umman-menanu (Ḫumban-menanu), the king of the land Elam, and the king of Babylon, together with the numerous kings of the mountains and Sealand who were their allies, in the plain of the city Ḫalulê. By the command of the god Aššur, the great lord, my lord, I charged into their midst like a fierce arrow, and I repelled their troops. I dispersed their assembled host and scattered their forces.

Terror of doing serious battle with me overwhelmed the king of the land Elam and the king of Babylon and they released their excrement inside their chariots. In order to save their lives, they fled to their own lands and did not return ever again saying: "Perhaps Sennacherib, king of Assyria, is so angry that he will return to the land Elam."

Fear and terror fell upon all of the Elamites and they abandoned their land, and then, in order to save their lives, they betook themselves to a rugged mountain like eagles and their hearts throbbed like those of pursued birds. Until they died, they did not make their way back (they did not open a path) and they no longer made war.

I handed the property of that city — silver, gold, choice stones, possessions and property — over to my people and they kept it for themselves. My people seized and smashed the gods living inside it, and then they took their possessions and property. The god Adad and the goddess Šala, gods of the city Ekallātum whom Marduk-nādin-aḫḫē, king of Akkad, had taken and brought to Babylon during the reign of Tiglath-pileser I, king of Assyria — I had them brought out of Babylon after 418 years and I returned them to the city Ekallātum, their proper place.

At the "mouth" of the canal that I caused to be dug into the mountain, I made six steles and I fashioned images of the great gods, my lords, upon them. Moreover, I had a royal image of myself expressing humility (one who strokes the nose) placed before them. I had all of my handiwork that I had undertaken in Nineveh inscribed upon them and I left them for ever after for the kings, my descendants.

At any time in the future, a future ruler, one of the kings, my descendants, who desecrates the work that I have done, dismantles the canal system that I have constructed, or diverts the flow of the waters of these canals from the plain of Nineveh: May the great gods, as many as are named in this stele, by their holy decree, which cannot be altered, curse him with a harsh curse and overthrow his dynasty.

On my second campaign, the god Aššur, my lord, encouraged me and I marched to the land of the Kassites and the land of the Yasubigallians, who since time immemorial had not submitted to the kings, my ancestors.

all of his wide land and overwhelmed it like a fog. I surrounded, conquered, destroyed, devastated, and burned with fire the cities Marʾubištu, Akkuddu, and Bīt-Barrû, which lie behind the mountains, cities of his royal house, together with thirty-four smaller settlements in their environs.

Sennacherib, king of the world, king of Assyria: As for the three watercourses which flow from Mount Ḫāni, a mountain above the city Arbela, I dug out the springs which are on the right and left banks of those watercourses and thus added (the springs’ water) to them. I dug a subterranean watercourse and directed all of their courses inside the city Arbela, the dwelling of the goddess Ištar, the exalted lady.

The deities Aššur — great lord, the father of the gods — Anu, Enlil, and Ea, Sîn, Šamaš, Adad, Marduk, Nabû, Nergal, Ištar, and the Sebetti, the great gods who stand at the side of the king who reveres them and make his weapons prevail over all enemies:

Sennacherib, great king, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, king of the four quarters of the world, the king who was chosen by you, guardian of truth who loves justice, renders assistance, goes to the aid of the weak, and strives after good deeds, perfect man, virile warrior, foremost of all rulers, the bridle that controls the insubmissive, and the one who strikes enemies with lightning:

The god Aššur, the great mountain, granted to me unrivalled sovereignty and made my weapons greater than those of all who sit on royal daises. He made all of the rulers of the four quarters of the world from the Upper Sea of the Setting Sun to the Lower Sea of the Rising Sun bow down at my feet and they now pull my yoke. On four of my campaigns during which I went down to Chaldea and marched to the city Kār-Nabû, which is on the shore of the Bitter Sea, I conquered their cities, and then plundered them, destroyed them, devastated them, and burned them with fire; and on three of my campaigns during which I marched to Elam, I destroyed its settlements.

On my eighth campaign, I ordered the march to Babylon. As for the Babylonians who heard about the approach of my expeditionary force, terror and fear fell upon them. They opened the treasury of Esagil and took out the gold, silver, and choice stones of the god Bēl Marduk and the goddess Zarpanītu in abundance. They sent it to Umman-menanu (Ḫumban-menanu), the king of the land Elam. They wrote to him as follows: "Come to Babylon to our aid and align yourself with us! Let us put our trust in you!"

He, the king of the land Elam, was a rash fellow who does not have sense or insight. On the first occasion, in the time of Ḫallušu-Inšušinak I, his father, I went down to his district and captured the cities Nagītu and Nagītu-diʾbina, and the lands Ḫilmu, Pillatu, and Ḫupapanu, districts of his that are on the other side of Bitter Sea, and plundered them, destroyed them, devastated them, and burned them with fire.

On the second occasion, in the time of Kudurru (Kudur-Naḫḫunte), his brother, I went to the land Elam and, in the course of my campaign, I surrounded, conquered, and plundered the cities Bīt-Ḫaʾiri and Raṣā, cities on the border of Assyria that the king of the land Elam had taken away by force in the time of my ancestors. I had archers and shield bearers stationed inside them. I brought those cities back inside the border of Assyria and placed them under the authority of the garrison commander of Dēr.

The cities Bīt-Arrabi, Ālum-qašti, Bubê, Dunni-Šamaš, Ekal-šalla, Burutu, Bīt-Ri­si­ya, Dūr-Dan­nu-Ner­gal, Bīt-Aḫlamê, Ālum-ša-Bē­let-bī­ti, Ib­rat, Kuṣurtain, Dūru, Dannat-Sulāya, Šilibtu, Bīt-Aṣūsi, Kār-Zēra-iqīša, Bīt-Giṣṣi, Bīt-Katpalāni, Dimtu-ša-Sulāya, Dimtu-ša-Mār-bīti-ēṭir, Ḫarri-ašlakê, Rabbāya, Rāsu, Tīl-Uḫuri, Ḫamrānu, Tīl-Ḫumbi, Dimtu-ša-Dume-ili, Bīt-Ubiya, Baltī-līšir, Taqab-līšir, Ša-nāqidāte, Sar­ḫu­dē­ri, Bīt-Aḫḫē-iddina, Ilteuba, Mu­ḫu­ṣē­

, Dam­tê, Dim­tu-ša-Bē­let-bī­ti, Ak­ka­ba­ri­na, Bīt-Im­bi­ya, Ma­sū­tu, Bīt-Unziya, Bīt-Kisiya, Dimtu-ša-Šullume,

, the walled fortresses of the land Rāši, and the smaller cities in their environs, which were without number, the cities Ḫamānu and Nadītu, as far as the pass of the land Bīt-Bunaki — I conquered, and plundered them, destroyed them, devastated them, burned them with fire, and turned them into a heap of ruins.

heard about the conquest of his cities, terror and fear fell upon him. He brought the rest of the people of his land into fortresses. He abandoned the city Madaktu, his royal city, and set out for the city Ḫaydala, which is in the mountains, far away.

I ordered the march to the city Madaktu, his royal city. In the month Ṭebētu X, bitter cold set in and continuous rain fell, and then wind, rain, and snow came in equal force. I was afraid of the gorges, the outflows of the mountains, so I turned around and took the road to Assyria.

I myself prayed to the deities Aššur, Sîn, Šamaš, Bēl, Nabû, Nergal, Ištar of Nineveh, and Ištar of Arbela, the gods who support me, for victory over my strong enemy and they immediately heeded my prayers and came to my aid.

I quickly slaughtered and defeated his magnates, who wear gold decorated belt-daggers and have reddish gold sling straps fastened to their forearms, like fattened bulls restrained with fetters.

I slit their throats like sheep and thus cut off their precious lives like thread. Like a flood in full spate after a seasonal rainstorm

, I made their blood flow over the broad earth. The swift thoroughbreds harnessed to my chariot plunged into floods of their blood just like a river. The wheels of my war chariot, which lays criminals and villains low, were bathed in blood and gore. I filled the plain with the corpses of their warriors like grass. When the second double-hour of the night had passed, I stopped their slaughter. I cut off their lips and thus destroyed their pride. I cut off their hands like the stems of cucumbers in season.

I received gold and shining silver sling straps from their wrists and slashed off their belts with sharp swords. I took away gold and silver decorated belt-daggers from their waists

As for him, Umman-menanu (Ḫumban-menanu), along with the king of Babylon, terror of doing battle with me overwhelmed them like alû-demons. Their hearts throbbed like the pursued young of pigeons, they passed their urine hotly and they released their excrement inside their chariots. In order to save their lives, they trampled the corpses of their troops as they pushed on.

so that we might proclaim your fame." After I myself had seen that they had released their excrement inside their chariots, I left them alone, sparing their lives.

So that no one will ever forget the might of the god Aššur, my lord, and that all humanity might magnify the praise of his heroism, on the very spot where I defeated the king of Babylon and Umman-menanu (Ḫumban-menanu), the king of the land Elam, all of their lands, together with the lands Parsuaš, Anzan, Paširu, Ellipi, all of Chaldea, as many as there were, and all of the Arameans, I reaped their skulls like withered grain and piled them up like pyramids.

I had a stele made, had all the victorious conquests that I achieved over my enemies with the support of the great gods, my lords, written on it, and I erected it on the plain of the city Ḫalulê.

At that time, the city Sūr-marrati, which is on the bank of the Tigris River and which had been abandoned from distant days and had gone to ruin — after I myself had arranged a march to the lands Elam and Chaldea, because I had spent the night inside it in the course of my campaign, the repopulating of that city came to my attention at that time and I put my mind to it, and then I greatly enlarged the site of the city, had its wall built anew, and raised it as high as a mountain. Beside the wall, I dug a moat around its entire circumference. I planted palm groves and grape vines in the meadow.

I had an inscribed object made and had inscribed on it all the mighty victories that I achieved over my enemies with the support of the god Aššur, my lord, and then I placed it inside the wall.

At any time in the future, may one of the kings, my descendants, whom the god Aššur names for shepherding the land and people, renovate its dilapidated sections when that wall becomes old and dilapidated. May he find an inscribed object bearing my name, anoint it with oil, make an offering, and return it to its place with his own inscription. The god Aššur will then hear his prayers.

Araḫsamna VIII, the twenty-fifth day, eponymy of Nabû-kēnu-uṣur, governor of the city Samaria, fourteenth year of Sennacherib, king of the world, king of Assyria.

In a pitched battle, I overwhelmed like the Deluge Marduk-apla-iddina II (Merodach-baladan), the king of Karduniaš Babylonia, all of the Chaldeans and Arameans, together with the troops of the land Elam, his allies. He (Marduk-apla-iddina II) fled alone to the Sealand, and then he dug up the gods of the full extent of his land, together with the bones of his forefathers from their tombs,

I had inscribed on it all the mighty victories that I achieved over my enemies with the support of the god Aššur, my lord, and I deposited it in its foundations for ever after.

At any time in the future, may one of the kings, my descendants, whom the god Aššur names for shepherding the land and people, renovate its dilapidated sections when that

becomes old and dilapidated. May he find an inscribed object bearing my name, anoint it with oil, make an offering, and return it to its place. The god Aššur will then hear his prayers.

Sennacherib, king of the world, king of Assyria, gave this object to Esarhaddon, his senior-ranking son.

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, whom from his childhood the gods Aššur, Šamaš, Bēl, and Nabû, Ištar of Nineveh, and Ištar of Arbela named for the kingship of Assyria —

I am my older brothers’ youngest brother and by the command of the gods Aššur, Sîn, Šamaš, Bēl, and Nabû, Ištar of Nineveh, and Ištar of Arbela, my father, who engendered me, elevated me firmly in the assembly of my brothers, saying: ‘This is the son who will succeed me.’ He questioned the gods Šamaš and Adad by divination, and they answered him with a firm ‘yes,’ saying: ‘He is your replacement.’ He heeded their important words and gathered together the people of Assyria, young and old, and my brothers, the seed of the house of my father.

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 prayed to the god Aššur, 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, 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 Aššur, Sîn, Šamaš, Bēl, Nabû, Ištar of Nineveh, and Ištar 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. 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 Aššur, Sîn, Šamaš, Bēl, Nabû, and Nergal, Ištar of Nineveh, and Ištar 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 Šabāṭu 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 before my arrival in the territory of the land Ḫanigalbat 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 Ištar, 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. 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 by the command of the gods Sîn and Šamaš, 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 eššēšu-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. 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, descendant of Sargon II, king of the world and king of Assyria, creation of the god Aššur and the goddess Mullissu, beloved of the gods Sîn and Šamaš, chosen by the gods Nabû and Marduk, favorite of the goddess Ištar — the queen — desired by the great gods, capable, able, intelligent, learned, the one whom the great gods 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 Aššur, 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 Aššur 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 Aššur.

At that time, Nabû-zēr-kitti-līšir, 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 cut off his escape route. After the gods Aššur, Šamaš, Bēl and Nabû, Ištar of Nineveh, and Ištar 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-zēr-kitti-līšir, the rebel, the traitor, heard of the approach of my army and fled like a fox to the land Elam. Because of the oath of the great gods which he had transgressed, the gods Aššur, Sîn, Šamaš, Bēl, and Nabû imposed a grievous punishment on him and they killed him with the sword in the midst of the land Elam. Naʾid-Marduk, his brother, saw the deeds that they had done to his brother in Elam, fled from the land Elam, came to Assyria to serve me, and beseeched my lordship. I made the entire Sealand, the domain of his brother, subject to him. Now he comes yearly, without ceasing, to Nineveh with his heavy audience gift and kisses my feet.

As for Abdi-Milkūti, king of Sidon, who did not fear my lordship and did not listen to the words of my lips, who trusted in the rolling sea and threw off the yoke of the god Aššur — I leveled Sidon, his stronghold, which is situated in the midst of the sea, like a flood, tore out its walls and its dwellings, and threw them into the sea; and I even made the site where it stood disappear. Abdi-Milkūti, its king, in the face of my weapons, fled into the midst of the sea. By the command of the god Aššur, my lord, I caught him like a fish from the midst of the sea and cut off his head. I carried off his wife, his sons, his daughters, his palace retainers, 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 to Assyria. I gathered the kings of Ḫatti (Syria-Palestine) and the seacoast, all of them, and had them build a city in another place, and I named it Kār-Esarhaddon.

The inhabitants of the cities Bīt-Ṣupūri, Sikkû, Giʾ, Inimme, Ḫildūa, Qartimme, Biʾrû, Kilmê, Bitirume, Sagû, Ampa, Bīt-Gisimeya, Birgiʾ, Gambūlu, Dalaimme, and Isiḫimme, cities in the environs of Sidon, places of pasturing and watering for his stronghold, which I captured with the help of the god Aššur, my lord, I settled in it together with the people plundered by my bow from the eastern mountains and sea and I restored the city to Assyrian territory. I reorganized that province, placed my official as a governor over them, and increased and imposed upon it tribute and payment greater than before. From among those cities of his I handed over the cities Maʾrubbu and Ṣarepta to Baʾalu, king of Tyre. I increased my lordly tribute beyond his earlier, annual giving and imposed it on him.

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

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

I crushed the wicked Barnaki, who live in the land Tīl-Ašurri, which is called Pitānu in the language of the people of the land Miḫrānu.

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

I plundered the land Bīt-Dakkūri, which is in Chaldea, an enemy of Babylon. I captured Šamaš-ibni, its king, a rogue and outlaw, who did not respect the oath of the lord of lords and who took away fields of the citizens of Babylon and Borsippa by force and turned them over to himself. Because I know the fear of the gods Bēl and Nabû, I returned those fields and entrusted them to the citizens of Babylon and Borsippa. I placed Nabû-šallim, the son of Balāssu, on his throne and he now pulls my yoke.

As for Bēl-iqīša, son of Bunnannū, a Gambulian whose residence is located twelve leagues distance in water and canebrakes, by the command of the god Aššur, my lord, unprovoked fear fell upon him and of his own free will he took tribute and payment, 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. I strengthened the city Ša-pī-Bēl, the city which is his strong fortress, and I put him together with his archers therein as a garrison and thus locked it the fortress up like a door against the land Elam.

As for the city Adumutu, the fortress of the Arabs, which Sennacherib, king of Assyria, my father, who engendered me, conquered and whose goods, possessions, and gods, together with Apkallatu, the queen of the Arabs, he plundered and brought to Assyria — Hazael, the king of the Arabs, came to Nineveh, my capital city, with his heavy audience gift and kissed my feet. He implored me to give back his gods, and I had pity on him. I refurbished the gods Atar-samayin, Dāya, Nuḫāya, Ruldāwu, Abirillu, and Atar-qurumâ, the gods of the Arabs, and I inscribed the might of the god Aššur, my lord, and an inscription written in my name on them and gave them back to him. I placed the lady Tabūa, who was raised in the palace of my father, as ruler over them and returned her to her land with her gods.

I added sixty-five camels and ten donkeys to the previous tribute and imposed it on him. Hazael died and I placed Iataʾ, his son, on his throne. I added ten minas of gold, one 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 Iataʾ.

I, Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, king of the four quarters, who loves loyalty and abhors treachery, sent my battle troops to the aid of Iataʾ, and they trampled all of the Arabs, threw Uabu, together with the soldiers who were with him, into fetters, and brought them to me. I placed them in neck stocks and tied them to the side of my gate.

As for the land Patušarri, a district in the area of the salt desert, which is in the midst of the land of the distant Medes, borders Mount Bikni, the lapis lazuli mountain, and upon the soil of whose land none of the kings, my ancestors, had walked — I carried off to Assyria Šidir-parna and E-parna, mighty chieftains, who were not submissive to my yoke, together with their people, their riding horses, oxen, sheep and goats, and Bactrian camels, their heavy plunder.

As for the land Bāzu, a district in a remote place, a forgotten place of dry land, saline ground, a place of thirst, one hundred and twenty leagues of desert, thistles, and gazelle-tooth stones, where snakes and scorpions fill the plain like ants — I left Mount Ḫazû, the mountain of saggilmud-stone, twenty leagues behind me and crossed over to that district to which no king before me had gone since earliest days. By the command of the god Aššur, my lord, I marched triumphantly in its midst. I defeated Kīsu, king of the city Ḫaldisu, Akbaru, king of the city Ilpiatu, Mansāku, king of the city Magalani, Iapaʾ, queen of the city Diḫrāni, Ḫabīsu, king of the city Qadabaʾ, Niḫaru, king of the city Gaʾuani, Baslu, queen of the city Iḫilum, and Ḫabaziru, king of the city Pudaʾ, eight kings from that district 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 Iadiʾ, 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 Bāzu under him.

Through the strength of the gods Aššur, Sîn, Šamaš, Nabû, Marduk, Ištar of Nineveh, and Ištar of Arbela, I conquered all of my arrogant enemies. 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 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 Aššur, my lord, were delivered into my hands. 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 Elamites and Gutians, obstinate rulers, who used to answer the kings, my ancestors, with hostility, heard of what the might of the god Aššur, 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 Aššur, Šamaš, Bēl, Nabû, Ištar of Nineveh, and Ištar of Arbela made me stand victoriously over my enemies and I attained everything I wanted, with the booty of the vast enemies which my hands had captured through the help of the great gods, my lords, I had the shrines of cult centers built in Assyria and Akkad; I decorated them with silver and gold and made them shine like daylight.

At that time, the armory of Nineveh which the kings who came before me, my ancestors, had built to maintain the camp and to keep thoroughbreds, mules, chariots, military equipment, implements of war, and the plunder of enemies, everything that the god Aššur, king of the gods, gave me as my royal share — that place had become too small for me to have horses show their mettle and to train with chariots. I made the people of the lands plundered by my bow take up hoe and basket, and they made bricks. I razed that small palace in its entirety, took a large area from the fields for an addition, and added it to it the palace. I laid its foundations with limestone, strong stone from the mountains, and raised the terrace.

I summoned the kings of Ḫatti and Across the River (Syria-Palestine): Baʾalu, king of Tyre, Manasseh, king of Judah, Qaʾuš-gabri, king of Edom, Muṣurī, king of Moab, Ṣil-Bēl, king of Gaza, Mitinti, king of Ashkelon, Ikausu, king of Ekron, Milki-ašapa, king of Byblos, Mattan-Baʾal, king of Arvad, Abī-Baʾal, king of Samsimurruna, Būdi-il, king of Bīt-Ammon, Aḫī-Milki, king of Ashdod — twelve kings from the shore of the sea; Ekištūra, king of Idalion, Pilagurâ, king of Kitrusi, Kīsu, king of Salamis, Itūandar, king of Paphos, Erēsu, king of Soloi, Damāsu, king of Curium, Admēsu, king of Tamassos, Damysos, king of Qarti-ḫadasti, Unasagusu, king of Lidir, Buṣusu, king of Nuria — ten kings of Iadnana Cyprus in the midst of the sea; in total, twenty-two kings of Ḫatti (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 of cedar and cypress, grown on Mount Sirāra 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 girimḫilibû-stone, everything that was needed for my palace, dragged with much trouble and effort from the midst of the mountains, the place of their origin, to Nineveh, my capital city.

In a favorable month, on a propitious day, I built great palatial halls upon that terrace for my lordly residence. 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. 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 Aššur, 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 Ešgalšiddudua, ‘The palace that administers everything.’

I invited the gods Aššur, Bēl, Nabû, Ištar of Nineveh, and Ištar of Arbela, 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 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 Aššur, the king of the gods, and the gods of Assyria, all of them, let me dwell in it forever in good health, happiness, bright spirits, and with the satisfaction of growing old, and let me be sated with its splendor. At new year, in the first month, yearly, without ceasing, let me inspect in it all of the thoroughbreds, mules, camels, military equipment, implements of war, and all of the captured enemy soldiers. Let the good šēdu and the good lamassu, who guard my royal path and who make me happy, last forever and ever in that palace. May they never leave it.

In the future, may one of the kings, my descendants, whom the god Aššur and the goddess Ištar 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 Aššur and the goddess Ištar will then hear your prayers.