Column II.
(Many lines lost.)
- 1. ..... the evil curse ....
- 2. The man his will turned ....
- 3. on a .... I arranged.
- 4. On a (tablet) the evil curse (which) in blood he raised
- 5. (I wrote and the children of) the generals I urged on.
- 6. Seven (against seven in) breadth I arranged them.
- 7. (I established) the illustrious (ordinances?)
- 8. I prayed to the great gods
- 9. Istar, ...., Zamama, Anunit,
- 10. Nebo .... and Samas the warrior,
- 11. the son of (the moon-god), the gods that go (before me).
- 12. .... he did not give and
- 13. thus I said in my heart,
- 14. that, Here am I and
- 15. may I not go .... (beneath) the ground.
- 16. may I not go ...... may the prayer
- 17. go when .... my heart,
- 18. may I renew, the iron in my hand may I take.
- 19. The first year in the course of it
- 20. one hundred and twenty thousand soldiers I sent out, and among them
- 21. not one returned.
- 22. The second year in the course of it, ninety thousand I sent out, and not one returned.
- 23. The third year in the course of it, sixty thousand seven hundred I sent out, and not one returned.
- 24. They were rooted out, they were smitten with sickness; I ate,
- 25. I rejoiced, I rested.
- 26. Thus I said to my heart that, Here am I and
- 27. for my reign what is left (to rule over)?
- 28. I the king, am not the replenisher of his country,
Column III.
- 1. and (I), the shepherd, am not the replenisher of his people,
- 2. since I established corpses, and a desert is left.
- 3. The whole of the country (and) men with night, death (and) plague I cursed it.
- 4. (I afflicted them) as many as exist.
- 5. ...... there descended
- 6. ...... a whirlwind.
- 7. ...... its whirlwind.
- 8. ........... all.
- 9. The foundations (of the earth were shaken?)
- 10. The gods .......
- 11. Thou didst bind and .....
- 12. and they were bound (?) ....
- 13. Thou protectedst .....
- 14. A memorial of ........
- 15. in supplication to Hea ....
- 16. Illustrious memorial sacrifices ....
- 17. Illustrious tereti ......
- 18. I collected; the children of the generals (I urged on).
- 19. Seven against seven in breadth I arranged.
- 20. I established the illustrious ordinances (?)
- 21. I prayed to (the great) gods,
- 22. Istar .... (Zamama, Anunit,)
- 23. Nebo ... (and the Sun-god, the warrior,)
- 24. the son (of the Moon-god, the gods who go before me).
Column IV.
(Several lines lost at commencement.)
- 1. Thou O king, viceroy, shepherd, or any one else,
- 2. whom God shall call to rule the kingdom,
- 3. this tablet I made for thee, this record-stone I wrote for thee,
- 4. in the city of Cutha, in the temple of Gallam,
- 5. in the sanctuary of Nergal, I leave for thee;
- 6. this record-stone see, and,
- 7. to the words of this record-stone listen, and
- 8. do not rebel, do not fail,
- 9. do not fear, and do not curse.
- 10. Thy foundation may he establish!
- 11. As for thee, in thy works may he make splendour.
- 12. Thy forts shall be strong,
- 13. thy canals shall be full of water,
- 14. thy papyri, thy corn, thy silver,
- 15. thy furniture, thy goods,
- 16. and thy instruments, shall be multiplied.
- (A few more mutilated lines.)
Sacred Tree, attendant Figures and Eagle-headed Men, from the seal of a Syrian Chief, ninth century b.c.