Babylonian and Assyrian Literature

by Unknown

FACE C, base

124 I slew. Their spoil I carried away. The cities I threw
down, dug up (and) burned with fire. An image of my
Majesty
125 in the country of Kharkhara I set up. Yan'su son of
Khaban with his abundant treasures
126 his gods, his sons, his daughters, his soldiers in large numbers
I carried off. To Assyria I brought (them). In my
25th campaign
127 the Euphrates at its flood I crossed. The tribute of the
Kings of the Hittites, all of them, I received. The country
of Amanus
128 I traversed. To the cities of Cati of the country of the
Kahuians I descended. The city of Timur, his strong
city
129 I besieged, I captured. Their fighting men I slew. Its
spoil I carried away. The cities to a countless number I
threw down, dug up,
130 (and) burned with fire. On my return, the city of Muru,
the strong city of Arame the son of Agu'si,
131 (as) a possession for myself I took. Its entrance-space
I marked out. A palace, the seat of my Majesty, in the
middle (of it) I founded.
132 In my 26th year for the seventh time the country of the
Amanus I traversed. For the fourth time to the cities
of Cati
133 of the country of the Kahuians I went. The city of Tanacun,
the strong city of Tulca I approached. Exceeding
fear
134 of Assur my Lord overwhelmed him and (when) he had
come out my feet he took. His hostages I took. Silver,
gold,
135 iron, oxen, (and) sheep, (as) his tribute I received. From
the city of Tanacun I departed. To the country of
Lamena
136 I went. The men collected themselves. An inaccessible
mountain they occupied. The peak of the mountain I
assailed,
137 I took. Their fighting men I slew. Their spoil, their
oxen, their sheep, from the midst of the mountain I
brought down.
138 Their cities I threw down, dug up (and) burned with
fire. To the city of Khazzi I went. My feet they took.
Silver (and) gold,
139 their tribute, I received. Cirri, the brother of Cati to the
sovereignty over them
140 I set. On my return to the country of Amanus I ascended.
Beams of cedar I cut,
141 I removed, to my city Assur[1] I brought. In my 27th
year the chariots of my armies I mustered. Dayan-Assur
142 the Tartan,[2] the Commander of the wide-spreading army,
at the head of my army to the country of Armenia I
urged,
143 I sent. To Bit-Zamani he descended. Into the low
ground to the city of Ammas he went down. The river
Arzane he crossed.
144 'Seduri of the country of the Armenians heard, and to
the strength of his numerous host
145 he trusted; and to make conflict (and) battle against me
he came. With him I fought.
146 A destruction of him I made. With the flower of his
youth [3] his broad fields I filled. In my 28th year
147 when in the city of Calah I was stopping news had been
brought (me, that) men of the Patinians
148 Lubarni their Lord had slain (and) 'Surri (who was) not
heir to the throne to the kingdom had raised.
149 Dayan-Assur the Tartan, the Commander of the wide-spreading
army at the head of my host (and) my camp[4]
150 I urged, I sent. The Euphrates in its flood he crossed.
In the city of Cinalua his royal city
151 a slaughter he made. (As for) 'Surri the usurper, exceeding
fear of Assur my Lord
152 overwhelmed him, and the death of his destiny he went.[5]
The men of the country of the Patinians from before the
sight of my mighty weapons

[Footnote 1: The Ellasar of Genesis, now Kalah Shergat.]

[Footnote 2: "Turtanu" ("chief prince") in Assyrian.]

[Footnote 3: Or, "the chiefs of his young warriors.">[

[Footnote 4: The word properly means "baggage." and sometimes signifies "standard," which may be the translation here.]

[Footnote 5: That is, he died as was fated.]

FACE D, base

153 fled, and the children of 'Surri together with the soldiers, the rebels, (whom) they had taken they delivered to me. 154 Those soldiers on stakes I fixed. 'Sa'situr of the country of Uzza my feet took. To the kingdom 155 over them I placed (him). Silver, gold, lead, bronze, iron, (and) the horns of wild bulls to a countless number I received. 156 An image of my Majesty of great size I made. In the city of Cinalua his royal city in the temple of his gods I set it up. In 157 my 29th year (my) army (and) camp I urged, I sent. To the country of Cirkhi[1] I ascended. Their cities I threw down, 158 dug up, (and) burned with fire. Their country like a thunderstorm I swept. Exceeding 159 fear over them I cast. In my 30th year when in the city of Calah I was stopping, Dayan-Assur 160 the Tartan, the Commander of the wide-spreading army at the head of my army I urged, I sent. The river Zab 161 he crossed. To the midst of the cities of the city of Khupuscã he approached. The tribute of Datana 162 of the city of the Khupuscians I received. From the midst of the cities of the Khupuscians 163 I departed.[2] To the midst of the cities of Maggubbi of the country of the Madakhirians he approached. The tribute 164 I received. From the midst of the cities of the country of the Madakhirians he departed. To the midst of the cities of Udaci 165 of the country of the Mannians he approached. Udaci of the country of the Mannians from before the sight of my mighty weapons 166 fled, and the city of Zirta, his royal city, he abandoned. To save his life he ascended (the mountains). 167 After him I pursued. His oxen, his sheep, his spoil, to a countless amount I brought back. His cities 168 I threw down, dug up, (and) burned with fire. From the country of the Mannians[3] he departed. To the cities of Sulu'sunu of the country of Kharru 169 he approached. The city of Mairsuru, his royal city, together with the cities which depended on it he captured. (To) Sulu'sunu 170 together with his sons mercy I granted. To his country I restored him. A payment (and) tribute of horses I imposed. 171 My yoke upon him I placed. To the city of Surdira he approached. The tribute of Arta-irri 172 of the city of the Surdirians I received. To the country of Par'sua[4] I went down. The tribute of the Kings 173 of the country of Par'sua I received. (As for) the rest of the country of Par'sua which did not reverence Assur, its cities 174 I captured. Their spoil, their plunder to Assyria I brought. In my 31st year, the second time, the cyclical-feast 175 of Assur and Rimmon I had inaugurated.[5] At the time while I was stopping in the city of Calah, Dayan-Assur 176 the Tartan, the Commander of my wide-spreading army, at the head of my army (and) my camp I urged, I sent. 177 To the cities of Datâ of the country of Khupuscä he approached. The tribute I received. 178 To the city of Zapparia, a stronghold of the country of Muzatsira, I went. The city of Zapparia together with 179 forty-six cities of the city of the Muzatsirians I captured. Up to the borders of the country of the Armenians 180 I went. Fifty of their cities I threw down, dug up (and) burned with fire. To the country of Guzani[6] I went down. The tribute 181 of Upu of the country of the Guzanians, of the country of the Mannians, of the country of the Buririans, of the country of the Kharranians,[7] 182 of the country of the Sasganians, of the country of the Andians,[8] (and) of the country of the Kharkhanians, oxen, sheep, (and) horses 183 trained to the yoke I received. To the cities of the country of … I went down. The city of Perria 184 (and) the city of Sitivarya, its strongholds, together with 22 cities which depended upon it, I threw down, dug up 185 (and) burned with fire. Exceeding fear over them I cast. To the cities of the Parthians he went. 186 The cities of Bustu, Sala-khamanu (and) Cini-khamanu, fortified towns, together with 23 cities 187 which depended upon them I captured. Their fighting-men I slew. Their spoil I carried off. To the country of Zimri I went down. 188 Exceeding fear of Assur (and) Merodach overwhelmed them. Their cities they abandoned. To 189 inaccessible mountains they ascended. Two hundred and fifty of their cities I threw down, dug up (and) burned with fire. 190 Into the lowground of Sime'si at the head of the country of Khalman I went down.

[Footnote 1: The mountainous country near the sources of the Tigris.]