TRANSLATED BY DR. JULIUS OPPERT
The document of which I publish a translation has been copied with admirable precision by M. Botta in his "Monuments de Ninive" There are four specimens of this same text in the Assyrian palace, which bear the title of Inscriptions of the Halls, Nos. iv, vii, viii, and x.
There is another historical document in the palace of Khorsabad containing more minute particulars, and classed in a chronological order, which I translated in my "Dur-Sar-kayan," 1870, and in the "Records of the Past," Vol. VII.
The several copies of this document have been united in one sole text in a work which I published in common with M. Ménant in the "Journal Asiatique," 1863.
I published my translation of the "Great Inscriptions of Khorsabad," in the "Annales de Philosophie Chrétienne," July and August, 1862, tom. V (New Series), p. 62; then in my "Inscriptions des Sargonides," p. 20 (1862). The same text was inserted in the work which I edited in communion with my friend M. Joachim Ménant, entitled "La Grande Inscription des Salles de Khorsabad," "Journal Asiatique," 1863. Some passages have been since corrected by me in my "Dur-Sarkayan," Paris, 1870, in the great work of M. Victor Place, and these corrections have been totally admitted by M. Ménant in a translation which he has given in his book, "Annales des Rois d'Assyrie," Paris, 1874, p. 180. As the reader may easily convince himself in collating it with my previous attempts, this present translation is now amended according to the exigencies of the progressing science of Assyriology, as it is now understood.
GREAT INSCRIPTION OF THE PALACE OF KHORSABAD
1 Palace of Sargon, the great King, the powerful King, King of the legions, King of Assyria, Viceroy of the gods at Babylon, King of the Sumers and of the Accads, favorite of the great gods.
2 The gods Assur, Nebo, and Merodach have conferred on
me the royalty of the nations, and they have propagated
the memory of my fortunate name to the ends of the earth.
I have followed the reformed precepts of Sippara, Nipur,
Babylon, and Borsippa; I have amended the imperfections
which the men of all laws had admitted.
3 I have reunited the dominions of Kalu, Ur, Orchoé, Erikhi,
Larsa,[1] Kullab, Kisik, the dwelling-place of the god Laguda;
I have subdued their inhabitants. As to the laws
of Sumer[2] and of the town of Harran, which had fallen
into desuetude from the most ancient times, I have restored
to fresh vigor their forgotten customs.
4 The great gods have made me happy by the constancy of their affection, they have granted me the exercise of my sovereignty over all kings; they have re-established obedience upon them all. From the day of my accession there existed no princes who were my masters; I have not, in combats or battles, seen my victor. I have crushed the territories of the rebels like straws, and I have struck them with the plagues of the four elements. I have opened innumerable deep and very extensive forests, I have levelled their inequalities. I have traversed winding and thick valleys, which were impenetrable, like a needle, and I passed in digging tanks dug on my way.