Inscription of Tiglith-Pileser I
Ashur, the
great Lord, ruling supreme over the gods; the giver of sceptres and crowns; the
appointer of sovereignty. Bel, the Lord; King of the circle of
constellations;Father of the gods; Lord of the world. Sin; the leader the Lord
of Empire thepowerful the auspiciolus god; Shamas; the establisher of the
heavens and the earth;
. . . ; the
vanquisher of enemies; the dissolver of cold. Vu1; he who causes the tempest to
rage over hostile lands and wicked countries. Abnil Hercules; the champion who
subdues heretics and enemies, and who strengthens the heart. Ishtar, the eldest
of the gods; the Queen of Victory; she who arranges battles. The great gods,
ruling over the heavens and the earth, whose attributes I have recorded and
whom I have named; the guardians of the kingdom of Tiglath Pileser,
the Prince inspiring your hearts with joy; the proud Chief
whom in the strength of your hearts ye have made firm, (to whom) ye have
confided the supreme crown,(whom) ye have appointed in might to the sovereignty
of the country of Bel, towhom ye have granted pre-eminence, exaltation, and
warlike power. May the duration of his empire continue forever to his royal
posterity, lasting as the great temple of Bel!
Tiglath Pileser the powerful king; supreme King of Lashanan;
King of the four regions;King of all Kings; Lord of Lords; the supreme; Monarch
of Monarchs; the illustrious Chief who under the auspices of the Sun god, being
armed with the sceptre and girt with the girdle of power over mankind, rules
over all the people of Bel; the mighty Prince whose praise is blazoned forth
among the
Kings: the exalted sovereign, whose servants
Ashur has appointed to the government of the country of the
four regions (and) has made his name celebrated to posterity; the conqueror of
many plains and mountains of the Upper and Lower Country; the conquering hero,
the terror of whose name has overwhelmed all regions; the bright constellation
who, according to his power has warred against foreign countries (and) under
the auspices of Bel, there being no equal to him, has subdued the enemies of
Ashur Ashur (and) the great gods, the guardians of my kingdom, who gave
government and laws to my dominions, and ordered an enlarged frontier to their
territory, having committed to (my) hand their valiant and warlike servants,
I have subdued the lands and the peoples and the strong
places, and the Kings who were hostile to Ashur; and I have reduced all that
was contained in them. With a host of kings I have fought . . . and have
imposed on them the bond of servitude. There is not to me a second in war, nor
an equal in battle.
I have added territory to
Assyria and peoples to her people. I have enlarged the frontier of my
territories, and subdued all the lands contained in them In the beginning of my
reign 20,000 of the Muskayans and their 5 kings, who for 50 years had held the
countries of Alza and Perukhuz, without paying tribute and offerings to Ashur
my Lord, and whom a King of Assyria had never ventured to meet in battle betook
themselves to their strength, and went and seized the
country of Comukha.
In the service of Ashur my Lord my chariots and warriors I
assembled after me . . . the country of Kasiyaia, a difficult country, I passed
through. With their 20,000 fighting men and their 5 kings in the country of
Comukha I engaged. I defeated them. The ranks of their warriors in fighting the
battle were beaten down as if by the tempest. Their carcasses covered the
valleys and the tops of the mountains. I cut off their heads. The battlements
of their cities I made heaps of, like mounds of earth, their movables, their
wealth, and their valuables I plundered to a countless amount. 6,000 of their
common soldiers who fled before my servants and accepted my yoke, I took them,
and gave them over to the men of my own territory. Then I went into the country
of Comukha, which was disobedient and withheld the tribute and offerings due to
Ashur my Lord:
I conquered the whole country of Comukha. I plundered their
movables, their wealth, and their valuables. Their cities I burnt with fire, I
destroyed and ruined. The common people of Comukha, who fled before the face of my servants, crossed over
to the city of Sherisha, which was
on the further banks of the Tigris, and made this city into their stronghold. I
assembled my chariots and warriors. I betook myself to carts of iron in order
to
overcome the rough mountains and their difficult marches. I made the
wilderness(thus) practicable for the passage of my chariots and warriors. I
crossed the Tigris and took the city of Sherisha their stronghold. Their
fighting men, in the middle of the forests, like wild beasts, I smote. Their
carcasses filled the Tigris, and the tops of the mountains.
At this time the troops of the Akhe, who came to the
deliverance and assistance of Comukha, together with the troops of Comukha,
like chaff I scattered. The carcasses of their fighting men I piled up like
heaps on the tops of the mountains. The bodies of their warriors, the roaring
waters carried down to the Tigris. Kili Teru son of Kali Teru, son of Zarupin
Zihusun, their King, in the course of their fighting fell into my power. His
wives and his children, the delight of his heart I dispossessed him of.One
hundred and eighty iron vessels and 5 trays of copper, together with the gods
of the people in gold and silver, and their beds and furniture I brought away.
Their movables and their wealth I plundered.This city and its palace I burnt
with fire, I destroyed and ruined. The city of Urrakluiras their stronghold
which was in the country of Panari, I went toward. The exceeding fear of the
power of Ashur, my Lord, overwhelmed them. To save
their lives they took their gods, and fled like birds to the tops of the lofty
mountains. I collected my chariots and warriors, and crossed the Tigris.
Shedi Teru the son of Khasutkh, King of Urrakluiras on my
arriving in his country submitted to my yoke. His sons, the delight of his
heart, and his favorites, I condemned to the service of the gods: 60 vessels of
iron; trays and bars of copper . . . with 120 cattle, and flock he brought as
tribute and offerings. I accepted (them) and spared him. I gave him his life,
but imposed upon him the yoke of my empire heavily forever. The wide spreading
country of Comukha I entirely conquered, and subjected to my yoke. At this time
one tray of copper and one bar of copper from among the service offerings and
tribute of Comukha I dedicated to Ashur my Lord, and 60 iron vessels with their
gods I offered to my guardian god,
From among my valiant servants, to whom Ashur the Lord gave
strength and power, in 30 of my chariots, select companies of my troops and
bands of my warriors who were expert in battle, I gathered together. I
proceeded to the extensive country of Miltis, which did not obey me; it
consisted of strong mountains and a difficult land. Where it was easy I
traversed it in my chariots: where it was difficult I went on foot. In the
country of Aruma, which was a difficult land and impracticable to the passage
of my chariots, I left the chariots and marched in front of my troops. Like . .
. on the peak of the rugged mountains, I marched victoriously.
The country of Miltis, like heaps of stubble, I swept. Their
fighting men in the course of the battle like chaff I scattered. Their
movables, their wealth and their valuables I plundered. Many of their cities I
burned with fire. I imposed on them religious service, and offerings and
tribute.
Tiglath Pileser, the illustrious warrior, the opener of the
roads of the countries, the subjugator of the rebellious . . . he who has
overrun the whole Magian world I subdued the extensive country of Subair, which
was in rebellion. The countries of Alza and Purukhuz, which deferred their
tribute and offerings, the yoke of my empire heavily upon them I imposed,
decreeing that they should bring their tribute and offerings into my presence
in the city of Ashur. While I was on this
expedition, which the Lord Ashur, committing to my hand a powerful rebel
subduing army, ordered for the enlargement of the frontiers of his
territory,there were 4,000 of the Kaskaya and Hurunaya rebellious tribes of the
Kheti who
had brought under their power the cities of Subarta, attached to the worship of
Ashur, my Lord (so that) they did not acknowledge dependence on Subarta.
The terror of my warlike expedition overwhelmed them. They
would not fight, but submitted to my yoke. Then I took their valuables, and 120
of their chariots fitted to
the yoke, and I gave them to the men of my own country. In the course of this
my expedition, a second time I proceeded to the country of Comukha. I took many
of their cities. Their movables, their wealth, and their
valuables I plundered. Their cities I burnt with fire, I destroyed and
overthrew. The soldiers of their armies, who from before the face of my valiant
servants fled away, they would not engage with me in the fierce battle: to save
their lives they took to the stony heights of the mountains, an inaccessible
region: to the recesses of the deep forests and the peaks of the difficult
mountains which had never been trodden by the feet of men, I ascended after
them: they fought with me;
I defeated them: the ranks of their warriors on the tops
of the mountains fell like rain: their carcasses filled the ravines and the
high places of the mountains: their movables, their wealth, and their valuables
I carried off from the stony heights of the mountains. I subdued the country of
Comukha throughout its whole extent, and I attached it to the frontiers of my
own territory
Tiglath Pileser, the powerful King, the vanquisher of the
disobedient, he who has swept the face of the earth. In profound reverence to
Ashur my Lord, to the country of Kharia, and the far-spreading tribes of the
Akhe, deep forests, which no former King (of Assyria) had ever reached, the
Lord Ashur invited me to proceed. My chariots and forces I assembled, and I
went to an inaccessible region beyond the countries of Itni and Aya. As the
steep mountains stood up like metal posts, and were impracticable to the
passage of my chariots, I placed my chariots in wagons,and (thus) I traversed the
difficult ranges of hills. All the lands of the Akhe and their wide-spreading
tribes having assembled, arose to do battle in the country of Azutapis.
In an inaccessible region I fought with them and defeated
them. The ranks of their (slain) warriors on the peaks of the mountains were
piled up in heaps; the carcasses of their warriors filled the ravines and high
places of the mountains. To the cities which were placed on the tops of the
mountains I penetrated victoriously: 27 cities of Kharia, which were situated
in the districts of Aya, Suira, Itni, Shetzu, Shelgu, Arzanibru, Varutsu, and
Anitku, I took; their movables, their wealth, and their valuables I plundered;
their cities I burnt with fire, I destroyed and overthrew The people of Adavas
feared to engage in battle with me; they left their habitations, and fled like
birds to the peaks of the lofty mountains. The terror of Ashur my Lord
overwhelmed them; they came and submitted to my yoke; I imposed on them tribute
and offerings.The countries of Tsaravas and Ammavas, which from the olden time
had never submitted, I swept like heaps of stubble; with their forces in the
country of Aruma I fought, and I defeated them. The ranks of their fighting men
I leveled like grass. I bore away their gods; their movables, their wealth, and
their
valuables I carried off. Their cities I burnt with fire, I destroyed and
overthrew, and converted into heaps and mounds. The heavy yoke of my empire I
imposed on them. I attached them to the worship of Ashur my Lord.
I took the countries of Itsua and Daria, which were
turbulent and disobedient. Tribute and offerings I imposed on them. I attached
them to the worship of Ashur. In my triumphant progress over my enemies, my
chariots and troops I assembled; I crossed the lower Zab. The countries of
Muraddan and Tsaradavas, which were near
Atsaniu and Atuva, difficult regions, I captured; their warriors I cut down
like weeds. The city of Muraddan, their capital city, and the regions toward
the rising sun, I took possession of. Their gods, their wealth, and their
valuables, one soss bars of iron, 30 talents of iron, the abundant wealth of
the Lords, of their palaces, and their movables, I carried off. This city I
burnt with fire, I destroyed and overthrew.
At this time this iron to the god Vul, my great Lord and guardian, I dedicated. In the might and
power of Ashur my Lord, I went to the country of Tsugi, belonging to Gilkhi,
which did not acknowledge Ashur my Lord. With 4,000 of their troops, belonging
to the countries Khimi, Lukhi, Arirgi, Alamun, Nuni, and al1 the far-spread
land of the Akhi, in the country of Khirikhi, a difficult region, which rose up
like metal posts, with all their people I fought on foot. I defeated them; the
bodies of their fighting men on the tops of the mountains I heaped in masses.
The carcasses of their warriors I strewed over the country of Khirikhi like
chaff.
I took the entire country of Tsugi. Twenty-five of their
gods, their movables, their wealth, and their valuables I carried off. Many of
their cities I burnt with fire, I destroyed and overthrew. The men of their
armies submitted to my yoke. I had mercy on them. I imposed on them tribute and
offerings. With attachment to the worship of Ashur, my Lord, I intrusted them.
At this time 25 of the gods belonging to those countries,
subject to my government, which I had taken, I dedicated for the honor of the
temple of the Queen of glory, the
great ancestress of Ashur my Lord, of Anu, and of Vul, the goddess who is the
guardian of all the public temples of my city of Ashur, and of all the
goddesses of my country
Tiglath-Pileser, the powerful King; the subduer of hostile
races; the conqueror of the whole circle of kings At this time, in exalted
reverence to Ashur, my Lord, by the godlike support of the heroic Sun having in
the service of the great gods, ruled over the four regions imperially; there
being found (to me) no equal in war, and no second in battle, to the countries
of the powerful Kings who dwelt upon the upper ocean and had never made their
submission, the Lord Ashur having urged me,
I went. Difficult mountain chains, and distant (or
inaccessible) hills,which none of our Kings had ever previously reached,
tedious paths and unopened roads I traversed. The countries of Elama, of
Amadana, of Eltis, of Sherabili,of Likhuna, of Tirkakhuli, of Kisra, of
Likhanubi, of Elula, of Khastare, of Sakhisara, of Hubira, of Miliatruni, of
Sulianzi, of Nubanashe, and of Sheshe,16 strong countries, the easy parts in my
chariots, and the difficult parts in wagons of iron, I passed through; the
thickets of the mountains I cut down; bridges for the passage of my troops I
prepared; I crossed over the Euphrates; the King of Elammi, the King of Tunubi,
the King of Tuhali, the King of Kindari, the King of Huzula, the King of
Vanzamuni, the King of Andiabi, the King of Pilakinna, the King of Aturgina,
the King of Kulibartzini, the King of Pinibirni, the King of Khimua, the King
of Paiteri, the King of Vairam, the
King of Sururia, the King of Abaeni, the King of Adaeni, the King of Kirini,the
King of Albaya, the King of Vagina, the King of Nazabia, the King of Amalziu,
the King of Dayeni, in all 23 Kings of the countries of Nairi, in their own
provinces having assembled their chariots and troops, they came to fight with
me. By means of my powerful servants I straitened them. I caused the
destruction of their far-spreading troops, as if with the destroying tempest of
Vul. I levelled the ranks of their warriors, both on the tops of the mountains
and on the battlements of the cities, like grass. Two soss of their chariots I
held as a trophy from the midst of the fight; one soss of the kings of the
countries of Nairi, and of those who had come to their assistance, in my
victory as far as the upper ocean I pursued them; I took their great castles; I
plundered their movables, their wealth and their valuables; their cities I
burnt with fire, I destroyed and overthrew, and converted into heaps and
mounds. Droves of many horses and mules, of calves and of lambs, their
property, in countless numbers I carried off. Many of the kings of the
countries of Nairi fell alive into my hands; to these kings I granted pardon;
their lives I spared; their abundance and wealth I poured out before my Lord,
the sun-god. In reverence to my great gods, to after-times, to the last day, I
condemned them to do homage. The young men, the pride of their royalty, I gave
over to the service of the gods; 1,200 horses and 2,000 cattle I imposed on
them as tribute, and I allowed them to remain in their own countries.
Tseni, the King of Dayani, who was not submissive to Ashur
my Lord, his abundance and wealth I brought it to my city of Ashur. I had mercy
on him. I left him in life to learn the worship of the great gods from my city
of Ashur. I reduced the far-spreading countries of Nairi throughout their whole
extent, and many of their kings I subjected to my yoke In the course of this
expedition, I went to the city of Milidia, belonging to the country of
Khanni-rabbi, which was independent and did not obey me. They abstained from
engaging in the rude fight with me; they submitted to my yoke, and I had mercy
on them. This city I did not occupy, but I gave the people over to religious
service, and I imposed on them as a token of their allegiance a fixed tribute
of .Tiglath-Pileser, the ruling constellation; the powerful; the lover of
battle. In the service of my Lord Ashur, my chariots and warriors I assembled;
I set out on my march. In front of my strong men I went to the country of the
Aramaeans, the enemies of my Lord Ashur.
From before Tsukha, as far as the city of Qarqamis belonging
to the country of Khatte, I smote with one blow. Their fighting men I slew;
their movables, their wealth, and their valuables in countless numbers I
carried off. The men of their armies who fled from before the face of the
valiant servants of my Lord Ashur, crossed over the Euphrates; in boats covered
with bitumen skins I crossed the Euphrates after them; I took six of their
cities which were below the country of Bisri; I burnt them with fire, and I
destroyed and overthrew; and I brought their movables, their wealth, and their
valuables to my city of AshurTiglath-Pileser, he who tramples upon the Magian
world; he who subdues the
disobedient; he who has overrun the whole earth. My Lord
Ashur having urged me on, I took my way to the vast country of Muzri, lying
beyond Elammi, Tala, and Kharutsa;
I took the country of Muzri throughout its whole extent; I
subdued their warriors; I burnt their cities with fire, I destroyed and
overthrew; the troops of the country of Comani hastened to the assistance of
the country of Muzri: in the mountains I fought with them and defeated them. In
the metropolis, the city of Arin, which was under the country of Ayatsa, I
besieged them; they submitted to my yoke; I spared this city; but
I imposed on them religious service and tribute and offerings At this time the
whole country of Comani which was in alliance with the country of Muzri, all
their people assembled and arose to do battle and make war. By means of my valiant
servants I fought with 20,000 of their numerous troops in the country of Tala,
and I defeated them; their mighty mass broke in pieces; as far as the country
of Kharutsa, belonging to Muzri, I smote them and pursued; the ranks of their
troops on the heights of the mountains I cut down like grass; their
carcasses covered the valleys and the tops of the mountains; their great
castles I took, I burnt with fire, I destroyed, and overthrew into heaps and
mounds. The city of Khunutsa, their stronghold, I overthrew like a heap of
stubble. With their mighty troops in the city and on the hills I fought
fiercely. I defeated them;
their fighting men in the middle of the forests I scattered like chaff. I cut
off their heads as if they were carrion; their carcasses filled the valleys and
(covered) the heights of the mountains. I captured this city; their gods, their
wealth, and their valuables I carried off, and burnt with fire. Three of their
great castles, which were built of brick, and the entire city I destroyed and
overthrew, and converted into heaps and mounds, and upon the site I laid down
large stones; and I made tablets of copper, and I wrote on them an account of
the countries which I had taken by the help of my Lord Ashur, and about the
taking of this city, and the building of its castle; and upon it I built a
house of brick, and I set up within it these copper tablets In the service of
Ashur my Lord, my chariots and warriors I assembled, and I approached Kapshuna,
their capital city; the tribes of Comani would not engage in battle with me;
they submitted to my yoke, and I spared their lives. The great castle of the
city and its brick buildings I trampled under foot; from its foundations to its
roofs I destroyed it and converted it into heaps and mounds, and a band of 300
fugitive heretics who did not acknowledge my Lord Ashur, and who were expelled
from inside this castle, I took this band and condemned to the service of the
gods, and I imposed upon the people tribute and offerings in excess of their
former tribute; and the far-spreading country of Comani throughout its whole
extent I reduced under my yoke There fell into my hands altogether between the
commencement of my reign and my fifth year 42 countries, with their kings, from
beyond the river Zab, plain, forest, and mountain, to beyond the river
Euphrates, the country of the Khatte and the upper ocean of the setting sun. I
brought them under one government; I placed them under the Magian religion, and
I imposed on them tribute and offerings
I have omitted many hunting expeditions which were not
connected with my warlike achievements. In pursuing after the game I traversed
the easy tracts in my chariots, and the difficult tracts on foot. I demolished
the wild animals throughout my territories. Tiglath-Pileser, the illustrious
warrior, he who holds the sceptre of Lashanan; he who has extirpated all wild
animals.
The gods Hercules and Nergal gave their valiant servants and
their arrows as a glory to support my empire. Under the auspices of Hercules,
my guardian deity, four wild
bulls, strong and fierce, in the desert, in the country of Mitan, and in the
city Arazik, belonging to the country of the Khatte, with my long arrows tipped
with
iron, and with heavy blows I took their lives. Their skins and their horns I
brought to my city of Ashur. Ten large wild buffaloes in the country of
Kharran, and the plains of the river Khabur, I slew. Four buffaloes I took
alive; their skins and their horns, with the live
buffaloes, I brought to my city of Ashur. Under the
auspices of my guardian deity Hercules, two soss of lions fell before me. In
the course of my progress on foot I slew them, and 800 lions in my chariots
in my exploratory journeys I laid low.
All the beasts of the field and the flying birds of heaven I made the victims
of my shafts From all the enemies of Ashur, the whole of them, I exacted labor.
I made, and finished the
repairs of, the temple of the goddess Astarte, my lady, and of the temple of
Martu, and of Bel, and Il, and of the sacred buildings and shrines of the gods
belonging to my city of Ashur. I purified their shrines, and set up inside the
images of the great gods, my Lords. The royal palaces of all the great
fortified cities throughout my dominions, which from the olden time our kings
had neglected through long years, had become ruined. I repaired and finished
them. The castles of my country, I filled up their breaches. I founded many new
buildings throughout Assyria, and I opened out irrigation for corn in excess of
what my fathers had done. I carried off the droves of the horses, cattle,
and asses that
I obtained, in the service of my Lord Ashur, from the
subjugated countries which I rendered tributary, and the droves of the wild
goats and ibexes, the wild sheep and the wild cattle which Ashur and Hercules,
my guardian gods, incited me to chase in the depths of the forests, having
taken them I drove them off, and I led away their young ones like the tame
young goats. These little wild animals, the delight of their parents' hearts,
in the
fulness of my own heart, together with my own victims, I sacrificed to my Lord
Ashur The pine, the, . . . , and the algum tree, these trees which under the
former kings my ancestors, they had never planted, I took them from the
countries which I had rendered tributary, and I planted them in the groves of
my own territories, and
I bought fruit trees; whatever I did not find in my own country, I took and
placed in the groves of Assyria.
I built chariots fitted to the yoke for the use of my people
in excess of those which had existed before. I added territories to Assyria,
and I added populations to
her population. I improved the condition of the people, and I obtained for them
abundance and security.
Tiglath-Pileser, the illustrious prince, whom Ashur and
Hercules have exalted to the utmost wishes of his heart; who has pursued after
the enemies of Ashur, and has subjugated all the earth. The son of
Ashur-ris-ili, the powerful King, the subduer of foreign countries, he who has
reduced all the lands of the Magian world. The grandson of Mutaggil-Nabu, whom
Ashur, the great Lord, aided according to the wishes of his heart and
established in strength in the government of Assyria. The glorious offspring of
Ashur-dapur-Il, who held the sceptre of dominion, and ruled over the people of
Bel; who in all the works of his hand and the deeds of his life placed his
reliance on the great gods, and thus obtained a prosperous and long life.The
beloved
child of Barzan-pala-kura, the king who first organized the country of Assyria,
who purged his territories of the wicked as if they had been . . . , and
established the troops of Assyria in authority. At this time the temple of Anu and Vu1, the great gods, my Lords,
which, in former times, Shansi-Vul, High-priest of Ashur, son of Ismi Dagan,
High-priest of Ashur, had
founded, having lasted for 641 years, it fell into ruin. Ashur-dapur-Il, King
of Assyria, son of Barzan-pala-kura, King of Assyria, took down this temple and
did not rebuild it. For 60 years the foundations of it were not laid.
In the beginning of my reign, Anu and Vul, the great gods,
my Lords, guardians of my steps, they invited me to repair this their shrine.
So I made bricks; I levelled the earth, I took its dimensions; I laid down its
foundations upon a mass of strong rock. This place throughout its whole extent
I paved with bricks in set order, 50 feet deep I prepared the ground, and upon
this substructure I laid the lower foundations of the temple of Anu and Vul.
From its foundations to its roofs I built it up, better than it was before. I
also built two lofty
cupolas in honor of their noble godships, and the holy place, a spacious hall,
I consecrated for the convenience of their worshippers, and to accommodate
their votaries, who were numerous as the stars of heaven, and in quantity
poured forth like flights of arrows. I repaired, and built, and completed my
work. Outside the temple I fashioned (everything with the same care) as inside.
The mound of earth (on which it was built) I enlarged like the firmament of the
rising stars, and I beautified the entire building. Its cupolas I raised up to
heaven, and its roofs I built entirely of brick. An inviolable shrine for their
noble godships I laid down near at hand. Anu and Vul, the great gods, I
glorified inside, I set them up on their honored purity, and the hearts of
their noble godships I delighted. Bit-Khamri, the temple of my Lord Vul, which
Shansi-Vul, High-priest of Ashur, son of Ismi-Dagan, High-priest of Ashur, had
founded, became ruined. I levelled its site, and from its foundation to its
roofs I built it up of brick, I enlarged it beyond its former state, and I
adorned it. Inside of it I sacrificed precious victims to my Lord Vul At this
time I found various sorts of stone in the countries of Nairi, which I had
taken by
the help of Ashur, my Lord, and I placed them in the temple of Bit-Khamri,
belonging to my Lord, Vul, to remain there forever. Since a holy place, a noble
hall, I have thus consecrated for the use of the great gods, my
Lords Anu and Vul, and have laid down an adytum for their special worship, and
have finished it successfully, and have delighted the hearts of their noble
godships, may Anu and Vul preserve me in power. May they support the men of my
Government. May they establish the authority of my officers. May they bring the
rain, the joy of the year, on the cultivated land and the desert during my
time. In war and in battle may they preserve me victorious. Many foreign
countries, turbulent nations, and hostile Kings I have reduced under my yoke;
to my children and descendants may they keep them in firm allegiance. I will
lead my steps, firm as the mountains, to the last days before Ashur and
their noble godships. The list of my
victories and the catalogue of my triumphs over foreigners hostile to Ashur, which
Anu and Vul have granted to my arms, I have inscribed on my tablets and
cylinders, and I have placed them to the last days in the temple of my Lords
Anu and Vul, and the tablets of Shamsi-Vul, my ancestor, I have raised altars
and sacrificed victims (before them), and set them up in their places In
after-times, and in the latter days . . . , if the temple of the great gods, my
Lords Anu and Vul, and these shrines should become old and fall into decay, may
the prince who comes after me repair the ruins. May he raise altars and
sacrifice victims before my tablets and cylinders, and may he set them up again
in their places, and may he inscribe his name on them together with my name. As
Anu and Vul, the great gods, have ordained, may he worship honestly with a good
heart and full trust Whoever shall abrade or injure my tablets and cylinders,
or shall moisten them with water, or scorch them with fire, or expose them to
the air, or in the holy
place of god shall assign them a position where they cannot be seen or
understood, or who shall erase the writing and inscribe his own name, or who
shall divide the sculptures, and break them off from my tablets, Anu and Vul,
the great gods, my Lords, let them consign his name to perdition; let them
curse him with an irrevocable curse; let them cause his sovereignty to perish;
let
them pluck out the stability of the throne of his empire; let not offspring
survive him in the kingdom; let his servants be broken; let his troops be
defeated; let him fly vanquished before his enemies. May Vul in his fury tear
up the produce of his land. May a scarcity of food and of the necessaries of
life afflict his country. For one day may he not be called happy. May his name
and his race perish in the land In the month of
Kuzallu, on the 29th day, in the High-Priesthood of Ina-iliya-hallik,
(entitled) Rabbi-turi.