Royal Inscriptions of the Neo-Assyrian Period 2 — Building and Campaign Inscriptions of an Assyrian King (721–705 BC)

Sargon II ruled Assyria from 721 to 705 BC, seizing the throne in a year of crisis and building, on an empty stretch of land north of Nineveh, an entirely new capital: Dur-Šarrukin, "Fortress of Sargon," known today as Khorsabad. The inscriptions gathered here are not letters between named people; they are the king's own public words, carved into palace walls, cylinders, prisms, bricks, and steles, meant to be read by the gods, by his subjects, and by kings still to come. Most recount, in the first person, his military campaigns against Urarṭu, Media, the Levantine coast, Babylonia, and the highlands beyond — the sack of Muṣaṣir, the fall of Carchemish, the flight of the Urarṭian king Rusâ — and the construction and dedication of his new city and its temples. A smaller number are dedicatory captions, weight inscriptions, and seal legends, some only a sentence long.

The corpus survives unevenly. Multi-column prisms from Nineveh and cylinders from Khorsabad preserve long, continuous annals; palace wall slabs and steles set up at Ashdod, on Cyprus, and deep in Iran survive only in fragments recovered generations apart and rejoined by modern scholarship. A handful of catalogued objects — a macehead, a glazed brick, a seal impression — have no published translation at all, either because nothing legible survives or because the online edition has not yet supplied one; each such gap is disclosed here rather than silently passed over. Eleven further inscriptions belong not to Sargon himself but to his queen Atalia, his brother and chief minister Sîn-aḥu-uṣur, and other officials of his reign, who used the same royal conventions of dedication in his name.

The English below is the Royal Inscriptions of the Neo-Assyrian Period (RINAP) project's own published translation, reproduced complete and verbatim as continuous reading prose; nothing has been added, paraphrased, or supplied by this library. Brackets and ellipses are RINAP's own markers for damaged, restored, or untranslatable text, including the exemplar sigla (museum and excavation numbers) RINAP itself inserts where a composite reading shifts from one surviving copy to another.

Contents

• Part One: The Inscriptions of Sargon II
  • Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin): The Royal Palace and City — Sargon II 001–062
  • Aššur — Sargon II 063–072
  • Nimrud (Kalhu) — Sargon II 073–080
  • Nineveh — Sargon II 081–102
  • The Levant, Anatolia, and Iran: Frontier Monuments — Sargon II 103–122
  • Babylonia — Sargon II 123–130
• Part Two: Minor and Fragmentary Inscriptions
• Part Three: Inscriptions of Sargon's Family and Officials

Part One: The Inscriptions of Sargon II

Nos. 1–130. Grant Frame's own numbering for the royal inscriptions proper, grouped below by principal findspot.

Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin): The Royal Palace and City. Sargon II 001–062. 62 texts.

Sargon II 001 — Annals of Room II

Wall slab (with reliefs); stone; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). 8 known exemplars. Sargon II 001; RINAP Q006482.

[Sargon (II), appointee of the god Enlil, nešakku-priest (and) desired object of the god Aššur, chosen of the gods Anu and Dagān, great king, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, king of the four quarters (of the world), favorite of the great gods]; [just shepherd, (one) to whom the gods Aššur (and) Marduk granted a reign without eq]ual [and whose reputation (these gods) exalt/exalted to the heights]; [who (re)-established the šubarrû-privileges of (the cities) Sippar, Nippur, (and) Babylon, protects the weak among them (lit.: “their weak ones”), (and) made restitution for the wrongful damage suffered by them; who (re)-established the privileged status of (the city) Baltil (Aššur) that had lapsed, who abolished corvée duty for the city Dēr (and) gave relief to their people; (most) capable of all rulers, who extended his prote]ction [over the city Ḫarrān and recorded its exemption (from obligations) as if (its people were) people of the gods Anu and Dagān]; [the strong man who is clad in awesome splendor (and) whose weapons are raised] to strike down (his) enemies; [the king who since the (first) day of his reign has had no ruler who could equal him and has me]t [no one] who could overpo[wer (him) in war or battle; (who) smashed all] (enemy) lands [as if (they were) pots and put halters on (all) rebels in the four (quarters of the world); (who) opened up] in[numerable distant mountainous areas who]se [pa]ss(es) are difficult [and visited their remotest region(s)]; (who) traversed [inaccessible, difficult paths in terrifying location(s)] and crossed eve[ry swamp]; [(who) ruled from the land Rāši on the border of the land Elam, the Puqudu (and) Damūnu (tribes), the cities Dūr-Kurigalzu (and) Rapi]qu, all of Chaldea, as far as the other side [of the sea ...; (who)se great hand] con[quered from] the land Ḫašmar to the city Ṣibar — which borders on the [distant] Medes [in the east — the lands Namri, Ellipi, Bīt-Ḫamban, Parsua(š), Mannea, Urarṭu, Kask]u, (and) Tabal, as far as the land Musku; [(who) set eunuchs of his as governors over them and] imposed upon them [(the same) tribute (and) payment(s) as if (they were) Ass]yrians — At the be[ginning of my reign, having ascended the royal throne and been crowned with the crown of lordship, ... (as for) the peo]ple [of the city Samar]ia [who had come to an agreement with a king hostile to me not to do obeisance (to me) or to bring tribute (to me) and (who) had offered battle, with the might of the god Aššur, my lord, who ma]kes me triumph, [I fought them and brought about their defeat ... I] carried off as booty [27,280/27,290 people who lived there. [I conscripted] 50 chariot(s) from [among them] into my royal (military) contingent [and (re)settled the remainder of them in Assyria ... I res]tored [the city Samaria] and made (it) greater than before. [I brought there] people from the lands that [I had] conquer[ed. I set a eunuch of mine as provincial governor over them and imposed upon them (the same) tribute] (and) payment(s) as if (they were) Assyrians. [I opened up a sealed-off] ha[rbor district of Egypt], mingled together [the people of Assyria and Egypt], and allowed (them) to engage in trade. I[n my first regnal year, (...) Ḫumbanigaš (Ḫumban-nikaš I), the Elamite, ...] committed [a crime] and became hostile to me, (wanting) to (do) battle ... [... I] brought about his [def]eat [on the outskirts of Dēr]. The Tuʾmūna (tribe) [threw off] the yoke of the god Aššur, [arrested their sheikh, and brought (him) before the king of Chalde]a who [exercised] the kingship over Babylon against the will of the gods, [...] I deported [...]+7 people together with their property and [...] I (re)settled (them) [(...) in the land Ḫ]atti (Syria). In my second regnal year, Ilu-b[iʾdī of the land Hamath ...] assembled [the troops of the] wide [land Amurru] in the city Qarqar and [transgressed against] the oath [(sworn) by the great gods ...] he inc[ited the cities Arpad, Ṣimirra], Damascus, (and) Samaria [to rebel against me and ...] Lines 27–52 are not preserved [he/I est]ablished [...], he gave him Rēʾe, his field marshal, to he[l]p him, and he rose up against me to do war [and] battle. At the command of the god Aššur, my lord, I inflicted a defeat on them. [R]ēʾe then fled off by himself, like a shepherd whose flock had been stolen, and got away. I captured [Ḫ]anūnu (Ḫanno) and brought him in bondage to my city Aššur; I then destroyed, demolished, (and) burned down with fire [the city Rap]ḫia. I carried off as booty 9,033 people together with their numerous possessions. [In] my third regnal year, (the people of) the cities Šuandaḫul (and) Durdukka, fortified cities, plotted resistance against Iranzi, the [Man]nean, the king, their lord, one who pulls my yoke, and put their trust [i]n Mitatti of the land Zikirtu. Mitatti of the land Zikirtu gave them his combat troops, together with their cavalry and (thus) aid was provided to them. I mustered the numerous troops of the god Aššur and marched (forth) to conquer those [cit]ies. [I shatter]ed their very strong walls with a mighty battering ram, leveling (them) to the ground. I carried off as booty [the peo]ple, together with their property. [I de]stroyed, [demolished, (and) burned down th]os[e cities] with fire. [The peo]ple of the cities S[ukkia, Bāla, (and) Abitikna conceived (lit.: “deliberated”) an e]vil [plan] that was to eradica[te] (lit.: “to tear out the ro[ot of]”) (their own) land and g]ave their word [to Ursâ (Rusâ), the Ura]rṭian, (to do obeisance to him). Because of the crime that they had committed, I deported them from their (own) places and (re)settled them [i]n [the land] Ḫatti (Syria) and (lit.: “of”) [the land Amurru]. In my fourth regnal year, Kiakki of the city Šinuḫtu disregarded the treaty (sworn) by the great gods and became [di]latory about delivering (his) tribute. I raised my hand(s) (in supplication) to the gods, my lords, overwhelmed his royal city Šinuḫtu like a fog, and counted him as booty, together with [his] fight[ing men], 7,350 people, his wife, his sons, his daughters, and the people of his palace, together with abundant property of his. I gave his royal city Šinuḫtu to Kurtî of the land Atuna. Then, I made larger than before (the number/amount of) horses, mules, gold, (and) silver (that he had to pay as tribute) and I imposed (this) upon him. In my fifth regnal year, Pisīri(s) the city Carchemish sinned against the treaty (sworn) by the great gods and repeatedly sent (messages) hostile to Assyria to Mitâ (Midas), [k]ing of the land Musku. I raised my hand(s) (in supplication) to the god Aššur, my lord, and brought him, together with his family, out in bondage. I then carried off as booty gold (and) silver, (along) with the property of his palace and the guilty people of the city Carchemish who (had sided) with him, (along) with their possessions. (75) I brought (them) to Assyria. I conscripted 50 chariots, 200 cavalry, (and) 3,000 foot soldiers from among them and added (them) to my royal (military) contingent. I settled people of Assyria in the city Carchemish and imposed the yoke of the god Aššur, my lord, upon them. The people of the cities Pāpa (and) Lalluknu, dogs who had been brought up in my palace, conspired with the land Kakmê for the purpose of [sep]arating (from Assyria). I deported them from their (own) places and [(re)settled them i]n the city [D]a[m]ascus o[f the lan]d A[murru]. [In my sixth regnal year, Ur]sâ (Rusâ), [the Ura]rṭian, [sent his mounted messenger with a mendacious message to Bag-dāti of the land Uišdiš (and) KAR... of the land Z]ikirtu, governor]s [of the land Mann]e[a]. He made them hostile t[o (me)], Sargon, (and) to Azâ, the son of their (former) lord and [made them] s[ide] with [him (Rusâ)]. They brought about the rout of the Manneans [on Mount] Uau[š], a rug[ge]d mountain, and threw down the cor[pse of] Azâ, their lord, (there). I raised my hand(s) (in supplication) to the god Ašš[ur, my lord, in order to ave]nge the Manneans (and) to make (that area part of) the territory of Assyria. Then, on Mount Uauš, the mountain wh[ere] they had thrown down [the corpse of] Azâ, I flayed the skin from Bag-dāti and (then) showed (it) to the Manneans. (As for) Ullusunu, his brother, who had sat on the royal throne, the wrath of the god [Aššur] (was directed) against him. He (Ullusunu) then put his trust in Rusâ, the Urarṭian. He caused Aššur-lēʾi of the land Karalla (and) Ittî (85) of the land Allabria to rebel against me and per[suaded (lit.: “spoke to”) the]m to do obeisance to the land Urarṭu. Furiously, I enveloped those lands like [a swa]rm of locusts and overwhelmed the city Izirtu, the royal city of the land nea, as with a bird trap. I inflicted a major defeat on them. I burned down the city Izirtu with fire and conquered the city Zibia (and) the city Armaet. (As a result), Ullusunu, the Mannean, together with his whole land gathered together and [gras]ped hold of m[y] feet. I then h[ad] pity [on the]m (and) pardoned (lit.: “overturned”) [U]llusunu’s crimes. [I had him sit (again)] on [his] royal throne [and rece]ived [tribute] from him. I deported Ittî of the land [Allabria (90) together with] his family, [flayed the skin from] Aššur-lēʾi [of the land Karalla, and ...] ... [...] the city GanuGIŠ[...] ... [...] I c[onquered (in total) six cities of] the district [Niksamm]a. I s[eized Šēp-šarri], the ci[ty ruler] of the city Šurgadia, (and) [add]ed those [citie]s to the province of P[arsua]š. I personally cap[tur]ed Bēl-šarru-uṣur of the city Kiše[sim] and brought him, together with the property of his palace, to Assyria. I set a eunuch of mine as provincial governor over his city. I installed the gods who go before me inside it (the city Kišesim) and (re)named it (the city Kišesim) Kār-Ner. I erected a royal image of myself there. I conquered the lands Bīt-Sagbat, Bīt-Ḫirmami, (and) Bīt-Umargi, (and) the cities Ḫarḫubarban, Kilambāti, (and) Armangu; and I added (them) to its province. The people of the city Ḫarḫar drove out Kibaba, their city ruler, and sent to Daltâ of the land Ellipi to do obeisance (to him). I conquered that city and plundered it. I brought there people from the lands that I had conquered (and) set a eunuch of mi[ne] as provincial governor over them. I conquered the upper river(land) of the land Aranzêšu, the lower river(land) of Bīt-Ramatua, the land Uriqatu, the land Sikris, the land Šaparda, (and) the land Uriakku, (a total of) six districts, and added (them) to them (the people of the city Ḫarḫar). I estab[lished] the weapon of the god Aššur, my lord, to be their divinity. I (re)named it (the city Ḫarḫar) Kār-Šarrukīn. I received tribute from twenty-eight city lords of the powerful Medes and erected a royal image of myself in the city Kār-Šarrukīn. In my seventh regnal year, Rusâ, the Urarṭian, spoke deceitfully with Ullusunu, the Mannean, and took away from him twenty-two of his fortresses. He spoke treacherous words, libels against Ullusunu, to Dayukku, a governor of the land Mannea, and received his son as a hostage. I raised my hand(s) (in supplication) to the god Aššur, the king [of the gods], and (then) surrounded (and) conquered those twenty-two fortresses. [I ma]de (them part of) the territory of [Ass]yria. I depor[ted] Dayukku, together with his family, [and] brought order to the disturbed land Mannea. [I received] tribute from Ia[nz]û, k[ing of the land Naʾi]ri, [in] his city [Ḫ]ubuškia. (105) [I conquered] nine fo[rtresses ...] I [carried off as booty the people of five di]stricts [of U]rsâ (Rusâ), [the] U[rarṭian, together with their property ...] ... their oxen, (and) their sheep and goats. I conquered [eight for]tresses, together with the settlements [in] the[ir enviro]ns, [that] belonged to the land Tuāy[adi, a district belonging to T]elusina of the land Andia. I carried off as booty [4],2[00] peo[ple], together with their property. [I des]troyed, demolished, (and) [burned down with fire] tho[se] for[tress]es. I made [a] royal [im]age of myself and wrote upon it the victor(ies) of the god Aššur, [m]y lo[rd. I (then) erected (it)] in the city Izirtu, the royal city [o]f the land Mannea. [The people] of the upper and lower river(lands), whom in my previous campaign I had considered as people of the city Ḫarḫar, made the lands Bīt-Sangib[uti], Ur[iqatu, Si]kris, Šaparda, (and) Upparia side with them and (then) revolted against m[e]. I struck down [that] dis[trict wi]th the sword and plundered them. [I] conquered the cities Ka...na, Kinzarbara, Ḫalbuknu, Š[u..., ...], (and) Anzaria of the upper (and) lower river(lands) [and] received in my (military) camp [4,000] fa[ce-(guards)] of their warriors (as trophies) (and) 4,820 [peo]ple, [together with] their [property]. I [re]built the cities Kišešlu, Qindāu, Anzaria, (and) Bīt-Gabāya that I had conquered. I (then) (re)[na]med them Kār-Nabû, Kār-Sîn, Kār-Adad, (and) Kār-Išt[ar]. In order to subjugate Media [in the environs of the city Kār-Šarruk]īn, I reinforced their (the people of the riverlands) [de]fenses (lit.: “[st]uctures”). [I received tribute from twenty-two [city] rulers of the powerful Med[e]s. [...] I conquered [(...) the ci]ty Kimirra of the land Bīt-Ḫamban. I carried off as booty 1,530/1,630 people, together with their property, an[d ...] In ord[er to conquer the Ionians, whose abode] is situated [in the] m[iddle of the s]ea (and) who from the dis[tant] pa[st] had killed pe[ople of the city Ty]re (and) [of the land] Que (Cilicia) and [...-ed] ..., I went down to the sea [in ship]s ... against them and struck (them) down with the sword, (both) young (and) old. (120) I conquer[ed] the cities Ḫa[r]rua, Ušnanis, (and) Qumas[i] of the land Que that Mitâ, king of the land Musku, had t[ak]en away, (and) I plundered them. (As for) the Tamudu, [I]bādidi, Marsī­ma­[ni], (and) Ḫayappa (tribes), faraway Arabs who live in the desert, did not know (either) overseer (or) commander, and had never brought their tribute to any king, I struck them down with the sword of the god Aššur, my lord, deported the remainder of them, and (re)settled (them) in the city Samaria. [I] received as tribute from Pirʾû (Phar­aoh), king of Egypt, Sa[m]si, queen of the Arabs, (and) Itʾamar, the Sabaean, kings from the seashore and desert, gold — ore from the mountain(s) — precious stones, elephant ivory, seed(s) from ebony tree(s), every kind of aromatic, horses, (and) camels. For a second time, I brought about [the def]eat of Mitâ, king of the land Musku, in his (own) wide district and I (then) restored to their former status the cities Ḫarrua (and) Ušnanis, fortresses of the land Que (Cilicia) that he had taken away by force in the distant past. In my eighth regnal year, I marched to the lands Mannea and Media. I received tribute from the people of the lands Mannea, Ellipi, (and) [Media], city lords of the mountains. (As for) Zīzî (and) Zalâ, the city lords of [the distri]ct Giz[ilbunda, from wh]om the kings who preceded me had never received tribute, I received trib[ute from them] an[d ... (130) ...] lands [...] I inflicted a defeat on [Mitatti of the land Z]ikirtu. [I (surrounded and)] conquer[ed] three fortified cities, together with twenty-four settlements in their environs, [(...)]. I plundered them (and) burned down Parda, his royal city, with fire. However, that (man) (Mitatti), together with the people of [his] land, fled and their whereabouts have never been discovered. I defeated countless (troops) of Ursâ (Rusâ), the Urarṭian. (and) captured two hundred and sixty members of his royal family (and) his cavalrymen. In order to save (135) his [li]fe, he mounted a mare and took to the hill(s). I pursued him over a distance of five leagues, from Mount Uau[š as far] as Mount Zimur. I took away from him the land Uišdiš, a district of the land Mannea, [and] gave (it) [t]o Ullusunu, the Mannean. I conque[red] the city Ušqaya — a fortress that was constructed in the pass to the [dis]trict Zaran[da] (and) on Mount Mallāu, a mountain with juniper tree(s) — together with its one hundred and fifteen settlements. I conquered (and) burned down with fire [the city] Aniaštania, which is on the border of the land Bīt-Sangibuti, the cities Tarui (and) Tarmakisa of the land Dalāy[a], (140) the environs of the city Ulḫu, which is (located) at the foot of Mount Kišpal, (and) twenty-one fortified cities, together with one hundred and forty settlements [in] their environs, which are (located) on Mount Arzabia. I conquered [seven] fortified ci[ti]es, together with thirty settlements in their environs, which belong to the land Armari[ya]l[î (and) are (located) at the foot of] Mount] Ubianda. [I ccon]quered the city Arbu, where Rusâ ... [..., the city] Riyar, a city belonging to Ištar-dūrī (Sarduri), [...]. I conquered (and) burned down with fire thirty (145) [for]tified cities of the district Ayaid (Ayādi), which is (located) on the shore of the sea, the cities Arg[išt]iun[a] (and) Qallania — which were constructed upon (and) between the mountains Arṣi[du (and)] M[a]ḫḫ[a]u[n]nia — (and) five fortresses in the environs of the land Uayi[s], [tog]et[her] with [f]orty settlements of the district Uayis. I rece[ived] horses, oxen, (and) sheep and goats as tribute from Ianzû, [ki]ng [of the lan]d Naʾ[i]ri, in his fortified city Ḫubuškia. (As for) [U]rzana of the city Mu[ṣa]ṣir who had trangressed against the oath (sworn) by the gods Aššur and Marduk and sen[t] ... to Ursâ (Rusâ), the Urarṭian, the god Ašš[ur], my lord, encouraged me and (so) I constantly moved on with (only) my (own) single chariot and one thousand of my ferocious personal cavalry (and) foot soldiers who were ski[lled in ba]ttle, (advancing over) Mounts Šiyak (Šeyak), Ardi[k]ši, Ulāyû, (and) Alluriu, rugged mountains, on horseback over easy terrain and on foot over difficult (terrain). Then, (when) Urzana of the city Muṣaṣir [he]ard of the advance of [my] expeditionary force, he flew off like a bird and took to the rugged hill(s).ê [I] surrounded the city Muṣaṣir, the abode of the god Ḫaldi, and brought out Urzana’s wife, his sons, his daughters, 6,170 people, 692 mules (and) donkeys, 920+[ (155) ox]en, (and) 100,225 sheep. I carried off as booty 34 talents (and) 18 minas of gold, 160 tale[nts] (and) 2 1/2 min[as of silver], shining copper, ti[n, precio]us st[one]s in large qu[antitites ...] ... with mountings [..., ...]s, [..., garme]nts with multi-colored trim and linen (garments) in countless numb[ers] ... [...] ... (along) wi[th ... +4] talents (and) 3 minas of gold, 162 ta[le]nts (and) [20] m[in]a[s of si]lv[er ...]+27 [...]s, objects of copper (and) iron in cou[nt]less numbers [...] (160) ... [...] together with an ox [of copper], a cow of coppe[r, (and) a c]alf of co[pper]. I brought [his deities Ḫaldi (and) Bagbartu] into [the temple of the god] Aššur, [together with ... I distributed] the remainder of their possessions to [...] I caused there to b[e] lamenation [in the wide land] Ur[arṭu] (and in) all [the mount]ains, and I made [Ursâ (Rusâ), their king, (use) flint (blades), raz]ors, scalpels, (and) [... (to slash himself in mourning) for as long as he li]ved. [I m]a[de] that district (Muṣaṣir) [(part of) the territory of Assyria and] assigned [it t]o the auth[ority of] a [eunuch of mi]ne, the pala[ce] herald. [The awesome splendor] of the god Aššur, m[y] lord, [overwhelmed U]rsâ (Rusâ), [the U]rar[ṭi]an, and (so) with his own [iro]n [dagge]r he stabbed (himself) in the heart like a pig and [put an en]d to his life. In my [ninth regnal year], I marched to the lands Elli[pi, M]edia, and Karalla. (As for) the people of the land Karalla w[ho] had driven out my [eun]uchs [and] elevated [A]mitašši, the brother of Aššur-lēʾi, over them, I st[ru]ck them down with the sw[ord] on [Mou]nt Ana, [a mounta]in peak, and (then) receiv[ed] i[n] my (military) camp 2,200 of their face-(guards) (as trophies). I pursued Amitašši and [...] him, together with his allies, on Mount Šurda, [...]. [The peo]ple of the land Ḫ[abḫu (...) hear]d [of the harsh deeds that I had done in the land Karalla; their own] fear(s) (then) [fell upon them (and) they sent their messenger to me to do obeisance (to me). I] assigned th[em to the authority of a eunuch of mine, the governor of the land Lulumû]. [(As for) Daltâ of the land Ellipi, a submissive subject who pulled my yoke ... (175) ...] everythi[ng ... I had] him [surrou]nded and [...] their [... them] in bondage [... (180) ... the land El]lipi because of the seizure of ... [... with entreaties at the same ti]me to Azuk[tu ... he besought] me and I listened to his word(s). [...] I ordered [him (to continue) to exer]cise his kingship, made Daltâ happy, and brought order to his disturbed [land]. (With regard to) the land Baʾīt-ili, a district of the land Media that is on the b[o]rder of the land Ellipi; the lands Absaḫutti, Parnuatti, (and) Utirna; the city Diristānu of the land Uriakku; the land Rimanuti, a district of the land Uppuriya; the lands Uyadaue, Bustis, Agazi, Ambanda, (and) Dananu, [far]-off districts of the territory of the Arabs in the east; and the district(s) of the powerful Medes, who [had thr]own off the yoke of the god Aššur and roamed about the mountain(s) and desert like [thi]eves — I threw firebrands into all their settlements and [tu]rned all their districts into forgotten (ruin) mounds. I received 4,609 ho[rs]es, mules, oxen, (and) sheep and goats, [i]n countless numbers, as tribute from Ullusunu, the Mannean, [D]altâ of the land Ellipi, Bē[l]-aplu-iddina of the la[nd] Allabria, (and) from forty-five city lords [of] the powerful Medes. (As for) Ambaris of the land T[abal, king of the land Bīt-Pu]rutaš, [the fam]ily of who[se father] Ḫull[î], a ruler, a predecessor of mine, [had bro]ught [to Assyria together with booty from] his [land], (when) ... the [great] gods [determi]ned the firm establishment of m[y] reign, they (Ḫullî and his family) were [on] my mind. [I had] Ḫullî [sit (again)] on [his] royal throne. I gathered together [the people of the land Bīt]-P[u]rutaš and assigned (them) to his authority. In the time of Ḫull[î, his father], I had granted him (Ambaris) [...], gave him a daughter (of mine), (along) with the city Ḫilakku, and (thus) ex[panded his land]. [However, that (man) (Ambaris), a H]ittite who did not protect justice, sent to Ursâ (Rusâ), king of the land Urarṭu, Mit[â, king of the land Musku, (200) and the ki]ngs of the land Tabal about taking away territory of mine. [I mustered] the troops of the god [Aššur and] overwhelmed [the land Tabal to] its [fu]ll [extent] as if with a net. (Then), I brought [in bond]age to Assyria Ambaris, king of the land Bīt-Purutaš, toge[ther with the (other) offspring of his father’s house (and) the nobles of his land], (along) with one hundred of his chariot(s). [I had] the lands Bīt-P[ur]utaš (and) Ḫila[kku dwell (as safely) as in a meadow and ...] ... had enclosure walls built in it. [I (re)settled (there)] people from the lands that the god Aššur, [my] lor[d], had conquered. I set [a eunuch of mine as provincial governor over the]m (and) imposed upon them (the same) corvée duty (as if they were) Assyrians. In [m]y tenth regnal year, (as for) Tarḫun-[azi of the city Melid, (an evil Hittite) who did not fear the words of the] great [go]ds, (and as for) the wide land Kammanu, which [I had taken away] with the support of the god Aššur, my lord [(and) who]se [king Gunzinānu] I had driven out and (then) had [him (Tarḫun-azi)] s[it] on his (Gunzinānu’s) royal throne [... (whom) I] made do obeisance to me, to (whom) I handed over lo[rd]ship of [wide] lands, [(and whose)] understanding [...], he [repeatedly sent to Mitâ, king of the land Musku], (messages) hostile to Assyria. Angri[ly, I conquered] the land Kammanu to [its full] extent [(...)]. I smashed h[is] royal city Melid like a pot (and) considered all his people as if (they were) flocks of sheep and goats. (210) However, that (man) (Tarḫun-azi) entered the city [Tīl]-garimme in order to save his life. I overwhelmed that city like a cloud. They took fright at the awesome radiance of my weapons and op[en]ed [th]eir (city) gate. I threw in [ir]on fetters Tarḫun-azi, their ruler, together with his fighting men, and (then) [brou]ght to my city Ašš[ur] his wife, his sons, (and) his daughters, (along) with five thousand of his captured warriors. I reorganized (the administration of) the city Tīl-garimme (and) brought there people whom I had captured. I had (them) occupy [the land Kam]manu in its entirety, (215) and assigned (them) to the authority of a eunuch of mine. I imposed upon them the (same state) service (and) corvée duty a[s (in the time) of] Gunzinānu. I erected ten strong fortresses around it (the land Kammanu) a[nd] allowed its [people] to live in peace. I strengthened the garrison(s) (of) the cities Luḫsu, Purṭir, Anmurru, Ki[aka], (and) Anduarsalia against the land Urarṭu. I erected the cities Usi, Usia[n], (and) Uargin on the border of the land Musku and seized (control of) their entry [point]s (lit.: “ga[te]s”) so that there should be no escape (lit.: “exit”). (220) (Finally), I constructed the cities Ellibir (and) Šindarara against the people [of the land Kasku]. I g[ave] his (Tarḫun-azi’s) royal city [Meli]d, as well as the district [in its environs, (...) to] Mut[al]lu of the land Kummuḫu. At that time, (everything) that was hidden in the mountains of the land Ḫatti (Syria) was revealed (to me). [(...)] They brought to me during my reign [...] and I heaped up the property of the land [Ḫatti (...). On Mount ... was produced] refined [...], appropriate for a palace; (on) Mounts Larisʾu, Šuruman, [(and) ... was produced] (225) the creation of the god Nudimm[u]d (Ea), shining copper; on Mounts Tu[šanira, ...-durini], (and) Elikudurini was produced iron; (the part of) Mount Lammun that is (located) be[tw]een [Mount] U[... and Mount ...] produced lead, which whitens their dirty state; (the part of) Mount [Lammu]n [that is (located)] facing [... produced] pure alabaster; Mount Ammun, a mountain [that is (located)] facing [... produced] choice [BAR.GÙN.GÙN.NU-(stone)], fit for royalty (and) as white as pale lapis lazuli [...]; (230) (and) Mount Baʾil-ṣapūna, a great mountain, [produced at the] s[ame time] copper. I then mixed mound(s) of ore from those mountains, depos[ited (them)] into furnac[es ..., (and)] watch[ed] their smelting. I stored up inside my city Dūr-Šarrukīn countless possessions that my ancestors had never received; as a result, in Assyria the exchange rate for silver is fixed as if it were for bronze. In m[y] eleventh [re]gnal year, Lines 235–247 are not preserved [I reorganized (the administration of) the people of the land Gurgum to its full extent], set [a eunuch of mine] as provincial governor over them, (and) [considered them] as people [of Assy]ria. Azūri, king of the city Ashdod, [pl]otted [...] (so as) to no longer (have to) de[liv]er [tribute (to me)] and sent (messages) [hostile to Assyria] to the kings in his enviro[ns]. Then, because of the e[vi]l that he had done, I di[d awa]y with [his lordship] o[ver the people of his land] and [se]t his favorite brother Aḫī-Mīti as king [over them. The] Hittites, who (always) speak treachery, [hated h]is rule [and] elevated over them [I]a[dn]a (Iāmānī), who had no right to the throne (and) who, like the[m], did [not] kn[o]w [how to respect (any) authority]. [Angrily], with (only) my personal chariot and [m]y cavalry [who] never leave my [side (even) in friendly territory], I [quickly] marched to [his royal city] Ashdod. I then [surrounded (and) conq]uered the cities Ashdod, Ga[th, (and) Ashdod-Yam]. I cou[nted as bo]oty (both) the gods who d[wel]t in them (and) th[at (man) (Iāmāni), (260) together with the people of his land, gold, silver, (and) the possessions of his palace]. I reorganized (the administration of) those cities (and) settled there people from the lands that I had conquered. I set a eunuch of mi[ne] as provincial governor over them and considered them as people of Assyria; they (now) pull my yoke. In m[y] twelfth regnal year, Marduk-apla-iddina (II) (Merodach-Baladan), descendant of Yakīn, king of Chaldea, whose settlements are situated on the (coastal) plain of the Eastern Sea, had put his trust in the sea and (its) surging waves. He then broke (lit.: “overturned”) the treaty sworn by the great gods (265) and withheld his audience gift. He turned to Ḫumbanigaš (Ḫumban-nikaš I), the Elamite, for aid, made all the Sutians, the people of the steppe, hostile to me, and prepared for battle (against me). He came down to the territory of the land of Sumer and Akkad [and], against the will of the gods, ruled and governed Babylon, the city of the Enlil of the g[ods] (Marduk), for twelve years. (However), the god Marduk, the great lord, saw the evil deeds of Chaldea, which he hated. [Then], (the order for) the removal of his royal scepter (and) throne was set upon his lips. He duly chose me, Sargon, the reve[rent] king, from among all rulers and exalted me. He made [my] weapons prevail in order to bar the evil enemy Chaldeans from the territory of the land of Sumer and Akkad. At the command of the great divine lord, the god Marduk, I got my (chariot) teams ready, prepared my (military) camp, (and) ordered the march against the Ch[aldean, a doer] of evil (deeds). However, (when) that (man), Marduk-ap[la-iddina] (II) (Merodach-Baladan) heard of [the ad]vance of my expeditionary force, he strengthened [his] fortress[es] (and) assembled his (military) contingents. He brought the Gambulu (tribe) in its entirety (275) into Dūr-Abi-ḫāra and, at the approach of my expeditionary force, strengthened (its) garrison. He gave them six hundred cavalry (and) four thousand garrison soldiers, the vanguard of his army, and (thereby) made them confident. They raised their (city) wall higher than before, cut a channel from the Surappu River, and surrounded its environs as if with cresting flood (waters). I conquered that city before sunset. I carried off as booty 18,[4]30 people, together with [their] property, horses, oxen, (and) sheep and goats. The remainder of them who had fle[d befor]e my weapons and [...] the Uqnû River, which was difficult (to ford), and reed thicket(s) for [(their)] protection, [...] heard of (my) conquest of that city and (as a result) their hearts pounded. They flew to me like a bird [and ...] I reorganized (the administration of) that city (and) (re)named it Dūr-Nabû. [I ...-ed] those people [...]. I set a eunuch of mine as provincial governor over them. I imposed upon them the annual payment of one talent thirty minas of silver, two thousand of barley, one ox out [of (every) twenty oxen (that they had), (and)] one sheep [out] of (every) twenty sh[eep] (that they had). I mustered those soldiers and took [one soldier of theirs] o[ut of (every) three] soldiers (for my own army). The city Qarat-Nanni, the city of Nabû-uṣalla [...] ... [...] (and) the city Maḫīru, (a total of) five settlements of [the district] Ḫubaqā[n]u; the city Qan-Raʾme-il (and) the city of Iadi (Iadīʾ), (a total of) two fort[ified] settlements [of] the district [Timass]ina; the city of Parasa, the city of Ian[nuqu, (and) ...] (a total of) three settlements of the Ḫirīte River (290) district; the city of Ṭābāya (Ṭābīya), the city of [...], the city] of Asiān, the fortress of Mannu-Iašana, the city of Raḫi[..., (and) the city of] Aḫḫē-iddina, (a total of) six settlements of the city Ḫilti; the city of Ḫazā-[il, ...], the city of Sabḫarru, the city of Ḫamadānu (Ḫamdanu), the city of [..., (and) the city] of Iašyanu, (a total) of six settlements; the city of Saʾlāni, the city of [..., the city] of Na[...], the city of Zārūtî, (295) the city of Saʾdani, the city of [..., (and) the city of ...]sal[i...], (a total of) seven settlements that are (located) between the land Nagia[tu (Nagītu) and the Tupliya]š [River] (and) whose environs (are) without (special) name designation; the city Aya-Sammu, the city [...]paqa, the city of Dīnāya, the city of Ibnāya, the city of Bābilê, the city of [...]me, the city [of] Anda-il, the city Siʾrāya, the city Patiyān, the city Ḫula[...]su, the city of Samsi-yadaʾ, the city Ḫaʾilāya, Lines 300–312 are not preserved Not preserved [I dammed up the] Tu[pliyaš River, a river upon which they relied], with p[ile(s) of dirt and reeds. I erected] two f[ortresses, side by side, and (320) star[ved them out. They [then came] out [from the Uqnû River and grasped hold of my feet. Iannuqu], the leader o[f the city Zāmê, Nabû-uṣalla of the city Abūrê, Paš]šunu (and) [Ḫaukānu of the city Nuḫānu, (and) Saʾīlu of the city] Ibūl[i, (a total of) five sheikhs of (325) the Pu]qudu (tribe); [Abi-ḫatâ of the Ruʾuʾa (tribe)]; (and) Ḫunīnu, Sāmeʾ, Sabḫarru, (and) Rāpiʾ, (a total of) four sheikhs of the Ḫindaru (tribe); together with their (tribes)men, came to me at the city Dūr-Abi-ḫāra and grasped hold of m[y] feet. I took hostages from them and (330) imposed upon them (the same) tribute and payments as if (they were) Assyrians. I assigned them to the authority of a eunuch of mine, the governor of Gambulu, and imposed the annual ṣibtu-tax on their oxen (and) their sheep for the gods Bēl (Marduk) (and) Son of Bēl (Nabû)]. (As for) the rest of the dangerous Arameans who dwell in their district (and) who had paid attention (lit.: “inclined their cheek”) to Marduk-apla-iddina (II) (Merodach-Baladan) and Šutur-Naḫūndi and taken (themselves) to the Uqnû River, a far-off place to live (lit.: “a distant dwelling”), I overwhelmed their settle[ments] (335) like the Deluge, cut down the date palm(s) upon which they relied (and) the orchards that were the [p]ride of their district, and (then) [fe]d my army (the food in) their granaries. I sent my [war]riors to the Uqnû River, their hiding place, and they (my warriors) inflicted a defeat on [th]em. [They (my warriors)] then [carried off as booty (those) people, together with their property]. [(The people of) the cities Zām]ê, Abū[rê, Yaptiru, Maḫīṣu, Ḫilipanu, KAL-KAL, Pattiānu], Ḫaya­mā­[nu, ...] Not preserved [I carried off as booty ... wagons], hors[es, mules, donkeys, (and) camels, together with their abundant property. I] re[organized (the administration of) the city Sam’ūna, changed its name, and gave it the name Enlil-iqīša. ...], Aya-[lūnu, (and) Daiṣṣānu of the land La]ḫīru [(and) ... of the city Sulā]ya — (a total of) five she[ikhs of the land Yadburu — brought] horse[s, mules, oxen, and sheep and goats into my (military) camp and grasped hold of my feet in order to do obeisance. I considered] the city Lahī[ru of the land Yadburu, the cities] Sulāya, [..., fortified] cities [of the land Yadburu], the cities Ḫil[immu (and) Pillatu that are on the border of the land Elam, together with the settlements in their environs that are (located) along the Naṭītu River, as (part) of my territory]. Not preserved [As a result, in the midst of his (own) palace] his own fear(s) fell upon him; he then went out (from Babylon) during the night together with [his] alli[es] (and) his battle [troop]s and set out for the land Yadburu, which is (part) of the land Ela[m]. He gave to [Š]utur-Naḫūndi, the Elamite, [his royal] ut[ensils], a bed, a throne, a chair, a royal washbasin, (and) his neck ornament, as gifts from him in order to get [his] revenge (on me). (That) Elamite villain accepted his bribe, but [took fright at] my [weapon(s)]. He turned away and told him (Marduk-apla-iddina) that he would not come (to help him). (When) he (Marduk-apla-iddina II) heard the words of (the one who was to be) his avenger, he threw himself on the ground, ripped his [cloa]k, wielded (his) razor, and uttered cries of mourning. Together with his allies (and) [his] bat[tle] troops, that (man) moved away [from] the land Yadburu, entered int[o] the city Iqbi-Bēl, an[d] stayed (there) in [f]ear. The citizens of Baby[lon (and) Bor]sippa, the temple personnel, the craftsmen who know (their) trade, the lea[der]s, (and) administrators of the land, who (up till then) had been his su[bjects], bro[ught] before me in the city [Dūr-Lad]inni the leftovers of (the sacrifices to) the deities Bēl, Zarpanītu, [Nabû, (and) Taš]mētu, [and] invited (lit.: “said to”) me [to en]ter into Babylon, [making] my heart [rejoice]. Happily, I entered Babylo[n, the c]ity of the En[lil of the gods (Marduk); I prayed] to the gods [who dwelt in Esagil (and) Ezida, (and)] offered [pure vol]u[ntary offerings bef]ore them. Inside his palace, [his royal residence, ... I received substantial ... from ...] the land Aram, the land Bīt-Amukkāni, [the land Bīt-Dakkūri, ...]. (With regard to) the former Borsippa canal, [which k]ings who preceded me had co[ns]­truc­ted, I dug a new [ca]nal into Šuanna (Babylon) for the procession of the god [Nabû], my lord. I sent eunuchs of mine, provincial governors, against the Ḫamarānu (tribe), who had fled from my weapons, entered Sippar, and were constantly, repeatedly robbing caravan(s) of the citizen(s) of Babylon while they were en route. They then surrounded them so that (no one), neither young (nor) old, could escape, (and) struck (them) down with the sword. (When) the month Nis[annu] ar[ri]ved, [the m]onth the lo[rd] of the gods goes out (from his temple), I to[ok] the hands of the great divine lord, (385) the god M[ar]duk, (and) of the god Nabû, the king of the [to]tality of heaven (and) earth, and brought (them) safely along the roa[d] to the akītu-house. I presented before them prize bulls in prime condition, fattened sheep, gee[se], (and) ducks, (along) with (other) innumerable gifts. I offered [sacrific]es of hom[ag]e to the gods of the cult centers of the land of Sum[er] and Ak[kad, and ...] presents [...] Lines 391–403 are not preserved [(Marduk-apla-iddina) carried off the people of (the cities) Ur, ..., Kissik, Nēmed-Laguda (and) ...], and bro[ught (them) [into] the city Dūr-Yakīn. [He then stren]gth[ened its en]clo[sure walls (and), moving back a distance of one] measuring rope [from the front of its main wall], he mad[e] a moat [two hundred] cubits wide; [he made (the moat) one and a half nindanu deep and reached] g[round water. He cu]t [a channel from the Euphrates River], (thereby) making (its water) flow to it (lit.: “against it”). [He (thus) filled the city’s] fla[tlands, wh]e[re bat]tles (are fought), with water and [cut the bridges]. Together with his allies (and) [his battle] troops, he pitched his [royal tent] in a be[nd of the river (lit.: “bet[ween river]s”) li]ke [a cran]e and [set up his] (military) cam[p]. [At] the command of the gods Aššur, [Šamaš, (and)] Marduk, [I had my c]ho[ice fighting men f]ly over [its water channels (like) eag]le(s) ... [and they br]oug[ht about] his defeat. [I surrounded] him [together with his] royal [(military) contingent (410) an]d slaughtered [his] wa[rriors] like shee[p a]t his feet. I [pierced the horses trained to his yo]ke [with ar]rows. Then, (as for) hi[m, I pie]r[ced (lit.: “loosened”) his hand wi]th the point [of an arro]w [and] he (then) entered [the gate] of his city ste[althfu]lly, like a mongoose. [I cut] down the Puqudians, his allie(s), (and) the [Marša]nians, together with [the Sutians] who [were with him, in] fr[ont of] the gat[e (of his city) (and)] splattered his people with deadly [ve]nom. I took away [from him] his royal tent, [his] royal go[ld para]sol, [gol]d scepter, gold bed, gold [ch]air, gold (and) silver objects, ..., [his] potstands, [equip]me[nt, (and) bat]tle gear. [(As for) a]ll his [people], the inhabitants of the settlements of all of his land, whom he had [...] from before my [weapon]s, ... [...] Lines 417–442 are not preserved [Upēri, king of Dilmun, who(se)] l[a]ir is situated [at a di]stance of [th]irty leagues in the middle of the [Ea]stern Sea, like (that of) a fish, [hea]rd of [(my)] lordly might and brought me his audience gift. While I was br[inging about] the defeat of the Chaldeans (and) Arameans of the Eastern Sea [and] making my weapons prevail over the people of [the land El]am, a eunuch of mine, the governor of the land Que (Cilicia), whom I had established [...] in the land ... [...] ... [of the we]st and (who) governed the people (there), marched ...ly [th]ree tim[es] into the district of Mitâ (Midas) of the land Musku, (going) in a chariot over easy [terrain] (and) on foot over difficult terrain, and took away one thousand of his (Mitâ’s) com[bat] troops ... (and) their war [hors]es, letting none escape. He conquered two fortresses upon which his (Mitâ’s) district relied (and) which are (located) on a ru[gg]ed mountain ad[jace]nt to [... (and)] whose location is very difficult (to reach) ... He then defeated his (Mitâ’s) garrison troops, those who did battle, and [...] the gate(s) of his fortresses to [...]. (450) He did [no]t allow to live [...]. He brought to me as booty two thousand four hunded soldiers ... and slaves from his (Mitâ’s) land, and (then) [destroyed, demol]ished, (and) burned (them) down with fire [his fort]ified cities, together with the settlements in [their] environs. His messenger, who bore the good news, brought me one thousand face-(guards) (taken) from his (Mitâ’s) warriors (as trophies) to me in the city Samaʾūna, which is (located) [on the Elami]te [border], and (thus) made my heart rejoice. Moreover, that (man), Mitâ of the land Musku, who had not submitted to the kings who preceded me (and) had [never] cha[nged] his [mind (about doing so), he]ard about the accomplishment of the victori(es) (and) conquest(s) that the gods Aššur (and) Marduk had granted me and (that) I [had regularly] car[ried] out in (the region of) the Eastern Sea, as well as [of the onslaught of] my [weapon]s, the destruction of its (Bīt-Yakīn’s) land, the carrying off of its [peo]ple, (and) the subjugation of U[p]ē[r]i, king of Dilmun, which is (located) in the middle of the sea [(...)]. Then, ... in [his far-off land, dea]th[ly quiet overwhelmed him (and) he sent his messenger before me a]t [the Eastern Sea to do obeissance (to me) and to bring (me) tribute (and) presents]. [(As for) Silṭa of the city Tyre], the brin[ging of tri]bute ... to [Assyria], seven [kings of the land Y]āʾ, a region of the land Adnana (Cyprus) — whose abode(s) [are situated] at a distance of [seven] da[ys (journey) in the middle of the sea and] who from the distant past until [now ... (460) ...] all together [st]opp[ed (the delivery of)] their gifts (and) [wi]thhe[ld their tri]bute. [However, Silṭa] brought his substantial tribute to me and, in [order to subjugate ..., he] asked me for (military) aid. I sent a trustworthy eunuch of mine who was fearless [in battle, with a royal (military) contingent] of mine, and [ordered (him)] to avenge him (Silṭa). [...] they heard [(...)] of the numerous forces of the god [Ašš]ur. Then, [they became afraid] at the (mere) me[ntion of my name and (...)] their arms grew weak. They brought before me in Babylon gold, silver, (and) utensils of [eb]ony (and) [boxwood, product(s) of] their [lan]d [and (so) I considered them ...]. Mutallu of [the land] Kummuḫu — an [evil] H[ittite who did not fear the words of the gods ...] Lines 469–481 are not preserved

Sargon II 002 — Annals of Room V

Wall slab (with reliefs); stone; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). Iraq Museum, Baghdad, Iraq. 6 known exemplars. Sargon II 002; RINAP Q006483.

Lines 1–68 are not preserved [The people of the cities Pāpa (and) Lalluknu, dogs who had been bro]ught up in my palace (and) who [had conspired wi]th the land Kakmê [for the purpose of separating (from Assyria), I had deported them from their (own) places and] (re)settled them [in the city Damas]cus of the land [A]murru. I[n my] si[xth regnal year, Ursâ (Rusâ), the Urarṭian, sent his mounted messenger with a mendacious message to Bag-dāti of the land Uišdiš (and) KAR...] of the land Zikirtu, governors of the land Mannea. He ma[de them hostile to (me), Sar]gon, (and) to A[zâ, the son] of their (former) lord, [and made them side with him (Rusâ)]. Th[ey brought about the rou]t of the Manneans [on Mount Uauš, a rugged mountain], and [threw down] the corpse of Azâ, [their lord, (there). I raised my hand(s) (in prayer) to the god Aššur, my lord, in order to avenge the Manneans (and) to make (that area part of) the territory of Assyria. Then, on Mount] Uau[š, the mountain where they had] t[hrown down the c]orpse of Azâ, [I flayed the skin from Bag-dāti and (then) showed (it) to the Manneans]. [(As for) Ullusun]u, whom [they had set on the throne of] Az[â an]d [to whom they had entrusted] all [of the wide land Mannea, the wrath of the god Aššur] was directed [against Ullusunu, the Mannean, (ordaining) the destruction of his land. He (Ullusunu)] then [put his trust in Ursâ (Rusâ), the Ura]rṭi[an, ...] Too fragmentary for translation. [...] I [s]et [a eunuch of mine as] provincial [governor over] his city. I had [the weapon(s) of the (great) gods who] go [before] me made [and I] install[ed (them) ins]i[de it (the city Kišesim)]. I (re)named it (the city Kišesim) Kā[r-Nergal (and) ere]cted a [royal] image [of myself there. I conquered] the lands Bīt-[Sag]bat, Bīt-Ḫi[rmami, (and)] Bīt-U[margi], (and) the cities [Ḫar]ḫubarban, Kilambāti, (and) [Ar]mang[u; and] I a[dded (them)] to [its] p[rovince]. [The people of] the city Ḫa[rḫar dr]ov[e out] Kibaba, their city ruler, [and] ... elevat[ed] Da[lt]â, k[ing of the land] Elli[pi] over [them]selves. I conquered [th]at [city] and [plund]ered it. [I] brou[ght th]ere peo[ple] from the lands that I had conqu[ered] (and) set a e[unuch] of mine as provincial governor ov[er] them. [I conque]red [the up]per [river(land)] of the land A[ranz]ê, the [low]er river(land) of Bīt-Ra[matua], the la[nd] U[riqat]u, the land [S]ikris, the land Ša[p]ar[da, (and) the land] Uriakku, (a total of) six distric[ts], and [added (them)] to th[em (the people of the city Ḫarḫar)]. I installed the weapon of the god [Aššur, my lord], t[her]e. I (re)named [it (the city Ḫarḫar)] K[ār-Šarrukīn]. I made a stele, had [...] ... [...] written upon it [(...), (and) ere]cted (it) there. I received tr[ibute] from [twenty-eig]ht city [ruler]s of the p[owerful Me]des. In my seventh [regnal ye]ar, Ursâ (Rusâ), the Urarṭ[ian], s[poke deceitfully] with Ullu[su]n[u], the Mannean, and ...ly took away from him twenty-two of his fortresses. He spoke treacher[ous] words, [libels against Ul]lusunu, [to Dayukku, a governor of the land Man]nea, and received [his] son as [a hos]tage. I rai[sed my hand(s) (in supplication)] to the god [Aššur, the king of the gods, and (then) surrounded (and)] conquered [those twenty-two fortresses. I ma]de (them part of) the territory of Assyria. I [deported] Dayukku, togeth[er with his fami]ly, [and brought order to the] dist[urbed land Mannea]. [I rec]ei[ved tribute from] Ianzû, king of the land [N]a[ʾiri, i]n [his] c[ity] Ḫu[b]uš[ki]a. [I conquered] ni[ne] fort[resses (...) (100) ... I carried off as booty the people] of five districts of Ursâ (Rusâ), the Urarṭian, [together with] their property, ... [... I conquered eight fo]rtresses, together with the settlements in [their] environs, [that belonged to the land Tuāyadi, a dis]trict belonging to Telu[sina of the land And]ia and [...] Lines 103–187 are not preserved [... I caused there to] be lamentati[on] i]n the wide land [Urarṭu] (and) all the mountains, and I made Ursâ (Rusâ), their king, (use) flint (blades), razors, scalpels, (and) [...] (to slash himself in mourning) for as long as he lived. I made that district (Muṣaṣir) (part of) the territory of Assyria [a]nd assigned it to the authority of a eunuch of mine, the palace herald. The awes[ome] splendor of the god Aššur, my lord, overwhelmed Ursâ (Rusâ), the [Ur]a[r]ṭian, [and (so) with his o]w[n] ir[on] da[gg]er [he] stabbed (himself) in the heart [like a p]ig an[d] p[ut an end to his life]. In my ninth regnal year, I marched t[o] the lands [El]lipi, Media, [and] Karalla. (As for) the peop[le of the land Ka]ra[l]la who had driven out my eu[nuc]hs and elevated Amitaš[ši] of the land Karalla, the brother of Aššur-lēʾi, over them, I struck them down with the sword on Mount Ana, a mountain peak, and (then) received in my (military) c[am]p 2,2[00] of their face-(guards) (as trophies). Amitašši fled together with his allies [and] ... [...] ... [...] ... [...] [The people of the la]nd Ḫ[abḫu ... heard] [of the harsh deeds that I had done in the land Karalla; their own] fe[ar(s)] then fell upon them (and they sent their messenger to me to do obeisance to me). I assigned them] to the authority of [a] e[unuch of mine, the gove]rnor of the land L[ullumê]. [(As for) Daltâ of the land Ellipi, a submissive subject who bore my yoke], the lands Mi[..., (and) ..., (a total of) five of his districts], revolt[ed] aga[inst] him [... Azu]ktu [...] I conquered [(...)] the city Ḫubaḫna, [their fortified city, together] with twenty-four settle[ments ...] (and) [inflicted] a defe[at upon them ...] ... [...] for[ty/fif[ty tho]usand two hundred sheep, [...], h[orses], mules, d[onkeys ...] ... [...] ... [...] I had [him] surrounded [th]ere [and ...] governor, their [..., them] in bondage [... (215) ... the land] Ellipi be[cause of the seizure of ...] ... [...] with entreaties at the same [time to Azuktu ...] ... [...] he [besought me] and I listened to [his wo]rd(s). [... I ordered (him to continue) to exercise kingship. I (thus) made] Da[ltâ happy and brought order to his] dist[urbed land]. [(With regard to) the land Baʾīt-ili, a district] of the land Media [that is on the bor]der of [the land Ellipi]; the land[s Absaḫutti, Parnuatti, (and) Utirna; the city Diristānu of the land Uriakku; the land Rimanuti, a district of the land Uppuriya; the lands Uyadaue, Bustis, Agazi, Ambanda, (and) Dananu, far-off districts of the territory of the Arabs in the east; and the district(s) of the powerful Medes, who had thrown off] the yoke of the god Aššur [and roamed about the mountain(s) and desert like thieves — I th]rew f[ir]ebrands [into all the]ir [settlements and turned a]ll [their districts into forgotten (ruin) mounds]. [I] re[ceived 4,609 horses, mules], o[xe]n, [(and) sheep and goats, in countless numbers, as tribute from] Ul[lu]s[unu], the Mannean, [D]al[tâ of the land Ellipi, Bēl-aplu-iddina of the land Allabria, (and) from forty-five city lords of] the [powerful] Medes. (As for) Am[bar]is of the land Tabal, [king of the land Bīt-Purutaš, the fam]ily of [whose father] Ḫullî, [a ruler, a predecessor of mine], had brought to Assyria [together with] bo[oty] from his land, [(when) ... the great gods determined the firm establishment of] my [re]ign, they (Ḫullî and his family) were on [my] m[ind. I had] Ḫullî [sit (again)] on [his royal] throne. I gathered together [the people of the land Bīt-Purutaš] and [assi]gned (them) to [his] a[uthority]. In the time of Ḫullî, [his] father, [I had granted him (Ambaris) ...] ... [...], gave him a dau[gh]ter of mine, (along) with [the city] Ḫilakku, and (thus) expa[nd]ed his land. However, [that (man) (Ambaris), a Hittite who did not pro]tect [justice, sent to] Ursâ (Rusâ), [ki]ng of [the land U]rarṭu, Mitâ, king of [the land M]usku, [and the kings of the land Tabal about taking aw]ay terr[itory of mine]. I mustered the troops of the god Aššur and [overwhelmed] the land Tabal [to its] full extent [as if with a net. (Then), I bro]ught in bondage [to Assyria Amba]ri[s], king [of the land Bīt-Pur]utaš, toge[ther with] the (other) offspring of his father’s house (and) the nobles of his land, (along) wi[th one hundred of his chariot(s)]. I had the land[s] Bīt-Pur[ut]aš (and) Ḫilakku dw[e]ll (as safely) as in a meadow and [(re)se]ttled (there) people from the lands [that the god Aššur, my lord, had conquered]. I set a eunuch [of mine] as provincial governor over them and impos[ed] the yo[ke] of my lordship [upon them]. [In my tenth regnal year, (as for) Tar]ḫun-azi of the city Me[lid], an evil Hittite who did not fear the words of the [great] g[ods], (and as for) the wi[de] land [Kam]manu, which I had taken [away with the support of the god Aššur, my lord] (and) whose [king] G[unzinā]nu I had driv[en ou]t [and (then) had] h[im (Tarḫun-azi) sit on his (Gunzinānu’s) royal throne ...] Lines 239–255 are not preserved [I strengthened the garrison(s) (of) the cities Luḫsu, Purṭir, Anmurru, Kiaka, (and) Anduarsalia against the land Urarṭu. I erected the cities Usi, Usian, (and) Uar]gin on the border [of the land Musku and seized (control of) its/their entry points (lit.: “gates”) so that there should be no escape (lit.: “exit”). (Finally), I constructed] the cit[ies Ellibir] (and) Šindarara [against the people of the land Kasku. I gave his (Tarḫun-azi’s) royal city Melid (...)], as well as the city Kummuḫu, [to Mutallu]. [At that time, (everything) that was hi]dde[n in the mountain]s of the land Ḫa[t]ti (Syria) [was revealed (to me). (...) They brou]ght to [me during my reign ... and I he]aped up the proper[ty of the land Ḫat]ti. [(On) Mount ... was produced refined ..., appropriate for a palace; (on) Mounts Larisʾu, Šuruman, (and) ... was produced the creation of the god Nudimmu]d (Ea), [shining] copper; on Mount[s] Tušanira, [...]durini, [(and) Elikudurini was produced iron; (the part of) Mount Lammun that is (located) between Mount U... and Mount ...] pro[duced lead, which whit]ens their dirt[y s]tate; [(the part of) Mount La]mmun [that is (located) facing ... produced pure alabaster; Mount Ammun, a mountain that is (located) facing ... produced] choice [BAR.GÙN].GÙN.NU-(stone), fit for royalty (and) [as white as pale lapis lazuli ...; (and) Mount Baʾil-ṣapūna], a great [mounta]in, produced at the same time copper. (265) [I then mixed mound(s) of ore] from [those] mountains, [deposited th]em [into furnaces ...], and watch[ed] their smelting. I st[or]ed up [inside my city Dūr-Šarrukīn countless possessions that my ancestors had never received]; as a result, [in Assyria] the excha[nge rate for silver is fixed] as if it were for bronze. [In my eleventh regnal year ... Tarḫu-lara of the land Gurgum ... who]se heir [Mu]tallu [had cut (him) down with the sword and taken away ... my ... in ... in order to avenge him (Tarḫu-lara) ... Tarḫu]-lar[a], his [he]ir M[utallu (270) in/with ... of the body before the god Šamaš ... Because of] his [.... that ...] he had done, [I/he burned his hands (and) showed (...). I counted as booty his heir Mutallu, together with the (royal) family of the land Bīt-Paʾalla, as many as there] we[re (of them), (along) with] gold, silver, [(and) countless property from his palace. I reorganized (the administration of) the people of the land Gurgum to its full extent, set a eu]nuch of [mi]ne as provinc[ial] governor [(...) over them, (and) consi]dered th[em as] people of [Assyria]. [Azūri, king of the city Ashdod, plotted ... (so as) to no longer (have to)] deliver [tribute (to me) and sent (messages)] h[ostile to Assyria to the kings in] his [enviro]ns. [Thus, because of the evil that he had done, I did away with his lordship over] the people of his land [and set his favorite brother Aḫī-Mīti as kin]g over [th]em. [The Hittites, who (always) speak treachery, hated his rule and ... elevated over the]m [Iadna (Iāmānī), ...] [Angril]y, [... I quickly] march[ed to his royal city Ashdod. I] then [surrounded (and)] conquered the c[iti]es Ash[dod, Gath, (and) Ashdod-Yam. I counted as booty (both)] the god[s who dw]el[t in them (and) that (man) (Iāmāni)], toge[ther with the people of his land, gold, silver, (and) the prop]erty of [his] pal[ace]. (285) I [re]orga[nized (the administration of) those cities (and) settled there people from the lands that] I [had conquered. I se]t [a eunu]ch of mi[ne] as provincial [governor] over [them] and [considered them as people of Assyria; they (now) pull my y]ok[e]. [I]n [my] twelfth re[gnal year, Mar]duk-apla-iddina (II) (Merodach-Baladan), [descendant of Yakīn, king of Chaldea, who dwelt on the shore of the s]ea [(and) who did not fear the words of the grea]t [god]s [... had put his tr]ust [in the sea and (its) s]ur[ging waves]. (290) He then broke (lit.: “overturned”) [the tr]ea[ty (sworn) by the] great [god]s and withheld his audience gift. He turned to Ḫumbanigaš (Ḫumban-nikaš I), the Elamite, for aid, made the Ruʾuʾa (tribe), the Ḫindaru (tribe), the Yadburu (tribe), the Puqudu (tribe), (and) all the Sutians, the people of the steppe, hostile to me, and prepared for battle against me. He proceeded (295) to the land of Sumer and Akkad and, against the will of the gods, ruled and governed [B]abylon, the city of the Enlil of the gods (Marduk), for twelve years. (However), the god Marduk, the great lord, saw the evil deeds of the Chaldeans. Then, (the order for) the removal of his royal scepter and throne was set upon his [l]ips. (300) He duly chose me, Sargon, the reverent king, from among all rulers and exalted me. He made my [weapon]s prevail [in order] to bar the e[v]il enemy Chaldeans from the territory of the land of Sumer and Akkad. A[t the com]mand of the great lord, the god Marduk, [I got] my (chariot) teams ready, prep[ared] my (military) camp, (and) or[de]red the march against the Chaldean, a [danger]ous enemy. However, (when) that (man) Marduk-apla-[iddina] (II) (Merodach-Baladan) heard [of the advance] of my expeditionary force, he strengthened his fortresses (and) assembled his (military) contingents. He ...-ed the city Dūr-Abi-ḫāra [...], brought insi[de it] the Gambu[lu] (tribe) who dwell next to it, and at the appr[oach of] my [expeditionary force] strengthened (its) garrison. He gave th[em] six hundred cavalry (and) four [thousand] soldiers, his allies, [the vang]uard of [his] army, [and] (310) (thereby) [made] them confide[nt]. They raised their (city) wall higher [tha]n bef[ore, c]ut a channel [from] the Surappu River, and surrounded [its environs as if with] cresting [flo]od (waters). I surrounded (and) [con]quered [that] city before the day had proceeded half a double-hour. I carr[ied off as booty] 18,4[30] people, [together with their prop]er[ty], h[orse]s, mules, donkeys, c[am]els, oxen, and [sheep and goats]. Ba[...] ..., Ḫazā-il, Hamd[anu, Z]abīdu, Ammai[(...), ...]iada[(...)], Aḫ[ḫ]ē-iddina, (and) Aya-Sammu, (a total of) eight sh[ei]khs of [the Gambulu (tribe) who dw]el[l] (along) the Uqnû River, hea[rd] of the con[quest] of that city [and (as a result) their] hea[rts] pounded. [Fro]m the U[qnû] River, they brought m[e] oxen, and sheep and goats as their substantial audience gift(s) [and] gr[asped hold of] my feet. Because [...] that land, I disregarded [their] crime(s) and stopped their deportation. I set a eunuch of mine as [provincial governor] over [th]em. (320) I imposed upon them the annual payment of one talent thirty minas of silver, two thousand of barley, one ox out of (every) twenty oxen (that they had), (and) one [sheep] out of (every) [twenty sheep (that they had)]. I (also) imposed the annual ṣibtu-tax on their oxen (and on) their sheep and goats for the god[s Bēl (Marduk) (and) Son of B]ēl (Nabû). I mustered those soldiers and took one sol[dier of theirs] out of (every) three [soldiers (for my own army)]. I resettled (them) in the city Dūr-Abi-ḫāra, [changed its (the city’s) name, (and) (re)na]med it Dūr-[Nabû]. I incorporated (lit.: “led away”) into the territory of Assyria the lands Ḫu[ba]qānu, Tarb[ugāt]i, Timassunu (Timassina), [(...), Pa]šur, Ḫirūtu, (and) Ḫilmu, (a total of) six districts [of the land] Gambulu, together with forty-four fortified settlements that are in them. (When) the Ruʾuʾa, Ḫindaru, Yadburu, (and) [Pu]qudu (tribes) heard of (my) conquest of the Gambulu (tribe), they fled during the course of the night [a]nd took (themselves to) the Uqnû River, which was difficult (to ford). I dammed up the Ṭupliyaš River, a river upon which they relied, wi[th p]ile(s) of dirt and reeds. I erected two forts, side by side, and starved them out. They then came out from the Uqnû [Ri]ver and grasped hold of my feet. Iannuqu, the [s]heikh of the city Zāmê, Nabû-uṣalla of the city Abūrê, Paššunu (and) Ḫaukānu of the city Nuḫānu, (and) Saʾīlu of the city Ibūli, (a total of) five sheikhs of the Puqudu (tribe); Abi-ḫatâ of the Ruʾuʾa (tribe); (and) Ḫunīnu, Sāmeʾ, S[a]bḫarru, (and) Rāpiʾ of the Ḫindaru (tribe) brought horses, oxen, and sheep and goats (330) as their substantial audience gift(s) to the city Dūr-Abi-ḫāra and kissed my feet. I took hostages from them (and) imposed upon them (the same state) service (and) corvée duty as (was imposed upon) the Gambulu (tribe). I assigned them to the authority of a eunuch of mine, the governor of the Gambulu (tribe). (As for) the rest of those who had paid attention (lit.: “inclined their cheek”) to Marduk-apla-iddina (II) (Merodach-Baladan) and Šutur-Naḫūndi and taken (themselves) to the Uqnû River, I overwhelmed their settlements like the Deluge. I (then) fed my army (the food in) their granaries (and) chopped down the date palm(s) upon which they relied (and) the orchards that were were the pride of their district. I sent my warriors t[o] the Uqnû [Ri]ver, their hiding place, and they (my warriors) inflicted a defeat on them. They (my warriors) carried off as booty (those) people, together with their property. (The people of) the cities Zāmê, Abūrê, Yaptiru, Maḫīṣu, Ḫilipanu, KAL-KAL, Pattiānu, Ḫa­ya­mā­nu, (335) Gadiyāti, [Amate], Nuḫānu, Amâ, Ḫiuru, (and) Saʾīlu, (a total of) fourteen fortified cities, together with the settlements in their environs, (located) along the Uqnû River, who(se people) had taken fright at the onslaught of my mighty weapons and whose district I had laid waste, came to me from the Uqnû River, a faraway place, an[d grasped hold of] my [fe]et. I had that district dwell as in meadowland (in greater safety) than previously and assigned (them) to the authority of a eunuch of mine, the governor of the Gambulu (tribe). [Like the on]slaught of a storm, I overwhelmed the cities Sam[ʾū]na (and) Bāb-dūri, fortress­es that Šutur-Naḫūndi, the Elamite, had constructed facing (lit.: “above”) the land Yadburu, and I carried off as booty Sa...nu (and) Singamšibu, the fortress commanders, together with 7,520 Elamites who were with them and 12,062 people (340) of the [G]urumu (tribe), wago[ns, h]orses, mules, donkeys, (and) camels, together with their abund[ant] property. I reorganized (the administration of) the city Samʾūna, changed its name, and gave it the name Enlil-iqīša. Mušēzibu, Natnu, Aya-lūnu, (and) Daiṣṣānu of the land Laḫīru, (and) Aya-rimmu (and) Bēl-āli of the city Sulāya — (a total of) six [sh]eikhs of the land Yadburu — brought horses, mules, oxen, and sheep and goats into my (military) camp and grasped hold of my feet in order to do obeissance (to me). I considered the city Laḫīru of the land Yadibiri (Yadburu), the cities Sulā[ya], G[ur]muk, Samʾūna, (and) Bāb-dūri, fortified cities of the land Yadburu, the cities Aḫilimmu (Ḫilimmu) (and) Pillatu that are on the border of the land Elam, together with the settlements in their env[ir]ons that are (located) along the Naṭīti River, as (part) of [my] territory. (The people of) the cities Tīl-Ḫu[m]ba, D[un]ni-Šamaš, Bubê, (and) Ḫamānu, fortified cult centers of the land Rāši, took fright at my mighty battle attack and (thus) entered the city Bīt-Imbî. Moreover, that (man), Šu[tur]-Naḫūndi, the[ir] ruler, sought refuge in far-off mountains, away from my weapons, in order to save his life (lit.: “their lives”). With the suppo[rt] of the gods Aššur, Nabû, and Marduk, I crossed the Euphrates River with the main force of my army and set out for the city Dūr-Ladinni, which is in the land Bīt-Dakkūri. I had the abandoned city [Dūr-L]adinni rebuilt (and) stationed there fighting men of [mi]ne who were skilled in battle. In Babylon, Marduk-apla-iddina (II) (Mero­dach-Baladan), king of the land Karduniaš (Babylonia), heard of the victories of the gods Ašš[ur], Nabû, and Marduk that I had repeatedly established over those cities. As a result, in the midst of [his (own)] palace (350) his own fear(s) fell upon him; he then went out (from Babylon) during the night together with his allies (and) his battle troops and set out for the land Yadburu, which is (part) of the land Elam. He gave to Šutur-Naḫūndi, the Elamite, a silver bed, a silver throne, a silver chair, a silver table, a silver washbasin, his royal utensils, (and) his neck ornament as g[if]ts from him in order to get his revenge (on me). (That) Elamite villain accepted his bribe from him, but took fright at my weapons. [He turned aw]ay and told him (Marduk-apla-iddina) [that he would n]ot [co]me (to help him). (When) he (Marduk-apla-iddina) heard the words of (the one who was to be) [his] avenger, he threw himself [on the ground], ripped his cl[o]ak, wielded (his) razor, and uttered cries of mourning. Together with his allies (and) [his] battle troops, that (man) moved away from [the land Ya]dburu, entered into the city Iqbi-Bēl, and stay[ed] (there) in fear. The citizens of Babylon (and) Borsippa, the temple personnel, the crafts[men] (355) who know [(their) trade, the lead]ers, (and) administrators of the land, who (up till then) had been his [su]bjects, [brought] be[fore me] in the city Dūr-Ladinni the leftovers of (the sacrifices to) the deities Bē[l, Zar]panītu, Nabû, (and) Tašmētu, [and i]nvit[ed (lit.: “[sa]id [to]”) m]e to enter Ba[bylo]n, (thus) making [my] heart rejoice. Happily, I entered [Baby]lon, the city of the Enlil of the gods (Marduk). Then, [I pra]y[ed] t[o the gods who dwelt in E]sagil (and) Ezida, (and) offered pure [vo]luntary offerings bef[ore th]em. Inside [his] palace, [his] royal residence, [...] I received substantial [... from ...] ... Arameans, [the land Bīt-A]mukkāni, the lan[d Bīt-D]akkūri, [...]. (With regard to) the former [Borsippa] can[al, which king]s [who preceded me had constructed, I d]ug [a new canal int]o Šuan[na (Babylon)] for [the process]sion of the god Nabû, [my lord]. [I then sent eunuchs of mine], provincial governors, against [the Ḫamarānu (tribe), who had fle]d [from my weapons, ente]red Sippar, [and were constantly, repeatedly robbing] caravan(s) of the citizen(s) [of Ba]b[ylon] while they were en route. They [then] surrounded th[e]m [so that (no one), neither young (nor) old, could escape, (and) struck (them) down with the swo]rd. [(When) the month Nisannu (I)] arrived, [the month] the lord of the gods [goes] out (from his temple), I to[ok] the hands [of the great divine lord, the god Marduk, (and) of the god Nabû, the king of the totality of heaven and earth], and [brought (them) safely along the road to the] a[kī]tu-[house]. I prese[nted a]s g[if]ts [to the deities Bēl (Marduk), Zarpanītu, Nabû, Tašmēt]u, (and) the (other) gods of the cult ce[nters of the land of Sumer] and Akkad 1[54 talents, 26 minas (and) 10 shekels of red gold, 1,604 talents] (and) 20 [minas of pu]re [silver, obsidian, ...], lapis laz[uli, banded agate, blue turquoise, green] turq[uoise, ... of banded agate (and) muššaru-stone in large] quantities, [blue-purple wool], red-purple wool, [garments with multi-colored trim, and] linen garments, [boxwood, cedar, cypress, (and) every kind of aromatic, the products of Mount Am]anus, who[se] sce[nt(s) are pleas]ant, copper, tin, [iron (and) lead in] imme[asurable quan]tities. [I offered] before them prize bull[s in prime condition, ...], shini[ng ..., ...]s, ge[e]se (and) [du]cks. I appealed to them (the gods) [in order to bring about the defeat of Marduk]-apla-iddina (II) (Merodach-Baladan), descendant of Yakī[n, of Chaldean extraction, the (very) image of an] evil [gal]lû-demon; [I prayed] t[o them] w[ith] supplications and en[treaties. After I had carried out] in full the festival of the great lord, the god [Marduk], ... [...] the cult centers of the land Sumer and Ak[kad] ... [...]. [In] my [thirteen re]gnal y[ear], in the month Ayyāru (II), I got my (chariot) [te]ams ready [i]n [Šu]anna (Babylon), prepared [my (military) c]amp [...] ... [...] Before [my (arrival), he (Marduk-apla-iddina) evacuated] the cities Bīt-[Z]abidāya, Iqbi-Bēl, Ḫu[rsaggalla, ...] ..., carried off as booty the people of (the cities) Ur, [...], Kissik, Nēmed-[Laguda, (and) ...], (375) and brought (them) into the city Dūr-Yakīn. He then strengthened its enclosure walls (and), moving back a distance of (one) measuring rope from the front of its main wall, he made a moat two hundred cubits wide; [he] made (the moat) one and a half nindanu deep and reached ground water. He cut a channel from the Euphrates River, (thereby) making (its water) flow (in)to its meadowland. He (thus) filled the city’s flatlands, where battles (are fought), with water and cut the bridges. Together with his allies (and) his battle troops, he pitched his royal tent in a bend of the river (lit.: “between rivers”) like a crane and set up his (military) camp. At the command of the gods A[š]šur, Šamaš, and Marduk, I had [m]y fighting men fly over its water channels like eagles and they brought about his defeat. I surrounded him together with his royal (military) contingent and slaughtered his warriors like sheep at his feet. I pierced the horses trained to his yoke [wi]th arrows. Then, (as for) him, (390) I pierced (lit.: “loosened”) his hand with the poin[t of an a]rrow and [he (then) entered] the gat[e of] his [city ste]althfully, [like a mongoose. I cut down the Puqudians, his allie(s), (and) the Maršanians, together with the Sutians] who were wi[th him, in front of the gate (of his city) (and) splattered his people with deadly venom. I took away from him his royal tent, his royal gold parasol, gold scepter], gold bed, [gold] ch[air, gold (and) silver objects, ..., his potstands, equipment, (and) battle gear]. (As for) all his people, the inhabitants] of the settlements of all [of his land, whom he had ... from before my weapons and (395) settled in a secret place, together with herds of cattle, camel]s, d[onkey]s, and sheep and go[ats], which [... that (man), the numer]ou[s troops of the god Aššur] (required) thr[ee days] (and) night(s) to carry (them) off as (their) countless booty and [... I received] inside [my] (military) cam[p ... 90,580] people, 2,500 horses, 710 mules, [6,054 camels ... (and)] 40+[x] sheep [that] my troops had carried off as booty. [... oxen], and sheep and goats that had been le[ft] by themselves [... In order to prevent (anyone) going out from (400) his city or leaving (it) ...], I constructed ... around his city and [shut him up inside his city in dire circumstances], like a pig in a pig[sty. I chopped down his orchards (and)] cut down [his date palms. To the] mighty [water]s of the moat of his city [... with a great ... I construct]ed (lit.: “trod down”) [a (siege) ramp against it] and r[aised (the ramp) up] a[gainst its (city) wall]. [Moreover, (as for) h]im (Marduk-apla-iddina II), his own fear(s) fell upon [him and ...] ... [... he f]led and his whereabouts have never been discovered. [...] ... [...] ... [... gol]d, [si]lver, chests (full) of obsidian, [... (405) ...]s, [...]s, [...]-stone, ..., copper, lapis lazuli, jasp[er, ...] ... [a]ll (kinds of) plants, product(s) of [...], gold [...]s, gold ..., equipment, uten[sils ...], silver th[rone]s, silver tables, ut[ensils ... (410) ...] lar[ge ...]s, [...] tables [...] silver [...], u[tensils ...] ... [... in]numerable [... on the ba]nk of the river [...] rout[e ...]s, [...]s, donkeys, camels, ox[en, sheep and goats ... (415) ...] I burned down [his fort]if[ied city Dūr-Ya]kīn [with f]ire. [I destroyed (and) demoli]shed its high enclosure walls. [I tor]e [up its foundation(s) and ma]de [(it) like a (ruin) mou]nd left by the Deluge. (As for) the citizens of Sippar, Nippur, Babylon, (and) Borsippa [who through no fault of their own had been held capti]ve [t]her[e (Dūr-Yakīn)], I put an end to their imprisonment and let them see the light (of day). (With regard to) their fields, [which long ago, while] the land [was in disorder], the Sutians had taken away and appropriated for their own, [I struck down] (those) Sutians, [the people of the steppe, with the sword]. I restored to their former status the [ter]ritories that had been taken away from them (the citizens). (420) I (re)-established the freedom (from obligations) of (the cities) Ur, [Uruk, Eridu, Larsa, Kissik, (and) Nēmed]-Lag[uda]. Moreover, [I returned] their gods [that had been carried off as booty to their cult centers and] restored [their regular] offe[rings] that had been interrupted. I [ruled] all toget[her] the land Bīt-Yakīn, [from one end to the other (lit.: “above and below”)], as far [as] the cities [Samʾūna], Bāb-dūri, Dūr-Telīte, Bubê, (and) Tīl-Ḫumba, [which are on the Ela]mite [border]; I se[ttled there people from the land] Ku[mmuḫu], which is (located) in the land Ḫatti that [I had con]quered with the support of the great gods, [my lords, and] I had (them) occupy its (Bīt-Yakīn’s) abandoned regions. I had Nabû-[damiq-ilāni] construct a fortress on the Elamite border, (425) [at the city Sagbat, in order to b]ar [access to (lit.: “the feet of”)] the enemy Elamite(s). I divided up that [land into equ]al parts and [assigned (them) to the authority of] a eun[uch of mine, the governor of Bab]ylon, [and] a(nother) eunuch of mine, the governor [of the Gam]bu[lu (tribe)]. [Up]ēri, king of Dilmun, [who(se) lai]r is situ[ated at a distance of thirty] le[agues] in the middle of the Eastern Sea, heard of my lordly might and brought me [his] audience gift. [While I was bringing ab]out [the defea]t of the Chaldeans and [Arameans] and making my weapons prevail over the people of the land Elam, a eunuch of mine, the governor [of the land Que (Cilicia), ...] marched ...ly three times into the district [of Mi]tâ (Midas), king of the land Musku, and (430) took away one thousand of [his (Mitâ’s) combat] troops [...] (and) their war horses. [He conquered] two fortresses upon which his (Mitâ’s) district relied (and) which are (located) on a rugged mountain adjacent to [..., together with] the settlements in [their environs]. He plundered them, (and then) destro[yed, dem]olished, (and) burned (them) down with fire. [His] messenger, who bore the good news, brought [one] thous[and face-(guards)] (taken) from [his (Mita’s) wa]rriors (as trophies) to me [in the city Samaʾū]na, which is (located) on the Elamite border, [a]nd (thus) made [my heart] rejoice. Moreover, [th]at (man), Mitâ of the land Musku, who [had not submitted] to the kings, my ancestors, (and) had never sent his [mounted messenger] to inquire about their well-being, [heard] about the accomplishment of the victo[ri(es) (and) conquest(s)] that the gods Aššur (and) Marduk [had gr]anted me and of the destruction of Bīt-Yakīn, [the carrying off of] its [people], (and) the subjugation of Upēri, k[in]g of Dilm[un, which is (located) in the middle of the sea. Then, ...] in his [far-o]ff land, deathly quiet o[verwhelmed hi]m (and) [he se]nt [his mes]sen[ger] before m[e] a[t the Eastern Se]a to do [obeisa]nce (to me) and to bring (me) [tribute (and) pr]esents. (As for) Silṭa [of the city Ty]re [... to] Assyr[ia, seven] k[ing]s [of the lan]d Yāʾ, a district [of the land Adnana (Cyprus)] — who[se abode(s)] are situated [far away], at a distance of seven da[ys] (journey) in the middle of the [West]ern Sea (and) who [fr]om the dis[tant] pa[st] until now ... all together [stopped (the delivery of) their] gift(s) [...] ... [...] they withheld [... However, Silṭ]a brought his substantial tribute to me and, [in or]der to subjugate [...], he a[sked me for (military) aid]. I sent a eunuch of mine who was fe[ar]less in battle, [with a royal] (military) conti[ngent] of mine, to avenge him (Silṭa). [...] they saw [the fo]rces of the god Aššur. Then, they became afraid a[t the (mere) me]ntion of my name and the[ir] arms grew weak. They bro[ught bef]ore me in Babylon gold, sil[ver, (and) utensils of ebony (and) boxwood, product(s) of] the[ir land, an]d (so) I conside[red them] ... Mutallu [of the lan]d [Kummuḫu — an evil Hittite who did not fe]ar the words [of the gods ... (and)] to [who]m I had entrusted [the c]ity [M]elid, his great city — put his trust in the high mountains, [...] withheld (his) [(...) tri]bute, and [did not se]nd [his] mounted mess[enger] before me in the land Bīt-Yakīn to inquire about my well-being. [However, (when) that (man)] (445) heard of [the advan]ce of my expeditionary force, which was (already) in Assyria, and of the deeds I had been doing among the Chaldeans (and in) the land Elam, [fear] overwhelmed [him]. He conferred (lit.: “confers”) with his advisors day and night (lit.: “night and day”) [in order to ...] and to save his (own) life, and ... to take to the rugged mountains. I sent against him eunuchs [of mine, provincial governors], wi[th] their extensive troops, (along) with my royal (military) contingent. (When there was still) a distance of six leagues [for my] expeditionary force to go, [...] he abandoned his [wi]fe, his sons, (and) his [daught]ers, fled away by himself, and his whereabouts have never been discovered. They (the Assyrian troops) surrounded that city (Melid) and counted as booty his wife, [his] son[s, (and) his daughters], (along) with the people of [his] land, [horses], mules, donkeys, camels, oxen, and sheep and goats. They opened [his treasure house, (450) to]ok [g]old, silver, gar[men]ts with multi-[co]lored trim and linen garments, [blue-purp]le wool, red-purple wool, elephant hide(s), elephant ivory, ebony, (and) boxwood, the treasure [of his palace], and brought (these) befor[e m]e in the city Kalḫu. I re[or]ganized that city (Melid) (and) settled there the people of the land Bīt-Ya[kīn that I had conquered]. I s[e]t a eunuch of mine as provincial governor over them. I named him field marshal of the left (wing of the army) (lit.: “field marshal of the house of the left”) and ... [...] I made his throne firm[er than] before. I conscripted [from among them] 150 chariot(s), 1,500 cavalry, 20,000 bowm[en], (and) 10,000 shie[ld and spear] bearers, and entrusted (them) to him. I considered him as (one of) [the] provincial [gov]ernors of my land and ... [...]. [(At that time), the appointed] moment came [for Daltâ, king of the lan]d Ellipi, who/whom during the course of my previous campaign [...] the god Aššur ... [...], and (so) (his) fate carried him off and [(...)] his [...] he wen[t the way of death]. In [order to ascend] his royal [throne, Nibê (and) Ašpa-bara, sons of] his [siste]rs, with [...] ... [... wa]rf[are ...] th[ey were doing battle (with one another). Nibê quickly sent a messe]nger [to Šutur-Na]ḫūnd[i, the Elamite, in or]der to get [revenge. He (Šutur-Naḫūndi) gave him (military) aid (and) ... (460) ... (and) came] to his assista[nce]. Aš[pa-bara] took fright at his [..., and in order] to save [his] li[fe], he besought [me with supplications and entreaties and] asked m[e] for (military) ai[d]. I sent [seven of] my [eun]uchs, provincial governors, to avenge him [(...)]. They inflicted a major [defeat on] Ni[b]ê. As a result, that (man), toge[ther with] four thousand five hundred Elamite bowmen, [fled] in order to save their lives [and (...)] went up [to] the city Marubištu. To the city Marubištu, a fortress that rises up on the peak of a mass[ive] mountain and [(...) reaches up] among the cloud[s, ...]. They (the Assyrian troops) overwhelmed that fortress as with a bird trap and [they (then) brought] bef[ore me] that (man) (Nibê), together with [his] fighting men, [in m]anacles and handcuffs. (465) [I] reorganized (the administration of) his [city] Marubištu (and) stationed garrison troops ... [...] I [had] deathly silence [de]scend over all [the land E]lam. I allowed the people of the land Ellipi, to its [fu]ll extent, to live in peace. I impo[sed] the yoke of my lordship [upon them] (and) they (now) pull my yoke. At that time, (using as laborers) en[em]y people whom [I] had ca[ptur]ed (and) [wh]om the gods Aššur, [Nabû], and Marduk had [made bow down] at my feet, (and) [in accordance with] divine will (and) [m]y [heart’s] desire, [I bui]lt a city at the [foot of Mount] Muṣ[ri], a mountain upstream from Nineveh, [and] I [nam]ed it [Dūr]-Šarruk[īn]. The gods Ea, [Sîn], Šamaš, Nabû, Adad, N[inurta], and their [great spo]uses [wh]o were duly born inside [Eḫursaggalkurkurra (“House, the Great Mountain of the Lands”)], the mountain of the netherworld, gladly took up [residence in resplend]ent [san]ctuaries (and) [artfully-built shrines in]side [the city Dūr-Šarrukī]n. I established innumerable [regular offerings] as their shares (of temple income). [I had nešak]ku-[priest]s, [ramku-priests, surmaḫḫu-priests], men [well versed in] the[ir (fields of) knowl]edge (and) [initiated in secret rites], (and) naṭpu-[ecst]atics [serve] them (lit.: “[stand] before them”). [I built] in[side it (the city) a pa]lace using (lit.: “of”) elep[hant] ivory, [ebony, boxwood, musuk]kan[nu-wood, cedar], cyp[ress, daprānu-juniper, juniper, and] terebinth, (namely) the Egalgabarinutukua (“Palace That Has No Equal”), to be my royal residence [and laid their foundations up]on inscr[ibed object]s [(made) of gold, silver, lapis lazuli, jas]per, par[ūtu-alabaster], copper, tin, lead, and pieces of aromatic wood[s. Then I established their brickwork (and)] roofed them [with larg]e [cedar beam]s. (475) [I bound the] doors of cypress (and) mus[ukkannu-wood with band(s) of shining copper and installed (them in) their entrance(s). I had bu]ilt in front of th[eir gat]es [a po]rt[ico ([bīt] appāti), a replica of a Hittite palace, which is called a bīt ḫilāni in the language of the land Amurru]. [Eight t]win [l]ion (colossi) [of shining copper] that weigh 4,6[10 full (lit.: “tested”) talents (and) that were skill]fully [ca]st [by the craft of the god Nin]ag[al] and filled with radiance — upon (those) lion colossi I installed four [ma]tching cedar columns, [whose diameter(s) are one nindanu ea]ch, [the product of Mo]unt Amanus; and I positioned cross-beams (upon them) as a cornice for their ga[te]s. [I] skill[fully fashioned magnificent mountain] sheep [colossi of] massive [mountain] stone [and (480) in] the four [dir]ections I had (them) hold their (the gates’) respective (lit.: “fitting”) door bolt(s). [I dep]icted [the settle]ments that I [had] con[quered] upon [large] limestone s[la]bs and surrounded their (the palatial halls’) [lower cou]rses (with them). I made (them) an object of wonder. I plac[ed in]si[de] these [pala]tial halls [represe]ntations — (made) by the craft of the sculptor — of the people of every [la]nd that [I] had conquered, from ea[st t]o wes[t, by] the strength of the god Aššur, my lord. In a favorable [month], (on) an auspicious day, I inv[ited] the god Aššur, the father of the gods, [the great lord], (and) the gods and goddesses who dwell in Assyria [(to come) inside them and] I of[fe]red them (the gods) [gif]ts of red ṣāriru-gold (and) pure si[lv]er, extensive pr[esen]ts as (my) substantial audience gift. [I (thus) (485) made the]ir (the gods’) mo[ods j]oy[ful]. I offered [before them] prize b[u]lls in prime condition, [fa]ttened sheep, [ge]ese, [duc]ks, dormice, [strings of fish and] bird[s, the we]alth [of the Deep (apsû) that] never lessens, ku[runnu-beer (and)] whi[te honey, pr]oducts of the pure mountains, that I had conquered, which the pro[genit]or of the gods, the god Aššur, had added to [my royal] l[ot], (along) with [pur]e [voluntary sacrific]es, splendid [incense offerings], (and) in[nu]merable libations. Reverently, I knelt (and) [prayed before him] that he preser[ve (my)] lif[e, give (me) a] l[ong] life, [and fir]mly est[ablish] my [reign]. After the great mountain, the divine [En]lil (Aššur), [the lord of (all) lands], who dwells in E[ḫurs]agga[l­kur]­kur[ra, and] the (other) gods [who d]we[ll in] Assyria had returned [to their] c[ity] amid so[ngs of] joy (490) [and hymns of pra]ise, with rul[ers from] every [la]nd, provi[ncial gove]rnors of my land, overseers, commanders, nob[les, eun]uchs, and [elders of Assyria], I sat down [in]side my [pal]ace and h[e]ld a fes[ti]val. [I received as their substantial] tri[bute gol]d, s[ilv]er, ut[ensils] of gold (and) sil[ver, produ]ct(s) of the mountain[(s), every kind of aromatic, fine oil], gar[men]ts with multi-colored trim and linen garments, blue-[pur]ple wool, red-purple wool, [elepha]nt [hide(s)], elep[hant ivory, ebony, boxwood, everything valuable, royal treasure], large [Egy]ptian [horses] that are trai[ne]d to the yoke, [mules, donkeys, camels, oxen, and sheep and goats (...)]. [May the god Aššur, the father of the gods, look steadfastly upon (this) city] that has been d[uly selected by me (lit.: “the ch[oice of the steadfastness of my heart]”) and (upon) this palace with his holy, ra]dia[nt] fa[ce and] may he ordain [the]ir [renovation for future days]. May (the following command) c[ome] from (lit.: “be s[et] in”) [his ho]ly [mouth]: May [the guardian spirit (and) the prot]ect[ive god stay continually] in them, d[a]y and nig[ht, and] may [they] never [leave them. At his command, may] the r[uler] who constructed them [li]ve l[ong (and) reach (500) extreme old a]ge. May [th]eir bu[ilder] remain in good health [for]ev[er]. May (this command) iss[ue from his (the god Aššur’s) h]o[ly lips]. May [the one who d]wells inside these palatial hall(s) [rejoi]ce th[er]e [in physical well-being, merriment, and h]appiness, [(and) be fully satisf]ied with (his) good fortune. In [...] ... [May I store up] inside [it (the palace) (...)] extensive prop[erty (taken) from] enemy [land]s, [presents from (every) set]tl[ement], the yield of the (four) quar[ters (of the world), (and) the wealth] of (both) the mountain(s) and the seas. In day[s to come], may a future ruler [among the king]s, m[y] descendants, renovate [(any) dilapi]da[ted sections of] this [pal]ace. May he (then) discover [my inscribed object, a]noint (it) with oil, [offer] a sac[rif]ice, [(and) return (it)] to its (original) place. The god Aššur [will (then) listen to his] pra[yers]. [(As for) the one who alte]rs my inscri[ption or my name, may] the god Aššur, [my lord, overthrow his kingship. May he (the god Aššur) make his name (and) his descendant(s) disappear from the land and may he have no pity on him].

Sargon II 003 — Annals of Room XIII

Wall slab (with reliefs); stone; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). Louvre Museum, Paris, France. 4 known exemplars. Sargon II 003; RINAP Q006484.

Continued from several unpreserved slabs [In my eleventh regnal year, (...) Tarḫu-lara of the land Gurgum ...] whose [he]ir [Mu]tallu had cut (him) down with the sword and tak[en away ...] my [...] in ... in order to avenge him (Tarḫu-lara) [... Tarḫu-l]ara, his heir Mut[al]lu, in/with ... of the body before the god Šam[aš ... Because of] his [... that] he had done, I/he burned his hands (and) showed [(...)]. I cou[nted] as boo[ty] his heir Mutallu, together with the (royal) family of the land [Bīt-Paʾalla, as many as] the[re were (of them), (along) with gold, silver, (and)] countless [property from] his [pala]ce. I [reorganized (the administration of)] the people of the land Gurgum to [its] full extent, set [a eunuch of mine as] provincial governor over them, (and) considered th[em] a[s people] of Assyria. A[z]ūri, king of the city [Ash]dod, [plott]ed ... (so as) to no longer (have to) deliver tribute (to me) and sent (messages) [host]ile to Assyria to the kings in his environs. Thus, be[cau]se of the [ev]il [that he had do]ne, I [did] aw[ay] with his lordship over the people of his land [and] set his favorite brother Aḫī-Mīti [a]s king over them. The Hittites, [who (always) speak] treachery, hated his rule and elevated over them Iadna (Iāmānī), who had no rig[ht to the] throne (and) who, like them, did not know how to respect (any) authority. [An]grily, with (only) my personal chariot and [my] cava[lry] (10´) who never leave my side (even) in friendly territory, [I] qu[ic]kly [marched] to his royal city Ashdod. I then surro[unded (and) conqu]ered the cities Ashdod, Gath, (and) Ashdo[d-Yam]. I consi[dered] as booty (both) the gods who dwelt in them (and) that (man) (Iāmāni), together with the people of his land, gold, silver, (and) the posses[sions] of [his] palace. I reor[ganized] (the administration of) their cities (and) settled there [peo]ple from the lands that I had conquered. I set a eunuch of mine as provincial governor over [them] and conside[red them] as people [of Assy]ria. They (now) pull my y[ok]e. In my twelfth regnal year, Marduk-apla-iddina (II) (Merodach-Baladan), descendant of Yakīn, king of Chaldea, [who dwelt] on the shore of the sea, who did not f[e]ar the w[or]d[s] of the [great] gods ... [...] put [his trust] in the sea and (its) surging waves. He then broke (lit.: “overturned”) the treaty [sworn by the] great [god]s [and] withheld his audience gift. He turned to Ḫum[baniga]š (Ḫumban-nikaš I), the Elamite, for aid, [made] the Ruʾuʾa (tribe), [the Ḫin]daru (tribe), the land Yadburu, [the Puqudu (tribe), (and) all the Sutians, the people of the steppe, hostile to me, and prepared for battle against me]. Lines 16´-30´ not preserved [... They raised their (city) wall higher than before, cut a channel f]rom [the Surap]pu [River, and surrounded its environs with cresting flood (waters)]. I surrounded (and) conquered [that city before] the day had proceeded [half] a double-hour. I carried off as booty [18,430 people, together with their] property, [hor]s[es, mules], donkeys, camels, oxen, and sheep and goats. B[a..., Ḫa]zā-il, Hamdanu, Zabīd[u, Ammai(...), ..., Aḫḫē]-iddina, (and) Aya-Sammu, (a total of) eight sheikh[s of the Gambu]lu (tribe) who dwell (along) the Uqnû River, [heard of the conquest of that city and] (as a result) their [hea]rts [pounded]. From the Uqnû River, [they broug]ht me [oxen, and] sheep and goats as their subs[tantial audience g]ift(s) an[d gra]s[ped hold of] my [feet]. Because ... that land, [I disregarded their] crime(s) [and stopped their] dep[ortation. I s]et [a eunuch of mine as provincial gove]rno[r over them]. I imposed [upon th]em the annual payment [of one] talent thirty [minas of] sil[ver, two thousand of barley, on]e ox [out of (every) twenty oxen (that they had), (and) one sheep] out of [(every) twenty sheep (that they had). I (also) imposed] the annual ṣibtu-tax [on the]ir [oxen] (and) their sheep and goats f[or the god(s) Bēl (Marduk) (and) Son of Bēl (Nabû)]. I mustered [those soldiers] and (40´) to[ok] on[e] soldier of [th]eirs out of [(every) three soldier]s (for my own army). I resettled (them) in the city [Dūr]-Abi-ḫāra, chan[ged] its (the city’s) name, (and) [(re)na]med it [Dūr]-Nabû. [I incorporated (lit.: “led away”) int]o the territory of Ass[yria] the lands [Ḫub]aqānu, Tarbugāti, [Timassunu (Timassina)], Pašur, [Ḫirūtu, (and) Ḫilmu], (a total of) six districts o[f] the land [Gambulu, together with forty]-four [fort]ified settlements that are in [them]. (When) the [Ru]ʾuʾa, Ḫindaru, Ya[dbu]ru, (and) Puqudu (tribes) [heard of (my) conqu]est of the Gambulu (tribe), they fled [during the course of the nig]ht an[d] took (themselves to) [the Uqnû River, which was difficult (to ford). I dammed up] the Ṭupliya[š Riv]er, [a river] upon which they relied, [with pile(s) of] dirt and reed[s. I erected two] fortress[ses, side] by si[de, and star]ved them out. (45´) [They] then [came o]ut from the Uqnû River an[d] grasped hold [of my feet. Iannuqu], the [sheikh of the city Zāmê, Nabû-uṣalla of the c]ity Abūrê, Paššunu [(and) Ḫaukānu] of the c[ity Nu]ḫānu, (and) Saʾ[īlu of] the city Ibūli, (a total of) five [she]ik[hs] of the Puqudu (tribe); [Abi-ḫa]tâ of the Ruʾuʾa (tribe); (and) [Ḫu]nīnu, Sāmeʾ, Sabḫarru, (and) [Rāpiʾ] of the Ḫin[da]ru (tribe) [brought] horses, oxen, and s[heep and goats] as their sub[stan]tial audience gift(s) to the cit[y Dūr-Abi-ḫāra and] kissed my [fe]et. I [t]ook hostages from them (and) [imposed upon the]m (the same state) service (and) corvée duty as [(was imposed upon) the Gambulu (tribe). I assigned th]em to the authority of a eunuch of mine, the [governor] of the [Gam]bu[lu (tribe)]. (As for) the res[t of those] who had paid [attention] (lit.: “inclined th[eir cheek]”) to Marduk-apla-iddina (II) (Merodach-Baladan) and Šu[tur-N]a­ḫūn­di and had taken (themselves) to the [Uqnû] Ri[ver], I overwhelmed their settlem[ents] like the Deluge. [I] fed my army (the food in) the[ir granari]es (and) chopped down the date palm(s) upon which they relied (and) [the orchards] that were the pride of their district. I se[nt] my warriors to the U[qnû] River, th[eir hi]ding place, [and] they (my warriors) inflicted a defeat on them. [Th]ey (my warriors) [carried off as booty] (those) people, together with [their property]. (The people of) the cities Zāmê, Abū[rê], Yaptiru, Maḫīṣu, [Ḫilipanu, KAL-KAL], Patti[ānu], Ḫa­[ya]­mā­[nu, Gadiyāti], Amate, Nuḫānu, A[mâ, Ḫiuru], (and) Saḫilu (Saʾīlu), (a total of) fourteen fortified cities, (and) fo[ur hundred settlements] in their environs, (located) along [the Euphr]ates [River], who(se people) had taken fright at the onslaught of my weapons and whose district I had [laid waste], came to me from the [Uqnû] River, [a far]away [place], and grasped hold of my [f]eet. [I had] that district [dwell] as in meadowland (in greater security) than previously [and] assig[ned] (them) to the authority of a eunuch of mine, the gove[rnor] of the Gambulu (tribe). [Like the onslaught of a storm, I overwhelmed] the cit[ies] Samʾūna (and) Bāb-dūr[i, fortress]es that Šutur-[Naḫ]ūndi, [the] Elam[ite, had constructed facing (lit.: “above”) the land Yadburu] Continued on several unpreserved slabs

Sargon II 004 — Annals of Room XIV

Wall slab (with reliefs); stone; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). 3 known exemplars. Sargon II 004; RINAP Q006485.

Obverse

Continued from several unpreserved slabs I shattered their very strong walls [wi]th a mighty battering ram, leveling (them) to the gr[ou]nd. I took as booty [the people], [together] with their property. I destroyed, demolished, (and) burned down those cities with fire. The people of the cities Sukkia, Bāla (and) Abitikna conceived (lit.: “deliberated”) an evil plan [that] was to eradicate (lit.: “to tear out the root of”) (their own) land and [g]ave [the]ir word to Ursâ (Rusâ), the Urarṭian, to do obeisance (to him). Because of the crime that they had committed, I deported them fr[om] their (own) places and (re)settled them [i]n the land Ḫatti (Syria) and (lit.: “of”) the land Amurru. In my fourth regnal year, Kiakki of [the ci]ty Šinuḫtu disregarded the treaty (sworn) by the great gods and [be]came dilatory about delivering (his) tribute. I raised my hand(s) to the gods, my lords, overwhelmed his royal city Šinuḫtu like a [f]og, and counted him as booty, together with his fighting men, his wife, his sons, his daughters, (10´) [(his) pro]perty (and) possessions, the treasure of his palace, (along) with 7,350 people of his land. I gave his royal city Šinuḫtu to Kurtî of the land Atuna; I made larger than before (the number/amount of) [ho]rses, mules, gold, (and) silver (that he had to pay as tribute) and I imposed (this) upon him. [I]n my fifth regnal year, Pisīri(s) of the city Carchemish sinned against the treaty (sworn) by the great gods and repeatedly sent (messages) hostile to Assyria [t]o Mitâ (Midas), king of the land Musku; he held me in contempt. (15´) I threw him, together with his family, in iron fetters. I opened his palace, his treasure house; [I carried off] as booty 10 talents of refined gold, [2,1]00 talen[ts of silver, ... ta]lents of arḫu-copper, tin, ir, elephant hide(s), elepha[nt] ivor[y, ...], battle gear, and the gu[il]ty people of the city Carchemish [who] (had sided) with [him, (along) with their possessions], and brought (them) to Assyria. I conscripted 50 [chariot(s), 200 cavalry, (and) 3,000 fo]ot soldiers from among [th]em and [added (them)] to my royal (military) contingent. I [settled Assyri]ans in the city Carchemish [and] imposed [the yo]ke [of the god Aššur, m]y [lord], upon them. The people of the cities Pāpa (and) [Lal]luknu, dogs who had been brought up in my palace, conspired with the land Kak[mê for the purpose of separating (from Assyria). I deported them fr]om [their (own) places] and [(re)set]tled [th]em in the city Damascus of the land Amurru. In my sixth regnal year, Ur[s]â (Rusâ), the [Ur]arṭian, [sent his] mounted messenger [wi]th a mendacious message t[o Bag-dā]ti of the land U<iš>di[š] (and) KAR[...] of the land of Zikirtu, gov[ernors of the land] Mannea (and) [changed] their mind(s). He made them hostile to me, [Sargon], and to [A]zâ, the s[on of the]ir (former) [lord], and made them [side with] him (Rusâ). They brought about the rout of the Manneans on Mount U[a]uš, a rugged mountain, and threw down [the corpse of] A[zâ, their] lord, (there). I raised my hand(s) (in prayer) to the god Aššur, my lord, in or[der] to ave[ng]e the Manneans and [mustered the nume]rous troops of the god Aššur. [Then, o]n Mount Uauš, the mountain [wh]ere they had thrown down the corpse of Azâ, I flayed the skin from Bag-dāti [and] (then) showed (it) to the people of the land Man[ne]a. (As for) Ullusunu, whom they had set [on] the throne of Azâ and to whom they had entrusted all of the [wide] land Mannea, the [wr]ath of [the god] Aššur was directed against Ullusunu, the [Man]nean, (ordaining) the dissolution of his land. [He (Ullusunu) then put his trust in U]rsâ (Rusâ), the Urarṭian, [...] ... [...] and caused Aššur-lē’i of the land Karalla (and) Ittî of the land Allab[ria] to rebel against me; he persuaded (lit.: “spoke to”) them to do ob[eisance to the land Urarṭu]. Angr[ily, I muster]ed the num[erous] troops of the god Aššur and [set out] to conquer the land Man[nea. ...] ... [... I overwhelmed ... as] with a bird trap. [... I burned down the city Izirtu with fire] and [conquered] the city (Z[ibia and the city Armaet. (As a result) Ullusunu, the Mannean, together with his whole land assembled as one and gras]ped [hold of my feet. I] then [had mercy on them (and) overlooked Ullusunu’s crimes. (35´) I had him sit (again) on his royal throne (and)] received [tribu]te [from him. I deported It]tî [of the land Allabria, together with his family, and] ... the peop[le of the land] Karalla [...] the city Bīt-[...], the city [...]lama, the city [Ga]nu[GIŠ... I conqu]ered [(in total) six cities of the land] Niksa[mma. I captured] Šēp-šarri, the city ruler [of] the city Šur[gadia, (and) added those cities to the province of Parsuaš]. I cap[tur]ed [Bēl-šarru-uṣur of the ci]ty Ki<še>sim and [brought him, together with the property of his palace, to] Ass[yria. (40´) I set a eunuch of mine as provincial governor over (that) city]. I had the weapon(s) of the gods who go [bef]ore [me] made and installed (them) in[side it (the city Kišesim). I (re)named it (the city Kišesim) Kār-Nergal (and) erected a royal image of myself there]. I added the lands Bīt-Sagbat, Bīt-Ḫi[rmami, (and)] Bīt-Umar[g]i, (and) the cities [Ḫarḫubarban, Kilamb]āti, (and) [A]rman[gu to] its [pro]vince. The pe[ople] of the city [Ḫarḫar] dro[ve out] Kiba[ba, their] city ruler, [and ... elevated Dalt]â of the land Ellipi over themselves. I conquered that city (and) plundered it. [I] brought there peop[le from the lands that I had conquered] (and) set a [eunuch of mine] as provincial governor [o]ver them. [I conquered] the up[per] river(land) [of the land Aranzêšu], the low[er riv]er(land) of [Bīt-R]amatua, [the land] Uriqatu, the land Sikris, the land Šapa[rda, (and) the land Uriakku, (a total of) six districts, and added (them) to them (the people of the city Ḫarḫar)]. Continued on several unpreserved slabs

Sargon II 005 — Annals of Throne Room

Wall slab (with reliefs); stone; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA. 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 005; RINAP Q006486.

Obverse

Continued from several unpreserved slabs [... I offe]red [before them ... geese (and) ducks. I appealed to them (the gods)] in order to bring about the defeat of Marduk-apla-iddina (II) (Merodach-Baladan), descendant of Yakīn, of Chalde[an] extraction, [the (very) image of an evil gallû-demon;] I prayed t[o the]m [with supplications and entre]aties. After I had carried out in full the festival of the great lord, the god Marduk, [...] Continued on several unpreserved slabs

Sargon II 006 — Annals of Unknown Room of Palace

Wall slab (with reliefs); stone; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 006; RINAP Q006487.

Continued from several unpreserved slabs [At the command of the gods Aššur, Šamaš, and Marduk], I had [my] choice [fighting men] fly over [its] water [channel]s like [ea]gles [and they brought about his defeat. I surrounded him together with his royal (military) contingent and] slaughtered [his warriors like sheep a]t his feet. [I pierced] the horses trained to [his] yoke [with arrows. Then, (as for) him, I pierced (lit.: “loosened”) his hand with the point of an arrow and] he (then) entered the gate of his city althfully, like a mongoose. [I cut down] the Puqudians, [his] al[lie(s), (and) the] M[aršanians, together with the Sutians who were with him, in front of the gate (of his city) (and)] splattered his people with deadly venom. I took away from him his royal tent, [his r]oya[l] g[ol]d parasol, [gold scepter, gold bed, gold chair, gold (and) silver objects], ..., his potstands, equipment, (and) battle gear. (As for) all his people, the inhabitants of the sett[lements of all of his land, whom he had ... from before my weapons and] settled in a secret place, together with herds of cattle, camels, donkeys, (and) sheep and goats. [which ...] that (man), the numerous troops of the god Aššur (required) three days (and) night(s) to carry (them) off as (their) countless booty an[d ...] I received inside my military camp [(...)] 90,580 people, 2,080 horses, 700 mules, 6,054 ca[mels, ... and 40+ sheep] that my troops had carried off as booty. In order to prevent (anyone) going out from his city or leav[ing (it) (...) I constructed ... around his city and] (10´) shut him up inside his city in dire circumstances, [like a pig in a pigsty]. I chopped down his orchards (and) cut down his date palms. To [the mighty waters of the moat of his city ...] with a great […] I constructed (lit.: “trod down”) a (siege) ramp against it and raised (the ramp) up against its (city) wall. Moreover, (as for) him (Marduk-apla-iddina II), [his] o[wn] fear(s) [fell upon him and ...] He became afraid, laid down (his) scepter (and) throne, and kissed the ground before my messenger. (When) I ordered him [to destroy the large] walls (of his city) [and its enclosure wall(s) ...], he obeyed my command. I (then) had pity upon him and [...] gold, silver, precious stones, elephant hide(s), [...] which from earlier times those who had preceded (him), his ancestors, had acquired, 1,000 horses, 800 ... [...] Continued on several unpreserved slabs

Sargon II 007 — Display Inscription

Wall slab (with reliefs); stone; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). Exemplars held across 5 collections, including Louvre Museum, Paris, France. 5 known exemplars. Sargon II 007; RINAP Q006488.

Obverse

Pal[ac]e of Sargon (II), great king, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of the land of Sumer and Ak[k]ad, favorite of the great gods. The gods Aššur, Nabû (and) Marduk granted me a reign without equal and exalted my good reputation to the heights. I continually acted as provider for (the cities) Sippar, Nippur, Babylon, and Borsippa (and) I made restitution for the wrongful damage suffered by the people of privileged status, as many as there were (of them); I abolished corvée duty for (the cities) Dēr, Ur, Uruk, Eridu, Larsa, Kullaba, Kissik, (and) Nēmed-Laguda, (and) gave relief to (10) their people. I restored the exemption (from obligations) of (the city) Baltil (Aššur) and the city Ḫarrān, which had fallen into oblivion in the distant past, and their privileged status that had lapsed. The great gods looked upon me, among all rulers, with their steadfast hearts, granted manly strength to me, and made my stature exceedingly great. Since the (first) day of my reign, there has been no ruler who could equal me and I have met no one who could overpower (me) in war or battle. I smashed all the enemy lands like pots and put halters on (all) rebels in the four (quarters of the world). I opened up innumerable distant mountainous areas whose pass(es) are difficult and I visited their remotest region(s). In a grandiose manner, I traversed inaccessible, difficult paths in terrifying location(s) (and) crossed every swamp. With the power and might (granted me) by the great gods, my lords, who mobilized my weapons, I cut down all my foes. I ruled all together from the land Yadnana (Cyprus), which is in the middle of the Western Sea, as far as the border(s) of Egypt and the land Musku, the wide land Amurru, the land Ḫatti (Syria) in its entirety, all of (the land) Gutium, the distant Medes (who live) on the border of Mount Bikni, as far as the land Ellipi (and) the land Rāši on the border of the land Elam, those who (live) beside the Tigris River — the Ituʾu, Rubuʾu, Ḫatallu, Labdudu, Ḫamrānu, Ubulu, Ruʾuʾa, (and) Liʾtaʾu (tribes) — those who (live) beside the Surappu River (and) the Uqnû River — the Gambulu, Ḫindaru, (and) Puqudu (tribes) — the Sutians, the people of the steppe of (20) the land Yadburu, as many as there are, as far as the cities Samʾūna, Bāb-dūri, Dūr-Telīte, Ḫilimmu, Pillatu, Dunni-Šamaš, Bubê, (and) Tīl-Ḫumba, which are on the border of the land Elam, the land Karduniaš (Babylonia) from one end to the other (lit.: “above and below”), the lands Bīt-Amukkāni, Bīt-Dakkūri, Bīt-Šilāni, (and) Bīt-Saʾalli, all of Chaldea, as much as there is (of it), (and) the land Bīt-Yakīn, which is on the shore of the sea, as far as the border of Dilmun. I then set eunuchs of mine as provincial governors over them and I imposed the yoke of my lordship upon them. From the beginning of my reign until my fifteenth regnal year: I brought about the defeat of Ḫumbanigaš (Ḫumban-nikaš I), the Elamite, on the outskirts of (the city) Dēr. I surrounded (and) conquered the city Samaria. I carried off as booty 27,290 of its inhabitants, conscripted fifty chariots from among them, and allowed the remainder to practice their (normal) occupations. I set a eunuch of mine over them and imposed upon them (the same) tribute (as) the former king (had paid). Ḫanūnu (Hanno), king of the city Gaza, with Rēʾe, the field marshal of Egypt, rose up to do war and battle against me at the city Rapḫia. I brought about their defeat. Rēʾe took fright at the clangor of my weapons and fled; his whereabouts have never been discovered. I captured Hanūnu, king of the city Gaza. I received tribute from Pirʾû (Pharaoh), king of Egypt, Samsi, queen of the Arabs, (and) Itʾamar, the Sabaean, (namely) gold ore from the mountain(s), horses, (and) camels. (As for) Kiakki of the city Šinuḫtu, who had thrown off the yoke of the god Aššur and withheld his audience gift, I counted him as booty, together with thirty of his chariots (and) 7,350 of his fighting men. I gave his royal city Šinuḫtu to Kurtî of the land (A)tuna and imposed upon him (Kurtî) (the payment of a tribute in) horses (and) mules that was higher than his previous tribute. I gave to Amris (Ambaris) of the land Tabal, whom I had seated upon the throne of his father Ḫullî, a daughter of mine, (along) with the land Ḫilakku, which had not been part of his ancestors’ territory, and I (thus) expanded his land. However, that (man), who did not protect justice, sent a messenger to Ursâ (Rusâ), the Urarṭian, and Mitâ, king of the land Musku, about taking away territory of mine. I took Amris (Ambaris) to Assyria, (along) with (his) family, (his) relatives, the (other) offspring of his father’s house, (and) the nobles of his land, (along) with one hundred of his chariots. I settled there Assyrians who respect my authority. I set a eunuch of mine as provincial governor over them and I imposed tribute and payment(s) upon them. Iaū-biʾdī (Ilu-biʾdī) of the land Hamath, a member of the lower class who had no right to the throne, an evil Hittite, plotted to become king of the land Hamath. He then incited the cities Arpad, Ṣimirra, Damascus, (and) Samaria to rebel against me, made (them) act in unison, and prepared for battle. I mustered the numerous troops of the god Aššur; I surrounded him, together with his fighting men, in Qarqar, the city where he resided (lit.: “the city of his dwelling”), (and) I captured him. I burned the city Qarqar down with fire (and) I flayed the skin from him. I killed the guilty people inside those cities and imposed peace. I conscripted 200 chariots (and) 600 cavalry from among the people of the land Hamath and added them to my royal (military) contingent. When fate carried off Iranzi, the Mannean, a submissive subject who pulled my yoke, and (after) I had seated his son Azâ on his throne, Ursâ (Rusâ), the Urarṭian, spoke treacherous and mendacious words to (the rulers of) the lands of Uišdiš, Zikirtu, Missi, (and) Andia, (and to) the governors of the land Mannea, the important men, and (as a result) they threw down the corpse of Azâ, the son of their lord, on Mount Uauš, a rugged mountain. Ullusunu, the Mannean, whom they had seated on the throne of his father (Azâ), put his trust in Ursâ (Rusâ), the Urarṭian, and gave him twenty-two of his fortresses as a gift. Angrily, I mustered the numerous troops of the god Aššur, became enraged like a lion, and set out to conquer those lands. Having seen the cloud of dust (kicked up) by my expeditionary force, Ullusunu, the Mannean, went out from his city and in fear stayed in hiding on a rugged mountain. I conquered his royal city Izirtu (and) the cities of Izibia and Armaet, his strong fortresses, and I burned (them) down with fire. I inflicted a defeat upon Ursâ (Rusâ), the Urarṭian, at Mount Uauš, a rugged mountain, and captured two hundred and fifty members of his royal family. I conquered fifty-five fortified cities (and) fortresses in eight of his districts, together with eleven fortresses that were difficult (to conquer), and I burned (them) down with fire. I took away from him (Rusâ) the twenty-two fortresses of Ullusunu, the Mannean, and made (them part of) the territory of Assyria. I conquered eight fortresses of the land Tuāyadi, a district belonging to Telusina of the land Andia; I carried off as booty 4,200 people, together with their property. Mitatti of the land Zikirtu took fright at my weapons and he, together wih the people of his land, fled into the mountains; his whereabouts have never been discovered. I burned his royal city Parda down with fire. I conquered twenty-three fortified settlements in its environs and carried off booty from them. I conquered the Mannean cities Šuandaḫul (and) Zurzukka that had put their trust in Mitatti and I took booty from them. I flayed the skin from Bag-dāti of the land Uišdiš. I deported Dayukku together with his family and settled (them) in the land Hamath. In (his) rugged mountain (region), Ullusunu, the Mannean, heard of the deeds I had been doing, flew to me like a bird, and grasped hold of my feet. I pardoned (lit.: “overturned”) his innumerable sins and disregarded his crime. I had pity on him and had him sit on his royal throne. I gave (back) to him the twenty-two fortresses, together with two of his fortified cities, which I had taken away from the hands of Ursâ (Rusâ) and Mitatti, and I brought order to his disturbed land. I made a royal image of myself and inscribed upon it the victorious deed(s) of the god Aššur, my lord. I erected it for all time in his royal city Izirtu. I received tribute from Ianzû, king of the land Naʾiri, in his fortified city Ḫubuškia, (namely) horses, oxen, and sheep and goats. (As for) Aššur-lēʾi of the land Karalla, (and) Ittī of the land Allabria who had thrown off the yoke of the god Aššur (and) held me in contempt, I flayed the skin from Aššur-lēʾi, deported the people of the land Karalla, as many as there were, and Ittî together with his family, and settled (them) in the land Hamath. I deported the people of the cities Sukkia, Bāla, Abitikna, Pappa, (and) Lalluknu from their (own) places and (re)settled them in the city Damascus and the land Ḫatti (Syria). I conquered six cities of the land Niksamma (and) captured Šēp-šarri, the city ruler of Šurgadia. I added those cities to the province of the land Parsuaš. (As for) Bēl-šarru-uṣur of the city Kišesim, I brought him, together with (his) property (and) possessions, the treasure of his palace, to Assyria. I set a eunuch of mine as provincial governor over his city (and) (re)named it Kār-Nergal. [I m]ade a royal image of myself and erected it inside (that city). I conquered six settlements in its neighborhood and added (them) to its province. I surrounded Kibaba, the city ruler of Ḫarḫar, (and) conquered (that city). I counted him as booty together with the people of his land. I reorganized (the administration of) that city. I settled there people from the lands that I had conquered (and) set a eunuch of mine as provincial governor over them. I (re)named (that city) Kār-Šarrukīn, set up the weapon of the god Aššur, my lord, there, (and) erected a royal image of myself inside (that city). I conquered six districts neighboring it and added (them) to his (or: its) province. I surrounded (and) conquered the cities of Kišešlu, Qindāu, Bīt-Bagāya, (and) Anzaria. I restored (them) and reorganized (their administration). I (re)named them the cities of Kār-Nabû, Kār-Sîn, Kār-Adad, (and) Kār-Ištar (respectively). In order to subjugate the land Media in the environs of the city Kār-Šarrukīn, I strengthened (its) garrison. I conquered thirty-four districts of the land Media and made (them part of) the territory of Assyria. I imposed upon them the annual payment of horses (as tribute). I surrounded (and) conquered the city Erištana, together with the settlements in its environs, belonging to the district of Baʾīt-ili. I carried off booty from them. I destroyed, demolished, (and) burnt down with fire the lands Agazi, Ambanda, (and) Media, which border on the Arabs in the east, who had withheld their tribute. (As for) Daltâ of the land Ellipi, a submissive subject who pulled the yoke of the god Aššur, five districts in his neighborhood revolted against him and no longer obeyed him as (their) lord. I went to his aid and surrounded (and) conquered those districts. I carried off to Assyria as substantial booty the people, together with their property, (along) with innumerable horses. (As for) Urzana of the city Muṣaṣir, who had put his trust in Ursâ (Rusâ), the Urarṭian, and disregarded (his) position as vassal (to me), I enveloped the city Muṣaṣir with the main force of my army like locusts. However, that (man) fled away by himself to save his life and took to the hill(s). I entered the city Muṣaṣir in triumph and counted as booty his wife, his sons, his daughters, (his) property (and) possessions, the treasure of his palace, as much as there was (of it), (along) with 20,170 people, together with their property, (and) his deities Ḫaldi (and) Bagbartu, along with their numerous possessions. Ursâ (Rusâ), king of the land Urarṭu, heard of the destruction of the city Muṣaṣir (and) the carrying off of his god Ḫaldi and by his own hands brought an end to his life with the iron dagger from his belt. I caused there to be mourning over the land Urarṭu, to its full extent. I imposed lamentation and dirge (singing) upon the people who lived there. Tarhun-azi of the city Melid wanted (to offer) battle, broke (lit.: “overturned”) the treaty (sworn) by the great gods, and withheld his audience gift. Angrily, I smashed his royal city Melid, together with the settlements in its environs, like pots. I brought him out of his fortified city Tīl-garimme, together with his wife, his sons, his daughters, the treasure of his palace, as much as there was (of it), (along) with five thousand of his captured warriors, and I considered him as booty. I reorganized (the administration of) the city Tīl-garimme. I had Sutians — bowmen whom I had captured — occupy the land Kammanu in its entirety and I (thus) expanded my territory. I assigned that land to the authority of a eunuch of mine and imposed upon him (the same state) service (and) corvée duty as (in the time) of Kunzinānu (Gunzinānu), the previous king. (As for) Tarḫu-lara of the land Gurgum, whose heir Mutallu had cut him down with the sword, sat upon his (Tarḫu-lara’s) throne without my permission, and governed his land — furiously, I quickly marched to the city Marqasa with (only) my personal chariot and my cavalry who never leave my side (even) in friendly territory. I counted his heir Mutallu as booty, together with the (ruling) family of the land Bīt-Paʾalla, as many as there were, (along) with gold, silver, (and) the countless property of his palace. I reorganized (the administration of) the people of the land Gurgum, to its full extent. I set a eunuch of mine as provincial governor over them and considered them as people of Assyria. Azūri, king of the city Ashdod, plotted (so as) to no longer (have to) deliver tribute (to me) and sent (messages) hostile to Assyria to the kings in his environs. Because of the evil that he had done, I did away with his lordship over the people of his [lan]d. I set his favorite [brother] Aḫī-Mīti as king over them, but (95) the Hittites, who (always) speak treachery, hated his rule and elevated over them Iāmānī, who had no right to the throne (and) who, like them, did not know how to respect (any) authority. Furiously, I neither assembled the main force of my army nor organized my (military) camp. I marched to the city Ashdod with (only) my warriors who (100) never leave my side (even) in [fri]endly territory. However, that Iāmānī heard from afar of the approach of my expeditionary force and fled to the (far) edge of Egypt, on the border with the land Meluḫḫa; his whereabouts have never been discovered. (105) I surrounded (and) conquered the cities Ashdod, Gath (and) Ashdod-Yam. I counted as booty his gods, his wife, his sons, his daughters, (his) property (and) possessions, the treasure of his palace, (along) with the people of his land. I reor[ganized] (the administration of) those cities, [settled] there people from the lands that I had conquered ... [... in the e]ast, [and set a eunuch of mine as [pro]vincial [governor] over [them]. I considered them [a]s people of Assyria and they (now) pull my yoke. The king of the land Meluḫ[ḫa] — who in ... the land U[r]iṣṣu, an inaccessible place, (whose) route [... who]se ancestors [from the] distant [past] until now had nev[er s]ent their mounted messenger(s) to the kings, my ancestors, in order to inquire about their well-being — [h]e[ar]d from af[ar] of the might of the gods Aššur, [Nabû], (and) Marduk. [Then, fe]ar of (my) royal brilliance overwhelmed him and terror overcame him. He threw him (Iāmānī) in manacles and handcu[ffs], (in other words in) iron [fe]tters, and they brou[ght] (him) the long journey to Assyria, into my presence. Mutallu of the land Kummuḫu — an evil Hittite who did not fear the words of the gods, plotted evil, (and always) spoke treachery — put his trust in Argišti, king of the land Urarṭu, (his) ally, who (nevertheless) could not save him, stopped his annual delivery of tribute (and) payment(s), and withheld his audience gift. Angrily, I set out against him with (only) my personal chariot and my cavalry who never leave my side (even) in friendly territory. He saw the cloud of dust (kicked up) by my expeditionary force, went out from his city, and his whereabouts have never been discovered. (115) I surrounded (and) conquered that city, together with 62 fortified settlements in its environs. I carried off as booty his wife, his sons, his daughters, (his) property (and) possessions, everything valuable, the treasure of his [palace], (along) with the people of his land; I did not spare anyone. I reorganized (the administration of) that district. I settled there people of the land Bīt-Yakīn that I had conquered. I set a eunuch of mine as provincial [gove]rnor over them. I imposed the yoke of my lordship upon them. I conscripted from among them 150 chariots, 1,500 cavalry, 20,000 bowmen, (and) 1,000 shield and spear bearers and made (them) subject to him (the new governor). At that time, the appointed moment came for Daltâ, king of the land Ellipi, a submissive subject who pulled my yoke, and he went the way of death. Nibê (and) Ašpa-bara, sons of h[is] sisters, jointly divided up his wide land (with regard to the right) to sit on his royal throne and (then) were doing battle (with one another). Nibê quickly sent a messenger to Šutur-Naḫūndi, the Elamite, in order to get revenge. He (Šutur-Naḫūndi) gave him aid and came to his assistance. In order to get revenge and to save his life, Ašpa-bara (120) besought me with supplications and entreaties and asked me for (military) aid. I sent seven of my eunuchs, together with their troops, to avenge him. They brought about the defeat of Nibê, together with the Elamite army, his allies, at the city Marubištu. I seated Ašpa-bara on his throne, brought order to the disturbed land Ellipi, and made (it) subject to him. Marduk-apla-iddina (II) (Merodach-Ba­la­dan), descendant of Yakīn, king of Chaldea, a murderer (lit.: “seed of murder”) (and) the (very) image of a gallû-demon, who does not fear the word of the lord of lords (Marduk), put his trust in the sea (and its) surging waves, broke (lit.: “overturned”) the treaty (sworn) by the great gods, and withheld his audience gift. He turned to Ḫumbanigaš (Ḫumban-nikaš I), the Elamite, for aid, caused all the Sutians, the people of the steppe, to rebel against me, and prepared for battle. He proceeded to the land of Sumer and Akkad and for twelve years he ruled and governed Babylon, the city of the Enlil of the gods (Marduk), against the will of the gods. At the command of the god Aššur, the father of the gods, and of the great lord, the god Marduk, I got my (chariot) teams ready (and) prepared my (military) camp. I ordered the march against the Chaldean, a dangerous enemy. However, that Marduk-apla-iddina heard of the approach of my expeditionary force. His own fear(s) then fell upon him and he flew away from Babylon to the city Iqbi-Bēl during the night like a bat. He gathered together the inhabitants of his cities (lit.: “his inhabited cities”) and the gods dwelling in them (his cities), and he brought them into the city Dūr-Yakīn. Then, he strengthened its enclosure walls. He formed the Gambulu, Puqudu, Damūnu, Ruʾuʾa (and) Ḫindaru (tribes) into bands, brought (them) inside it (Dūr-Yakīn), and made preparations for battle. Moving back a distance of one measuring rope from in front of its main wall, he made a moat two hundred cubits wide; he made (the moat) one and a half nindanu deep and reached ground water. He cut a channel from the Euphrates River, (thereby) making (its water) flow (in)to its meadowland. He filled the city’s flatlands, where battles (are fought), with water and cut the bridges. Together with his allies (and) his battle troops, he pitched his royal tent in a bend of the river (lit.: “between rivers”) like a crane and set up his (military) camp. I had my fighters fly [o]ver his canals like eagles and they brought about his defeat. With the blood of his warriors, they dyed the water of his canals as red as red wool. I cut down like sheep the Sutians, his allies, who had gone over to his side and come to his aid, together with the Maršanians, and I splattered the remainder of the people who survived with deadly venom. However, that (man) abandoned [his] royal tent, gold bed, gold throne, gold chair, gold scepter, silver chariot, gold parasol, and his neck ornament inside his (military) ca[m]p and fled off by himself; like a cat, he hugged the side of his (city’s) wall and entered his city. I surrounded (and) conquered the city Dūr-Yakīn. I rounded up that man, together with his wife, his sons, his daughters, gold, silver, property (and) [possess]ions, the treasure of his palace, as much as there was (of it), (along) with substantial booty from his city and the survivor(s), the remainder of his people who had fled before my weapons, and I counted them as booty. I burned his fortified city Dūr-Yakīn down with fire. I destroyed (and) demolished its high enclosure walls; I tore out its foundation. I made it like a (ruin) mound left by the Deluge. (As for) the citizens of (the cities) Sippar, Nippur, Babylon, and Borsippa who through no fault of their own had been held captive in it (Dūr-Yakīn), I put an end to their imprisonment and let them see the light (of day). (With regard to) their fields, which long ago, while the land was in disorder, the Sutians had taken away and appropriated for their own, I struck down (those) Sutians, the people of the steppe, with the sword. I (re)assigned to them (the citizens) their territories, (whose boundaries) had been forgotten (and) fallen into disuse during the troubled period in the land. I (re)-established the freedom (from obligations) of (the cities) Ur, Uruk, Eridu, Larsa, Kullaba, Kissik, (and) Nēmed-Laguda. Moreover, I returned their gods that had been carried off as booty to their cult centers and restored their regular offerings that had been discontinued. I ruled all together the land Bīt-Yakīn, from one end to the other end (lit.: “above and below”), as far as the cities Samʾūna, Bāb-dūri, Dūr-Telīte, Bubê, (and) Tīl-Ḫumba, which are on the Elamite border; I settled there people from the land Kummuḫu, which is (located) in the land Ḫatti, that I had conquered with the support of the great gods, my lords, and I had (them) occupy its (Bīt-Yakīn’s) abandoned regions. I had Nabû-damiq-ilāni construct a fortress on the Elamite border, at the city Sagbat, in order to bar access to (lit.: “the feet of”) the enemy Elamite(s). (140) I divided up that land into equal parts and assigned (them) to the authority of a eunuch of mine, the governor of Babylon, and a(nother) eunuch of mine, the governor of the Gambulu (tribe). Happily, with a joyful heart (and) a radiant face, I entered Babylon, the cult center of the Enlil of the gods (Marduk); I grasped hold of the hands of the great lord, the god Marduk, and brought (him) safely along the the road to the akītu-house. (With regard to) 154 talents, 26 minas, (and) 10 shekels of red gold, 1,604 talents (and) 20 minas of pure silver, copper (and) iron in immeasurable quantities, obsidian, lapis lazuli, banded agate, blue turquoise, green turquoise, ... of banded agate (and) muššaru-stone in large quantities, blue-purple wool, red-purple wool, garments with multi-colored trim and linen garments, boxwood, cedar, cypress, (and) every kind of aromatic, the products of Mount Amanus, whose scent(s) are pleasant — from the beginning of my kingship until (my) third year, I presented (these things) as gifts to the deities Bēl, Zarpanītu, Nabû, Tašmētu, and the (other) gods who dwell in the cult centers of the land of Sumer and Akkad. Upēri, king of Dilmun, who(se) lair is situated (at a distance of) thirty leagues in the middle of the Eastern Sea, like (that of) a fish, heard of the might of the gods Aššur, Nabû, (and) Marduk and brought me his gift. Moreover, seven kings of the land Yāʾ, a region of the land Yadnana (Cyprus) — whose abode(s) are situated far away, at a distance of seven days (journey) in the middle of the Western Sea (and) the name of whose land, from the distant past until now, none of the kings, my ancestors, neither in Assyria nor in the land Karduniaš (Babylonia), had ever heard — heard from afar, in the middle of the sea, of the deeds I had been doing in Chaldea and the land Ḫatti (Syria). Their hearts then pounded and fear fell upon them. They brought before me in Babylon gold, silver, (and) utensils of ebony (and) boxwood, products of their land, and they kissed my feet. While I was bringing about the defeat of the land Bīt-Yakīn and all of the Arameans and of making my weapon prevail over the land Yadburu on the border of the land Elam, a eunuch of mine, the governor of the land Que (Cilicia), marched ...ly three times into the territory of Mitâ (Midas) of the land Musku. He destroyed, demolished, (and) burned down his cities with fire. He carried off substantial booty from them. Moreover, that (man), Mitâ of the land Musku, who had not submitted to the kings who preceded me and had never changed his mind (about doing so), sent his messenger before me at the Eastern Sea to do obeisance (to me) and to bring (me) tribute (and) presents. At that time, using (as laborers) people from the lands that I had conquered, whom the gods Aššur, Nabû, (and) Marduk had made bow down at my feet, and who (now) pull my yoke, (and) in accordance with divine will (and) my heart’s desire, I built a city at the foot of Mount Muṣri, upstream from Nineveh, and I named it Dūr-Šarrukīn. The gods Ea, Sîn, Šamaš, Nabû, Adad, Ninurta, and their great spouses who were duly born inside Eḫursaggalkurkurra (“House, the Great Mountain of the Lands”), the mountain of the netherworld, gladly took up residence in resplendent sanctuaries (and) artfully-built shrines inside the city Dūr-Šarrukīn. I established innumerable regular offerings as their shares (of temple income). I had nešakku-priests, ramku-priests, surmaḫḫu-priests, men well versed in their (fields of) knowledge (and) initiated in secret rites, (and) naṭpu-ecstatics serve them (lit.: “stand before them”). I built inside [it (the city)] a palace using (lit.: “of”) elephant ivory, ebony, boxwood, musukkannu-wood, cedar, cypress, daprānu-juniper, juniper and terebinth, (namely) Egalgabarinutukua (“Palace That Has No Equal”), to be my lordly residence, and I laid their foundations upon inscribed objects (made) of gold, silver, lapis lazuli, jasper, parūtu-alabaster, copper, tin, iron, lead, and pieces of aromatic woods. Then, I established their brickwork (and) roofed them with large cedar beams. I bound the doors of cypress (and) musukkannu-wood with band(s) of shining copper and installed (them in) their entrance(s). I had built in front of their gates a portico (bīt appāti), a replica of a Hittite palace, which is called a bīt ḫilāni in the language of the land Amurru. Eight twin lion (colossi) of shining copper that weigh 4,610 full (lit.: “tested”) talents (and) that were cast by the craft of the god Ninagal and filled with radiance — upon (those) lion colossi I installed four matching cedar columns, whose diameter(s) are one nindanu each, the product of Mount Amanus, and I positioned cross-beams (upon them) as a cornice for their gates. I skillfully fashioned magnificent mountain sheep colossi of massive mountain stone and in the four directions I had (them) hold their (the gates’) respective (lit.: “fitting”) door bolt(s). I depicted the settlements that I had conquered upon large limestone slabs and surrounded their (the palatial halls’) lower courses (with them). I made (them) an object of wonder. I placed inside these palatial halls representations — (made) by the craft of the sculptor — of the settlements of every land that I had conquered, from east to west, by the strength of the god Aššur, my lord. In a favorable month, (on) an auspicious day, I invited the god Aššur, the father of the gods, the great lord, (and) the (other) gods and goddesses who dwell in Assyria (to come) inside them and, in a grandiose manner, I offered them (the gods) gifts of red ṣāriru-gold (and) pure silver, extensive presents as (my) substantial audience gift. I thus made their (the gods’) moods joyful. I offered before them prize bulls in prime condition, fattened sheep, geese, ducks, dormice, strings of fish and birds, the wealth of the Deep (apsû) that never (170) lessens, kurunnu-beer (and) white honey, products of the pure mountains, the best of the lands that I had conquered, which the progenitor of the gods, the god Aššur, had added to my royal share, (along) with pure voluntary sacrifices, pure food offerings, splendid incense offerings, (and) innumerable libations. Reverently, I knelt (and) prayed before him that he preserve (my) life, grant (me) a long life, and firmly establish my reign. The great mountain, the god Enlil, the lord of (all) lands, who dwells in Eḫursaggalkurkurra, (and) the (other) gods and goddesses who dwell in Assyria returned to their city amid songs of joy and hymns of praise. With rulers from every land, provincial governors of my land, overseers, commanders, nobles, eunuchs, and elders of Assyria, I sat down inside my palace and held a festival. [I recei]ved as their substantial tribute (180) gold, silver, utensils of gold (and) silver, valuable stone(s), copper, iron, untensils of co[pper] (and) ir[o]n, every kind of aromatic, fine oil, garments with multi-colored trim and linen garments, blue-purple wool, red-purple wool, elephant hide(s), elephant ivory, antimony, ebony, [box]wood, [la]rge Egyptian horses that are tr[ai]ned to the yoke, mules, donkeys, camels, ox[en, (and) sheep and goats]. May the god [Aš]šur, the father of the gods, lo[ok] steadfastly upon (this) city that has been duly selected [by me] (lit.: “the choice of the steadfastness of [my] hea[rt]”) [and] (upon) this palace with his holy, radiant face and may he ordain their renovation for future days. May (the following commands) come from (lit.: “be set in”) his holy mouth: May the guardian spirit (and) the protective god (190) stay continually in them, day and night, and may they never leave them. [At his] comma[nd], may the ruler who constructed them live long (and) reach extreme old age. May their builder remain in good health forever. May (this command) issue from his (the god Aššur’s) holy lips. May the one who dwells inside them rejoice there in physical well-being, merriment, and [hap]piness, (and) be fully satisfied with (his) good fortune.

Sargon II 008 — Display Inscription of Room XIV

Wall slab (with reliefs); stone; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). British Museum, London, UK. 4 known exemplars. Sargon II 008; RINAP Q006489.

Palace of Sargon, great king, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of the land of Sumer and Akkad, king of the four quarters (of the world), favorite of the [great] god[s]. The gods Aššur, Nabû, (and) Marduk, the gods, my helpers, granted me a reign without equal and exalted my [go]od reputation to the h[eights]. I continually acted as provider for (the cities) Sippar, Nippur, Babylon, and Borsippa (and) [I made restitution for] the wrongful damage suffered by the people of privileged status, as many as there were (of them); I (re)-established the [šuba]rrû-privileges of (the cities) Dēr, Ur, Uruk, Eridu, Larsa, Kullaba, Kissik, (and) Nēmed-L[ag]uda and [gave relief to] their people. I resto[red] the exemption (from obligations) of (the city) Baltil (Aššur) and the city Ḫarrān, which had fallen [into oblivion] in the distant past, [and] their [privil]eged status that had lapsed. With the support of the great gods, I regularly advanced and made uncompliant lands (and) insubmissive mountain regions bow down at my feet; I made [...]. I dispersed the forces of Ḫumbanigaš (Ḫumban-nikaš I), the Elamite. I destroyed the land Karalla, the land Šurda, the city Kišesim, the city Ḫarḫar, the land Media as far as the border of [Mount Bikni], (and) the land Ellipi, (and) imposed the yoke of the god Aššur (upon them). [I laid] waste to the land Urarṭu, plundered the city Muṣaṣir, slaughtered the lands Andia (and) Zikirtu, (and) allowed the distur[bed] people of the land Mannea to live in peace. I struck down the rulers of the land [Ha]math, the city [Ca]rchemish, (and) the city Kummuḫu. I depor[ted] Gunzinānu of the land Kammanu from the city Melid, (10) his royal city, [and] set officials [over all] these lands. I did away with the kingship of Tarḫu-lara of the city Marqasa (and) at the sa[me time] made the wide land Gurgu[m], to (its) full extent, (part of) the terr[itory of Assy]ria. Iāmānī of the city Ashdod took fright at my weapons, abandoned his wife, his sons, (and) his daughters, fled to the (far) edge of Egypt, on the border with the land [M]e[luḫ]ḫa, and lived (there) stealthfully (lit.: “like a thief”). I set a eunuch of mine as provincial governor over all of his wide land and his prosperous people, and (thereby) expanded the territory of the god Aššur, the king of the god[s]. Fear of the brilliance of the god Aššur, my lord, overwhelmed [the king of the land M]eluḫḫa; they put iron fetters on his (Iāmāni’s) hand(s) and feet and he (the king of Meluḫḫa) had him (Iāmāni) brought to Assyria (and) into my presence. [Moreover], I plundered the city Šinuḫtu, the city Samaria, and all of the land Bīt-Ḫumria (Israel). I caught the Ionians who (live in) the middle of the Western Sea like fish and [depo]rted (the people of) the lands Kasku, Tabal, (and) Ḫilakku. I drove out Mitâ (Midas), king of the land Musku. I brought about the defeat of Egypt at the city Raphia and counted Ḫanūnu (Ḫanno), [king of the city G]aza, as booty. I subjugated seven kings of the land Yāʾ, a region of the land Yadnana (Cyprus) — whose abode [is situ]ated at a distance of seven days (journey) in the middle of the Western Sea. Moreover, [my] great [hand] conque[red] Marduk-apla-iddina (II) (Merodach-Baladan), king of Chaldea, who dwelt on the shore of the sea (and) who exercised kingship over Babylon against the will of the gods. I divided up all of his (Marduk-apla-iddina’s) wide land into equal parts, assi[gned] (them) to the authority of a eunuch of mine, the governor of the land of Babylon, and a(nother) eunuch of mine, the governor of [the] Gambulu, [and I imposed] the yoke of the god Aššur (upon them). Upēri, king of Dilmun, who(se) lair is situated at a distance of thirty leagues in the middle of the sea, like (that of) a fish, [heard] of my lordly mi[gh]t [and brought me] his audience gift. With the strength of the gods Aššur, Nabû, (and) Marduk, the great gods, my lords, who mobilized my weapons, I cut down a[ll my] f[oes. I ruled as if (they were) one (people) from the land] Yadnana (Cyprus), which is in the middle of the sea, as far as the border(s) of Egypt and the land Mus[ku], the land Kummuḫu, the city Melid, the wide land Amurru, the land Ḫatt[i (Syria) in its entirety, all of the land G]utium, the distant Medes (who live) on the border of Mount Bikni, the land Rāši (and) [the land E]l[lip]i on the border of the land Elam, the A[rameans who live beside the Tigris, Sur]appu, (and) Uqnû rivers, together with the Sutians, the people of the steppe of the land Ya[dburu, as many as] th[ere are, from the city Samʾūna, as far as (25) the city Bub]ê (and) the city Tīl-Ḫumba, which are on the border of the land Elam, the land Karduniaš (Babylonia) from one end [to the other (lit.: “above [and below]”), all of Chaldea, as much as there is (of it), the land Bīt-Yakīn, which is on the shore of the sea, as far as the border of Dil]mun, and I [made (them part of) the ter]ri[tory] of Assyria. [I set eunuchs of mine as provincial governors over them and] imposed [the yoke of m]y [lordship] upon them. At that time, using (as laborers) enemy pe[ople whom I had captured, whom the gods Aššur, Nabû, and Marduk had made bow down at my feet, and who] (now) pull my yoke, (and) in accordance with [divine] will [(and) my heart’s desire, I built a city] at the foot of Mount uṣri, upstream from Nineveh, [and I na]med it [Dūr-Šarrukīn]. [I created around it] a [botanical] garden, a repl[ica] of Mount Amanus, [in] which [were gathered] every kind of aromatic plant from the land Ḫatti (Syria) (and) every type of fruit-bearing mountain tree. Not [o]ne of [the three hundred and fifty previo]us [rulers] who had exercised [lor]dship over Assyria before my time and had [go]verned the subj[ects of the god E]n[lil had noted its (the city’s)] site [or come to know how to make it habitable]; nor [had one ordered] the digging of its canal] or the planting of orchards there. [Day (and) night I planned earnestly how to settle that city] (and) to have built [a great shrine — a cella] for the great gods — and palatial [halls to be my lordly abode], and I (then) ordered its construction. In a favorable month, (on) an [auspicious] day — [in the month of the god Ku]lla, (on) the day of an eššēšu-festival [...] — I had (workmen) [wiel]d [ho]e(s) an[d make bricks]. [In the month of Abu (V) — the month for the one who lay]s the foundation of citi(es) and house(s) (and in) which a[ll the black-headed people construct] shelter(s) [for] the[ir dwelli]ng(s) — I plac[ed its limestone masonry] on top of (foundation deposits of) gold, [silver], copper, pre[cious stone]s, (and) [pieces (of aromatic woods) from Mount Amanus]. I laid its foundations and [established its brickwork]. I had built [ins]ide [it (the city) for] the gods E[a, Sîn, Ningal], Šamaš, [Nabû, Adad, Ninurta, and] their great [spou]ses [awe-inspiring daises which] were made as firm [as the mountains]. [At their august command], I built [palatial halls using (lit.: “of”) elephant ivory, ebony, boxwood, musukkannu-wood, ce]dar, cypress, daprānu-juniper, [juniper, and terebinth to be my royal residence and I roofed them] with large ce[dar] beams. I [bou]nd [the doors of cypress (and) musukkannu-wood] with band(s) of [shi]ning [cop]per and [installed (them in) their] entr[ance(s). I had built in front of] their gates [a portico (bīt appāti), a replica of a] Hittite [palace], which [is called a bīt ḫilāni] in the language of the land [Amur]ru. Eight [tw]in lion (colossi) [of shin]ing [copper] that weigh 4,610 [full (lit.: “tested”) talents] (and) that [were c]ast by the cr[aft] of the god Ninaga[l and filled with radiance — upon (those) [lion colossi] I installed four mat]ching [cedar columns], whose [diameter(s) are one nindanu] each, the product of Mount Amanus; and] I [positioned cross]-beams (upon them) [as a cornice] for their gates. I skillfully fashioned [magnificent mountain sheep colossi of mass]ive [mountain stone] and in the four directions I had (them) hold their (the gates’) door bolt(s). [I depicted] the settlements that [I had con]quer[ed upon] large lime[stone slabs and] surrounded their (the palatial halls’) lower courses (with them). I made (them) [an object of wo]nder. I made [the leng]th of its wall 16,2[80 cubits] and [I made its] fo[undation secure] u[pon (blocks of) massive] mountain [stone. In front (and) in ba]ck, on both sides, [facing the four directions, I opened] eight [gates (in the city wall). I named the gate(s) of the gods Šamaš and Adad that face the east “The God Šamaš Is the One Who Makes] Me [Triu]mph” (and) “The God Adad Is the One Who Establishes My Prosperity” (respectively). I called [the gate(s) of the god Enlil and the goddess Mullissu that fa]ce the north “[The God] Enlil Is the One Who Establishes the Foundation of My City” (and) [“The Goddess Mullissu Is the One Who Restores Abundance” (respectively). I made] the na[me(s) of the gate(s)] of the god Anu [and the goddess Ištar that face the we]st (45) [“The God Anu Is the One Who Makes My Undertakings Successful” (and) “The Goddess Ištar Is the One Who Makes] Its [People Flourish” (respectively). I pronounced the names of the] gate(s) [of the god] E[a and the goddess Bēlet-ilī that face the south (to be) “The God Ea Is the One Who Keeps Its Spring(s) in Good Order” (and) “The Goddess Bēlet-Ilī] Is the One Who [Incr]eases [Its (Animals’) Offspring” (respectively). Its (city) wall was (called) “The God Aššur Is the One] Who Prolongs [the Reign of] Its [Royal Build]er (and) Protects [His Troops].” Its [outer] wall was (called) [“The God Ninurta Is the One Who Establishes the Foundation of His City for (All)] Days to Come.” Peop[le from the four (quarters of the world), (speaking) foreign language(s) (and of) diverse speech, those who had dwelt in (both) mountain(s)] and (low)land(s), as many as [the “Light of the Gods” (Šamaš), the lord of all, shepherded, whom I had carr]ied off [as booty by the power of my staff at the command of the god Aššur, my lord], I [made act] in con[cert and I (re)settled (them) inside it (the city)]. I commissioned [native] Assyria[ns, masters of] ev[ery craft, as] over[seers (and) comm]anders [to instruct (the settlers) in correct behavior (and how) to revere god and king]. [Af]ter I had completed work on their city [(and)] my palace, I invited the god Aššur, [the father of the] gods, the great lord, (and) the (other) gods and goddesses who dwell [in Assy]ria (to come) inside it. [I] offered them (the gods) extensive presents, substantial [audi]ence gift(s), (and) innumerable gifts, and I offered [befor]e them sacrifices as pure voluntary offerings. With rulers from the four quarters (of the world), provincial governors of my land, nobles, eunuchs, and elders of Assyria, I sat down inside my palace and held a festival. I received as their substantial [tr]ibute gold, silver, utensils of gold (and) silver, valuable stones, copper, iron, garments with multi-colored trim, (and) linen garments, blue-purple wool, red-purple wool, antimony, (65) elephant hides, elephant ivory, ebony, boxwood, everything valuable, royal treasure, large horses from Egypt trained to the yoke, mules, donkeys, camels, oxen, (and) sheep and goats, [...]. May the god Aššur, the father of the gods, look steadfastly upon (this) city and this palace that have been du[ly] selected by me (lit.: “the choice of the steadfastness of my heart”) with his holy, radiant face and may he ordain that it be inhabited for future days. May (the following commands) come from (lit.: “be set in”) his holy mouth: May the guardian spirit (and) the protective god stay continually in them, day and night, and may they never leave (75) them. At his command, may the ruler who constructed them live long (and) reach extreme old age. May their builder remain in good health forever. (As for) me, Sargon, the one who dwells inside this palace, may he (the god Aššur) determine as my fate good health, a long life (lit.: “distant days”), physical well-being, joy of heart, and happiness. (80) May (the following command) issue from his holy lips. May I store up inside it (the city) extensive property (taken) from the enemy, presents from (every) settlement, the yield of the (four) quarters (of the world), (and) the wealth of (both) the mountain(s) and the seas. In days to come, may a future ruler among the kings, my descendants, renovate (any) dilapidated sections of this palace. May he (then) discover my inscribed object, anoint (it) with oil, offer a sacrifice, (and) return (it) to its (original) place. The god Aššur will (then) listen to his prayers. (As for) the one who alters my inscription or my name, may the god Aššur, my lord, overthrow his kingship. May he (the god Aššur) make his name (and) his descendant(s) disappear from the land and may he not have pity on him.

Sargon II 009 — Bull Colossi Inscription

Human-headed bull colossus; stone; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). Exemplars held across 11 collections, including Louvre Museum, Paris, France. 31 known exemplars. Sargon II 009; RINAP Q006490.

Obverse

Palace of Sargon (II), great king, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of the land of Sumer and Akkad, favorite of the great gods; just shepherd, (one) to whom the gods Aššur, Nabû, (and) Marduk granted a reign without equal and whose reputation (these gods) exalted to the heights; who (re)-established the šubarrû-privileges of (the cities) Sippar, Nippur, (and) Babylon; who abolished corvée duty for (the cities) Dēr, Ur, Eridu, Larsa, Kullaba, Kissik, (and) Nēmed-Laguda, (and) gave relief to their people; who (re)-established the privileged status of (the city) Baltil (Aššur) that had lapsed; who extended his protection over the city Ḫarrān and recorded their exemption (from obligations) as if (their people were) people of the gods Anu and Dagān; the strong man who is clad in awesome splendor (and) whose weapons are raised to strike down (his) enemies; who brought about the defeat of Ḫumbanigaš (Ḫumban-nikaš I), the Elamite; who subjugated the lands Mannea, Karalla, Andia, (and) Zikirtu, the cities of Kišesim (and) Ḫarḫar, (and) the lands Media (and) Ellipi; (15) who imposed the yoke of (the god) Aššur (upon them); who laid waste to the land Urarṭu (and) the city Muṣaṣir; in great fear of whom Ursâ (Rusâ), the Urarṭian, brought an end to his life with his own weapon; who carried off as booty the rulers of the city Carchemish, the land Hamath, the land Kummuḫu, (and) the city Ashdod — evil Hittites, who do not fear the words of the gods (and always) speak treachery; who (20) set eunuchs of his as provincial governors over all their lands and considered them as people of Assyria; who overwhelmed the city Samaria, all of the land Bīt-Ḫumria (Israel), (and) the land Kasku; who conquered the land Tabal, all of the land Bīt-Purutaš, (and) the land Ḫilakku; who brought about the defeat of Egypt at the city Raphia and counted Ḫanūnu (Hanno), the king of the city Gaza, as booty; who plundered the city Šinuḫtu; who drove out Mitâ (Midas), king of the land Musku; who brought back (to Assyrian control) the fortress(es) of the land Que (Cilicia) (25) that had been taken away (by the enemy); who caught the Ionians who (live in) the middle of the sea like fish; who deported Gunzinānu of the land Kammanu and Tarḫu-lara of the land Gurgum, who took away all of their lands, and made (them part of) the territory of Assyria; who subjugated seven kings of the land Yāʾ — a region of the land Adnana (Cyprus) — whose abode is situated at a distance of seven days (journey) in the middle of the Western Sea; who conquered the land Rāši; who subjugated the Puqudu (and) Damūnu (tribes) as far as the city Laḫīru of the land Yadburu (and) imposed his yoke (upon them); who brought about the defeat of Marduk-apla-iddina (II) (Merodach-Baladan) — king of Chaldea, an evil enemy who exercised kingship over Babylon against the will of the gods — and whose great hand conquered (him); who eradicated the city Dūr-Yakīn, the great city upon which he (Marduk-apla-iddina) relied; who heaped up the corpses of his (Marduk-apla-iddina’s) fighting men in piles on the coastal plain — Upēri, king of Dilmun (35) who(se) lair is situated at a distance of thirty leagues in the middle of the Eastern Sea, like that of a fish, heard (of this) and brought me his audience gift; the wise king who occupies himself with good matters (and) who turned his attention to (re)settling abandoned pasture lands, opening up unused land, (and) planting orchards. At that time I built a city above the spring at the foot of Mount Muṣri, a mountain upstream from (the city) Nineveh, and I named it Dūr-Šarrukīn. I created around it a botanical garden, a replica of Mount Amanus, in which were gathered every kind of aromatic plant from the land Ḫatti (Syria) (and) every type of fruit-bearing mountain tree. Not one of the three hundred and fifty previous rulers who had exercised lordship over Assyria before my time and had governed the subjects of the god Enlil (45) had noted its (the city’s) site or come to know how to make it habitable; nor had one ordered the digging of its canal (or) the planting of its orchards. Day (and) night I planned earnestly how to settle that town (and) to erect (there) a great shrine — a cella for the great gods — and palatial halls to be my lordly abode, and I (then) ordered its construction. In a favorable month, (on) an auspicious day — in the month of the god Kulla, (on) the day of an eššēšu-festival — I had (workmen) wield hoe(s) and make bricks. In the month of Abu (V) — the month for the one who lays the foundation of citi(es) and house(s) (and in) which all the black-headed people construct shelter(s) for their dwelling(s) — (55) I placed its limestone masonry on top of (foundation deposits of) gold, silver, copper, precious stones, (and) pieces (of aromatic woods) from Mount Amanus. I laid its foundation and established its brickwork. I built inside it (the city) for the gods Ea, Sîn, Ningal, Šamaš, Nabû, Adad, (and) Ninurta awe-inspiring daises that were made as firm as the mountains. At their august command, I built palatial halls using (lit.: “of”) elephant ivory, ebony, boxwood, musukkannu-wood, cedar, cypress, daprānu-juniper, juniper, and terebinth to be my royal residence and I roofed them with large cedar beams. (65) I bound the doors of cypress (and) musukkannu-wood with band(s) of shining copper and installed (them in) their entrance(s). I had built in front of their gates a portico (bīt appāti), a replica of a Hittite palace, which is called a bīt ḫilāni in the language of the land Amurru. Eight twin lion (colossi) of shining copper that weigh 4,610 full (lit.: “tested”) talents (and) that were cast by the craft of the god Ninagal and filled with radiance — upon (those) lion colossi I installed four matching cedar columns, whose diameter(s) are one nindanu each, the product of Mount Amanus; and I positioned cross-beams (upon them) as a cornice for their gates. (75) I skillfully fashioned magnificent mountain sheep colossi of massive mountain stone and in the four directions I had (them) hold their (the gates’) door bolt(s). I depicted the settlements that I had conquered upon large limestone slabs and surrounded their (the palatial halls’) lower courses (with them). I made (them) an object of wonder. I made the length of its wall 16,280 cubits and I made its foundation secure upon (blocks of) massive mountain (stone). In front and in back, on both sides, facing the four directions, I opened eight gates (in the city wall). Then, I named the gate(s) of the gods Šamaš and Adad that face the east “The God Šamaš Is the One Who Makes Me Triumph” (and) “The God Adad Is the One Who Establishes My Prosperity” (respectively). I called the gate(s) of the god Enlil and the goddess Mullissu that face the north “The God Enlil Is the One Who Establishes the Foundation of My City” (85) (and) “The Goddess Mullissu Is the One Who Restores Abundance” (respectively). I made the name(s) of the gate(s) of the god Anu and the goddess Ištar that face the west “The God Anu Is the One Who Makes My Undertakings Successful” (and) “The Goddess Ištar Is the One Who Makes Its People Flourish” (respectively). I pronounced the names of the gate(s) of the god Ea and the goddess Bēlet-ilī that face the south (to be) “The God Ea Is the One Who Keeps Its Spring(s) in Good Order” (and) “The Goddess Bēlet-Ilī Is the One Who Increases Its (Animals’) Offspring” (respectively). (90) Its (city) wall was (called) “The God Aššur Is the One Who Prolongs the Reign of Its Royal Builder (and) Protects His Troops.” Its outer wall was (called) “The God Ninurta Is the One Who Establishes the Foundation of His City for (All) Days to Come.” People from the four (quarters of the world), (speaking) foreign language(s) (and of) diverse speech, those who had dwelt in (both) mountain(s) and (low)land(s), as many as the “Light of the Gods” (Šamaš), the lord of all, shepherded, whom I had carried off as booty by the power of my staff at the command of the god Aššur, my lord, (95) I made act in concert and I (re)settled (them) inside it (the city). I commissioned native Assyrians, masters of every craft, as overseers (and) commanders to instruct (the settlers) in correct behavior (and how) to revere god and king. After I had completed work on the city and my palatial halls, I invited the great gods who dwell in Assyria (to come) inside them and I held a celebration for them. From rulers from the east and the west, I received as their substantial audience gift(s) gold, silver, (and) everything valuable befitting these palatial halls. May every work of my hands be acceptable to the gods who dwell in this city. May they then forever decree that (they will) inhabit their shrines and that my reign will be firmly established. (As for) the one who alters the work of my hands, mutilates my features (on a relief), obliterates the reliefs that I have engraved, or effaces my own representation(s), may the gods Sîn, Šamaš, Adad, and the great gods who dwell there remove his name (and) his descendant(s) from the land and make him live in bondage under his enemy.

Sargon II 010 — Pavement 1 Inscription

Slab; stone; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). 4 known exemplars. Sargon II 010; RINAP Q006491.

Obverse

Palace of Sargon (II), great king, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of the land of Sumer and Akkad; the king who with the support of the gods Aššur, Nabû, (and) Marduk ruled all together from the land Yadnana (Cyprus), which is in the middle of the sea, as far as the border(s) of Egypt (and) the land Musku, the wide land Amurru, the land Ḫatti (Syria) in its entirety, (10) all of (the land) Gutium, the distant Medes (who live) on the border of Mount Bikni, the lands Ellipi (and) Rāši on the border of the land Elam, all the Arameans who live beside the Tigris, Surappu, (and) Uqnû Rivers, all the Sutians, the people of the steppe (15) of the land Yadburu, as many as there are, from the city Tīl-Ḫumba which is on the border of Elam, the land Karduniaš (Babylonia) from one end to the other (lit.: “above and below”), all of Chaldea, (and) the land Bīt-Yakīn, which is on the shore of the sea, as far as the border of Dilmun; (20) (who) set eunuchs of his as provincial governors over them, and imposed the yoke of his lordship upon them.

Sargon II 011 — Pavement 2 Inscription

Slab; stone; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). 2 known exemplars. Sargon II 011; RINAP Q006492.

Obverse

Palace of Sargon (II), king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of the land of Sumer and Akkad; the king who with the support of the gods Aššur, Nabû, (and) Marduk ruled all together from the land Yadnana (Cyprus), which is in the middle of the Western Sea, (5) as far as the border(s) of Egypt and the land Musku, the wide land Amurru, the land Ḫatti (Syria) in its entirety, all of (the land) Gutium, the distant Medes (who live) on the border of Mount Bikni, the lands Ellipi (and) Rāši on the border of the land Elam, (10) all the Arameans who live beside the Tigris, Surappu, (and) Uqnû Rivers, as far as the cities Dunni-Šamaš, Bubê, (and) Tīl-Ḫumba which are on the border of the land Elam, the land Karduniaš (Babylonia) from one end to the other (lit.: “above and below”), all of Chaldea, as much as there is (of it), (and) the land Bīt-Yakīn, (15) which is on the shore of the sea, as far as the border of Dilmun; (the one who) set eunuchs of his as provincial governors over them, and imposed the yoke of his lordship upon them. At that time, in accordance with divine will, he built a city at the foot of Mount Muṣri, upstream from Nineveh, and named it Dūr-Šarrukīn. He built inside it a palace using (lit.: “of”) elephant ivory, ebony, boxwood, musukkannu-wood, cedar, cypress, daprānu-juniper, juniper, and terebinth to be his royal residence and (25) he roofed it (lit.: “them”) with large beams of cedar. He bound the doors of cypress (and) musukkannu-wood with band(s) of shining copper and installed (them) in its (lit.: “their”) entrance(s). He had built in front of its (lit.: “their”) gates a portico (bīt appâti), a replica of a Hittite palace, which is called a bīt ḫilāni in the language of Amurru. Eight twin lion (colossi) of shining copper that (weigh) 4,610 full (lit.: “tested”) talents (and) that were cast by the craft of the god Ninagal and filled with radiance — upon (those) lion colossi he installed four matching cedar columns, (35) whose diameter(s) are one nindanu each, the product of Mount Amanus; and he positioned cross-beams (upon them) as a cornice for its (lit. their) gates. He skillfully fashioned magnificent mountain sheep colossi of massive mountain stone and in the four directions he had (them) hold their door bolt(s). (40) He depicted the settlements that he had conquered upon large limestone slabs and surrounded its (lit. their) lower courses (with them). He made (them) an object of wonder. He pl[ac]ed inside these palatial halls [representa]tions — (made) by the craft of the sculptor — of the settlements of every land that he had conquered, from east to west, by the strength of the god Aššur.

Sargon II 012 — Pavement 3 Inscription

Slab; stone; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). 5 known exemplars. Sargon II 012; RINAP Q006493.

Obverse

Palace of Sargon (II), king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of the land of Sumer and Akkad; the king who with the support of the gods Aššur, Nabû, (and) Marduk, ruled (lit.: “I ruled”) all together from the land Yadnana (Cyprus), which is in the middle of the Western Sea, as far as the border(s) of Egypt and the land Musku, the wide land Amurru, the land Ḫatti (Syria) in its entirety, (10) all of (the land) Gutium, the distant Medes (who live) on the border of Mount Bikni, the lands Ellipi (and) Rāši on the border of the land Elam, all the Arameans who live beside the Tigris, Surappu, (and) Uqnû Rivers, (15) as far as the cities Dunni-Šamaš, Bubê, (and) Tīl-Ḫumba which are on the border of the land Elam, the land Karduniaš (Babylonia) from one end to the other (lit.: “above and below”), all of Chaldea, as much as there is (of it), (and) the land Bīt-Yakīn, which is on the shore of the sea, as far as the border of Dilmun; (20) I set eunuchs of mine as provincial governors over them and imposed the yoke of my lordship upon them. At that time, using (as laborers) enemy people that I had conquered, whom the gods Aššur, (25) Nabû, (and) Marduk had made bow down at my feet, and (who) (now) pull my yoke, (and) in accordance with divine will (and) my heart’s desire, I built a city at the foot of Mount Muṣri, upstream from Nineveh, and named it Dūr-Šarrukīn. I built inside it (the city) a palace using (lit.: “of”) elephant ivory, ebony, boxwood, musukkannu-wood, cedar, cypress, daprānu-juniper, juniper, and terebinth to be my royal residence. I then invited the god Aššur, the great lord, and the (other) gods who dwell in Assyria, (35) (to come) inside it, and I offered pure, honorific sacrifices before them. I received substantial audience gift(s) from rulers from the four quarters (of the world), who had submitted to the yoke of my lordship and (thereby) saved their lives, (along) with (gifts) from the provincial governors of my land, (40) overseers, commanders, nobles, eunuchs, and temple administrators. I had them sit down for a banquet and held a festival.

Sargon II 013 — Pavement 4 Inscription

Slab; stone; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). 9 known exemplars. Sargon II 013; RINAP Q006494.

Obverse

Palace of Sargon (II), great king, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of the land of Sumer and Akkad, favorite of the great gods; who provides for (the cities) Sippar, Nippur, (and) Babylon; who abolished corvée duty for (the cities) Dēr, Ur, Uruk, Eridu, Larsa, Kullaba, Kissik, (and) Nēmed-Laguda (and) who gave relief to their people; who (re)-established the privileged status (10) of (the city) Baltil (Aššur) that had lapsed; who extended his protection over the city Ḫarrān and recorded their exemption (from obligations) as if (its people were) people of the gods Anu and Dagān; the valiant man who brought about the defeat of Ḫumbanigaš (Ḫumban-nikaš I), the Elamite; (15) who destroyed the land Karalla, the land Šurda, the city Kišesim, the city Ḫarḫar, the land Media, (and) the land Ellipi, (and) imposed the yoke of the god Aššur (upon them); who laid waste to the land Urarṭu, plundered the city Muṣaṣir, (20) slaughtered the lands Andia (and) Zikirtu, (and) pacified the land Mannea; who made the rulers of the land Hamath, the city Carchemish, and the land Kummuḫu tremble (and) plundered the land Kammanu; who deported Gunzinānu from (25) the city Melid, his (Gunzinānu’s) royal city, and set officials over all of their lands; who did away with the kingship of Tarḫu-lara of the city Marqasa (and) who made all of the land Gurgum (part of) the territory of Assyria; who conquered the city Samaria and all of the land Bīt-Ḫumria (Israel); who plundered the cities Ashdod (and) Šinuḫtu; who caught the Ionians who (live in) the middle of the sea (35) like fish; who deported (the people of) the land Kasku, all of the land Tabal, and the land Ḫilakku, (and) drove out Mitâ (Midas), king of the land Musku; who brougt about the defeat of Egypt in the land Raphia and counted (40) Ḫanūnu (Hanno), king of the city Gaza as booty; who subjugated seven kings of the land Yāʾ — a region of the land Yadnana (Cyprus) — whose abode is situated at a distance of seven days (journey) in the middle of the sea; moreover, (who)se great hand defeated Marduk-apla-iddina (II) (Merodach-Baladan), king of Chaldea, who dwelt on the shore of the sea (and) who exercised kingship over Babylon against the will of the gods; (50) (who) divided up all of his (Marduk-apla-iddina’s) wide land into equal parts, assigned (them) to the authority of a eunuch of his (Sargon’s), the governor of Babylon, and a(nother) eunuch of his, the governor of the land Gambulu, and imposed his yoke (upon them) — Upēri, (55) king of Dilmun, who(se) lair is situated at a distance of thirty leagues in the middle of the sea, like that of a fish, heard of his (Sargon’s) lordly might, and brought (him) his audience gift; (the one who) with the power and might (granted him by) the great gods, his lords, mobilized his weapons and cut down all his foes; (who) ruled all together from the land Yadnana (Cyprus), which is in the middle of the Western Sea, as far as the border(s) of Egypt (65) and the land Musku, the wide land Amurru, the land Ḫatti (Syria) in its entirety, all of the land Gutium, the distant Medes (who live) on the border of Mount Bikni, the lands Ellipi (and) Rāši on the border (70) of the land Elam, those who (live) beside the Tigris River — the Ituʾu, Rubuʾu, Ḫatallu, Labdudu, Ḫamrānu, Ubulu, Ruʾuʾa, (and) Liʾtaʾu (tribes) — (75) those who (live) beside the Surappu and Uqnû Rivers — the Gambulu, Ḫindaru, (and) Puqudu (tribes) — the Sutians, the people of the steppe of the land Yadburu, as many as there are, from the land Samʾūna (80) as far as the cities Bubê (and) Tīl-Ḫumba which are on the border of the land Elam, the land Karduniaš (Babylonia) from one end to the other (lit.: “above and below”), the lands Bīt-Amukkāni, Bīt-Dakkūri, Bīt-Šilāni, (and) Bīt-Saʾalli, all of (85) Chaldea, as much as there is (of it), the land Bīt-Yakīn, which is on the shore of the sea, as far as the border of Dilmun; (who) set eunuchs of his as provincial governors over them and imposed the yoke of his lordship upon them. At that time, using (as laborers) enemy people whom he had captured, whom the gods Aššur, Nabû, and Marduk, his divine helpers, had granted (to him) as his lot, in accordance with divine will (95) (and) his heart’s desire, he built a city at the foot of Mount Muṣri, upstream from the city Nineveh, and named it Dūr-Šarrukīn. He built inside it (the city) palatial halls using (lit.: “of”) elephant ivory, ebony, boxwood, musukkannu-wood, cedar, cypress, daprānu-juniper, juniper, and terebinth (100) to be his royal residence and he roofed them with large beams of cedar. He bound the doors of cypress (and) musukkannu-wood with band(s) of shining copper and installed (them) in (105) their entrance(s). He had built in front of their gates a portico (bīt appāti), a replica of a Hittite palace, which is called a bīt ḫilāni in the language of Amurru. Eight twin lion (colossi) of shining copper that weigh 4,610 (110) full (lit.: “tested”) talents (and) that were cast by the craft of the god Ninagal and filled with radiance — upon (those) lion colossi he installed four matching cedar columns, whose diameter(s) are one nindanu each, the product of (115) Mount Amanus; and he positioned cross-beams (upon them) as a cornice for their gates. He had magnificent mountain sheep colossi of massive mountain stone skillfully made and in the four directions he had (them) hold their (the gates’) door bolt(s). He depicted the settlements that he had conquered upon large limestone slabs and surrounded their (the palatial halls’) lower courses (with them). He made (them) an object of wonder. He invited the god Aššur, the great lord, and the great gods who dwell in Assyria (to come) inside them (the palace halls), and he offered pure sacrifices before them. He offered them gifts of red ṣāriru-gold (and) pure silver as (his) substantial audience gift, and (thus) made their (the gods’) moods joyful. May the god Aššur, the father of the gods, steadfastly look upon this palace with his holy, radiant face and (135) may he ordain its renovation for future days. May (the following commands) come from (lit.: “be set in”) his holy mouth: May the guardian spirit (and) the protective god stay continually in it, day and night, and (140) may they never leave it. At his command, may the ruler who constructed it live long (and) reach extreme old age. May its builder remain in good health forever. May (the following command) issue (145) from his (the god Aššur’s) holy lips. May the one who dwells inside it (the palace) rejoice there in physical well-being, merriment, and happiness, (and) may he be fully satisfied with (his) good fortune.

Sargon II 014 — Pavement 5 Inscription

Slab; stone; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). British Museum, London, UK. 4 known exemplars. Sargon II 014; RINAP Q006495.

Obverse

Palace of Sargon (II), great king, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of the land of Sumer and Akkad, favorite of the great gods. I continually act[ed] as provider for (the cities) Sippar, Nippur, Babylon, and Borsippa; I [(re)-established] the freedom (from obligations) of (the cities) Dēr, Ur, Uruk, Eridu, Larsa, Kulla[ba], Kissik, (and) Nēmed-La[gu]da. I restored the exemption (from obligations) of (the city) [Bal]til (Aššur) (10) and [the city] Ḫarrā[n], which had fallen into [oblivion] in the distant [pa]st, and [their privile]ged status that had lapsed. By the strength of the great gods, lords, I regularly advanced and made uncompliant land[s] (and) insubmissive mountain regions bow down at my feet. I ruled all together from the land Yadnana (Cyprus), which is in the middle of the Western Sea, (15) as far as the border(s) of Egypt and the land Musku, the wide land Amurru, the land Ḫatti (Syria) in its entirety, all of (the land) Gutium, the distant Medes (who live) on the border of Mount Bikni, the lands Ellipi (and) Rāši on the border of the land Elam, the Arameans who (live) beside the Tigris, (20) Surappu, (and) Uqnû Rivers, all the Sutians, the people of the steppe of the land Yadburu, as many as there are, from the cities Samʾūna, Bāb-dūri, Dūr-Telīte, Bubê, (and) Tīl-Ḫumba which are on the border of the land Elam, the land Karduniaš (Babylonia) from end to end (lit.: “above and below”), all of the Chaldeans, (25) as many as there are, (and) the land Bīt-Yakīn, which is [on the shore] of the sea, as far as the border of Dilmun; I set eunuchs of mine as provincial governors over them and imposed the y[oke] of my lordship upon them. At that time, using (as laborers) enemy people whom I had captured, [whom] the gods Aššur, Nabû, (30) and Mar[duk] had [made bow down at] my feet, [and] (who) (now) pull my yoke, [in] accordance with divine will (and) my [hea]rt’s desire, I built a city a[t the foo]t of Mount Muṣri, upst[ream from Nineveh], and [nam]ed it Dūr-Šarru[kīn]. I built inside it (the city) palatial halls using (lit.: “of”) elephant ivory, ebony, [boxwood], musukkannu-wood, cedar, cypress, daprānu-juniper, juniper, and terebinth [to be] my [roy]al [residence] and I [roofed] them with large [ce]dar [beams]. I [bound the doors] of cypress (and) musukkannu-wood [with band(s)] of shi[ning] copper [and installed (them) in their entrance(s). (40) I had built in front of th]eir [gates a po]rtico ([bīt] appāti), a replica of a [Hittite] pal[ace, which is] called a bīt ḫilāni [in the language of the land Amurru]. [Eight tw]in [lion (colossi) of shining copper] that weigh 4,[610 full (lit.: “tested”) talen]ts (and) [that] were cast [by the craft of the god N]inagal [and filled with radiance — upon (those) lion colossi I instal]led [four match]ing [cedar columns], whose [diameter(s) are] one nindanu [each, the product of Mount Amanus]; and [I positioned] cross-beams (upon them) as a cornice [for their gates]. I [had magnificent mountain sheep colossi of mass]ive [mountain stone] skillfully [made and in the four directions I had (them) hold] their (the gates’) [door] bolt(s). [I] depicted [the settlements that I had conquered upon large limestone] s[labs; [...]. (Lacuna)

Sargon II 015 — VA 00137

Slab; stone; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). Musée Municipal Auguste Grasset, Varzy, France. 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 015; RINAP Q006496.

Obverse

Lacuna [With ... provincial governors of] my [land], ov[erseers, command]ers, noble[s, eunuch]s, and el­[ders of Assyria, I sat down] insi[de my palace and h]eld a fest[ival. Lacuna

Sargon II 016 — Harem Inscription A: Ninurta

Slab; stone; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 016; RINAP Q006497.

Obverse

O god Ninurta, the one endowed with (lit.: “lord of”) power, whose strength is supreme, with regard to S[ar]gon (II), king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of the land of Su[me]r and Akkad, the one who constructed your cella, make him attain old age. May he be fully satisfied with (his) good fortune. (5) Establish his reign firmly [in]side Esagila and Ešarra. Keep his thoroughbred horses in good order (and) his (chariot) teams in good condition. Grant him [un]equaled strength (and) manly might. Mobilize his weapons so that he might strike down his foes.

Sargon II 017 — Harem Inscription B: Ninšiku

Slab; stone; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 017; RINAP Q006498.

Obverse

O god Ninšiku (Ea), the lord of wisdom who fashions absolutely everything, make your springs open up for Sargon (II), king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of the land of Sumer and Akkad, the one who constructed your cella. (5) Send forth (water from) his wells (and) provide water in great abundance for his meadowland(s). Determine as his fate wide intelligence (and) broad understanding. Bring his undertaking(s) to completion so that he might attain his desire.

Sargon II 018 — Harem Inscription: Sîn

Slab; stone; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 018; RINAP Q006499.

Obverse

O god Sîn, the holy god, who renders decisions (and) reveals (ominous) signs, with regard to Sargon (II), king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of the land of Sumer and Akkad, the one who constructed your cella, duly look at him with your steadfast heart and (5) direct your just countenance upon him. Grant him a long life (lit.: “distant days”) of physical well-being. Determine as his fate years of happiness. Make his reign last as long as heaven and netherworld. Establish his throne firmly over the four quarters (of the world).

Sargon II 019 — Harem Inscription: Adad

Slab; stone; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 019; RINAP Q006500.

Obverse

O god Adad, the canal inspector of heaven and netherworld, who illuminates the daises, with regard to Sargon (II), king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of the land of Sumer and Akkad, the one who constructed your cella, bring him at the right times rain from the sky (and) (5) floods from the depths. Pile up grain and oil in his meadowland(s). Have his people dwell (as safely) as in a meadow in great prosperity. Establish the foundation of his throne firmly (and) prolong his reign.

Sargon II 020 — Harem Inscription: Ningal

Slab; stone; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 020; RINAP Q006501.

Obverse

O most honored of ladies, exalted goddess Ningal, with regard to Sargon (II), king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of the land of Sumer and Akkad, the one who constructed your cella, intercede for him in the presence of the god Sîn, your beloved husband. (5) Say good thing(s) about him for the [firm] establishment of his reign. May he (Sîn) determine as his fate good health (and) a long life (lit.: “distant days”). May his (Sargon’s) descendants rule every inhabited region forever.

Sargon II 021 — Harem Inscription: Šamaš

Slab; stone; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 021; RINAP Q006502.

[No transliteration or translation is published for this text on RINAP Online; the catalogue entry above is everything the project currently makes available for it.]

Sargon II 022 — Nabû Temple Inscription

Slab; stone; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). 10 known exemplars. Sargon II 022; RINAP Q006503.

Obverse

O god Nabû, the scribe of all (the universe), who makes opposing forces agree, with regard to Sargon (II), king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, (and) king of the land of Sumer and Akkad, the one who constructed your cella, (5) duly look at him with your steadfast heart and direct your just countenance upon him. Grant him a long life (lit.: “distant days”) of physical well-being. Determine as his fate years of happiness. Make his reign last as long (10) as heaven and netherworld. May he continually exercise the shepherdship of all lands. May his foundation be as firm as (this) edifice (lit.: “place”) and (its) platform.

Sargon II 023 — Room II, slab 7 epigraph (Ḫarḫar)

Wall slab (with reliefs); stone; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 023; RINAP Q006504.

Obverse

The city Ḫarḫar.

Sargon II 024 — Room II, slab 14 epigraph (Kindāu)

Wall slab (with reliefs); stone; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 024; RINAP Q006505.

Obverse

The city Qindāu.

Sargon II 025 — Room II, slab 17 epigraph ([T]ikrakka)

Wall slab (with reliefs); stone; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 025; RINAP Q006506.

Obverse

The city [T]ikrakka.

Sargon II 026 — Room II, slab 22 epigraph (Kišesim)

Wall slab (with reliefs); stone; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 026; RINAP Q006507.

Obverse

The city Kišesim.

Sargon II 027 — Room II, slab 28 epigraph (Ganguḫtu)

Wall slab (with reliefs); stone; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 027; RINAP Q006508.

Obverse

The city Ganguḫtu.

Sargon II 028 — Doorway H1 epigraph (Bīt-Bagaia)

Wall slab (with reliefs); stone; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 028; RINAP Q006509.

Obverse

The city Bīt-Bagāya.

Sargon II 029 — Room V, slab 5 epigraph (Gabbutunu)

Wall slab (with reliefs); stone; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 029; RINAP Q006510.

Obverse

The city Gabbutunu.

Sargon II 030 — Room V, slab 10 epigraph (’Amqa-(…)ruṣu)

Wall slab (with reliefs); stone; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 030; RINAP Q006511.

Obverse

The city ʾAmqa[...]ruṣu.

Sargon II 031 — Room V, slab 15 epigraph (Ba’il-gazara)

Wall slab (with reliefs); stone; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 031; RINAP Q006512.

Obverse

The city Baʾil-gazara.

Sargon II 032 — Room V, slab 16 epigraph (Sinu)

Wall slab (with reliefs); stone; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 032; RINAP Q006513.

Obverse

The city Sinu.

Sargon II 033 — Room VIII, slab 12 epigraph

Wall slab (with reliefs); stone; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 033; RINAP Q006514.

Obverse

No translation possible. Lacuna

Sargon II 034 — Room VIII, slab 17 epigraph (Aššur-lē’i)

Wall slab (with reliefs); stone; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 034; RINAP Q006515.

Obverse

... of the city Pad[dira] ... of the city [... (and)] Aššur-lēʾi [of the land] Karal[la ...] I put ir[on] fetters on th[eir] hands and feet [...]

Sargon II 035 — Room VIII, slab 25 epigraph (Iaū-bi’[dī])

Wall slab (with reliefs); stone; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 035; RINAP Q006516.

Obverse

I flayed [the sk]in from Ia<ū>-biʾ[dī (Ilu-biʾdī) of the land Hama]th.

Sargon II 036 — Room XIII, slab 4 epigraph (Muṣaṣir)

Wall slab (with reliefs); stone; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 036; RINAP Q006517.

Obverse

I surrounded (and) conquered the city Muṣaṣir.

Sargon II 037 — Room XIV, slab 2 epigraph (Pazaši)

Wall slab (with reliefs); stone; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 037; RINAP Q006518.

Obverse

The city Pazaši, a fortress of the land Mannea which is (located) in front of the p[a]ss (leading) to the land Zikirtu.

Sargon II 038 — Room XIV, slab 10 epigraph (Tak[lāk-ana-Bēl])

Wall slab (with reliefs); stone; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 038; RINAP Q006519.

Obverse

Camp of Tak[lāk-ana-Bēl].

Sargon II 039 — Room XIV, slab 12 epigraph (Kišešlu)

Wall slab (with reliefs); stone; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 039; RINAP Q006520.

Obverse

I surrounded (and) conquered the city Kišešlu.

Sargon II 040 — Epigraph, unknown room

Wall slab (with reliefs); stone; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 040; RINAP Q006521.

Obverse

I surrounded (and) conquered ...

Sargon II 041 — Inscription on back of wall slabs and bull colossi

Wall slab (with reliefs); human-headed bull colossus; stone; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). Exemplars held across 4 collections, including Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA. 62 known exemplars. Sargon II 041; RINAP Q006522.

Obverse

Palace of Sargon (II), appointee of the god Enlil, nešakku-priest of (the god) Aššur, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, king of the four quarters (of the world), favorite of the great gods; who (re)-established the šubarrû-privileges of (the cities) Sippar, Nippur, (and) Babylon, (and) protects the weak among them (lit.: “their weak ones”); who provides food for the destitute (and) made restitution for the wrongful damage suffered by them; who (re)established (5) the privileged status of (the city) Baltil (Aššur) that had lapsed, who abolished corvée duty for (the city) Dēr (and) gave relief to their weary people; (most) capable of all rulers, who extended his protection over the city Ḫarrān and recorded its exemption (from obligations) as if (its people were) people of the gods Anu (and) Dagān; the king, who since the (first) day of his reign, has had no equal and has met no one who could overpower (him) in war or battle; (10) (who) smashed all (enemy) lands as if (they were) pots and put halters on (all) rebels in the four (quarters of the world); (who) set eunuchs of his as governors over them and imposed upon them (the same) tribute (and) payment(s) as if (they were) Assyrians. With my wide knowledge and broad intelligence that the god Ea (and) the goddess Bēlet-ilī had made greater than those of the kings, my ancestors, (15) (and) in accordance with my heart’s desire, I built a city at the foot of Mount Muṣri, a mountain on the outskirts of Nineveh, and I named it Dūr-Šarrukīn. I had firmly-founded daises skillfully built inside it for the gods Ea, Sîn, Šamaš, Adad, and Ninurta. I built a palace using (lit.: “of”) elephant ivory, ebony, boxwood, musukkannu-wood, cedar, cypress, daprānu-juniper, juniper, (and) terebinth (20) to be my royal residence; I fashioned a bīt ḫilāni, a replica of a Hittite palace, at their gates and roofed them with beams of cedar (and) cypress. I erected at their entrances animals made of shining stone in the image of creatures of the mountain and sea and installed doors of cypress (and) musukkannu-wood in their gates. I made its wall as secure as a mountain massif (25) and settled there people of the lands that I had conquered — as many as the god Šamaš shepherded. The great gods who dwell in heaven (and) netherworld, and the gods who dwell in this city, have granted me the eternal (privilege of) building (this) city (and) growing old in it.

Sargon II 042 — Inscription on the back of a slab from Gate A

Wall slab (with reliefs); stone; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). Iraq Museum, Baghdad, Iraq. 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 042; RINAP Q006523.

Obverse

Palace of Sargon, great king, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of the land of Sumer and Akkad, king of the four quarters (of the world), favorite of the great gods; the king who with the support of the gods Aššur, Nabû, (and) Marduk ruled all together from the land Yadnana (Cyprus), which is in the middle of the Western Sea, as far as Egypt and the land Musku, the wide land Amurru, the land Ḫatti (Syria) in its entirety, all of the land Gutium, the distant Medes (who live) on the border of Mount Bikni, the lands Ellipi (and) (10) Rāši on the border of the land Elam, all the Arameans who live beside the Tigris, Surappu, (and) Uqnû Rivers, as far as the cities Dunni-Šamaš, Bubê, (and) Tīl-Ḫumba on the border of the land Elam, the land Karduniaš (Babylonia) from one end to the other (lit.: “above and below”), (15) all of Chaldea, as much as there is (of it), (and) the land Bīt-Yakīn, which is on the shore of the sea, as far as the border of Dilmun; (who) set eunuchs of his as provincial governors over them and imposed the yoke of his lordship upon them.

Sargon II 043 — Khorsabad Cylinder Inscription

Prismatic cylinder; clay; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). Exemplars held across 8 collections, including Louvre Museum, Paris, France. 58 known exemplars. Sargon II 043; RINAP Q006524.

Obverse

Sargon (II), appointee of the god Enlil, nešakku-priest (and) desired object of the god Aššur, chosen of the gods Anu and Dagān, great king, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, king of the four quarters (of the world), favorite of the great gods; just shepherd, (one) to whom the gods Aššur (and) Marduk granted a reign without equal and whose reputation (these gods) exalt to the heights; who (re)-established the šubarrû-privileges of (the cities) Sippar, Nippur, (and) Babylon, protects the weak among them (lit.: “their weak ones”), (and) made restitution for the wrongful damage suffered by them; who (re)-established the privileged status of (the city) Baltil (Aššur) that had lapsed, who abolished corvée duty for (the city) Dēr, (and) who gave relief to their people; (most) capable of all rulers, who extended his protection over the city Ḫarrān and recorded its exemption (from obligations) as if (its people were) people of the gods Anu and Dagān; the strong man who is clad in awesome splendor (and) whose weapons are raised to strike down (his) enemies; the king who since the (first) day of his reign has had no ruler who could equal him and has met no one who could overpower (him) in war or battle; (who) smashed all (enemy) lands as if (they were) pots and put halters on (all) rebels in the four (quarters of the world); (10) (who) opened up innumerable distant mountainous areas whose pass(es) are difficult and visited their remotest region(s); (who) traversed inaccessible, difficult paths in terrifying location(s) and crossed every swamp; (who) ruled from the land Rāši on the border of the land Elam, the Puqudu (and) Damūnu (tribes), the cities Dūr-Kurigalzu (and) Rapiqu, the entire desert as far as the Brook of Egypt, the wide land Amurru, (and) the land Ḫatti (Syria) in its entirety; (who)se great hand conquered (the area) from the land Ḫašmar to the land Ṣibar — which borders on the distant Medes in the east — the lands Namri, Ellipi, (15) Bīt-Ḫamban, Parsua(š), Mannea, Urarṭu, Kasku, (and) Tabal, as far as the land Musku; (who) set eunuchs of his as governors over them and imposed upon them (the same) tribute (and) payment(s) as if (they were) Assyrians; the valiant man who met Ḫumbanigaš (Ḫum­ban-nikaš I), king of the land Elam, (in battle) on the outskirts of (the city) Dēr and brought about his defeat; who deported the Tešian (king) (and) cut down his elite troops; who plundered the land Tuʾmūna, who(se people) had arrested their sheikh and brought (him) before the king of Chaldea; who made the wide land Bīt-Ḫumria (Israel) tremble, brought about the defeat of Egypt at the city Raphia, and brought Ḫanūnu (Hanno), king of the city Gaza, to the city Aššur in bondage; (20) who conquered the Tamudu, Ibādidi, Marsīmani, (and) Ḫayappa (tribes), whose remnants were transferred here and (whom) I (re)settled in the land Bīt-Ḫumria (Israel); skilled in war, who caught the Ionians in the middle of the sea like fish, as a fowler (does), and pacified the land Que (Cilicia) and the city Tyre; the heroic king who cut through the fruit trees of the city Šinuḫtu, laid waste its settlements, (and) kept Kiakki, their king, in check as if with a clamp; who deported (the people of) the land Bīt-Purutaš, whose king, Ambaris, had forgotten the kindness (shown to him) by Sargon and had put his trust in the king(s) of the lands Urarṭu and Musku; (the one with) powerful arms, who drove out Mitâ (Midas), king of the land Musku, brought back (to Assyrian control) the fortress(es) of the land Que (Cilicia) that had been taken away (by the enemy), (and) expanded their borders; the brave one, fearless in battle, who eradicated the land Hamath (and) dyed the skin of the rebel Ilu-biʾdī as red as red wool; who plundered the land Carchemish of the evil Ḫittite (king) (and) whose great hand conquered Pisīri(s), their subject who (always) spoke treachery; who laid waste to the land Urarṭu (and) plundered the city Muṣaṣir; in great fear of whom Ursâ (Rusâ), king of the land Urarṭu, brought an end to his life with his own weapon; who (deported and) settled elsewhere (the people of) the cities Pāpa, Lalluknu, Sukkia, Bāla, (and) Abitikna who had conspired with the land Kakmê for the purpose of separating (from Assyria); who overwhelmed the lands Andia (and) Zikirtu, slaughtered all their people like sheep, and splattered all (his) enemies with deadly venom; the victorious one who is perfect in strength and power (and) who subjugated the insubmissive Medes; who slaughtered the people of the land Ḫarḫar (and) enlarged the territory of Assyria; who gathered (back together) the scattered land Mannea (and) brought order to the disturbed land Ellipi; who established (his) kingship over both (these) lands and made his name glorious; who trampled down the land Ḫabḫu, (a land) of stepped mountains, a dangerous enemy; who ousted (lit.: “ousts”) the rebel Ittî of the land Allabria from his city; who destroyed the land Karalla, dyed the skin of Aššur-lēʾi, their city ruler, red like the illūru-plant, and imposed the yoke of (the god) Aššur upon Adâ of the land Šurda; the wise king who occupies himself with good matters, (who) turned his attention to (re)settling abandoned pasture lands, opening up unused land, (and) planting orchards; (35) (who) conceived the idea of raising crops on high mountain(-slopes) where no vegetation had ever sprouted; (who) was minded to provide with rows of furrows the waste land which had known no plow under previous kings, to have (the plowmen) sing the alālu-work song, to open up for watering place(s) the springs of a meadowland without wells, and to irrigate all around (lit.: “above and below”) with water as abundant as the surge at the (annual) inundation; the king, intelligent (and) skilled in every craft, equal to the sage (Adapa), who grew great in intelligence and wisdom and matured in understanding — In order to provide the wide land of Assyria with fully sufficient nourishment, with well-being, (and) with tillenû befitting a king, (through) making their canals flow with water, (40) (and) to save humanity from famine (and) want, so that the destitute will not collapse at the bringing in of the grape (harvest), that there will be no interruption in what is desired by the sick, that oil — the pride of mankind that makes (tired) muscles relax — does not become expensive in my land, and that sesame might be purchased on the market as (cheaply as) barley, in order to provide lavish meal(s) fit for the table of god and king, to ... the land, (and) to make the fields around it reach (their) full value, day and night I planned to build this city. I ordered that a sanctuary be constructed within it for the god Šamaš, the great judge of the great gods, the one who makes me triumph. (With regard to) the town Maganubba, which is situated like a tower at the foot of Mount Muṣri, a mountain (rising) above the spring and (on) the outskirts of Nineveh, (45) not one of the three hundred and fifty previous rulers who had exercised lordship over Assyria before my time and had governed the subjects of the god Enlil had noted its (the city’s) site or come to know how to make it habitable; nor had one ordered the digging of a canal for it. With my broad knowledge that was abundantly provided with understanding and full of cleverness by the command of the divine “King of Deep (apsû)” (Ea), the lord of wisdom, and with my broad intelligence that the goddess Ninmenanna, the creator of the gods, had made greater than that of the kings, my ancestors, I planned earnestly day and night how to settle that city (and) how to erect (there) a great shrine — a cella for the great gods — and palatial halls to be my lordly abode; I ordered its construction. In accordance with the saying of my name that the great gods had given to me — to protect truth and justice, to guide the powerless, (and) to prevent the harming of the weak — I reimbursed the owners (of the expropriated fields) with silver and bronze, the price for the (expropriated) fields of that town being in accordance with the (original) purchase documents (of those fields); in order that there should be no wrongdoing, I gave to those who did not want (to take) silver for (their) field(s), field(s) corresponding (in value) to (their own) field(s) (and located) wherever they chose. Facing east, I raised my two hands in entreaty to the gods Sigga (“Gracious One”) and Lugal-dingira (“King of the God(s)”), the judges of humanity, with regard to building it (the new city); to the west, I raised up my hand(s) (in supplication) to the goddess Šauška, the awe-inspiring one of Nineveh that in the future I might enter into it (Dūr-Šarrukīn) with happiness and in good health. (55) The just word(s) of my mouth were as pleasing as the finest oil to the august deities, my lords, and they commanded me to build the city (and) to dig a canal (for it). I put my trust in their command that cannot be changed, mustered my numerous people, and had (them) take up the hoe (and) the work basket. In the month Ṣītaš (III) — the month of the son of the god Daragal, the one who renders decisions (and) reveals (ominous) signs, the divine light of heaven and netherworld, the hero of the gods, the god Sîn — which by the decree of the gods Anu, Enlil, and prince Ea was called the month of the god Kulla, (the month appropriate) for making bricks (and) building citi(es) and house(s), on the day of an eššešu-festival for the son of the god Bēl — the exceedingly wise god Nabû, the scribe of all (the universe), who gives orders to all the gods — I had its brickwork made. I offered a sacrifice to the god Kulla, the lord of foundations (and) brickwork, and to the god Mušda, the master builder of the god Enlil. I strewed aromatic offerings, and recited a šuilakku-prayer. In the month Abu (V) — the month of the descent (from heaven) of the god Gibil, who dries out the moist field(s) (and) lays the foundation of citi(es) and house(s) — I laid its foundation and established its brickwork. I built inside it for the deities Ea, Sîn and Ningal, Adad, Šamaš, (and) Ninurta firmly-founded daises which were made as firm as the mountains. At their august command, I built a palace using (lit.: “of”) elephant ivory, ebony, boxwood, musukkannu-wood, cedar, cypress, daprānu-juniper, and terebinth to be my royal residence; I fashioned a bīt-ḫilāni, a replica of a Hittite palace, in front of their gates and roofed them with beams of cedar (and) cypress. I made the length of its wall 16,280 cubits, (corresponding to) the rendering of my name, and I made its foundation secure upon (blocks of) massive mountain stone. In front and in back, on both sides, facing the eight winds, I opened eight gates (in the city wall). I named the gate of the god Šamaš and the gate of the god Adad that face the east “The God Šamaš Is the One Who Makes Me Triumph” (and) “The God Adad Is the One Who Maintains Its Prosperity” (respectively). I called the gate(s) of the god Enlil and the goddess Mullissu that face the north “The God Enlil Is the One Who Establishes the Foundation of My City” (and) “The Goddess Mullissu Is the One Who Restores Abundance” (respectively). I made the name(s) of the gate(s) of the god Anu and the goddess Ištar that face the west “The God Anu Is the One Who Makes My Undertakings Successful” (and) “The Goddess Ištar Is the One Who Makes Its People Flourish” (respectively). (70) I pronounced the names of the gate of the god Ea and the gate of the goddess Bēlet-ilī that face the south (to be) “The God Ea Is the One Who Keeps Its Spring(s) in Good Order” (and) “The Goddess Bēlet-Ilī Is the One Who Increases Its (Animals’) Offspring” (respectively). Its (city) wall was (called) “The God Aššur Is the One Who Prolongs the Reign of Its Royal Builder (and) Protects His Offspring.” Its outer wall was (called) “The God Ninurta Is the One Who Establishes the Foundation of the Wall for (All) Days to Come.” People from the four (quarters of the world), (speaking) foreign language(s) (and of) diverse speech, those who had dwelt in (both) mountain(s) and (low)land(s), as many as the “Light of the Gods” (Šamaš), the lord of all, shepherded, whom I had carried off as booty by the power of my staff at the command of the god Aššur, my lord, I made act in concert and (re)settled (them) inside it (Dūr-Šarrukīn). I commissioned native Assyrians, masters of every craft, as overseers (and) commanders to instruct (the settlers) in correct behavior (and how) to revere god and king. The gods who dwell in heaven (and) netherworld, and in this city, were amenable to my prayer and granted me the eternal (privilege of) building (this) city and growing old in it. (As for) the one who alters the work of my hands, mutilates my features (on a relief), obliterates the reliefs that I have engraved (lit.: “engrave”), (or) effaces my own representation(s), may the gods Aššur, Šamaš, Adad, and the gods who dwell there remove his name (and) his descendant(s) from the land and make him live in bondage under his enemy.

Sargon II 044 — Bronze Tablet Inscription

Tablet; metal: bronze; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). Louvre Museum, Paris, France. 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 044; RINAP Q006525.

Obverse

Pa[lace of Sa]rgon (II), appointee of the god Enlil, nešakku-priest of (the god) Aššur, [great k]in[g], strong [kin]g, king of the world, king of Assyria, king of the four quar[ters] (of the world), favorite of the great gods; [jus]t shephe[rd], (one) to whom the gods Aššur and Marduk granted a [reign] without equal and whose re[putat]ion (these gods) exalted to the heights; [who (re)-established] the šubarrû-privileges of (the cities) Sippar, Nippur, (and) [Babyl]on, protects the weak among them (lit.: “their weak ones”), (and) [makes] restitution for the wrongful damage suffered by them; who (re)-established (10) [the privileged] status of (the city) Baltil (Aššur) that had lapsed, abolished corvée duty for (the city) Dēr, (and) gave relief to their weary people; (most) capable of all rulers, who extended his protection over the city Ḫarrān and recorded its exemption (from obligations) [as] if (its people were) people of the gods Anu and Dagān; the strong man who is clothed in awesome splendor (and) whose weapons are raised to strike down (his) enemies; [the king], who since the (first) day of his reign has had no equal or met with anybody who could overpower him in war or battle; (20) (who) smashed all (enemy) lands [as] if (they were) pots and put halters on (all) rebels in the four (quarters of the world); (who) regularly set eunuchs of his as governors over them and imposed upon them (the same) tribute (and) payment(s) [as] if (they were) Assyrians. In accordance with my heart’s desire, I built a city at the foot of Mount Muṣri, a mountain on the outskirts of Nineveh, and named it Dūr-Šarrukīn. I erected firmly-founded daises for the gods Ea, Sîn, Šamaš, Adad, and Ninurta, the great gods, my lords, inside it.

Reverse

No translation possible. I bui[lt palatial] halls using (lit.: “of”) [elephant] ivory, [ebo]ny, [boxwood, musu]kkan[nu-wood, cedar, cypress], dap­rā­nu-juniper, juniper, [(and)] te[rebinth (...) to be] my royal [resi]dence. I then fashioned a bīt [ḫilāni, a repli]ca of a Hittite palace, in fr[ont of the]ir gates and [roo]fed them with beams of cedar (and) [cypr]ess. Limestone slabs (40) [...] ... I had surround ... [...] ... I made their foundation secure [...] ... [...] ... [...] ... [...] ... [...] ... [...] musukkannu-wood, lapis lazuli (45) [...] ... I bound and ... [...] ... [...]. I made [the length] of its wall [16,28]0 cubits, (corresponding to) the rendering of [m]y [na]me, and [I] made its foundation se[cu]re upon mountain stone. People from the four (quarters of the world), those who [had dw]elt in (both) [mount]ain(s) and (low)land(s), as many as the “Light of the Gods” (Šamaš), [the lord of al]l, shepherded, ... and I (re)settled (them) [inside] it (Dūr-Šarrukīn). I commissioned native Assyrians, masters of [eve]ry craft, as overseers (and) commanders to instruct (the settlers) in correct behavior (and how) [to revere god and ki]ng. [The gods who dwe]ll in heaven (and) netherworld, and in this city, [we]re [ame]nable to [my prayer and granted] me the eternal [(privilege of) bu]ilding (this) city and growing old in it. (As for) the one who alters the wo[rk of] my [hands], mutilates my [features] (on a relief), (or) obliterates [the rel]iefs that I have e[ngrave]d, [may the god Aššur], the goddess Ningal, the god [Adad, and th]e gre[at gods who dw]ell there [rem]ove his name (and) his descendant(s) [from the land] and make him live in bondage under his enemy.

Sargon II 045 — Silver Tablet Inscription

Tablet; metal: silver; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). Louvre Museum, Paris, France. 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 045; RINAP Q006526.

Obverse

Palace of Sargon (II), appointee of the god Enlil, nešakku-priest of the god Aššur, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria; king who ruled the four quarters (of the world), from east to west, and set governors (over them). At that time, in accordance with my heart’s desire, I built a city on the outskirts of Nineveh, at the foot of Mount Muṣri, and named it Dūr-Šarrukīn. I erected dwelling(s) for the gods Ea, Sîn, Šamaš, Adad, (and) Ninurta, the great gods, my lords, (15) inside it. I had images of their great divine majesties skillfully made and installed (them) on (their) eternal dais(es). I built inside it (the city) palatial halls using (lit.: “of”) elephant ivory, ebony, boxwood, musukkannu-wood, cedar, cypress, daprānu-juniper, juniper, and terebinth. I then enhanced their gates with a bīt ḫilāni, a replica of a Hittite palace. (25) Through the art of the god Nin[zadim], I had animals of the mountain and sea made from (blocks of) massive mountain stone; I made (them) as secure as a mountain inside them (the palatial halls) and made their entrances as bright as the moon. (30) I roofed them with beams of cedar (and) cypress and installed doors of ebony, boxwood, (and) musukkannu-wood in their gates. (35) I raised its strong walls like a mountain massif, made (them) ten large cubits thick, and constructed their crenellations on top of one hundred and eighty layers of brick. (40) I wrote my name upon tablets of gold, silver, copper, tin, lead, lapis lazuli, (and) alabaster and placed (them) in their foundations.

Reverse

May a future prince renovate its dilapidated sections, write his own commemorative inscription, and set (it) with my commemorative inscription. (The god) Aššur will (then) listen to his prayer(s). (As for) the one alters the work of my hands (or) effaces my own representation(s), may (the god) Aššur, the great lord, make his name (and) his descendant(s) disappear from the land.

Sargon II 046 — Gold Tablet Inscription

Tablet; metal: gold; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). Louvre Museum, Paris, France. 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 046; RINAP Q006527.

Obverse

Palace of Sargon (II), appointee of the god Enlil, nešakku-priest of the god Aššur, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria; (5) king who ruled the four quarters (of the world), from east to west, and set governors (over them). In accordance with my heart’s desire, I built a city at the foot of Mount Muṣri and named it Dūr-Šarrukīn. I erected dwelling(s) for the gods Ea, Sîn, Šamaš, Adad, and Ninurta inside it. The god Ninšiku (Ea), the creator of everything, fashioned images of their great divine majesties and they occupied (their) daises.

Reverse

I built inside it (the city) palatial halls using (lit.: “of”) elephant ivory, ebony, boxwood, musukkannu-wood, cedar, cypress, daprānu-juniper, (25) juniper, and terebinth. I then fashioned a bīt ḫilāni, a replica of a Hittite palace, in front of their gates (30) and roofed them with beams of cedar (and) cypress. I wrote my name upon tablet(s) of gold, silver, copper, tin, lead, lapis lazuli, (and) alabaster and placed (them) in their foundations. (As for) the one who alters the work of my hands (or) effaces my own representation(s), may (the god) Aššur, the great lord, make his name (and) his descendant(s) disappear from the land.

Sargon II 047 — Magnesite Tablet Inscription

Tablet; stone: magnesite; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). Louvre Museum, Paris, France. 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 047; RINAP Q006528.

Obverse

Palace of Sargon (II), appointee of the god Enlil, vice-regent for (the god) Aššur, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria; king who ruled the four quarters (of the world), from east to west, and set governors (over them). At that time, I built a city on the outskirts of Nineveh, at the foot of Mount Muṣri, (10) and named it Dūr-Šarrukīn. I erected dwelling(s) for the gods Sîn, Šamaš, Adad, (and) Ninurta, the great gods, inside it. I built inside it palatial halls using (lit.: “of”) elephant ivory, ebony, (15) boxwood, musukkannu-wood, cedar, cypress, (and) da[pr]ānu-juniper. I then wrote my name upon tablet(s) of gold, silver, copper, tin, lead, lapis lazuli, (and) alabaster and placed (them) in its foundations.

Reverse

May a future prince renovate its dilapidated sections, write his own commemorative inscription, and set (it) with my commemorative inscription. (The god) Aššur will (then) listen to his prayers.

Sargon II 048 — DŠ 32–13

Tablet; clay; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 048; RINAP Q006529.

Obverse

Lacuna I named [it Dūr-Šarrukīn. I erected dwelling(s) for the gods Ea], Sîn, Šamaš, A[dad, (and) Ninurta, the great gods], my lords, ins[ide it]. I had images of [their great] divi[ne majesties] skillfully made an[d installed (them) on] (their) etern[al] dais(es). [I built inside it (the city) palatial halls using (lit.: “of”) elephant ivory], ebony, boxwood, m[usukkann]u-wood, [cedar, cypress, daprānu-juniper, juniper, and terebinth]. Lacuna

Sargon II 049 — Stone Altar Inscription

Altar; stone; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). Exemplars held across 3 collections, including Louvre Museum, Paris, France. 16 known exemplars. Sargon II 049; RINAP Q006530.

Obverse

To the Sebetti, warrior(s) without equa[l], Sargon (II), king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of the land of Sumer and Akkad, set up and presented (this object).

Sargon II 050 — Walker, CBI 167 (Sargon II C)

Brick; clay; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). Exemplars held across 3 collections, including British Museum, London, UK. 23 known exemplars. Sargon II 050; RINAP Q006531.

Obverse

Palace of Sargon (II), appointee of the god Enlil, nešakku-priest of (the god) Aššur, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria.

Sargon II 051 — Winckler, Sargon 1 pl. 49 no. 8

Brick; clay; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). Louvre Museum, Paris, France; Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA. 8 known exemplars. Sargon II 051; RINAP Q006532.

Obverse

Palace of Sargon (II), king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of the land of Sumer and Akkad, builder of the city Dūr-Šarrukīn.

Sargon II 052 — Jacobsen, Khorsabad 1 p. 129 no. 2

Brick; clay; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). Louvre Museum, Paris, France. 4 known exemplars. Sargon II 052; RINAP Q006533.

Obverse

I, Sargon (II), king of the world, king of Assyria, built a city in accordance with my heart’s desire and named it Dūr-Šarrukīn. I built inside it a palace that was according to my wishes (and) that had no equal in the four quarters (of the world).

Sargon II 053 — Walker, CBI 168 (Sargon II D)

Brick; clay; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). Exemplars held across 6 collections, including British Museum, London, UK. 35 known exemplars. Sargon II 053; RINAP Q006534.

Obverse

Sargon (II), king of the world, built a city (and) named it Dūr-Šarrukīn. He constructed inside it its palace that has no equal.

Sargon II 054 — Walker, CBI 166 (Sargon II A)

Brick; clay; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). British Museum, London, UK; Iraq Museum, Baghdad, Iraq. 7 known exemplars. Sargon II 054; RINAP Q006535.

Obverse

I, Sargon (II), king of the world, king of Assyria, built a city and named it Dūr-Šarrukīn. For the sake of my life (and for) the firm establishment of my reign, I built inside it an abode for the gods Sîn (and) Šamaš.

Sargon II 055 — Botta, Monument de Ninive 4 pl. 183 no. 4

Brick; clay; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). Louvre Museum, Paris, France. 2 known exemplars. Sargon II 055; RINAP Q006536.

Obverse

Sargon (II), king of the world, king of Assyria, built the temple of the gods Sîn (and) Šamaš, his lords, that is inside the city Dūr-Šarrukīn from its foundations to its crenellations (5) for the sake of his life, the firm establishment of his reign, the success of the harvest of Assyria, (and) the well-being of Assyria.

Sargon II 056 — DŠ 39

Brick; clay; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 056; RINAP Q006537.

Obverse

Palace of Sargo[n (II), ...], king of Assyria, [...] that is inside the city Dūr-[Šar]ru[kīn ...]

Sargon II 057 — Glazed Bricks

Glazed brick frieze; clay; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). Louvre Museum, Paris, France. 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 057; RINAP Q006538.

Fragment A

No translation possible.

Fragment B

[...] ... [... the city] Ḫarḫar ... [...]

Fragment C

[...] the god Aššur, strong king [...] land Hamath [...]

Fragment D

Palace of [Sargon (II) ...] favorite of the [great] god[s ...]

Fragment E

[...] my [...] ... [...]

Fragment F

[...] inside [...] upon [...]

Fragment G

No translation possible.

Fragment H

[...] ... [...] the land Ma... [...]

Fragment I

No translation possible.

Fragment J

[...] Sarg[on ...]

Fragment K

[...] head [...] ... [(...)]

Fragment L

No translation possible.

Fragment M

[...] king [...]

Sargon II 058 — Glazed Brick ‘Hieroglyphs’

Glazed brick frieze; clay; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). 10 known exemplars. Sargon II 058; RINAP Q006539.

[No transliteration or translation is published for this text on RINAP Online; the catalogue entry above is everything the project currently makes available for it.]

Sargon II 059 — DŠ 32–1 (DS 521)

Bowl; clay; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 059; RINAP Q006540.

Obverse

[... Sargo]n, great king, strong king, king [...] foundations [...] ... the gods [...].

Sargon II 060 — DŠ 32–24 (DS 101)

Bowl; clay; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 060; RINAP Q006541.

Obverse

[...] strong king, king of the world, king of [Assyria ...] shrine [...] the great gods [...]

Sargon II 061 — N 03400

Eyestone; stone; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). Louvre Museum, Paris, France. 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 061; RINAP Q006542.

Obverse

To the goddess Ningal, his lady: Sargon (II), king of Assyria, presented (this object) for the sake of his life.

Sargon II 062 — AO 21368

Macehead; metal: bronze; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). Louvre Museum, Paris, France. 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 062; RINAP Q006543.

[No transliteration or translation is published for this text on RINAP Online; the catalogue entry above is everything the project currently makes available for it.]

Aššur. Sargon II 063–072. 10 texts.

Sargon II 063 — Aššur Prism (VA 08424)

Prism; clay; Qalat Sherqat (Assur). Vorderasiatisches Museum, Berlin, Germany. 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 063; RINAP Q006544.

Obverse

The initial column(s) of the prism are not preserved.

Column i′

Lacuna [... in order to sav]e his life [he came flying like a bird and] grasped hold of [my feet. (i´ 5´) Horses trained to the yoke], oxen, [...] the treasure of his palace [... he brought me] as his gift. [I set Ullusunu] over the land Mannea; [the people of the city I]zirtu whom I had carried off as booty [I returned to their (former) places an]d [I imposed] upon him (the same) payment(s) as [his father Iranzi (had paid)]. At that time, Aššur-lēʾi [of the city Karalla] (and) Ittî of the city Paddira [became hostile to] me. [He took to] a high mountain peak. [...] ... he plotted evil. (i´ 15´) [With the support of] the god Aššur, my lord, I inflicted a defeat on him. [In the midst of my camp, I thr]ew [Aššur-lēʾi of the city Kar]alla (and) Ittî of the city Paddira in iron fetters. [I removed/deported ...] and [brought th]em to Assyria. The city Karalla, together with its district, (i´ 20´) I added [to the province of the land L]ullumê and I (thereby) expanded [the territory of Assyria]. I appointed Bēl-aplu-iddina [to] the position of […] over the city Paddira and

Column ii′

Lacuna together with [...] and sheep and [goats ... I deported] from the la[nd ... and] I sett[led (them) in the land that/of [...] (ii´ 5´) on the border of the city of the Brook of Eg[ypt, a district which is on the shore of the] Western [Sea. I assigned them to the authority of a qīpu-official of mine], the sheikh of the city Laban. (As for) Šilkanni, king of Egypt, whose lo[cation is far away (and whom) fear of the brilliance of the god Aššur, my lord, [had overwhelmed], he brought me as his audience gift twelve large horses from Egypt whose like did not exist in (my) land. In my sixth regnal year, Ursâ (Rusâ), the Urarṭian — who did not respect the oath (sworn) by the great gods; who overturned the decision of the god Šamaš; whom, during the course of my previous campaign against Ullusunu, the Mannean, (ii´ 15´) I had subjugated to the yoke of the god Aššur, (and) upon whom I had imposed (my) yoke — took away from him (Ullusunu) twelve of his strong fortresses that were situated as guard posts on (the border with) the lands Urarṭu, Andia, (and) Naʾiri, and (thus) reduced (the size of) his land. He stationed fighting men inside them as his garrison troops (ii´ 20´) and reinforced their defenses (lit.: “structures”). In order to avenge Ullusunu, the Mannean, I mustered the numerous troops of the god Aššur and set out to conquer these forts. I conque[red] these forts [(and)] carried off booty from them. I stationed inside th[em] my troops, together with those of Ullusunu, the Mannean.

Column iii′

Lacuna 4 divine [stat]ue(s) [of copper, the chief doorkeepers, guardians of his (Ḫaldi’s) gates, (each of) who]se height [is four cubits], toge[ther with their bases, cast in copper]; 1 statue [(depicting) Ištar-dūrī (Sarduri)], son of Išpue[ni, king of the land Urarṭu], praying [(and) in a royal pose, (together with) its base], cast [in bronze]; 1 bull [(and) 1 cow, together with her bull calf, dedicated by (lit.: “of”) Ištar-dūrī (Sarduri)], son of Išpu[eni, ...]; 1 statue of Irg[išti (Argišti), king of the land Urarṭu, wearing] a crown (decorated) with stars, [(an attribute) of divine rank, and with his right hand in a gesture of blessing], together with its casing, [which weighs] six[ty talents of copper]; [1 statue of Ursâ (Rusâ)] with two [of his cavalry] ho[rses (and) his groom, together with their base], ca[st] in copper — I carried off (all these things) as [substantial] booty [(and) brought (them) to the land of Assyria]. In [my] eighth reg[nal year, that which in the course of my previous campaign] against Aššur-[lēʾi, king of the land Karalla ...] No translation possible. The remaining column(s) of the prism are not preserved.

Sargon II 064 — VAT 15466 (Frahm, KAL 3 no. 32)

Cylinder; clay; Qalat Sherqat (Assur). Vorderasiatisches Museum, Berlin, Germany. 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 064; RINAP Q006545.

Obverse

Lacuna [... (As for) the citizens of (the cities) Sippar], N[ippur, Babylon, and Borsippa who through no fault of their own had been held captive in it (Dūr-Yakīn), I put an end to their imprisonment and let them see the light (of day). (With regard to) their fields, which long ag]o, whi[le the land was in disorder, the Sutians had taken away and appropriated for their own], I stru[ck down (those) Sutians, the people] of the steppe, with the sword. [I (re)assigned to them (the citizens) their territories, (whose boundaries) had been forgotten (and) fallen into disuse during the troubled period in the land. I (re)-established the freedom (from obligations) of (the cities) U]r, Uruk, Eridu, Larsa, Kullaba, K[issik, (and) Nēmed-Laguda. Moreover, I returned] their [god]s that had been carried off as booty to [their] cult centers [and I restored their regular offerings that had been discontinued]. I restored [the land Bīt-Y]akīn and re[organized (its administration). I settled there people from the land Kummuḫu that I had conquered and I had (them) occupy its (Bīt-Yakīn’s) abandoned regions]. I divided up [th]at [land] into equal parts and [assigned (them)] to the auth[ority] of a [eunuch of mine, the governor of Babylon, and a(nother) eunuch of mine, the governor of the Gambulu (tribe)]. [Happily], with [a joyful heart (and) a radiant face, I entered Babylo]n, the cult center of the Enlil of the gods (Marduk); [I grasped hold of the hands of the great lord, the god Marduk, and brought (him) safely along the road to the akītu-house. (With regard to) 154 talen]ts, 26 minas, (and) 10 shekels of red gold, 1,804 talen[ts (and) 20 minas of pure silver, copper, (and) iron in immeasurable quantities, (10´) obsidian], lapis-lazuli, banded agate, blue turquoise, [green turquoise, ... of banded agate (and) muššaru-stone in large quantities, (...) blue-purple wool], red-purple [woo]l, garments with multi-colored trim and [linen garments, boxwood, cedar, cypress, (and) every kind of aromatic, the products of Mount Amanus, whose scent(s) are pleasant — from the beginning of my reign until (my) third year, I presented (these things) as gifts to the deities Bēl, Zarpanīt]u, Nabû, Tašmētu, and the (other) gods [who dwell in the cult centers of the land of Sumer and Akkad]. [Upēri, king of Dilmun, wh]o(se) [lair is situated] at a distance of thirty leagues in the middle of the [Eastern] Se[a, like (that of) a fish, heard of the might of the gods Aššur, Nabû, (and) Marduk and brought me his gift]. [Moreover, seven kings of the land Y]āʾ, a region of the land Yad[nana (Cyprus) — whose abode(s) are situated far away, at a distance of seven days (journey) in the middle of the Western Sea (15´) (and) the name of whose land, from the dist]ant [past] until now, [none] o[f the kings, my ancestors, neither in Assyria nor in the land Karduniaš (Babylonia), had ever heard — heard from afar, in the middle of the sea, of the deeds] I had been doi[ng in Chaldea] and the land Ḫatti (Syria). [Their hearts then pounded and fear fell upon them. They brought before me in Babylon gold, silver, (and) utensils of ebony] (and) boxwood, product(s) of [their] lan[d, and they kissed my feet]. [... the inhabitan]ts of (the city) Baltil (Aššur) to [...] [...] inside [...] [...] ... he gran[ted me ...] [... the god Aššur, the] great [lord], king of the gods [...] Lacuna

Sargon II 065 — Eighth Campaign (Letter to the God Aššur)

Tablet; clay; Qalat Sherqat (Assur). Louvre Museum, Paris, France. 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 065; RINAP Q006546.

May (all) be extremely well with the god Aššur, father of the gods, the great lord who dwells in Eḫursaggalkurkurra (“House, the Great Mountain of the Lands”), his great temple. May (all) be extremely well with the gods (that issue) divine decrees (and) with the goddesses, (the deities) who dwell in Eḫursaggalkurkurra, their great temple. May (all) be extremely well with the gods (that issue) divine decrees (and) with the goddesses, (the deities) who dwell in the city Aššur, their great temple. May (all) be well with the city and its people! May (all) be well with the palace (and) the one who dwells inside it. (All) is extremely well with Sargon (II) — the holy priest (and) servant who reveres your great divinity — (and) with his (military) camp. In the month of Duʾūzu (IV) — (the month) that determines matter(s) for humankind; the month of the mighty one, the eldest son of the god Enlil, the most powerful of the gods, the god Ninurta; (and the month) for which the lord of wisdom, the god Ninšiku (Ea), had inscribed on an ancient tablet the assembly of armies (and) the preparation of a (military) camp — I set out from my royal city Kalḫu and impetuously crossed the Upper Zab River while it was in full (flood). On the third day, in order to muzzle the mouth of the boastful (and) shackle the legs of the wicked, I reverently prostrated myself before the god Enlil (and) the goddess Mullissu. (10) I then had the troops of the gods Šamaš (and) Marduk leap across the Lower Zab River, whose fording is difficult, as if it were a ditch. I entered the passes of Mount Kullar, a high mountain of the land Lullumê, which is (also) called the land Zamua. I held a review of my army in the district of the land Sumbi and checked the number of horses and chariotry. With the great support of the gods Aššur, Šamaš, Nabû, (and) Marduk, I directed the march into the mountains for a third time. I turned the chariot(s) (lit.: “pointed the yoke”) of the gods Nergal (and) Adad, (whose) standards go before me, towards the lands Zikirtu and Andia. (15) I advanced in between Mount Nikippa (and) Mount Upâ, high mountains that are thickly covered with all kinds of trees, among which (one becomes completely) confused (as to direction), whose very entry is terrifying, (and) over whose (whole) environs, just as in a cedar forest, a shadow is cast with the result that the one who takes the road through them sees no sunlight. I then crossed the Būya River, the river (which flows) between them, twenty-six times, and (my) army did not fear the floodwaters, despite its (the river’s) massive size. Mount Simirria is a great mountain peak that points upward like the blade of a spear and who(se) top is higher than the mountains where the goddess Bēlet-ilī dwells. Its summit touches the sky above, and its roots are made to reach down below into the netherworld. (20) Moreover, like the back of a fish, there is no path from (one) side to (the other) side; (thus) ascending it is very difficult both from the front and from the back. Gorges of the outflows of the mountains are deeply cut into its flanks and to the sight of the eye it is shrouded in terror. It is not fit for the ascent of chariotry (or) for allowing horses to show their mettle and its access is very difficult for (even) the passage of foot soldiers. With the intelligence and broad understanding that the god Ea and the goddess Bēlet-ilī decreed for me and (because) they got me moving (lit.: “opened the legs”) to overwhelm the land of (my) enemy, I had my vanguard carry strong copper axes; (thus), they cut through high mountain crag(s) as if (they were) limestone and (thereby) improved the path. (25) I took the lead (in front) of my army and made the chariotry, cavalry, (and) battle troops who go at my side, fly over it (the mountain) as if (they were) brave eagles. I had the common soldiers (and) light infantry follow behind them; the camels (and) donkeys bearing the baggage leapt up its peaks like ibexes native to the mountains. I had the numerous troops of the god Aššur ascend its difficult slopes in a good order and I (then) set up camp on top of that mountain. (With regard to) Mount Sinaḫulzi (and) Mount Biruatti — remote mountains whose vegetation is the sweet-smelling leek (and) ṣumlalû-plant — Mount Turtani, Mount Sinabir, Mount Aḫšūru, and Mount Sūya, I crossed these seven mountains with (great) difficulty. As if (they were) ditches, I crossed the Rappâ (and) the Arattâ Rivers, the rivers flowing off their slopes, when they were in flood. I went down to the land Surikaš, a district of the land Mannea, which is on the border of the lands Karalla and Allabria. Because I do not cease avenging him every year, (when) Ullusunu, the Mannean, heard of the advance of my expeditionary force, without (even exchanging) hostages, he (Ullusunu), together with his magnates, elders, counselors, offsprimg of his father’s house, governors, and officials, who govern his land, speedily came out from his land with a joyful heart and a happy countenance, and, (35) (traveling) from his royal city Izirtu to the city Siniḫini, a border fortress of his land, he came into my presence. He brought me horses trained to the yoke, together with their trappings, oxen, and sheep and goats, as his tribute and he kissed my feet. I came to the city Latašê, a fortress that is (situated) on the river of the land Lāruete, a district of the land Allabria. I received horses, oxen, and sheep (and) goats as tribute from Bēl-aplu-iddina of the land Allabria. I went down to the land Parsuaš. The city rulers of the lands Namri, Sangibutu, (and) Bīt-Abdadāni, and of the land of the powerful Medes heard of the advance of my expeditionary force; the laying waste of their lands that (had occurred) in my previous year was (still) in their minds (lit.: “their ears”) and deathly quiet overwhelmed them. They brought me their substantial tribute from their lands and handed (it) over to me in the land Parsuaš. From Taltâ (Daltâ) of the land Ellipi, U(a)ksatar, Dūrēsi, (and) Satarēšu, the city rulers of the river­(land), Anzî of the city Ḫalḫubarra, Payukku of the city Kilambāti, Uzî of the city Māli, Uakirtu of the city Nappi, Makirtu of the city Bīt-Sagbat, Kitakki of the city Uriangi, (45) Mašdayukku of the city Kingaraku, Uzitar of the city Qantāu, Payukku of the city Bīt-Kapsi, Ḫumbê of the city Bīt-Zualzaš, Uzumanda the city Kisilaḫa, Burburazu of the city Bīt-Ištar, Baga-parna of the city Zakrute, Dārî of the land Šaparda, Ušrâ of the city Kanzabakanu, Sarruti of the city Karzinû, Mašdakku of the city Andirpattianu, Akkussu of the city Usigur, Birtātu of the city Ṣibur, Zardukka of the city Ḫarzianu, Mašdakku of the city Aratista, Satarpānu of the city Barikānu, (and) Karakku of the land Uriakku, I received swift horses, fiery mules, Bactrian camels native to their land(s), oxen, and sheep and goats. Moving on from the land Parsuaš, I came to the land Missi, a district of the land Mannea. With the whole-hearted intention of doing obeisance (to me), Ullusunu, together with the people of his land, waited for my expeditionary force in the city Sirdakka, his fortress. As if (he were one of) my (own) eunuchs, provincial governors of Assyria, he had piled up in heaps flour (and) wine to feed my army; he (then) presented to me his eldest son, with presents (and) gifts, and in order to firmly establish his position as king, he entrusted his stele to me. (55) I received from him large horses trained to the yoke, oxen, and sheep and goats as his tribute, and he prostrated himself before me in order to return the favors he had received (from me). He, together with the magnates (and) governors of his land, implored me to bar (the people of) the land Kakmê, an evil enemy, from (setting) foot in his land, to bring about the rout of Ursâ (Rusâ) on the battlefield, to restore the scattered land Mannea, to stand in triumph over his enemy, and to achieve whatever (he) wanted; they (Ullusunu and his officials) kept groveling before me on all fours like dogs. I had pity on them and accepted their supplications. I listened to their beseeching words and said to them “So be it” (lit.: “Enough”). (60) Because of the supreme might that the gods Aššur (and) Marduk had granted me and (so) had made my weapons prevail over (those of) all (other) rulers in the world, I promised them to overthrow the land Urarṭu, to restore their (true) boundaries, (and) to bring relief to the troubled people of the land Mannea; and, (as a result) they had confidence (again). I set out a table of honor before Ullusunu, the king, their lord, and (thereby) elevated his rule (lit.: “throne”) above that of Iranzi, the father who had begotten him. I had them sit at a festive table with the people of Assyria and they (then) blessed my kingship in the presence of (the god) Aššur and the gods of their own land. Zīzî of the city Appatar (and) Zalāya of the city of Kitpat — city rulers of the district Gizilbunda, who dwell in remote mountains, far-off place(s), and like a barricade bar (the way) into the region of the lands Mannea and Media — and the people who dwelt in those cities put their trust in their own strength and were not used to being ruled (lit.: “did not know lordship”). None of the kings, my predecessors, had ever seen their abode(s), heard their name(s), (or) received tribute from them. [At] the great command of the god Aššur, my lord — who had granted me as a gift the subjugation of the rulers of the mountain regions and the receipt of presents from them — they heard of the [progr]ess of my expeditionary force and fear of my brilliance overwhelmed them. Fear fell upon them in the midst of their (own) land. (70) From the cities Appatar and Kitpat they brought me as their tribute countless horses trained to the yoke, oxen, and sheep and goats; they brought (these) before me in the city Zirdiakka of the land Mannea. They besought me to spare their lives and they kissed my feet so that (I would) not demolish their (city) walls. Moreover, for the well-being of their land, I appointed a qīpu-official over them and assigned them to the authority of a eunuch (lit.: “eunuchs”) of mine, the governor of the land Parsuaš. Moving on from the city Zirdiakka, a fortress of the land Mannea, I marched furiously a distance of thirty leagues between (the territory of) the land Mannea, the land Bīt-Kabsi, and the land of the powerful Medes. I then came to the city Panziš, its strong fortress, which is situated as a guard post on (the border with) the lands Zikirtu and Andia (and) which is fortified against (these) two districts in order to prevent any fugitive getting away (and) to block any incursion by (lit.: “the feet of”) the [ene]my. I reinforced the defenses (lit.: “stucture”) of that fortress and sent up into it barley, oil, [wine], and [ba]ttle ge[ar]. Moving on from the city Panziš, I crossed the Ištaraurâ River. I came to the land Aukanê, a district of the land Zikirtu. Mitatti of the land Zikirtu — who had thrown off the yoke of <the god Aššur>, held Ullusunu, the king, his lord, in contempt, and disregarded his position as vassal — put his trust in Ursâ (Rusâ), the Urarṭian, who like himself had no wisdom, an ally who could not save his life, and, full of fear, he went up onto Mount Uašdirikka, a rugged mountain. Then, (when) he saw from afar the advance of my expeditionary force, his body trembled (in fear). He gathered together all the people of his land and made (them) climb with (great) difficulty up distant mountains; their whereabouts have never been discovered. Moreover, (as for) him, his royal city Parda had no value in his eyes and (so) he abandoned the property of his palace and left town (lit.: “went outside”). (85) He mobilized his horses and his battle troops and brought (them as) auxiliary troops to the aid of Ursâ (Rusâ), his ally. I defeated his fierce combat troops who were stationed as a guard post in a pass at Mount Uašdirikka and I conquered all the cities Išta’ippa, Saktatuš, Nanzu, Aukanê, Kābani, Gurrusupa, Raksi, Gimdakrikka, Barunakka, Ubabara, Sitera, Taštami, (and) Tesammia — their twelve strong, walled cities — together with eighty-four settlements in their environs. I destroyed their (city) walls. I set fire to the houses inside them and, as if the Deluge had destroyed (them), I heaped up (their remains) into (ruin) mounds. Moving on from the land Aukanê, I came the land Uišdiš, a district of the land Mannea that Ursâ (Rusâ) had annexed. Before my time, Ursâ (Rusâ), the Urarṭian — who did not obey the command(s) of the gods Aššur (and) Marduk, who did not revere (any) oath (sworn) by the lord of lords, a mountain dweller (and) a murderer (lit.: “seed of murder”), one who had no wisdom, whose lips were nimble in speaking slanderous (and) malicious things, (and) who did not obey the venerable command(s) of the god Šamaš, the great judge of the gods, but (instead) kept on transgressing against his (Šamaš’) design(s) every year without fail — after (all) his previous sins, committed a great crime that (led to) the destruction of his (own) land and the striking down of his (own) people. On Mount Uauš — a large mountain, whose peaks reach up into the sky with the cloud(s); whose area no living creature since the distant past had (ever) crossed; whose remote region(s) no [trav]eler had (ever) visited; and over which no winged bird of the sky had ever passed or [bui]lt a nest in order to teach [its] young how to spread (their) wings; a high mountain that points upward like the blade of a dagger; whose interior [is deeply cut up by] the gorges of the outflows of the dist[ant] mountains; (100) (a mountain) upon which perpetual (lit.: “day and night”) snow is piled up in (the seasons of both) extreme heat and severest cold, when the rising of the Bow star (and) Arrow star [are continually present] the morning (and) evening (respectively), and whose entire face is co[vered with frost] and ice; (and) where the body of the one who crosses its border is blasted by fierce wind and his flesh frostbitten by the se[vere cold] — (on this mountain) he (Rusâ) mustered his large army, together with his allies. Then, in order to [ave]nge [Mitatti] of the [land Ziki]rtu, he assembled his fighting men, (men) skilled in battle (and) the mainstay of [his] ar[my (...)]. He mobilized [th]eir [...] and (105) [...] their swift riding horses, [and had] them take up (their) weapons. Mitatti of the land Zikirtu who from [...]; aid was provided to him. From all the kings of the mountainous regions in his environs [... he tu]rned and he obtained (military) support. [He trusted] in the main force of his large army and the reinforcements [of ... and] he held [my troops] in contempt. [Thinking of] the fame of his (own) abilities in battle [and believing himself to be] one who was my equal in strength, (110) his heart wanted to meet me in pitched battle, mercilessly planning the rout of the army of the divine Enlil of Assyria (the god Aššur). He drew up (his) battle line in a pass at that mountain and sent a messenger (challenging me) to combat and to join in battle. I, Sargon (II), king of the four quarters (of the world), shepherd of Assyria, who keeps oath(s) (sworn) by the gods Enlil (and) Marduk (and) pays attention to the decision of the god Šamaš; the offspring of (the city) Baltil (Aššur), the city of wisdom (and) understanding (lit.: “open with regard to ears”); who reverently pays heed to the words of the great gods and does not question their plan(s); the just king, who (only) speaks benevolently, for whom slander is anathema, (and) from whose mouth (orders) to commit treachery (and) do wrong never come forth; wisest ruler in the world, who was created with intelligence and understanding, (and) who upholds with his hand reverence for the gods and goddesses — To the god Aššur, the king of all the gods, lord of (all) the lands, begetter of everything, king of all the great gods, one who controls (all) regions (of the world); almighty lord of (the city) Baltil (Aššur), (the god) who in his great raging anger crushes the rulers of the world and has put the proud to confusion; the honored one, the hero from whose net the evildoer cannot escape and (with whose net) the one who does not respect an oath (sworn) by him (the god Aššur) is eradicated (lit.: “his root is torn out”); with respect to the one who does not revere his (the god Aššur’s) name (and) (instead) trusts in his own strength, disregards the greatness of his (the god Aššur’s) divine nature, and talks boastfully, (120) he (the god Aššur) rushes angrily against him in the heat of battle, shatters his weapons, and scatters his well-organized forces to the wind. Moreover, with respect to the one who observes the judgment(s) of the gods, trusts in the fair decision of the god Šamaš, and reveres the divine nature of the god Aššur, the divine Enlil of the gods, he (the god Aššur) has fierce axes go at his side (and) causes him to stand in triumph over (his) enemies and foes — Because I had never crossed the border of Ursâ (Rusâ), the Urarṭian. (nor) the boundary of his wide land, (and because) I had never spilled the blood of his warriors on the (battle)field, I raised my hand (in prayer to the god Aššur) to bring about his (Rusâ’s) overthrow in battle, to turn his insolent utterances against him, and to make (him) bear his punishment. (125) The god Aššur, my lord, listened to my just words and they were pleasing to him. He was inclined (lit.: “turned”) to my righteous entreaty and was amenable to my petition. He dispatched at my side his fierce weapons which, whenever they go forth, crush the uncompliant from the east to the west. The exhausted troops of the god Aššur, who had (already) come a long journey and were tired and weary, had (had to) cross innumerable remote mountains that were difficult to ascend (and) descend, and they were (thus) in poor condition (lit.: “their appearance had changed”). (However), I neither allowed them (time) to recover from their fatigue nor gave (them) water to drink for (their) thirst. I neither set up camp nor organized a walled (military) encampment. (130) I did not give orders to my warriors. I did not assemble my (military) contingents. I did not summon (lit.: “return”) to my side the right and left wings (of my army); I did not wait for the rear guard. I did not take fright at the main force of his army. I distained his cavalry (lit.: “horses”) and did not (even) glance at his numerous armored warriors. With (only) my personal chariot and the horse(men) that go at my side (and) never leave (me) in either hostile or friendly territory, the contingent of Sîn-aḫu-uṣur, I fell upon him (Rusâ) like a fierce arrow, inflicted a defeat on him, and turned back his attack. I inflicted a major defeat upon him; I spread out the corpses of his warriors like malt (spread out for drying) and filled the mountain uplands (with them). (135) I made their blood flow down the gorges (and) gullies like a river and I dyed the steppe, countryside, (and) plains red like the illūru-plant. (As for) the fighting men who were the mainstay of his army, (his) bowmen (and) spearmen, I slaughtered (them) at his feet like sheep and cut off their heads. In the midst of the plain I shattered the weapons of his nobles, counselors, (and) courtiers, and I seized them, together with their horses. I captured two hundred and sixty members of his royal family, eunuchs, his provincial governors, (and) his cavalrymen, and I broke up (their) battle order. Moreover, (as for) that (man), I shut him up in the midst of his (military) camp and I shot his yoke-trained horses out from under him with uṣṣu-arrows (and) mulmullu-arrows. In order to save his life, he abandoned his chariot, mounted a mare, and fled in front of his army. (As for) Mitatti of the land Zikirtu, together with the kings in his environs, I struck all of them down and broke up their (military) contingents. I brought about the rout of the troops of the land Urarṭu, an evil enemy, together with its auxiliary troops, and on Mount Uauš, he (the enemy) turned tail. Their horses filled the gorges of the outflows of the mountains, while they, like an ant, in desperation opened up narrow paths. I went up after them with my mighty raging weapons, filling both slopes (lit.: “ascent and descent”) with the corpses of (their) warriors. (145) I pursued him at arrow point for a distance of six leagues, from Mount Uauš to Mount Zimur, the mountain of jasper. (As for) the remainder of the people who had fled in order to save (their) lives (and whom) I had let go in order that they might extol the might of the god Aššur, my lord — the powerful god Adad, the valiant son of the god Anu, let loose his terrifying roar against them and finished off those remaining by means of cloudbursts and hailstones. Their ruler Ursâ (Rusâ) — who had transgressed the limits set by the gods Šamaš (and) Marduk and had not honored the oath (sworn) by the god Aššur, the king of the gods — became afraid at the clangor of my mighty weapons and his heart pounded like (that of) a rock partridge fleeing before an eagle. (150) He abandoned his royal city Ṭurušpâ as if (he was) one who had committed bloodshed and sought refuge in mountain clefts like (an animal) fleeing from a hunter. He was laid up in bed like a woman in labor; he deprived himself of food and drink and brought upon himself a sickness from which no one ever recovered. I established the might of the god Aššur, my lord, over the land Urarṭu for all time and left behind in him (Rusâ) a terror never to be forgotten in the future. (By means of) the might of my supreme power and the onslaught of my exalted weapons — (weapons) that cannot be faced (anywhere) the four quarters (of the world), (that) do not turn back, (and that) I made prevail over the land Urarṭu in heroic battle — I drenched the people of the lands Zikirtu and Andia with deadly venom. I bared the evil enemy from (setting) foot in the land Mannea, pleased the heart of their (the Manneans’) lord Ullusunu, and provided light for his troubled people. I, Sargon (II), who protects justice (and) does not transgress against the limits set by the gods Aššur (and) Šamaš, who is always humble, (and) who reveres the gods Nabû (and) Marduk, attained my heart’s desire with their (the gods’) firm approval and stood in triumph over the proud one who was hostile to me. I poured out deathly silence over all the mountains and (so) inflicted consternation and moaning upon the enemy people. I entered into my camp amidst happiness and rejoicing, accompanied by musicians (playing) lyres and cymbals. I offered splendid pure sacrifices to the deities Nergal, Adad, and Ištar, the lords of battle, the gods who dwell in (both) heaven (and) netherworld, and the gods who dwell in Assyria; I stood before them humbly and prayerfully, and I extolled their divine nature. I discontinued my campaign to the lands Andia and Zikirtu, my (original) destination, and I set out for the land Urarṭu. (With regard to) the land Uišdiš, a district of the land Mannea that Ursâ (Rusâ) had annexed and appropriated for his own, I conquered all its numerous cities, which are as innumerable as the stars in the sky. I smashed their very strong (city) walls down to their very foundations as if (they were) pots and I leveled (them) to the ground. I opened up their many, countless granaries and (then) fed my army grain in unlimited quantities. Moving on from the land Uišdiš, I came to the city Ušqaya, a large fortress right on the border of the land Urarṭu, which like a gate acts as a barrier in the pass to the district of Zaranda, holding back messenger(s), and (which) rises up like a rocky pinnacle on Mount Mallāu, a mountain with juniper tree(s), clothed in sun-like splendor over the meadowland(s) of the land Sūbi. (170) The people who dwell in that district have no equal in the whole land Urarṭu with respect to (their) skill with riding horses. Every year they catch the young foals of thoroughbred horses native to his (the king’s) wide land, which they rear for his royal (military) contingent. Until they (the young horses) are taken to the district Sūbi — which the people of the land Urarṭu call the land Mannea — and (until) it is observed how they perform, no one attempts to ride them (lit.: “opened the thigh(s) on back of them”), nor are they (the young horses) taught how to advance, turn about, and turn back again — (skills) necessary in battle — (thus) the harness(es) (for them) remain as yet unfastened. These people — those of (both) the fortress and the district — saw the defeat of their lord Ursâ (Rusâ) and their legs grew weak, like roots on a riverbank. (When) their leaders — (men) experienced in warfare who had (nevertheless) fled before (my) weapons — came up to them drenched in deadly venom (and) reported to them the glory of the god Aššur, my lord (and) that not (even) a (single) one of all their fighting men had escaped, they became like the dead. They turned the city Ušqaya on which their (lit.: “its/his”) land relied, together with its surrounding settlements, into a wasteland. They abandoned their property and took to the road, never to return (lit.: “road of no return”). With the onslaught of my mighty weapons, I went up to that fortress, carried off extensive property as booty and brought (it) into my camp. (With regard to) its strong (city) wall, whose foundation had been made firm on bedrock and whose width was eight cubits, (180) beginning with its crenellations and finishing with its massive foundations, I destroyed (it) all together, making (it) level with the ground. I set fire to the houses inside it and turned their lengthy (roof)-beams into ashes. I set fire to one hundred and fifteen settlements in its environs as if (they were) brushwood pyres and (so) made the smoke from them cover the sky like a dust storm. I had its interior made (to look) as if the Deluge had destroyed (it) and I heaped up its inhabited cities as if (they were) mounds of ruins. I destroyed the city Aniaštania — the home of his herds, which had been built on the border of the land Sangibutu, between the cities Ušqaya and Tarmakisa — together with seventeen settlements in its environs, leveling (them) down to the ground. I set fire to their lengthy roof-beams. I burned up their crops (and) their fodder (lit.: “straw”). I opened up (their) granaries (and) storehouses and (then) fed my army grain in unlimited quantities. I let the animals of my (military) camp loose in his meadows like swarming locusts; they pulled up the plants on which he relied and laid waste to his field(s). Moving on from the city Ušqaya, I came to the steppeland on which his herds rely (for pasture) (and) which is (also) called the land Sangibutu. (With regard to) the cities Tarui (and) Tarmakisa — strong fortresses that had been built in the meadowland(s) of the land Dalāya as (store)houses for his abundant grain, (190) whose (inner) walls had been reinforced, whose outer walls had been (well) joined, whose moats had been made deep and surrounded their (entire) circumference, (and) inside which horses were stationed in teams as reserves for his royal (military) contingent and were provided with fodder for the entire year — the people who dwell in that district saw the lordly deeds that I had been doing in the settlements in their environs and became terrified. They abandoned their cities and fled into the desert, an arid land, a waterless region (lit.: “place of thirst”), seeking (to save their) lives. I overwhelmed that district as with a bird trap and waged war in (the area) between their fortified cities. (195) [Beginning] with [their crenellations (and)] finishing [with] their foundations, I destroyed their [stro]ng (city) walls, making (them) level with the ground. [I set] fire to the houses inside them [and] turned their lengthy [(roof)-beam]s into ashes. I burned up their abundant crop(s), [ope]ned [up (their) granaries (and) storehouses, and] (then) fed my army [grain] in unlimited quantities. [I set fire to] thirty settlements in their environs [as if (they were) brushwood pyres and (so) made the smoke from them] cover the sky [like a dust storm]. Moving on from the city Tarmakisa, I came to [...]. Ulḫu, a fortified city that [is situated] at the foo[t of Mount Kišpal ...]. Moreover, its people drink [water] like fish for [their thirst ...], (but) cannot get enough (to quench their thirst). In accordance with [his heart’s] desire, Ursâ (Rusâ), the king, their lord, [...] discovered (lit.: “revealed”) [a so]urce of water. He d[ug] a canal which could carry off the overflowing water [and ...] he made abundant [water] flow like the Euphrates. He had innumerable irrigation ditches run off from it (the canal) [and ...] ... he had the pasture lands irrigated. (205) His uncultivated field(s) that for a long time had [...] ... and caused fruit and wine to pour forth like rain. He had plane trees (and) šuratḫu-trees, the pride of [his] palace, [...], form a canopy over its meadowland(s) like a forest. Moreover, [he brought back] the ara[ḫḫu-song] to his abandoned pasture land(s) [(...) and (...)] caused his people to sing (again) the sweet alālu-work song. He caused three hundred homers of seed-field to produce the choicest grain in [its furrows] (so) abundantly that he increased the yield of grain for disposal. He turned the uncultivated field(s) of his agricultural land into meadows [...] so that there is (always) new vegetation in the spring (and so that) grass and pasturage do not cease in (either) winter (or) summer. (210) He turned it (the meadows) into paddocks for horses and herds (of cattle), and he taught (this) entire remote land (the use of) cam[el(s)] so that they could (be employed to) construct weir(s). He [built] a palace, a royal abode for his leisure, on the bank of the canal; he roofed it with beams of juniper and (thus) made it smell sweet. [He had] the fortress city Sarduriḫurda [built] on Mount Kišter to be his guard post [and] he stationed there [(...)] people [from the land ...]tina, (men) on whom his land relied. (When) the people of this district heard a report about the trouble that I had caused to befall [their king] Ursâ (Rusâ), they then cried “Woe!” (and) smote their thigh(s) (in distress). They abandoned their fortified city Ulḫu, as well as the city Sarduriḫurda — a fortress on which which [they] reli[ed] — and they fled by night to narrow mountain clefts. Furiouly, [I overwhelmed] the region around that district like a fog and compacted the length and breadth (of it) like ice. In a lordly manner, I entered the city Ulḫu, the city where Ursâ (Rusâ) went for relaxation, [and] walked about triumphantly [in] the palace (that had been) his (own) royal abode. With ir[on] axes [and] iron [spad]es, I smashed its strong (city) wall, which had been built with (blocks of) massive mountain stone, as if (it were) a pot, and leveled (it) down to the ground. I tore [out] the lengthy beams of juniper (that formed) the roof of his palace, cut (them) up [with pickax]es, and took (them back) to Assyria. I opened up his granaries (and) storehouses and (then) fed my army his abundant grain in u[nlimited quanti]ties. (220) I entered his hidden wine cellars, and the extensive troops of the god Aššur drew sweet wine (to drink) from waterskins (and) leather buckets [as if (it were)] river [water]. I blocked up the outlet of the canal, the canal on which he relied (to provide water), and turned the abu[nda]nt water (supply) into a swamp. I stopped up the irrigation ditches (and) drainage pipes that forked off from its (the canal’s) center, and exposed [...] their pebbles to the sun. I had my fierce warriors e[nte]r his well-kept gardens, (which provide) the general impression of his city (and) which were (so) studded with fruit trees and grapevines that they dripped (fruit as abundantly) as a rainfall, and they (the warriors) made the noise of (their) iron pickaxes resound like (the thunder of) the god Adad. (225) They picked a great deal of its fruit, a countless amount, and did not leave (any) for the weary heart to smile about in the future. I (cut down and) spread out his large trees, the ornaments of his palace, like malt (spread out for drying); I made his famous city disgusting and its district a subject of revilement. I gathered up those logs — all the trees that I had chopped down —, piled (them) up in heaps, and set them on fire. I tore out by the roots their abundant crops, which are as countless as reeds in a canebrake, and did not leave even a (single) ear of barley to allow the identification of what had been destroyed. (With regard to) his well-kept field(s) that were spotted with colored flecks like polished lapis lazuli and (whose) meadowland(s) were planted with new vegetation and young shoots, (230) like the god Adad, I trampled (it) down with (my) chariotry, (my) cavalry, (and) the passage of my infantry, and I turned the meadows that his horses had relied on (for pasture) into wasteland. (With regard to) the city Sarduriḫurda, their large fortress, together with fifty-seven settlements in the environs of the district Sangibutu, I destroyed all of them, leveling (them) down to the ground. I set fire to their roof-beams and turned (them) into ashes. Moving on from the city Ulḫu, I came to the village(s) of the land, the foremost of the fortified cities of the district Sangibutu. (This is) an inhabited district seized by his (Rusâ’s) land, which long ago earlier king(s), his predecessors, had annexed in order to expand their country. (235) The cities Ḫurnuku, Ḫardania, Gizuarzu, Šašzissa, Upper Ḫundurna, ..., Uatzunza, Arazu, Ālu-ša-Ṣinia, Lower Ḫundurna, El[..., ...]nak, Ṣittuarzu, Zirma, Surzî, Eliyadinia, Dag[..., ...], Ṣurzialdiu, Armuna, (and) Kinaštania — twenty-one fortifi[ed] cities [... (which)] grew up on the peaks of Mount Arzabia [like] trees that grow in the mountains — (240) are surrounded by very strong walls [... wh]ose crenellations are each one hundred and twenty layers of brick in height, and ... [...] for stationing [(their)] fighting men. They are clothed in terror for the doing of battle. Deep moats [were dug around them] for the su[pport ... and] towers were constructed at the approaches to their gates. The rivers which carry flood-waters in [abundance ...] never have any interruption (in their flow of water) in their (the cities’) meadowland(s). Their people in abundance and wealth [...] ..., as many as there are, have extensive possessions. (245) Great palaces, the equals of [...] chairs befitting a king were scattered about. Beams of juniper, the sweet fragrance [...] ... and wafts towards the one who enters them (the palaces) like (the fragrance of) ḫašurru-cedar. All the people of the district of Sangibutu, (both) those dw[elling in the countryside] and those dwelling in those cities, the cloud of dust (kicked up) by my expeditionary force which [...] for a distance of one league. Confusion was established over the land Urarṭu, to its full extent. Towers had been constructed on the mountain peaks so that they could observe the district (and look out) for the ene[my]; and [...] had been stationed. (250) They saw the flames of the brushwood pyres which (signaled) the approach of the enemy ... the torches (lit) morning (and) evening, and they transmitted (this information) [...]. They became afraid of the fierce onslaught of my battle (array) that cannot be withst[ood] (lit.: “equa[led]”); (a state of) stunned numbness spread over them and ... They did not care about their abundant property. They abandoned their strong (city) walls and sought refuge. I covered that district like the dense clouds of evening and overwhelmed all his fortified cities like a turbulent flood. I advanced a distance of twelve leagues between Mount Arzabia (and) Mount Irtia, lofty mountains, and (then) set up camp. (255) I had my fierce warriors pass through their remote recesses like wild sheep and they did not leave any (enemy) spy behind to hear their orders. I had the extensive troops of the god Aššur envelop all their cities like locusts and I had my aggressive plundering (troops) enter their private quarters. They [bro]ught me property (and) possessions, ro[yal] treasure, and my hands took possession of their accumulated riches. I sent common soldiers, light infantry, [bow]men, [(and) spearmen] up [onto] their (city) walls and I had demolition-men take up position at the battlements and tower(s). I tore out the palaces’ roof-beams of juniper and caused the people of the land Manne[a] (and) the land Naʾiri ... (260) As if (they were made of) sand, I [demolished] to their very foundations their high enclosure walls that had been made as firm as the mountains [(...)]. I set fire to their artfully-built homes and made the smoke from them rise up and cover the sky like a fog. I had my whole army carry away on horses, mules, camel(s), (and) donkeys the great stores of barley (and) wheat that they (the enemy) had heaped up in (their) granaries over a long time for the sustenance of (their) land and people, and I heaped up (the grain) inside my camp (so that the piles looked) like (ruin) mounds. I fed my people abundant food until they were completely full (lit.: “food of abundance and satiety”) and they joyfully laid up lavish travel provisions for the return journey to Assyria. (265) I chopped down his luxuriant orchards; I chopped down his grapevines in large numbers and (thus) put an end to his (source of) drink. I cut down his great forests, whose trees were as tangled up as impenetrable reed thickets, and I laid waste to his meadowland(s). I gathered up all his felled logs like the flotsam after a dust storm and I set (them) on fire. I set fire to one hundred and forty six settlements in their environs as if (they were) brushwood pyres and I made the smoke from them cover the sky like a dust storm. Moving on from the fortified cities of the land Sangibutu, I came to the district of Armariyalî. (With regard to) the cities Bubuzi — a fortress —, Ḫundur — which is surrounded by two (city) walls (which were) constructed at the entrance to the tower by means of a plumb-line (lit.: “cord of the market”) — Ayalê, Ṣinišpalâ, Ṣiniunak, Arna, (and) Šarnî, (a total of) seven fortified cities, together with thirty settlements in their environs, which are situated at the foot of Mount Ubianda, I destroyed all of them, leveling (them) down to the ground. I set fire to their roof-beams and turned (them) into ashes. I opened up their granaries (and) storehouses and (then) fed my army their abundant grain in unlimited quantities. (275) As if (they were) brushwood pyres, I set fire to the crops upon which his people relied (for sustenance) and to the fodder (lit.: “straw”) (that maintains) the lives of his herds, and I turned his meadowland(s) into a desolate land. I cut down their orchards and choppped down their forests; I piled all their logs up in heaps and set (them) on fire. In the course of my march, I went to the city Arbu, Ursâ’s (Rusâ’s) ancestral city, and to the city Riyar, Ištar-dūrī’s (Sarduri’s) city. (With regard to) seven settlements in their environs in which his brothers, members of his royal family, had been made to dwell and (whose) garrison(s) had been strengthened, I destroyed these settlements, leveling (them) down to the ground. I set fire to the temple of his god Ḫaldi as if (it was) a brushwood pyre and I desecrated its shrines. Moving on from the land Armariyalî, I crossed Mount Uizuku, a mountain with juniper tree(s) whose base consists of breccia-stone, (and) I came to the land Ayādi. (With regard to) the cities Anzalia, Kuayin, Qallania, Bitāya, Aluarza, Qiuna, Allî, Arzugu, Šikkanu, Ardiunak, Dayazuna, Gēta, Bāniu, Birḫiluza, Dēzizu, Dilizia, Abaindi, Duain, Ḫasrana, Parra, Ayaṣun, Aniaštania, Balduarza, Šaruardî, (285) Šumattar, Šalzî, Albūri, Ṣiqarra, (and) Old Uayis — thirty of its fortified cities which were set up in a straight line in a row along the shore of the roiling sea, on the slopes of the great mountains — the cities Argištiuna (and) Qallania, its strong fortressess, were constructed between them. They (the two fortresses) rise like stars above Mount Arṣidu and Mount Maḫunnia and their foundations are visible for two hundred and forty (...) each way. His warriors — the best troops in his army, (men) skilled in battle, shield (and) spear bearers, (men) on whom his land relied (to protect it) — had been stationed inside them. (290) They saw the conquest of the land Armariyalî, their neighboring district, and their legs trembled. They abandoned their cities, (along) with their property, and flew like birds into those fortresses. I sent many troops up to their cities and they (Sargon’s soldiers) carried off large amounts of property (and) possessions from them as booty. I destroyed their strong fortresses (lit.: “walls”), together with eighty-seven settlements in their environs, causing (them) to be level with the ground. I set fire to the houses inside them and turned their roof-beams into ashes. (295) I opened up their granaries (and) storehouses and fed my army grain in unlimited quantities. I cut down their orchards and chopped down their forests. I gathered up all their logs and set (them) on fire. Moving on from the land Ayādi, I crossed the Alluria, Qallania, (and) Innāya Rivers. I came to the city Uayis, a district upon which he relied (and located) on the lower border of the land Urarṭu, on the frontier with the land Naʾiri. (With regard to) the city Uayis — his fortified city (and) his great fortress — which had been made stronger and whose construction was more ingenious than all his (other) fortresses, (300) his fierce combat troops (and) the scouts who bring in news about the surrounding lands were garrisoned there. He stationed his provincial governors, together with their (military) contingents, there and he had (his) fighting men man its strong (city) wall. I conquered this fortress from the rear (lit.: “the rear part of this fortress”). I slaughtered his warriors in front of its (city) gate like sheep. I chopped down his orchards and cut down his forests. I gathered up all his felled logs and set (them) on fire. I burned down the cities of Barzuriani, Ualṭuquya, Qutta, Qippa, (and) Asapâ — five strong fortresses — together with forty settlements in their environs. Moving on from the city Uayis, I came to the district of Ianzû, king of the land Naʾiri. Ianzû, king of the land Naʾiri, came from his royal city Ḫubuškia to meet me, a distance of four leagues, and he kissed my feet. Inside his city Ḫubuškia, I received from him as his tribute horses trained to the yoke, oxen, and sheep and goats. During my return journey, Urzana of the city Muṣaṣir — one who had committed crime(s) and misdeeds, transgressed against the treaty (sworn) by the gods, (and) not submitted to (my) authority — a dangerous (man), a mountain dweller, who had sinned against a treaty (sworn) by the gods Aššur, Nabû, (and) Marduk and revolted against me, had failed to come before me during the return journey of (my) expeditionary force and had not kissed my feet (while bringing) with him a substantial audience gift. He withheld his tribute, payment(s), (and) audience gift and did not send (even) a single mounted messenger of his to inquire about my well-being. Furiously, I had all my chariots, numerous horses, (and) my entire (military) camp take the road to Assyria. With the great support of the god Aššur — father of the gods, lord of (all) the lands, king of the totality of heaven (and) netherworld, begetter , (and) lord of lords, to whom, in the distant past, the Enlil of the gods, the god Marduk, granted the gods of (all) the (low)land and mountain regions of the four quarters (of the world) in order that they, without any exception, might constantly render honor to him (Aššur) (and) that he might bring (them), with their accumulated riches, into Eḫursaggalkurkurra (“House, the Great Mountain of the Lands”) — at the exalted command of the gods Nabû (and) Marduk, who had moved on a path in a station of the stars indicating the mobilization of my weapons, and with a propitious sign for seizing power — Magur, lord of the corona, remained eclipsed for more than one watch, portending the defeat of the land of the Gutians — (and moreover) with the valuable approval of the god Šamaš, the warrior, who had trustworthy omens written on a (sacrificed sheep’s) liver (indicating that he would) go at my side, (320) I mobilized only my single personal chariot and one thousand of my ferocious cavalry, bowmen, (and) shield (and) spear (bearers), fierce warriors who were experienced in battle. Then, I took the road to the city Muṣaṣir, a rugged path, and I made my troops climb up Mount Arsiu, a mighty mountain that did not have any ascent, (not even one) like that of a ladder (lit.: “whose ascent has no ascent like the rungs of a ladder”). I crossed the Upper Zab River, which the people of the lands Naʾiri and Ḫabḫu call the Elamunia River. In between Mounts Šeyak, Ardikši, Ulāyû, (and) Alluriu — high mountains, (325) lofty mountain ranges, (and) narrow mountain ledges, which ... and through which there is no pathway for the passage of (even) foot soldiers, (and) in which are carved out gullies made by torrential water — the noise of whose cascades resounds for a distance of one league, just like (the thunder of) the god Adad — (mountains) which are as thickly covered with all kinds of useful trees, fruit trees, and vines as a reed thicket, and the approach to whose passes is fraught with terror, (mountains) whose area no king had ever crossed and whose remote region no prince who preceded me had ever seen — I felled their (the mountains’) large tree trunks, and with bronze axes I hacked (a way through) the narrow places along their (mountain) ledges. (330) For the passage of my troops between them (the mountains), I improved the narrow path, a route (so) narrow that foot soldiers could only pass through sideways. I placed my personal chariot on the shoulders (lit.: “necks”) (of some of my soldiers) and proceeded at the head of my troops on horseback. I had my warriors, together with the horse(men) who go at my side, form a single narrow file (line) and brought (them) through their (the mountains’) defiles. In order that he (Urzana) should not escape, I gave orders to my eunuchs, the provincial governors, together with their (military) contingents, and I quickly dispatched (them). [...] he (Urzana) saw [the clo]ud of dust (kicked up) by my expeditionary force and [... (335) ...] ... him, and the people strengthened [... the land Ur]arṭu and to the city (that was) his royal [ab]ode (and) the abode of the god Ḫald[i, his god, ... throughout the land U]rarṭu, to its full extent, greater than whom none is known in heaven or (in) netherworld [...] ... [...] without whose permission neither scepter nor crown can be taken up as emblems of the position of sheph[erd] ... the prince, the shepherd of the people of the land Ura[rṭu ...] they bring him and make (lit.: “made”) the one among his sons who was to succeed to his throne (340) enter into the city Muṣaṣir (and) into the presence of the god Ḫaldi, [together] with gold, silver, (and) everything valuable, the treasure of his palace; they present him (with them) as gift(s). They offer before him countless fattened [oxen] (and) fattened sheep (and) give a (ceremonial) banquet for his entire city. [In front of] his god Ḫaldi, they place upon him the crown of lordship and have him take up the royal scepter of the land Urarṭu. Then, his people ... his offspring. I let the terrifying roar of my troops resound [ov]er that city like (the thunder of) the god Adad, and those who dwelt in[side it ...] ... [...]. His/Its people, (even) old men (and) old women, climbed up onto the roofs of their houses, crying bitterly [...]. (345) In order to save their live(s), they crawled around on all fours and [...] their hands [(...)]. Because King Urzana, their ruler, had not respected the command of the god Aššur, but had (instead) thrown off the yoke of my lordship and disregarded his position as a vassal to me, I planned to carry off the people of that city as booty and I ordered the removal of the god Ḫaldi, (the god) on whom the land Urarṭu relied (for protection). Triumphantly, I had (him) sit in front of his (city) gate and I carried off as booty his (Urzana’s) wife, his sons, his daughters, his people, (and) (other) offspring of his father’s house. I counted (them) (along) with 6,110 people, 12 kūdanu-mules, 380 donkeys, 525 oxen, (and) 1,235 sheep, and brought (them) inside the wall(s) of my (military) camp. I entered triumphantly [into the city M]uṣaṣir, the abode of the god Ḫaldi, and in a lordly manner I occupied the palace, the residence of Urzana. [(With regard to) the] heaped up [storerooms] which were overflowing with accumulated riches, I broke open the seals of their treasure caches. [34 talents and 18 m]inas of gold, 167 talents and 2 1/2 minas of silver, shining copper, tin, carnelian, lapis lazuli, banded agate, (and other) precious stones in large numbers; [x (items): staves] of elephant ivory, ebony, (and) boxwood, together with wooden caskets, whose mountings are made of gold and silver; [x (items)]: large [tab]les of elephant ivory, ebony, (and) boxwood, (tables) fit for a king, whose mountings are made of gold and silver; 8 (items): sturdy maḫraṣu-objects and vegetable baskets of elephant ivory, ebony, (and) boxwood, whose mountings are of gold and silver; 6 (items): a stand, a potstand, a folding screen, chairs, (and) a cupbearer’s (pot)stand (made) of elephant ivory, ebony, (and) boxwood, whose mountings are of gold and silver; 6 (items): gold knives with gold (handles in the shape of) cones, a gold dagger, a [gol]d fly wh[isk], (and) an alabaster offering-bowl inlaid with stones (and) gold; 11 (items): a silver kappu-bowl belonging to Ursâ (Rusâ), together with its lid, ka[ppu-bowls from the] land Tabal with lug-handles of gold, hauberks with silver (scales), (and) silver arrows with gold inlays; 34 (items): silver kappu-bowls with deep, shallow, (and) [nar]row fluting (lit.: “fingers”), luṭṭu-bowls, and susānu-vessels of silver; 54 (items): silver-plated kappu-bowls, [their] lids, cups (decorated with) cone-shaped ornaments (and) crescent-shaped ornaments, (and) silver torcs; 5 (items): azannu-stands of silver, qabūtu-cups, mukarrisu-dishes, (and) [nab]lu-vessels, (altogether forming) censers from the land Tabal, and silver incense burners; 13 (items): copper basins, copper cauldrons, copper washbasins, copper asallu-bowls, copper diqāru-pots, (and) copper qulliu-bowls; 24 (items): copper stands (for) copper basins, copper ḫuruppu-bowls, copper kurkurru-vessels, copper qullu-clasps, copper nasru-hooks, (and) copper lamps; [1]20 (items): copper objects, (both) heavy (ones and) light (ones), the work of their own land, (objects), the pronunciation of whose name(s) are not easy to write down; [x] (items): an iron brazier, iron shovel(s), iron nasru-hooks, iron arutḫu-objects, (and) iron lamps; [1]30 (items): garments with multi-colored trim, linen (garments), (garments of) blue-purple wool and (plain) wool, (and) garments of red wool from the lands Urarṭu and Ḫabḫu — I carried off (all these things) as booty, together with the (remaining) property of his palace, and I heaped up his possessions. I sent my eunuchs (and) my officials to the temple of the god Ḫaldi. His god Ḫaldi and his goddess Bagbartu, together with the numerous possessions of his temple, as many there were (of them); [x]+4 talents and 3 minas of gold; 162 talents and 20 minas of silver, less one sixth (of a mina of silver); 3,600 talents of bronze in pieces; [6] gold shields which were hung in his sanctuary on the right and left, which shone like the sunlight, [and] from whose centers project the heads of fierce lions, and whose weight was established to be 5 talents and 12 minas of shining red (gold); 1 ... with horns ... the locking bar for his doors, which were cast from refined gold 2 talents in weight; 1 gold door bolt (in the shape of) a human hand, a fastening for a double door, upon which a winged Deluge (monster) is (represented) in a recumbent position; 1 gold peg, which held back the door bolt, securing the fastening of the temple, (and) protecting the stored property and possessions; 2 gold keys (in the shape of) divine protectresses (who wear) crowns (and) hold the rod and ring, (and) the soles of whose feet tread upon fierce lions — these (last) four (things) comprised the door fastening, one befitting the shrine, whose weight was established to be 2 talents and 12 minas of gold, and which held the door (in place); 1 large gold sword, the sword (the god Ḫaldi wore) at his side, which weighs 26 and 1/3 minas of gold; 96 (items): silver spears, hauberks with silver (scales), silver bow(s), (and) silver arrows, with inlays and mountings of gold; 12 heavy silver shields whose bosses are decorated with the head(s) of Deluge monster(s), lion(s), and wild bull(s); 67 (items): silver basins, silver stands, silver braziers, (and) silver vegetable baskets, with mountings and inlays of gold; 62 (items): silver muṣarrirtu-dishes, silver pome­gra­nates, (and) silver objects of varying sizes, with inlays and mountings of gold; 33 (items): silver chariots, silver bow(s), silver quivers, silver maces, silver scepter(s), silver manziaše-objects, silver shields, silver ṣipru-ornaments, purṭû-objects, (and) silver standards; 393 (items): silver kappu-bowls — (both) heavy (ones and) light (ones) — of Assyrian, Urarṭian, and Ḫabḫian workmanship; 2 large wild bull horns whose mountings and platings are and whose mountings are surrounded by gold rivets; 1 gold harp that is covered with precious stones for performing the rites of the goddess Bagbartu, the wife of the god Ḫaldi; 9 garments belonging to his (Ḫaldi’s) divine wardrobe, whose seams are edged with gold disks (and) gold rosettes in open work; 7 pairs of leather shoes that are covered with gold stars, (along) with a silver whip (handle) with kiplu-decoration and a mounting of gold; 1 ivory bed (with) a silver bed-frame, the resting place of the deity, inlaid with stones (and) gold; 139 (items): ivory staves, ivory tables, ivory vegetable baskets, ivory knive(s), (and) daggers of ivory (and) ebony, whose mountings are of gold; 10 (items): tables of boxwood, maḫraṣu-objects of boxwood, (and) chairs of ebony (and) boxwood, whose mountings are of gold (and) silver; 2 portable altars (with) 14 assorted stones, adornments (fit) for gods, jewelry of the god Ḫaldi and the goddess Bagbartu, his wife; 25,212 (items): heavy (and) light copper shields, cone-shaped helmets of copper, hauberks with copper (scales), and skull-shaped helmets of copper; 1,514 (items): heavy (and) light copper spears, heavy copper spear-heads, copper purṭû-objects, copper kutāḫu-lances, together with their copper bases; 305,412 (items): heavy (and) light copper daggers, copper bows, copper quivers, and copper arrows; 607 (items): heavy (and) light copper basins, copper washbasins, copper asallu-bowls, copper diqāru-pots, (and) copper qulliu-bowls; 3 heavy copper basins that can hold fifty measures of water in them, together with their heavy copper stands; 1 large copper ḫarû-vessel that can hold eighty measures of water in it, together with its large copper stand, which the kings of the land Urarṭu used to fill with libation wine for making offerings before the god Ḫaldi; 4 divine statue(s) of copper, the chief doorkeepers, guardians of his (Haldi’s) gates, (each of) whose height is 4 cubits, together with their bases, cast in copper; 1 statue (depicting) Ištar-dūrī (Sarduri), son of Išpueni, king of the land Urarṭu, praying (and) in a royal pose, (together with) its base, cast in bronze; 1 bull (and) 1 cow, together with her bull calf, dedicated by (lit.: “of”) Ištar-dūrī (Sarduri), son of Išpueni, (made of) copper (and) belonging to the temple of the god Ḫaldi, (which Ištar-dūrī) had made as a votive offering and upon which he had inscribed (a record of his action); 1 statue of Argišti, king of the land Urarṭu, wearing a crown (decorated) with stars, (an attribute) of divine rank, and with his right hand in a gesture of blessing, together with its casing, which weighs sixty talents of copper; 1 statue of Ursâ (Rusâ) with two of his cavalry horses (and) his groom, together with their base, cast in copper, upon which was engraved his own self-praise, namely “With (the help of) my two horses and my one groom, I personally obtained the kingship of the land Urarṭu” — I carried off (all these things) as booty, together with numerous, countless (other) possessions of his, not to mention the objects of gold, silver, tin, bronze, iron, ivory, ebony, boxwood, and every (other) kind of wood that the troops of the gods Aššur (and) Marduk carried off in countless numbers as booty from the city, palace, and temple. I loaded the property of the palace of Urzana and of the god Ḫaldi, together with his (Urzana’s) numerous possessions that I had carried off as booty from the city Muṣaṣir, on (the backs of the soldiers of) the main body of my extensive army and I had (them) convey (it) to Assyria. I considered the people of the district of the city Muṣaṣir as people of Assyria and I imposed upon them (the same state) service (and) corvée duty as if (they were) Assyrians. Ursâ (Rusâ) heard (of this) and threw himself on the ground. He ripped his garments and bared his arms. He tore off his headdress, pulled out his hair, and beat his chest (lit.: “heart”) with both (fists). He lay flat (on the ground), face down. His mood became angry (lit.: “becomes angry”) and his temper burned (hot). Woeful lamentations were on his lips. I caused lamentation to be wailed throughout the land Urarṭu, to its full extent, and established perpetual wailing in the land Naʾiri. Through the superior strength of the god Aššur, my lord, through the power (and) might of the gods Bēl (and) Nabû, my divine helpers, with the firm approval of the god Šamaš, the great judge of the gods, who opened up my path and established (his) protection over my army, (and) through the great power of the god Nergal, mightiest of the gods, who goes at my side (and) protects my (military) camp, I entered into the land Urarṭu, (going) from the district Sumbi, in between Mount Nikippa (and) Mount Upâ, rugged mountains. I marched about through the lands of Urarṭu, Zikirtu, Mannea, Naʾiri, and Muṣaṣir (420) in a lordly manner, like a fierce lion that is endowed with fearsomeness, and I met no one who could overpower (me). On the battlefield, I stuck down the large army of Ursâ (Rusâ), the Urarṭian, (and) of Mitatti of the land Zikirtu. I conquered in all 430 settlements in seven districts belonging to Ursâ (Rusâ), the Urarṭian, and I laid waste to his land. I carried off as booty from Urzana of the city Muṣaṣir, his god Ḫaldi (and) his goddess Bagbartu, together with abundant property from his temple, (along) with 6,110 people, 12 kūdanu-mules, 380 donkeys, 525 oxen, 1,285 sheep and goats, his wife, his sons, (and) his daughters. I departed through the pass at Mount Andarutta, a rugged mountain facing the city Ḫiptunu, (and) returned safely to my (own) land. One charioteer, two cavalrymen, (and) three light infantrymen were killed. Ṭāb-šār-Aššur, the chief treasurer sent the chief (enemy) informers to the god Aššur. Tablet of Nabû-šallimšunu, the chief royal scribe, chief tablet-writer (and) scholar of Sargon (II) king of Assyria, (and) son of Ḫarmakki, the royal scribe, an Assyrian. (This report) was brought in the eponymy of Ištar-dūrī, the governor of Arrapḫa.

Sargon II 066 — Unger, IAMN 9

Glazed wall plaque; clay; Qalat Sherqat (Assur). Arkeoloji Müzeleri, Istanbul, Arkeoloji Müzeleri, Istanbul, Turkey; Vorderasiatisches Museum, Berlin, Germany. 8 known exemplars. Sargon II 066; RINAP Q006547.

Obverse

Palace of Sargon (II), great king, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, son of Tiglath-pileser (III), (who was) also king of Assyria.

Sargon II 067 — Messerschmidt, KAH 1 40–42 and 71

Cone; clay; Qalat Sherqat (Assur). Arkeoloji Müzeleri, Istanbul, Arkeoloji Müzeleri, Istanbul, Turkey; Vorderasiatisches Museum, Berlin, Germany. 12 known exemplars. Sargon II 067; RINAP Q006548.

Obverse

For the god Aššur, the father of the gods, the great lord, his lord: Sargon (II), king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of the land of Sumer and A[kkad] renovated Eḫursaggalkurkurra (“House, the Great Mountain of the Lands”), the temple of (the god) Aššur, his lord, by plastering the walls of the towers all around the temple. He fashioned towers, friezes, parapets and glazed sikkatu-cones, and placed (them) all around [it (the temple)]. He built (these) in the temple of (the god) Aššur, his lord, for the sake of ensuring his good health, prolonging his days, firmly establishing his reign, (and) overthrowing his enemies. Month Abu (V), eponymy of Nasḫur-Bēl, the governor of the city Sinabu.

Sargon II 068 — Messerschmidt, KAH 1 39

Brick; clay; Qalat Sherqat (Assur). Vorderasiatisches Museum, Berlin, Germany; Arkeoloji Müzeleri, Istanbul, Arkeoloji Müzeleri, Istanbul, Turkey. 30 known exemplars. Sargon II 068; RINAP Q006549.

Obverse

To the god Aššur, his lord: Sargon (II), king of the world, king of Assyria, king of the land of Sumer and Akkad, built (this structure) for the sake of his life.

Sargon II 069 — Messerschmidt, KAH 1 37

Brick; clay; Qalat Sherqat (Assur). Vorderasiatisches Museum, Berlin, Germany; Arkeoloji Müzeleri, Istanbul, Arkeoloji Müzeleri, Istanbul, Turkey. 45 known exemplars. Sargon II 069; RINAP Q006550.

Obverse

To (the god) Aššur, the father of the gods, his lord: Sargon (II), king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of the land of Sumer and Akkad, had bricks made and made the processional way of the courtyard of Eḫursaggalkurkurra (“House, the Great Mountain of the Lands”) shine like daylight with baked bricks from a (ritually) pure kiln.

Sargon II 070 — Messerschmidt, KAH 1 38

Brick; clay; Qalat Sherqat (Assur). 10 known exemplars. Sargon II 070; RINAP Q006551.

Obverse

To (the god) Aššur, the father of the gods, his lord: Sargon (II), king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of the land of Sumer and Akkad, had baked bricks made from a (ritually) pure kiln (and) made the processional way of the courtyard of Eḫursaggalkurkurra (“House, the Great Mountain of the Lands”) shine like daylight.

Sargon II 071 — Glazed Brick Frieze

Grazed brick frieze; clay; Qalat Sherqat (Assur). Vorderasiatisches Museum, Berlin, Germany. 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 071; RINAP Q006552.

Epigraph 1

I/He traversed [...].

Epigraph 2

I/He entered (the region) between Mount Ni[k]ippa (and) Mount Upâ.

Epigraph 3

Mount [S]imir[ria (...)] mountain [...].

Sargon II 072 — VAT 10716 (Frahm, KAL 3 no. 31)

Tablet; clay; Qalat Sherqat (Assur). Vorderasiatisches Museum, Berlin, Germany. 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 072; RINAP Q006553.

Lacuna

A

Not sufficiently preserved to allow translation. [...] I measured [...] them [... i]n the temple of Marduk, their temple, for all time [I erected ... from (...) K]ibaba of the city Ḫarḫa[r ...] I receiv[ed ... hors]es (and) mules. [... the city Ḫarḫ]ar their understanding [...] they elevated [Da]ltâ over the[m]. [...] their heart [... they obta]ined reinforcements [...] ... [...] gift[s] [...] fil[led] [...] my [...] I ret[urned and ...] seized it [... the city Kār-Šarr]ukīn [...] I built a[nd ...] Lacuna Lacuna

B

Not sufficiently preserved to allow translation. Lacuna

Nimrud (Kalhu). Sargon II 073–080. 8 texts.

Sargon II 073 — Nimrud Inscription (Juniper Palace Inscription)

Slab; stone; Nimrud (Kalhu). British Museum, London, UK. 2 known exemplars. Sargon II 073; RINAP Q006554.

Obverse

Palace of Sargon (II) appointee of the god Enlil, nešakku-priest of the god Aššur, chosen of the gods Anu and Enlil, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, king of the four quarters (of the world), favorite of the great gods, just shepherd, whom the gods Aššur (and) Marduk choose and whose fame (these gods) exalted to the heights; the strong man who is clad in awesome splendor (and) whose weapons(s) are raised to strike down (his) enemies; the valiant man who since the (first) day of his reign has had no ruler who could equal him and no one who could overpower (or) rival (him); (who) ruled all the lands from the east to the west (lit.: “from the rising of the sun to the setting of the sun”) and governed the subjects of the god Enlil; experienced hero, to whom the god Nudimmud (Ea) granted superior strength (and) at whose side (the god) made (his) irresistible weapon beautiful; the pious prince who met Ḫumbanigaš (Ḫumban-nikaš I), king of the land Elam, (in battle) on the outskirts of (the city) Dēr (and) brought about his defeat; who subjugated the land Judah, whose location is far away; who deported (the people of) the land Hamath (and) who personally captured Iaū-biʾdī (Ilu-biʾdī) their ruler; who repulsed the land Kakmê, the evil enemy; who brought order to the disturbed Manneans; who made the heart of his land happy (and) expanded the territory of Assyria; the prudent ruler, snare of the uncompliant, who personally captured Pisīri(s), king of the land Ḫatti (Syria), and set his (own) official over the city Carchemish, his (Pīsīris’) city; who deported (the people of) the city Šinuḫtu; who brought Kiakki, king of the land Tabal, to his city Aššur and imposed his yoke upon the land Musku; who conquered the lands Mannea, Karalla, and Paddira; who avenged his land; who overthrew the distant Medes as far as the rising of the sun. At that time, (with regard to) the juniper palace in the city Kalḫu that Ashurnasirpal (II), a prince who preceded me had previously built, the foundations of this house had not been made strong and its foundations had not been secured upon firm ground, (on) bedrock. (15) It had become old (and) dilapidated (lit.: “dilapidated (and) old”) due to downpours of rain; its footing had dissolved and its bondings given way. I identified its (former) location and reached the bottom of its foundation pit. I piled up its foundation terrace upon heavy limestone blocks like the base of a high mountain. I completely (re)constructed (it) from its foundations to its crenellations. I opened up an air passage to the left of its door for my pleasure. I depicted inside it (the palace) the conquest of cities, the triumph of my weapons, that I had achieved over the enemy, and I filled it with abundance for the inspection (of the people). I invited the god Urigal (Nergal), the god Adad, and the gods who dwell in the city Kalḫu (to come) inside (it) and I offered before them large prize bulls, fattened sheep, geese, ducks, (and) birds that fly in the sky (lit.: “flying birds of the sky”). I held a festival and (thus) made the hearts of the people of Assyria rejoice. At that time, I brought into this treasure house 11 talents (and) 30 minas of gold (and) 2,100 talents (and) 24 minas of silver, (measured) by the large (weight), booty (taken) from Pisīri(s), king of the city Carchemish, of the land Ḫatti (Syria), (situated) on the bank on the Euphrates River, that I personally had conquered.

Sargon II 074 — Nimrud Prism

Prism; clay; Nimrud (Kalhu). Iraq Museum, Baghdad, Iraq. 2 known exemplars. Sargon II 074; RINAP Q006555.

Column i

[Sargon (II), great king, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of the land of Sumer] and [Akkad, ki]n[g of the four quarters (of the world)], favorite of the great gods [...]. The gods Aššur, Nabû, (and) [Marduk granted me] a reign without equal [and] exalted my [good] reputation t[o the heights]. [I continually acted] as provider for (the cities) Sippar, Ni[ppur, Babylon, and Borsippa, (and) I made restitution for the wrongful damage suffered] by [the people of privileged status, as many as there were (of them); (...)] Too poorly preserved to allow translation. I made splen[did ...] 177 tale[nts ...] 730 talents and 22[(+)] sh[ekels of pure zaḫalû-silver] for work on Eḫ[ursaggalkurkurra], the sanctuary of (the god) Aššur [... I made (it) shine l]ike daylight [(...)]. With 16 ta[lents (...)] shin[ing gold (...)] ... [...] Lacuna

Column ii

[...] ... [... Mitatti of the land Ziki]rtu [...] and [...] of [the land ...]namu, (ii 5) [... of the land Mann]ea [...] them [...] I settled them [... the l]and Missi, the land Andia, [...] of [the land ...] (ii 10) [... I deport]ed and [...] I made pass and [...] I imposed [(the payment of) su]bstantial [tribute ... Bag-dāti] of the land Uišdiš Lacuna [...] ... [... th]eir substantial [booty ...] I brought [to Ass]ryia. [...] I reorganized. (ii 5´) [...] I changed [its name] and [...] the city Kār-AN...RI [...] the city Kār-Šarrukīn [...] ... [...] my [...]s ... I settled. (ii 10´) [...] ... [...] ... [...] I considered them. [... I] caused to be made and [... (the god) A]ššur, my lord, (ii 15´) [... of] the land Mannea [...] ... [...] I erected. [...] cities [...] ... [...] Lacuna

Column iii

[...] the city Tarui, the city Tarmakisa [...] nine fortresses [... i]n their environs [...] of Ursâ (Rusâ)], (iii 5) the [Urarṭ]ian, I conquered and [...] I plundered. [...] their fortresses [...] I seized. [...] I stationed [the]re. (ii 10) [...] I led [...] ... [... the lan]d Zaranda [...] Lacuna of about 21 lines [I took away] subst[antial] booty and I destroyed, [demolished, (and) bu]rned that city down [with fire]. I caused there to be lamentation throughout the land Urarṭu, t[o] its [fu]ll [extent]. His own fear(s) fell upon their ruler [Ursâ (Rusâ)], and he brought an end to [his] life with the iron dagger from his belt. (As for) Daltâ of the land Ellipi, a submissive subject who pulled my [yo]ke, five of his districts revol[ted] against him and withheld (iii 45) their annual payment of tribute to (the god) Aššur, my lord. I overwhelmed those districts as with a bird trap. I conquered their fortified city Ḫubaḫna, together with 25 settlements and their countless [villages], (iii 50) and [I in]flicted a defe[at upon them. I brought] to the land of Assy[ria] 33,600 people, 11,600[(+) ...] mules (and) donkeys as substantial boo[ty from them]. In the course of [my] ca[mpaign ... I received] from 45 city rulers of the [powerful] Med[es] 8,609 horses [...] Lacuna

Column iv

I took to Assyria. [(...)] I restored and I re[organized (the administration of)] that land. I [settled] there people of the land Bīt-Yakīn that [I had] c[onquered. (iv 5) I set] a eunuch of mine ov[er them, named him] field marshal of the [left (wing of the army) (lit.: “field marshal of the house [of the left]”), and ...] I conscripted [...] chariot(s) [... 1],500 ca[valry, (iv 10) ...] bow[men], (and) 10,000 shie[ld (and spear)] bearers [(...)] from among them and added (them) [to] my royal [(military) contingent]. [Pis]īri(s) of the city Carchemish sinned [against] the treaty (sworn) by the great gods and (as a result) I brought him [to A]ssyria, together with his wife, his sons, his daughters, [(his) family], (and) the (other) offspring of his father’s house. I set [a eun]uch of mine as governor [over the people] who lived in the city Carchemish and (iv 20) considered them [a]s people of Assyria. I conscripted [from] among them [... chario]t(s), 500 cavalry [... (and) ...] foot soldiers, and I added (them) [to] my royal (military) contingent. (As for) the people of [(the city) Sa]maria who had [altogeth]er come to an agreement with a king [hostile to] me not to do obeisance (to me) [or to br]ing tribute (to me) and (who) had offered battle — [with] the strength of the great gods, my l[ord]s, (iv 30) I foug[ht] them [and] counted [as] booty 47,280 people, together with [their] chariots and the gods who helped them. I conscripted two hundred chariots from among them into [my] royal (military) contingent and settled (iv 35) the remainder of them in Assyria. I restored the city Samaria and made (it) greater than before. I brought there people from the lands that I had conquered. I set a eunuch of mine as provincial governor over them and considered them as people of Assyria. I had the awesome radiance of (the god) Ašš[ur], my lord, overwhelm the people of Egypt and the Arabs. At the mention of my name, their hearts (iv 45) pounded (and) their arms grew weak. I opened up a sealed-off [harbor] district of Egypt, mingled [to]gether [the people] of Assyria and Egypt, and [allowed (them) to eng]age in trade. [Kiakk]i of the city Šinuḫtu, [who had put his trust in M]itâ, king of the land Musku, [stopped (his delivery of)] t[ribut]e (and) payment(s) and [with]held his audience gift. [I coun]ted him [as booty, together with the people of] his city, his chariots, [...], his [daughter]s, [...]. Lacuna

Column v

Lines 1–12 not preserved [... he] seized [... I] gave him [and ...] to his aid. I seated him [on the throne of (Ḫullî)], his [father], and entrusted to him ..., (along) with the land Ḫilakku. I then brought order to his disturbed land. (v 20) However, that (man), a Hittite who did not protect justice, sent a messenger to Ursâ (Rusâ), the Urarṭian, and Mitâ, king of the land Musku, about taking away territory of mine. I took in bondage to Assyria (v 25) Amris (Ambaris), king of the land Bīt-Purutaš, together with the offspring of his father’s house (and) the nobles of his land, (along) with one hundred of his chariot(s). (v 30) I had the lands Bīt-Purutaš (and) Ḫilakku dwell (as safely) as in a meadow. I set a eun[uch of m]ine as provincial governor over them and considered them as people of A[ssyria]. For a second time, I brought about [the defe]at of Mitâ, king of the land Musku, in his (own) wide district and [I (then) rest]ored to their former st[atu]s the cities Ḫarru[a] (and) Ušnanis, fortress[es of the ci]ty Que, which he had taken away [by] for[ce] in the past. [(As for) Tar]ḫun-azi of the city [Meli]d (and) [T]arḫu-lara of the city [Ma]rqasa, to whose disturbed kingdom(s) I had brought order and (v 45) the whole of whose extensive lands I had entrusted to them, those (men), evil Hittites, did not remember my good deeds but (rather) sent (messages) hostile to Assyria to Mitâ, king of the land Musku. They held (Assyria/me) in contempt. Angrily, I mustered the numerous troops of Assyria and, like a fog, overwhelmed extensive districts (v 55) within the lands Kammanu (and) Gurgum, together with settlements in their environs. I brought to Assyria Tarḫun-azi of the land Kammanu (and) (v 60) Tarḫu-lara of the land Gurgum, together with their wives, their sons, their daughters, gold, silver, property, (and) possessions, the treasure of their palaces, (v 65) (along) with substantial booty from their lands. I reorganized (the administration of) those lands. I settled there people who had lived in the eastern (part of) my land (v 70) [that] I [had con]quered, [S]utians, bowmen, (and) fighting [men]. I set [a eu]nuch of mine as provincial governor [over the]m [and] imposed [the yoke of m]y [lordship] upon t[hem ...] ... [...] Lacuna

[2 lines of the Column v are too damaged for RINAP's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Column vi

Lines 1–12 not preserved [...] [Marduk-ap]la-iddina (II) (Merodach-Ba­la­dan), the k[in]g of Chaldea, [who ag]ainst the will of the gods had come down t[o] the territory of the land of Sumer and Akkad and had appropriated for himself the kingship of Babylon, turned to Ḫumbanigaš (Ḫumban-nikaš I), the Elamite, for aid. He put his trust in the sea (and its) surging waves and withheld his audience gift. I mustered the numerous troops of (the god) Aššur and crossed the Tigris (and) Euphrates Rivers, as well as innumerable small streams. Like the Deluge, I overwhelmed (vi 25) the Chaldeans to their (lit.: its) full extent. In the face of my advance (lit.: “before me”), Marduk-apla-iddina gathered together the inhabitants of his cities (lit.: “his inhabited cities”) and the gods dwelling in them, and (vi 30) brought (them) into the city Dūr-Yakīn. He strengthened its enclosure walls (and), moving back a distance of ten nindanu from in front of its main wall, he made a moat two hundred cubits wide; he made (the moat) one and a half nindanu deep and reached ground water. He cut (vi 35) a channel from the Euphrates River, (thereby) making (its water) flow (in)to its meadowland. He flooded its fields, where battles (are fought), and made crossing difficult. Together with his allies (and) (vi 40) his battle troops, he pitched his royal tent in a bend of the river (lit.: “between rivers”) like a crane and assembled his (military) camp. At the command of the gods Aššur, Nabû, (and) Marduk, I had a causeway constructed (lit.: “trodden down”) across his canals and I caught him, together with his fighting men, like a flying eagle in a net. I spread out like malt (spread for drying) the corpses of his vanguard and of the Aḫlamû, the people of the steppe who go at his side, and I filled the surroundings of his city (with them). (vi 50) The city Dūr-Yakīn — his treasure house — (and) the cities Iqbi-Bēl, Kapru, Bīt-Zabidāya, Šāt-iddina, Zarāte, Raqqatu, Ekuššu, Ḫursaggalla, (vi 55) Dūr-Bēl-āliya, Dūr-Enlil, Bīt-Qiblāte, Nēmed-Sîn, Limītu, (and) Mād-akālša, (a total of) fifteen fortified cities, together with the settlements in their environs, I turned into (ruin) mounds. I carried off as booty at the same time (vi 60) (both) the people — young (and) old — who lived in the district and the gods who helped them; I did not allow a (single) person to escape. (As for) the citizens of (the cities) Sippar, Nippur, Babylon, (and) Borsippa who through no fault of their own had been held captive in them (the fifteen cities), I put an end to their imprisonment and let them see the light (of day). (With regard to) their [fi]elds, which long ago, while the land was [in] disorder, the Sutians (vi 70) [had taken] away and appropriated for their own, I struck down (those) [Sut]ians, the people of the steppe, with the sword. [I (re)assign]ed to them (the citizens) their [territories], (whose boundaries) had been forgotten (and) fallen into disuse [during the troubled] period in the land. [I (re)-established the freedom (from obligations) (vi 75) of (the cities) Ur, Uru]k, Eridu, Larsa, [Kullaba, Kissik, (and) Nēme]d-Laguda. [Moreover], I returned [their gods that had been carried off as booty to] their [cult centers] and [restor]ed [their regular offerings that had been discontinued]. [I restored the land Bīt-Yakīn and] reorga[nized (its administration) ...] ... [... (the god) Aš]šur, my lord [...] a eunuch of mine [...] ... [...] ... [...] [...] Lacuna

Column vii

Lines 1–6 not preserved blue turquoise, [green turquoise], ... [of banded agate (and)] muš[šaru-stone ...], (vii 10) copper, tin, iron, l[ead, ...] skilled [...], blue-purple wool, [red-purple wool], garments with multi-colo[red trim and linen (garments)], boxwood, cedar, cy[press, (and) every kind of aromatic], (vii 15) the products of Mount Amanus, who[se scent(s) are pleasant — from the beginning of my reign] until (my) fourth year, I pr[esented (these things) as gifts] to the deities Marduk, Zarpan[ītu, Nabû, Tašmētu], and the (other) gods who dwell [in the cult centers] of the land of Sumer and Akkad. Aḫundāra (Ḫundāru), king [of Dilmun, who(se) lair] is s[ituated at a distance of thirty leagues] in the middle of the E[astern] Sea, like (that of) a fish, [heard of] the might of the gods Aššur, Na[bû, (and) Marduk and] brought me his tribute. Moreover, [seven kings] (vii 25) of the land Yāʾ, a reg[ion of the land Yadnana (Cyprus)] — who[se] abode(s) are si[tuated] far away, at a distance of seven days (journey) [in the middle of the] Western [Sea], (and) the n[ame of] who[se land], from the dist[ant] past [until now], none (vii 30) of the kings, [my] ance[stors], neither in Assyria nor in the land Kar[duniaš (Babylonia)], had ever heard — [from afar], in the middle of the sea, [heard] of the deeds I had been doing in Chal[dea and the land Ḫatti (Syria)]. (vii 35) Their hearts [then] pounded (and) fe[ar] fell upon them. They brought before me in Babylon gold, silver, (and) utensils of ebony (and) boxwood, product(s) of their land, and they kissed [my] feet. I had inscribed upon a stele (the record of) the victorious conquest(s) that I had personally achieved over all [my] enem[ies] by the strength of the great gods and I left (it) for all ti[me] in the land Yāʾ, a region of the land Yadnana. At that time, the ancient roads for going to Babylon, the cult center of the Enlil of the god[s] (Marduk), were not open; [their] tra[ck(s)] were not fit (for travel). It was a desert region through which passage had been blocked for a [long] time. (vii 50) Journey through it was very difficult and no pathways were laid out. Thorny-plants, thistles, and (brushwood) thickets encroached upon impassable paths. Lions (vii 55) and jackals took cover in them and gamboled about like lambs. Arameans (and) Sutians — tent-dwellers, fugitives, criminals, (and) thieves (lit.: “son(s) of thieves”) — (vii 60) had set up their abodes in that desert region and had made passage through it desolate. (With regard to) the settlements there that had long ago turned into wastelands, there were neither irrigation ditches nor furrows on their meadowland; (vii 65) (the area) was covered over with cobwebs. Their rich fields had turned into wasteland. Their meadowlands no longer heard (lit.: “were deprived of”) the sweet (harvest) song. Grain had ceased to grow (lit.: “been cut off”). I chopped down the brushwood thickets and (vii 70) set fire to the thorny plants (and) thistles. I struck down the thieving Arameans (lit.: “Arameans, son(s) of thieves”) with the sword. I slaughtered (lit.: “brought about their defeat”) the lions and wolves. I occupied the territory of what had previously been wasteland ... and established people from the host[ile] countries that I [had con]quered ... [ins]ide them. Not sufficiently preserved to allow translation. Lacuna

Column viii

Lacuna Not sufficiently preserved to allow translation. Lacuna ... I roofed [them with great cedar beams] that had grown on Mount Amanus, [...] I bound the doors of cypress (and) [musukkannu-wood] with band(s) of shining copper [...] and [installed (the doors) in their entrances]. I [created around it] a botanical garden, a repli[ca of Mount Amanus, in] whi[ch] were gathered every kind of fruit-bearing [mountain] tree. The goddess Ištar, the lady [...] food offerings [...] Not sufficiently preserved to allow translation. Lacuna

Sargon II 075 — ND 03406

Prism; clay; Nimrud (Kalhu). 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 075; RINAP Q006556.

Obverse

Lacuna [...] and pie[ces (of aromatic woods) ...] insi[de ...] ... [...] I settled [...] [I built] insi[de it] palatial halls using (lit.: “of”) elephant ivory, [ebony, boxwood], musukkannu-wood, ceda[r, cypress], daprānu-juniper, juniper, and [terebinth to] be my royal residence. (10´) [As]syrians, who had grown up [... wi]th [enemy] people [whom] I [had cap]tured, in [...] ... [...] cult centers of Assyria [...] (15´) ... the gods [...] the sea [...] all toget[her ... I imposed the yoke] of m[y] lordship [upon them (and) they (now) pull] my yoke [...] Lacuna

Sargon II 076 — Frame, CUSAS 17 no. 72

Prismatic cylinder; clay; Nimrud (Kalhu). Exemplars held across 4 collections, including British Museum, London, UK. 5 known exemplars. Sargon II 076; RINAP Q006557.

Obverse

[Sargon (II), appointee of the god Enlil, nešak]ku-priest (and) desired object of (the god) Aššur, chosen of the god[s Anu and Dagān, great king, strong king, king of the world, kin]g of Assyria, king of the four quarters (of the world), [favorite of the great god]; [just shepherd, (one) to whom the gods Aššur (and) Marduk] have gran[ted a reign without e]qual [and whose reputation (these gods) exalt/exalted to the heights]; [who (re)-established the šubarrû-privileges of (the cities) Sippa]r, Nippur, and Ba[bylon, ...] ... [...] Lacuna of ca. 4–5 lines [who ...] has me[t with] no [one who could overpower (him) in war or battle; (who) smashed all (enemy) lands as if (they were) pots and] put halters [on (all) rebels in the four (quarters of the world); (who) opened up innumerable] distant mountainous areas whose pass(es) are diffi[cult and] visited their remotest region(s); (who) traversed inaccessible, difficult paths [in terrifying location(s)] and crossed every swamp; [(who) ruled] from the land [Rāši on the border of the land Elam], the Puqudu (and) Damūnu (tribes), the cities Dūr-Kurigalzu and Rap[iqu, the entire desert] as far as the Brook of Egypt, the wide land Amurru, (and) the land Ḫatti (Syria) in [its entirety]; (who)se great hand conquered (the area) from the land Ḫašmar to the land Ṣibar — which borders on the distant Medes [in the east] — the lands Namri, Ellipi, Bīt-Ḫamban, Parsumaš (Parsuaš), Mannea, [Urarṭu, Kasku, (and) Tabal], as far as the land Musku; (who) set eunuchs of his as governors over them and imposed upon them (the same) tribute (and) payment(s) as if (they were) Assyrians; the valiant man who brought about the defeat of Ḫumbanigaš (Ḫumban-nikaš I), king of the land Elam; who deported the Tēša (and) Tuʾ(mū)na (tribes) to his land; who made the wide land Bīt-Ḫumria (Israel) tremble; (who) brought about the defeat of Egypt at the city Raphia and brought Ḫa[nūnu (Hanno), king of the city Gaza], to the city Aššur in bondage; who conquered the Tamudu, Ibādidi, [Marsīmani, (and) Ḫayappa (tribes)]; who caught the Ionians in the middle of the sea as a fowler (does); who cut through the f[ruit trees of the city Šinuḫtu (...)] (15´) and the land Bīt-Purutaš; who counted their rulers Kiakki and Amriš (Ambariš) [as] boo[ty]; who drove out Mitâ (Midas), king of the land Musku, brought back (to Assyrian control) the fortress(es) of the land Que (Cilicia) that had been taken away (by the enemy), (and) expanded its borders; who plundered the land Hamath and the city Carchemish; whose great hand conquered Iaū-biʾdī (Ilu-biʾdī) and Pisīri(s), their subjects; who laid waste to the land Urarṭu, the city Muṣaṣir, the land Andia, and the land Zikirtu; at the awesome terror of whose weapons Rusâ, the Urarṭian, died by his own hand; who subjugated the distant Medes; (20´) who slaughtered the people of the land Ḫarḫar; who gathered (back together) the scattered (people of) the lands Mannea (and) Ellipi [...]; who (deported and) settled elsewhere (the people of) the cities Pāpa, Lalluknu, Sukkia, Bāla, (and) Abitikna [(...)]; who made Ittî of the land Allabria leave [his city; who de]stroyed the land Karalla, [dyed] the skin of Aššur-lēʾi, their city-ruler, [red like] the ill[ūru-plant, and] imposed the yoke of the god Aššur [upon Ad]â of the land Šurda; who kept in check the land Kammanu; who expelled [Gunzinānu] from the city Melid, his (Gunzinānu’s) royal city, and appointed [governors] over all his land; terrifying attack(er), fearless in battle, who did away with the kingship of Tarḫu-lara of the city Marqasa [(...)] (and) who made all of the city Gurgum (part of) the territory of Assyria [(...)]. Lacuna

Left Edge

Written [in the month ...], day twelve.

Sargon II 077 — Layard, ICC pls. 83E and 84A+

Vase; jar; glass; stone: white calcite; stone: yellow calcite or alabaster; stone: alabaster; Nimrud (Kalhu). British Museum, London, UK; Vorderasiatisches Museum, Berlin, Germany. 7 known exemplars. Sargon II 077; RINAP Q006558.

Obverse

(1) Palace of Sargon (II), king of Assyria.

Sargon II 078 — BM 091229

Lion weight; metal: bronze; Nimrud (Kalhu). British Museum, London, UK. 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 078; RINAP Q006559.

Akkadian

Palace of Sargon (II), king of Assyria. One mina of the king.

Aramaic

One. Mina of the king.

Sargon II 079 — BM 091234

Lion weight; metal: bronze; Nimrud (Kalhu). British Museum, London, UK. 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 079; RINAP Q006560.

Akkadian

Palace of Sargon (II), king of Assyria. [Three] sh[ekels].

Aramaic

Three. Three shekels.

Sargon II 080 — Mosul Annals

Writing board; ivory; Nimrud (Kalhu). Iraq Museum, Baghdad, Iraq. 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 080; RINAP Q006561.

Obverse

Palace of Sargon (II), king of the world, king of Assyria. He had the series Enūma Anu Enlil written on an elephant ivory writing board and he deposited (it) inside his palace in the city Dūr-Šarrukīn.

Nineveh. Sargon II 081–102. 22 texts.

Sargon II 081 — IM 056967 (ND 03557)

Wall slab (with reliefs); stone; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 081; RINAP Q006562.

Obverse

Continued from one or more unpreserved slabs [... I prayed] to the god Marduk, lord ... [... Marduk], my lord, listened to my supplications; the Tēša [(and) the Tuʾ(mū)na (tribes) ... I deported ...] their people, together with their property [and (...) I (re)settled (them) in the land Ḫatti (Syria)]. [In] my [second] regnal year, Iaū-biʾdī (Ilu-biʾdī) [of the land Hamath, who had no right to the throne, who was not worthy to (live in) a palace, (and) who] had not been fated [to shepherd] the people, [...] came down [...] and with common soldiers, [..., shi]eld (and) spe[a]r [bearers], he abandoned [(...)] and [... i]n the city Qarqar, whi[ch] (is) on the bank [of the Orontes River, ... he assembl]ed [the troops of the wide land Amurru] and [transgressed against] the oath (sworn) by the great gods [... He incited the (wide) land Amurru, from] its upper end to its lower end, [to rebel] against me, [made them act in unison, and prepared for battle (...)]. [He (Iaū-biʾdī) sought] evil, [(things that were) not good (...), f]or Assyria (and) its people, [and] held (them) in contempt. [He (assembled)] the cities Ar[pad, (...), Ṣimirra, ...]tu, Damascus, (and) Samaria, [(and) made (them) side with him] (...). He killed [the citi]zens of Assyria who were present in [the land Hamath ...] altogether and [left no one alive (...)]. [(...) I raised my hands (in supplication)] to the god Sîn, king of the gods (and) lord of the lands, [... who vanquishes] (my) enemies (and) destroys (my) foes, my lord, [and] I prayed (to him) [in order to be able to conquer] the land Hamath, overthrow [Iaū-biʾdī, (and) ... the] wide [land] Amurru. [...] Because of his people Continued on one or more unpreserved slabs

Sargon II 082 — Nineveh Prism

Prism; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, London, UK. 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 082; RINAP Q006563.

Column i

Rm 2,92 i´ [...] great [ki]ng, (one with) broad understanding, [... I requested] his [firm] approval [and ...] his venerable word [...] ... (i 5) [... who dw]ells in the far-off heavens, [...] ... [... the god Nud]immud (Ea), the creator, [...] ... Too poorly preserved to allow translation. Lacuna K 4818 ii´ Too poorly preserved to allow translation.

Column ii

Rm 2,92 ii´ Too poorly preserved to allow translation. Lacuna K 1673 i´ Too poorly preserved to allow translation. Lacuna

Column iii

Lacuna K 1669 [...] his/its kings ... [...] his property (and) his possessions to/for [... with ...]s, horses, mul[es, ... (and) everything valuable], royal [trea]sure, [I brought out] from [the city Kišesim] (iii 5´) and [I] re[organized (the administration of)] that city. [I] (re)nam[ed] it Kār-Nergal. [I had the weapons of the deities Aššur], Sîn, Šamaš, Adad, (and) I[štar, my lords, who go before me, m]ade and I in[stalled (them)] there. I [settled/caused to enter] there [people whom] I [had cap]tured (and) (iii 10´) I considered th[em as people of] Assyria. [...] ... [...] ... [...] the cities Kilambāti (and) Armang[u ... (iii 15´) ... I added] to the province of the city Kišesim. [I set a] eunuch of mine as provincial governor [over them]. I ma[de] a ro[yal] image of myself, [inscrib]ed [upon it the victorious deeds of the god Ašš]ur, my lord, that I had [acc]omplished in [the lands Mannea and] Media, (iii 20´) and ere[cted (it)] (to stand) forever in the temple of the god ..., [my lord]. [(As for) the cit]y [ruler]s of the city Kimi[rra, ...], the land Bīt-...angi[...], Bīt-Zualzaš, (and) [..., I received horse]s (and) mul[es (as their tribute)]. [The peo]ple [of the city Ḫarḫar drove out their city ruler and elevated over them Daltâ of the land] Ell[ipi. ...] hors[es, ...] sheep and goats, ... [...] (iii 30´) his/its [...] I destroyed [...] ... [... ho]rses [...] ... [...] its (city) wall [...] ... [...] Lacuna K 1673 ii´ [I (re)named it] Kār-Ša[rrukīn ... I built anew] the temple, the abode of the [great] god[s (and) restored] the gods who dwelt [in the city Ḫarḫar to their places]. I [...-ed the ...] of the deities Aššur, [Sîn, Šamaš, Adad, (and) Ištar, the deities who go before me] (iii 5´´) ... (of) gold (and) sil[ver ...] of their district. I [settled/caused to enter] there [people from the lands that] I [had conquered. I set a eunuch of mine] as provincial governor [over them and considered them] as people of A[ssyria. They (now) pull my yoke. (iii 10´´) Six strong districts [... the upper river(land)] of the land Arazia[š (Aranzêšu) ...] ... [...] Lacuna 79-7-8,14 i´ [I settle]d [(them) in ... which is on the shore of the Western Sea]. I assigned t[hem] to [the authority of a qīpu-official of mine, the sheikh of the city Laban]. [(As for) Šilkanni, king of E]gy[pt, whose location is far away (and whom) fea]r of the brilliance [of the god Aššur, my lord, had ove]rwhelmed, [he brought me] as his audience gift [twelve large horses from] Egypt [whose like] did not exist [in (my) land]. [In my sixth regnal year, Ursâ (Rusâ)], the Urarṭian — [who did not respect the oath (sworn) by the great gods; who over]turned the decision of the god Šamaš; [whom, during the course of my] previous [campaign against Ullusunu], the Mannean, I had subjugated [to the yoke of the god Aššur]; and [upon whom I had imposed (my) y]oke — [took away from him (Ullusunu) twelve of his strong fortresses that] were situated [as guard] posts on (the border with) the lands Urarṭu, [Andia, (and) Naʾiri, and (thus) reduced (the size of) his land. ...] Lacuna

Column iv

Sm 2021 + 82-5-22,8 i´ [...] ... [...] I marched against the land Urarṭu. [...] Ursâ (Rusâ), the Urarṭian, mustered his [...] and (iv 5) went up [onto] Mount Uauš, [who]se su[mmit] reaches (up) [among] the cloud(s). [His] large [army], together with the troops of his all[ies ...] ... [...] I set and I ... [The exh]aus[ted troo]ps of the god Aššur, [who] had (already) co[me a] long [jou]rney, had cro[ssed rem]ote [mountains, and were (thus) in poor condition (lit.: “their appearance had changed”). I] nei[ther allowed them (time) to recover from] their fatigue [n]or gave (them) [water] to drink [for (their) thirst. I] neit[her set up] camp [n]or organized [a walled (military) encampment. I did not give any orders to my] w[arriors]. [With] o[nly] my personal chariot [and the caval]ry that go [at my side (and)] never l[eave] my [side in either] hostile [or friendly territo]ry, [...] Lacuna K 1668a + K 1671 i´ [... I mobilized (...)] my [foot soldiers, bowmen, (and) shield (and) spear (bearers)], my [fierce] warriors [who were experienced in battle. [Then, with (only)] my [single] personal chariot (iv 5´) [and one thousand of my ferocious cavalry], I took the road [to the city Muṣaṣir, a difficult path]; I proceeded [over favorable terrain on] horse[back and over difficult (terrain) on foot]. I entered triumphantly [into the city Muṣaṣir, the abode of the god Ḫaldi], (and) in a lordly manner, I occupied [the palace, the residence of Urzana]. I broke open [the seals of their treasure caches]. [(With regard to) 34 talents and 18 minas of] gold, [167 talents and 2 1/2 minas of] silver, [shining copper, t]in, [carnelian], lapis lazuli, [banded agate, (and other) precious stones i]n large numbers; [x (items): ... of elephant ivory], ebony, (and) boxwood; [x (items)]: staves of elephant ivory, [ebony, (and) boxwood, to]gether with their wooden caskets, [whose mountings are ma]de of bronze and silver; [x (items): tables] of elephant ivory, [ebony, (and) boxwo]od, (tables) fit for a king; [8 (items)]: sturdy [maḫraṣu-objects of elephant ivory, ebony], (and) boxwood, a stand, a potstand, [a folding screen], a chair, and a cupbearer’s (pot)stand [(made) of elephant ivory], ebony, (and) boxwood, [whose mountings] are made of [br]onze and silver; [6 (items)]: gold [knives] with gold (handles in the shape of) cones, [a gold dagger], a gold fly whisk, (and) an alabaster [offering-bowl] inlaid with stones (and) gold; [11 (items): silver kappu-bowls] belonging to Ursâ (Rusâ), together with their lids, [kappu-bowls from the land T]abal with lug-handles of gold, [hauberks with silv]er (scales), (and) silver arrows with gold inlays; [34 (items): silv]er [kappu-bowls] with deep, [shallow], (and) narrow fluting (lit.: “fingers”), luṭṭu-bowls, [and susānu-vessels] of silver; 55 (items): silver-plated kappu-bowls, [together with (their) li]ds, cups (decorated with) [cone-shaped ornaments (and) crescent-shaped ornament]s, (and) silver rings; [5 (items): azannu-stands of sil]ver, qabūtu-cups of silver, [mukarrisu-dishes], (and) nablu-vessels, (altogether forming) ce[nsers from the land Tabal, and silver incense burners]; [13 (items): copper basins, copper cauldrons, copper wa]shbas[ins, copper asallu-bowls], copper [diqāru-pot]s, [(and) copper qulliu-bowls]; [24 (items): coppe]r [stands] (for) copper basins, [copper ḫuruppu-bowls, coppe]r [kurkurru-vessels], copper qullu-clasps, [copper nasru-hooks], (and) copper [lam]ps; [120 (items): copper objects, (both) heavy (ones and)] light (ones), [the work of their land, (objects), the pronun]ciation of [who]se name(s) [are not easy] to write down; [x (items): an] iron [brazier], iron shovel(s), [iron nasru-hooks], iron [arutḫ]u-objects, (and) iron lamps; [130 (items): garments with multi-colored trim] (and) linen (garments), (garments of) blue-purple wool (and) red-purple wool, [(and) garments of red wool] from the lands Urarṭu [and Ḫabḫu] — [I carried off (all these things) as booty, together with] the (remaining) property of his palace, [and I heape]d up his possessions. I sent a eunuch of mine [(and) my officials t]o the temple of the god Ḫaldi. [His god Ḫaldi] and his goddess Bagbartu, [together with the] numerous [possessions] of his [temp]le, as much as there were (of them): [x+4 talents and 3] minas of gold, 6 gold shields, [162 talen]ts and 20 minas of silver, less one sixth (of a mina of silver); [1 locking ba]r for its door which weighs 2 talents of gold; [1 gold door bolt]; 1 gold peg; (and) 1 silver key [(in the shape of) a divine protectress (who wears) a crown (and)] holds the rod and ring — [these (last) four (things) comprised the] door [faste]ning, one befitting the shrine, [whose] weight was [2 talents and 12 min]as of gold; [1 large gold sword which] weighs [2]6 and 1/3 minas of gold; [96 (items): silver spears, a hau]berk with silver (scales), [silver] bow(s), [(and) silver arrows, with in]lays and mountings [of gold]; [12 silver shields whose bosses are decorated with] the head(s) of De[luge (monsters), lion(s), and wild bull(s)]; Lacuna 79-7-8,14 ii´ i[vory ..., ivory knive(s), (and) daggers of ivory (and) ebony, whose mountings are of gold]; 10 (items): t[ables of boxwood, maḫraṣu-objects of boxwood, (and) chairs of ebony (and) boxwood], who[se] mo[untings are of gold (and) silver]; [2 portable altars (and) 14] assor[ted stones, jewelry of the god Ḫaldi and the goddess Bagbartu, his wife]; 20,512 (items): [heavy (and)] light [copper shields, cone-shaped helmets of copper, hauberks with copper (scales)], and sk[ull-shaped helmets of copper]; [1,514 (items)]: hea[vy (and) light copper spears, ...] Lacuna

Column v

Sm 2021 + 82-5-22,8 ii´ 1 statue of Irgišti (Argišti), [king of the land Urarṭu, wearing] a crown (decorated) with stars, (an attribute) of divine rank, [and] with his right hand in a gesture of adoration, together with its casing, [which weighs 60 talents of copper]; 1 statue of Ursâ (Rusâ) with two of [his cavalry] hors[es (and)] his chariot[eer], together with their base, [cast in] copper, [(...)] — I carried off (all these things) as substantial booty (and) [brought (them)] to [Assyria]. In my eighth regnal year, that which in the course of [my previous] campaign [against] Aššur-lēʾi, king of the land Karalla, [...] ... the god Aššur ... [...] ... in servit[ude ...] Lacuna K 1668a + K 1671 ii´ (+) K 1668b + DT 6 i´ Too poorly preserved to allow translation. He (Amitašši) became afraid and crossed Mount [Š]urda in order to sav[e his life]. Deceit(fully), they sent to [Adâ of the land Šurd]a a mendacious message intended [to make (him) ho]stile t[o me]. Fear of my brilliance ov[erwhelmed] Adâ [of the land Šurd]a and (as a result) [he put] him (Amitašši) to [the sword], together with his men. He did [not] spare (even) one of them to praise the god ... [... He brought to me] alive (v 15´) Atkayadug (and) Atkaya-..., the children of his (Amitašši’s) own body, with the (severed) head of Amita[šši, their father], (as well as) horses, pr[operty ...] as (his) audience gift. (v 20´) Because ... [...] ... to allow [to live] in peace ... [...] like a [...] I listened to his supplication(s) [...] I pu[t] gold [bracelets] upon his wrists [(and)] (v 25´) ... and I imposed upon him labor duty of [...]. I assigned [them] to the authority of a [eunuch of mine, the provinc]ial [gove]rnor of the land Lullumê. I a[dded] the [land] K[arall]a to its full extent t[o the province of the land] Lullumê. [I established] regular offerings for the god Aššur fore[ver]. At that time the people of the land Ḫabḫu — whi[ch is (located) between] the lands Karalla and Namri in [...] inac[cessible] mountain wilderness — heard of the harsh deeds that I had carried out in the land Kar[alla] and sent [me] a messenger to do obeisance (to me). I assigned t[hem] to the authority of a eunuch of mine, the [provincial governor] of the land Lullumê. [I imposed] the yoke of the god Aššur upon them. At the command of the god Aššur, my lord, [...] who/which since the (first) day of my reign [...] like deer (or) ibexes ... [...] I made them have courage. Distant [kings] from the shore of the sea [and the desert] of the east ... [...] ... [...] [Ullusunu, the Mannean, (...)] ... [...] whose royal prede[cessors] had never ... without (even exchanging) hostages, (v 50´) at the command of the god Aššur, my lord, who makes my fame great, impetuously left his royal city Izirtu, a distance of six leagues (away), and came before me in the land Lārue[te], which is (part) of the land Allabria. I received (v 55´) horses, ox[en], and sheep and goats as his substantial tribute, and he kissed my feet. I clothed him in a linen garment with multi-colored trim. I fastened inlaid bracelets on his two wrists, [whereupon] he joyfully returned to his (own) land. Before my time, the anger of the great gods was (directed) against Daltâ of the land Ellipi — a submissive subject who pulled the yoke of the god Aššur, my lord, (and) had brought tribute and audience gift(s) to the kings, my ancestors who had preceded (me) — (an anger which would lead) to the destruction of his land (and) the decimation of [his] people. (v 65´) The people became bewildered and spoke treachery. His entire land was united in defying him; they held him in contempt. Moreover, that (man), Daltâ, the king, their ruler, took fright at their defiance; [he became disturb]ed and distressed [on account of their] crime(s). Lacuna

Column vi

Lacuna Sm 2022 i´ [...] ... [...] ... [...] a mountain rainbow [...] ... the city Ul-...-ti (vi 5´) [...] ... [...] ... inhabitants of [...] I carried off as booty and Too poorly preserved to allow translation. Lacuna K 1668b + DT 6 ii´ [(With regard to) ...] cities, [I brought] him/it [out] from inside [...]; like a net, [...] overwhelmed the people of the cities Bu[..., ...]ba, Alīna, ..., [...]tāya-..., (and) Andab..., (vi 5´´) fortified [cities] of the land Ḫaldiniše. [I made the blood] of their people [fl]ow down the gorges of the outflows of the mountains. I brought down from the [mountains] the remainder of them who had [fle]d from my weapons (and) had taken to the hills, and I counted them as booty. (Thus), I made [the heart of D]altâ, their ruler, happy and [allowed the people of the land] Ellipi, to its full extent, [to l]ive in peace. ...-parnua of the city Sikris, Šutirna/Kutirna of the city ...-sanâ, Uppammâ of the city Ḫa-...taKAna, Mašdakku of the city Amakki, Ištesukka of the city Išteʾuppu, Uarzan of the land Uqqutti, Ašpa-bara of the land Kakkam, Satarēšu (and) Parurasu, city rulers of the large districts of Bīt-Bāri (and) Bīt-Barbari, Satarpānu of the land Uppuria, Parkuku (Partukku) of the land Andirpattianu, Aria of the land Buštu[s], Ušrâ of the land Ka[nz]abakanu, Maštukku of the land A[ra]tista, Zardukka of the land Ḫarzianu, Ištesuku (Ištesukka) (and) Auarisarnu, city rulers of the land Kayatanu, Arbaku of the land Arnasia, Sarruti of the city Karzinû, [Sata]rpānu of the [lan]d Barikānu, [...] of [the lan]d Zazaknu, [... of the lan]d Qarkasia, [...] Partakanu; [...] high [...] of the bringing of [... m]ules [...] I received and [...] Lacuna Sm 2049 i´ [...] my [...] [While I was in the process of defeating ... the land] Ellipi [... the ci]ty Šaparda, [... (and) the land U]qqutti [(and) receiving] substantial tribute, (the following happened in the west): [My princely predecessor] had become angry with Ḫullî, [king of the land Bīt-Purutaš], and [... had commanded the dissolut]ion of his land. [He brought him (Ḫullî), together with his family, to] Assyria [(and) had considered (them) (there) as if (they were) membe]rs of the lower class. [(...)] I restored [Ḫullî to his position] and Lacuna K 8536 [...] ... [...]ed him and in the land [... in order to take away (from me) the l]and Que (Cilicia) and plunder [my] la[nd ... he sent] his [vi]zier to U[rsâ (Rusâ), king of the land Urarṭu, (vi 5´´´´) ...] he sent a message qui[ckly ...] Too poorly preserved to allow translation. Lacuna K 1672 i´ [...] ... [... o]f the land Tab[al ...] eu­nuchs of mine, [the provincial governor(s) of the ci]ty Samʾal, (vi 5´´´´´) [the city Arpad, the city H]amath, the city Damascus, [...] together with my cavalry, [which] I had stationed [...] in the land Hamath [...] the numerous [troops of the god Aššu]r [... the land T]abal [...] Lacuna

Column vii

Lacuna Sm 2022 ii´ [...] they put [iron] fe[tters] on their [hands and] feet and [...] as booty [...]. (When) Kurtî of the land Atuna, who had put his tru[st] in [Mitâ] of the land Musku, saw the capture of Amris (Ambaris) and the carrying off [of his people], his heart pounded. His (lit.: “their”) messenger, bearing the [happy] news, brought to me in the land Sikris — which is (situated) in the land Med[ia] — (a message indicating his willingness) to [bring (me)] an audience gift (and) [pull] the yoke of the god A[ššur]; he (thus) [made my heart rejoice]. In my ninth regnal year I marched to [the city Ashdod which is (situated) on the shore of the] great [s]ea. [... the city] Ashdod [...] Lacuna K 1668b + DT 6 iii´ Because of [the evil he (Azuri) had done ... I brought him out] from the city A[shdod], elevated Ahī-Mīti [...], his favorite brother, o[ver the people of the city Ashdod], (vii 5´´) and [set him on the throne of his father]. I established for him (the same) tribute, payment(s), [labor duty, (and) military service] as the kings, [my ancestors, had imposed]. However, [those] evil [Hittites] with/in ... [...] plotted evil [in their heart(s)] (so as) to no longer (have to) bring tribute (to me). [They made] an insurrection (and) up[rising against] their ruler, [and] drove him out [of the city Ashdod] as if he was one who had committed bloodshed. ... [... They made] king over them (vii 15´´) Iāmānī, a member of the low[er class who had no right to the throne], (and) they sat [him on the throne] of his lord. [...] their city ... [...] of batt[le ...] (vii 20´´) ... [...] ... [...] ... [... in] its environs [its/their] moats [... they dug] twenty cubits deep [until] (vii 25´´) they reached groundwater. mendacious messages (and) malicious words to the ki[ngs] of the lands Philistia, Judah, Ed[om], (and) Moab, (as well as to) those who live on the sea(coast), (all) those who brought tribute [and] audience gift(s) to the god Aššur, my lord, (vii 30´´) in order to make (them) hostile to me. They took gift(s) to Pirʾû (Pharaoh), king of Egypt, a ruler who could not save them, and they repeatedly asked him for (military) aid. I, Sargon, the just prince, who reveres oath(s) (sworn) by the gods Šamaš (and) Marduk (and) who obeys (vii 35´´) the commands of the god Aššur, had (my) troops cross the Tigris (and) Euphrates Rivers at the height of (their) flooding, (namely) at the spring inundation, (as easily) as if (they were) dry land. Moreover, that (man) Iāmānī, their king, who had put his trust in his own strength and had not su[bmitted] to any(one else’s) rule, (vii 40´´) heard from [af]ar of [the app]roach of my expeditionary force. Then, the [aw]esome splendor of the god [Aššur], my [lord], overwhelmed him and ... [his legs grew weak, like roots] on a river bank. [...] ... [Like fish, th]ey chose the depths of [far-off] waters (for their) hiding place. (vii 45´´) [...] far [...] he fled [... the city A]shdod [...] ... Lacuna Sm 2049 ii´ [...] of understanding [... they st]ood and [...] the sound of a fl[ute ... his/their] helper(s) [...] (vi 5´´´) into the city Zaʾini, a [fortified] cit[y of the land Gurgum], he entered and [... Tarḫu-lara] became angry and Mut[allu ...] to one who goes ... [... si]gns of kingship [... (vii 10´´´) Q]umašši, son of his father, who [...] ... [...] they sent and ... [...] ferocious ... [...] as many as there were, [they divided up] into equal par[ts and ...] ... Tarhu-lara [...] Lacuna Sm 2050 i´ [...] his rule [... ca]mpaign [... the land] Gurgum [...] Too poorly preserved to allow translation. Lacuna K 1672 ii´ [...] the land [... I covered] like a c[loud. I laid waste to its] meadowland(s) [...] (vii 5´´´´´) the noise of [my] weap[ons ...] took fright [and opened their gate ...]. They came out [and kissed my feet. I gave his] royal city [Melid, together with its surrounding district], to the king [of the land Kummuḫu ...] Lacuna

Column viii

Lacuna K 1668b + DT 6 iv´ [...] the city [...] the city [...] more th[an previously ...] (viii 5´) their name(s) [... I had people whom I had captured enter] th[ere. I imposed upon them (the same state) service (and) corvée duty] as (there had been in the time) of [Gunzinānu. I strengthened the garrison(s of)] the cities Lu[ḫsu, Purṭir, Anmurru], K[iaka, (and) Anduarsalia] (viii 10´) against the land [Urarṭu. I erected] the cities U[si, Usian, (and) Uargin on the border] of the land Mus[ku and seized] the entrance ways (to that land) (lit.: “its gates”) [so that nothing (more) could come out (from that land to Assyria). I constructed the cities Ellibir (and) Šindarara] against the people [of the land Kasku]. In order not [...] At [that] ti[me, (everything) that was hidden in the mountains of the land Ḫatti was revealed (to me)]. Du[ring my reign ...] Too poorly preserved to allow translation. Lacuna Sm 2050 ii´ Too poorly preserved to allow translation. Lacuna K 4818 i´ Too poorly preserved to allow translation. In [days to come, wh]en [this] ziggu[rrat becomes old and] dilapidated, [may a future prince renovate] its dilapidated sections. [May he return my inscribed object and (any) insc]ribed object(s) of the kings, my ancestors, to the[ir] place(s). The gods [Ašš]ur (and) Adad will (then) listen to his prayers. [(As for) the one who] removes [the work of] my [hands] from its (current) location, may the gods Aššur (and) A]dad, the great gods, [curse him] angrily [and] make [his name (and)] his [des]cendant(s) disappear from the land. Lower edge [... (of)] Sargon, king of Assyria.

Sargon II 083 — 1881-07-27, 0003

Prism; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, London, UK. 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 083; RINAP Q006564.

Column i′

Not sufficiently preserved to allow translation. Lacuna

Column ii′

Fear of the brilliance of the gods Aššur, Nabû, (and) Marduk, my lords, overwhelmed him (the king of Meluḫḫa) and he put iron fetters on his (Iāmānī’s) hands and feet. (ii´ 5) He then had him brought in bondage to Assyria, into my presence. I reorganized (the administration of) those cities. I settled there people from the lands in the eastern mountains that I had conquered. (ii´ 10) I set a eunuch of mine as provincial governor over them and imposed the yoke of my lordship upon them. Marduk-apla-iddina (II) (Merodach-Baladan), king of Chaldea, who against the will of the gods had c[ome down] to the territory of the land of Sumer and [Ak]kad [and had appropriated for himself] the kingship of Ba[bylon] Lacuna

Column iii′

[(With regard to) 154] talents, 26 [minas, (and) 10 shekels of red gold], 1,604 talen[ts (and) 20 minas of pure silver, copper, iron], obsidian, [lapis-lazuli, banded agate, (...)] blue turquoise, [green turquoise (...)], (iii´ 5) (and) muššaru-stone [in large quantities], blue-purple wool, [red-purple wool], garments with multi-colored [trim and linen (garments)], boxwood, cedar, [cypress, (and) every kind of aromatic], the products of Mount Amanus, [whose scent(s) are pleasant — from the beginning of my reign until (my) third year, I presented (these things) as gifts] (iii´ 10) to the deities Marduk, Zarp[anītu, Nabû, Tašmētu], and the (other) gods who dwe[ll in the cult centers of] the land of Sumer and Akkad. Lacuna

Sargon II 084 — BM 122614 + BM 122615

Cylinder; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, London, UK. 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 084; RINAP Q006565.

Obverse

Lacuna [I continually ac]ted [as provider for (the cities) Sippar, Nippur, Babylon, and Borsippa (and) I made restitution for the wrongful damage suffered by] the people of privileged status, as many [as there were (of them); I restored the exemption (from obligations) of (the city) Baltil (Aššur) and the city Ḫarrān, which] had fallen into oblivion [in the distant past], and their privileged status that had la[psed]. [...] (with) pure zaḫalû-silver for the work on Eḫursaggalkurkurra (“House, the Great Mountain of the Lands”), the sanctuary of the god Aššur [...] ... the goddesses Queen of Nineveh and Lady of Arbela, the work [...] (5´) the arrangement of the firmament (of the heavens) [...] seven and a half minas of pure silver for the work of Eḫulḫul (“House which Gives Joy”), the abode of the god Sîn who dwells in the city Ḫarrān [... mi]nas of pure silver (and) countless precious stones which from the beginning of my reign until (my) fifteenth year to/for the gods who dwe[ll ...]. In accordance with my heart’s desire, I built a city [at the foot of Mount Muṣri, a mountain upstre]am from the city Nineveh, and named [it] Dūr-Šarrukīn. I had [the gods Ea, Sîn, Šamaš, Nabû, Adad, Ninurta, and] their great [spous]es created inside Eḫursaggalkurkurra and I installed (them) inside it (Dūr-Šarrukīn) on (their) [eternal] d[ais(es)]. (10´) I built inside it [palatial halls using (lit.: “of”) elephant ivory, ebony, boxwood, musukkannu-wood, ce]dar, cypress, daprānu-juniper, juniper, and terebinth to be my royal residence [and ...] I had enemy [people] whom I had captured dwell inside it (as safely) as in meadowland and I considered i[t] as (one of) the cul[tic center]s of Assyria. [(...) With the support of the great gods, I advanced and] ruled [the people] (from) the Upper Sea to the Lower Sea as if (they were) one (people). I made uncompliant lands (and) insubmissive mountain regions bow down at [my] feet. [I dispersed the forces of Ḫumbanigaš (Ḫumban-nikaš I), the Elamite]. I destroyed the lands Karalla, Šurda, (and) Kišesim (and) the city Ḫarḫar; I did not leave any offspring of the land Media as far as the border of Mount Bikni and the land Ellipi. [I] settled [in their midst people of the land Ḫatti (Syria) that I had conquered]. I set eunuchs of mine as provincial governors over them and had (them) pull my yoke. (15´) [I subjugated the lands Mannea, Andia, (and) Zikirtu]. I counted as booty [Ur]zana, king of the city Muṣaṣir, together with the people of his land (and) his deities Ḫaldi (and) Bagbartu. [I had (the people of) the land Urarṭu, to its full extent, wield razor(s)], ... and flint blades (in order to slash themselves in mourning), and I imposed for the future lamenation and dirge (singing) upon the people who lived there. I brought about [the defeat of Ursâ (Rusâ), the Urarṭian, at Mount] Uauš, a rugged mountain. He then took fri[ght] at (engaging in) fierce battle with me [and by] his own [hands], he brought an end to his life with the iron dagger from his belt. [Like the Deluge, I overwhelmed the land Hamath to its full extent]. I brought their king [Ia]ū-biʾdī (Ilu-biʾdī) to Assyria in bondage, together with his family, [his] figh[ting men, (and) the booty of] his [land]. I conscripted from among them (a contingent of) [300 chariots, 600 cavalry, (and) shield (and)] spear [bearers], and [(...)] I added (them) to my royal contingent. I settled [6,300 Assyrian criminal(s) (...) in] the land Hamath. I set a eun[uch of mine as] provincial [gov]ernor over them and I imposed upon them (the delivery of) tribute (and) payment(s). [Mutallu of the land Kummuḫu put his trust in Argišti, king of the land Urarṭu], stopped his [annual] delivery of tribute (and) payment(s), and withheld his audience gift. [Angrily], I quickly advanced [with (only) my personal chariot and my cavalry wh]o never leave my [side] (even) in friendly territory in the land [... He saw the cloud of dust (kicked up) by my expeditionary force], abandoned [...], and [fl]ed away by [him]self; [his where]abouts have never been discovered. [(...) I carried off as booty ... (his) property (and) posse]ssions, the treasure of his palace, (along) with the people [of his land and ...] I settled [there ... I set] a eunuch of mine as [provincial] gove[rnor over them (25´) ...] I conscripted [... from am]ong them and [I made (them) subject to him (the new governor) ...] ... [...] Lacuna

Sargon II 085 — BM 098518

Prismatic cylinder; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, London, UK. 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 085; RINAP Q006566.

Obverse

Lacuna Not sufficiently preserved to allow translation. [... from] the beginning of [my] rei[gn ...] [In accordance with my heart’s desire, I built a city at the foot of Mount Muṣri, a mountain upstream from the city Nineveh, and] n[amed it Dūr-Šarru]kīn. I had [the gods Ea, Sîn, Šamaš, Nabû, Adad, Ninurta, and their great spouses] created [inside Eḫursaggalkurkurra] and [I installed (them)] in[side it (Dūr-Šarrukīn) on (their) eternal dais(es). I built inside it palatial halls using (lit.: “of”) elephant ivory, ebony, boxwood, musukkannu-wood, cedar, cypress, daprānu-juniper, juniper, and] terebinth to be [my royal] resi[dence and ...] I had [enemy people whom I had captured] dw[ell inside it] (as safely) as in meadowland [and I considered it as (one of) the cultic centers of Assyria]. [(...) With the support of the great gods, I advanced and] ruled [the people (from) the Upper Sea to the Lower Sea as] if (they were) one (people). [I made uncompliant] land[s (and) insubmissive mountain regions bow down at my feet. I dispersed the forces of Ḫumbanigaš (Ḫumban-nikaš I), the Elamite. I destroyed the lands Karalla, Šurda, (and) Kišesim (and) the city Ḫarḫar; I did not leave any offspring of the land Med]ia as far as the border of Mount Bik[ni and the land Ellipi. I settled in their midst people of the land Ḫatti (Syria) that I had conquered. I set eunuchs of mine as provincial governors over them] and had (them) pu[ll my yoke. I subjugated the lands Mannea, Andia, (and) Zikirtu. I counted] a[s booty Urzana, king of the city Muṣaṣir, together with the people of his land (and)] his deities [Ḫaldi (and) Bagbartu]. Lacuna

Sargon II 086 — BM 098528

Cylinder; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, London, UK. 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 086; RINAP Q006567.

Obverse

Lacuna [I mustered the numerous troops of (the god) Aššur and crossed the Tigris (and) Euphrates Rivers, as well as in]numerable small [stream]s. [Like the Deluge, I overwhelmed the Chaldeans to their (lit.: its) full extent. In the face of my advance (lit.: “before me”), Marduk-apla-iddina (II) (Merodach-Baladan)] gathered together [the inhabitants of his cities (lit.: “his inhabited cities”) and the gods dwelling in them], and [brought (them) in]t[o the city Dūr-Yakīn. He strengthened its enclosure walls (and), moving back a distance of ten nindanu from in front of its main wall], he made [a moat two hundred cubits wide]; he [made (the moat)] one and a half nindanu [deep and reached ground water. He cut a channel from the Euphrates River, (thereby) making (its water) flow (in)to it]s [meadowland. He flooded] its fields, where battles (are fought), [and made crossing difficult. Together with his allies (and) his battle troops, he pitched his] royal tent [in a bend of the river (lit.: “between rivers”) lik]e a crane [and assembled his (military) camp]. [At the command of the gods Aššur, Nabû, (and) Marduk, I had a causeway] constructed (lit.: “trodden down”) [across his canals] and [I caught] him, together with [his] fight[ing men, like a flying eagle in a net]. I spread out like malt (spread for drying) [the corpses of his vanguard and of the Aḫlamû, the people of the steppe who go at] his [side], and [I filled] the surroundi[ngs of his city (with them). ... together with the settlements in] their [en]virons, I turned into (ruin) mounds. [I carried off as booty at the same time (both)] the people — young (and) o[ld — who lived in the district and the gods who helped them; I did not allow a (single) person to escape]. [(As for) the citizens of (the cities) Sippar, Nippur, Babylon, (and) Borsippa who through n]o fault of their own had been held captive in them, [I put an end to] their imprisonment [and let them see the light (of day). (With regard to) their fields, which long ago, while the land was in disorder], the Sutians had taken away and [appropriated] for their own — [I struck down (those) Sutians, the people of the steppe, with the sword]. I restored [to their former status their territories, (whose boundaries)] had been forgotten (and) fallen into disuse during the troubled period in the land. I (re)-established the freedom (from obligations) [of (the cities) Ur, Uruk, Eridu, Larsa, Kullab, Kissik, (and)] Nēmed-Laguda. [Moreover, I returned their gods that had been carried off as booty to their cult centers and] I rest[ored] their [regular] offerings that had been discontinued. [I restored the land Bīt-Yakīn and reorganized (its administration)]. I settled there [people from the land K]ummuḫu that I had conquered [and I had (them) occupy its (Bīt-Yakīn’s) abandoned regions. I divided up that land into equal parts and assigned (them) to the authority of a eunuch of mine, the governor of B]abylon, and a(nother) eunuch of mine, the [governor of the Gambulu (tribe)]. [Happily, with a joyful heart (and) a radiant face, I] entered [Babylon, the cult center of the Enlil of the gods (Marduk); I grasped hold of] the hands of the gre[at] lord, [the god Marduk, and brought (him) safely along the road to the akītu-house. (With regard to) 154 talents, 26 minas, (and) 10 shekels of red gold, 1,604 talents (and) 20 minas of pure silver], copper [(and) iron in immeasurable quantities ...] Lacuna

Sargon II 087 — BM 123416

Cylinder; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, London, UK. 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 087; RINAP Q006568.

Obverse

Lacuna Too poorly preserved to allow translation. [...] I filled [the surroundings of his city (with them). ... I did not allo]w a (single) person to escape. [(As for) the citizens of (the cities) Sippar, Nippur, Babylon, (and) Borsippa who through no fault of their own had been held captive in them, I put an end to their imprisonment and let t]hem [see] the light (of day). [(With regard to) their fields, which long ago, while the land was in disorder, the Sutians had taken away and] appropriated [for their own — I struck down (those) Sutians, the people of the steppe, with the sword. I restor]ed to their former status [their territories, (whose boundaries) had been forgotten (and) fallen into disuse during the troubled period in the land. I (re)-established the fr]eedom (from obligations) [of (the cities) Ur, Uruk, Eridu, Larsa, Kullaba, Kissik, (and) Nēmed-Laguda. Moreover, I returned their gods that had been carried off as booty to their cult centers and I rest]ored [their regular offerings that had been discontinued]. [I restored the land Bīt-Yakīn and reorganized (its administration). I settled there people from the land Kummuḫu that I had conquered and I had] (them) occupy its (Bīt-Yakīn’s) abandoned regions. [I divided up that land into equal parts and] assigned (them) [to the authority of a eunuch of mine, the governor of Babylon, and a(nother) eunuch of mine], the governor of the Gambulu (tribe). [Happily, with a joyful heart (and) a radiant face, I entered Babylon, the cult center of the Enlil of the gods (Marduk); I grasped hold of the hands of the great lord, the god Marduk], and brought (him) safely along the road to the akītu-house. [(With regard to) 154 talents, 26 minas, (and) 10 shekels of red gold, 1,604 talents (and) 20 minas of pure silver, copper (and) iron in] immeasurable quantities, [obsidian, lapis-lazuli, banded agate, blue turquoise, green turquoise, ... of banded agate (and) muššaru-stone in] large quantities, [blue-purple wool, red-purple wool, garments with multi-colored trim and linen garments, boxwood, cedar, cypress, (and) every kind of aromatic, the products of Mount Amanus, wh]ose scent(s) are pleasant — [from the beginning of my reign until (my) third year], I presented (these things) as gifts [to the deities Bēl, Zarpanītu, Nabû, Tašmētu, and the (other) gods who dwell in the cult centers of the land of Sumer and Akkad]. [Upēri, king of Dilmun, who(se) lair is situated (at a distance of) thirty leagues in the middle of the Eastern Sea, like (that of) a fish], heard [of the might of the gods Aššur, Nabû, (and)] Marduk and brought me his audience gift. [Moreover, seven kings of the land Yāʾ, a region of the land Yadnana (Cyprus) — who]se abode(s) [are situated far] away, [at a distance of seven days (journey) in the middle of the Western Sea (and)] the name of [who]se land, [from the distant past until now, none of the kings, my ancestors, neither in Assyria nor in the land Karduniaš (Babylonia), had ever hea]rd — [heard from afar, in the middle of the sea, of the deeds I had been doing in Chaldea and the land Ḫatti (Syria). Their hearts then pounded and] fear [fell upon the]m. [They brought before me in Babylon gold, silver, (and) utensils of ebony (and) boxwood, product(s) of their land, and they kisse]d my feet. Not sufficiently preserved to allow translation. Lacuna

Sargon II 088 — BM 098724

Prismatic cylinder; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, London, UK. 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 088; RINAP Q006569.

Obverse

Lacuna to/for [...] who makes restit[ution for the wrongful damage suffered by them; ...; who abolished corvée duty for (the cities) Dēr], Ur, [Eridu, Larsa, Kullaba, Kissik, (and) Nēmed-Laguda (...)]; (most) capable of all rulers, w[ho extended his protection over the city Ḫarrān and recorded its exemption (from obligations) as if (its people were) people of the gods Anu and Dagān]; the valiant man who brought about the d[efeat of Ḫumbanigaš (Ḫumban-nikaš I), the Elamite; who destroyed the land Karalla], the land Šurda, the city Kišesim, the city Ḫar[ḫar, the land Media, (and) the land Ellipi, (and) imposed the yoke of the god Aššur upon (them)]; who laid waste to the land Urarṭu, [plundered the city Muṣaṣir, slaughtered the lands Andia (and) Zikirtu, (and) pacified the land Mannea]; who made the rulers of the la[nd Hamath, the city Carchemish, and the land Kummuḫu] tremble (and) [plundered the land Kammanu; who deported Gunzinānu] from [the city Melid, his (Gunzinānu’s) royal city, and set officials over all of their lands]; who did aw[ay with the kingship of Tarḫu-lara of the city Marqasa ...]; Lacuna

Sargon II 089 — Aššur Charter (K 01349)

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, London, UK. 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 089; RINAP Q006570.

Obverse

[To] the god Ašš[ur], the great mou[ntain], king of all the Igīgū gods and Anunnakū gods, [...] ... whose command ... rea[ches ...]; the Assyrian Enlil without whom judgment cannot be rendered, ... [...] sanctuaries be altered, (or) decisions be canceled by any other god; the important one who [...] (5) heaven (and) netherworld are constantly put in difficulty, lands and sea(s) tremble; the king of king[s, (...) the one by whom] no [oath (sworn)] is broken and the flood-tide, (who)se limits cannot be transgressed, the fierce deluge, the sickle [sword, ...] who overwhelms all the uncompliant (and) crushes the wild; the furious storm, who for the imp[ious ...] seals quickly the one who changes his design(s); the awesome god who from his royal dais, from [his] throne [...] plunders every land; lordly one, lord of lords; one clothed in awesome splendor who defeats the wicked, tramples on [all enemies], (10) (and) overwhelms foes; the judicious one who loves humankind, (but) whose anger is great; the fe[roc]ious one, [...] who dwe[lls] in Eḫursaggalkurkurra (“House, the Great Mountain of the Lands”) — the mighty shrine, primordial reflection (lit.: “design”) of the whole world — the lord of (the city) Baltil (Aššur) — the city of privileged status, the dynastic seat (and) oldest inhabited settlement — the prince, his lord: Sargon (II), vice-regent of the land of the god Ašš[ur], just shepherd, offspring of the gods Enlil (and) Marduk, your servant; me, upon whom, among all the black-headed people, he (the god Aššur) duly looked to renovate the structure of the temple, to make the ritual performances perfect, (and) to make the cult centers brilliant. He then exalted me (and) handed over to me the ru[lership] and governance of Assyria. He made [my] weapons prevail over the four quarters (of the world). In my second regnal year, having ascended the royal throne and been [crowned] with the crown of lordship, I dispersed the forces of Ḫumba(n)igaš (Ḫumban-nikaš I), king of the land Elam (and) brought about his defeat. [Iaū-biʾdī (Ilu-biʾdī)] of Hamath — who had no right to the throne, who was not worthy to (live in) a palace, (and) who [had not been] fate[d] to shepherd the people — [came down], sought evil, (things that were) not good, for (the god) Aššur, his land, (and) his people, and held (them) in cont[empt]. He assembled the cities [Ṣimirra, Damascus], Arpad, (and) Samaria and made (them) side with him. [...] ... he killed (them) altogether and le[ft] no one alive. [...] ... and I prayed (to the god Aššur) in order to (be able to) conquer the land Hamath, [overthrow Iaū-biʾdī (and) ... the] wide [land Amu]rru. Aššur, the [great] god, then [... li]stened [to my prayer] and accepted my supplication. [I mustered my vast] tr[oops (...) and] (25) had (them) take [the road to the land Am]urru.

Reverse

The land Ha[math ...] corpses were spread wide (lit.: “the/a corpse was spread out”). Fame [...] I made [the people of the land Am]urru bow [down] at my feet. I brought [...] to my city Aššur, and, because [they (the people of the city Aššur) li]st[ened to my] comma[nd and ...] came to my aid, [I showed favor to] (the city) Baltil (Aššur), the city of privileged-status since ancient dynasties. (With regards to this) august cult center (the city Aššur) that the god Aššur, his lord, had selected to be the (central) link [of kingship ...] for the (four) quarters (of the world), (the city) which has no rival (and) whose people have not known (state) service (or) corvée duty since the distant past, [Shalmaneser (V)], who did not revere the king of all (the world), raised his hand against that city with evil intent and esta[blished ...]. He imposed oppressively (state) service (and) corvée-duty upon its people (and) treated (them) as if (they were of the) lower class. At [that time, ...] the Enlil of the gods angrily overthrew his reign. (As for) me, Sargon, the ... king [...], (35) he exalted me (and) had me take hold of scepter, throne, (and) crown. [...] In order to make (my) throne secure, to firmly establish my reign, [to restore] their exemption (from obligations), [...] so that (I) might walk about in his presence in Ešarra, (and) in order that [I be] well of he[art ...] I planned the exemption (from obligations) of those citizens of the city. [(...)] I exempted them [from (state) service, corvée duty], the levy of the land, (and) the proclamation of the herald, from quay [(and) ferry] dues [...] all the temples of Assyria. (The god) Aššur, my lord, [...] I had [...] made and a silver ḫaṣbu-pot (weighing) twenty minas ... [...] I inscribed upon it and placed it before him. (As for) the one who [removes] that object (lit.: “work”) fro[m its (current) location (...)] (or) mutilates (its) represention(s), may (the god) Aššur, the great lord, [glare at him] angrily [(...)].

Sargon II 090 — BM 134553

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, London, UK. 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 090; RINAP Q006571.

Obverse

To the goddess Anunītu, his lady: Sargon (II) presented (this) for the sake of his life.

Sargon II 091 — K 04471

Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, London, UK. 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 091; RINAP Q006572.

Obverse

Lacuna [...] ... [...]. [... to change/remove] his [reign], scepter, (and) [his royal] thr[one ...] ... [...] [... s]hore of the sea [...] did not have [...] [...] … he [made hi]m side with him; he put his [trust ...] [...] their [...] clothed in death and the breast [...] [...] all the evil Chaldeans [...] [...] he extended [...] [...] he strengthened his [fortress]es. He had [...] with (great) difficulty [...] [... who (…)] ruled [evil]ly [(...)] and [...] the lordship of the land and p[eople ...] [...] the roads are very difficult and [...] [...] he fixed [its foundations in the dep]th of the water [...] [... as] the base of a mighty mountain [...] [...] ... soldiers [...] Lacuna

Sargon II 092 — 3 R pl. 3 no. 12+

Cone; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, London, UK. 30 known exemplars. Sargon II 092; RINAP Q006573.

Obverse

Sargon (II), k[ing ...], nešakku-priest of the god Aššur, [just] shepherd [...] king [...], governor (appointed) by the gods Nabû and Marduk, whom [(...)] the great gods appointed to [...] ... and [...] ..., I — The temple of the gods Nabû (and) Marduk that had previously been built opposite the new gate facing north, became dilapidated and Adad-nārārī (III), son of Šamšī-Adad (V), king of Assyria [(...), a prince who pr]eceded me, (re)built (it). The foundations of this temple were not made strong and its foundation wall was not fixed like bedrock. Seventy-five years elapsed and it became old and dilapidated (lit.: “dilapidated and old”). In order not to change its location (and) to build (it) beside the temple of the goddess Ištar of Nineveh, I requested the command of the god Na[bû (...)], my lord, and by means of the diviner’s bowl he answered me with (his) firm approval not to change its location. Then, from its foundations to its crenellations, I completely (re)constructed the temple of the gods Nabû and Marduk, my lords, (that) had been built beside the temple of the goddess Ištar of Nineveh, and I set my clay sikkatu-cones (in place). For the sake of 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 (re)built (this temple).

Sargon II 093 — Thompson, Arch. 79 pl. XLII no. 41

Slab; stone: "marble"; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 093; RINAP Q006574.

Obverse

Sargon (II), [strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, (completely) built] the temple of the deity [...] for the sake of his life [(...)] Lacuna

Sargon II 094 — Thompson, Arch. 79 pl. XLII no. 28

Slab; stone: "marble"; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 094; RINAP Q006575.

Obverse

Lacuna Sar[gon (II) ...] Lacuna

Sargon II 095 — Walker, CBI 169 (Sargon II F)

Brick; slab; clay; stone; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, London, UK; Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery, Birmingham, UK. 6 known exemplars. Sargon II 095; RINAP Q006576.

Obverse

Sargon (II), appointee of the god Enlil, nešakku-priest of (the god) Aššur, governor (appointed) by the gods Nabû and Marduk, built the temple of the gods Nabû and Marduk, his lords, from its foundations to its crenellations for the sake of his life, the well-being of his offspring, the overthrow of this enemies, the success of the harvest of Assyria, (and) the well-being of Assyria.

Sargon II 096 — Walker, CBI 170 (Sargon II G)

Brick; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, London, UK; Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery, Birmingham, UK. 2 known exemplars. Sargon II 096; RINAP Q006577.

Obverse

Sargon (II), strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, completely built the temple of the lord, the god Nabû, (located) inside the city of Nineveh from its foundations to its crenellations for the sake of ensuring his good health (and) and prolonging his life.

Sargon II 097 — Thompson, Arch. 79 pl. XLV no. 71

Brick; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 097; RINAP Q006578.

Obverse

Sargon (II), [strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, completely] built the temple of the god [Nabû ...] inside the city [Nineveh ...] for the sake of ensuring [his good health (and) prolonging his days].

Sargon II 098 — Thompson, Arch. 79 pl. XLV no. 74

Brick; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 098; RINAP Q006579.

Obverse

Sargon (II), king [of the world, king of Assyria ...] a city ... [...] residence [...] the deity [...]. Lacuna

Sargon II 099 — Nassouhi, MAOG 3/1–2 nos. 4 and VIII

Plating (for doorjamb); metal: copper; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). Arkeoloji Müzeleri, Istanbul, Arkeoloji Müzeleri, Istanbul, Turkey. 2 known exemplars. Sargon II 099; RINAP Q006580.

Obverse

To the god Nabû, his lord: Sargon (II), king of Assyria, presented (this object) for the sake of his life.

Sargon II 100 — Galter, ARRIM 5 no. 42 (Rosen Collection)

Eyestone; stone; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 100; RINAP Q006581.

Obverse

To the Lady of Nineveh, his lady: Sargon (II), presented (this object) for the sake of his life.

Sargon II 101 — K 22030

Tablet ?; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, London, UK. 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 101; RINAP Q006582.

Obverse

Lacuna [...] ... [...] I settled th[em ...] [...] Assyria ... [... the city Q]arqar [...] Lacuna

Sargon II 102 — A 16947

Tablet; clay; uncertain. Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA. 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 102; RINAP Q006583.

Obverse

Lacuna ... [...] [He plotted] evil. He made (them) [act in unison and he prepared for battle]. [He spo]ke [deceitfully], words complaining about me, [Sargon ... and] I became enr[aged]. I threw him, together with [his family], his wife, his sons, (and) [his] d[aughters], in iron fetters, [and] I brought t[hem] to Assyria. I se[t] a eunuch [of mine] as provincial governor over the citizens of that city (and) [made (the city)] (part of) the territory of Assyria. In my fifth regnal year, Ullu[sunu (…)] Lacuna

The Levant, Anatolia, and Iran: Frontier Monuments. Sargon II 103–122. 20 texts.

Sargon II 103 — Cyprus Stele / Larnaca Stele / Kition Stele (VA 00968)

Stele; stone; Larnaka. Vorderasiatisches Museum, Berlin, Germany. 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 103; RINAP Q006584.

Column i

The god Aššur, the great lord, [king of all] the Igīgū gods and Anunnakū gods, begetter of everything, [father of the god]s, lord of the lands; the god Sîn, lig[ht ...] lord of heaven and netherworld, who [espies] the treachery of the enemy, (i 5) who renders [...] decisions for the ea[rth] (and) destroys [the en]emy; the god Šamaš, [the] gr[eat judge ...], who [...] the treachery of the evil and ... of the foe, (and) exp[oses the vil]lain; the god Adad, the great prince, her[o, canal inspect]or, (i 10) who devastates regions ... (and) makes the seas h[ea]ve; the god Mar[duk], the lord [...], who provides all people with food, [...] ... [...], (and) grants pl[ants ...]; (i 15) the god Nabû, the [perfect] heir, [...] ... [...] high [mountain]s, who rem[oves] the uncompliant (and) ... the roots of the enemy; (i 20) the goddess Ištar, queen of battle, ... evil-doers; (and) the Sebetti, who go before the gods, stand at the side of the king, their favorite, in the place of battle, and [bri]ng about (his) victory; Great gods, managers of heaven and netherworld, whose attack means battle and strife, who appoint (rulers) (lit.: “raise the eyes”) (and) name king(s), (and) by whose holy command they place (one) land over (another) land and make (its ruler) greater [than] (other) rulers.

Column ii

Sargon (II), great king, [strong king], king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of B[abylon], king of the land of Sumer and Akkad, king of the [four] quarters (of the world), favorite of the great gods, ... [...]. The gods Aššur, Nabû, (and) [Marduk] gra[nted me] a reign without equal [and] exalted my [good] reputation to the h[eights]. I [continually acted] as provider for (the cities) Sippar, Nippur, (and) B[abylon] (and) I [made restitution] for the wrongful damage suffered by the people of privileged status, as many as [there were (of them)]; I abolished corvée duty for (the cities) D[ēr], Ur, Uruk, Eri[du], (ii 15) Larsa, Kul[laba], Kissik, (and) Nēmed-L[aguda] (and) gave relief to [their] people. I restor[ed] the exemption (from obligations) of (the city) Baltil (Aššur) and the city [Ḫarrān], which had fallen into oblivion in the dis[tant] past, and their privileged status [that had lapsed]. With the support of the great gods, I ad[vanced and] ru[led] the people (from) the Up[per] Sea to the Lo[wer] Sea as if (they were) one (people). From Egypt to the land [Musku], I made (them) bow down at my feet. I [dispersed] the forces of Ḫumbanigaš (Ḫumban-nikaš I), the [Elamite]. I destroyed the land Karalla, the land [Šurda], (ii 30) the city Kišesim, the city [Ḫarḫar], the land Media, (and) the land El[lipi]; I did not spare any of [their] offspring. I settled in their midst people from the land Ḫatti (Syria) that [I] had conquered. (ii 35) I [set] e[unuchs of mine] as provincial governors over them [and] had (them) pull [my] y[oke]. I subjugated the lands Mannea, Andia, (and) Zik[irtu]. I [counted] as booty Urzana, king of the city Muṣaṣir, together with [the people of his land (ii 40) (and) his deities] Ḫaldi (and) Bagbartu. [I] had (the people of) [the land] Urarṭu, to [its full] extent, wield razor(s) [...]. (ii 45) [I imp]osed for the fu[ture] lamentation and [dirge (singing) upon the people] who lived there. [I brought about the defe]at of Ursâ (Rusâ), the [Urarṭian, at Mou]nt Uauš, a rugged mountain. He to[ok fright at] (engaging in) fierce battle with me [and] by his own hands, [he brought an end to] his life with the iron dagger [from his belt]. Like the Deluge, I overwhe[lmed] the land Hamath to [its] fu[ll] extent. I [brought their] ki[ng] Iaū-biʾdī (Ilu-biʾdī) to Assyria in bondage, together with his family, [his] fighting men, (ii 55) (and) the booty of his land. I cons[cripted] from among them 300 chariots, 600 cav[alry], (and) shield (and) spe[ar] bearers, and] I [added] (them) to my royal contingent. I [settled] 6,300 Assyrian cri[minals] in the land Hamath; I set a eunuch of mine as [provincial] gov[ernor] over them and imposed upon th[em] (the delivery of) tribute (and) pa[yment(s)].

Column iii

Missing or not preserved.

Column iv

[Happily, with a jo]yful heart and a radiant face, I entered [Babyl]on, the cult center of the Enlil of the gods (Marduk); I grasped hold of [the hands of the gre]at [lord], the god Marduk, and (iv 5) [brought] (him) safely along the road to the akītu-house. [(With regard to) 154] talents, 26 and 1/6 minas of [red] gold, 1,804 talents (and) 20 minas [of pure silver], (donkey) loads of copper (and) iron [in im]measurable quantities, (iv 10) [obsidian], lapis-lazuli, banded agate, muššaru-stone, [blue turquoise], green turquoise, ... of banded agate [(and) mušša]ru-[stone] in immeasurable quantities, [blue-pur]ple [wool], red-purple wool, [garments] with multi-colored trim and linen (garments), (iv 15) [boxw]ood, cedar, cypress, [(and) every kind of] aromatic, the products of Mount Amanus, [who]se [sce]nt(s) are pleasant — [from the beginning] of my reign until (my) third year, [I pres]ented (these items) as gifts [to the] deities Bēl and Zarpanītu, Nabû, [Tašmēt]u, and the (other) gods who dwell in [the cult centers] of the land of Sumer and Akkad. [Upēr]i, king of Dilmun, who(se) lair is [sit]uated at a distance of thirty leagues [in the middle of the] Eastern [Se]a, [like that of a fish, heard of the might] of the gods Aššur, Nabû, (and) Marduk and sent (a message to do) obeisance (to me). [(Moreover), seven king]s of the land Yāʾ, a region [of the land Adn]ana (Cyprus) — whose abode(s) [are situated] far away, at a distance of seven days (journey) (iv 30) [in the middle] of the Western Sea, (and) the name of whose land, [from] the distant past, when Assyria was taken over, [until now], none of the kings, my ancestors, [who prec]eded (me), (iv 35) [had ever hea]rd — [he]ard [from afar], in the middle of the sea, [of the deeds I had been do]ing in Chaldea and the land Ḫatti. Their hearts then pounded (and) [fear sei]zed them. [They brought] before me [in] Babylon gold, silver, (and) [utensils of] ebony (and) boxwood, the treasure of their land, [and] they kissed my feet. [At that time], I had a stele made and [I engraved] upon it [image(s) of the] great [god]s, my lords. I had an image of myself as king stand before them (the gods) [constantly implor]ing (them for the sake) of my life. [I inscrib]ed upon it [the name(s) of the people] whom, from the east [to the we]st, (iv 50) I had subjugated [to the yok]e of my lordship with the support of the gods Aššur, [Nabû], (and) Marduk, my divine helpers. I had (it) erected [beside/facing Mount] Baʾil-ḪARri, a mountain [(that towers) abo]ve the land Adnana (Cyprus]). I left [for] future [king]s, my descendants, [the praises of] the great gods, my lords, [with wh]ose firm [approval] I act and have no [equal]. [In fu]ture days, may a later prince look at my [stel]e and read (it). May he praise [the names] of the great gods, anoint (the stele) [with oil], (and) offer a sacrifice. [May] he [not] change its location. [(As for) the one who alt]ers my stele (or) [erase]s my inscribed name, may the [great god]s — as many as are mentioned by name on [this] stele — and the gods [who live] in the middle of the wide sea curse him [angrily] and make his name (and) his descendant(s) disappear [from] the land. (iv 70) [May they not have] pity (on him). [May they red]uce his people through famine, want, [hunger], (and) plague. May they make him live in bondage [under] his enemy and may (his enemy) govern his land [in the sight] of his (own) eyes.

Sargon II 104 — Ashdod Stele

Stele; stone; Ashdod (Asdūdu). Israel Antiquities Authority, Jerusalem. 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 104; RINAP Q006585.

Left side Lacuna

Fragment A, left

[... they made ... ho]stile [to me. The extens]ive [troops of Assyria] Lacuna Right side Lacuna

Fragment A, right

Not sufficiently preserved to allow translation. Lacuna

Fragment B

[I dispersed the forces of] Ḫumbani[gaš (Ḫumban-nikaš I), the Elamite. I destroyed the land of Kar]alla, the land Šurda, [the city Kišesim, the city Ḫarḫar, the land] Media, (and) the la[nd Ellipi, (and) I imposed the yoke of the god] Aššur [(upon them)]. I [subjugated the land Mannea, ...] Lacuna Left sides Lacuna

Fragment C, left

[... who (always) speaks tre]achery [...] he repeatedly sent [... he withheld] his [au]dience gift [...] Lacuna Right side Lacuna

Fragment C, right

Not sufficiently preserved to allow translation. Lacuna

Sargon II 105 — ‘Beirut’ Stele / ‘Borowski’ Stele / ‘Hamath’ Stele (BLMJ 1115)

Stele; stone; uncertain. Bible Lands Museum, Jerusalem. 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 105; RINAP Q006586.

Column i′

Lacuna [... who ... opened up innumerable distant mountainous areas whose pass(es)] are difficult [and visited their remotest region(s); who traversed inaccessible, diffic]ult [paths in terrifying location(s) (and) cross]ed [every swamp]; [(who) ruled from the land Rāši on the border of the land El]am, [the Puqudu (and) Damūnu (tribes), the cities Dūr-Kurigalzu (and) Rāp]iqu, [the entire desert as far as the Brook of Egypt, the wid]e [land Amurru, (and) the land Ḫatti (Syria) in its entirety; who]se [grea]t hand [conquered (the area) from the land Ḫaš]mar [to the land Ṣibar — which borders on the distant Medes in the ea]st — [(i´ 10´) the lands Namri, Ellipi, Bīt-Ḫamban, Parsua(š), Mann]ea, [Urarṭu, Kasku, (and) Tabal, as far as the land Musku; who se]t [eunuchs of his as governors over them] and [imposed upon th]em [(the same) tribute (and) payment(s) as if (they were) Assyrians]; [the valiant man who m]et [Ḫumbanigaš (Ḫumban-nikaš I), king of the land Elam, (in battle) on the outskirts of (the city) Dēr] and [brought about his defeat; (...) who deported (the people of) the land Bīt-Purutaš, who]se king, [Ambari]s, [had forgotten the kindness (shown to him) by Sargon and] put his trust [in the king(s) of the lands Urarṭu and Musku; (the one with) powerful arms, who drove out Mitâ (Midas), king of the land M]usku, [brought back (to Assyrian control) the fortress(es) of the land Que (Cilicia) that had been taken away (by the enemy), (and) expanded] its [bord]ers; [who plundered the land Kammanu, deported Gunzinānu from] the city Melid, [his (Gunzinānu’s) royal city, and ...] ...; [who did away with the kingship of Tarḫu-lara of the city Marqasa (and) made all of the land] Gurgum [(part of) the territory of Assyria; ... Iāmānī of the city Ash]dod [...] ...; [who subjugated seven kings of the land Yāʾ — a region of the land Yadnana (Cyprus) — whose abode is situated at a di]stance of seven days (journey) [in the middle of the sea]; [who plundered the land Carchemish of the] evil [Ḫitti]te (king) (and) [who]se great [hand conquered Pisīri(s), their subject who (always) spoke treachery; ...] Lacuna

Column ii′

I conscripted from among them 200 chariots, 600 cavalry, (and) shield (and) spear (bearers), and I added (them) to my royal (military) contingent. I disregarded the crime(s) of (ii´ 5) 6,300 guilty Assyrians, had pity upon them, and settled them in the land Hamath. I imposed on them (the same) tribute, payment(s), labor duty, (and) (ii´ 10) military service as the kings, my ancestors, had imposed on Irḫulena of the land Hamath. May (every) future ruler praise the good deeds of (the god) Aššur and have (people) in the future learn to revere him (the god Aššur)! The people of the lands Ḫatti and Aram who dwell in the lands Bīt-Agūsi and Unqi, to (their) full extent [...] ... Lacuna

Sargon II 106 — Acharneh Stele

Stele; stone: basalt; Acharneh (Tunip). National Museum of Syria, Aleppo, Syria. 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 106; RINAP Q006587.

Column i

Not preserved

Column ii

Lacuna [...] ... [...] [...] for water [...] [...] they made his/its [...] scarce [...] the neighborhood of his city [... fo]r horses to show their mettle [...] ... [... a] major [defeat on th]em [(...) they blo]cked up the river [with their corpses]. They burned [...], (turning them) into [ash]es, established [devastation in the land] Hamath, a[nd ...]. They brought him (Ilu/Iaū-biʾdī), together with [his] family, [int]o my city Aššur. [Because the god Aššur who goes] at my side cont[inually an]swered [...] I obtained victory [... I was able to achieve] whatever I wanted. I blessed [the god Aššur], my lord. [I imposed upon him ...] the ṣibtu-tax on oxen and sheep and g[oats (...) and] established as [his] regular offerings. [(...)] I altered [the]ir [... and] [(...)] on their lips.

Column iii

Lacuna [...] [...] my [...] [that I (had carried out while) a]cting [with the suppo]rt of the god Aššur, [my] lo[rd, ...], and everything [that I had] done [in the land Hamath], I inscribed u[pon it/them. I erected] one (stele)] in the land Hamath, one in [...], [one] in the city Ḫatar[ikka (...)], [one] in the city KURʾua, (and) one in [...] One who comes after ... [...] May a future [prince look at my] stel[e and] read my [inscr]ibed name. [May he (then) pr]aise [the name of the god Aššur, anoint (this stele) with] oi[l], (and) offer [a sac]rifice. The god Aššur [will (then) listen to his prayers]. [(As for) the one who] alte[rs my stele, (or) er]ases [my] inscr[ibed name ...] Lacuna

Column iv

Lacuna Too poorly preserved to allow translation. Remainder not inscribed

Sargon II 107 — Til Barsib Stele

Stele; stone; Tell Ahmar (Til Barsip). National Museum of Syria, Aleppo, Syria. 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 107; RINAP Q006588.

Obverse

Lacuna [... granted me a reign without eq]ua[l and] exalted [my] good [reputation] t[o the heights]. [I continually acted] as provider [for (the cities) Sippar, Nippu]r, Babylon, (and) Borsippa [(and) I made restitution for] the wrongful damage [suffered by the people of privileged status], as many as there were (of them). I [then] restor[ed the exemption (from obligations) of (the city) Baltil (Aššur) and] the city Ḫarrān, which had f[allen into oblivion] in the distant past, [and their privileged position that had laps]ed. [...] temple of the god Adad that [...] inside the city [...] Ashurnasirpal, a prince who preced[ed me ...] ... [...] Lacuna

Sargon II 108 — Tell Tayinat Stele

Stele; stone: basalt; Tell Tayinat (Unqi). Exemplars held across 3 collections, including Hatay Arkeoloji Müzesi, Antakya. 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 108; RINAP Q006589.

Too poorly preserved to allow translation. Lacuna

Fragment B, Column i

[... DNs, who g]o [...; the goddess Ištar], ... [...; DN], who encircles [...; the Sebetti], who go [before the gods, stand] at the side [of the king, their favorite, in the place of battle, and] bring about (his) vic[tory]; [Great gods, managers] of heaven (and) netherworld, who[se attack means battle and strife], who appoint (rulers) (lit.: “raise the eyes”) [(and) name king(s)], (and) by who[se holy command] they place [(one) land over (another) land] an[d make (its ruler) greater than (other) rulers]. Lacuna Lacuna

Fragment C

[... I restored the exemption (from obligations) of (the city) Baltil (Aššur) and] the city Ḫ[arrān, which had fallen into oblivion in the distant past, and their] privileged sta[tus that had lapsed]. [...] Lacuna Lacuna

Fragment D

[...] He (Iaū-biʾdī) [assembled ... at the city Q]arqar and [incited (it/them) to rebel aga]inst me. The cit[ies] A[rpad, Ṣimirra, (...), Damascus, (...), (and) S]amaria [... (5´) ... i]n the land Hamath, the house [... I prayed to] the god Aššur, the king of the gods, [in order to (be able to) (...) conquer the land Hama]th, overthrow I[aū-biʾdī (and) ... the (wide) land Amurru. I] commanded and [...] I killed an[d ...] Lacuna Lacuna

Fragment E

[... I settled them] in [the land Hamath. I imposed on them (the same) tribute, payment(s)], labor [duty, (and) military service as the kings, my ancestors, had imposed] on [Irḫulena of the land Hamath] Lacuna Lacuna

Fragment B, Column iv

[(As for) the one who alters my good] deeds [(or) erases my] inscribed [name, may the] great [gods] — as ma[ny ... as] are ment[ioned by name] on [this] stel[e — curse him and make his] name [(and) his descendant(s) disappear from the land] Lacuna

Sargon II 109 — Carchemish Cylinder Inscription

Cylinder; clay; Europos (Carchemish). 3 known exemplars. Sargon II 109; RINAP Q006590.

Obverse

Lacuna [the victorious one who is perfect in strength and power (and) who subjugated the insubmissive Medes; who slaughtered the people of the land Ḫarḫar (and) enlarged] the territory of Assyria; [who gathered (back together) the scattered land Mannea (and) brought order to the disturbed land Ellipi; who established (his) kingship over both (these) lands and made] his name [glo]rious; [... Since the (first) day of my reign], there has been [no ruler who could equal me] and [I have met no one who could overpower (me) in war or battle. Pisīri(s) of the city Carchemish sinned against the treaty (sworn) by the great gods and] repeatedly wrote in a friendly manner [to Mitâ (Midas), king of the land Musku], and (5´) [held me in contempt. I raised my hand(s) (in supplication) to the god Aššur, my lord, brought him (Pisīris), together wit his family, out (of their city) in bondage, and] showed (them) to the god Aššur. [I carried off as booty gold (and) silver, (along) with the property of his palace and the guilty people of the city Carchemish who (had sided) with him, as well as their possessions, (and)] brought (them) to Assyria. [I conscripted fifty chariot(s), two hundred cavalry, (and) three thousand foot soldiers from among them and] added (them) [to] my [royal (military) contingent]. [(...) I settled people of Assyria in the city Carchemish and ...] made them confident. [... I] had [its (city) wall] built [anew] and raised (it) higher than before. (10´) [...] I brought [(...) the people of the city Carchemish] down [fro]m the city and settled (them) behind it (the city wall). [...] I had [(...) a (military) co]ntingent enter there in order to strengthen (its) garrison. [...] I opened [... fac]ing the Euphrates River and made their heart(s) happy. [... I deported (people of Carchemish and)] (re)settled (them) [in ..., a d]istant [place] on the border of the land Kammanu. [...] I settled in its neighborhood [... (people) who pull the yo]ke of the god Aššur, my lord. [... the A]rameans, the lands Tyre, Egypt, Tabal, and Musku [...] [... I heaped up and] made the heavy [li]mestone (blocks) as secure as the base of a mountain. [... In the month Sim]anu, an auspicious month, I established its foundations. [...] I erected [a bīt-ḫilāni, a replica of a] Hittite [pal]ace, in front of its gates. [...] I bound [(...) the doors (...) with ba]nd(s) of copper and installed (them) in their gates. “[... I caused] the water of the irrigation ditches (and) the murmur of the current [to stop], (saying) “Let him (Pisiris) not irrigate its (Carchemish’s) meadowland(s)” [... The rich fields] of the irrigation [distri]ct became a wasteland (and) turned into desert. [(...) At the great command of the god Aššur, my lord, who] granted me as a gift [the (re)settling of abandoned pasture lands, opening up of unused la]nd, (and) planting of orchards [...] massive [...] I caused water to murmur through its abandoned fields. [...] I established. I made (it) gurgle like an irrigation ditch so that the destitute will not collapse on account of thirst. (25´) [...] I measured the irrigation canal in the environs of the city Carchemish. I made grain grow abundantly in its lush meadowland. [...] ... I piled up grain in immeasurable (quantities) in the granaries in its environs. [...] I planted around it [(...) every type of fruit tree from] all over the world, grapevine(s) fit for royalty, cedar, cypress, (and) juniper, and I made the smell of the city sweeter than the smell of a cedar forest. [...] the grapevine(s) and aromatic plants grew high and the people inside it (Carchemish) continually receive an invitation to well-being. Their faces are (thus) radiant (with joy). [...] I opened up the meadows [in order to ...] and to increase the (number of) offspring of the herds of cattle and sheep (and) goats, and I provided fresh water for irrigation. [...] they had [the p]eople inside it dwell (as safely) as in a meadow; their orchards are covered all over with fruit and its meadowland(s) flourished. [...] I invited [...], my lords, (and) the deities Karḫuḫa (and) Kubāba, who dwell in the city Carchemish, (to come) into my palace. [...] I offered before them [(...)] strong rams from the (fattening) shed, geese, ducks, (and) birds that fly in the sky (lit. “flying birds of the sky”). [...] I received in Carchemish [... substantial tribute from the lands that I had conquered, from one end] to the other (lit.: “[above] and below”), with the support of the god Aššur, my lord. [(...)] I carried off as booty [ ... of the pal]ace of Pisīri(s), (and) with a radiant face, I presented (them) to them (the gods). [...] he (the god Aššur?) allowed me to stand in grandiose manner [(...) in triumph and] conquest. [...] enemy [... befo]re (the god) Aššur, I/he asked them [...] I/he caused to enter and they blessed [my] k[ingship ... w]ho makes thei[r] divine majesties happy [...] ... in ... [... (40´)...] ... [...] and on the bank/neck of ... [...] ... superb ... [...] ... their king [...] ... [...] Lacuna

Colophon ex. 1

Palace of Sargo[n] Lacuna

Sargon II 110 — Carchemish Brick Inscription

Brick; clay; Europos (Carchemish). British Museum, London, UK. 7 known exemplars. Sargon II 110; RINAP Q006591.

Obverse

Palace of Sargon (II), king of the world, king of Assyria.

Sargon II 111 — Malatya Cylinder

Cylinder; clay; Arslantepe (Melidu). Malatya Archaeological Museum, Malatya, Turkey. 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 111; RINAP Q006592.

Obverse

[Sargon (II), great king, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of the land of Sumer and Akkad, king of the four quarters (of the world), favorite] of the great gods, [...] — [The gods Aššur, Nabû, (and) Marduk, (the gods, my helpers), granted me a reign without equal and exa]lted [my good reputation] to the h[eights]. [I continually acted as provider for (the cities) Sippar, Nippur, Babylon), (and Borsippa). I made restitution for] the wrongful damage [suffered by the people of privileged status as many as there were (of them); I] resto[red the exemption (from obligations) of (the city) Baltil (Aššur) and the city Ḫarrān, which had fallen into oblivion in the distant past, and their privileged status that had lapsed]. [...] ... [...] ... [like] the light of the moon [... i]n (the city) Nineveh and the city Kalḫu [...] I created [th]eir holy [...] and [...] I built and made shine [like the sun ... that from the beginning of my reign unt]il (my) fourteenth year to/for the gods who dwell [...] [In accordance with my heart’s desire, I built a city at the foot of Mount Muṣri, a mountain upstream from the city Nineveh, and] I named it [Dūr]-Šarrukīn. [I had the gods Ea, Sîn, Šamaš, Nabû, Adad, Ninurta, and their great spouses created inside Ehursaggalkurkurra (“House, the Great Mountain of the Lands”) and] I installed (them) [insi]de it on (their) eternal dais(es). I built inside it [palatial halls using (lit.: “of”) elephant ivory, ebony, boxwood, musukkannu-wood, cedar, cypress, daprānu-juniper, juniper, and terebinth to be my royal residence] and [... I had enemy people whom I had captured dwell inside it (as safely) as in meadowland and] I considered it a[s (one of) the cu]lt centers of Assyria. [With the support of the great gods, I advanced and ruled the people from the Upper Sea to the Lower Sea as if (they were) one (people).] I made [uncompliant lands (and)] insubmissive [mou]ntain regions bow down at my feet. [...] they set out [... I establ]ished and I made their blood flow down the gorges of the outflows of the mountains [...] I settled [i]n the land Ḫatti (Syria). [...] of a rugged mountain he sought refuge. (20) [...] ... and he grasped hold of my feet. [... I] deported them (and) settled (them) in the land Ḫatti. [...] ... and I imposed fear upon the people of the land Mannea. [...] and I settled (them) in the land Hamath. [...] I brought their substantial [tribute] to Assyria. (25) [...] I established and imposed on them the yoke of my lordship. [...] I conquered. [...] I destroyed, demolished, (and) burned down with fire. [...] they withheld their annual (tribute) payment(s). [...] ... I conquered and inflic[ted] a defeat on them. (30) [...] I took to Assyria. [...] upon Adâ of the land Šurda, I imposed the yoke of the god [Aššur. ... Ianzû, king of the land Na’iri, ... Hub]uškia, his royal city [...] ... [...] Lacuna [In the face of my advance (lit.: “before me”), Marduk-apla-iddina (II) (Merodach-Baladan) gathered together the inhabitants of his cities (lit.: “his inhabited cities”) and the gods dwelling in them and brought (them) into the city Dūr-Yakīn. He then strengthened its enclosure wall]s [(and), moving back a distance of ten nindanu from the front of its main wall, he made a moat two hundred cubits wide. He made (it) one and a half nindanu deep and reached gro]und [water. He cut a channel from the Euphrates River, (thereby) making (its water) flow (in)to its meadowland. He flooded its fields, where battles (are fought), and made cros]sing [difficult. Together with his allies (and) his battle troops, he pitched his royal tent in a bend of the river (lit.: “between rivers”) like a crane and assembled] his [(military) camp]. [At the command of the gods Aššur, Nabû, (and) Marduk I had a causeway constructed (lit.: “trodden down”) across his canals and I caught him, together with his fighting men, like a flying eagle i]n a net. [I spread out like malt (spread for drying) the corpses of his vanguard and of the Aḫlamû, the people of the steppe who go at his side and I fi]lled [the surroundings of his city (with them). The city Dūr-Yakīn — his treasure house — (and) the cities Iqbi-Bēl, Kapru, Bit-Zabidāya, Šāt-iddina, Zarāte, Raqqatu, Ekuššu, Ḫursa]ggalla, [Dūr-Bēl-āliya, Dūr-Enlil, Bīt-Qiblāte, Nēmed-Sîn, Limītu, (and) Mād-akālša, (a total of) fifteen fortified cities, together with the settlements in] th[eir e]nvirons, I turned into (ruin) [mo]unds. [I carried off as booty at the same time (both) the people — young (and) old — who lived in the district and the gods who helped them; I did not all]ow a (single) person to escape. [...] whose lordship [...] I added to my land [...] ... [...]. [... (and)] the god Marduk [will (then) listen to] his prayers. [...] may they not have p[ity] on him!

Sargon II 112 — Malatya Cylinder

Cylinder; clay; Arslantepe (Melidu). Malatya Archaeological Museum, Malatya, Turkey. 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 112; RINAP Q006593.

Obverse

Lacuna No translation possible. [...] ... people of the house of his father [...] [...] ... in Assyria [...] [...] ... with the land Ḫilakku ... [...] [... that (man) (Ambaris) ... wrote to ...] Mitâ, king of the land Musku, about taking away terr[itory of mine ...] [... I brought in bondage] to [Assyria Ambaris ...], with one hundred of his chariot(s) [...] [...] I set [a eunuch of mine as provincial govern]or over them and [considered them] as people [of Assyria ...] [... I (then) restored to their former status the cities Ḫa]rrua (and) Ušnanis, fortresses of the land Que (Cilicia) that [he had annexed by force] i[n the distant past ...] [...] ... [to (whom) I handed over] lordship of their wide lands [...] [... he repeatedly sent to Mitâ, kin]g of the land Musku, (messages) hostile to [Assyria. ...] No translation possible. Lacuna

Sargon II 113 — Malatya Cylinder

Cylinder; clay; Arslantepe (Melidu). Malatya Archaeological Museum, Malatya, Turkey. 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 113; RINAP Q006594.

Obverse

Lacuna [...] ... [... Iāmānī, i]ts [king], took fright at my weapons; the main force [of my army ...] property (and) possessions, the treasure of his palace, booty of his, [...]. Fear of the brilliance of the gods Aššur, Nabû, (and) Marduk, [my] lords, [overwhelmed Šapataku]ʾ (Shebitko), king of the land Meluḫḫa [and ...] their [...] I reorganized. People of the lands which are (located) in the mountain region to the east, the land Tišu[...] [Mar]duk-apla-iddina (II) (Merodach-Baladan), king of Chaldea, who against the will of the gods [had come down to the territory of the land of Sumer and Akkad and appropriated for himself the kingship of Babylon], turned to Ḫumbanigaš (Ḫumban-nikaš I), the Elamite, for aid. [He put his trust] i[n the sea (and its) surging waves and withheld his audience gift]. I mustered the numerous troops of Assyria and [crossed] the Tigris [(and) the Euphrates] River[s, as well as innumerable small streams. Like the Deluge, I overwhelmed the Chaldeans to their (lit.: its) full extent]. In the face of my advance (lit.: “before me”), Marduk-apla-iddina [gathered together] the inhabitants of his cities (lit.: “his inhabited cities”) and the gods [dwelling in them and brought (them) into the city Dūr-Yakīn. He then strengthened its enclosure walls] (10´) (and), moving back a distance of one measuring rope from in front of its [ma]in wall, [he made a moat two hundred cubits wide; he made (the moat) one and a half nindanu deep and reached ground water]. He cut a channel from the Euphrates River, (thereby) making (its water) flow (in)to [its] meadow[land. He flooded its fields, where battles (are fought), and made crossing difficult]. Together with his allies (and) his battle troops, he [pitched his royal tent] in [a bend of the river (lit.: “between rivers”) like a crane and assembled his (military) camp]. At the command of the gods Aššur, Nabû, (and) Marduk I had a causeway constru[cted] (lit.: “trodden [down]”) across his canals [and I caught him, together with his fighting men, like a flying eagle in a net. I spread out like malt (spread for drying)] the corpses of his vanguard and of the Aḫlamû, the p[eople of the steppe who go at his side, and I filled the surroundings of his city (with them)]. (15´) The city Dūr-Yakīn — his treasure house — (and) the cities Iqbi-Bēl, Kapru, [Bīt-Zabidāya, Šāt-iddina, Zarāte, Raqqatu, Ekuššu, Ḫursaggalla], Dūr-Bēl-āliya, Dūr-Enlil, Bīt-Qiblāte, [Nēmed-Sîn, Limītu, (and) Mād-akālša, (a total of) fifteen fortified cities, together with the settlements in their environs, I turned into (ruin) mounds. I carried off as booty at the same time] (both) the people — young (and) old — who lived in the district [and the gods who helped them; I did not allow a (single) person to escape]. (As for) the citizens of (the cities) Sippar, Nippur, Babylon, (and) Borsippa [who through no fault of their own had been held captive in them (the fifteen cities), I put an end to their imprisonment and let them see the light (of day)]. (With regard to) their fields, which long ago, [while the land was in disorder, the Sutians had taken away and appropriated for their own] — (20´) I struck down (those) Sutians, the people of the steppe, with the sword. [I (re)assigned to them (the citizens) their territories, (whose boundaries) had been forgotten (and) fallen into disuse during the troubled period in the land. I (re)-established the freedom (from obligations) o]f (the cities) Ur, Uruk, Eridu, Larsa, [Kullaba, Kissik, (and) Nēmed-Laguda]. Moreover, [I returned] their gods that had been carried off as booty to [their] cult centers [and I restored their regular offerings that had been discontinued]. I restored [the land] Bīt-Yakīn and re­[or­ga­nized (its administration). I settled there people of the land of Kummuḫu that I had conquered and I had (them) occupy its (Bīt-Yakīn’s) abandoned regions]. I divided up [t]hat [land] into equal parts and [assigned (them) to the authority of a eunuch of mine, the governor of Babylon, and a(nother) eunuch of mine, the governor of the Gambulu (tribe)]. [Happily, with a joyful heart (and) a radiant face, I entered] Babylon, the cult center of the En[lil of the gods (Marduk); I grasped hold of the hands of the great lord, the god Marduk, and brought (him) safely along the road to the akītu-house. (With regard to) 15]4 talents, 26 mi[nas, (and) 10 shekels of red gold, 1,604 talents (and) 20 minas of pure silver, copper, (and) iron in immeasurable quantities, obsidian], lapis-lazuli, [banded agate, ...] Lacuna

Sargon II 114 — Malatya Cylinder (AnAr 21718/324)

Cylinder; clay; Arslantepe (Melidu). 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 114; RINAP Q006595.

Obverse

Lacuna [Together with his allies (and) his battle troops], he pitc[hed] his [roy]al [tent in a bend of the river (lit.: “between rivers”) like a cran]e [and assembled his military camp]. [At the command of the gods Aššur, Nabû, (and) Marduk, I had a causeway constructed (lit.: “trodden down”) across his canals and I caught him, toge]ther with [his] fig[hting men, like a flying eagle in a net. I spr]ead out l[ike m]alt (spread for drying) [the corpses of his vanguard and of the Aḫlamû, the people of the steppe who go at] his [side], an[d I filled the surroundings of his city (with them). The city Dūr-Yakīn — his treasure house — (and) the cities Iqbi-Bēl, Kapru, Bīt-Zabidāya], Šāt-iddina, Zarāte, Raqqatu, E[kuššu, Ḫursaggalla, Dūr-Bēl-āliya, Dūr-Enlil, Bīt-Qiblāte, Nēmed-Sîn, Limītu, (and) Mād-akālša, (a total of) fifteen fortified cities, together with the se]ttlements in their environs, I [turned] into (ruin) mounds. [I carried off as booty at the same time (both) the people — young (and) old — who lived in the district and the gods who helped them; I did not allow a (single) person to escape]. [(As for) the citizens of (the cities) Sippar], Nippur, B[abylo]n, (and) Borsippa who [through no fault of their own had been held captive in them (the fifteen cities), I put an end to their imprisonment and let them see the light (of day). (With regard to) their fields, which long ago, while] the land [was in disord]er, the Sutians had taken aw[ay and appropriated for their own, I struck down (those) Sutians, the people of the steppe, with the sword]. I (re)assigned to t[hem (the citizens) their territories, (whose boundaries) had been forgotten (and)] fallen into disuse [during the troub]led period in the land. [I (re)-established the freedom (from obligations) of (the cities) Ur, Uruk, Eridu, Larsa, Kullab, Kissik, (and) Nēmed-Laguda. Moreover], I returned [their gods that had been carried off as booty] to their cult centers and [I restored their] regular offeri[ngs that had been discontinued]. [I restored the land Bīt-Yakīn and reorganized (its administration). I settled] th[ere people from the land Ku]mmuḫu that I had conquered, [and I had (them) occupy its (Bīt-Yakīn’s) abandoned regions. I divided up that land into equal parts and assigned (them) to the authority of a eunuch of mine, the] governor of Babylon, and a(nother) e[unuch of mine, the governor of the Gambulu (tribe)]. Happily, [with a joyful heart (and) a radian]t face, I entered [Babylon, the cult center of the Enlil of the gods (Marduk); I grasped hold of the hands of the great lord, the god Marduk, and brought (him) safely along the road to the akītu-house. (With regard to) 154 talents, 26 minas, (and) 10 shekels of red gold, 1,604 talents (and) 20 minas of pure silver, copper], (and) iron in im[measurable] quantities, [...]. Lacuna

Sargon II 115 — Qal’eh-i Imam Stele Fragment

Object; Qalʾeh-i Imam. Sargon II 115; RINAP Q006611.

Obverse

Lacuna No translation possible. [... a] submissive [subje]ct who pul[led my yoke ... king of the land Ellip]i, the land Ḫarḫ[ar ...] land [...] Lacuna

Sargon II 116 — Tang-i Var Relief (Urāmānāt Relief)

Rock cliff; stone; Tang-i Var. 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 116; RINAP Q006597.

Obverse

The god Aššur, the great lord, king of a[ll the] Igīgū gods [and Anunnakū gods ...] ... [...; the god Mardu]k, lord of all, who provides [all] people with food (and) revives the dying [...; the god Nabû], perfect heir, ... lands [...; (5) the god S]în, lord of heaven and netherworld [...; the god Šamaš], great judge of heaven and netherworld [...]; the goddess [Iš]tar, who makes (men) ready for battle [...]; the Sebetti, who go before the gods, [stand] at the side of the king, [their favorite], in the place of battle, and bring about (his) victory; Great gods, managers of heaven and [nether­wo]rld, whose attack means [con]flict and [st]rife, who appoint (rulers) (lit.: “raise the eyes”) (and) name king(s), (and) [by who]se holy command they pla[ce] (one) land [(...)] over (another) land [and] make (its ruler) greater [(than other rulers)]: Sargon (II), great king, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of the land [of Sumer and Ak]kad, favorite of the great gods, perfect hero, ... man, pious [prince], admirable man, ... shepherd ... The gods Aššur, Nabû, (and) Marduk, the gods, [(my)] helpers, granted [me] a reign [without] equal and exalted my good reputation to the heights. I co[ntinually ac]ted [as pro]vi[der] for (the cities) Sippar, Ni[ppur], (and) Babylon, (and) I made restitution for the wrongful damage suffered by the people [of privileged status], as many as there were (of them); I re[sto]red the exemption (from obligations) of (the city) Bal[til (Aššur) that had been l]apsed. (With regard to) the city Ḫarrān, for future days ... I set up a kidinnu-symbol (indicating their privileged status) in the gat[e of the pe]ople. I dispersed the forces of Ḫumbanigaš (Ḫumban-nikaš I), the Elamite. I destroyed the land K[aral]la, the land Šurda, the city Ki[šes]im, the city Ḫarḫar, [the land Me]dia, (and) the land Ellipi. I laid waste to the land Urarṭu, plundered the city [Muṣaṣi]r (and) the land Mannea, slaughtered the lands Andia [(and) Zikirtu, (and)] allowed [(...) a]ll [th]eir settlements to dwell .... I struck down the rulers of the land Hamath, the city Carche[mish, the city Kummu]ḫu, (and) the land Kammanu; over their lands [...] I se[t] officials. I plundered the city Ashdod. Iāmānī, its king, took fright at my [weapon]s and abandoned his city. He fled to the border of the land Meluḫḫa and lived (there) stealthfully (lit.: “like a thief”). Šapatakuʾ (Shebitko), king of the land Meluḫḫa, heard of the mig[ht] of the gods Aššur, Nabû, (and) Marduk that I had esta[blished] over all lands, ... He put (Iāmānī) in handcuffs and manacles ... [...] he had him [brou]ght in bondage [in]to my presence. [I deported (the people of)] all the lands Tabal, Kasku, (and) Ḫilakku; I took away settlements belonging to Mitâ (Midas), king of the land Musku, and reduced (the size of) his land. At the city Raphia I defeated the vanguard of the army of Egypt and counted as booty the king of the city Gaza who had not submitted to my [yo]ke. I subjugated seven kings of the land Yāʾ, a region of the l[and] Yadnana (Cyprus) — whose abode is situated at a distance of ... [in the mid]dle of the Western Sea. Moreover, My great hand defeated Marduk-apla-iddina (II) (Merodach-Baladan), king of Chaldea, who dwelt on the shore of the sea (and) who ex[erc]ised kingship over Babylon against the wil[l of the gods]. Moreover, all the land Bīt-Yakīn ... [...] ... Aḫundāra (Ḫundāru), king of Dilmun, who(se) lair [is situated] at a distance of ... leagues [in the middle] of the sea like that of a fish, heard of my [lord]ly mig[ht] and brought me [his] aud[ience gift]. With the power and might (granted me) by the great gods, my lords, [who mobilized up my weapons, I cut] down al[l my fo]es. I ruled all together from the land Yadnana (Cyprus), which is in the middle of the [Western] Sea, [as far as the border(s) of Egyp]t [(and) the land M]usk[u, the wide land Amurru], the land Ḫ[atti (Syria) (in its entirety)], (30) all of the land Gutium, the distant Medes [(who live) on the border of Mount Bikni, the land El]lipi, (and) the land Rāši on the border [of the land Elam], those who (live) beside the Tigris River — the Ituʾu, Ru[buʾu, Ḫatal]lu, Labdudu, Ḫamrānu, Ubulu, [Ruʾ]uʾa, (and) Li[ʾtaʾu] (tribes) — those who (live) beside the Surappu (and) the Uqnû Rivers — the Gam[bulu], Ḫindaru, (and) Puqudu (tribes) — the Sutians, people of the steppe of the land Yadburu, as many as [there are], from the city Samʾūna as far as the cities Bubê (and) Tīl-Ḫumba, ... which are on the border of Elam, Karduniaš (Babylonia) from one end to the other (lit.: “above and below”), the lands Bīt-Amukkāni, Bīt-Dakkūri, (...) Bīt-Šilāni, (and) Bīt-Saʾalli, (35) all of Chaldea, as much as there is (of it), (and) the land Bīt-Ya[k]īn, which is on the shore of the sea as far as the border of Dilmun. I s[e]t eunuchs of mine as provincial governors over them and I imposed the yoke of my lordship upon them. At that time the people of the land Karalla ... who had [not] submitted to pull (any ruler’s) chariot [pole] and did not know how to respect (any) authority, put their trust in the high mountains and (...) rose up against (...) a eunuch of mine, the governor [...] all the land NARbitu ... they established and prepared for battle. ... they became enraged like lions and cut down the people of their land. (40) Horses, mules, donkeys, (and) oxen ... their presence they appropriated for themselves and ... They made the paths through his land desolate and ... they were constantly, repeatedly robbing caravans while they were en route. They blocked the pathways. I sen[t] my soldiers, who were fearless in battle, against them. [Th]ey (the enemy) abandoned ... and ... to the clefts of rugged mountains like eagles, (...) their ... they established ... They (the Assyrian soldiers) filled the mountains with the corpse(s) of their warriors as (with) [...] ... The remainder of them ... mountain ... [...] and they (the Assyrians) counted (them) as booty. I had a commemorative monument made and engraved upon it image(s) of the great gods, [my lords]. I had an image of myself as king stand before them [pr]aying to their great divine majesties. The victories of the god Aššur, father of the gods, lord [...] lord [...] all [... I had] inscribed upon it. Possible traces of a line Gap Possible traces of a line ... [... of] the gods I erected and left for future kings, my descendants. ... [...] ... place where one does not go ... [...] ... [...] ... [...] ... [... who] sees [...], may he anoint (it) with oil. ... [...]

Sargon II 117 — Najafabad Stele

Stele; stone: dark grey limestone; Najafabad (Kišesim). National Museum, Tehran, Iran. 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 117; RINAP Q006596.

Column i

The god Aššur, great lord, king of all the [Igīgū] god[s and] Anunnakū gods, lord of the lan[ds] ... [...], Aššur ... [...]; (i 5) the god Marduk, lord of all, who provides all [people] with food (and) grants [...]; the god Sîn, lord of heaven and [netherworld], exalted one, divine li[gh]t [of the gods]; the god Šamaš, bright ... [...] (i 10) ... the fo[e ...] ... [...] ... [...] ... [...] ... [...] [Great god]s, ma[nagers of heaven and netherworld, who]se [attack means] battle and [strife, who nam]ed Sargon (II), ki[ng ...] ... [in accordance with] your heart’s desire: Sargon (II), app[ointee of the god Enlil, (...) nešakku-priest (and)] desired object of (the god) Aššur, chosen of the gods Anu [(and) Dagān, (...) great king, strong king], king of the [world], king of Assyria, king of the f[our] quarters (of the world), [(...) favorite of the] great [god]s; just shepherd, (one) to whom the gods Aššur and [Marduk] granted [a reign without eq]ua[l] and whose reputation (these gods) [exalt/exalted to the heights]; who (re)-established the šubarrû-privileges of (the cities) Sippar, [Nippur, (and) Babylon, (and) made resti]tution for the wrongful damage suffered by them; who (re)-established [...] ... the god Enlil ... [... who abolished] corvée duty for (the city) Dēr ... who [gave relief to their people ...] the city Ḫarrān ... his people ... [...] ... to strike down [... (i 30) who from the (first) da]y of his [reign] has had no rul[er] who could equal him [... from ea]st to we[st ...] the subjects [of the god Enlil ...] ... [...] ... [...]

Column ii

Too poorly preserved to allow translation. ... Iaū-biʾdī (Ilu-biʾdī) of the land Hamath ... [...] (ii 5) ... spears he abandoned [...] ... he assembled (his) troops and [transgressed against] the oath (sworn) by the great gods [...] he brought (them) to his side and put his trust in his (own) forces. [I mustered] the numer[ous] troops of (the god) Aššur [and ...] ... he/they rose up. Chariotry, cavalry, (and) horses in the city AB[...] ... their ... I dyed (both) the river (Orontes) (and) the dry land as red as red wool ... [...] (ii 10) ... with a mighty battering ram I smas[hed] his (city) wall like a pot [and ... the city Qarqar] I burned down [with] fire. I took him, together with his family (and) his fighting men, to my city Aššur. [I flayed the skin from him] in front of the (city) gate [...] ... I set eunuchs of mine as provincial governors over them. The [people of the] land Hamath [...] ... In my third regnal year, the cities Šundaḫul (and) Durdukka, strong, w[alled] cities [...] disregarded (their) position as vassal to Iranzi, the Mannean, their lord, (and) held him in contempt [...] I took the lead (in front) of the troops of Aššur and I marched to the land Mannea in order to conquer those cities. [I inflicted] a ma[jor] defeat upon it [...] ... I caused to pour forth like hailstones. [I carried off as booty] the people, together with [their] property [...]. In my fourth regnal year, I marched to the land Tabal. I conquered the city Šinuḫtu, Kiakki’s fortified city. That (individual), together with [his] fam[ily, ...] elephant hides, elephant ivory, ebony, boxwood, garments with multi-colored trim (and) linen garments, equipment, battle gear ... [...], their sheep and goats, herds of horses, (and) donkeys, I carried off as booty in countless numbers. [I received] tribute from the kings of the land of Tabal [...]. In my fifth regnal year, I conquered the city Carchemish which is (located) on the bank of the Euphrates River. Pisīri(s), its king, together with Šemtarru [...] (along) with the possessions of his palace, every valuable object, his royal treasure, I carried off as booty and brought to my city Aššur. I imposed upon the people of the city Car[chemish ... (the same) tribute (and) payment(s)] as if (it were part of) Assyria. [I presented] to the gods Aššur (and) Marduk, ... gods [(...)] the gold (and) silver that I had personally seized at the city Carchemish [(...)]. [In my sixth regnal year], the wrath of Aššur was directed against [Ullusunu, the Mannean, (...)] (ordaining) the dissolution of the land Mannea, the destruction of (his) people, (and) the demolition of his (city) wall. [He (Ullusunu)] then [put his trust] in Rusâ of the city [...]. He caused [Aššur-lēʾi of the land Karalla (and) Ittî of the land Allabria] to rebel against me and made (them) act in unison. He threw off the yoke of (the god) Aššur and took [...] ... He withheld his tribute and [... (who) (...)] transgressed, did not respect his mighty oath, and forgot his sworn agreement ... [...] I became confident and my mood became jo[yf]ul. I mustered the [exte]nsive troops of (the god) Aš[šur] and ma[rched] to the land Mannea. [...] ... be[fore] the day had proceeded two double-hours, I [had smashed] his (city) wall as if (it were) a potter’s vessel [(and) ...] I personally captured. In front of his (city) gate I considered his people, together with their property, as if (they were) a number of sheep and goats. [His] for[tified] city Izirtu [...] ... they saw the smoke of the conflagration of the city Izirtu and vomited gall. They came down to kis[s my feet ... (ii 30) In] order to save his life he grasped hold of my feet. I received horses, oxen, (and) sheep and goats as his tribute. [...] I captured Aššur-lēʾi of the city Karalla, an evil-doer. In the midst of my camp, I threw him, together with his soldiers, in [iron] fetters. [... I re]moved and brought to my city Aššur (lit.: “Assyria”). I added the city Karalla, together with its district, to the province of the city Lullumê. [...] I elevated [Bēl-aplu-iddina (...)] over the city Paddira. I imposed upon him more (state) service (and) corvée duty than before. Moving on from the city Paddir(a), [I came] to the city Niqqar [...] the city Kinaḫri, of the city Šurgadia, fortified [citi]es of the land of the Gutians, those who do no work, who daily [...] the expeditionary force of the people [...] I carried off as booty [(...)] their people, together with their property, their horses, their oxen, (and) their sheep and goats. Šēp-šarri ... the city ruler [...]. [Moving on from ...], I came to the city Ḫundir. Bēl-šarru-uṣur of the city Kišesim spoke mendaciously to the city rulers of [his] en[virons ...] He brought before me in the city Ḫundir as his tribute horses, oxen (and), sheep and goats. I received them inside my camp. [...] I counted (them) [as] booty. [I brought to Assyria] horses trained to the yoke, property, possessions, gold, silver, garments with multi-colored trim, linen garments, equipment, (and) battle gear [(...)] I had [the weapons of the deities Aššur, Sîn, Šamaš], Adad, (and) Ištar, my lords, who go before me, made [and] I installed (them) there. [I had] the people of the city Kišesim (and) its district [dwell (as safely) as in] a meado[w and ...] (ii 40) I set a eunuch of mine as provincial governor over [them]. [I ...] the land Bīt-Sagabi (Bīt-Sagbat), which is in the Fortress of the Bab[yonian(s) ...] I imposed upon them (state) ser[vice], corvée duty, (and) labor duty for (the god) Aššur, my lord. At that time, the people of the city Ḫarḫar who are submissive to Aššur (and) perform labor service [...] They drove off [Kibab]a, their city ruler, and withheld the horses (which were) to be given yearly as their tribute. They strengthened their (city) wall and repeatedly as[ked for (military) aid ...] before the day had proceeded [x double-hours] I brought about their defeat; I inflicted a major defeat on them. I impaled their fighting men on stakes [...] I completely [(re)con]str[ucted]. I built its temple anew (and) restored its gods to their places. [I ...-ed the ...] of the deities Aššur, Sîn, Šamaš, Adad, (and) Ištar, the deities [who go before me. (...)] I poured out innumerable offerings at its festival. The upper river(land) of the land Arazišu (Aranzêšu), the lower river(land) of Bīt-Ramatua [...] I had them perform [(...) labor duty] as if (they were) Assyrians. Moving on from the city Ḫarḫar, I crossed a river with cold water (and) came to the city Zakrute. ... [...] Moving on from the city Zakrute, I came to the city Kurabli. [I received] as tribute from Daīku of the city Šaparda (and) from UŠ... [... Moving on from the city Kurabli, ...] the land of ..., the land Igali, the land Sikris, (and) the land Bīt-Uargi, distant regions whose name(s) the kings who preceded me had never heard, [... Fe]ar of (my) brilliance overwhelmed them and they abandoned their cities. They gathered their people (and) their property and [...] the land Abrau ... for their support [...] I struck down with the sword and carried off the remainder of them as booty, (namely) people, horses, mules, oxen, sheep, (and) donkeys. ... to/for ... [...] I destroyed, demolished, (and) burned down with fire. Moving on from the land Sikris, I came to the land Arussa. That region, together with ... [...] ... I crossed the Pattaus River (and) came to the land Ukuta. The people of th[at] region ... [... who/which] I set on fire like a torch, I fed my troops their grain crop in large quantities. My warriors in order to plunder ... [...] they carried off as booty. Moving on from the land Ukuta, I crossed over Mount Arusaka, a mighty mountain, with great difficulty (and) came to the land Anzaknê ... [...] ... I made flare up like a star. Karakku of the land Uriakku saw the smoke of the conflagration of the cities of the land Anzaknê ... [...]. Moving on from the land Anzaknê, I entered the pass of the land Uppuria in between Mount Pattaššun (and) Mount Darūe, high mountains. [I set up camp] at the foot of Mount Uab...šu.... [(...)] I sent [(...)] cavalry (and) bowmen ...ly against the settlements of the city Bustus in order to take booty from the steppe. The soldiers of the steppe ... [...] I received [as tribute from ...] of the land Uppuria (and) from Mašdakku of the land Aratišta. Razištu of the land Bustus (and) Ušrâ of the land Kan[za]bakanu [came before me] in the land Uppuria [and kissed my feet. (...)] Razidatu (Razištu), the city ruler of the city Bustus, spoke mendaciously, abandoned his land, and fled far away. I destroyed his cities, [leveling (them) down to] the ground [(...)]. [Moving on from the land Uppuria], I came to the land Datumbu. I received horses as tribute from Ušrâ of the city Ka(n)zabakanu. Moving [on] from the land Datumbu, I came to the city Karzinû. I received [(...)] horses as tribute from [...]. Moving on from the city Karzinû, I came to the land Birnakan. [I received ... as tribute] from Satarpānu of the city Barikānu, from Uppa[...] of the city ..., from ... [...]. Moving on [from the land Birnakan], I came to the land Sakâ. [I received] (...) horses ... as tribute from Zardukka of the city Ḫarzianu, from Ištesukk[a of the ci]ty Kayatani, (and) from Kir...-ni of the city ... [(...)]. Moving on [from the land Sakâ], I crossed the Darūe River (and) came to the land Rāmanda. Šitaqupa, the city ruler of the city [...] ... from the cities ... [...] Moving on from the land Rāmanda, I came to the land Irnisa. I received [...] as tribute from Šidiraššurâ of the land Irnisa (and) from Battigur of the city Ḫu... to/for the land ... [...]. Uardatti of the city Ṣibar who had neither stretched out his hand to (any of) the previous kings (of Assyria) (nor) inquired about their health ... [...] district of the land Ayalaya ... of the (military) camp which covered the sky for a distance of one league, the river Na... large horses trained to the yoke ... [... At the command of the god ...], who makes (me) triumph, and of the god Nergal, my protection, the tireless one, fit for battle, [he (Uardatti) came to me], to the land Irnisa, in order to save his land (and) allow (his) people to live in peace ... [...] he grasped hold of my f[eet] and submitted (himself) to the yoke of (the god) Aššur, my lord. Moving on from the city Irnisa, I came to the land Uratas. I received [(...) horses] trained to the yoke as tribute from Azamada of the city U..., from TAK... [..., from ...] of the city Ḫagabtâ (Ecbatana), from Burbuasu of the land Uratista, (from) Šummušrâ of the city Qarkasia, [(from)] Burbuazu of the city Ginkir, (and) from Bu...bartanu of the land Rur[... (...)]. At that time, I had a stele made and [I engraved upon it] image(s) of the great gods, my lords, who make me triumph ... [...]. I inscribed upon it [(...)] the victorious deeds of (the god) Aššur, my conquests that I made over the four quarters (of the world), (and) everything that I had done in the city Kišesim. [I erected (it)] for all time in the city Kišesim that I had personally con[quered], for ... [...]. May a future prince — (one) whom (the god) Aššur, king of all the Igīgū gods, will summon and nominate for the lordship of Assyria — read this stele and ano[int (it)] with o[il. (...)] May he offer a sacrifice. May he praise the good deeds of (the god) Aššur and have future generations learn to revere him (Aššur). (As for) the one who ... this stele, ... changes its resting place ... [...], secretly stores (it) away, or throws (it) into a river (lit.: “rivers”), or [buries] (it) in the ground, (or) destroys (it) by fire, or places (it) ..., or mutilates (it), or ... [...], may the great gods who dwell in heaven (and) netherworld curse him angrily. May they make his name (and) his descendant(s) disappear from the land.

Sargon II 118 — PT 4, 0548,a

Bead; stone; Persepolis (Pārśa). 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 118; RINAP Q006598.

Obverse

To the goddess Aya, his lady: Sargon (II), king of Assyria, presented (this object) for the sake of his life.

Sargon II 119 — PT 6, 0233

Eyestone; stone; Persepolis (Pārśa). 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 119; RINAP Q006599.

Obverse

[To the god] Šamaš, his lord: [Sa]rgon (II), [kin]g of the world, presented (this object).

Sargon II 120 — PT 4, 0495

Eyestone; stone; Persepolis (Pārśa). 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 120; RINAP Q006600.

Obverse

To the god Šamaš, his lord: Sa[rg]on (II), [king of the world, presented (this object)].

Sargon II 121 — PT 4, 1170

Eyestone; stone; Persepolis (Pārśa). 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 121; RINAP Q006601.

Obverse

Sargon (II) presented (this object).

Sargon II 122 — PT 4, 1169 // PT 4, 1172

Eyestone; stone: pink and white calcite; stone: grey and white onyx; Persepolis (Pārśa). 2 known exemplars. Sargon II 122; RINAP Q006602.

Obverse

That which Sarg[on (II) presented].

Babylonia. Sargon II 123–130. 8 texts.

Sargon II 123 — Walker, CBI 76 (Sargon II O) / RIMB 2 B.6.22.1

Brick; clay; Babylon (Bābili). Exemplars held across 5 collections, including Arkeoloji Müzeleri, Istanbul, Arkeoloji Müzeleri, Istanbul, Turkey. 20 known exemplars. Sargon II 123; RINAP Q006603.

Obverse

For the god Marduk, great lord, compassionate god who dwells in Esagila, lord of Babylon, his lord: Sargon (II), strong king, king of Assyria, king of the world, governor of Babylon, king of the land of Sumer and Akkad, the one who provides for Esagila and Ezida, thought of (re)building the (city) wall Imgur-Enlil. He then had bricks made and constructed a quay-wall of baked bricks from a (ritually) pure kiln, (laid) in (both) refined and crude bitumen, along the bank of the Euphrates River, (15) in deep water. He then made the (city) wall Imgur-Enlil and the (city) wall Nēmet-Enlil as secure upon it as the base of a mountain. May the god Marduk, great lord, look upon this work of mine (with pleasure) and may he grant (a long) life to Sargon, the prince who provides for him. May his reign be as firm as the foundation of Babylon.

Sargon II 124 — RIMB 2 B.6.22.2

Brick; clay; Babylon (Bābili). Vorderasiatisches Museum, Berlin, Germany; Arkeoloji Müzeleri, Istanbul, Arkeoloji Müzeleri, Istanbul, Turkey. 4 known exemplars. Sargon II 124; RINAP Q006604.

Obverse

For the god Marduk, the gr[eat] lord, his lord: Sargon (II), king of the land of Assyria, king of the world, governor of Babylon, (10) king of Sumer (and) Akkad, constructed anew the (city) wall Imgur-Enlil (and) the (city) wall Nēmet-Enlil for the sake of his life (and) made (them) shine like daylight.

Sargon II 125 — RIMB 2 B.6.22.3

Cylinder; clay; Warka (Uruk). Yale Babylonian Collection, New Haven, Connecticut, USA. 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 125; RINAP Q006605.

Column i

[For] the goddess Ištar, mistress of the lands, (most) eminent of the gods, [(most) valiant] of the goddesses, [...] fierce, terrifying deluge, [(...) who] is endowed with [...] (i 5) [...] ... majestic, [...] awe, [...] ... the firmament (of the heavens), [...] ... [...] humble, (i 10) [... who give]s judgment and decision, [...] purification rites, [...] which is inside Uruk, [the great lady], his lady: [Sargon (II), king of Assy]ria, king of the world, governor of Babylon, [king of (the land of) Sume]r and Akkad, prince who provides for her, [For the sake of ensuring] his [good health], prolonging his days, lengthening his reign, [...ing] his [...], (and) overthrowing his enemy, [(With regard to) Ean]na, which Šulgi, a previous king, had had built and which had become old, (i 20) (with regard to) this temple, whose walls had buckled, whose bondings had disintegrated, se parapet had become ruined, whose foundation had collapsed, (and) whose (re)construction had not occurred to (any of) the kings, (his) predecessors — At that time, the great lord, the god Marduk, granted excellent judgment to Sargon (II), king of Assyria, king of the world, governor of Babylon, one who was chosen by the god Asari, and increased his intelligence. He (Sargon) directed his attention [to] renovating the abandoned cult centers and sanctuaries of all the gods of the land Akkad. He was assiduous toward the sanctuaries of Eanna, the abode of the goddess Ištar, mistress of the lands, his lady. (With regard to) the outer wall of Eanna in the lower courtyard, he tore down its parapet and laid bare its foundation. With entreaties, prayers, and expressions of humility he (Sargon) laid its foundations (anew) and he made its foundation as secure as a mountain on the breast of the netherworld. (ii 1) With the craft of the god Kulla, the master builder, and (with the help of) craftsmen who know (their) trade, he raised its top with (ritually) pure bricks and completed its construction. He made (it) superior to what had been there before and carried out the plans correctly.

Column ii

On account of this, may the goddess Ištar, mistress of the lands, look upon this work happily and may she bestow a (long) life on Sargon, king of Assyria, (ii 10) king of the world, governor of Babylon, the king who provides for her. May she say good thing(s) about him before the god Marduk, king of the gods. May she go (with him) as his helper in strife and battle. May he shatter the weapons of his enemies and may he achieve whatever he wants. May he make all the rulers who are not submissive to him bow down at his feet. (ii 20) By the command of the goddess Ištar, beloved of the lord of the gods, may he increase (his) good fortune. May long life, happiness, and gladness be bestowed on him and may his reign be long. May he make the foundation of his throne secure for future days and may he govern (all) regions (of the world). May he constantly exercise the rule over the people who are of privileged status (and have) šubarrû-privileges (granted) by the great gods. (ii 30) During his reign may those ones with šubarrû-privileges not become disordered. May he take away their negligence and erase their sin. Let turmoil be anathema to them (ii 35) (and) may he make their heart(s) rejoice. Like the foundations of Uruk and Eanna, may their foundations be firm. Copy of the inscription, dispatch to/of the palace of Assyria; written and collated.

Sargon II 126 — RIMB 2 B.6.22.4

Brick; clay; Warka (Uruk). Vorderasiatisches Museum, Berlin, Germany. 16 known exemplars. Sargon II 126; RINAP Q006606.

Obverse

Sargon (II), great king, king of the world, king of Babylon, (5) king of the land of Sumer and Akkad, commander of Assyria and of all Amurru, had the outer enclosure wall, the courtyard of Eanna, (10) the narrow gate, and the regular gate built.

Sargon II 127 — RIMB 2 B.6.22.5

Brick; clay; Warka (Uruk). Arkeoloji Müzeleri, Istanbul, Arkeoloji Müzeleri, Istanbul, Turkey; Vorderasiatisches Museum, Berlin, Germany. 8 known exemplars. Sargon II 127; RINAP Q006607.

Obverse

For the goddess Inanna, lady of Uruk, who dwells in Eanna, the august, supreme lady, (5) his lady: Sargon (II), king of the world, governor of Babylon, king of Sumer (and) Akkad, (10) shepherd of the land of Assyria, had baked bricks made (and) made the processional way of Eanna shine like daylight.

Sargon II 128 — RIMB 2 B.6.22.5

Brick; clay; Warka (Uruk). Vorderasiatisches Museum, Berlin, Germany. 2 known exemplars. Sargon II 128; RINAP Q006608.

Obverse

For the lady, the goddess Inanna, mistress of the lands, his lady: Sargon (II), (5) s[tron]g king, king of Babylon, king of the world, king [...], king [...], (re)constructed (10) Eanna, her beloved temple.

Sargon II 129 — Tell Haddad Cylinder

Cylinder; clay; Tell Haddad (Me-Turan). Iraq Museum, Baghdad, Iraq. 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 129; RINAP Q006609.

Obverse

[Sargon (II), appointee of the god Enlil, nešakku-priest (and) desired object of the god Aššur, chosen of] the gods Anu and Dagān, [great king, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, king of the four quarters (of the world), favorite of] the great gods; [just shepherd, (one) to whom the gods Aššur (and) Marduk granted a reign without equal and] whose reputation (these gods) exalted to the heights; [who (re)-established the šubarrû-privileges of (the cities) Sippar, Nippur, (and) Babylon, protects the weak among them (lit.: “their weak ones”), (and) made rest]itution for the wrongful damage suffered by them; [who (re)-established the privileged status of (the city) Baltil (Aššur) that had lapsed, who abolished corvée duty for (the city) Dēr, (and who)] gave relief to their people; [(most) capable of all rulers, who extended his protection over the city Ḫarrān] and [recorded its exemption (from obligations)] as if (its people were) people of the gods Anu and [Dagān; the strong man who is clad in awesome splendor (and) whose weapons are raised] to strike down the land of (his) enemies; [the king who since the (first) day of his reign] has had no [ruler who could equal him (and) has met no one who could overpower (him)] in war [(or) battle; (who) sma]shed [all (enemy) lands as if (they were) pots] and (10) [put halters on] (all) rebels in the four (quarters of the world); (who) opened up innumerable [distant mountainous areas whose pass(es) are diff]icult and visited their [remotest region(s); (who)] traversed [inaccessible, difficult paths in] terrifying location(s) and [crossed every swamp]; [(who) ruled from the land Rāši on the bord]er of the land Elam, the Puqudu (and) Damūnu (tribes), [the cities Dūr-Kurigalzu (and) Rapiqu, the entire desert] as far as the Brook of Egypt, the wide land Amurru, [(and) the land Ḫatti (Syria) in its entirety]; (who)se [great hand conquered (the area) from the land Ḫašmar to the cit]y Ṣibar — which borders on the distant Medes (15) [in the east — the lands Namri, Ellipi, Bīt-Ḫamban, Pa]rsumaš, Mannea, Urarṭu, [Kasku, (and) Tabal, as far as the land Musku; (who) set eunuchs of his as governors over them and imposed upon them (the same) tribute (and) payme]nt(s) [as if (they were) Assyrians]; [the valiant man who met Ḫumbanig]aš (Ḫumban-nikaš I), [king of the land Elam, (in battle) on the outskirts of (the city) Dēr and brought about his defeat; (...); who made] the [wide] land Bīt-Ḫumri (Israel) tremble, [brought about the defeat of Egypt at the city Raphia, and] brought [Ḫanūnu (Hanno), king of the city Gaza, to the city Aššur in bondag]e; [...] Lacuna of ca. 75 lines [...] I made [(part of) the territ]ory of Assyria.

Sargon II 130 — Delaporte, Louvre 2 pl. 93 fig. 15

Bead; stone: brown agate; uncertain. Louvre Museum, Paris, France. 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 130; RINAP Q006610.

Obverse

To the goddess Damkina, his lady: Sargon (II), king of Assyria, presented (this object) for the sake of his life.

Part Two: Minor and Fragmentary Inscriptions

Nos. 1001–1010. 10 objects either too fragmentary for certain attribution or otherwise set apart from the main sequence in RINAP's own numbering.

Sargon II 1001 — Loud and Altman, Khorsabad 2 p. 104 no. 18

Tablet; clay; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 1001; RINAP Q006641.

[No transliteration or translation is published for this text on RINAP Online; the catalogue entry above is everything the project currently makes available for it.]

Sargon II 1002 — Botta and Flandin, MdN 2 pl. 164 no. 2

Cylinder seal (sealing); clay; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 1002; RINAP Q006632.

[No transliteration or translation is published for this text on RINAP Online; the catalogue entry above is everything the project currently makes available for it.]

Sargon II 1003 — VA Ass 02066

Cone; clay; Qalat Sherqat (Assur). Vorderasiatisches Museum, Berlin, Germany. 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 1003; RINAP Q006633.

Obverse

Lacuna [... appointee of] the god Enlil, priest [of the god Aššur ...] ... of the land Akkad [...] the land Zamua, the land Ḫaš[mar, ...] the wide [land Ḫan]igalbat [...] Lacuna

Sargon II 1004 — VA Ass 02049

Cone; clay; Qalat Sherqat (Assur). Vorderasiatisches Museum, Berlin, Germany. 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 1004; RINAP Q006634.

Obverse

Lacuna ... [...] Eponymy of [...], the [...].

Sargon II 1005 — VA Ass 04194

Plaque ?; clay; Qalat Sherqat (Assur). Vorderasiatisches Museum, Berlin, Germany. 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 1005; RINAP Q006635.

[No transliteration or translation is published for this text on RINAP Online; the catalogue entry above is everything the project currently makes available for it.]

Sargon II 1006 — ND 02075a+b

Prismatic cylinder; clay; Nimrud (Kalhu). British Museum, London, UK. 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 1006; RINAP Q006636.

Obverse

Lacuna Not sufficiently preserved to allow translation. to/for [...] he rejoiced an[d ...] over the food allocation [...] ... [...] he was happy [... his face] shone an[d ...] ... [...] he prayed [...] to ensure (my) good health [...] to firmly establish (my) reign [...] to g[o] at my side [... {to st]and} in trium[ph ...] one who renovates [this] temple [...] ... [...] who to show [...] he/th[ey] will establ[ish ...] strong ... [...] ... enemy ... [...] may he go and [wh]en his foes in ... [...] may he bind [(and)] his army that ... [...] he/th[ey] will shatter [...] ... [...] Lacuna

Sargon II 1007 — Thompson, Arch. 79 pl. XLII no. 43

Block; stone: limestone; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, London, UK. 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 1007; RINAP Q006637.

Obverse

Lacuna [... had] not [been] es[tablished] a[nd ... in order (...)] to firmly establish his reign, an akītu-house [...] he placed [(...) a st]ele. [...] he had [(...) a ...] ... made.

Sargon II 1008 — Frahm, Sanherib pl. 5

Lion colossus; stone: coarse limestone; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 1008; RINAP Q006638.

Obverse

Lacuna [... were cas]t [and ...] ced[ar ... l]ion colossi [... moun]tain [sheep as august] protective spirit[s ...] I fashioned and t[o ...] that I had conquered [...] [...] ... [...] to ... [...] Lacuna

Sargon II 1009 — Crowfoot, Samaria-Sebaste 3 pl. IV nos. 2–3

Stele ?; stone: limestone; Samaria (Sāmerīna). Israel Antiquities Authority, Jerusalem. 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 1009; RINAP Q006639.

Obverse

Lacuna Too poorly preserved to allow translation. [...] days ... [...] [...] creator [...] [...] locusts [...] Too poorly preserved to allow translation Lacuna

Sargon II 1010 — Barnett, Carchemish 3 pl. A.33 m–m*

Stele ?; stone: basalt; Europos (Carchemish). 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 1010; RINAP Q006640.

Obverse

Lacuna ... [...] I shut him up. I received as his tribute silver, g[old, ...], (and horses) trained to the yoke. [I carried off] h[is] daughter [(...)] I demolished [...] and [I erected (...)] an image (of myself) praying to (his) divine majesty [...] to obey (lit.: “hear”) his (the god’s) command, to be in agreement [...] plenty, abundance, affluence, weal[th ...] ... [...] ... [...] Lacuna

Part Three: Inscriptions of Sargon's Family and Officials

Nos. 2001 onward. 11 inscriptions naming Sargon's wife Atalia, his brother Sîn-aḥu-uṣur, and other high officials of his reign, rather than the king himself.

Sargon II 2001 — Ataliya Inscription

Bowl; jar; mirror; metal: gold; stone: rock crystal; metal: electrum; Nimrud (Kalhu). Iraq Museum, Baghdad, Iraq. 3 known exemplars. Sargon II 2001; RINAP Q006643.

Obverse

(Property) of Atalia, queen of Sargon (II), king of Assyria.

Sargon II 2002 — Khorsabad, Residence L Pavement Slab Inscription (Sin-aḫu-uṣur)

Slab; stone; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). Iraq Museum, Baghdad, Iraq; Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA. 3 known exemplars. Sargon II 2002; RINAP Q006644.

Obverse

Sîn-aḫu-uṣur, grand vizier (and) favorite (brother) of Sargon (II), king of the world, king of Assyria, governor of Babylon, king of the land of Sumer and Akkad, favorite of the great gods, completely constructed this house from its foundations to its crenellations. (5) He invited the great gods who dwell in Assyria and in this city (to come) inside it, and he offered before them pure sacrifices. In their steadfast, pure hearts they continually blessed Sargon and spoke that which is good concerning Sîn-aḫu-uṣur, his favorite brother.

Sargon II 2003 — AO 21368

Macehead; metal: bronze; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). Louvre Museum, Paris, France. 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 2003; RINAP Q006645.

Inscription A

Palace of Sargon, king of the world, king of Assyria.

Inscription B

(Property) of Sîn-aḫu-uṣur, the grand vizier.

Sargon II 2004 — Pān-Aššur-lāmur Seal Impression

Cylinder seal (sealing); clay; Khorsabad (Dur-Šarrukin). Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA. 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 2004; RINAP Q006646.

Obverse

(Property) of Pān-Aššur-[lā]mur, eunuch o[f] Sargon (II).

Sargon II 2005 — Ṭāb-šār-Aššur Inscription

Coffer; stone: alabaster; Qalat Sherqat (Assur). Vorderasiatisches Museum, Berlin, Germany. 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 2005; RINAP Q006647.

Obverse

To the god Adad, the canal inspec[tor of heaven (and)] netherworld, prince [...]: Ṭāb-šār-Aššur, the trea[surer], pre[sented (this)] for the sake of ensuring his good health.

Sargon II 2006 — Aššur-bāni Seal Impression

Cylinder seal (sealing); clay; Nimrud (Kalhu). Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, New York, USA. 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 2006; RINAP Q006648.

Obverse

Seal of Aššur-bāni, governor of the city Kalḫu.

Sargon II 2007 — Nabû-uṣalla Seal

Cylinder seal; stone: agate; uncertain. private: unknown, Japan. 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 2007; RINAP Q006649.

Obverse

Seal of Nabû-uṣalla, governor of the city Tamnūnu (and) eunuch of Sargon (II), king of Assyria.

Sargon II 2008 — Tell Haddad Axehead Inscription

Axehead; stone; Tell Haddad (Me-Turan). Iraq Museum, Baghdad, Iraq. 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 2008; RINAP Q006650.

Obverse

[For the god Nergal], foremost of the gods, who does not fear (any) battle weapon, [... most pow]erful of the gods, who does not pardon those who are evil, [who dwells in Ešaḫ]ul (“House of the Happy Heart”) that is inside the city Mēturna (Mê-Turnat), the great lord, his lord: [PN, governor of the l]and Na’iri (and) eunuch of Sargon (II), king of Assyria, made (this object) by the craft [of the gods Ninzadim and Ninku]ra [out of a block of lapis-l]azuli hewn from its mountain (quarry) and he set (it) up for the sake of ensuring his good health, [prolonging his days], his happiness, capturing his enemies, [the absence] of relentless illness, [and m]aking his heart joyful.

Sargon II 2009 — Tell Baradan Cylinder Inscription (Nabû-belu-ka’’in)

Cylinder; clay; Tell Baradan. Iraq Museum, Baghdad, Iraq. 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 2009; RINAP Q006651.

Obverse

Lacuna Wh[en ...] the one who fashions li[ving creatures ...], the judicious god who[se command] cannot [be altered], the emminent god Marduk, whose command [...], (5´) who hears petition(s), renders decisions, (and) takes [...], who gives share(s) of the (food) offerings to the gods of [heaven and netherworld], the ruler of the black-headed people, who assigns the scepter of men, [...] (who has) a cunning mind, circumspect, high(est) [among the gods], (who)se supreme lordship induces awe in heaven and netherworld, [...] (10´) the wise, intelligent one, counselor of the Igīgū gods, the merciful god, whom to look [...], Sargon, king of Assyria, king of the world, the prince, [his (Marduk’s)] prot[égé], the pious vizier who rev[eres] his (Marduk’s) divine majesty, the governor (appointed) by the god Enlil, the king [...], the prince who reveres him, the (city) wall of Sirara, which had been built from earlier days and ... [...] in order to build this wall that Sargon, king of Assyria, king of the world, had desired [...], Nabû-bēlu-kaʾʾin, the governor of the city Arrapḫa [...] t[o ...] Lacuna

Sargon II 2010 — Til-Barsip Stele (Aššur-dur-paniya)

Stele; stone; Tell Ahmar (Til Barsip). Louvre Museum, Paris, France. 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 2010; RINAP Q006652.

Obverse

To the goddess Ištar who dwells in the city Arbela, his lady: Aššur-dūr-pānīya, the governor of the city Kār-Shalmaneser, presented (this stele) for the sake of ensuring his good health.

Sargon II 2011 — Turlu-Höyük Stele (Bel-iddin)

Stele; stone: basalt; Turlu Höyük. Gaziantep Arkeoloji Müzesi, Gaziantep, Turkey. 1 known exemplar. Sargon II 2011; RINAP Q007770.

Obverse

To the god Adad, the canal inspector of heaven and netherworld, the great lord, his lord: Bēl-iddin set up and presented this stele for the sake of ensuring his good health.

Colophon

Source and license. This edition reproduces the English translation of the Royal Inscriptions of the Neo-Assyrian Period 2 online edition (RINAP 2, oracc.org/rinap/rinap2/), the digital edition of Grant Frame, The Royal Inscriptions of Sargon II, King of Assyria (721–705 BC) (The Royal Inscriptions of the Neo-Assyrian Period 2; Eisenbrauns/Pennsylvania State University Press, Winona Lake, 2021), created by Grant Frame for the University of Pennsylvania-based, National Endowment for the Humanities-funded RINAP Project, adapted for RINAP Online by Joshua Jeffers and Jamie Novotny and lemmatized by Giulia Lentini, Nathan Morello, and Jamie Novotny for the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation-funded OIMEA Project (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München), fetched 2026-08-08. RINAP's project page states its content is "released under a CC BY-SA 3.0 license"; the project's own machine-readable catalogue carries the further statement "This data is released under the CC0 license" (https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/). Both statements are recorded here; this edition credits RINAP and Grant Frame regardless of which license term governs a given file, per academic courtesy and the Good Work Library's own attribution practice.

What this edition is. The English text above is RINAP 2's own published translation of all 151 texts catalogued in Frame's edition, reproduced complete and verbatim from the project's HTML reading editions and reformatted from an interlinear line-by-line display into continuous reading prose. The three-part division — Sargon II's own inscriptions; minor and fragmentary pieces; the inscriptions of his family and officials — follows the numbering breaks in RINAP's own catalogue (nos. 1–130, 1001–1010, and 2001 onward), and the further grouping of Sargon's own inscriptions by findspot (Khorsabad, Aššur, Nimrud, Nineveh, the Levant/Anatolia/Iran, Babylonia) follows the findspots field of that same catalogue; neither grouping was copied from a page-by-page inspection of the print volume's own table of contents. Each text's obverse, reverse, edges, columns, and fragments are marked where RINAP's own reading edition marks them, including the museum and excavation sigla RINAP inserts at the point a composite reading shifts between surviving copies. No word has been altered, paraphrased, or supplied by this library. Brackets, ellipses, and parenthetical restorations are RINAP's own, recording damaged, restored, or uncertain cuneiform.

Disclosed gaps. Six catalogued objects — Sargon II 021 (Harem Inscription: Šamaš), 058 (Glazed Brick "Hieroglyphs"), 062 (a macehead), 1001 (a tablet fragment), 1002 (a cylinder-seal sealing), and 1005 (an uncertain plaque) — carry no numbered line at all on RINAP Online, and so have no transliteration or translation published for them; their catalogue entries are reproduced here with that gap noted rather than silently omitted. Across the other 145 texts, RINAP counts 4,834 numbered lines in total, of which 4,832 carry a published translation; the sole exception is Sargon II 074 (the Nimrud Prism), missing RINAP's own translation for 2 lines of one column (Column v), marked in place. Nothing is invented anywhere to fill a gap.

Verification. Three sample texts (Sargon II 001, 004, and 082) and two shorter dedicatory texts (2001 and 2004) were checked verbatim, line by line, against RINAP's own reading pager, including proper names spanning restoration brackets (e.g. "Pān-Aššur-[lā]mur," "Ḫarrān," "Sîn-aḥu-uṣur") to confirm none had been split or altered in extraction.

Composite identification. Each text above is given by its RINAP 2 catalogue designation ("Sargon II" plus number), its popular or descriptive name where RINAP assigns one, its object type, material, and findspot, and its RINAP composite-text ID (an Oracc Q-number), under which the full transliteration and morphological analysis can be studied further at RINAP's own site.

Prepared for the Good Work Library by the New Tianmu Anglican Church with AI-assisted research, transcription, and editorial work.

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