State Archives of Assyria 2 — Treaties and Loyalty Oaths of the Assyrian Kings, c. 823–626 BC
This is the State Archives of Assyria online (SAAo) edition of Simo Parpola and Kazuko Watanabe's Neo-Assyrian Treaties and Loyalty Oaths (State Archives of Assyria 2; Helsinki University Press, 1988). It gathers fifteen texts spanning roughly two centuries of Assyrian statecraft, from a treaty sworn around 822 BC between the Assyrian king Šamši-Adad V and the Babylonian king Marduk-zakir-šumi I, to loyalty oaths and a treaty fragment from the reign of Sîn-šarru-iškun in the empire's final decades, around 626 BC.
Most of these documents are adê — the Akkadian word for a treaty or loyalty oath sworn before the gods, binding vassal kings, court officials, and members of the royal family alike to the reigning Assyrian king or his chosen successor, on pain of the gods' own curses should the oath be broken. The best known text in the volume, and by far the largest, is Esarhaddon's Succession Treaty (SAA 02 006), often called the Vassal Treaties of Esarhaddon: in 672 BC, Esarhaddon required the rulers of Media and other subject territories to swear in advance to accept his son Assurbanipal as crown prince after him. Scholars have long noted that its long curse section closely resembles the covenant curses of the biblical book of Deuteronomy. Two further witnesses to the same treaty appear here — an inscribed copy from Sippar (SAA 02 014) and an exemplar excavated as far west as Tell Tayinat in what is now southern Turkey (SAA 02 015), showing how widely such oaths were imposed across the empire. A related oath, unusually, was sworn not to a king but to Esarhaddon's mother, the queen mother Zakutu, charging the court with protecting Assurbanipal's succession after her son's death (SAA 02 008).
The other texts include Sennacherib's own succession treaty naming Esarhaddon his heir (SAA 02 003), Esarhaddon's accession treaty (SAA 02 004), his international treaty with Baal, king of Tyre (SAA 02 005), and further treaties and oath fragments from the reigns of Assurbanipal and Sîn-šarru-iškun. The volume follows Parpola and Watanabe's own two-part division: two treaties from the ninth and eighth centuries BC involving Assyria's neighbors, followed by thirteen from the seventh century, most concerning succession within the Assyrian royal house itself. Every tablet is damaged to some degree, several quite severely; the gaps are marked in place below rather than filled.
The English below is SAAo'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 SAAo's own markers for damaged, restored, or uncertain cuneiform.
Contents
- Chapter One. Treaties of the Ninth and Eighth Centuries BC — SAA 02 001–002
- Chapter Two. Treaties and Loyalty Oaths of the Seventh Century BC — SAA 02 003–015
Chapter One. Treaties of the Ninth and Eighth Centuries BC
SAA 02 001–002.
SAA 02 001 — Treaty of Šamši-Adad V with Marduk-zakir-šumi, King of Babylon
Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, Rm 2, 427; AfO 08 28. Assigned to Šamši-Adad V's reign, ca. 822 BC. SAA 02 001; SAAo P240211.
Obverse
(Beginning destroyed) [......] horses [......]. If the governor [......] sends troops [to ......], the king [shall ... no]thing [......]. [......] he shall trust [in] their [stead]fast heart ...[...]. [......] he shall not deport [......] Babylonia and Assyria nor seize [......]. He shall [......] to the forts and gar[risons ......]. Šamši-Adad shall not say (any) evil words about Marduk-rimanni [... to] the king, (viz.): "Kill, blind, or se[ize him", nor] shall king Marduk-zakir-šumi listen to him (should he say such things). [He shall not ......] him, [nor ...] to poi[nt] an eye, toe or finger [......, nor] ... [...... of his ...] and his country. He shall not give back the captives [......]; The king shall indicate to him the fugitives [who] fled [from Assyria to Babylonia].
[1 line of the Obverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]
Bottom Edge
[Whoever] sins [against this treaty and does] not [carry out] his duty, May Marduk, the great lord whose commands take precedence, [by his unalterable word] order his decay and the dispersion of his people [...]; may he pour out his life like water, [may he destroy] his country, strike down his people [through hunge]r and famine, and lead him [to captivity ...].
Reverse
May Nabû, the august heir [who ......] evil demons,not spare his life. [May Anu, fat]her of the gods, break his sceptre; may lord Illil, decreer of fates [whose command is un]alterable, decree him a reign of exhaustion, scarce days and years of f[amine]. May Mulliltu, the great mother whose utterance [carries weight] in [Ekur], not intercede for him before Illil at the site of judgment and decision. May Ea, the sage of the gods who knows everything, dam his rivers [in their sources]. May Šamaš, the great judge of heaven and earth w[ho provides justice for all living beings, the source of con]fidence, reject his kingship and not [judge] his case. [May Sin, the lord of heaven, whose] punishment is renowned among the gods, [inflict upon him] a severe puni[shment] which is not to be removed from his body; may he [make the days, months and years] of his reign [end] in sighing and [moaning]. [May Adad, the canal inspector of heaven and earth, deprive him of rain] from the heaven, and of seasonal flooding from the underground water; may he destroy [his land through famine, roar fiercely at his city], and turn his [land into ruins by means of a flood]. [May valiant Zababa, the great warrior, who w]alk[s ......] (Rest destroyed)
SAA 02 002 — Treaty of Aššur-nerari V with Mati’-ilu, King of Arpad
Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 15272 + Rm 0120 + Rm 0274 (+) 1879-07-08, 0195 (+) 1932-12-12, 0591; AfO 08 17+. Assigned to Aššur-nerari V's reign, ca. 754 BC. SAA 02 002; SAAo P336039.
Obverse, Column i
(Beginning destroyed) [... may Mati'-ilu], his sons and daughters, his mag[nates and the people of his land become] altogether like [...], may his land [be reduced] to wasteland, may only an area of the size of a brick (be left) for [him to stand upon], may nothing be left for his sons, [his daughters, his magnates and the peo]ple of his land to stand upon. May Mati'-ilu [together with his sons], daughters, magnates and the people of his land [...] like limestone, and may he, together with the people of his land, be cru[shed] like gypsum. This spring lamb has not been brought out of its fold for sacrifice, nor for a banquet, nor for a purchase, nor for (divination concerning) a sick man, nor to be slaughtered for [...]: it has been brought to conclude the treaty of Aššur-nerari, king of Assyria with Mati'-ilu. If Mati'-ilu [sins] against th[is] sworn treaty, then, just as this spring lamb has been brought from its fold and will not return to its fold and [not behold] its fold again, (in like manner) may, alas, Mati'-ilu, together with his sons, [magnates] and the people of his land [be ousted] from his country, not return to his country, and not [behold] his country again. This head is not the head of a spring lamb, it is the head of Mati'-ilu, it is the head of his sons, his magnates and the people of [his la]nd. If Mati'-ilu [should sin] against this treaty, so may, just as the head of this spring lamb is c[ut] off, and its knuckle placed in its mouth, [...] the head of Mati'-ilu be cut off, and his sons [and magnates] be th[rown] into [...]. This shoulder is not the shoulder of a spring lamb, it is the shoulder of Mati'-ilu, it is the shoulder of his so[ns, his magnates, and the people of his land. If Mati'-ilu] should sin against this [treaty], so may, just as the shou[lder of this spring lamb] is torn out and [placed in ...], the shoulder of Mati'-ilu, of his sons, [his magnates] and the people of his land be torn out and [placed] in [...].
Obverse, Column ii
(Break)
Obverse, Column iii
[......] this [......] [......]... of Hatti [......]... [......] [......] Urarṭian [... You] shall seize [...] [... and shall] send [......] (Break) [... If] you should sin [against ......] [... If] you should sin against it [......] [......] you shall kill him [......] you shall come to me [...] these [......] [......]. You shall not conceal (or) protect (any) chariot-[figh]ter or cavalryman [...], nor send him to another country. If you should prove disloyal to Aššur-nerari, and if your heart should not be devoted to Aššur-nerari, king of Assyria, [if] you, your sons, and the people of your land [should s]eek [... (Break)
[6 lines of the Obverse, Column iii are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]
Reverse, Column iv
[If the Assyrian army] goes to war at the orders of Aššur-nerari, king of Assyria, and Mati'-ilu, together with his magnates, his forces and his char[iotry] does not go forth (on the campaign) in full loyalty, May Sin, the great lord who dwells in Harran, clothe Mati'-ilu, [his so]ns, his magnates, and the people of his land in leprosy as in a cloak; may they have to roam the open country, and may there be no mercy for them. May there be no more dung of oxen, asses, sheep, and horses in his land. May Adad, the canal inspector of heaven and earth, put an end to Mati'-ilu, his land, and the people of his land through hunger, want, and famine, may they eat the flesh of their sons and daughters, and may it taste as good to them as the flesh of spring lambs. May they be deprived of Adad's thunder so that rain become forbidden to them. May dust be their food, pitch their ointment, donkey's urine their drink, papyrus their clothing, and may their sleeping place be in the dung heap. If Mati'-ilu, his sons, or his magnates who (sic!) sin against (this) treaty of Aššur-nerari, king of Assyria, may his farmers not sing the harvest song in the fields, may no vegetation spring forth in the open country and see the sunlight, may women fetching water not draw water from the springs, [may ...] be their food, [...] their drink, [... (Break) [...... "Woe, we have sin]ned against the oath [of Aššur-nerari, king of Assyria]." [If Mati'-ilu sins against this treaty of] Aššur-nerari, king of Assyria, and looks [......], [......] and Nineveh, ditto, the people of his land [......] (and) you shall be deported [......];
Reverse, Column v
If our death is not your death, if our life is not your life, if you do not seek (to protect) the life of Aššur-nerari, his sons and his magnates as your own life and the life of your sons and officials, then may Aššur, father of the gods, who grants kingship, turn your land into a battlefield, your people to devastation, your cities into mounds, and your house into ruins. If Mati'-ilu sins against this treaty with Aššur-nerari, king of Assyria, may Mati'-ilu become a prostitute, his soldiers women, may they receive [a gift] in the square of their cities like any prostitute, may one country push them to the next; may Mati'-ilu's (sex) life be that of a mule, his wives extremely old; may Ištar, the goddess of men, the lady of women, take away their bow, bring them to shame, and make them bitterly weep: "Woe, we have sinned against the treaty of Aššur-nerari, king of Assyria." If Ma[ti'-ilu sins against thi]s [treaty] of [Aššur-n]erari, king of Assyria [...... (Break) ...] before the kings [......] a divine punishment [......] each other [......] If Mati'-ilu [sins against this] treaty [of Aššur-nerari, king of Assyria], may his door be closed and [......; may] robbers [...] the door of [his] people [......], may he sleep [......];
[1 line of the Reverse, Column v is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]
Reverse, Column vi
may [locusts] appear and devour his land, may [...] blind their eyes; may [a city of] one thousand houses decrease to one house, may one thousand tents decrease to one tent, may (just) one man be spared in the city to (proclaim my) glory. You are sworn by Aššur, king of heaven and earth! Ditto by Anu and Antu! Ditto by Illil and Mullissu! Ditto by Ea and Damkina! Ditto by Sin and Nikkal! Ditto by Šamaš and Nur! Ditto by Adad and Šala! Ditto by Marduk and Zarpanitu! Ditto by Nabû and Tašmetu! Ditto by Ninurta and Gula! Ditto by Uraš and Ninegal! Ditto by Zababa and Babu! Ditto by Nergal and Laṣ! Ditto by Madanu and Ningirsu! Ditto by Humhummu and Išum! Ditto by Girra and Nusku! Ditto by Ištar, Lady of Nineveh! Ditto by Ištar, Lady of Arbela! Ditto by Adad of Kurbail! Ditto by Hadad of Aleppo! Ditto by Palil, who marches in front! Ditto by the heroic Pleiades! Ditto by Dagan and [M]uṣuruna! Ditto by M[elqart and Esh]mun! Ditto by Kub[aba and Kar]huha! Ditto by Hadad, [...] and Ramman of [Damascus]! [Ditto by] ...[......]! (Break)
Chapter Two. Treaties and Loyalty Oaths of the Seventh Century BC
SAA 02 003–015.
SAA 02 003 — Sennacherib’s Succession Treaty
Tablet; clay; Qalat Sherqat (Assur). Vorderasiatisches Museum, Berlin, VAT 11449; PKTA 31. Assigned to Sennacherib's reign, c. 683 or 682 BC. SAA 02 003; SAAo P336317.
Obverse
(Beginning destroyed) [...... which Sennach]erib, king of Assyr[ia, your lord], has set to you: [If you should hear] improper things, you shall speak out [going] to Sennacherib, king of Assyria, [your lord], and totally devoting yourselves to the king, your lord, if you should not protect [Esarhaddon, the crown prince designate, and] the other princes [whom Sennacherib, king of Assyria, has presen]ted to you; (otherwise): [May Aššur, Mullissu, Šerua], Sin, Nikkal, Šamaš, Nu[r, Anu, Antu, Illil, Adad, Š]ala, Kippat-mati, [Ištar of Heaven, Ištar of Nineveh], Ištar of [Arbela, the Assyrian Ištar, Zababa, Ba]bu, Ninurta, Nusku, and [..., the gods of the Akitu Chapel ... curse you with] an indissoluble, grievous curse [...] in the city of Aššur [...] (Break)
Reverse
[...] in his heart [...], May [Aššur, Mullissu, Šerua], Sin, Nikkal, Šamaš, [Nur, Anu, Antu, I]llil, Adad, Šala, [Kippat-mati, Ištar of Heaven, Ištar of Nineveh, Ištar of Arb]ela, the Assyrian Ištar, [Zababa, Babu, Ea, Belet-ili, Damkina, Kakk]a, and Nergal, the gods [of the Akitu Chapel ... curse you with an indissoluble, griev]ous [curse, may they ...] your [...] in all l[ands...] the Akitu Chapel [...] (Rest destroyed)
SAA 02 004 — Accession Treaty of Esarhaddon
Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1883-01-18, 0420 (+) 1883-01-18, 0493 (+) 1891-05-09 Bu, 0131; JCS 39 187. Assigned to Esarhaddon's reign, c. 681 BC. SAA 02 004; SAAo P314346.
Obverse
(Beginning destroyed)
Reverse
[...... t]ower[s ...] I shall tell [...] to [... and] trav[ellers, I shall send messengers] to the south and [the north ...]. Should I he[ar an ug]ly word about him [from the mou]th of his progeny, [should I hear it] from the mouth of one of the magnates or [governors], [from the mouth of one o]f the bearded or from the mouth of [the eunuchs], I will tell it to Esarhaddon, my lord; I [will] be [his servant] and speak good of him, I [will be] loyal to him and [... the fa]ce of Esarhaddon my lord, [...]; I will [keep] the oath [of this treaty tablet] and not perform the (rite of) undoing the [oath ...] or make [...]. Also, you shall not make [...], and you shall not make [...], and you shall not [......] of undoing ...[...]. (Whoever sins against this treaty tablet:) [May Aššur, father of the gods, and king] of the totality of heaven and earth, [impose a heavy] punishment [upon him ... and forbid his ent]ering into the presence of god and king. May [Mullissu, the great mother, his] beloved wife [...] alter his [mind]. [May Ištar, lady of warfare, break his bow in] the thick of battle, and have him crouch as a captive [under his enemy]. [May Šamaš ......] untruthful scales [......] in the plaza of his city. [May Nikkal ...] worsen his [case and not intercede for him] in the presence of Sin [her husband]. [May Nergal, the strongest among the gods,] destroy [his] people through plague and pestilence [... (Rest destroyed)
SAA 02 005 — Esarhaddon’s Treaty with Baal, King of Tyre
Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 03500 + K 04444 + K 10235 (+) Sm 0964; Ash pl. 3+. Assigned to Esarhaddon's reign, c. 676 BC. SAA 02 005; SAAo P336126.
Obverse, Column i
[The treat]y of Esarhad[don, king] of Assyria, son of [Sennacherib likewise king of Assyria, with Baa]l, king of Tyre, with [..., his son, and his other sons and grandsons, with a]ll [Tyrians], young and old [... (Break) or ...[......] or [......] or with [......] not[......] if [......] not ...[......] If Assyr[ia ......] ... you [......]...[......] (Break)
Obverse, Column ii
[......] according to [...] [......] let [...] [......] ...[...] [...... t]o the ex[empt] (Break)
[2 lines of the Obverse, Column ii are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]
Reverse, Column iii
[......] from ... until [......] [......] their [...]s; Esarhaddon, king of As[syria ......] [......] will not [...] upon it [...] [......] these [...]s and these cities which I destroyed [......] you must not send nor desp[atch] the [... which] (may) come [...]. [If the royal deputy whom] I have appointed over you [...] anything in [...] [...] the elders of your country [convene to take] counsel the royal deputy [will ...] with them [......] [......] of the ships [......] (Break) [You may not ... any ship ...] which comes to you; [if ......], do not listen to him, [do not ...] without the royal deputy; nor must you open a letter which I send you without the royal deputy. If the royal deputy is absent, wait for him and then open it, or [...] the messenger. If there is a ship of Baal or the people of Tyre that is shipwrecked off the land of the Philistines or within Assyrian territory, everything that is on ship belongs to Esarhaddon, king of Assyria; however, one must not do any harm to any person on board the ship but one must return them all to their country. These are the ports of trade and the trade routes which Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, [entrusted] to his servant Baal: to Akko, Dor, to the entire district of the Philistines, and to all the cities within Assyrian territory on the seacoast, and to Byblos, the Lebanon, all the cities in the mountains, all (these) being cities of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria. Baal [may enter these] cities. The people of Tyre [will], in accordance with what Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, has per[mitted, stay] in their ships, and all those who enter into the towns of [...], his towns, his villages, his ports of trade which [...] for collecting [toll ...], and all (the places) in their outskirts, will [pay toll], as in the past. Nobody will [do] injustice [to those] who are hired [...] and nobody will harm their ships. In the coun[try of ...], in his district, in his villages ...[...] the people of Sidon [...] as in the past [...
Reverse, Column iv
(Break) [May Mullissu, who resides in Nineveh, tie to you a flaming sword]. [May] Ištar, [who resides in Arbela, not grant] you [mercy and forgiveness]. May Gula, the great physician, [put illness and weariness in] your [hearts] and an unhealing sore in your body; bathe [in blood and pus as if in water]! May the Pleiades, the heroic gods, [smi]te you [down] with their [fierce] weapons. May Bethel and Anath-Bethel [deliver] you to the paws of a man-eating lion. May the great gods of heaven and earth, the gods of Assyria, the gods of Akkad and the gods of Eber-nari curse you with an indissoluble curse. May Baal Shamaim Baal Malagê and Baal Saaphon raise an evil wind against your ships to undo their moorings and tear out their mooring pole, may a strong wave sink them in the sea and a violent tide [rise] against you. May Melqarth and Eshmun deliver your land to destruction and your people to deportation; may they [uproot] you from your land and take away the food from your mouth, clothes from your body, and the oil for your anointing.
Right Edge
May Astarte break your bow in the thick of battle and have you crouch at the feet of your enemy, may a foreign enemy divide your belongings. Tablet of the treaty established with Baal of Tyre in [......].
[1 line of the Right Edge is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]
SAA 02 006 — Esarhaddon’s Succession Treaty
Tablet; clay; Nimrud (Kalhu). VTE. Assigned to Esarhaddon's reign, c. 672 BC. SAA 02 006; SAAo Q009186.
Obverse, Column i
Seal of the god Aššur, king of the gods, lord of the lands — not to be altered; seal of the great ruler, father of the gods — not to be disputed.
Obverse
The treaty of Esarhaddon, (king of the world), king of Assyria, son of Sennacherib, (likewise king of the world), king of Assyria, with Humbareš, city-ruler of Nahšimarti (etc.), his sons, his grandsons, with all the Nahšimarteans (etc.), the men in his hands young and old, as many as there are from sunrise to sunset, all those over whom Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, exercises kingship and lordship, (with) you, your sons and your grandsons who will be born in days to come after this treaty, (concerning Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, son of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, on behalf of whom he has concluded this treaty with you,) (which he) confirmed, made and concluded in the presence of Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Mercury, Mars and Sirius; in the presence of Aššur, Anu, Ill[il], Ea, Sin, Šamaš, Adad, Marduk, Nabû, Nusku, Uraš, Nergal, Mullissu, Šerua, Belet-ili, Ištar of Nineveh, Ištar of Arbela, the gods dwelling in heaven and earth, the gods of Assyria, the gods of Sumer and [Akka]d, all the gods of the lands. Sw[ear ea]ch individually by Aššur, father of the gods, lord of the lands! Ditto by Anu, Illil and Ea! Ditto by Sin, Šamaš, Adad and Marduk! Ditto by Nabû, Nusku, Uraš and Nergal! Ditto by Mullissu, Šerua and Belet-ili! Ditto by Ištar of Nineveh and Ištar of Arbela! Ditto by all the gods of the Inner City! Ditto by all the gods of Nineveh! Ditto by all the gods of Calah! Ditto by all the gods of Arbela! Ditto by all the gods of Kilizi! Ditto by all the gods of Harran! Ditto by all the gods of Babylon, Borsippa and Nippur! Ditto by all the gods of Assyria! Ditto by all the gods of Sumer and Akkad! Ditto by all the gods of the lands; ditto by all the gods of heaven and earth! Ditto by all the gods of one's land and one's district! (This is) the treaty which Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, has concluded with you, in the presence of the great gods of heaven and earth, on behalf of Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, son of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, your lord, whom he has named and appointed to the crown-princeship: When Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, passes away, you will seat Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, upon the royal throne, and he will exercise the kingship and lordship of Assyria over you. You shall protect him in country and in town, fall and die for him. You shall speak with him in the truth of your heart, give him sound advice loyally, and smooth his way in every respect. You shall not depose him nor seat (any)one of his brothers, elder or younger, on the throne of Assyria in stead of him. You shall neither change nor alter the word of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, but serve this very Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, whom Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, your lord, has presented to you, and he shall exercise the kingship and dominion over you. You shall protect Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, whom Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, has presented and ordered for you, and on behalf of whom he has confirmed and concluded (this) treaty with you; you shall not sin against him, nor bring your hand against him with evil intent, nor revolt or do anything to him which is not good and proper; you shall not oust him from the kingship of Assyria by helping one of his brothers, elder or younger, to seize the throne of Assyria in his stead, nor set any other king or any other lord over you, nor swear an oath to any other king or any other lord. If you hear any improper, unsuitable or unseemly word concerning the exercise of kingship which is unseemly and evil against Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, either from the mouth of his brothers, his uncles, his cousins, his family (var. his people), members of his father's line; or from the mouth of magnates and governors, or from the mouth of the bearded and the eunuchs, or from the mouth of the scholars or from the mouth of any human being at all, you shall not conceal it but come and report it to Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate. If Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, passes away while his sons are minors, you will help Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, to take the throne of Assyria, and you will help Šamaš-šumu-ukin, his equal brother, the crown prince designate of Babylon, to ascend the throne of Babylon. You will reserve for him the kingship over the whole of Sumer, Akkad and Karduniaš. He will take with him all the gifts that Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, his father, gave him; do not hold back even one. You shall keep absolute honesty with respect to Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate whom Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, has presented to you, and (with respect to) his brothers, sons by the same mother as Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, on behalf of whom Esarhaddon, king of Assyria has concluded (this) treaty with you; you shall always serve them in a true and fitting manner, speak with them with heartfelt truth, and protect them in country and in town. You shall not sin against Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, whom Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, has ordered for you, nor against his brothers, sons by the same mother as Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, concerning whom he has concluded (this) treaty with you; you shall not bring your hands to (do) evil against them nor make insurrection or do anything which is not good to them. If you hear any evil, improper, ugly word which is not seemly nor good to Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, son of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, your lord, either from the mouth of his enemy or from the mouth of his ally, or from the mouth of his brothers or from the mouth of his uncles, his cousins, his family, members of his father's line, or from the mouth of your brothers, your sons, your daughters, or from the mouth of a prophet, an ecstatic, an inquirer of oracles, or from the mouth of any human being at all, you shall not conceal it but come and report it to Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, son of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria. You shall not do (anything) that is evil and improper to Assurbanipal the great crown prince designate, whom Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, has ordered for you; you shall not seize him and put him to death, nor hand him over to his enemy, nor oust him from the kingship of Assyria, nor sw[ear an oa]th to any other king or any other lord. If anyone should speak to you of rebellion and insurrection (with the purpose) of ki[lling], assassinating, and eliminating Assurbanipal, the [great crown] prince designate, son of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, your lord, concerning whom he has concluded (this) treaty with you, or if you should hear it from the mouth of anyone, you shall seize the perpetrators of insurrection, and bring them before Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate. If you are able to seize them and put them to death, then you shall destroy their name and their seed from the land. If, however, you are unable to seize them and put them to death, you shall inform Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, and assist him in seizing and putting to death the perpetrators of rebellion. If you should come into contact with perpetrators of insurrection, be they few or many, and hear (anything, be it) favourable or unfavourable, you shall come and report it to Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, son of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, being totally loyal to him. You shall not take a mutually binding oath with (any)one who produces (statues of) gods in order to conclude a treaty before gods, (be it) by sett[ing] a table, by drinking from a cup, by kindling a fire, by water, by oil, or by holding breasts, but you shall come and report to Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, son of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, your lord, and shall seize and put to death the perpetrators of insurrection and the traitorous troops, and destroy their name and seed from the land. If an Assyrian or a vassal of Assyria, or a bearded (courtier) or a eunuch, or a citizen of Assyria or a citizen of any other country, or any living being at all besieges Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, in country or in town, and carries out rebellion and insurrection, you shall take your stand with and protect Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, wholeheartedly defeat the men who revolted against him, and rescue Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, and his brothers, sons by the same mother. You shall not make common cause with (any)one who may revolt against Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, son of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, your lord, concerning whom he has concluded (this) treaty with you, but, should they seize you by force, you shall flee and come to Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate. You shall not, whether while on a guard duty [......] or on a [day] of rest, while resid[ing] within the land or while entering a tax-collection point, set in your mind an unfavourable thought against Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate; you shall not revolt against him, nor make rebellion, nor do anything to him which is not good. On the day that Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, your lord passes away, (on that day) Assurbanipal, the great crown prince desi[gnate], son of Esarhaddon, your lord, shall be your king and your lord; he shall abase the mighty, raise up the lowly, put to death him who is worthy of death, and pardon him who deserves to be pardoned. You shall hearken to whatever he says and do whatever he commands, and you shall not seek any other king or any other lord against him. If anyone in the Palace makes an insurrection, whether by day or by night, whether on a campaign or within the land against Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, you must not obey him. If a messenger from within the Palace at an unexpected time, whether by day or by night, comes to the prince saying: "Your father has summoned you; let my lord come", you must not listen to him nor let him go away but you must guard him strongly until one of you, who loves his lord and feels concern over the house of his lords, goes to the palace and ascertains the well-being of the king, his lord. (Only) afterwards you may go to the Palace with the prince, your lord. You shall not hold an assembly to adjure one another and give the kingship to one of you. You shall not help (anyone) from among his brothers, his uncles, his cousins, his family, or members of his father's line, whether those who are in Assyria or those who have fled to another country, or (anyone) in the closer palace groups or in the more remote palace groups or (any) groups great or small, or (any) of the old or young, of the rich or the poor, whether a bearded (courtier) or a eunuch, or (one) of the servants, or (one) of the bought (slaves) or any citizen of Assyria or any foreigner or any human being at all, any one of you, to seize the throne of Assyria, nor shall you hand over to him the kingship and lordship of Assyria. You shall help Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate to seize the throne of Assyria, and he will exercise the kingship and lordship over you. You shall fall and die for Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, son of Esarhaddon, your lord, and seek to do for him what is good. You shall not do for him what is not good, nor give him an improper counsel or direct him in an unwholesome course, but continually serve him in a true and fitting manner. If Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, passes away during the minority of his sons, and if either a bearded (courtier) or a eunuch puts Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, to death, and takes over the kingship of Assyria, you shall not make common cause with him and become his servant but shall break away and be hostile (to him), alienate all lands from him, instigate a rebellion against him, seize him and put him to death, and then help a son of Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate to take the throne of Assyria. You shall wait for a woman pregnant by Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, (or) for the wife of Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate (to give birth), and after (a son) is born, bring him up and set him on the throne of Assyria, seize and slay the perpetrators of rebellion, destroy their name and their seed from the land, and by shedding blood for blood, avenge Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate. You shall not give Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, son of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, your lord, a deadly drug to eat or to drink, nor anoint him with it, nor practice witchcraft against him, nor make gods and goddesses angry with him. You shall love Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, son of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, your lord, like yourselves. You shall not slander his brothers, his mother's sons, before Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, nor speak anything evil about them, nor lift your hands against their houses or commit a crime against them, nor take anything away from the gift which their father has given them, or the acquisitions which they themselves have made. The gift of lands, houses, orchards, peoples, implements, horses, mules, donkeys, cattle and flocks which Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, has given to his sons, shall be theirs. You shall speak good of them before Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate. They shall stand before him and be united with you. This treaty which Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, has confirmed and concluded with you on behalf of Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate and his brothers, sons by the same mother as Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, by making you take an oath, you shall speak to your sons and grandsons, your seed and your seed's seed which shall be born in the future, and give them orders as follows: "Guard this treaty. Do not sin against your treaty and annihilate yourselves, do not turn your land over to destruction and your people to deportation. May this matter which is acceptable to god and mankind, be acceptable to you too, may it be good to you. May Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, be protected for (his) lordship over the land and the people, (and) may his name later be proclaimed for the kingship. Do not place any other king or any other lord over you." If anyone makes rebellion or insurrection against Esarhaddon, king of Assyria and seats himself on the royal throne, you shall not rejoice over his kingship but shall seize him and put him to death. If you are unable to seize and put him to death, you shall not submit to his kingship nor swear an oath of servitude to him, but shall revolt against him and unreservedly do battle with him, make other lands inimical to him, take plunder from him, defeat him, destroy his name and his seed from the land, and help Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, to take his father's throne. If (any) one of his brothers, his uncles, his cousins, his family, (any) one of his own dynastic line, or any descendant of former royalty or (any) one of the magnates, governors or eunuchs, (or any) one of the citizens of Assyria, (or) any foreigner, involves you in a plot, saying to you: "Malign Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, in the presence of his father. Speak evil and improper things about him," you shall not make it come to a fight between him and his father by stirring up mutual hatred between them. (Instead) say to the envious person who commands you and would make you become accursed: "Where are his brothers or the servants who made themselves accursed to his father by slandering him in the presence of his father? Has not what Aššur, Šamaš and [Adad] said about him proved to be true? Did your father ...... without (the consent of) Aššur and Šamaš? Let your brother be honoured, and stay alive." If someone involves you in a plot, be it one of his brothers, his [unc]les, his relations, a member of his father's line, a e[unuch] or a bearded (courtier), an Assyrian or a foreigner, or any human being at all, saying: "Slander his brothers, sons by his own mother, before him, make it come to a fight between them, and divide his brothers, sons of his own mother, from him", you shall not obey nor speak evil about his brothers in his presence, nor divide him from his brothers; you shall not let those who speak such things go free but shall come and report to Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate as follows: "Your father imposed a treaty on us and made us swear an oath concerning it." You shall not look on [...... Assurbanipal], the great crown [prince], his brothers [......]. You shall contest them as you would on [your] own behalf, and rouse [fear] in their heart, saying: "Your father set (this) in a treaty and made [us] swear it." When Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, your lord, passes away and Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, ascends the royal throne, you shall not say any evil word about his bro[thers, sons of] his own mo[ther], before their brother nor try to make them accursed (saying): "Bring your hand against them for an evil deed." You shall not alienate them from Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, nor shall you say any evil word about them in the presence of their brother. (As for) the positions which Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, their father, assigned them, you shall not speak in the presence of Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, (trying to make him) remove them [from these positions]. You shall not smear your face, your hands, and your throat with ... against the gods of the assembly, nor tie it in your lap, nor do anything to undo the oath. You shall not try to revoke or undo (this) oath ... [...]; you shall neither think of nor perform a ritual to revoke or undo this oath. You and your sons to be born in the future will be bound by this oath concerning Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, son of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, your lord, from this day on until what(ever) comes after this treaty. While you stand on the place of this oath, you shall not swear this oath with your lips only but shall swear it wholeheartedly; you shall teach it to your sons to be born after this treaty; you shall not feign incurable illness but take part in this treaty of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, concerning Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate. In the future and forever Aššur will be your god, and Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, will be your lord. May your sons and your grandsons fear him. Whoever changes, disregards, transgresses or erases the oaths of this tablet or [dis]regards ... this treaty and transgresses its oath, [may the guardian(s) of] this treaty tablet, [Aššur], king of the gods, and the great gods, my lords, [......] the statue of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, or the statue of Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, or the statue of [his] b[rother ......] the seal of the [great] ru[ler, father] of the gods, [......]. You shall guard [this treaty tablet which] is sealed with the seal of Aššur, king of the gods, and set up in your presence, like your own god. If you should remove it, consign it to the fire, throw it into the water, [bury] it in the earth or destroy it by any cunning device, annihilate or deface it, May Aššur, king of the gods, who decrees [the fates], decree an evil and unpleasant fate for you. May he not gra[nt yo]u long-lasting old age and the attainment of extreme old age. May Mullissu, his beloved wife, make the utterance of his mouth evil, may she not intercede for you. May Sin, the brightness of heaven and earth, clothe you with leprosy and forbid your entering into the presence of the gods or king. Roam the desert like the wild-ass and the gazelle! May Šamaš, the light of heaven and earth, not judge you justly. May he remove your eyesight. Walk about in darkness! May Ninurta, the foremost among the gods, fell you with his fierce arrow; may he fill the plain with your blood and feed your flesh to the eagle and the vulture. May Venus, the brightest of the stars, before your eyes make your wives lie in the lap of your enemy; may your sons not take possession of your house, but a strange enemy divide your goods. May Jupiter, exalted lord of the gods, not show you the entrance of Bel in Esangil; may he destroy your life. May Marduk, the eldest son, decree a heavy punishment and an indissoluble curse for your fate. May Zarpanitu, who grants name and seed, destroy your name and your seed from the land. May Belet-ili, the lady of creation, cut off birth from your land; may she deprive your nurses of the cries of little children in the streets and squares. May Adad, the canal inspector of heaven and earth, cut off sea[sonal flooding] from your land and deprive your fields of [grain], may he [submerge] your land with a great flood; may the locust who diminishes the land devour your harvest; may the sound of mill or oven be lacking from your houses, may the grain for grinding disappear from you; instead of grain may your sons and your daughters grind your bones; may not (even) your (first) finger-joint dip in the dough, may the [...] of your bowls eat up the dough. May a mother [bar the door] to her daughter. In your hunger eat the flesh of your sons! In want and famine may one man eat the flesh of another; may one man clothe himself in another's skin; may dogs and swine eat your flesh; may your ghost have nobody to take care of the pouring of libations to him. May Ištar, lady of battle and war, smash your bow in the thick of ba[ttle], may she bind your arms, and have you crouch under your enemy. May Nergal, hero of the gods, extinguish your life with his merciless sword, and send slaughter and pes[til]ence among you. May Mullissu, who dwells in Nineveh, tie a flaming sword at your side. [May] Ištar, who dwells in Arbela, [no]t show you mercy and compassion. May Gula, the great physician, put sickness and weariness [in your hearts] and an unhealing wound in your body. Bathe in [blood and pus] as if in water! [May] the Pleiades, the [heroic] gods, mas[sacre you with their] fierce [weapons]. [May] Aramiš, lord of [..., ... you, [...]... May [Bethel and Ana]th-Bethel hand you over to the paws of [a man-eating] lion. May Kubaba, the god[dess of] Carchemish, put a serious venereal disease within you; may your [urine] drip to the ground like raindrops. May all the grea[t go]ds of heaven and earth who inhabit the universe and are mentioned by name in this tablet, strike you, look at you in anger and curse you grimly with a painful curse. Above, may they take possession of your life; below, in the netherworld, may they make your ghost thirst for water. May shade and daylight always chase you away, and may you not find refuge in a hidden cor[ner]. May food and water abandon you; may want and famine, hunger and plague never be removed from you. Before your very eyes may dogs and swine drag the teats of your young women and the penises of your young men to and fro in the squares of Assur; may the earth not receive your corpses but may your burial place be in the belly of a dog or a pig. May your days be dark and your years dim, may darkness which is not to be brightened be declared as your fate. May your life end in exha[ustion and slee]plessness. May an irresistible flood come up from the earth and devastate you; may anything good be forbidden to you, anything ill be your share; may tar and pitch be your food; may urine of an ass be your drink, may naphtha be your ointment, may duckweed be your covering. May demon, devil and evil spirit select your houses. May these gods be our witnesses: we will not make rebellion or insurrection against Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, against Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, against his brothers, sons by the same mother as Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, and the rest of the sons of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, our lord, or make common cause with his enemy. Should we hear of instigation to armed rebellion, agitation or malicious whispers, evil, unseemly things, or treacherous, disloyal talk against Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, and against his brothers by the same mother as Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, we will not conceal it but will report it to Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, our lord. As long as we, our sons (and) our grandsons are alive, Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, shall be our king and our lord, and we will not set any other king or prince over us, our sons or our grandsons. May all the gods mentioned by name (in this treaty) hold us, our seed and our seed's seed accountable (for this vow). If you should sin against this treaty which Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, [your] lord, [has concluded] with you concerning Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, (and concerning) his [brother]s, sons by [the same mother as Ass]urba[nipal], the great crown prince designate, and the re[st of the off]spring of Esar[haddon, king] of Assyria, your lord, May Aššur, father of the gods, st[ri]ke [you] down with [his] fierce weapons. May Palil, the fore[most] lord, let eagles and vultures [eat your f]lesh. May Ea, king of the Abyss, lord of the springs, give you deadly water to drink, and fill you with dropsy. May the great gods of heaven and earth turn water (and) oil [into a curse for] you. May Girra, who gives food to small and great, burn up your name and your seed. Ditto, ditto, may all the gods that are [mentioned by name] in th[is] treaty tablet make the ground as narrow as a brick for you. May they make your ground like iron (so that) nothing can sprout from it. Just as rain does not fall from a brazen heaven so may rain and dew not come upon your fields and your meadows; instead of dew may burning coals rain on your land. Just as lead does not stand up before a fire, so may you [not s]tand before yo[ur] enemy (or) take your sons and your daughters in your hands. Just as a m[ule has n]o offspring, may your name, your seed, and the seed of your sons and your daughters disappear from the land. Just as a germinal shoot of ma[lt, if it] is soaked with ma[sh ...], does not sprout (and) a [...] does not return [...], may your [see]d and the seed of y[our] s[ons] and your daughters disappear [from] the face of your ground. May Šamaš with an iron plough [overtu]rn yo[ur] city and your district. (Ditto, ditto;) just as [thi]s ewe has been cut open and the flesh of [her] young has been placed in her mouth, may they make you eat in your hunger the flesh of your brothers, your sons and your daughters. Just as young sheep and ewes and male and female spring lambs are slit open and their entrails rolled down over their feet, so may your entrails (and) the entrails of your sons and your daughters roll down over your feet. (Ditto, ditto;) just as bread and wine enter into [your] intestines, [so] may they (= the gods) make this oath enter into [your] intestines and into those of [your] so[ns] and your [daught]ers. (Dit[to, ditto;) j]ust as you blow water out of a t[ub]e, may they blow out you, your women, your sons and your daughters; may your streams and your springs make their waters flow backwards. Ditto, ditto; may they make bread to be worth gold in your land. (Ditto, ditto;) just as honey is sweet, so may the blood of your women, your sons and your daughters be sweet in your mouth. (Ditto;) just as a worm eats ..., so may the worm eat, while you are (still) alive, your own flesh and the flesh of your wives, your sons and your daughters. (Ditto;) may all the gods who are called by name in this treaty tablet break your bow and subject you to your enemy; may they turn over the bow in your hands and make your chariots run backwards. (Ditto;) as a stag is pursued and killed, so may your [mortal] enemy pursue and kill you, your brothers and your sons. (Ditto;) as a caterpillar does not see and does not return to its cocoon, so may you not return to your women, your sons, your daughters, and to your houses. (Ditto, ditto;) just as one seizes a bird by a trap, so may they deliver you, your brothers and your sons into the hands of your mortal enemy. (Ditto, ditto;) may they make your flesh and the flesh of your women, your brothers, your sons and your daughters as black as [bitu]men, pitch and naphtha. Ditto; just as a ... beast is caught in a snare, may you, your [women], your brothers, your sons and your daughters be seized by the hand of your enemy. (Ditto, ditto;) may your flesh and the flesh of your women, your brothers, your sons and your daughters be altogether like the flesh of a chameleon. (Ditto, ditto;) just as the honeycomb is pierced with holes, so may they pierce your flesh, the flesh of your women, your brothers, your sons and your daughters with holes while you are alive. (Ditto, ditto;) may they cause locusts, ..., lice, caterpillars and other field pests devour your towns, your land and your district. Ditto, ditto; may they make you like a fly in the hand of your enemy, and may your enemy squash you. Just as (this) bug stinks, just so may your breath stink before god and king (and) mankind. (Ditto, ditto;) may they strangle you, your women, your brothers, your sons and your daughters with a cord. Just as an image of wax is burnt in the fire and one of clay dissolved in water, (so) may your figure be burnt in the fire and sunk in water. May they make evil and wicked things surround you like fire. Just as oil enters your flesh, so may they cause this oath to enter into your flesh, the flesh of your brothers, your sons and your daughters. Just as the Cursers sinned against Bel and he cut off their hands and feet and blinded their eyes, so may they annihilate you, and make you sway like reeds in water; may your enemy pull you out like reeds from a bundle. If you should forsake Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, (his brothers, [sons by the same mother] as Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, and the other sons, the offspring of [Esa]rhaddon, king of Assyria), going to the south or to the north, may iron swords consume him who goes to the south and may iron swords likewise consume him who goes to the north; (Ditto;) just as the noise of (these) doves is persistent, so may you, your women, your sons and your daughters have no rest or sleep and may your bones never come together. Just as the inside of a hole is empty, may your inside be empty. When your enemy pierces you, may there be no honey, oil, ginger or cedar-resin available to place on your wound. Just as gall is bitter, so may you, your women, your sons and your daughters be bitter towards each other. Ditto; may Šamaš clamp a bronze bird trap over you, (your sons and your [daught]ers); may he cast you into a trap from which there is no escape, and never let you out alive. Just as (this) waterskin is split and its water runs out, so may your waterskin break in a place of severe thirst; die [of th]irst! Just as (these) shoes are split, so may your [shoes] be torn in a region of brier. [Go around barefooted!] May Illil, lord of the throne, [overthrow] your throne. May Nabû, bearer of the tablet of fates of the gods, erase your name, and destroy your seed from the land. May the door [...] before your eyes, may your doors [......]. 18th day of Iyyar, eponymy of Nabû-belu-uṣur, governor of Dur-Šarrukku. The treaty of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, conclu[ded] on behalf of Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate of Assyria, and Šamaš-šumu-ukin, the crown prince designate of Babylon.
[1 line of the Obverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]
May Anu, king of the gods, let disease, exhaustion, malaria, sleeplessness, worries and ill health rain upon all your houses.
[If you] should sin [against] this [trea]ty of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, [concerning Assurbanipal, the great crown prince design]ate, (ditto;) just as a sna[ke] and a mongoose do not enter the same hole to lie there together but think only of cutting each other's throat, so may you and your women not enter the same room to lie down in the same bed; think only of cutting each other's throats!
([If you should sin against] this [treaty] of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, [and of] his sons and grandsons,) ditto; just as this chariot is drenched with blood up to its base-board, so may your chariots be drenched with your own blood in the midst of your enemy.
May all the gods who are called by name in this treaty tablet spin you around like a spindle-whorl, may they make you like a woman before your enemy.
May all the gods who are mentioned by name in this treaty tablet make you, your brothers, your sons, and your daughters go backward like a crab.
may they [slaughter] you, your women, your brothers, your sons, and your daughters like a spring lamb and a kid.
SAA 02 007 — Oath of Loyalty to Esarhaddon
Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1891-05-09 Bu, 0022; JCS 39 174. Assigned to Esarhaddon's reign, ca. 670 BC. SAA 02 007; SAAo P336218.
Obverse
(Beginning destroyed) ..[......] to the ci[ty ......] to Esarh[addon ......] you shall [......] standing [......] his seed and his fa[mily ......] you shall ...[......] has sacrificed yo[u ......] fumigant[s ......] you shall ...[......] king of Assyria [......] (Break)
Reverse
not [......] you s[hall ......] what you [......] whol[eheartedly ......] (Rest destroyed)
[1 line of the Reverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]
SAA 02 008 — Zakutu Treaty
Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1883-01-18, 0045 + 1883-01-18, 0266; ABL 1239+. Assigned to Ashurbanipal's reign, c. 669 BC. SAA 02 008; SAAo P334814.
Obverse
The treaty of Zakutu, the queen of Senna[cherib, ki]ng of Assyria, mother of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, with Šamaš-šumu-ukin, his equal brother, with Šamaš-metu-uballiṭ and the rest of his brothers, with the royal seed, with the magnates and the governors, the bearded and the eunuchs, the royal entourage, with the exempts and all who enter the Palace, with Assyrians high and low: Anyone who (is included) in this treaty which Queen Zakutu has concluded with the whole nation concerning her favourite grandson [Assurba]nipal, anyone (of you) who should [...] fabricate and carry out an ugly and evil thing or a revolt against your lord Assurbanipal, king of Assyria, in your hearts conceive and put into words an ugly [sch]eme or an evil plot against [your lord] Assurbanipal, king of Assyria, [in yo]ur [hearts] deliberate and formulate an ugly suggestion and evil advice for rebellion and insurrection against your lord Assurbanipal, king of Assyria, (or) plot [with] another [...] for the murder of your lord [Assurbanipal, king] of Assyria: [May Aššur, Sin, Šamaš], Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Mercury, [Mars, and Sirius ......
Bottom Edge
(Break)
Reverse
sou]th and [north]. [And if] you from this day on (hear) an ugly [word] of rebellion and insurrection being spo[ken against] your lord Assurbanipal, king of Assyria, you shall come and inform Zakutu his mother and Assurbanipal, [king of Assyria], your lord; and if you hear of (a plan) to kill or eliminate your lord [Assur]banipal, king of Assyria, you shall come and inform Zakutu [his mother] and your lord Assurbanipal, king of Assyria; and if you hear of an ugly [scheme] being elaborated against your lord Assurbanipal, king of Assyria, you shall speak out in the presence of Zakutu his mother and your lord, Assurbanipal, king of Assyria; and if you hear and know that there are men instigating armed rebellion or fomenting conspiracy in your midst, be they bearded or eunuchs or his brothers or of royal line of your brothers or friends or any one in the entire nation - should you hear and [know] (this), you shall seize and [kill] them and bring them to Zakutu [his mother and to Assurbani]pal, [king of Assyria, your lord.]
SAA 02 009 — Assurbanipal’s Treaty with Babylonian Allies
Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1882-05-22, 0130; ABL 1105. Assigned to Ashurbanipal's reign, ca. 650 BC. SAA 02 009; SAAo P237185.
Obverse
(Beginning destroyed) [We swear by Aššur, Šerua,] Bel[et-ili, ......, a]ll [the gods of Assyria and Babylonia], and [all] the great gods [of heaven and earth, ......], [that] from this day on [for as long as we live we will be subjects of Assurbanipal, king of Assyria], (that) Assurbanipal, king of Assyria [shall be our king and lord, and (that) we will be totally devoted] to Assurbanipal, king of Assyria, [our] lord. We will not conceal nor hide [any message] or messenger whom Šamaš-šumu-ukin, ki[ng of Babylonia] has [sent or] made [... or who has come to us] from the sons of Š[amaš-šumu-ukin] or from the enemy of Assurbanipal, king of [Assyria], but will send him [to Assurbanipal], king of Assyria, our lord. We will protect [Assurbanipal], king of Assyria, our lord, and [the official whom] he has appointed [over us]. We will not listen to nor [...] any detestable person [..., agitator] or conspirator who speaks evil words against [Assurbanipal, king of Assyria, our lord], or against an official of [Assurbanipal, king of Assyria, our lord], but will throw him in [handcuffs] and [send him] to Assurbanipal, [king of Assyria, our lord]. From this day on for as long as we live we will neither do nor cause anyone to do, nor speak [evil things ...... against Assurbanipal], king of Assyria, those who love him, and his land. The enemy of Assurbanipal, king of Assyria, [......] shall not be our ally. [We will do] everything that Assurbanipal, king of Assyria, our lord, tells us (to do) according to his command; [when Assurbanipal, king of Assyria, our lord, goes against his enemy], we will muster our bow[men] and stand with [Assurbanipal, king of Assyria, our lord, make] battle against [his foes], overwhelm, as is our fervent desire, his enemy, and make [our name] good [in the eyes of Assurbanipal, king of Assyria], our lord. Our crimes which [we committed because of Šamaš-šumu-ukin] against Assurbanipal, king of Assyria, [our] lord, [have been forgiven] by Assurbanipal, king of Assyria, [our] lord, [......]. [If any subject] of Šamaš-šumu-ukin, or of another land, w[hom Assurbanipal, king of Assyria], our lord, does not tolerate, c[omes] to us [or ...] is brought to us, we will seize (him) and [send him] to the king, our lord. We will love [Assurbanipal], king of Assyria, and [hate his enemy]. [From] this [day] on for as long as we live, Assurbanipal, [king of Assyria], shall be [our king and lord. We will not install] nor seek another king or another lord for [ourselves]. [We will not send] a(ny) report to the enemy of Assurbanipal, [king of Assyria, our lord]; (if) a report or a messenger from another land reaches [us], we will put him on the road and [send him] into the presence [of Assurbanipal, king of Assyria, our lord]. [We will ......] anyone who [is ...] to Assurbanipal, king [of Assyria, our lord ... (Break)
Reverse
..., by the gods o]f Assyria and Babylonia [......]: If we should [transgress], break, erase, [or ...] t[his] treaty [with Assurbanipal, king of Assyria, our lord], May Aššur, father of the gods, ordainer of fates, [ordain for us an evil and untoward fate]. May Marduk, king of the gods, lord of the lands, [......]. May Nabû, trustee of the entire heaven and underworld, [......]. May Šamaš, the great judge of heaven and earth, [......] render an unjust judgment [against us ......]. May he remove our eyesight, [may we wander about in darkness]. May Sin, light of heaven and earth, [...... prohibit] our entry into temple and palace [...]. May Ea, king of the Abyss, [......] water from the springs; [above, may he] uproot us [from among the living, and bel]ow, [make our ghosts thirst for water]. May Adad, canal inspector of heaven and earth, [...... so that] whatever is therein cannot rise [......]. May Ninurta, the foremost heir, [......]. May Nergal, the strongest among the gods, with [his (merciless) sword extinguish our lives]. May Zababa, exalted lord, who [......]. May Palil, king of the desert, with [......]. May Zarpanitu, provider of [name and progeny, drive our name and progeny from the land]. May Nanai, mistress of love and [peace, ...] make us an abomination to (both) nobleman and prince [......]. May Ištar, who resides in Arbela, goddess of battle, [break our bow in the thick of battle and] make us crouch [under the feet of] our enemy [......]. (Rest destroyed)
[3 lines of the Reverse are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]
SAA 02 010 — Assurbanipal’s Treaty with the Qedar Tribe
Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, 1891-05-09 Bu, 0178; JCS 39 159. Assigned to Ashurbanipal's reign, c. 652 BC. SAA 02 010; SAAo P336217.
Obverse
(Break) [The treaty of Assurbanipal, king of the world, king of Assyria, son of Esarhaddon, likewise king of the world, king of Assyria, with Abi-yate' son of Te'ri, his sons, grandsons, brothers and nephews, with all Qedarites, young and old, and with ...] son of Yau[ta', in the presence of all the gods of] Assyria and Qedar: [Swear by Aššur], Mullissu and [Šerua]: [Considering th]at Yauta' (your) malef[actor] handed all [Arab]s over to destruction [through] the iron sword, and put you to the sword, [and that Assur]banipal, king of Assyria, your lord, put oil on you and turned his friendly face towards you, you shall not strive for peace with Yauta', you shall not [... with] your brothers, [your] unc[les ... (Break)
Reverse
You shall [......]; [you] sh[all keep] his feet [off ...], and shall not send [...] after him by the hand of anyone, (but), considering the terrible things which he did, you shall make every effort to kill him. [May Aššur, Mu]llissu, Sin, Šamaš, [Bel, Na]bû, Ištar [of Nineveh, Iš]tar [of Arbela], Nergal [... (Rest destroyed)
SAA 02 011 — Sin-šarru-iškun’s Treaty with Babylonian Allies
Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). Yale Babylonian Collection, MLC 01302; BRM 4 50. Assigned to Sîn-šarru-iškun's reign, ca. 626 BC. SAA 02 011; SAAo P296062.
Obverse
The treaty of Sin-šarru-išk[un, king of Assyria], son of Assurbanipal, [king of the world, king of Assyria], with Nabû-apla-iddina [......], with Kanunayu [......], (and) with Aqri [......] in the presence of Ju[piter, Venus ... (Break)
Reverse
[By Aššur], augu[st] lord, [defeater of] enemies, lover of [the just], [who] loves the [kin]g and [destroys] his enemy: [Whoever] a[lters] the wording of this tablet, or sins against the [trea]ty of the great gods, May [......] of heaven and earth cover (sic) them with an evil, irremovable curse. Above, may [he uproot] them from the amongst the living, (and) below, in the underworld, deprive [their] ghosts of water. May Sin, light of heaven and earth, clothe them in leprosy as in a cloak (and) destroy their stands from temple and palace, (so that) their offspring and their statues be thrown into the fire, (and) their torches be extinguished with water.
[1 line of the Reverse is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]
SAA 02 012 — Extract from a Treaty of Sin-šarru-iškun
Tablet; clay; Qalat Sherqat (Assur). unlocated; AfO 13 T14. Assigned to Sîn-šarru-iškun's reign, ca. 626 BC. SAA 02 012; SAAo P336040.
Obverse
If you should sin against this treaty of Sin-šarru-iškun, king of Assyria, your lord, and his sons and grandsons, may Nergal, the perfect lord, (pour out) your blood into ditches and ravines.
SAA 02 013 — A Vassal Treaty
Tablet; clay; Kuyunjik (Nineveh). British Museum, K 04439; JCS 39 175. Dated to the 7th century BC (attribution uncertain). SAA 02 013; SAAo P336220.
Obverse, Column i
(Beginning destroyed)
Obverse, Column ii
[...] him. You will not make peace [with] him nor make [common cause] with him, but will fe[ar] me and do what is [good] to me. [If] you do what is good to me, all [Ar]abia [... (Break) [Should] I march [...] against you [...] his mouth [...] keeping at a distance from you [...] you will bring forth [...] is set to him [... let them] make difficult [...] one of your servants [...] another country [...] ...
[1 line of the Obverse, Column ii is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]
Reverse, Column iii
You will send no [messages], neither with a fish of the sea nor with a bird of the sky. You shall not say: "Go and tell to that king: 'Now, the king of Assyria is marching against you, he has ...ed a certain [strat]agem to use against you.'" [Nor] will you conceal from me anything that you hear, be it from the mouth of a king, or on account of a country, (anything) that bears upon or is harmful to us or Assyria, but you will write to me and bring it to my attention. Whatever [matters] I may discu[ss with you], whatever [...] the mankind (Rest destroyed)
SAA 02 014 — Esarhaddon’s Treaty Inscription
Tablet; clay; Tell Abu Habbah (Sippar-Yahrurum). British Museum, BM 050666 + BM 050857 + BM 053678 + BM 053728 (+) BM 051098; JCS 39 158. Assigned to Esarhaddon's reign, c. 672 BC. SAA 02 014; SAAo P336216.
Obverse, Column i
[...] I asked ... Belet-ili, "Why?" ... [...] [...]...... exceedingly before [......] [... goo]dness with all my strength [......] [...] the seven planets of the sky which [...] the oath of the king, will curse [...] and not return [to his side]. [I obeyed] the divinity of Belet-ili, [trusting] in her holy command. At that time, when that treaty was imp[osed] and it was said: "The king my lord has imposed an oath on all [the lands]", Prince Marduk heard it, and turned [his attention to] Assyria to help (it) establish world dominion. [He took the hand] of Assurbanipal, the crown prince designa[te], [and that of] Šamaš-šumu-ukin, the crown prince designate of [Babylon], [princes] superbly suitable for [the exercise of kingship], [......] Belet-ili [......] (Break) ... sons of Esarhad]don, king of the universe, [king of the] four [quarters, in order to ...] in their midst, [to preserve] their sovereignty, [and to establish] the foundations of their throne, made all the [lands] take an oath by the [great] gods. [By Aššur and] Šerua, gods of Ešarra, [he made] them take [an oath] and put [a curse which cannot be dispelled] in their mouths. [By Anu] and Antu, [and by Illil] and Mulliltu, [he made them take an oath and put a curse which cannot be dispelled in their mouths.] (Break)
[2 lines of the Obverse, Column i are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]
Obverse, Column ii
By Bel and [Beltija], by the seven planets of the sky, he made [them] take an oath [and] put a curse which cannot be dispelled in [their mouths.] And through whatever skill of the palace [......], which [......] to/for death, they moaned like d[oves ...]. Whoever sins against [that treaty, may] the great gods, lords of the sh[rines decree an evil] fat[e for him]; may all [the curses] established in [that] treaty [bring upon him] eternal hardship so that he does not [die] quickly. May Aššur, (Lord) Crown, Anu and Antu deliver him in the king's hands, may [...], may his own sword make an end of him. May Šerua, the great lady of the gods, shorten [his life]. May Anu and Antu pun[ish him] (and) not absolve [his crime]. May Illil and Mu[lliltu ... consign him] to misfortune. May Marduk and [Zarpanitu ...]...
Reverse, Column i
(Break)
Reverse, Column ii
[... m]e, the king whom the great lord [Marduk had truly] commissioned to [..., [...]... Because you (pl.) [have gone] far away and not returned to y[our] place [......], the great lord Marduk [...ed] you (pl.) to [......] and established [......]. In steadfast heart [I have] tru[ly ...] to you (pl.); please accept [my prayers]! Beautiful [...] the constellation of Ninmah [......] [...]... world power [......] [...] divinity, Belet-ili [......] [...] the praises of mankind [......] [...] the reign you will give [......]
[2 lines of the Reverse, Column ii are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]
SAA 02 015 — Tell Tayinat Version of Esarhaddon’s Succession Treaty
Tablet; clay; Tell Tayinat (Kunalia). Archeological Museum, Antakya; JCS 64 091. Assigned to Esarhaddon's reign, c. 672 BC. SAA 02 015; SAAo P500551.
Obverse, Column i
Seal of the god Aššur, king of the gods, lord of the lands — [not to be altered]; seal of the great ruler, father of the gods — not to be disputed. The treaty of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, son of Sennacherib, king of Assyria, with the governor of Kunalia, with the deputy, the major-domo, the scribes, the chariot drivers, the third men, the village managers, the information officers, the prefects, the cohort commanders, the charioteers, the cavalrymen, the exempt, the outriders, the specialists, the shi[eld bearers (?)], the craftsmen, (and) with [all] the men [of his hands], great and small, as many as there a[re] — [wi]th them and with the men who are born after the treaty in the [fu]ture, from the east [...] to the west, all those over whom Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, exercises kingship and lordship, concerning Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, the son of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, your lord, [on] whose [be]half he established the treaty with you. (which he) confirmed, made and [concluded in the presence of Ju]piter, Venus, Saturn, Mercury, Mars and [Sirius]; [in the presence of] Aššur, Anu, Illil, [Ea], Sin, Šamaš, Adad, Marduk, Nabû, [Nusku, (Uraš, Nergal, Mullissu)], Šerua, Belet-ili, the gods d[welling in] heaven and earth, the gods of Assyria, the gods of Sumer and Akkad, all the god[s of the lands]. [Swear each individually] by Aššur, father of the gods, lord of the lands! [Ditto] by Anu, Illil and Ea! [Ditto] by Sin, [Šamaš, Adad and Marduk]! [Ditto by Nabû, Nusku], Uraš and Ne[rgal]! [Ditto] by Mulli[ssu, Šer]ua and [Belet-ili]! [Ditto] by Ištar of [Nineveh] and Ištar of Arbe[la]! [Ditto] by all the gods of [...]! [Ditto] by all the gods of the Inner C[ity]! [Ditto] by all the gods [of Ninev]eh! Ditto by all the gods [of Calah]! ... [...] ... [...] the gods [...] (Break) [god]s [...] [...] the gods of [one's] lan[d ...] (This is) the treaty [which Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, has concluded with you, in the presence of the great gods] of heaven [and earth], on be[half] of [Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, son of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, your lord, whom he has named and appointed to the crown-princeship]: [When Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, passes away, you will seat Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate], upon [the royal throne, and he will exercise the kingship and lordship of Assyria over you. You shall protect him in country and in town, fall and die for him. You shall speak with him in the truth of your heart, give him sound advice loyally, and smooth his way in every respect]. (Break) You [shall neither change nor alter the word of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, but serve this very Assurbanipal, the great] cro[wn prince designate], whom [Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, your lord], has pres[ented to you, and he shall exercise] the kingship and dominion of Assyria] over [you]. You shall protect [Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, whom Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, has presented and ordered for you, and on behalf of whom he has confirmed and concluded (this) treaty with you; you shall not sin against him, nor bring] your hand [against him] with evil intent, nor revolt or do anything to him which is not [good and proper]; [you shall not oust him] from the kingship [of Assyria] by [helping] one of his brothers, elder or younger, [to se]ize [the throne] of Assyria [in his stead], nor set [any other king or] any other lord over you, nor swear an oa[t]h to any other king or any other lord. If you [hear] any [impro]per, unsuitable or unseemly word concerning [the exercise of kingship which is] un[seemly and evil against Assurbanipal], the (great) crown prince designate, either from the mouth of [his] brothers, [his uncles, his cousins, his family, members of his father's line]; or from the mouth of [magnates and governors, or from the mouth of the bearded courtiers] and the eu[nuchs, or from the mouth of the scholars or from the mouth of any human being at all, you shall not conceal it but come and report it to Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate].
Obverse, Column ii
(Break)
Obverse, Column iii
[You shall not make common cause with (any)one who may revolt against Assurbanipal, the great crown prince [designate, son of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, your lord, concerning whom he has concluded (this) treaty with you, but, should they seize you by force, you shall flee and come] to Assurbanipal, the great crown prince [designate]. [You shall not, whether while on a guard duty ...... or on a day of rest, while residing within the land or while entering a tax-collection point, set in your mind an unfavourable thought against Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate; you shall not revolt against him, nor make rebellion, nor do anything to him which is not good]. (Break)
[4 lines of the Obverse, Column iii are too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]
Obverse, Column iv
[You shall wait for a woman pregnant by Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, (or) for the wife of Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate (to give birth), and after (a son) is born, bring him up and set him on the throne of Assyria, seize and slay the perpetrators of rebellion, destroy their name and their seed from the land, and] by shedding [blood for blood], avenge Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate. You shall not give [As]surbani[pal], the great crown [prince] designate, son of [Esarha]ddon, king of Assyria, yo[ur lord], a deadly drug to eat or to drink, [nor anoint him with it], nor practice [witchcraft] against him, [nor make gods and goddesses ang]ry [with him]. [You shall love] Assurbanipal, [the great crown prince] designate, [son of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria], your [lord, like yourselves]. (Break)
Obverse, Column v
[If someone involves you in a plot, be it one of his brothers, his uncles, his relations, a member of his father's line, a eunuch or a bearded (courtier), an Assyrian or a foreigner, or any human being at all, saying: "Slander his brothers, sons by his own mother, before him, make it come to a fight between them, and divide his brothers, sons of his own mother, from him"], you shall not obey nor speak evil about his brothers in his presence, nor divide him from his brothers; you shall not let those who speak such things go free but shall come and report to Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate as follows: "Your father imposed a treaty on us and made us swear an oath concerning it." You will not look at Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, or his brothers without reverence or submission. If someone does not protect him, you will fight them as if fighting for yourselves. You will bring frightful terror into their hearts, saying: "Your (pl.) father wrote (this) in the treaty, he established it, and he has made us swear it." You will not look at Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, or his brothers without reverence or submission. If someone does not protect him, you will fight them as if fighting for [your]se[lves]. You will bring frightful terror into their hearts, saying: "Your (pl.) father wrote (this) in the treaty, he established it, and he has made us swear it." When Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, your lord, passes away and Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, ascends the royal throne, you shall not say any evil word about his brothers, sons of his own mother, before their brother nor try to make them hateful (saying): "Bring your hand against them for an evil deed." You shall not alienate them from Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, nor shall you say any evil word about them in the presence of their brother. (As for) the positions which Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, their father, assigned them, you shall not speak in the presence of Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, (trying to make him) remove them from their positions. You shall not smear your face, your hands, and your [throat] with ... [against the god]s of the assembly, nor [tie] it in your lap, nor d[o] anything to undo the oath. You shall not try to revoke or undo (this) oath ... [...]; you shall neither think of nor perform a ritual to revoke or undo this oath. You and your sons to be born in the future will be bound by this oath concerning Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, son of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, your lord, from this day on until what(ever) comes after this treaty. While you stand on the place of this oath, you shall not swear this oath with your lips only but shall swear it wholeheartedly; you shall teach it to your [sons] to be born after this treaty; you shall not feign unclean illness but take part in this treaty of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, concerning Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate. In the future and forever Aššur will be your god, and Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, will be your lord. May your sons and your grandsons fear his sons. Whoever changes, neglects, violates, or voids the oath of this tablet and transgresses against the father, the lord, (and) the treaty of the great gods(?) (and) breaks their entire oath, or whoever discards this treaty tablet, a tablet of Aššur, king of the gods, and the great gods, my lords, or whoever removes the statue of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, the statue of Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, or the statue(s) of his brothers (and) his sons which are over him — you will guard like your god this sealed tablet of the great ruler on which is written the treaty of Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, the son of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, your lord, which is sealed with the seal of Aššur, king of the gods, and which is set up before you. If you should remove it, consign it to the fire, throw it into the water, cover it in the earth or destroy it by any cunning device, annihilate or deface it, May Aššur, king of the gods, who decrees the fates, decree an evil and unpleasant fate for you. May Mullissu, his beloved wife, make your words evil, may she not intercede for you. May Anu, king of the gods, let disease, exhaustion, malaria, sleeplessness, worries and ill health rain upon all your houses. May Sin, the brightness of heaven [and earth], clothe you [with leprosy and forbid] your entering [into the presence of the gods or king. Roa]m the desert like the [wild]-ass and the gazelle! [May Šamaš, the light of heaven and earth, not judge you justly. May he remove your eyesight. Walk about in darkness]! (Break)
Obverse, Column vi
May Jupit[er], exalted [lord] of the gods, not show you the entrance of Bel in Esangil; may he destroy your life. May Marduk, the eldest son, decree a heavy punishment and an indissoluble curse for your fate. May Zarpanitu, who grants name and seed, destroy your name and your seed from the land. May Belet-ili, the lady of creation, cut off birth from your land; may your nurses be deprived of the cries of little children in the streets and squares. May Adad, the canal inspector of heaven and earth, cut off rain from your land, and may your fields lack grain, may he submerge your land with a great flood; may the locust who diminishes [the land] devour your harvest; may the sound of mill or [oven] be lacking [from your houses], may the grain for grinding dis[app]ear from you; instead of grain may your sons and your daughters grind your bones; may not (even) your (first) finger-joint dip in the dough, may the qāqānu-worm eat up the dough from your bowls. May a mother bar the door to her daughter. In your hunger eat the flesh of your sons! In want and famine may one man eat the flesh of another; may one man clothe himself in another's skin; may dogs and swine eat your flesh; may your ghost have nobody to take care of the pouring of libations to him. May Ištar, lady of battle and war, smash your bow in the thick of battle, may she bind your arms, and have you crouch under [yo]ur [enemy]. May Nergal, hero of the gods, extinguish your life with his merciless sword, and [s]end slaughter and pestilence among you. May Mullissu, who dwells in Nineveh, tie a flaming sword at your side. May Ištar, who dwells in Arbela, not show you mercy and compassion. May Gula, the great physician, create sickness and weariness in your hearts and an unhealing wound in your body. Bathe in blood and pus as if in water! May Aramiš, lord of the city and land of Qarne (and) lord of the city and land of Aza'i, fill you with green water. May Adad and Šāla of Kurba'il create piercing pain and ill health everywhere in your land. May Šarrat-Ekron make a worm fall from your insides. May Bethel (and) Anath-Bethel hand you over to the paws of a man-eating lion. May Kubaba and Karhuha of Carchemish, put a serious venereal disease within you; may your blood drip to the ground like raindrops. May all the great gods of heaven and earth who inhabit the universe and are mentioned by name in this tablet, strike you, look at you in anger and curse you grimly with a painful curse. Above, may they take possession of your life; below, in the netherworld, may your ghost be deprived of water. May shade [and] daylight always chase you away, and may you not find refuge in a hidden corner. May food and water abandon you; may want and famine, hunger and plague never be removed from you. Before your very eyes may dogs and swine drag the teats of your young women and the penises of your young men to and fro in the squares of Assur; may the earth not receive your corpses but may your burial place be in the belly of a dog or a pig. May your days be dark and your years dim, may darkness which is not to be brightened be declared as your fate. May your life end in exhaustion and sleeplessness. May an irresistible flood come up from the earth and devastate you; may anything good be forbidden to you, anything ill be your share; may tar and pitch be your food; may urine of an ass be your drink, may naphtha be your ointment, may duckweed be your covering. May demon, devil and evil spirit select your houses. May these gods be our witnesses: we will not make rebellion or insurrection against Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, or against Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, or against his brothers, sons by the same mother as Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, and the rest of the sons of Esar[ha]ddon, king of Assyria, or make [common] cause with his enemy. Should [we hea]r of [instig]ation to armed rebellion, agitation or malicious whisp[ers], evil, [un]seemly things, or treacherous, disloyal talk against Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, and against his brother[s] by the same mother as Assurbanipal, the great crown prince [designate], [we] will not conceal it but [will rep]ort it t[o Assurbanipal], the great crown [prince designa]te, our lord. [As long as] we, [our sons (and)] our [grands]ons [are alive, Assurbanipal], the great [crown prince designate, shall be our king and our lord, and we will not set any other king or prince over us, our sons or our grandsons. May all the gods mentioned by name (in this treaty) hold us, our seed and our seed's seed accountable (for this vow)].
Obverse, Column vii
If you should sin against [this] treaty [which Esarhaddon], king of Assyria, has concluded with yo[u] concerning Assurbanipal, [the great crown] prince designate, and concerning his brothers, sons by [the same] mother [as Assurbanipal], the great crown prince designate, and the [re]st of the offspring of Esar[ha]ddon, king of [Assyria, yo]ur lord. May [Aššur, father] of the great gods, strike you down [with] his fierce weapons. May Palil, the foremost lord, let eagles and vultures eat your flesh. May Ea, king of the Abyss, lord of the springs, ... you deadly water, and fill you with dropsy. May the great gods of heaven and earth turn water (and) oil into a curse for you. May Girra, who gives food to the great gods, burn up your name and your seed. Ditto, may all the gods that are mentioned by name in this treaty tablet make the ground as narrow as a brick for you. May they make your ground like iron (so that) nothing can sprout from it. Just as rain does not fall from a brazen heaven so may rain and dew not come upon your fields and [yo]ur meadows; instead of dew may burning coals rain on your land. Just as lead does not stand up before a fire, so may you not stand before your enemy (or) take your sons and your daughters in your hands. Just as a mule has no offspring, may your name, your seed, and the seed of your brothers, your sons and your daughters disappear from the land. Just as a shoot is [...], (and) seed(s) and the yeast of beer are [placed] within, and just as these seeds do not sprout, and the yeast of beer does not turn [t]o its ..., may your name, your seed, and the seed of your brothers and your sons disappear from the face of the earth. May Šamaš with an iron plough overturn your city, your country and your district. Ditto, ditto; just as this ewe has been cut open and the flesh of her young has been placed in her mouth, may they make you eat in your hunger the flesh of your sons and your daughters. Just as young sheep and ewes and male and female spring lambs are slit open and their entrails rolled down over their feet, so may the entrails of your sons and your daughters roll down over your feet. [Just] as a snake and a mongoose do not enter the [sa]me hole to lie there together but think only of cutting each other's throat, so may you and your women not enter the same room to lie down in the same bed; think only of cutting each other's throats! Just as bread and wine enter into your intestines, (so) may they (= the gods) make this (oath) enter into your intestines and into those of your sons and your daughters. Just as you blow water out of a tube, may they blow out you, your [women], your sons and your daughters; may your streams and your springs make their waters flow backwards. May they take [b]read away from your land in the same manner as gold. Ditto, ditto; just as honey is sweet, so may the blood of your women, your sons and your daughters be sweet in your mouth. Just as a worm eats provisions, so may the worm eat, while you are (still) alive, your own flesh and the flesh of your wives, your sons and your daughters. May they (= all the gods) break your bow and subje[ct] you to your enemy; may they turn over the bow in your hands and make your chariots run backwards. Just as a stag is pursued and killed, so may you, your brothers and your sons be pursued and killed. Just as a caterpillar does not see and does not return to its cocoon, so may you not return (to) your women, your sons, and to your house[s]. Ditto, ditto; just as a bird is caught by a trap, so may they deliver you, your brothers and your sons into the hands of your enemy. May they make your flesh and the flesh of your [brother]s, your women and your sons as black as bitumen, pitch and naphtha. Just as a ... beast is caught in a snare, may you, your brothers and your sons be seized by the hand of your enemy. May your flesh and the flesh of your brothers, your sons and your daughters be wasted like the flesh of a chameleon. Just as the honeycomb is pierced with holes, so may they pierce your flesh, the flesh of your brothers, your sons and your daughters with holes while you are alive. May they cause your [towns], your land and your fields be devoured just [as with] locusts, ..., lice, caterpillars [(and other field pests)]. May they make you like a fly in the hand of your enemy, and may your enemy squash you. [Just as] this bug [st]inks, just so may your breath [st]ink before gods and king and mankind.
Obverse, Column viii
[May they strangle you, your women, your brothers] and your sons with a cor[d]. Just as an image of w[ax is burnt in the fire] and one of clay dissolved in water, so may your figure be burnt in the fire and sunk [in] water. Just as (this) chariot is dr[enched] with blood up to its base-board, so may yo[ur] chariots [be drenched] with your own blood in the midst of yo(ur) enemy. May they (= all the gods) spin you around like a spindle-whorl, may they make you like a woman before your enemy. Ditto, ditto; may they (= all the gods) make you, your brothers and your sons go backward like a crab. May they make evil and wicked things surround you like fire. Just as oil enters (your) flesh, so may they cause this oath to enter into your flesh and the flesh of your sons. Just as the Cursers sinned against Bel and he cut off their hands and feet and blinded their eyes, so may they annihilate you, and make you sway like reeds in water; may your enemy pull you out like reeds from a bundle. If you should forsake Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate, and the other sons, the offspring of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, going to the south or to the north, may iron swords consume him who goes to the south and may iron swords likewise consume [him] who goes to the north; may they burn you, your sons, and your daughters [l]ike a spring lamb or kid. Just as the noise of the[se] doves is persistent, so may you, your women, your sons and your daughters have no rest or sleep and may your bones never come together. Just as the inside of a hole is empty, so may your inside be empty. Ditto, ditto; when your enemy pierces you, may there be no honey, oil, ginger or cedar-resin available to place on your wound. Just as gall is bitter, so may you, your women, your sons and your daughters be bitter towards each other. May Šamaš clamp a bronze bird trap over you and your sons; may he cast you into a trap from which there is no escape, and never let you out alive. Just as this waterskin is split and its water runs out, so may your waterskin break in a place of severe thirst; d[ie] of thirst! Ditto, ditto; just as these shoes are pierced, so may your shoes be pierced in a region of brier and sharp stones; crawl on your bellies! May Illil, lord of the throne, overthrow your throne. May Nabû, bearer of the tablet of fates of the gods, erase your name, and destroy your seed from the land. May they (= all the great gods) cause the door to be soaked (in blood?) before your eyes. May your doors not open. 16th day of Iyyar, eponymy of Nabû-belu-uṣur, governor of Dur-Šarrukku. The treaty concluded on behalf of Assurbanipal, the great crown prince designate of Assyria, and Šamaš-šumu-ukin, the crown prince designate of Babylon.
[1 line of the Obverse, Column viii is too damaged for SAAo's published translation; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]
Colophon
Source and license. This edition reproduces the English translation of the State Archives of Assyria online (SAAo, oracc.museum.upenn.edu/saao/saa02/), the digital edition of Simo Parpola and Kazuko Watanabe, Neo-Assyrian Treaties and Loyalty Oaths (State Archives of Assyria 2; Helsinki University Press, 1988), lemmatised by Mikko Luukko (2016) as part of the research programme of the Alexander von Humboldt Chair in the Ancient History of the Near and Middle East at LMU Munich (Karen Radner, Humboldt Professorship 2015), fetched 2026-08-08. SAAo's own text credits state the annotated edition is "released under the Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike license 3.0"; the project's machine-readable catalogue data 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 SAAo, Simo Parpola, Kazuko Watanabe, and Mikko Luukko 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 SAAo's own published translation of all fifteen tablets edited in Parpola and Watanabe's Neo-Assyrian Treaties and Loyalty Oaths, 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 two-part division (Treaties of the Ninth and Eighth Centuries BC; Treaties and Loyalty Oaths of the Seventh Century BC) follows the print edition's own chapters, and each tablet's obverse, reverse, edges, and columns are marked where the source itself marks them. No word has been altered, paraphrased, or supplied by this library. Brackets, ellipses, and parenthetical markers such as "(sic!)," "(!)," and "(?)" are SAAo's own, recording damaged, restored, or grammatically uncertain cuneiform. Editorial notes such as "(Beginning destroyed)," "(Break)," and "(Rest destroyed)," which SAAo publishes as its own separate annotations marking a physical gap in the tablet rather than as translated lines, are likewise reproduced verbatim in place. Twenty-seven lines across ten of the fifteen tablets — SAA 02 001, 002, 005, 006, 007, 009, 011, 013, 014, and 015 — are too damaged for SAAo itself to have published a translation; each such gap is marked in place rather than filled. SAA 02 015, the Tell Tayinat exemplar of Esarhaddon's Succession Treaty, is aligned by SAAo to the main composite's own line numbers; this edition presents it by the Tell Tayinat tablet's own eight columns rather than reproducing that alignment apparatus, without touching the translation itself.
Composite identification. Each tablet above is given by its SAA 2 catalogue number, its museum or excavation registration where recorded, its citation in the earlier Assyriological literature (AfO, PKTA, JCS, Ash, ABL, BRM, and Wiseman's 1958 edition, cited by SAAo as VTE) where SAAo notes one, and its SAAo text ID (a CDLI P-number or Q-number), under which the full transliteration and morphological analysis can be studied further at SAAo'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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