Babylonian and Assyrian Literature Part 33

8 O Istar, the Lady of heaven, may thy heart rest.

9 O Lady, Queen of heaven, may thy liver (be magnified).

10 O Lady, Queen of the House of heaven, may thy heart (rest).

11 O Lady, Queen of the land of Erech, may thy liver (be magnified).

12 O Lady, Queen of the land of the four rivers of Erech,[4] may thy heart (rest).

13 O Lady, Queen of the Mountain of the World,[5] may thy liver (be magnified).

14 O Lady, Queen of the Temple of the Resting-place of the world, may thy heart (rest).

15 O Lady, Queen of Babylon, may thy liver (be magnified).

16 O Lady, Queen of the Memorial of Nan'a, may thy heart (rest).

17 O Queen of the Temple, Queen of the G.o.ds, may thy liver (be magnified).

18 Prayer of the heart to Istar.

19 Like its original[6] written and translated.

20 Palace of a.s.sur-bani-pal, King of a.s.syria; 21 Son of Esar-haddon, King of mult.i.tudes, King of a.s.syria, high-priest of Babylon, 22 King of Sumer and Accad, King of the Kings of Cush and Egypt, 23 King of the four zones; Son of Sennacherib, 24 King of mult.i.tudes, King of a.s.syria; 25 who to a.s.sur and Beltis, Nebo and Tasmit trusts.

26 Thy kingdom, O light of the G.o.ds.

[Footnote 1: The a.s.syrian mistranslates, "I hurl into the deep."]

[Footnote 2: The a.s.syrian mistranslates "I" for "thou."]

[Footnote 3: "Sadi" in a.s.syrian, literally "mountain" or "rock," and apparently connected with the Hebrew "Shaddai," as in the phrase "El Shad-dai," "G.o.d Almighty."]

[Footnote 4: Possibly the four rivers of Paradise.]

[Footnote 5: Also called the "Mountain of the East," Mount Elwand on which the ark rested.]

[Footnote 6: That is the text from which the a.s.syrian copy was made for the library of a.s.surbanipal.]

ANNALS OF a.s.sUR-NASIR-PAL (SOMETIMES CALLED SARDANAPALUS)

TRANSLATED, WITH NOTES, BY REV. J.M. RODWELL, M.A.

Concerning a.s.sur-nasir-habal or a.s.sur-nasir-pal (_i.e._, "a.s.sur preserves the son") we possess fuller historical records than of any other of the a.s.syrian monarchs, and among these the following inscription is the most important. From it, and from the inscription upon his statue discovered by Mr. Layard [Footnote: Now in the British Museum.] in the ruins of one of the Nimroud temples, we learn that he was the son of Tuklat-Adar or Tuklat-Ninip, that he reigned over a territory extending from the "Tigris to the Lebanon, and that he brought the great sea and all countries from the sunrise to the sunset under his sway." These inscriptions are published in the "Cuneiform Inscriptions of Western Asia," Vol. I, plates 17 to 27, and were partially translated by Professor Oppert, "_Histoire des Empires de Chaldee et d'a.s.syrie,_," page 73 and following "_Extrait des Annales de philosophie chretienne_" tom. IX, 1865.

There is considerable difficulty and a consequent divergence of opinion as to the precise date when a.s.sur-nasir-pal ascended the throne. But he most probably reigned from 883 to 858 B.C.

It need scarcely be remarked that a.s.sur-nasir-pal is a different person from the well-known Sardanapalus of cla.s.sic writers, or a.s.sur-bani-pal, the son of Esar-haddon, who reigned from about B.C. 668 to 625.

It will be seen from the inscription that the campaigns of a.s.sur-nasir-pal took place in the mountains of Armenia, in Commagene and the provinces of the Pontus, inhabited by the Moschi [Footnote: The Mesek of Psalm cxx. 5.]

and other tribes. He probably advanced into Media and a portion of western Persia. The countries on the banks of the Euphrates submitted to his arms, and in one of his expeditions he vanquished Nabu-bal-iddin, King of Babylon. Westward, he reduced the southern part of Syria, and advanced to the mountain chains of the Ama.n.u.s and Lebanon, but though he penetrated as far as to Tyre and Sidon and exacted tribute from both as well as from Byblus and Aradus, he did not subdue Phoenicia. The kingdoms of Israel and Judah, under the sway of Ahab and Jehosaphat, were no doubt too powerful, as is evinced by the armies which they must have maintained for their struggle with the Syrians, [Footnote: See 2 Chron. xvii. and following chapters.] for a.s.sur-nasir-pal to have ventured upon attacking them. This feat was reserved for his successors on the throne of a.s.syria.

The inscription was found in the ruins of the Temple at the foot of the Pyramid at Nimroud (Calach).

ANNALS OF a.s.sUR-NASIR-PAL

1 To Ninip[1] most powerful hero, great, chief of the G.o.ds, warrior, powerful Lord, whose onset in battle has not been opposed, eldest son, 2 crusher of opponents, first-born son of Nukimmut,[2] supporter of the seven,[3]

n.o.ble ruler, King of the G.o.ds the producers, governor, he who rolls along the ma.s.s 3 of heaven and earth, opener of ca.n.a.ls, treader of the wide earth, the G.o.d who in his divinity nourishes heaven and earth, the beneficent, 4 the exalted, the powerful, who has not lessened the glory of his face,[4] head of nations, bestower of sceptres, glorious, over all cities a ruler,[5]

5 valiant, the renown of whose sceptre is not approached, chief of widespread influence, great among the G.o.ds, shading from the southern sun, Lord of Lords, whose hand the vault of heaven 6 (and) earth has controlled, a King in battle mighty[6] who has vanquished opposition, victorious, powerful, Lord of water-courses and seas,[7]

7 strong, not yielding, whose onset brings down the green corn, smiting the land of the enemy, like the cutting of reeds, the deity who changes not his purposes, 8 the light of heaven and earth, a bold leader on the waters, destroyer of them that hate (him), a spoiler (and) Lord of the disobedient, dividing enemies, whose name in the speech of the G.o.ds 9 no G.o.d has ever disregarded, the gatherer of life, the G.o.d(?) whose prayers are good, whose abode is in the city of Calah, a great Lord, my Lord--(who am) a.s.sur-nasir-pal, the mighty King, 10 King of mult.i.tudes, a Prince unequalled, Lord of all the four countries, powerful over hosts of men, the possession of Bel and Ninip the exalted and Anu 11 and of Dakan,[8] a servant of the great G.o.ds in the lofty shrine for great (O Ninip) is thy heart; a worshipper of Bel whose might upon 12 thy great deity is founded, and thou makest righteous his life, valiant, warrior, who in the service of a.s.sur his Lord hath proceeded, and among the Kings 13 of the four regions who has not his fellow, a Prince for admiration, not sparing opponents, mighty leader, who an equal 14 has not, a Prince reducing to order his disobedient ones, who has subdued whole mult.i.tudes of men, a strong worker, treading down 15 the heads of his enemies, trampling on all foes, crushing a.s.semblages of rebels, who in the service of the great G.o.ds his Lords 16 marched vigorously and the lands of all of them his hand captured, caused the forests of all of them to fall,[9] and received their tribute, taking 17 securities, establishing laws over all lands, when a.s.sur the Lord who proclaims my name and augments my Royalty 18 laid hold upon his invincible power for the forces of my Lordship, for a.s.sur-nasir-pal, glorious Prince, worshipper of the great G.o.ds 19 the generous, the great, the powerful, acquirer of cities and forests and the territory of all of them, King of Lords, destroying the wicked, strengthening 20 the peaceful, not sparing opponents, a Prince of firm will(?) one who combats oppression, Lord of all Kings, 21 Lord of Lords, the acknowledged, King of Kings, seated gloriously, the renown of Ninip the warrior, worshipper of the great G.o.ds, prolonging the benefits (conferred by) his fathers: 22 a Prince who in the service of a.s.sur and the Sun-G.o.d, the G.o.ds in whom he trusted, royally marched to turbulent lands, and Kings who had rebelled against him 23 he cut off like gra.s.s, all their lands to his feet he subjected, restorer of the worship of the G.o.ddesses and that of the great G.o.ds, 24 Chief unwavering, who for the guidance of the heads (and) elders of his land is a steadfast guardian, the work of whose hands and 25 the gift of whose finger the great G.o.ds of heaven and earth have exalted, and his steps[10] over rulers have they established forever; 26 their power for the preservation of my Royalty have they exercised; the retribution of his power, (and) the approach of His Majesty over Princes 27 of the four regions they have extended: the enemies of a.s.sur in all their country, the upper and the lower I chastised, and tribute and impost 28 upon them I established, capturing the enemies of a.s.sur--mighty King, King of a.s.syria, son of Tuklat-Adar who all his enemies 29 has scattered; (who) in the dust threw down the corpses of his enemies, the grandson of Bin-nirari, the servant of the great G.o.ds, 30 who crucified alive and routed his enemies and subdued them to his yoke, descendant of a.s.sur-dan-il, who the fortresses 31 established (and) the fanes made good. In those days by the decree[11] of the great G.o.ds to royalty power supremacy I rose up: 32 I am a King, I am a Lord, I am glorious, I am great, I am mighty, I have arisen, I am Chief, I am a Prince, I am a warrior 33 I am great and I am glorious, a.s.sur-nasir-habal, a mighty King of a.s.syria, proclaimer of the Moon-G.o.d, worshipper of Anu, exalter of Yav,[12] suppliant of the G.o.ds 34 am I, servant unyielding, subduing the land of his foeman, a King mighty in battle, destroyer of cities and forests, 35 Chief over opponents, King of the four regions, expeller of his foes, prostrating all his enemies, Prince of a mult.i.tude of lands of all Kings 36 Even of all, a Prince subduing those disobedient to him, who is ruling all the mult.i.tudes of men. These aspirations to the face of the great G.o.ds 37 have gone up; on my destiny steadfastly have they determined; at the wishes of my heart and the uplifting of my hand, Istar, exalted Lady, 38 hath favored me in my intentions, and to the conduct of (my) battles and warfare hath applied her heart. In those days I a.s.sur-nasir-pal, glorious Prince, worshipper of the great G.o.ds 39 the wishes of whose heart Bel will cause him to attain, and who has conquered all Kings who disobey him, and by his hand capturing 40 his enemies, who in difficult places has beaten down a.s.semblages of rebels; when a.s.sur, mighty Lord, proclaimer of my name 41 aggrandizer of my royalty over the Kings of the four regions, bountifully hath added his invincible power to the forces of my government, 42 putting me in possession of lands, and mighty forests for exploration hath he given and urgently impelled me--by the might of a.s.sur my Lord, 43 perplexed paths, difficult mountains by the impetuosity of my hosts I traversed, and an equal there was not. In the beginning of my reign 44 (and) in my first campaign when the Sun-G.o.d guider of the lands threw over me his beneficent protection[13] on the throne of my dominion I firmly seated myself; a sceptre 45 the dread of man into my hands I took; my chariots (and) armies I collected; rugged paths, difficult mountains, which for the pa.s.sage 46 of chariots and armies was not suited I pa.s.sed, and to the land of Nairi[14] I went: Libie, their capital city, the cities Zurra and Abuqu 47 Arura Arubie, situated within the limits of the land of Aruni and Etini, fortified cities, I took, their fighting-men 48 in numbers I slew; their spoil, their wealth, their cattle I spoiled; their soldiers were discouraged; they took possession of a difficult mountain, a mountain exceedingly difficult; after them 49 I did not proceed, for it was a mountain ascending up like lofty points of iron, and the beautiful birds of heaven had not reached up into it: like nests 50 of the young birds in the midst of the mountain their defence they placed, into which none of the Kings my fathers had ever penetrated: in three days 51 successfully on one large mountain, his courage vanquished opposition: along the feet of that mountain I crept and hid: their nests, their tents, 52 I broke up; 200 of their warriors with weapons I destroyed; their spoil in abundance like the young of sheep I carried off; 53 their corpses like rubbish on the mountains I heaped up; their relics in tangled hollows of the mountains I consumed; their cities 54 I overthrew, I demolished, in fire I burned: from the land of Nummi to the land of Kirruri I came down; the tribute of Kirruri 55 of the territory of Zimizi, Zimira, Ulmanya, Adavas, Kargai, Harmasai, horses,[15] (fish (?), 56 oxen, horned sheep in numbers, copper, as their tribute I received: an officer to guard boundaries[16] over them I placed.

While in the land of Kirruri 57 they detained me, the fear of a.s.sur my Lord overwhelmed the lands of Gilzanai and Khubuskai; horses, silver 58 gold, tin, copper, _kams_ of copper as their tribute they brought to me. From the land of Kirruri I withdrew; 59 to a territory close by the town Khulun in Gilhi[17] Bitani I pa.s.sed: the cities of Khatu, Khalaru, Nistun, Irbidi, 60 Mitkie, Arzanie, Zila, Khalue, cities of Gilhi situated in the environs of Uzie and Arue 61 and Arardi powerful lands, I occupied: their soldiers in numbers I slew; their spoil, their riches I carried off; 62 their soldiers were discouraged; the summits projecting over against the city of Nistun which were menacing like the storms of heaven, I captured; 63 into which no one among the Princes my sires had ever penetrated; my soldiers like birds (of prey) rushed upon them; 64 260 of their warriors by the sword I smote down; their heads cut off in heaps I arranged; the rest of them like birds 65 in a nest, in the rocks of the mountains nestled; their spoil, their riches from the midst of the mountains I brought down; cities which were in the midst 66 of vast forests situated I overthrew, destroyed, burned in fire; the rebellious soldiers fled from before my arms; they came down; my yoke 67 they received; impost tribute and a Viceroy I set over them.

Bubu son of Bubua son of the Prefect of Nistun 68 in the city of Arbela I flayed; his skin I stretched in contempt upon the wall. At that time an image of my person I made; a history of my supremacy 69 upon it I wrote, and (on) a mountain of the land of Ikin(?) in the city of a.s.sur-nasir-pal at the foot I erected (it). In my own eponym in the month of July[18] and the 24th day (probably B.C. 882).

70 in honor of a.s.sur and Istar the great G.o.ds my Lords, I quitted the city of Nineveh: to cities situated below Nipur and Pazate powerful countries 71 I proceeded; Atkun, Nithu, Pilazi and 20 other cities in their environs I captured; many of their soldiers I slew; 72 their spoil, their riches I carried off; the cities I burned with fire; the rebel soldiers fled from before my arms, submitted, 73 and took my yoke; I left them in possession of their land.

From the cities below Nipur and Pazate I withdrew; the Tigris I pa.s.sed; 74 to the land of Commagene I approached; the tribute of Commagene and of the Moschi[19] in _kams_ of copper, sheep and goats I received; while in Commagene 75 I was stationed, they brought me intelligence that the city Suri in Bit-Khalupe had revolted. The people of Hamath had slain their governor 76 Ahiyababa the son of Lamamana[20] they brought from Bit-Adini and made him their King. By help of a.s.sur and Yav 77 the great G.o.ds who aggrandize my royalty, chariots, (and) an army, I collected: the banks of the Chaboras[21] I occupied; in my pa.s.sage tribute 78 in abundance from Salman-haman-ilin of the city of Sadi-kannai and of Il-yav of the city of Sunai,[22] silver, gold, 79 tin, _kam_ of copper, vestments of wool, vestments of linen I received. To Suri which is in Bit-Halupe I drew near; 80 the fear of the approach of a.s.sur my Lord overwhelmed them; the great men and the mult.i.tudes of the city, for the saving of their lives, coming up after me,[23]

81 submitted to my yoke; some slain, some living, some tongueless I made: Ahiyababa son of Lamamana 82 whom from Bit-Adini they had fetched, I captured; in the valor of my heart and the steadfastness of my soldiers I besieged the city; the soldiers, rebels all, 83 were taken prisoners; the n.o.bles to the princ.i.p.al palace of his land I caused to send; his silver, his gold, his treasure, his riches, copper 84 (?)tin, _kams, tabhani, hariati_ of copper, choice copper in abundance, alabaster and iron-stone of large size 85 the treasures of his harem, his daughters and the wives of the rebels with their treasures, and the G.o.ds with their treasures, 86 precious stones of the land of ..., his swift chariot, his horses, the harness, his chariot-yoke, trappings for horses, coverings for men, 87 vestments of wool, vestments of linen, handsome altars of cedar, handsome ..., bowls of cedar-wood 88 beautiful black coverings, beautiful purple coverings, carpets, his oxen, his sheep, his abundant spoil, which like the stars of heaven could not be reckoned, 89 I carried off; Aziel as my lieutenant over them I placed; a trophy along the length of the great gate I erected: the rebellious n.o.bles 90 who had revolted against me and whose skins I had stripped off, I made into a trophy: some in the middle of the pile I left to decay; some on the top 91 of the pile on stakes I impaled; some by the side of the pile I placed in order on stakes; many within view of my land 92 I flayed; their skins on the walls I arranged; of the officers of the King's officer, rebels, the limbs I cut off; 93 I brought Ahiyababa to Nineveh; I flayed[24] him and fastened his skin to the wall; laws and edicts 94 over Lakie I established. While I was staying in Suri the tribute of the Princes of Lakie throughout the whole of them, 95 silver, gold, tin, copper, _kam_ of copper, oxen, sheep, vestments of wool and linen, as tribute 96 and gift, I defined and imposed upon them. In those days, the tribute of Khayani of the city of Hindanai, silver, 97 gold, tin, copper, amu-stone, alabaster blocks, beautiful black (and) l.u.s.trous coverings I received as tribute from him. In those days an enlarged image 98 of my Royalty I made; edicts and decrees upon it I wrote; in the midst of his palace I put it up; of stone my tablets I made; 99 the decrees of my throne upon it I wrote; in the great gate I fixed them, in the date of this year which takes its name from me, in honor of a.s.sur my Lord and Ninip who uplifts my feet.[25]

100 Whereas in the times of the Kings my fathers no man of Suhi to a.s.syria had ever come, Il-bani Prince of Suhi together with his soldiers 101 (and) his son, silver, gold as his tribute to Nineveh in abundance brought: in my own eponym[26] at the city of Nineveh I stayed: news 102 they brought me that men of the land of a.s.syria, (and) Hulai the governor of their city which Shalmaneser King of a.s.syria my predecessor 103 to the city of Hasiluha had united, had revolted: Dandamusa[27]

a city of my dominion marched out to subdue (them); 104 in honor of a.s.sur, the Sun-G.o.d and Yav, the G.o.ds in whom I trust, my chariots and army I collected at the head of the river Zupnat, the place of an image 105 which Tiglath-Pileser and Tiglath-Adar, Kings of a.s.syria my fathers had raised; an image of My Majesty I constructed and put up with theirs.

106 In those days I renewed the tribute of the land of Izala, oxen, sheep, goats: to the land of Kasyari[28] I proceeded, and to Kinabu 107 the fortified city of the province of Hulai. I drew near; with the impetuosity of my formidable attack I besieged and took the town; 600 of their fighting men 108 with (my) arms I destroyed; 3,000 of their captives I consigned to the flames; as hostages I left not one of them alive; Hulai 109 the governor of their town I captured by (my) hand alive; their corpses into piles I built; their boys and maidens I dishonored; 110 Hulai the governor of their city I flayed: his skin on the walls of Damdamusa I placed in contempt; the city I overthrew demolished, burned with fire; in the city of Mariru within their territory I took; 50 warrior fighting men by (my) weapons I destroyed; 200 of their captives in the flame I burned; 112 the soldiers of the land of Nirbi I slew in fight in the desert; their spoil, their oxen, their sheep, I brought away; Nirbu which is at the foot of mount Ukhira 113 I boldly took; I then pa.s.sed over to Tila their fortified city; from Kinabu I withdrew; to Tila I drew near; 114 a strong city with three forts facing each other: the soldiers to their strong forts and numerous army trusted and would not submit; 115 my yoke they would not accept; (then,) with onset and attack I besieged the city; their fighting men with my weapons I destroyed; of their spoil, 116 their riches, oxen and sheep, I made plunder; much booty I burned with fire; many soldiers I captured alive; 117 of some I chopped off the hands and feet; of others the noses and ears I cut off; of many soldiers I destroyed the eyes;[29]

118 one pile of bodies while yet alive, and one of heads I reared up on the heights within their town; their heads in the midst I hoisted; their boys

(_Continued on Column II._)

[Footnote 1: Ninip was one of the great G.o.ds of the a.s.syrian Pantheon, often joined with a.s.sur as one of the special deities invoked by the a.s.syrian kings at the opening of their inscriptions. His name is also written under the symbol used for iron ("parzii"). Thus in later times the planets were connected with special metals.]

[Footnote 2: A G.o.ddess, called also Nuha, and the mother of Nebo as well as of Ninip. Fox Talbot (Gloss. 158) compares "nu (= 'al') kimmut" with the "al-gum" of Prov. x.x.x. 31, i.e., "irresistible."]

[Footnote 3: Planets. Or, "warrior among spirits." I mention this rendering as the suggestion of Mr. G. Smith, though I prefer that given above.]

[Footnote 4: Literally, "horn." Cf. Job xvi. 15.]

[Footnote 5: Tigallu. Menant renders this sentence "La ma.s.sue pour regner sur les villes."]

[Footnote 6: Cf. Ps. xxiv. 8.]

[Footnote 7: Cf. Ps. xcv. 4; civ. 6; cvii. 35.]

[Footnote 8: Probably the Dagon of Scripture.]

[Footnote 9: Compare the boast in Isaiah x.x.xvii. 24, "I cut down the tall cedars."]

[Footnote 10: Goings. Cf. Ps. xl. 2, "He hath established my goings."]

[Footnote 11: Mouth.]

[Footnote 12: The G.o.d Yav may be the Yaveh of the Moabite stone.]

[Footnote 13: Or, shade. This may refer to the eclipse of July 13, 885 B.C.]

[Footnote 14: A federation of States north and northeast of a.s.syria at the head of the Euphrates. In Tig. iv. 7, 33 of their kings are mentioned.]

[Footnote 15: Literally, "animals of the East." This looks as if the a.s.syrians obtained the horse from some Eastern land.]

[Footnote 16: Or, a viceroy.]