Babylonian and Assyrian Literature Part 34

[Footnote 17: A mountainous country near the upper Tigris, possibly Kurdistan.]

[Footnote 18: The Hebrew month Ab.]

[Footnote 19: In the text, "k.u.mmuhi" and "Muski."]

[Footnote 20: Dr. Hincks was of opinion that Lamaman meant "n.o.body"; and that "Son of Lamaman" was a delicate way of indicating a man was of low origin. Norr. Dict., p. 690.]

[Footnote 21: a.s.syrian, "Khabur." This may be the Chebar mentioned in the Prophet Ezekiel. Schultens, however (in his Geogr.), mentions another Chaboras which flows into the Tigris.]

[Footnote 22: In the north of Mesopotamia.]

[Footnote 23: Literally, to my back.]

[Footnote 24: Compare 2 Mace. vii. 7 for a somewhat similar proceeding.

The custom may also be alluded to in Mic. iii. 3.]

[Footnote 25: Compare Ps. lxxiv. 3, "Lift up thy feet," etc.]

[Footnote 26: About 882 B.C.]

[Footnote 27: Near the modern Diarbekir, on the road to the sources of the Supnat.]

[Footnote 28: In Armenia near the sources of the Tigris.]

[Footnote 29: Thus in 2 Kings xxv. 7 we read that the Chaldees "put out the eyes of Zedekiah." Samson (Judges xvi. 21) was similarly treated. And the custom may be alluded to in Num. xvi. 14. It may be well to compare the treatment of children as recorded in Joshua xi. 14 with what we read in line 118. Horrible and ferocious as was the treatment of the conquered by the Israelites, they at least on that occasion were content with enslaving the children.]

COLUMN II

1 and their maidens I dishonored, the city I overthrew, razed and burned with fire, In those days the cities of the land of Nirbi 2 (and) their strong fortresses, I overthrew, demolished, burned with fire: from Nirbi I withdrew and to the city Tuskha 3 I approached; the city of Tuskha I again occupied; its old fort I threw down: its place I prepared, its dimensions I took; a new castle 4 from its foundation to its roof I built, I completed, I reared: a palace for the residence of My Royalty with doors of _iki_ wood I made; 5 a palace of brick from its foundations to its roof I made, I completed: a complete image of my person of polished stone I made; the history 6 of my surpa.s.sing nation and an account of my conquests which in the country of Nairi I had accomplished I wrote upon it; in the city of Tuskha 7 I raised it; on suitable stone I wrote and upon the wall I fixed it; (then) the men of a.s.syria, those who from the privation of food to various countries 8 And to Rurie had gone up, to Tuskha I brought back and settled there: that city to myself 9 I took; the wheats and barleys of Nirbi I acc.u.mulated in it; the populace of Nirbi who before my arms had fled, 10 returned and accepted my yoke; of their towns, their Viceroys, their many convenient houses I took possession; impost and tribute, horses, 11 horses for the yoke, fish, oxen, sheep, goats in addition to what I had before settled, I imposed upon them; their youths as hostages 12 I took. While I was staying in Tuskha, I received the tribute of Ammibaal son of Zamani, of Anhiti of the land of Rurie 13 of Labduri son of Dubuzi of the land of Nirdun and the tribute of the land of Urumi-sa Bitani, of the Princes of the land of Nairi, 14 chariots, horses, horses for the yoke, tin, silver, gold, _kam_ of copper, oxen, sheep, goats.

15 Over the land of Nairi I established a viceroy: (but) on my return the land of Nairi, and Nirbu which is in 16 the land of Kasyari, revolted; nine of their cities leagued themselves with Ispilipri one of their fortified towns and to a mountain difficult of access 17 they trusted; but the heights of the hill I besieged and took; in the midst of the strong mountain their fighting men I slew; their corpses like rubbish on the hills 18 I piled up; their common people in the tangled hollows of the mountains I consumed; their spoil, their property I carried off; the heads of their soldiers 19 I cut off; a pile (of them) in the highest part of the city I built; their boys and maidens I dishonored; to the environs of the city Buliyani 20 I pa.s.sed; the banks of the river Lukia[1] I took possession of; in my pa.s.sage I occupied the towns of the land of Kirhi hard by; many of their warriors 21 I slew; their spoil I spoiled; their cities with fire I burned: to the city of Ardupati I went. In those days the tribute 22 of Ahiramu son of Yahiru of the land of Nilaai son of Bahiani of the land of the Hitt.i.tes[2] and of the Princes of the land of Hanirabi, silver, gold, 23 tin, _kam_ of copper, oxen, sheep, horses, as their tribute I received; in the eponym of a.s.suridin[3] they brought me intelligence that 24 Zab-yav Prince of the land of Dagara had revolted. The land of Zamua throughout its whole extent he boldly seized; near the city of Babite 25 they constructed a fort; for combat and battle they marched forth: in the service of a.s.sur, the great G.o.d my Lord and the great Merodach 26 going before me,[4] by the powerful aid which the Lord a.s.sur extended to my people, my servants and my soldiers I called together; to the vicinity 27 of Babite I marched: the soldiers to the valor of their army trusted and gave battle: but in the mighty force of the great Merodach going before me 28 I engaged in battle with them; I effected their overthrow: I broke them down; 1,460 of their warriors in the environs 29 I slew; Uzie, Birata, and Lagalaga, their strong towns, with 100 towns within their territory I captured; 30 their spoil, their youths, their oxen, and sheep I carried off; Zab-yav for the preservation of his life, a rugged mountain 31 ascended; 1,200 of their soldiers I carried off; from the land of Dagara I withdrew; to the city of Bara I approached; the city of Bara 32 I captured; 320 of their soldiers by my weapons I destroyed; their oxen, sheep, and spoil in abundance I removed; 33 300 of their soldiers I took off; on Tasritu[5] 15th from the town Kalzi I withdrew, and came to the environs of Babite; 34 from Babite I withdrew; to the land of Nizir which they call Lulu-Kinaba I drew near; the city Bunasi one of their fortified cities 35 belonging to Musazina and 20 cities of their environs I captured; the soldiers were discouraged; they took possession of a mountain difficult of access; I, a.s.sur-nasir-pal impetuously after them 36 like birds swooped down; their corpses lay thick on the hills of Nizir; 326 of their warriors I smote down; his horses I exacted of him, 37 their common people in the tangled hollows I consumed; seven cities in Nizir, which were of their duly appointed fortresses I captured; their soldiers 38 I slew; their spoil, their riches, their oxen, their sheep I carried off; the cities themselves I burned; to these my tents I returned to halt; 39 from those same tents I departed; to cities of the land of Nizir whose place no one had ever seen I marched; the city of Larbusa 40 the fortified city of Kirtiara and 8 cities of their territory I captured; the soldiers lost heart and took to a steep mountain, a mountain (which) like sharp iron stakes 41 rose high upward; as for his soldiers, I ascended after them; in the midst of the mountain I scattered their corpses; 172 of their men I slew; soldiers 42 in numbers in the hollows of the mountain I hunted down; their spoil, their cattle, their sheep, I took away; their cities with fire 43 I burned; their heads on the high places of the mountain I lifted up;[6] their boys and maidens I dishonored; to the tents aforesaid I returned to halt; 44 from those same tents I withdrew; 150 cities of the territory of Larbusai, Durlulumai, Bunisai and Barai I captured; 45 their fighting men I slew; their spoil I spoiled; the city of Hasabtal I razed (and) burned with fire; 50 soldiers of Barai I slew in battle on the plain.

46 In those days the Princes of the entire land of Zamua were overwhelmed by the dread of the advance of a.s.sur my Lord and submitted to my yoke; horses, silver, gold, 47 I received; the entire land under a Prefect I placed; horses, silver, gold, wheat, barley, submission, I imposed upon them 48 from the city of Tuklat-a.s.sur-azbat I withdrew; the land of Nispi accepted my yoke; I went down all night; to cities of remote site in the midst of Nispi 49 which Zab-yav had established as his stronghold I went, took the city of Birutu and consigned it to the flames.

In the eponym of Damiktiya-tuklat, when I was stationed at Nineveh, they brough me news[7]

50 that Amaka, and Arastua withheld the tribute and va.s.salage due to a.s.sur my Lord. In honor of a.s.sur mighty Lord and Merodach the great going before me, 51 on the first of May[8] I prepared for the third time an expedition against Zamua: my fighting men[9] before the many chariots I did not consider: from Kalzi I withdrew; the lower Zab 52 I pa.s.sed; to the vicinity of Babite I proceeded; the river Radanu at the foot of the mountains of Zima, my birthplace, I approached; oxen, 53 sheep, goats, as the tribute of Dagara I received: near Zimaki I added my strong chariots and battering rams as chief of warlike implements to my magazines; by night 54 and daybreak I went down; the Turnat in rafts I crossed; to Amali the strong city of Arastu I approached; 55 with vigorous a.s.sault the city I besieged and took; 800 of their fighting men I destroyed by my weapons; I filled the streets of their city with their corpses; 56 their many houses I burned; many soldiers I took alive; their spoil in abundance I carried off; the city I overthrew razed and burnt with fire; the city Khudun 57 and 20 cities in its environs I took; their soldiers I slew; their booty in cattle and sheep I carried off; their cities I overthrew razed and burned; their boys 58 their maidens I dishonored; the city of Kisirtu a fortified city of Zabini with 10 neighboring cities I took; their soldiers I slew; their spoil 59 I carried off; the cities of Barai and Kirtiara, Bunisai together with the province of Khasmar I overthrew razed and burned with fire; 60 I reduced the boundaries to a heap, and then from the cities of Arastua I withdrew: to the neighborhood of the territory of Laara and Bidirgi, rugged land, which for the pa.s.sage 61 of chariots and an army was not adapted, I pa.s.sed; to the royal city Zamri of Amika of Zamua I drew near; Amika from before the mighty prowess of my formidable attack 62 fled in fear and took refuge on a hill difficult of access: I brought forth the treasures of his palace and his chariot; from Zamri I withdrew and pa.s.sed the river Lallu and to the mountains of Etini, 63 difficult ground, unfit for the pa.s.sage of chariots and armies, whither none of the Princes my sires had ever penetrated; I marched in pursuit of his army on the mountains of Etini: 64 the hill I ascended: his treasure, his riches, vessels of copper, abundance of copper, _kam_ of copper, bowls of copper, pitchers of copper, the treasures of his palace and of his storehouses, 65 from within the mountains I took away to my camp and made a halt: by the aid of a.s.sur and the Sun-G.o.d, the G.o.ds in whom I trust, from that camp I withdrew and proceeded on my march; 66 the river Edir I pa.s.sed on the confines of Soua and Elaniu, powerful lands; their soldiers I slew in numbers; their treasure, their riches, _am_[10] of copper, 67 _kam_ of copper, _sapli_ and _namziete_ of copper, vessels of copper in abundance, _pasur_ wood, gold and _ahzi_, their oxen, sheep, riches, 68 his abundant spoil, from below the mountains of Elani, his horses, I exacted from him: Amika for the saving of his life to the land of Sabue went up; 69 the cities Zamru, Arazitku, Amaru, Parsindu, Eritu, Zuritu his fortified city, with 150 cities 70 of his territory I overthrew, razed, burned; the boundary I reduced to a heap.

While in the vicinity of Parsindi I was stationed, the warlike engines of the tribe of Kallabu 71 came forth against the place; 150 of the fighting men of Amika I slew in the plain; their heads I cut off and put them up on the heights of his palace; 72 200 of his soldiers taken by (my) hands alive I left to rot on the wall of his palace:[11] from Zamri the battering-rams and ... my banners I made ready; 73 to the fortress Ata, of Arzizai, whither none of the Kings my sires had ever penetrated I marched: the cities of Arzizu, and Arzindu 74 his fortified city, with ten cities situated in their environs in the midst of Nispi a rugged country, I captured; their soldiers I slew the cities I overthrew razed and burned with fire: 75 to those my tents I returned. In those days I received copper, _tabbili_ of copper, _kanmate_ of copper, and _sariete_ as the tribute of the land of Siparmina, such as women 76 collect: from the city of Zamri I withdrew; to Lara, (the rugged hill-country, unfitted for the pa.s.sage of chariots and armies, with instruments [axes] of iron I cut through and 77 with rollers of metal I beat down) with the chariots and troops I brought over to the city of Tiglath-a.s.sur-azbat in the land of Lulu--the city of Arakdi they call it--I went down; 78 the Kings of Zamue, the whole of them, from before the impetuosity of my servants and the greatness of my power drew back and accepted my yoke; tribute of silver, gold, tin, 79 copper, _kam_ of copper, vestments of wool, horses, oxen, sheep, goats, in addition to what I had before settled, I imposed upon them; a Viceroy 80 in Kalach I created. While in the land of Zamue I was stationed the cities Khudunai, Khartisai, Khutiskai Kirzanai 81 were overwhelmed by fear of the advance of a.s.sur my Lord; impost, tribute, silver, gold, horses, vestments of wool, oxen, sheep, goats, they brought to me; the rebel soldiers 82 fled from before my arms; they fled to the mountains; I marched after them; within confines of the land of Aziru they settled and got ready the city of Mizu as their strong place; 83 the land of Aziru I overthrew and destroyed; from Zimaki as far as the Turnat I scattered their corpses; 500 of their fighting men I destroyed; 84 their spoil in abundance I carried off.

In those days in the land of Samua, (in which is) the city of Atlila which Zibir King of Kardunias had taken, devastated, 85 and reduced to a heap of ruins, I a.s.sur-nasir-pal King of a.s.syria took, after laying siege to its castle a second time; the palace as a residence for My Majesty I therein strengthened, made princely and enlarged beyond what of old was planned; 86 the wheat and barleys of the land of Kalibi I acc.u.mulated therein; I gave it the name of Dur-a.s.sur.

On the first of May in the eponym of Sanmapakid[12] I collected my chariots and soldiers 87 the Tigris I crossed; to the land of Commagene I pa.s.sed on; I inaugurated a palace in the city of Tiluli; the tribute due from Commagene I received; from Commagene I withdrew; 88 I pa.s.sed on to the land of the Istarat;[13] in the city of Kibaki I halted; from Kibaki I received oxen, sheep, goats, and copper; from Kibaki I withdrew; 89 to the city of Mattyati I drew nigh; I took possession of the land of Yatu with the town Kapranisa; 2,800 of their fighting men I smote down with my weapons; their spoil in abundance I carried off; 90 the rebels who had fled from before my arms now accepted my yoke; of their cities I left them in possession; tribute impost and an officer[14] over them I set; 91 an image of my person I made; collected laws I wrote upon it and in the city of Mattiyati I placed it; from Mattiyati I withdrew; at the city of Zazabuka 92 I halted; the tribute of Calach in oxen, sheep, goats and various copper articles I received; from Zazabuka I withdrew; 93 at the city of Irzia I made a halt; that city I burned; but received there the tributes due from Zura in oxen, sheep, goats and _kam_ copper: 94 from Izria I withdrew; in the land of Kasyari I halted; Madara (and) Anzi two cities of the territory I captured and slew their soldiers; 95 their spoil I carried off; the cities I burned with fire; six lakes I crossed over in Kasyari, a rugged highland for the pa.s.sage of chariots and an army 96 unsuited; (the hills with instruments of iron I cut through [and] with rollers of metal I beat down;) the chariots and army I brought over. In a city of a.s.sur[15] on the sandy side which is in Kasyari, 97 oxen, sheep, goats _kam_ and _gurpisi_ of copper I received; by the land of Kasyari I proceeded; a second time to the land of Nairi I went down; at the city of Sigisa 98 I made a halt; from Sigisa I withdrew; to Madara the fortified city of Labduri the son of Dubisi I drew near, a city extremely strong with four impregnable castles; 99 the city I besieged; they quailed before my mighty prowess; I received, for the preservation of their lives, their treasures, their riches, their sons, by tale; I imposed upon them 100 tribute and duties; an officer[16] I appointed over them; the city I demolished, razed, and reduced to a heap of ruins; from Madara I withdrew; to Tuskha 101 I pa.s.sed over; a palace in Tuskha I dedicated; the tribute of the land of Nirdun, horses, yoke-horses, fish, _kam_ of copper, _gurpisi_ of copper, oxen, sheep, 102 goats, in Tuskha I received; 60 cities and strong castles below Kasyari, belonging to Labduri son of Dubuzi I overthrew razed and converted to a heap of ruins.

103 In the service of a.s.sur my Lord from Tuskha I withdrew.

The powerful chariots and battering-rams I put up in my stores; on rafts 104 I pa.s.sed the Tigris; all night I descended; to Pitura a strong town of Dirrai I drew near--a very strong city-- 105 two forts facing each other, whose castle like the summit of a mountain stood up: by the mighty hands of a.s.sur my Lord and the impetuosity of my army and my formidable attack 106 I gave them battle; on two days before sunrise like Yav the inundator I rushed upon them; destruction upon them I rained with the might[17]

107 and prowess of my warriors; like the rush of birds coming upon them, the city I captured; 800 of their soldiers by my arms I destroyed; their heads 108 I cut off; many soldiers I captured in hand alive; their populace in the flames I burned; their spoil I carried off in abundance; a trophy of the living and of heads 109 about his great gate I built;[18] 700 soldiers I there impaled on stakes;[19] the city I overthrew, razed, and reduced to a heap of ruins all round; their boys, 110 their maidens, I dishonored; the city of Kukunu[20] facing the mountains of Matni I captured; 700 of their fighting men I smote down with my weapons; 111 their spoil in abundance I carried off; 50 cities of Dira I occupied; their soldiers I slew; I plundered them; 50 soldiers I took alive; the cities I overthrew 112 razed and burned; the approach of my Royalty overcame them; from Pitura I withdrew, and went down to Arbaki in Gilhi-Bitani; 113 they quailed before the approach of my Majesty, and deserted their towns and strong places: for the saving of their lives they went up to Matni a land of strength 114 I went after them in pursuit; 1,000 of their warriors I left in the rugged hills; their corpses on a hill I piled up; with their bodies the tangled hollows 115 of the mountains I filled; I captured 200 soldiers and cut off their hands; their spoil I carried away; their oxen, their sheep 116 without number, I took away; Iyaya, Salaniba, strong cities of Arbaki I occupied; the soldiers I slew; their spoil I carried off 117 250 towns surrounded with strong walls in the land of Nairi I overthrew demolished and reduced to heaps and ruins; the trees of their land I cut down; the wheat 118 and barley in Tuskha I kept. Ammiba'al the son of Zamani had been betrayed and slain by his n.o.bles.[21] To revenge Ammiba'al 119 I marched; from before the vehemence of my arms and the greatness of my Royalty 120 they drew back: his swift chariots, trappings for men and horses one hundred in number, 121 horses, harness, his yokes, tribute of silver and gold with 100 talents 122 in tin, 100 talents in copper, 300 talents in _annui_, 100 _kam_ of copper, 3,000 _kappi_ of copper, bowls of copper, vessels of copper, 123 1,000 vestments of wool, _nui_ wood, _eru_ wood, _zalmalli_ wood, horns, choice gold, 124 the treasures of his palace, 2,000 oxen, 5,000 sheep, his wife, with large donations from her; the daughters 125 of his chiefs with large donations from them I received.

I, a.s.sur-nasir-pal, great King, mighty King, King of legions, King of a.s.syria, 126 son of Tuklat-Adar great and mighty King, King of legions, King of a.s.syria, n.o.ble warrior, in the strength of a.s.sur his Lord walked, and whose equal among the Kings 127 of the four regions exists not;[22] a King who from beyond the Tigris up to Lebanon and the Great Sea 128 hath subjugated the land of Laki in its entirety, the land of Zuhi with the city of Ripaki: from the sources of the Ani 129 (and) the Zupnat to the land bordering on Sabitan has he held in hand: the territory of Kirrouri with Kilzani on the other side the Lower Zab 130 to Tul-Bari which is beyond the country of the Zab; beyond the city of Tul-sa-Zabdani, Hirimu, Harute, the land of Birate 131 and of Kardunias I annexed to the borders of my realm and on the broad territory of Nairi I laid fresh tribute.

The city of Calach I took anew; the old mound 132 I threw down; to the top of the water I brought it; 120 hand-breadths in depth I made it good; a temple to Ninip my Lord I therein founded; when 133 an image of Ninip himself which had not been made before, in the reverence of my heart for his great mighty G.o.d-ship, of mountain stone and brilliant gold I caused to make in its completeness; 134 for my great divinity in the city of Calach I accounted him: his festivals in the months of January and September[23]

I established: Bit-kursi which was unoccupied I closed: 135 an altar to Ninip my Lord I therein consecrated: a temple for Beltis, Sin, and Gulanu, Hea-Manna[24] and Yav great ruler of heaven and earth I founded.

[Footnote 1: Probably the Lycus or upper Zab.]

[Footnote 2: The term "Hitt.i.tes" is used in a large sense, as the equivalent of "Syrians," including the northern parts of Palestine.]

[Footnote 3: About 881 B.C.]

[Footnote 4: A scriptural phrase of frequent occurrence.]

[Footnote 5: Corresponding to the Jewish month Tisri, and to part of our September, called in Accadian "the Holy Altar."]

[Footnote 6: Cf. Gen. xi. 19, "Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thy head from off thee."]

[Footnote 7: About 880 B.C.]

[Footnote 8: The Hebrew Sivan.]

[Footnote 9: I.e., in comparison with.]

[Footnote 10: "Am" may be the name of some weight, or figure; v. Norr.

a.s.syr. Dict., pp. 127 and 720.]

[Footnote 11: Menant renders, "j'ai fait etouffer _dans_ le mur."]

[Footnote 12: About 879 B.C.]

[Footnote 13: G.o.ddesses.]

[Footnote 14: Urasi.]

[Footnote 15: Or, "a.s.sur-sidi-huli" may be taken as the name of the town.]

[Footnote 16: "Urasi"(?).]

[Footnote 17: Compare a similar expression, Job xx. 23, "G.o.d shall rain (his fury) upon him while he is eating."]

[Footnote 18: Cf. 2 Kings x. 8, "Lay ye them (the heads) in two heaps in the entering in of the gate."]

[Footnote 19: Or, crosses.]

[Footnote 20: On the upper Tigris.]

[Footnote 21: I follow Dr. Oppert in the rendering of this obscure pa.s.sage. Compare with Ammiba'al the name of the father of Bathsheba, which like many other proper names is indicative of the close relations between a.s.syria, Phoenicia, Syria, and Judea.]

[Footnote 22: This frequently recurring expression refers to the four races of Syria.]

[Footnote 23: "Tabita" (Heb. "Tebeth") and "Tasritu" (Heb. "Tisri"). It should be remarked that after the captivity the names of the months were exchanged for the Chaldean; and the old Hebrew names, such as "Abib"

(Exod. xiii. 4), "Zif" (1 Kings vi. 37), "Ethanim" (ib. viii. 2), "Bul"

(ib. vi. 38), and the t.i.tles first, second, third month, etc., were dropped.]

[Footnote 24: This name has also been read as "Nisroch-Salmon."]