Sargon II (724-705 B.C., Father of Sennacherib) - from Vol. II,
"Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia," by Luckenbill (4)

The Khorsabad Texts. The inscriptions of Sargon of Assyria fall into two groups, those from Khorsabad and those from other cities. The Khorsabad texts are the latest of the Sargon inscriptions.

4. Annals on walls of palace. [At the beginning of my rule, in my first year of reign] ........................Samerinai (the people of Samaria) .................[of Shamash] who causes me to attain victory .......................[27, 290 people, who lived therein] I carried away; 50 chariots for my royal equipment, I selected from [among them]..........[The city I rebuilt], I made it greater than it was before; people of the lands [my hand had conquered, I settled therein. My official I placed over them as governor]. Tribute, tax, I imposed upon them as upon the Assyrians .......I mixed together, I made the price to be .......had sinned and invited me to fight .............[in the plain of Dêr (?) I defeated him. On the Tu'munu tribe I imposed Assur's yoke.........[Merodachbaladan, king of Chaldea, who exercised the kingship over Babylon against the will of the gods .......x+7 people, together with their possessions, I snatched away ........[In the land] of Hatti (Syria) I settled (them). (The next text covers Year 2, Against the rebels of Syria)

6. Year 3, Against the Mannean rebels, led by Mitatti of Zikirtu, and Urartaeans [In my third year of reign, Shuandahul and Durdukka, strong cities, planned to fight against Iranzu, the Mannean, their king and lord, who was subject to me (drew my yoke), and they put their trust in Mitatti of Zikrtu. Mitatti of Zikirtu gave them his warriors with their cavalry, and (thus) aid was provided for them. I mustered the hosts (lit., masses) of Assur's armies and went forth to capture those cities. With mighty battering-rams (?) I smashed their fortified walls, and leveled them to the ground (lit., reckoned them as ground). The people and their possessions I carried off. Those cities I destroyed, I devastated, I burned with fire [The people] of the cities of Sukka, Bala and Abitikna, conceived a wicked plan of tearing up the roots of (their) land and with Ursâ, of Urartu (Armenia), they came to terms. Because of the sin which they had committed, I tore them away from their homes (lit., places) and settled them in Hatti of Amurru.

8. Year 5, Against Carchemish. In my fifth year of reign, Pisîri of Carchemish sinned against the oath by the great gods and sent (messages of) hostility against Assyria to Mitâ of the land of Muski. I lifted my hand to Assur, my lord, and brought him and his family (out of his city) in chains. Gold, silver, together with the property of his palace and the rebellious people of Carchemish, who were with him, with their goods, I carried off and brought (them) into Assyria. 50 chariots, 200 steeds (or cavalry-men), 300 foot soldiers, I selected from among them and added them to my royal host. People of Assyria I settled in Carchemish and placed the yoke of Assur, my lord, upon them.

9. The people of the cities of Pâpa and Lallukna, dogs who had been brought up in my palace, plotted openly against the land of Kakmê. I tore them from their homes (places) and brought them to Damascus of Amurru.

10. Year 6. The beginning of the subjugation of Armenia. In my sixth year of reign, Ursâ, the Armenian .....[Mitatti] of Zikirtu, the governors of the Mannean land, ......set them at enmity with Sargon (and) with Azâ, the son of their lord ......on Mount Uaush, a steep mountain, started to destroy the land of the Manneans and cast out the body of Azâ, their lord. To Assur, my lord, that the Mannean land might be avenged and that it might be restored to Assyria's rule (?) , I raised my hand (in prayer), and in Mount Uaush, the mountain where they had cast out the body of Azâ, I flayed Bagdattu, and showed him to the Manneans. Ullusunu, his bother, I placed on the royal throne, the whole of the Mannean land I made subservient to him. [Ulusunu, the Mannean] .........put his trust in Rusâ, the Armenian. Assur-li'u of the land of Karalla and Itti of the land of Allabria he caused to revolt against me and called upon them to become vassals of Armenia. In the anger of my heart I overran (lit., covered) these lands like [a swarm] of locusts and Izirtu, the royal city of the Manneans, I overwhelmed as with a net. Multitudes of them I slew. Izirtu I burned with fire and captured the cities of Zibia and Armaid. Ullusunu, the Mannean, and all of his land gathered together as one man and seized my feet. I had mercy upon them. I forgave Ullusunu his transgression, on the royal throne [I placed him]..........Ittî of [Allabria], together with his family, I snatched away, and Assur-li'u of Karalla ..........The city of Ganu -, .........[of the district of Niksama, I captured. Shêpâsharri, the mayor, ......of the city of Shurgadia I seized with my own hand. Those cities I added to the province of '{Parsuash]. Bêl-shar-usur, of the city of Kishesim, my hand captured and himself, together with the property of his palace, I carried off to Assyria. My official I set over his city as governor. The gods, who go before me, therein I caused to dwell and I called its name Kâr-Urta. My royal image I set up in its midst. The lands of Bît-Sagbat, Bît-Hirmami, Bît-Umargi, the cities of Harhubarban (?), Kilambâti, Armangu, I conquered and added to his province. I received gold, products of the mountain, precious stones, ivory, seed of the maple (?), all kinds of herbs, horses, and camels, as their tribute. I defeated Mitâ of the Muski, (7) in his province. The cities of Harrua and Ushnanis, fortresses of the land of Kue, which he had held by force since distant days I restored to their (former) status (lit., place).

19. Year 8. Against Urartu (Armenia) In my eighth year of reign I went against the lands of the Manneans (and) Medes. The tribute of the Manneans, Ellipi ..........(of) the mayors of the mountain (towns) I received. Zizi and Zalâ, mayors of the province of Gizilbundi, whose (pl) tribute the kings who went before me had not received, their gifts I received and ..........(Line lost.) [Mitatti of Zikirtu, I defeated; 3 of his strong cities, together with 24 cities of their neighborhood, I captured, I carried off their spoil. Parda, his royal city, I burned with fire, and he, together with the people of his land, ran away to be seen no more.

20. I defeated Ursâ, the Armenian, (killing) countless (of his people). 260 of his royal seed, who (constituted) his cavalry, I captured with my own hand. To save his life he mounted a mare and ascended his mountain. 5 bêru ("double-hours") of land, from Mount Uaush, to] Mount Zimur I pursued him. Mount Uishdish, a mountain district of the Manneans, I took away from him and gave it [to] Ullusunu of the Manneans. The city of Ushkaia, the fortress at the pass to the province of Zaranda, strongly bult in Mount Mallâu, the cypress mountain, together with 115 of its cities I captured. The city of Ashtania on (lit., of) the border of Bît-Sangibuti, the cities of Tarui, Tarmakis of the Dalaia plain, the city of Ulhu, which is at the foot of Kishpal Mountain, 21 strong cities, together with 140 cities of their neighborhood, which are on Mount Arzabia, I captured, I burned with fire. [7 strong cities, together with 30 cities of their neighborhood, of the land of Armariali, [which are at the foot of] Mount Ubianda, I captured. The city of Arbu where Rusâ .......[Riar], the city of Ishtardûri .............I captured; 30 strong cities of Aiâid, a district on the shore of the sea, the cities of Argishtiuna and Kallania, which, on Mount Arsidu and Mount -unia, were built among them - five fotresses which are in the neighborhood of Mount Uaiaush, together with 30 cities of the Uaiaush district, I captured, I burned with fire.

21. From Ianzû, king of the Nairî-land, I received tribute in Hubushkia, his strong city, - horses, cattle, sheep.

22. Urzana of the city of Musasir, who had transgressed against the oath taken by Assur and Marduk, and who sent a .........word to Ursâ of Armenia: - Assur, my lord, gave me courage and with one of my chariots and 1,000 of my "rough riders" and foot soldiers, who are mighty in battle, over the mountains Shîak, Ardikshi, Ulâiau, and Alluria, steep mountains, where the terrain was favorable, I advanced on horseback, and where it was bad, on foot. And Urzana of Musasir heard of the approach of my expedition and fled like a bird, climbing the steep mountain. Musasir, the abode of the god Haldia, I besieged and the wife of Urzana, his sons, his daughters, 6,170 people, 690 mules and asses, 920 [cattle], 100,225 sheep, I brought out (therefrom); 34 talents, 18 minas of gold, 160 talents, 2 1/2 minas of silver, white bronze, lead ........precious stones in large numbers ........whose settings .......colored (woolen) garments and linen, in countless numbers ...........together with x+4 talents, 3 minas of gold, [162] talents, 20 minas of silver .......udê (of) bronze (and) iron, which were numberless .......together with a bronze bull, a bronze cow, a bronze calf, ............I carried off ...........to Assur I brought them in. The rest of their goods for .......................... In the wide land of Armenia, and all its mountains I caused mourning to be, and for Ursâ, their king (gnashing with) the knife, the razor, wailing ..........................for (the rest) of his life, I established. That provice I brought within the border of Assyria, and put it under the rule (lit., hand) of my official, the lord chamberlain. Ursâ of Urartu, - the splendor of Assur, my lord, overwhelmed him and with his own iron dagger he stabbed himself through the heart, like a pig, and ended his life. (The text continues, Year 9, Against the rebels in the Persian mountains and on the Upper Euphrates)

24. The tribute of Ullusunu, the Mannean, of Taltâ, of the Ellipi, of Bêl -apal-iddina, of Allabria, of 45 city chieftains of the mighty Medes, 4,609 horses (and) mules, cattle (and) sheep, in countless numbers, I received. Ambaridu of Tabal, ......king of Bît-Buritish, of Bît-Akukania ................Hullî ....[together with] the spoil of his land, to Assyria I took him ...........their cities .......for (in?) the stability of my dynasty, by my power (?) .....had been. Hullî on his royal throne [I placed. [The people of Bît-] Burutash I gathered together and put under his hand.

25. At the time that I .....Hullî ......I presented to him and a daughter, together with the city of Hilakki, I gave to him and I extended his territory (lit., widened his land). But that simpleton, who did not keep faith, sent to Ursâ, king of Urartu, (and) Mitâ, king of Muski], .......kings of the land of Tabal, who had seized (some) of my territory. I mustered the armies of Assur and utterly destroyed Tabal to its farthest border. Ambaris, king of Bât-Burutash (and) Hilakku I caused to dwell in peace, .....which does good (?), I had made therein. The people of the lands which Assur, my lord, had conquered, {I settled in them]. My official I set over them as governor, and Assyrian vassalage I imposed on them.

26. Year 10. Against Tarhuazi of Melid. In my tenth year of reign Tarhunazi the Melidean, who did not fear the name of the great gods, - the wide land of Kammanu, which violated the oath (lit., curse) and protection of Assur, my lord, ........whom I drove back........ (Text covers more campaigns against the Medes)

59. Urzana[ of the city of Musasir, who trusted in Ursâ of Urartu, and forgot his vassalage (to Assyria), - with the masses of my troops I covered Musasir like a locust - (swarm) and that one, to save his life, fled alone and perished (lit., ascended his mountain). I entered Musasir in triumph; his wife, his sons, his daughters, the property, goods (and) treasure of his palace, all there was, together with 20,170 people with their possessions, Haldia (and) Bagbartum, his gods, with their rich trappings, I counted as spoil. Ursâ, king of Urartu, heard of the destruction of Musasis, the carying off of Haldia, his god, and with his own hands ended his life with his iron girdle dagger. Over Urartu, to its farthest border, I brought mourning, the people who dwelt therein I plunged into lamenationn and sighing.

60. Tarhunazi, the Melidian, planned to offer resistance; the oath by the great gods he violated and withheld his tribute. In the anger of my heart I smashed Meliddu, his roal city, together with the cities of its environment, like pots; himself, together with his wife, his sons, his daughters, the property, goods (and) treasure of his palace , all there was, with 5,000 of his captured warriors, I brought out of Tilgarimmu, his royal city, and counted as booty. Til-garimmu I restored. Sutêan bowman, captives of my hand, I made to occupy the whole of the land of Kammanu; I extended (its) border. That land I placed under (lit., counted into the hand) my official, and laid upon them (feudal) dues and services, like those of Gunzinanu, the earlier king.

61. Tahhulara of Gurgum, whom his son, Mutallum, slew with the sword, and without my permission seated himself on the throne, and ruled his land; - in the fury of my heart I marched at top speed with my war chariot and my cavalry, which never leave my side in any dangerous (?) region, against the city of Markasi. Mutallu, his son, together with his family, of the land of Bît-Pa'llu, all there were, with the gold, silver, and property of his palace, which was without number, I counted as booty. The people of Gurgum, to its farthest border, I pardoned again (lit., anew), my official as governor I placed over them; with the people of Assyria I counted them. (Next in the Annals: 61 - Azuri, king of Ashdod, mentioning how the Hittites, plotters of iniquity, hated his rule and elevated over them Iamani; 63 - The king of Meluhha (Ethiopia) had received the fugitive Iamani and was forced to turn him over to Sargon II)

64. Mutallum of the land of Kummuhu, a wicked Hittite, who did not fear the name of the gods, a planner of evil, plotter of iniquity, put his trust in Argisti, king of Urartu, an ally who could not save him, and stopped the yearly payment of tribute and tax and withheld his gifts. In the anger of my heart, with my battle chariot and cavalry, who never leave the place of danger (?) at my side, I took the road against him. He saw the approach of my expedition, left his city and was seen no more. That city, together with 62 strong cities of the rest of his (land), I besieged, I captured. His wife, his sons, his daughters, the property, goods and all kinds of valuables of his palace, together with the people of his land, I tore away, - not one escaped. That district I reorganized. The people of Bît-Iakin, which my hand had seized, I settled therein; my official as governor I set over them. The yoke of my sovereignty I laid upon them. 150 chariots, 1,500 cavalry, 20,000 bowmen, 1,000 bearers of the shield (and) bearers of the lance, I selected from among them and put them under his control. (The next text 65 -Taltâ, king of Ellipi summoned the Elamite king Shuter-Nahundu to help him rebel against Sargon; 66 - Merodach-baladan, who placed his trust in the "Bitter Sea," and was the son of Iakin, king of Chaldea, rebeled, bringing to his aid Humbanigash the Elamite (The text ends with an appeal to preserve the text and a curse against those who deface it.)

92. The Bull Inscription: Summarizes the conquests listed in the Annals: ....who subjegated the Manneans, and laid the yoke of Assur on Karalla, Andia, Zikirtu, Kishesim, Harhar, the lands of the Medes and the Ellipi; who devastated Urartu (and) Musasir, (the city) of Ursâ, the Urartean, who in terror (lit., great fear) ended his life with his own weapon; plunderer of the princes of Carchemish, Hamath, Kummuhu, Ashdod - wicked Hittites, who did not fear the name of the gods, who plotted mischief, who set his officials as governors over all their lands, and numbered them among the people of Assyria; who overthrew Samaria, all of Bît-Humeria and Kasku; conqueror of Tabalu, all of Bît-Burutash, and Hilakku; who at Rapihu defeated Egypt, and counted Hanûnu (Hanno), king of Gaza, as spoil; who plundered the city of Shinuhtu, drove out Mitâ, king of Muski; who restored the captured fortresses of Kûe; (7) who caught the Iamanean out of the midst of the sea, like a fish; who drove out Gunzinanu of Kammanu and Tarhulara of Gurgum, who captured all of their lands and brought them within the borders of Assyria; who subdued seven kings of Ia', a province of Atnana, who had their abode a journey of seven days in the midst of the sea of the setting sun; (The text then summarizes the campaigns in Sumer-Akkad and 93 refers to building a new city north of Nineveh, Dâr-Sharrukin, hard by the springs at the foot of Musri Mountain and 94 - concludes with feasts and dedication ceremonies and a curse against those who deface the text.)

99. (Another summary text; we quote only phrases that add more light on the geography): ....who destroyed the lands of Karallu, Shurda, the city of Kishesu, the lands of Harhar, Media, Ellipi, imposing the yoke of Assur; who devastated Urartu, plundered the city of Musasir; who crushed the lands of Andi and Zikirtu; who pacified the Mannean-land, who blotted out (the lives of) the princes of Hamath, Carchemish (and) Kummuhu; who seized the land of Kammanu, belonging to Gunzinanu, whom he snatched out of Meliddu, his royal city, - over all of whose lands he appointed governors; who put an end (lit., changed) the kingdom of Tarhulara of the city of Markasi, who brought Gurgum in its entirety into the territory of Assyria; conqueror of Samaria and the whole land of Bît -Humria; who carried off the spoil of Ashdod and Shinuhtu; who caught the Iamaneans out of the midst of the sea, like fish; who uprooted Kasku, all of Tabalu, and Hilakku; who drove out Mitâ (Midas), king of Mushki (7) (The text 100, 101 describes his sculpturs and monuments, of lion colossi, Mountain sheep as mighty protecting deities, facing the four winds of heaven, reliefs of captured enemy towns, a description of making pure sacrafices and a prayer to the gods.)

116 and 117, Cylinder Inscriptions, two in the Louvre and two in the British Museum. (We quote only relevant texts to Phrygian geography, list of conquests): ...the wide land of Amurru (and) the Hittite-land in its entirety; whose strong arm (lit., hand) conquered, from Hashmar to Simashpatti, the distant Medes of the east (rising sun), the lands of Namri, Ellipi, Bît-Hambum, Parsua, the Mannean-land, Urartu (Armenia), Kasku, Tabalum, up to the land of Muski; who set his officers as governors over them and imposed tribute...who caught the Iamaneans (Ionians, Cyprians) out of the midst of the sea in shoals (?), like fish, and subdued Cilicia (Kue) and Tyre; (7) powerful king, who cut through the palisade of the city of Shinhtu, destroying its habitations, who burned Kiakki, their king with the torch; who carried off (the people) of Bît-Burutash, whose king, Ambarissi, had forgotten the favors shown him by Sargon and who had put his trust in the king of Urartu (Armenia) and the land of Muski (with their) powerful armies; who put to flight Mitâ (Midas), king of Muski, restored the captured fortresses of Cilicia and increased their (v. its) domains...despoiler of Carchemish of the wicked Hittites, whose strong arm captured Pisiris, who was subject to them and plotted evil; who devastated Urartu, plundered Musasir, in terror (great fear) of whom Ursâ, king of Urartu, ended his life with his own weapon....who subjected the insubmissive Medes, destroyed the people of Harhar, and enlarged the borders of Assyria; who gathered together the scattered Manneans, quieted the Ellipi who were in turmoil (Text next describes Mesopotamian campaigns and concludes, 119, with praise to King Sargon who brought fields under cultivation, planted orchards and crops on high slopes, planted waste areas who caused springs and the waters of abundance to rise, like the waves of the sea, who was wise and grew old, built sancturies and cities.)

150. (Another text) From Zirdakka, the fortess of the land of the Manneans, I departed. Thirty bêru ("double-hours") between the land of the Manneans, Bît-Kabsi and the land of the powerful Medes, I made my impetuous way. I drew near to Panzish, the strong fortress which lies over against the lands of Zikirtu and Andia, for protection, - that no fugitive might escape, no enemy enter (lit., the foot of the enemy should be restrained), it was built over against these two districts. I strengthened the fortification of that stronghold, and stored up therein food, oil, wine and war equipment.

151. From Panzish I departed, crossed the river Ishtar-aurâ, and drew near to Aukanê, a district of Zikirtu. Metati of Zikirtu, who had thrown off (Assur's) yoke, deserted Ullusunu, the king, their lord, neglected his service, and who had put his trust in Ursâ, the Armenian, who like him(self) was without judgment, an ally who could not save himself; he made the frightful ascent of Mount Uashdirikka, a steep mountain and saw the (on) coming of my expedition from afar. His members (lit., flesh) became paralyzed. He gathered together all the people of his land, took them up into the distant mountains, with great difficulty, and they were seen no more. And his eyes, not (even) Parda, his royal city, was precious. He abandoned the wealth of his palace and went foth in misery (?). His horses and his fighters he turned loose, sending (them) to the aid and help of Ursâ, his ally. His brave warriors who were stationed in the passes of Mount Uashdirikka, to guard (them), I slew and captured Ishtaippa, Saktatush, Nanzu, Aukanê, Kâbani, Gurrusupa, Raksi, Gimdakrikka, Barunakka, Ubabara, Sitera, Tashtami, Tesammia, - twelve cities, strong and walled, together with 84 cities of their neighborhood, - all (of these). I destroyed their walls, I set fire to the houses inside them, I destroyed them like a flood, I battered them into heaps of ruins.

152. From Aukanê I departed, (to) Uishdish, a district of the Mannean land, which Ursâ, the Armenian, who does not respect (lit., guard) the word of Assur and Marduk, who does not fear the curse of the lord of lords, - a mountaineer, of murderous seed, who was without judgment, whose speech was evil, whose lips kept bawling indecencies, who had no respect for the honored name of Shamash, supreme judge of the gods, and who was forever, without let-up, oversepping his bounds: after (all) his earlier crimes (lit., sins), he committed the grievous (lit., great) offense of destroying this land and overwhelming its people. On Mount Uaush, a great mountain, which (lifts) its summit into the region of the clouds, in the midst of the heavens, where, since time's beginning, the seed of humankind had not passed, no....had found (lit., seen) his way, to the top of which no bird that wings its way across the heaven, had (ever) come, to ....a montain peak which stands up like the blade of a dagger, and gullies and mountain precipices ......on (?) its .....in the severe droughts (?) (of summer) and the bitter cold (of winter) destruction is let loose (?) ....their flash(es), on which snow is heaped up day and night, and its.....are covered (?) with sleet and ice; the body of him who passes along its side is .......while .....burns his flesh; (here) he mustered his great host, together with his allies, and .....assembled his (picked) fighters, strong in battle, the support of his host, he strengthened their courage, (on) their prancing riding horses he mounted them and gave them (their) weapons. Metatti of Zikirtu, who from days of old (?) had given him support, who had [invited to his aid all of the kings of his neighborhood, of (these) mountains, and had received aid, [trusted] in the masses of his many troops and [their] support, and he induced them to desert (the Assyrian cause). The glory (and) might of his battle .....my power .......He (lit., his heart) hoped to fight a decisive battle with me and planned, without ceasing, the destruction of the army of Enlil and Assur. In a defile of that mountain he drew up the battleline and sent (me) a messenger (telling) of (his) preparations for the approaching battle. (What follows is a praise to himself, the gods, and statement: ...because I had never ye come near Ursâ, the Armenian, and the border of his wide land, nor poured out the blood of his warriors on the (battle)-field, I lifted my hands, praying that I might bring about his defeat in battle, turn his insolent words against himself, and make him bear his sin.)

154. (A long text explaining the difficulty of the mountains, leading to the defeat of the Armenians): ..I plunged into his midst like a swift (lit., frightful) javelin, I defeated him, I turned back his advance; I killed large numbers of his (troops), the bodies of his warriors I cut down like millet (?), filling the mountain valleys (with them). I made their blood run down the ravines and precipices like a river, dying the plain, countryside and highlands red like a royal robe (?). His warriors, the mainstay of his army, bearers of bow and lance, I slaughtered about his feet like lambs, I cut off their heads. His noblemen, counselors who stand before him I shattered their arms in battle; them and their horses I captured. 260 of his royal kin (lit., seed), (who were) his officers, governors and cavalry, I captured and broke down their resistance (lit., battle). Him I shut up in his crowded camp and cut down (decimated) from under him his draft horses with arrow and javelin. To save his life he abandoned his chariot, mounted a mare and fled before his army.

155. Metatti of Zikirtu, together with the kings of his environment, - I cut down their army and broke up their organization. I defeated the armies of Urartu, the wicked enemy, and their allies, in the midst of Uaush Mountain he came to a stop. I filled the gullies and gorges with their horses while they, like ants in distress, made their way over most difficult trails. In the heat of my terrible weapons I went up after them, filling the ascents and descents with the corpses of (their) warriors. Over 6 bêru ("double-hours") of ground, from Mount Uaush to Mount Zimur, the jasper mountain, I pursued him at the point of a lance. The rest of the people, who had fled to save their lives, whom he had abandoned that the might of Assur, my lord, might be magnified, - Adad, the violent, the powerful son of Anu, let loose his fierce tempest against them and, with bursting cloud and thunderbolt (lit., stone of heaven), totally annihilated them. Ursâ...left Turushpâ, his royal city; like (an animal) fleeing before the hunter, he trod the slope of his mountain; like a woman in travail he lay stretched on his bed, his mouth refusing food and drink (water); a fatal injury (lit., disease without escape) he inflicted upon himself. I established the might of Assur, my lord, upon Urartu for all time to come....The people of Zikirtu and Andia I bespattered with the venom of death. ..

157. I stopped my march on Andia and Zikirtu which lay before me, and set my face toward Urartu. Uishdish, a district of the Mannean country, which Ursâ had seized and taken for his own, with its many cities, which are countless as the stars of heaven, I captured in its entirety...

158. From Uishdish I departed, (and) I drew near to the city of Ushkaia, the great fortress on the outer frontier (lit., head of boundary) of Urartu, which bars the pass into the Zaranda district like a door, keeping back my messengers, and stands out on Mount Mallau, the cypress mountain, like a boundary-(pillar), and (rising), robed in radiance, over the plain of the land of Sûbi. The people who live in that district are without equal in all of Urartu in their knowledge of riding-horses. For years they had been catching the young colts of (wild) horses, native to his wide land, and raising them for his royal army. But they are not caught as far over as Sûbi, a district which the people of Urartu call Mannean country, nor are their herds seen there. They do not saddle them (lit., open a saddle over them), but (whether) going forward, turning to one side, or turning around, (as the tactics) of battle require, they are (never) seen to break the yoke (i.e, to become separated from their team). These men, who belong to that fortress and district, saw the defeat of Ursâ, their lord, and their legs gave way like the root (of a tree planted) on the river bank. Their leaders, seasoned warriors (lit., skilled in battle), who fled before my weapons, covered with the venom of death, drew near to them, and, telling them to submit to Assur, my lord, who had not allowed one out of all their warriors to make his escape, they became as dead (men). The city of Ushkaia, the mainstay of his land, together with the cities round about, they turned into ruins; they abandoned their possessions and took the road that has no turning. With the advance of my mighty arms, I went up into that fortress, carried off its overflowing wealth, and brought it into my camp. Its great wall, whose foundation platform was founded on the bed rock of the mountain, whose thickness measured 8 cubits, I began with its upper wall, I went down to its high foundation walls, I destroyed it completely. I brought it to the ground. The dwellings within it I set on fire, and left their large timbers in flames. 115 cities of its neighborhood I burned like brush (?) and covered the face of heaven with their smoke, like a cyclone. As if destroyed by a flood, I made its fields, like heaps I made (lit., poured out) their settlements. The city of Aniashtania, the home of his herds, situated on the border of Sangibute, between the cities of Ushkaia and Tarmakisa, together with 17 cities of its neighborhood, I destroyed, I leveled to the ground; the large timbers of their roofs I set on fire, their crops (and) their stubble I burned, their filled-up granaries I opened and let my army devour the unmeasured grain. Like swarming locusts I turned the beasts of my camps into its meadows, and they tore up the vegetation on which it (the city) depended, they devastated its plain.

159. From Ushkaia I departed, to the land of Baru, on which it depends for its beasts, which they also called Sangibutu, I drew near. Tarui and Tarmakisa, strong, walled cities, situated in the plain of the land of the Dalaia, where he had great supplies of grain, whose walls were very strong, whose outer walls were well built...

165 From the strong cities of the land of Sangibute I departed, to the district of Armarili I drew near. Bubuzi, the fortress, Hundur, which is surrounded by two walls, in front of (each) tower, tubalu's were constructed in the moat (?) - , Alê , Sinishpalâ, Siniunak, Arna, Sharni, 7 strong cities, together with 30 cities of their neighborhood..

167. From the land of Aiadi I departed, the rivers Alluria, Kallania and Innai I crossed. To the district of Uaiais, his mainstay, on the lower border of Urartu and on the Nairî-frontier, I drew near. Uaiais, his stronghold, his great fortress, which was stronger than any other (lit., all) of his fortresses and whose workmanship was exceedingly skilfully carried out, - his powerful fighters, the spies who brought in the news of the lands round about, were settled therein; the district-governors, together with their retinues, he brought up into it and kept (his) fighters safe behind its mighty wall. I took that fortress from the rear, its warriors I slaughtered in front of its gate like lambs. Its orchards I cut down, its forests I felled, all of its severed tree trunks I gathered together and set them on fire. Barzuriani, Ualtukuia, Kutta, Kippa, Asapâ , five mighty walled cities, together with 40 cities of their neighborhood, I set on fire.

168. From Uaiais I departed, to the district of Ianzû, being of the Nairî-land, I drew near. Ianzû, king of Nairî, came to meet me from Hubushkia, his royal city, a distance of 4 bêru, and kissed my feet. His tribute, - horses broken to the yoke, cattle and sheep, I received from him in Hubushkia, his city.

169. On my return march, Urzana of the city of Musasir, a worker of sin and iniquity, who broke (transgressed against) the oath by the gods and recognized no rule, a wicked mountaineer, who sinned against the oath taken by Assur, Shamash, Nabû and Marduk and revolted against me, halted the return march of my expedition, (he failed to come bringing) his ample gifts, nor did he kiss my feet. He withheld his tribute, tax and gifts, and not once did he send his messenger to greet me. In the fury of my heart I made all of my chariots, many horses, all of my camp, take the road to Assyria.

170. ...I set out and took the road to Musasir, a difficult road and brought my army up Mount Arsiu, a mighty mountain, whose ascent, like the climbing of a peak (?), is without ascent. The Upper Zab, which the people of Nairî and Kirhi called the Elamunia, I crossed, among Sheiak, Ardikshi, Ulâiau and Alluriu, high mountains, lofty ridges, steep mountain peaks (?) which defy description, through which there is no trail for the passage of foot soldiers, among which mighty waterfalls tear their way, the noise of whose fall resounds for a bêru, like Adad (the thunder-god), which are covered, (thick) as reeds, with all kinds of trees, - the choicest fruit trees, and vines, and are full of terrors for (the one) attacking their passes; where no king had ever passed, whose trail no prince who went before me had ever seen; their great wild tree trunks I tore down and cut through their steep peaks (?) with bronze axes. A narrow road, a strait passage, where the foot soldiers passed sideways, I prepared ("made good") for the passage of my army between them. My (battle-) chariot came up with ropes, while I, with (several) mounts of horses, took the lead of my army. My warriors and (their) horses, who go at my side, narrowed down to single file and made their wearisome way.

171. That he should not escape I sent word to my officials, the governors and their retinues. In haste I dispatched it ......they (?) strengthened ........I pursued (?) and .....his royal abode, the abode of Haldia, his god .........Urartu to its farthest border. What was for him (?) in heaven or on earth, no one knew...who before him had not borne scepter and crown, the insignia (?) ...........prince, shepherd, the people of Urartu .........bring him (or to him), and one among his sons, as (?) heir (lit., seizer) of his throne, together with (?) gold and silver, all kinds of precious treasure from his palace they bought in before the god Haldia, in the city of Musasir, and presented (as) his gifts. Heavy cattle, fat sheep, without number, they sacrificed before him. For the whole of his city they spread a banquet. Before Haldia, his god, they crowned him with the royal crown and gave him the kingly scepter of Urartu. Then his people ......him ........Over that city I made the loud noise of my army resound like Adad, and the inhabitants ......his people, the old men and old women, went up on the roofs of their houses and wept bitterly. To save themselves they crawled on all fours (before me), [wringing] their hands.

172. Because Urzana, the king, their prince, had not been afraid of the word (or name) of Assur, and had cast off the yoke of my sovereignty, and forgot to serve me, I decided to carry off the people of that city, and gave the order that the god Haldia, the protector of Urartu, should be led forth. As victor I caused him to sit before his (city) gate. His wife, his sons, his daughters, his people, the seed of his father's house, I carried off. To 6,110 people, 12 mules, 380 asses, 525 cattle, 1,235 sheep, I added (counted) them and brought them inside the wall of my encampment. Into Musasir, the dwelling place of Haldia, I entered in might; in the palace, the abode of Urzana, I took up my lordly abode. The treasure-(houses), overflowing with heaped-up stores, - I broke open the seals of their treasure. [34 talents, 18] minas, of gold, 167 talents, 2 1/2 minas of silver, white bronze, lead, carnelian, lapis lazuli, UD-ASH-stone, precious stones in great quantities, staves of ivory, maple, and boxwood, together with their knob(s) whose inlay was of gold and silver, (many more gold, silver, etc. wares, furnishings, arms, items listed) ..cups of the land of Tabula, with ears of gold, silver gurpisi...censers of the land of Tabalu and silver incense-pans, 13 bronze basins, taphani, of bronze, washbasins of brnze, asallâte of bronze, pots of bronze, pans of bronze, 24 bronze vases, bronze basins, hurupâte of bronze, kurkuri of bronze, kulli of bronze, nasri of bronze, lamps (?) of bronze, 120 great and small bronze objects (udî) , of the workmanship of the land, whose names are not easy to write. X iron ovens, nisibi of iron, nasri of iron, aruthi of iron, lamps (?) of iron, 130 brightly colored (woolen) garments, purple linen garments, and wool for the scarlet garments of Urartu and Kirhi, together with the property of his palace, I carried off. I heaped up his goods.

173. My officials and officers I sent to the temple of Haldia and Haldia, his god, and Bagbartu, his goddess, together with the great wealth of his temple, all there was, - X+4 talents, 3minas of gold, 162 talents, 20 minas, less 6/36, of silver, 3,600 talents of rough copper, 6 shields of gold which hung right and left in his house and shone brilliantly, with the heads of snarling dogs projecting from their centers (lit., hearts), and containing 5 talents and 12 minas of shining red (gold); I ...........horns, ........the ashtarti of its doors, which had been cast from 2 talents of fine gold; 1 bolt of gold, a human finger (in form), the fastening of the door-leaf, - on top of it crouched a winged (lit., flying) dragon, 1 peg of gold to secure the lock, to strengthen (?0 the barring of the temple, to guard the heaped-up treasures and property, two keys of gold (shaped like) protecting goddesses wearing the tiara, and bearing mace (?) and ring, their feet planted upon snarling dogs, the four of them (constituting) the lock of the door; ornaments of the shrine, which weighed 2 talents and 12 minas of gold, and secured (lit., held) the door-leaves; 1 great dagger of gold, the sword of his hand, which weighed 26 3/36 minas of gold; 96 lances of silver, gurpisi of silver of gold, 12 great shields of silver, whose edges (molding) were ornaments with heads of dragons, lions and wild-oxen; 67 basins of silver, vases of silver, silver ovens, silver vegetable baskets, whose inlay and setting was of gold, 62 silver musarirte, silver lukilte, miscellaneous (lit., not distinguishable) objects of silver, whose setting and inlay was of gold; 33 chariots of silver, silver bows, silver quivers, silver mace (?), silver manziâte (?), silver shields, silver siprat, purdî and standards of silver, 393 pans of silver, heavy and light, of Assyrian, Urartian and Kirhian workmanship, 2 horns of the great wild-ox (aurochs), whose inlay and nikkasu (were of gold?) and with (?) bands of gold completely surrounding their inlay; 1 seal ring of gold (used) for validation (lit., completing) the decrees of Bagbartu, the spouse of Haldia, was completely covered (full) with precious stones; 9 vestments, the garments of his divine majesty, whose embroidery (edges) was of gold, and whose iar was of gold, whose shibiu were held by murdû; 7 shusuda of nigsud-wood, which were full of (covered with) stars, with a whip of silver, whose kiblu and inlay were of gold; 1 ivory couch, a bed of silver, for the repose of his divine majesty, covered with jewels and gold; 139 ivory staves, ivory tables, ivory vegetable baskets, ivory daggers, poniards of ivory and maple (?) - wood, whose inlay was of gold; 10 boxwood tables, mahrisi of boxwood, house chairs (?) of maple and boxwood, whose inlay was of gold and silver; 2 altars, 14 precious (?) stones; the ornaments of (their) divine majesties, the jewels of Haldia and Bagbaru, his spouse; 25,212 bronze shields, great and small, siprat of bronze, gurpisi of bronze, and gulgullat of bronze; 1,514 lances of bronze, kutahi of bronze together with their bronze bases; 305,412 daggers of bronze, heavy and light, bows of bronze, azanâte of bronze, and spears of bronze; asallâte of bronze, jars of bronze, pans of bronze; 3 large basins of bronze which held inside them 50 measures of water, together with their great covers of bronze; 1 great vat of bronze, which held inside it 80 measures of water, together with its large cover of bronze, - belonging to the kings of Urartu, (used) for offering sacrifices before Haldia, (and) which were full of sacrificial wine; 4 statues of bronze, the colossi which guard his gates, whose four bases, as well as their shrines, were of cast bronze; 1 statue of supplication, representing the royal highness of Ishtar-dûri, son of Ishpueni, turned and poured out for - - - - -, the bronze of the temple of Haldia; 1 statue of Argishti, king of Urartu, who wore the ------diadem of a god, and whose right hand was held in the attitude of blessing, together with its shrine, weighing 60 talents of bronze; 1 statue of Ursâ, with 2 of his horsemen, (and) his charioteer, with their shrine, cast in bronze, - on which was engraved his own haughty (inscription), "With my two horses and one charioteer, my hand attained to the kingdom of Urartu" ; (these things) together with his great wealth, which was without calculation, I carried off.

174. This does not include the objects of gold, silver, lead, copper, iron, ivory, maple, boxwood, and all (other) kinds of wood, which the people of Assur and Marduk had carried off from city, palace and temple in countless quantities.

175. The property of the palace of Urzana and (the god) Haldia, together with their enormous wealth, which I carried off from the city of Musasir, I laid on (the backs) of my widespreading armies, in their immensity, and had them carry it into Assyria. The people of the province of Musasir I reckoned with the people of Assyria; tax and taskwork I imposed upon them as upon Assyrians. Ursâ heard and sank down to the ground, he rent his garments and bared (lit., freed) his limbs, he pulled off his headband, tore his hair, beat upon his breast (heart) with his two hands, threw himself on his back; his heart stood still, his body (liver) burned, in his mouth were cries of pain. Over Urartu, to its farthest border, I spread mourning, and cast eternal weeping over Nairî.

176. In the exalted might of Assur, my lord, in the power and strenght of Bêl and Nabû, my helpers, at the firm nod of Shamash, the great judge of the gods, who opened the way and spread his protecting shadow over my army, in the greatness of Nergal, the all-powerful among the gods, who goes at my side, guarding my camp, from the district of Sumbi I went in between Nikippa and Upâ, steep mountains. Toward Urartu, Zikirtu (and) the Mannean land, Nairî and Musasir, I marched victoriously, like a mad dog, spreading terror, and I met no conqueror. The great armies of Ursâ, the Urartian, I totally conquered, and devastated his land. Of Urzana, of Musasir, - Haldia, his god, Bagbartu, his goddess, together with the great wealth of his temple, and 6,110 people, 12 mules, 380 asses, 525 cattle, 1,285 sheep, his wife, his sons, his daughters, I carried off. I went out through the pass of Mount Andarutta, a steep mountain, toward the city of Hipparna, and returned in safety to my land. (A few lines follow addressed to the gods and carrying the name and office of the scribe; Another text, the Cyprus text, provides a short summary of the above.)

General note: The defeat of Urartu dominates Sargon's Annals, and the treasure that Sargon took out of Urartu is mind-boggling. It is clear now why the Assyrian kings focused so much on raiding this rich land.

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Tiglath-Pileser III (745-727 B.C., text from "Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia, Vol. I")

769. Annals, from the central palace at Nimrûd (Calah) [In my third] year of reign, [Sardurri of Urartu revolved against me, ..............with] Mati'lu .............[Sulamal of Melid (Melitene), Tarhulara of Gurgum, [Kushtashpi of Kummuhu, [trusted' in each other's might. .........(Trusting) in the might and power of Assur, my lord, I fought with them, .......large numbers of them I slew. The gorges and precipices of the mountains I filled with [their bodies]. Their chariots ............their without number, I carried away from that slaughter and of Sardurri ...........I seized with my own hands. 72, 950 people, together with their possessions, from ..........[Sardurri, to save his life, escaped at night and was seen no more ..........up to the bridge across the Euphrates, the boundary of his land, I pursued him. And his bed ..........his royal coach, the seal-cylinder, (hung) about his neck, together with [his] rings .........his royal chariot, .........their (?) .............his ..............much, without number, his (?) chariots, horses, mules, ..............his workmen, without number, I carried away. The "house of the plain," [his royal] tent, ..............large quantities of his ..................I burned in the midst of his camp ............his ...........his bed, to Ishtar, queen of ........................................the city of Kukusanshu, ...................the city of Harbisina .........................-piati ....................-dînu ...................the city of Izzêda, which Ma .........I laid upon them. Rasunni [of Aram] ....................................3 talents of gold, x talents of silver .....................20 talents of ladunu-(herbs) .............Kushtashhpi of Kummuhu, [Hiram] of Tyre, Uriaik [of Kûe], Pisiris of Carchemish, Tarhulara of [Gurgum], ..........iron, elephant hide, ivory, purple (wool), ...............................[products] of their lands, in large (quantity) .......................in Arpad I received. Tutammû of Unki forgot the oath sowrn to me. His life .............................marched at my side. In anger (?) .......................................of Tutammû, together with his nobles .............The city of Kinalia, his royal city, I captured. The people with their possessions ........horses and mules among my artisans I apportioned like sheep ......in the midst of ...

771...brought to me in Hatti (Syria). My official, the governor of Na'iri, - the cities of Supurgillu, ........together with the cities of their environs, he captured, their booty he carried off. Shikilâ, the fortress commandant, ...........they carried off and brought before me in Hatti (Syria).

772. .....The tribute of Kushtashpi of Kummhu, Rasunnu (Rezin) of Aram, Menihimmu (Menahem) of Samerina (Samaria), Hirumm (Hiram) of Tyre, Sibitti-bi'li of Gubla (Gebail, Byblos), Urikki of Kûe, Pisiris of Carchemish, Eni-ilu of Hamaths, Panammû of Sam'al, (10) Tarhulara of Gurgum, Sulamal of Melid, Dadi-ilu of Kaska, Uassurme of Tabal, Ushitti of Tuna, Urballai of Tuhana, Tuhamme of Ishtunda, Urimme of Hubishna, Zabibê, queen of Arabia, - gold, silver, lead, iron, elephant's hides, ivory, colored (woolen) garments, linen garments, blue and purple wool, maple, boxwood, all kinds of precious royal treasure, fat (?) lambs, whose wool was purple in color (lit., dyed), winged birds of heaven, whose wool was purple in color (lit., dyed), winged birds of heaven, whose wings were blue in color (lit., dyed), horses, mules, cattle, sheep, camels, female camels, together with their young, I received....

778. ...........Samsi, queen of Arabia, who had violated the oath by Shamash, ........to the city of Ezasi ..........Arbia, in Saba ......[her people] in her camp .......she was afraid ........... I imposed upon her ...........submitted at my feet .......Sabeans, Haiappeans .........Hatteans, [Idiba'ileans] .....of the border of the lands of the setting sun .......the glory of my majesty ..........gold, silver, camels .......all kinds of herbs, as their tribute [they brought before me, as one] ............they kissed my feet .......a palace, befitting my royalty, I built .......Idibi'lu I appointed as overseer over ......

784. ....the lands of Til-Taranzai, Parsua, Bît-kibsi, as far as the city of Zakruti of the mighty Medes, I brought under my sway. My two officials I set over them as governors. The gifts (tribute) of the chieftans of the Medes, - as far as Mount Bikni, I received.

785. Sardaurri, of Urartu, revolted against me and made common cause with Mati'-ilu. In Kishtan and Halpi, districts of Kummuhi (Commagene, meaning "the community of genes"), I defeated him and took from him the whole of his camp. He became frightened at the fury of my arms and ran away, alone, to save his life. In Turushpâ, his city, I shut him up and slew many of his warriors before his (city's) gates. My royal image I set up in front of Turushpâ (Van). A distance of 80 (?) bêru ("double-hours"), I marched victoriously (lit., heroically) through the wide land of Urartu, from its upper to its lower (border), and found (lit., had) none to oppose. The land of Ulluba, in its entirety, the cities of Kashtirru, Parisu, Tashuha, Mantupa (?) Sardaurri, together with (or, as far as) the cities of Galânanal, Sikibsa, Asurdaî, Babutta, Lusia (and) Bisia (or, Kassia), strongholds of Urartu, which are back of Mount Nal, I brought (lit., turned) within the Assyrian border. In Ullaba I built a city and called its name Assur-ikîsha. My official I set over it as governor. The cities of Enu, Sassu, Lubdu, Lukia, Shimirra, Ushurnu, Uzurra (?), Auigash, Ubula, as far as Birdashu, the mountain, I added to the province of (my) Rab-bi-lub-official. The cities of Kuta, Urra, Arana, Taba, Uallia, up to the Euphrates River (which is) the boundary of Kummuhi, Kilissa, Ezieda, Diuabli, Abbissa, Harbisinna, [Barbaz], Tasa, Enzi, Anganu, Benzu, strongholds of Urartu, the Kallania, his river, I captured (and brought them within the Assyrian border. To the province of the Turtan and the province of Na'iri I added (them).

(Another (large clay) tablet from Nimrûd)

787. Palace of Tiglath-pileser, the great king, the mighty king, king of the universe, king of Assyria, king of Babylon, king of Sumer and Akkad, king of the four regions (of the) ....[a palace for my royal residence I built therein. The weapon of Assur, my lord, I set up in it.

797. [Sarduarri of Urartu, Sulamal of Melid (Melitene) Tarhulara [of Gurgum] ...........Kushtashpi of Kummuhu, to capture and plunder ...........between Kishtan and Halpi, districts of Kummuhu, ...........them. The river Sinzi I dyed red like wool ..........their ...........I took away from them.  In the midst ............his royal bed ...................

799. The Mas'ai, Temai, Sab'ai, Haiapai, Badanai, ............[on the border of the lands of the setting sun, whom no one knew, and whose home (lit., place) is afar off, - they heard of the glory of my majesty............camels, female camels, all kinds of herbs, their tribute, they brought before me, with one accord, [and kissed my feet].

801. The tribute of Kushtashpi of Kummuhu, Urik of Kûe, Sibitti-bi'il [of Gubla] .....[Eni]-ilu of Hamath, Panammû of Sam'al, Tarhulara of Gurgum, Sulumal of Melid] ......Uassurme of Tabal, Ushhitti of Tunai, Urballâ of Tuhan, Tuhamme of Ishtunda] (8) .....Matan-bi'il of Arvad, Sanibu of Beth-Ammon, Salamanu of Moab, ......Mitinti of Ashkelon. Iauhazi (Jehoahaz) of Judah, Kaush-malaku of Edom, Musri .....Hânûnu (Hanno) of Gaza, - gold, silver, lead, iron, tin, brightly colored (woolen) garments, linen, the purple garments of their land(s), .....all kinds of costly things, the...

(another text referring to the lands of the setting sun) 813 Sardaurri, of Urartu, revolted against me and made common cause with Mati'-ilu, son of Agussi. Between Kishtan and Halpi, districts of Kummuhu (Commagene ; note suffix change : Kummuhi to Kummuhu), I defeated him. The whole of his camp I took from him. He became frightened at the awful brilliance of my arms and to save his life mounted a mare and escaped to Mount Sibak, a steep mountain, at night, and ascended it. Sarduari of Urartu I shut up in his city Turushpâ (modern Van). Large numbers (of his men) I slew in front of the gate of his city. My royal image I fashioned and set it up in front of Turushpâ. A stretch of 60 bêru (double-hours), I advanced victoriously (lit., heroically) through the wide Urartu, from north to south, and found (lit., had) none to oppose. [Compare this text to 785 above).

818. The Bir'ai I brought in submission to my feet . The Mes'eans the Temeans, the Sab'eans, the Haiappeans, the Banaeans, the Hatteans, the Idiba'ileans.................which are on the border of the lands of the setting sun, whom no one knew of, and whose abode (place) is afar off, - the glory of my majesty ........my majesty, gold, silver, camels, female camels, all kinds of spices as their tribute, with one accord they brought before me and they kissed my feet.

814. The lands of Ulluba (and) Kirhu, which are at the foot of Mount Nala, in their (text, its) totality, I conquered and brought them within the border of Assyria. My royal image I set up in the land of Ilimmer. Inside the border of Ulluba I built a city. Its name I called Assur-ikîsha. People of the lands my hands had conquered I settled therein. My official I set over them as governor.

General note: If Turushpâ is modern Van, then this is what wikipedia says about it (the document does not mention the Assyrian claim of conquest, so the information should be taken with a grain of salt, as it were):

wikipedia.org: "Under the ancient name of Tushpa, Van was the capital of the Urartian kingdom in the 9th century BC. Its ancient inhabitants called themselves Nairi. The city was a major Armenian center. The area of Van became once more an important center during the reign of the Armenian king, Tigranes II, who founded the city of Tigranakert in the 1st century BC ^[4]. The region came under the control of the Medes in the early 7th century BC and later by Persians in the mid 6th century BC."

The land of Kirhu may be Caria. Lukia, listed in 785 above, may be Lycia. In 801 above Tarhulara of Gurgum, Sulumal of Melid] ..............Uassurme of Tabal, Ushhitti of Tunai, may be in the region of Lycia. Uassurme is a name that has a familiar ring, associated with the name Ramesses used by the Nineteenth and Twentieth Dynasty (Theban) pharoahs: Ramesses II , III, V, VII, VIII. Usermare appears one more time in the Twenty-first Dynasty in the name of Usermare Amenemope (994-985 B.C.).

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Assur-nâsir-pal (884-859 B.C., inscription from pavement slabs in the entrance of the temple of Urta
[the Storm-god, giver of scepter and law unto all cities] at Nimrûd - text from "Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia, Vol. I")

440. ....I mobilized my chariots and armies, crossed over steep mountains by difficult roads which had not been prepared for the passage of chariots and troops, and marched to the land of Tumme. Libê, their fortified city, and the cities of Surra, Abuku, Arura, and Arubê, which lie among the mountains of Urini, Aruni and Etini, fortified cities, I captured. I slew great numbers of them; their spoil, their possessions and their cattle I carried off. The men escaped, and occupied a steep mountain; the mountain was exceeding steep and I did not go after them. The peak of the mountain rose (lit., lay) like the point of an iron dagger, and no bird of heaven that flies comes to it. Like the nest of the eagle (vulture) their stronghold was situated within the mountain, whereinto none of the kings, my fathers, had penetrated. For (lit., in) three days the warrior searched out the mountain, his stout heart urging to battle; he climbed up on foot, he cast down the mountain, he destroyed their nest, he shattered their host. Two hundred of their fighting men I cut down with the sword; their heavy booty I carried off like a flock of sheep; with their blood I dyed the mountain red like wool; with the rest of them I darkened (?) the gullies and precipices of the mountain; their cities I destroyed, I devastated, I burned with fire. From the land of Tumme I departed, to the land of Kirruri I went down. Tribute from the lands of Kirruri, Simesi, Simera, Ulmania, Adaush, (from) the Hargeans and Harmaseans, - horses, mules, cattle, sheep, wine, vessels of copper, I received as their tribute and I imposed the carrying of the headpad (?) upon them.

441. While I was staying in the land of Kirruri, the awe-inspiring splendor of Assur, my lord, overwhelmed the men of the lands of Gilzani and Hubushkia; horses, silver, gold, lead, copper and vessels of copper they brought to me as their tribute. From the land of Kirruri I departed, and I entered by the pass of Hulun into the land of Kirhi, which lies inside. The cities of Hatu, Hataru, Nishtun, Irbidi, Mitkia, Arsania, Têla, and Halua, cities of the land of Kirhi which lie among the mighty mountains of Usu, Arua, and Arrdi, I captured. Geat numbers of them I slew, their spoil and their possessions I carried away. The men escaped and occupied a lofty mountain peak which was over against the city of Nishtun and which was suspended like a cloud from heaven. Against these men, unto whom none among the kings my fathers had come near, my warriors flew like birds. 260 of their fighting men I cut down with the sword, I cut off their heads, and I formed them into pillars. The rest of them built a nest on the rocks of the mountain like a bird. Their spoil and their possessions I brought down from the mountain, and the cities which were in the midst of the mighty ranges, I destroyed, I devatated, I burned with fire. All the men who had fled from before my arms came down and embraced my feet. Tribute and tax, and the carrying of the headpad (?) I imposed upon them. Bûbu, son of Bubâ, the governor of the city of Nishtun, I flayed in the city of Arbela and I spread his skin upon the city wall. At that time I fashioned an image of my own likeness, the glory of my power I inscribed thereon, and in the mountain of Eki, in the city of Assur-nâsir-pal, at the (river) source, I set it up.

442. In this (same) eponmy, on the twenty-fourth day of the month Abu, at the word of Assur and Ishtar, the great gods, my lords, I departed from Nineveh, against the cities which lie at the foot of the mighty mountains of Nipur and Pasate I marched. I captured the cities of Arkun, Ushhu and Pilazi and twenty cities of their neighborhood. Great numbers (of the inhabitants) I slew, their spoil and their possessions I carried off, their cities I burned with fire. All the men who had fled from before my arms came down and embraced my feet, and I imposed forced labor upon them. From the cities at the foot of the mountains of Nipur and Pasate I departed, the Tigris I crossed, and I drew near to the land of Kutmuhi, I received tribute from the lands of Kutmuhi and Mushki, - vessels of copper, cattle, sheep and wine. (7)

443. While I was staying in the land of Kutmuhi, they brought me the word: "The city of Sûru of Bît-Halupê, has revolted, they have slain Hamatai, their governor, and Ahiababa, the son of a nobody, whom they brought from Bît-Adini, they have set up as king over them." With the help of Adad and the great gods who have made great my kingdom, I mobilized (my) chariots and armies and marched along the bank of the Habur. During my advance I received much tribute from Shulmanu-haman-ilâni of the city of Gardiganni, from Ilu-Adad of the city of Katna, - silver, gold, lead, vessels of copper, and garments of brightly colored wool, and garments of linen. To the city of Sûru of Bît-Halupê I drew near, and the terror of the splendor of Assur, my lord, overwhelmed them. The chief men and the elders of the city, to save their lives, came forth into my presence and embraced my feet, saying: "If it is thy pleasure, slay! If it is thy pleasure, let live! That which thy heart desireth, do!" Ahiababa, the son of nobody, whom they had brought from Bît-Adini, I took captive. In the valor of my heart and with the fury of my weapons I stormed the city. All the rebels they seized and delivered them up. My officers I caused to enter into his palace and his temples. His silver, his gold, his goods and his possessions, copper, iron, lead, vessels of copper, cups of copper, dishes of copper, a great hoard of copper, alabaster, tables with inlay, the women of his palaces, his daughters, the captive rebels together with their possessions, the gods together with their possessions, precious stone from the mountains, his chairot with equipment, his horses, broken to the yoke, trappings of men and trappings of horses, garments of brightly colored wool and garments of linen, goodly oil, cedar, and fine sweet-scented herbs, panels (?) of cedar, purple and crimson wool, his wagons, his cattle, his sheep, his heavy spoil, which like the stars of heaven could not be counted, I carried off. Azi-ilu I set over them as my own governor. I built a pillar over against his city gate, and I flayed all the chief men who had revolted, and I covered the pillar with their skins; some I walled up within the pillar, some I impaled upon the pillar on stakes, and others I bound to stakes round about the pillar; many within the border of my own land I flayed, and I spead their skins upon the walls; and I cut off the limbs of the officers, of the royal officers who had rebelled. Ahiababa I took to Nineveh, I flayed him, I spread his skin upon the wall of Nineveh. My power and might I established over the land of Lakê. While I was staying in the city of Sûru, (I received) tribute from all the kings of the land of Lakê, - silver, gold, lead, copper, vessels of copper, cattle, sheep, garments of brightly colored wool, and garments of linen, and I increased the tibute and taxes and imposed them upon them. At that time, the tribute of Haiâni of the city of Hindani, - silver, gold, lead, copper, umu-stone, alabaster, purple wool, and (Bactrian) camels I received from him as tribute. At that time I fashioned a heroic image of my royal self, my power and my glory I inscribed thereon, in the midst of his palace I set it up. I fashioned memorial steles and inscribed thereon my glory and my prowess, and I set them up by his city gate.

444. Year 2. Against the rebels in halzi-luha and the Kashiari hills (northwest of Assyria) In the eponymy, the year (called by) my name, at the word of Assur, my lord, and Urta, who loves my priesthood, although in the time of the kings, my fathers, no governor of the land of Suhi had come unto Assyria, Ilu-ibni, the governor of Suhi, to save his life, together with his brothers and his sons, brought silver and gold as his tribute to Nineveh into my presence. In the same eponymy, while I was staying in Nineveh, they brought the word that the Assyrians and Hulai, their governor, whom Shalmaneser, king of Assyria, a prince who preceded me, had settled in the city of Halzi-luha, had revolted and had marched against Damdamusa, my royal city, to take it. At the word of Assur, Ishtar, and Adad, the gods, my helpers, I mustered my chariots and armies.

445. At the source of the river Subnat, where stand the images of Tilath-pileser and Tukulti-Urta, kings of Assyria, my fathers, I fashioned an image of my royal person, and I set it up beside them. At that time I received the tribute of the land of Isala, - cattle, flocks, and wine. To the mountain of Kashiari I crossed, to Kinabu, the fortified city of Hulai, I drew near. With the masses of my troops and by my furious battle onset I stormed, I captured the city; 600 of their warriors I put to the sword; 3,000 captives I burned with fire; I did not leave a single one among them alive to serve as a hostage. Hulai, their governor, I captured alive. Their corpses I formed into pillars; their young men and maidens I burned in the fire. Hulai, their governor, I flayed, his skin I spread upon the wall of the city of Damdamusa; the city I destroyed, I devastated, I burned with fire. The city of Mariru, which was within their borders, I captured. Fifty of their warriors I put to the sword; 200 of their captives I burned with fire. 332 men of the land of Nirbu I slew in a battle on the plain; their spoil, their cattle, and their sheep I carried off. The (men of the) land of Nirbu, which is at the foot of Mount Uira, had banded themselves together, and had entered the city of Têla, their stronghold. From Kinabu I departed, to the city of Têla I drew near. The city was exceeding strong and was surrounded by three walls. The men trusted in their mighty walls and in their hosts, and did not come down, and did not embrace my feet. With battle and slaughter I stormed the city and captured it. 3,000 of their warriors I put to the sword; their spoil and their possessions, their cattle and their sheep, I carried off. Man captives from among them I burned with fire, and many I took as living captives. From some I cut off their hands and their fingers, and from others I cut off their noses, their ears, and their fingers (?), of many I put out the eyes. I made one pillar of the living, and another of heads, and I bound their heads to posts (tree trunks) round about the city. Their young men (Col. II) and maidens I burned in the fire, the city I destroyed, I devastated, I burned it with fire and consumed it. At that time the cities of the land of Nirbi and their strong walls I destroyed, I devastated, I burned with fire.

446. From the land of Nirbu I departed, to the city of Tushha I drew near. Tushha I restored. Its ancient wall I destroyed, the site thereof I cleared, I dug down to its foundation, and a new wall, from the foundation unto the coping thereof, I built, I completed, I made it exceeding strong. A palace for my royal dwelling I founded within its gates. That palace I built and I completed from the foundation unto the roof thereof. An image of my likeness I fashioned out of the white limestone, my glory, my exceeding great power and my valorous deeds which I had performed in the lands of Nairî, I inscribed thereon, and in the city of Tushha I set it up; and I inscribed a memorial stele and set it in the wall thereof. (9) The poor Assyrians, who by reason of want and hunger had gone up to other (lands and) mountains, into the land of Shuprê, I bought back and I settled them in the city of Tushha. That city I took for my own possession, grain and straw from the land of Nirbi I heaped up therein. The remainder of the men of the land of Nirbi, who had fled from before my weapons, came down and embraced my feet. In such of their cities and houses as were habitable I settled them, taxes and tribute, - horses, mules, cattle, sheep, wine, vessels of copper - I made heavier than (they were) before and imposed them upon them, their sons I took as hostages.

447. While I was staying in the city of Tushha, I received tribute from Amme-ba'la, the son of Zamâni, from Anhite of the land of Shuprê, and from Lapturi, the son of Tubusi of the land of Nirdun, and tribute from the land of Urume, which lies inside, and from the kings of the lands of Nairî, - chariots, horses, mules, silver, gold, and vessels of copper, cattle, sheep, and wine I received as their tribute. The carrying of the headpad (?) I imposed upon the lands of Nairî. On my return (march) from among the lands of Nairî, the land of Nirbu, which lies in the midst of Mount Kashiari, revolted. Their nine cities they abandoned, and in the city of Ishpilibria, their stronghold, and in the steep mountain, they put their trust. I stormed the mountain peaks and took them. In the midst of the mighty mountain I slaughterd them, with their blood I dyed the mountain red like wool. With the rest of them I darkened the gullies and precipices of the mountains. I carried off their spoil and their possessions. The heads of their warriors I cut off, and I formed them into a pillar over against their city, their young men and their maidens I burned in the fire. The pass of Buliani I entered and I took (the road) along the river Lukia. In my advance I conquered the cities of the land of Kirhi which lie in the pass. I slaughtered the inhabitants in great numbers, I carried off their spoil, the cities I burned with fire. I went forth to the city of Ardupa. At that time I received tribute from Ahiramu, son of Iahiri, of the land of Salli, from the son of Bahiani of the land of Hatti, and from the kings of the land of Hanigalbat, - silver, gold, lead, vessels of copper, cattle, sheep and horses.

448. Year 3, Against the rebels of Zamma (east of the Tigris). People and places in this campaign are: the pass of Babite, where he built a wall, the cities of Uzê, Birutu and Lagalaga, their fortresses, together with one hundred cities which lay round about.

449. From Dagara I departed, to the city of Bâra.. from the city of Kakzi I entered the pass of Babite...from the pass of Babite I departed to Mount Nisir which men of the land of Lullu call Mount Kinipa. The city of Bunâsi, their stronghold, belonging to Musasina, and thirty cities of its neighborhood I captured...Seven cities, which were in the midst of Mount Nisir and which they had fortified as their strongholds, I captured...

450 ..I marched against the cities which are upon Mount Nisir, the site of which no man had ever seen. The city of Larbusa, the stronghold of Kirtiara, and eight cities of its neighborhood, I captured. The men fled and occupied a steep mountain. The peak of the mountain rose (lit., lay) like the point of an iron dagger, but the king with his hosts climbed up after them....I departed ; 150 cities of the (men of) Larbusa, Dûr-Luluma, Bunisa, and Bâra I captured...Fifty of the men of the city of Bâra I slew in a battle on the plain (open battle).

451. At that time the terrifying splendor of Assur, my lord, overwhelmed the kings of the whole of the land of Zamua...From the city of Tukulti-Assur-asbat I departed (the road) at the foot of Mount Nishpi I took. To the cities which lay afar off in the midst of Mount Nishpi, (and) which Nur-Adad had turned into his strongholds, I came. The city of Briutu I captured, I burned it with fire.

452. Year 4, A third campaign against Zamua. I departed from the city of Kazi, the Lower Zab I crossed. I entered the pass of Babite, I crossed the Radânu, drawing nearer every day to the foot of Mount Simaki. Cattle, sheep and wine, the tribute of the land of Dagara, I received. The ---chariots and picked cavalry (men) I took with me, and all the night, until the dawn, I marched from (along?) the foot of the mountain of Simaki. I crossed the Turnat, and with all haste (?) to the city of Ammali, the stronghold of Arashtu, I drew near...

453. The city of Hudun and twenty cities of its neighborhood I captured; I slew the inhabitants thereof, their spoil, their cattle, and their sheep I carried off; their cities I destroyed, I devastated, I burned with fire; their young men and their maidens I burned in the flames. The city of Kisirtu, thier stronghold, ruled by (lit., of) Sabini, together with ten cities of its neighborhood, I captured, I slew their inhabitants, their spoil I carried away. The cities of the Bâreans which were ruled by Kirtiara, and those of the men of Dûra and of Bunisa, as far as the pass of Hashmar, I destroyed, I devastated, I burned with fire, I turned them into mounds and ruins. I departed from the cities of Arashtua (the ruler's name), I entered the pass between the steep mountains of Lâra and Bidirgi, which for the passage of chariots and hosts was not suited (lit., laid), to Zamri, the royal city of Ameka of the land of Zamua, I drew near.

454 Ameka became afraid before my mighty weapons and my fierce battle array, and occupied a steep mountain. The goods of his palace and his chairot I carried away; from the city of Zamri I departed. I crossed the Lallû and marched to Mount Etini, a difficult region, which was not suited (lit., laid) for the passage of chariots and armies, and unto which none among the kings, my fathers, had come nigh. The king, together with his armies, climbed up into Mount Etini. His goods..I carried out of the mountain..and I set out after him. I crossed the Edir River and in the midst of the mighty mountains of Sû and Elaniu I slew multitudes of them...their heavy spoil, from the foot of Mount Elaniu I carried off. I took his horse from him. Ameka, to save his life, climbed up into Mount Sabua.

455. The cities of Zamru, Arasitku, Ammaru, Parsindu, Iritu, and Suritu, his strongholds, together with 150 cities which lay round about, I destroyed, I devastated, I burned with fire, into mounds and ruin heaps I turned them. While I was staying before the city of Parsindi, I placed in reserve the cavalry and pioners (sappers). Fifty of Ameka's warriors I slew in the field, I cut off their heads and bound them to the tree trunks within his palace court. Twenty men I captured alive and I immured them int the wall of his palace. From the city of Zamri I took with me the cavalry and pioneers, and marched against the cities of Ata, (man's name) of Arzizu, unto which none among the kings my fathers had come nigh. The cities of Arzizu and Arsindu, his strongholds, together with ten cities which lay round about on the steep mountain of Nispi, I captured. I slew the ihabitants thereof; the cities I destroyed, I devastated, I burned with fire, and returned to my camp.

456. At that time I received copper, -tabbili of copper, and rings (?) of copper, and many shariâte from the land of Sipirmena who(se inhabitants?) speak like women.

457. From the city of Zamri I departed and into the difficult mountain of Lâra, which was not suited for the passage of chariots and armies, with hatchets of iron I cut and with axes of bronze I hewed (a way), and I brought over the chariots and troops and came down to the city of Tukulti-Assur-asbat, which the men of the land of Lullu call Arakdi...While I was staying in the land of Zamua, the men of the cities of Huduni, Hartishi, Hubushkia and Gilzani were overwhelmed with the terrifying splendors of Assur, my lord, and they brought me tribute and tax, - silver, gold, horses, garments of brightly colored wool, cattle, flocks, and wine. The people, such as had fled from before my arms, climbed up into the mountains. I pursued them. Between the mountains of Aziru and Simaki they had settled themselves, and had made the city of Mesu their stronghold. Mount Aziru I destroyed, I devastated, and from the midst of Mount Simaki as far as the river Turnat I strewed their corpses. 500 of their warriors I slew and carried off their heavy spoil, the cities I burned with fire.

458. At that time, in the land of Zamua, the city of Atlila, which for the scepter of the king of Karduniash they had seized, had decayed and had become (lit., turned into) a mound and a ruin heap. Assurnâsir-pal restored it. I surrounded it with a wall, and I erected therin a palace for my royal dwelling, I adorned it and made it glorious and greater than it was before. Grain and straw from the whole land I heaped up within it, and called its name Dûr-Assur.

459. Year 5, Against Kutmuhu (Commagene) and Zamani...I crossed the Tigris and entered the land of Kutmuhi. I opened a palace in the city of Tiluli and received the tribute of the land of Kutmuhi. From the land of Kutmuhi I departed, and I entered the pass of Ishtarâti (the goddesses). In the city of Kibaki I spent the night and I received cattle, flocks, wine, vessels of copper, - the tribute of the city of Kibaki. From the city of Kibaki I departed and I drew nigh unto the city of Matiati. The city of Matiati together with its villages I captured. 2,800 of their fighting men I cut down with the sword, their great spoil I carried off. All the men who had fled before my arms (now) embraced my feet, and I caused them to reoccupy their cities, I imposed tribute, tax, and overseers, more stringently upon them. I fashioned an image in my own likeness, (the record of) my victorious might I inscribed thereon, and set it up in the city of Matiati.

460. From the city of Matiati I departed and in the city of Zazabuha I spent the night. I received the tribute of the land of Kirhi, - cattle, flocks, wine, vesels of copper, copper wild-oxen (and) beakers of copper. From the city of Zazabuha I departed, I spent the night at the city of Irsia. The city of Irsia I burned with fire. The tribute of the city of Sûra, - cattle, flocks, wine, vessels of copper, I received in the city of Irsia.

461. From the city of Irsia I departed, and spent the night in the mountain of Kashiari. The city of Madaranzu, and the two cities of its environs, I captured, slew their inhabitants, carried off their spoil, and burned the cities with fire. For six days in the midst of the mighty mountain of Kashiari, a difficult region which was not suited for the passage of chariots and troops, with hatchets of iron I cut and with axes of bronze I hewed a way through, and I brought over the chariots and troops. In the cities which were along my path in the midst of the mountain of Kashiari I receive cattle, flocks, wine, vessels of copper, and beakers of copper. I crossed over the mountain of Kashiaru and for the second time I went down into the lands of Nairî. In the city of Shinigisha I spent the night. From the city of Sinigisha I departed and I drew nigh unto the city of Madara, the stronghold of Lapturi, the son of Tubusi. The city was exceeding strong and surrounded with four walls. I stormed the city, and they became frightened before my mighty arms, and their goods, their possessions, and their sons I received as gifts from them. I had mercy on them and spared their lives. Tribute, tax, and overseers, I imposed upon them. The city I destroyed and devastated, and I turned it into a mound and ruin heap. From the city of Madara I departed, into the city of Tushhan I entered.

462. I opened a palace in the city of Tushhan. The tribute of the land of Nirdu, - horses, mules, vessels of copper, beakers of copper, cattle, flocks, and wine I received in the city of Tushhan. Sixty strong, walled cities at the foot of the montain of Kashiari, which (were ruled by) Lapturi, the son of Tubusi, I destroyed and devastated, I turned them into mounds and ruin heaps.

463. With the help of Assur, my lord, I departed from the city of Tushhan. The ---chariots and picked cavalry I took with me, and on rafts I crossed the Tigris. All night I marched and I drew nigh unto Pitura, the stronghold of the men of the land of Dirra. The city was exceeding strong, and was surounded with two walls. Its citadel was like a mountain peak. With the supreme might of Assur, my lord, with the multitude of my hosts and with my furious battle onslaught I fought with them. For two days, from before sunrise, I thundered against them like Adad, (the god) of the storm, and I rained down flame upon them....I took the city...Their young men and their maidens I burned in the fire.

464. The city of Kûkunu, which is at the mouth of the pass of Mount Matni, I captured. 700 of their fighting men I put to the sword, and their great spoil I carried away. Fifty cities of the land of Dira I captured, I slew the inhabitants, and I carried off their spoil; fifty men I captured alive, the cities I destroyed, I devastated, I burned with fire. The terrifying splendor of my dominion I poured out over them.|

465. From the city of Bitura I departed, and I went down unto the city of Arbaki in the land of Kirhi, which lies within...Iiaia and Salaniba, the fortresses of the city of Arbaki, I captured, I slew their inhabitants, and I carried off their spoil. 250 strong, walled cities in the lands of Nairî I destroyed, I devastated, and I turned them into mounds and ruin heaps. The harvest of their land I gathered, grain and straw I heaped up in the city of Tushha.

466. Against Amme-ba'la, the son of Zamâni, his nobles revolted, and they slew him. To avenge Amme-ba'la I marched forth. Before the fury of my arms and the terror of my dominion they were (v., he was) affrighted; and chariots equipped with their quotas of men and horses, 460 of his horses, broken to the yoke, two talents of silver, two talents of gold, 100 talents of lead, 100 talents of copper, 300 talents of iron, 100 vessels of bronze, 3,000 pans of copper, bowls of copper, caldrons of copper, and 1,000 garments made of brightly colored wool, and linen garments, vessels of SHA-wood, ivory couches overlaid with gold, the treasures..

475. Another raid through Bît-Adini and Hattina, to Mount Amanus and the Meditrranean (Col III.ll 56-92)

476. I crossed the Euphrates at its flood in ships made of skins, (and) I drew nigh to Carchemish. The tribute of Sangara, king of the land of Hatte, - twenty talents of silver, a clasp (?) of gold, a ring of gold, golden daggers, 100 talents of copper, 250 talents of iron, copper wild-oxen (?), vessels of copper, bowls of copper, and a brazier of copper, the rich furniture of his palace, whose weight could not be computed, beds of boxwood, chairs of boxwood, and tables of boxwood inlaid with ivory, 200 maidens, garments made of brightly colored woool, and linen garments, blue and purple wool, SHIR-NU-MA-stone, elephants' tusks, a gorgeous chariot, a couch of gold, worthily adorned for his royal splendor, I received from him. The chariots, the calvarymen, and the foot soldiers of the city of Carchemish I took with me. The kings of all the lands came unto me and embraced my feet. I took hostages from them. Before me they rose up (?), to the Lebanon they marched. From Carchemish I departed, and between the mountains of Munzigani and Hamurga I marched. The land of Ahânu I kept on my left hand. The city of Hazazi, belonging to Jubarna of the land of Hattina, I drew nigh, - gold, garments (of wool), linen garments I received. I passed on, I crossed the Aprê River, and spent the night.

477. From the river Aprê I departed, to Kunulua, the royal city of Lubarna of Hattina, I drew nigh. Before my terrible weapons and my furious battle array he became fightened, and to save his life he laid hold of my feet. Twenty talents of silver, one talent of gold, 100 talents of lead, 100 talents of iron, 1,000 head of cattle, 10,000 sheep, 1,000 garments made of brightly colored wool, linen garments, a couch of boxwood, beds which were sumptously inlaid, many tables of ivory and of boxwood, whereof the weight could not be computed, 10 female musicians, [his brother's daughter with her rich dowry, and a geat pagutu, and mighty ----I received from him as his tribute...


480. Against Kutmuhu (Commagene) and Zamani (Col. III.ll.92-113) In the eponymy of Shamash-nurî, by the command of Assur, the great lord, my lord, on the twentieth day of the month Ululu I departed from the city of Calah, I crossed the Tigris, and I went down unto the land of Kipani. The tribute of the rulers of the lands of Kipani I received in the city of Huzirina. While I remained in the city of Huzirina, tribute from Itti' of the land of Salla, and from Giridadi of the land of Ashsha, - silver, gold, catle, and flocks I received. At that time I also received beams of cedar, silver, gold, the tribute of Katazilu of the land of Kummhi. (Luckenbill notation: "The gentilic Kummuhai shows that the older form "kutmuhu" had become "kummuhu" in Assur-nâsir-pal's day) From the city of Huzirina I departed, and I marched upstream alongside the Euphrates. The land of Kubbu I traversed, and I went down into the midst of the cities of the lands of Ashsha and of Kirhi which are before the land of Hatti. The cities of Umalia and Hirânu, strongholds which lie in the midst of the land of Adani, I captured. I slew many of the inhabitants thereof, and their spoil in countless quantities I carried off. The cities I destroyed, I devastated. 150 cities which lay about them I burned with fire. From the city of Karania I departed, and I entered the pass of the mountains of Amadani, and I went down into the midst of the cities of the land of Dirria. The cities which lie between the mountains of Amadani and of Arkânia I burned with fire, and the land of Mallânu which is in the midst of the mountain of Arkânia I took for my own possession. From the land of Mallânu I departed, unto the cities of the land of Zamba, which lay beside my path, I burned with fire. I crossed the river Sûa and I halted (for the night) by the Tigris. The cities on that side and on this side of the Tigris in the mountain of Arkânia I turned into mounds and ruin heaps. The whole of the land of Kirhi became frightened and embraced my feet, I took hostages from them, my own governor I appointed over them. From the pass of the mountain of Amadani I went forth unto the city of Barzanishtun. Unto the city of Damdammusa, the stronghold of Ilani of Zamani, I drew near. I stormed the city; my warriors flew like birds against them. 600 of their fighting men I struck down with the sword, I cut off their heads. 400 men I took alive, 3,000 prisoners I brought out. That city I took for my own possession. The living men and the heads I carried to Amedi, his royal city, I made a pillar of heads in front of his city gate, the living men I impaled on stakes round about the city. I fought a battle within his city gate, I cut down his orchards. From the city of Amedi I departed. I entered the pass of the mountain of Kashiari (and) of the city of Allabrâ, wherein none among the kings, my fathers, had set foot, or had made an expedition thereto. Unto the city of Uda, the stronghold of Lapturi, the son of Tubusi, I drew nigh. I stormed the city. 1,400+ of their fighting men I put to the sword, 580 men I captured alive, 3,000 prisoners I brought out. The living men I impaled ...

498. The Kurkh Monolith (about 20 miles south of Diarbekr, now in the British Museum-No. 125). Set up to commemorate the victories of the fifth year of Assur-nasir-pal's reign. When the lord Assur, who called me by my name and has made my great kingdom, made a revelation unto me and commanded that I should march a second time against the Nairî, on the first day of the month of Simânu, in the eponomy of Sha-ilima-damka, I mustered my chariots and my armies, I crossed the Tigris. In the region of my path .............in the land of Kadish-haru (?) ........................Into the city of Abki I entered, from the city of Abki I departed. Five lions before the city of Malhina (?) in the land of Hatte I brought low with my terrible bow. Into the land of Kutmuhi I entered, a palace in the city of Tiluli I consecrated, I received the tribute of the land of Kutmuhi in the city of Tiluli. From the land of Kutmuhi I departed, and I entered the passes of the Ishtarâti (the goddesses). In the city of Kibaki I spent the night, and I received cattle, sheep, wine, vessels [of copper], as the tribute of the city of Kibaki. From the city of Kibaki I departed, unto the city of Matiate I drew near. The city of Matiate together with the villages thereof I captured. 2,800 of their fighting men I brought low with the sword; their great spoil I carried off. All the men who had fled from before my weapons embraced my feet, in their cities I caused them to dwell, (Rev.) tribute, taxes, and overseers I imposed more stringently upon them. I made an image of my own likeness, the power of my might I inscribed thereon, in the city of Matiate I set it up. The city of Bunnu -, the fortress of Masula (and) two cities of its neighborhood, I captured. Three hundred of their fighting men I cut down with the sword, their spoil I carried off, and their cities I burned with fire. From the city of Matiate I departed, in the city of Zazabuha I spent the night, I received the tribute of the land of Kirhi, - cattle, sheep, wine, vessels of copper, bowls and beakers of copper. From the city of Zazabuha I departed, and I spent the night in the city of Irsia. The city of Irsia I burned with fire. The tribute of the city of Shûra, - cattle, sheep, wine, and vessels I received in the city of Irsia. From the city of Irsia I departed, in the mountain of Kashiaru I spent the night. The city of Madaranzu and two cities of its neighborhood I captured, I slew the inhabitants thereof, ......I carried off, I burned the cities with fire. For six days in the midst of the mighty mountain of Kashiaru, a difficult region, not suited for the passage of chariots and troops, with hatchets of iron I cut and with axes of copper I hewed a way through, I brought over the chariots and troops. In the cities which were alongside my trail through the midst of the mountain of Kashiaru I received cattle, sheep, and wine.

499. (See earlier description at 462 ff.) The mountain of Kashiaru I crossed, and for the second time I went down into the land of Nairî. In the city of Shigishu I spent the night. From the city of Shigishu] I departed, I drew near to the city of Madara, the stronghold of Lapturi, the son of Tubusi. The city was exceeding strong, surrounded by four walls. I stormed the city. They took fright at my mighty arms, and their property, their possessions, and their sons I received from them as gifts, and I pardoned them and spared their lives. Tribute, taxes, and overseers I imposed upon them. The city I destroyed, I laid waste, I turned it into mounds and ruins. From the city of Madara I departed, into the city of Tushha I entered. The palace in the city of Tushha I consecrated, and the tribute of the land of Nirdun, - horses, mules, vessels, beakers, cattle, sheep, and wine, - I received in the city of Tushha. [Sixty] strong, walled cities, at the foot of Mount Kashiaru, belonging to Lapturi, the son of Tubusi, I destroyed, I laid waste, I turned into mounds and ruins. With the help of Assur, my lord, from the city of Tushha I departed. The chariots and ----calvary I took with me, and on rafts I crossed the Tigris. All night I marched, I drew nigh unto Pitura, the stronghold of the men of the city of Dirra. The city was exceeding strong, was surrounded by two walls, its citadel was built like a mountain peak. (Trusting in) the supreme might of Assur, my lord, with the masses of my hosts and with my furious onslaught I battled [with them]. For two days, from before sunrise, I thundered against them like Adad, (the god) of the storm, and I rained down flame upon them. [With courage] and might my warriors flew against them like Zû (the mythological storm-bird). I captured the city, 800 of their warriors I struck down with the sword, I cut off their heads. Many of the men I captured alive, the rest of them I burned with fire, their heavy spoil I carried off. A pillar of living (men and) of heads I built in front of their city gate.The city I destroyed, I devastated, I turned it into mounds and ruins; their young men I burned in the flames. The city of Kûkun, which is situated at the entrance (lit., mouth) of the pass of the mountain of Matnu, I captured, 700 of their warriors I struck down with the sword, their great spoil I carried off.

500. Forty cities of the land of Dirra I captured, and I slew their inhabitants, I carried off their spoil; forty men I captured alive, the cities I destroyed, I devastated, I burned with fire. The (terrifying) splendor of my dominion I poured over them. From the city of Pidara I departed, to the city of Arbaki, of the land of Kirhi, which is on the inside, I went down. At my royal splendor they were affrighted, and their strong, walled cities they cast down; to save their lives, into the mighty mountain, with their blood I dyed the mountain, with their corpses I filled the gullies and precipices of the mountain. 200 men I captured alive, I cut off their arms, and 2,000 of them as captives I carried away; their cattle and sheep in countless numbers I carried off. Iiaia and Salanibe, the strong cities of the land of Arbakki, I captured, I slew their inhabitants and I carried off their spoil.

501. 250 strong, walled cities of the lands of Nairî I destroyed, I laid waste, into mouns and ruins I turned them. The harvest of their land I gathered, grain andstraw I heaped up in the city of Tushha. Against Amma-ba'li, the son of Zamâni, his (text has, their) nobles revolted and they slew him; to avenge Ammi-pa'li I set out. Before the fury of my arms and the terror of my dominion they were affrighted; and forty chariots equipped with the trappings of men and horses, 460 horses broken to the yoke, two talents of silver, two talents of gold, 100 talents of lead, 200 talents of copper, 300 talents of copper, 300 talents of iron, 1,000 vessels of copper, 2,000 pans of copper, bowls and caldrons of copper, 1,000 brightly colored garments (of wool) and linen garments, tables of SHA-wood, couches made of ivory and overlaid with gold, the treasures of his palace, 2,000 head of cattle, 5,000 sheep, his sister with her rich dowry, the daughters of his nobles with their rich dowries I received. Bur-ramânu, the rebel (lit., sinner), I flayed, I spread his skin upon the wall of the city of Sinabu; Ilânu, his brother, I appointed to the rulership; two minas of gold, 13 minas of silver, 1,000 sheep, 2,000 (gur) of -----grain (?) ................................as ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,tribute I imposed upon him. Sinabu and Tîdu, fortresses which Shalmaneser, king of Assryia, a prince who went before me, had seized (as an outpost) against the land of Nairî , whom (the men of) the land of Arumu had trampled under foot, I resettled in their cities and houses which lay desolate, I caused them to dwell in peaceful habitations.

502. 15,000 Ahlamê Arameans, ruled by (lit., of) Ammiba'li, son of Zamâni, I snatched away and brought to Assyria. The harvest of the land of Nairî I gathered in the cities of Tushha, Damdamusi, Sinabu, and Tîdi I heaped it up for the forces of my land. The cities of the lands of Nirdun and Luluta, the city of Dirra, and (the cities of) the lands of Aggunu, Ulliba, Arbaki, and Nirbe I captured, I slew the inhabitants thereof, I carried off their spoil. Their cities I destroyed, I devastated, I turned into mounds and ruins; feudal dues, forced labor, and overseers I imposed upon the land of Nairî. My own governor I set over them; the performance of service, the fury of my arms, the terror of my dominion I poured out over the land of Nairî. The tribute of the land of Shuprê, - silver, gold, copper, lead, iron, beakers, vessels, cattle, sheep, horses, I received in the city of Damdamusa. On my return march from the land of Nairî I captured the city of Shûra which is in the land of Hanigalbat. 900 of their fighting men I struck down with the sword, 2,000 prisoners I carried away, the city of Shûra I took for my own possesson.