REC O RDS OF THE PAST
B E I N G E N G LI S H T RA N S LAT I ON S
OF T HE
A N CI EN T MON U ME N TS OF EG Y PT A ND
W E STE RN A S IA
NE W’ SERHfl?
D I D Y Y B H. C E T E A . S A E
VOL I .
B
M l tm t e rri olis l i n uaa oale st ibus n u c g , c u a
LONDON
S MU EL BA STER AND SONS LIMITED A G ,
1 5 PATERNOSTER Row
P R E FA C E
THE favo urabl e reception accorded to the first series
Recor ds o 1113 Pas t an d a of f , the hope more th n once expressed since its discontin u ance th at a simil ar
a a a a series would be g in st rted , h ve led to this secon d attempt to l ay before the public some of the most i mportant docu ments left us by the civilised n ations
a O a a of the ncient rient l world . During the ten ye rs
a a a w as th t h ve el psed since the first series concluded , A ssyri an rese arch m ay be s aid to h ave entered upon a n ew a ph se . Expeditions h ave returned from
a a a B byloni , bringing with them the spoils of ncien t
a a a libr ries , the cl y t blets preserved i n the British M useu m an d elsewhere h ave been copied an d
a a an d a ex mined with incre sed industry ex ctness , an d students h ave been flocking to the new study i n
a an d A Germ ny meric a. The decipherment of the cuneiform inscriptions of Van has opened up a fresh
a a an d an d a world of l ngu ge history, the geogr phy of Western A si a i n the A ssyri an epoch h as been
a i n ‘ alm s all a m pped out o t its essenti al det ils .
a a a an d a The incre se of m teri ls, more especi lly o f Vi PREFA CE
a a h as a l bourers in the field of rese rch , m de our know ledge of the A ssyri an lexicon at once wider and
a a more ccu r te. I nscriptions which were still obscure ten years ago c an n o w be read with a fai r appro ach
a a a a to ex ctness, while m ny of the tr nsl tions proposed i n the former series of the Recor ds c an be amended
are a a i n m any respects . I ndeed there cert i n c ses i n which the progress of knowledge h as shown the tentative renderings of a few years ago to be so
a a a h as f ulty , i f not m isle ding, th t it been determined to repl ace them by revised transl ations in the series which is now being issued .
The new series will , i t is hoped , be found to be an i mprovement upon its predecessor i n certain
a a points . The tr nsl tions will be provided with fuller
an d n a a a introductions otes, be ring m ore p rticul rly
a an d h upon the history, geogr phy , t eology of the
an d a a a texts , dr wing ttention to the illustr tions they aff l ord of the Scriptures of the O d Testament . The
a historic l inscriptions, moreover, will be published , so far as a is possible, i n chronologic l order .
a f I n one point , however, di ference will be noticed
' between the pl an of t hi s s eco n d series of Records an d
a a a a a a th t of the first . The v lue of tr nsl tion from l angu age known only to a few schol ars depends i n l arge me asure upon the confidence with which its precise wording can be accepted . The writer who wishes to m ake use of a transl ation from an Egyp ti an or A ssyri an text for historic al or controversi al
o w a and purp ses ought to kno where i t is cert in , PREFA CE vii
at a . where i t is only possible, or most prob ble He ought to receive warning of p ass ages or words or
a a a an d a a re dings of doubtful ch r cter, the tr nsl tor ought to provide proofs of any n ew renderings he m a . In a y give the present series of volumes , ccord i n l g y, doubtful words an d expressions will be
a a followed by note of interrog tion , the preceding word being put i nto i t alics where necess ary : other wise italics will be used only for the transliteration of proper n ames or words which c annot at presen t
a a ll a a a be tr nsl ted . The notes wi cont in j ustific tion
a a of new tr nsl tions, whether of words hitherto unde ciphered or of words to which a different signific ation has i a a h therto been att ched . The n mes of indi viduals will be distinguished from those of deities or
a R a a loc lities by being printed i n om n type , where s
a a a the n mes of deities an d loc alities will be i n c pit ls . Though exploration an d discovery h ave been
a a E a a c rried on ctively i n gypt du ring the l st dec de , th anks m ainly to the Egypt Exploration Fund and
a a the enterprise of Professor M spero , the results h ve not been so startling or n u merous as those which h ave attended the progress of the younger study of
A a a ssyriology. There i s not the s me re son for a a a mending the tr nsl tions , previously published , of
E a has an a gypti n documents, nor y l rge nu mber o f
a . a historic l texts been brought to light I nste d , there f a a a a ore, of publishing ltern tely tr nsl tions from the
A a and E a A a an d ssyri n gypti n monu ments, ssyri n
a a a Egypti an texts will ppe r in the s me volume . viii PREFA CE though it will doubtless h appen“ th at the A ssyri an
a element will preponder te i n some volu mes , the
E a n d A a E a . a gypti n element i n others gypti n ssyri n , o f course, will not be exclusively represented Phoe
' n i ci an s an d Proto - A rmeni ans h ave left us written
a a m a monu ments; comp r tively few though they y be , an d the Records of t/ze Pas t would be incomplete without such i mport ant inscriptions as th at of the M o abite king M esh a or of the Hebrew Pool of
Siloam . In com mending the first volume of this new series
e ds a a t he E of R cor to the pprov l of the public, ditor m ust n ot forget to s ay th at the enterprise is inter
a a all a a n ation l , em inent schol rs belongi ng to n tion l
a a an d a ities h aving consented to t ke p rt in it, th t i f his n ame appears somewh at too frequently i n the
a a a present volu me, it i s f ult which sh ll not occu r a gain . E A . . AY H S C .
’ U EE S COLL EG E OXFORD Q N , ,
zi st 1 8 8 8 3d A gzc . TA B LE OF CONTENTS
PA G E THE A T TABLET AND HR NI LE I . D YN S I C S C O C S
O F T E AB L A E TO H B Y ONI N S. By the DI R
H . T E I N RI PTI N ELL H . II SC O s OF T O . By M ARTHU R AMI AU D
’ I N- A HI D E W ME T EM L III . S G S s NDO N OF THE T P E
- ANA E . HE . PIN HE . O. C s By Mr T G ,
Assistant- Curator in the Briti sh Mu seum
’ AN B E H TE LAM E T HE . O . I V R C I S N . By Mr. T
P HES G . INC
S T O T IG LATH - PI LESER K G V . IN CRIP I N OF I , IN
A E TO OF ASSYRI . By the DI R
N T THE YRIA S RY THE C EAT . V I . ASS O OF R I ON By the EDITOR
’ THE AB LO A STO OF THE EAT O V II . B Y NI N RY CR I N
A R T T HE A T OF THA CC O DING o TR DI I ON GU . x CONTENTS
PA G E
A B LO A LAW S TS AND U DG MENTs . V III . B Y NI N UI J
P . OPPERT By rofessor J , Member of the Institute
' X T M EN A I . SC O U S K G IN RIP I N OF , IN OF
THE A LA G AG E IN V NNI C N U . By the EDITOR
X THE A C E T EB EW S T O . N I N H R IN CRI P I N OF
LOAM E TO SI . By the DI R EQUIVALENTS OF THE H EBREW LETTERS IN THE TRAN S L I TERATI ON OF ASSYRI AN N AMES MENTI ON ED IN
‘ L ME THESE V O U S.
l N a , ? I
3 I) D m
J g i n
" ’ d s s I D , " I " it 1) e
u v F 1 , ] p t z r Is 11 M P 7 " D 0 71 I r
i W s slt , y , 1 la n t
— an b b s]: u s for M IR Thos e Assyriologists who tr scri e W y se D. The Assyri an e represents a diphthon g as w el l as
A s l e In the Introductions an d Notes W . . I . denote ' ez orm [nscri fzons o W es/er” A si a fi ve s f p f , in volumes, publi shed by the Trustees of the Briti sh Museum . THE ASSYRI A N CALEND AR
CO RRESPONDI NG M ONT HS ’ Ni sannu a a — A (Nis n) M rch pril .
Aa a A — Ma ru (Iyy r) pril y.
’ i nu a Ma — S va (Siv n) y June .
Dfiz u a — (T mmuz) June July.
A u A — A b ( b) July ugust.
E A — S Ululu ( lul) ugust eptember.
Ta ritu — s (Tisri) September October. Arakh savn a (March esvan) “ ” 8 th — the month October November.
’ Ki sili vu C — D ( hisleu) November ecember.
h i u — D ab t (Tebet) December J anuary.
— a Sabadhu (Sebat) J anuary Febru ry.
a — a Addaru (Adar) Febru ry M rch .
- V - h A a m akhru e A a a a . r kh ( d r), the interc l ry mont T HE DY NA ST I C TA B LET S A ND CH RON I CL ES OF THE BA BYL ON IA N S
B Y THE EDI TOR
CHRONOLOG Y an d is the skeleton of history, u ntil we c an fin d the correct chronological pl ace for a his t ori c l a monu ment it loses a l arge p art of its value .
a s o - a Th nks to the lists of the c lled eponyms, by
a A a a a m e ns of whom the ssyri ns d ted thei r ye rs , the chronology of the A ssyri an kings h as long since been pl aced upon a satisfactory footing as far b ack as the
era. a tenth century before ou r The d tes , moreover, a l - B C a Ti h Pil r . . ssigned by Senn cherib to g at ese I ( .
- 1 an d Tuk ult i a S a a . Ur s , the son of h lm neser I
B C . ( . as well as the lengthy gene alogies with
are a which these kings connected , en ble u s to extend A ssyri an chronology b ack for another five hundred
a a a ye rs, though , of course, with only pproxi m te a a ccur cy .
A a While ou r knowledge of ssyri n chronology ,
has a a however, thus been toler bly fixed for long
a a h ad ti me p st , we h ve to depend upon the vague and contradictory statements of Greek writers for 2 RECORDS OF THE PA ST ou r knowledge of the chronology of the Older king dom a A a a a a of B byloni a. p rt from the inv lu ble t ble
’ as Ca of ki ngs known Ptolemy s non , which belongs
a a a an d to the l ter period of B byloni n history, the uns atisfactory list of dyn asties excerpted from an
o a autho ri epitomist of Ber ssos , ou r only monu ment l ties for B abyloni an chronology were the A ssyri an
a a i nscriptions themselves, together with few fr gments of a dyn astic t ablet brought to light by M r.
George Smith and the s o - c alled Synchronous H istory
A a and a a a of ssyri B byloni , of which I published transl ation i n the former series of Records of tko “ ” Pas was t (vol . i ii .) This Synchronous History
an A a an d composed by ssyri n scribe, consists of brief notices of the occasions on which the kings of
h ad a the two countries entered i nto rel tion , hostile or
a . S a a otherwise, with one nother ince m y tr nsl tion was 1 8 a a a published i n 74 , nother l rge fr gment o f
a h as and a the t blet been discovered , ccordingly I purpose giving a new transl ation of the whole docu ment i n a futu re volu me of the present series . The “ ” S a an d u ynchronous H istory gives no d tes, co se quently i ts chronological valu e depends upo n ou r knowledge o f the respective d ates to which the
A ssyri an mon archs m entioned i n it belong . Withi n the l ast few years a nu mber of discoveries
h as a due to M r . Pinches enti rely ch nged ou r position i n regard to the chronology of the B abyloni an kings .
A s a a a a . S a I h ve lre dy st ted , M r mith found mong the tablets brought from the roy al library of Nineveh D YNA STI C TA B L ETS OF THE B A B YL ONIANS
a a a as a sm ll fr gment which , he perceived , cont ined the n ames an d regn al ye ars of the kings of B aby
a a a a . loni , rr nged i n dyn sties The work to which i t belonged m ust accordingly h ave been simil ar to th at from which Berossos derived his dyn astic list of
a a a . S a Ch lde n mon rchs . M r mith published the fr g
a a a an d a ment, with tr nsl tion com ment ry, i n the
Tra nsacti ons o t/ze Soci et o B i bli cal A rc/i d o/o f y f gy ,
. 2 I t and iii is written on both sid es , the
a a a t blet once consisted of six colu mns, e ch cont ining “ a a bout seventy li nes . I will c ll i t the Third
Dyn astic T ablet .
The next d iscovery was m ade by M r. Pi nches six years l ater among the inscriptions brought from the
a Horm uz d site of B bylon by the overseer of M r.
Ra a a a ssam . He fou nd mong them a sm ll t blet of
a a and unb ked cl y , quite com plete inscribed on both sides . I t contains the n ames of the kings belonging
a a a to two e rly dyn sties , the nu mber of ye rs reigned by each king being added to the n ames i n the c ase
a a a of the first dyn sty . The t blet seems to be sort
’ a of schoolboy s exercise , h ving been copied from some l arger work i n order to be committed to
R h as . memory . The everse been published by M r Pinches i n the Proceedi ngs of t/ze Soci ety of B i oi ical
A rc/i d ol o th 1 8 8 0 an d a gy , 7 December , I will c ll i t “ the Fi rst Dyn astic T ablet . A nother and more i mportant docu ment — the
— Second Dyn astic T ablet was published by M r.
a a a an d a a Pinches , with tr nsl tion expl n tion , in the 4 RECORDS OF THE PAST
Proceedi n s o t/ze Societ o Bi bli cal A rc/zd ol o 6 g f y f gy, th
Ma 1 8 a a a a a y 8 4 . This i s lso t blet of u nb ked cl y
m a a and ai a Of a fro B byloni , it cont ns list th e B by
a a a a lon i n sovereigns , rr nged i n dyn sties, from the fi rst dyn asty which m ade the city of B abylon the c apit al
a down to the period of the Persi n conquest . The n u mber of regn al ye ars is added to the n am e of e ach king and the length of ti me e ach dyn asty l asted
a i s duly recorded . The n m es of som e of the kings are written i n an abbrevi ated form this is especi ally
a a the c se with those belonging to the second dyn sty .
O The list, i t will be bserved , i s confined to the
a i n a NO dyn sties which reigned B bylon itself. notice is taken of the kings an d dyn asties who ruled “ ” i n A cc ad an d Su mer before B abylon bec ame the
a a Of c pit l of the empi re . The lost colu mns the “ Third Dyn astic T ablet show h ow nu merous they
an d a an d were, the f ct is born e out by the bricks other monu m ents of early Ch alde an mon archs whose n am es do not occu r among the successors of
’ - S abi . a u m u M ost of the kings , i ndeed , whose n mes are known to us i n connection with the temples they bu ilt or restored belonged to older dyn asties th an
h a those which ad thei r se at in the city of B bylon . A considerable nu mber of thei r n am es i s to be fou nd i n another t ablet brought by M r . Rassam from A P a and . ro ssyri , published by M r Pinches i n the ceedi n s o zb e Soci et o B ibli cal A rc/i d ol o 1 1 g f y f gy , th
a a 1 8 8 1 A a h ad a a J nu ry . sm ll portion of i t lre dy
A I 6 and had been published i n W . . ., ii . 5 , given rise D YNA S TI C TA B LE TS OF THE B AB YL ONIANS 5
an a to a good m y f lse conclusions . The obj ect o f this tablet was philological an d not chronologic al in fact the writer expressly states th at the n ames of the “ kings were not written according to thei r chrono ” logic al order . He m erely wished to furnish the
Semitic or A ssyro - B abyloni an transl ations of the
A ccado - Su m eri an an d K assite n ames borne by so
a a an d a m ny of the e rly princes , i n some c ses of the mode i n which the n a mes of Semitic kings were pro n oun c e d A a a or written by their cc di n subj ects .
A a a Sa A a mong the l tter is the n me of rgon of cc d ,
a S a Of C a ae a the ncient hero of the em itic popul tion h ld , who founded the first Sem itic empire in the cou ntry and est ablished a gre at library i n his c apital city of
A a A a a i ra a g de or cc d ne r S ppa . The se l of his
a a - a a a libr ri n , Ibni s rru , of very be uti ful workm nship ,
a a n d h as . is now i n P ris , been published by M de C Coll ect i on de Clerc . a lercq ( q, pl . 5 , No while
a a copy of his nn ls, together with those o f his son
- a i n . . a A I . S . N r m , is to be fou nd i n W . , iv 34 H is d ate h as been fixed by a p assage i n a cylinder of Nab on idos discovered in the ruins of the temple of
- A I Su n at Si ara and . . . the god pp , published i n W ,
6 a a a z a Nab on idos v . 4 . The ntiqu ri n e l of led hi m to exc avate among the found ations of the temple in the hO e a a - Si n was p of finding the cylinder of N r m , who
a an d known to h ve been the fou nder of it, he tells
. 6 . se us (col i i 5 q. )
o a - an d h s I sought for its old f und tion stone, eig teen cubit d eep 6 RECORDS OF THE PA ST
r an d a - I dug into the g ound , the found tion stone of
a a - Si n Sa N r m , the son of rgon , which for 320 0 years no king who had gone before me had seen,
Sun - r a E- a a a the god , the g e t lord of B b r , the temple of the a a se t of the goodness of his he rt, ” let me see, even me .
Nab on idos a I n the opi nion , therefore, of , king who had a p assion for i nvestigating the p ast records
Of a a - Si n 20 0 a his cou ntry , N r m reign ed 3 ye rs before
a s a a R C . 0 0 . his own ti m e , th t is to y, bout 37 Before the rise of the Semitic ki ngdom of Sargon
A a a a A a - S a of cc d , lies th t e rlier cc do u m eri n period when B abyloni a was still i n the h ands of a people
an a a a a as who spoke gglutin tive l ngu ge, such those
m an d h ad a of the modern T urks or Fir s , origi n ted the cunei form system of writing and the pri mitive R civilis ation of the Ch alde an cities . elics of this
a ancien t period h ve been discovered by M . d e
Sarz ec - 10 h an d S a i n the mounds of Tel , the u m eri n i nscriptions which they bear are n ow being de
a a ciphered by French schol rs , more especi lly by
m i u m i h s A a d. . A au d a M . M been good enough to i ntroduce the historic al docu ments of B abyloni a and A ssyri a to the readers of the present series
Records o tbe Pas t a a of f , by his tr nsl tions of these oldest memori als Of hu m an li fe and thought i n the
If a Of A a valley of the Euphrates . S rgon cc d lived a B C 8 0 0 Of a bout . 3 , the kings T elloh m ust h ve flourished as far b ack as the fourth m illenniu m before
e r ou r a.
8 RECORDS OF THE PA ST
a a a the f vourite hero o f B byloni n legend , is known by the same n am e i n the Chronicle as he is on the
a monu ments of A ssyri a. A t the s me ti me the Chronicle helps us i n correcting the i n accuracies of
A a a a Suz ub the ssyri n ccounts , where , for ex mple, represents both Nergal -yus ez ib an d Mus ez ib - M ero
a a a a d ch . I n f ct, it confirms the j udgment , lre dy
A a S a expressed by ssyriologists , th t enn cherib is the
a a A le ast trustworthy of the roy l histori ns of ssyri a. We are at present ignorant of the precise way i n
a a which the B byloni ns reckoned thei r chronology .
I n A a a a a a Of ssyri the ye rs were n med fter cert in ficers ,
a as a ordin rily known eponyms , who were ch nged
a a an d as A a e ch ye r, most of the institutions of ssyri were derived from B abyloni a it is very prob able th at the system Of counting ti m e by the n ames of the
s n Ho far eponym s wa also of B abyloni a i nvention . w we can trust the d ates assigned to the kings of the e r O alier dyn asties is pen to question . The length of fe ign assigned to the kings of the dyn asties of the
of Bit - B az i i n the Second an d Third Dyn astic
a a a lets do not gree, while the nu mber of regn l ye rs n to the several kings of the first dyn asty of B abylon only pl ays on the s ame ciphers but is suspiciously
a a - a b e . On long the other h nd, the contr ct t blets longing to the ti me of Kham m uragas i mply th at his reign was not a short one . There is evidence i n a l ater part of the dyn astic
has . lists th at at least one n ame been omitted D r.
' Wi nckler has published (in the Zei tsc/z rif t j i tr A s D YNA STI C TA B LE TS OF THE B A B YL ONIA NS 9
i o o e Of an s r l i . y g , n 3) the com mencement inscription from B abyloni a (m arked - 1 8 ) belonging to a
a a a - al z u cert in king of B bylon , who c lls himself Ku ri g
a- a the son of K ar U rus . Dr . Winckler shows th t this
- al z u I I an d a a m ust be Ku ri g , th t his n me ought to occu r in the list bet ween those of K ara- Urus an d
R - a - a a im mon n din su m . It is quite possible th t other reigns h ave fallen out i n other parts of the lists . The l acun a i n the Second Dyn astic T ablet b e tween the beginning of the eighth dyn asty an d the commencement of the reign of N abo n ass ar u nfor t un at ely prevents us from determining with cert ainty
’ - i the d ate assigned by the compiler of it to Sum u ab . Bu t there are two synchronisms betwee n B abyloni an an d A ssyri an history which m ay serve to remedy the
A a a - a . S defect ccording to enn cherib, M erod ch n din akhe a Ti l ath- Pil es e r I 1 8 a defe ted g , 4 ye rs before his 6 a a s a B . C. 1 1 0 own conquest of B bylon , th t is to y, i n , “ while the Synchronous History m akes A ssur- bil
a a Ti lath - Pil es e r I k l , the son of g , the contem
o rar e a - a - a an d A - p y of M rod ch s pik kull t, ssu r dan the
a - a a Ti l ath - Pi les er gre t gr ndf ther of g I , the contem
orar Of Zam am a- a - a a A p y n din su m , the f ther of ssu r dan being contemporaneous with Rimmon - [su m a If M erod ach - n adin - akhe is the ninth king
a a Zam am a- a of the dyn sty of Isin , the d te of n din
6 a a BC . 1 1 0 sum will be , greeing very well with the period to which the end of the reign of A ssur - dan
u a a Sa as alt i - b ur as sho ld be ssigned . I n this c se g y , wh o 8 0 0 a Nab on idos flourished ye rs before , will not 1 0 RECORDS OF THE PA ST be identical with the Saga- s al [t iyas] of the dyn astic
Kham m u ra as a list . The reign of g will h ve com m e n ce d B 228 2 C. a a . , the first dyn sty of B bylon
s a B C. 2 e t blishing its power there i n . 394. We learn from the inscriptions Of Kham m uragas th at he was the first of his dyn asty to rule over the
a A a a h ad whole Of B abyloni . riv l dyn sty previously
at a a E a reigned K rr k i n the south , while the l mites had i nvaded portions of the cou ntry an d prob abl y
A - a — al a a held them in subj ection . ssur b ni p st tes th t the El amite king Kudu r - Nankh u n di h ad carried away the i m age of the goddess N an a from B abyloni a
6 a B 228 1 a . C. 35 ye rs before his own time, or bout 5 , “ an d contract - tablets refer to the conquest of the ” lord of El am and King Rim - A gu Of K arrak by
Kham m ura as A a Of a - a g . l rge nu mber contr ct t blets ,
a indeed, belong not onl y to the reigns of Kh m m u
a a and Sa - ilun a a r g s his son msu , but lso to the reign
Rim -A u a a Of of g , who seems to h ve been m ster the greater part Of Ch ald ae a before his overth row by the
a was a king of B bylon . George Smith prob bly right i n identifying hi m with the son of the Elamite prince
- Mab u at L a a an d l a Ku dur g, who ruled rs c i med the “ ” i mperi al title of king of Su mer an d A ccad . The rise of the empire of Kham m uragas brought with it a revival of l e arning an d literatu re such as h ad a Of a m rked the rise of the empire S rgon . The calend ar appears to h ave been reformed at this
and a a a an d period , the gre t n tive work on stronomy astrology put into the sh ape i n which it h as com e D YNAS TI C TA B LE TS OF THE B A B YL ONI ANS 1 1
' n fo rm ed an e ra down to us . The reig thus some
a a a a a ar an d wh t simil r to th t of N bon ss , it is therefore curious to see how closely the d ate I h ave assigned to it corresponds with th at arrived at by von Gut schmidt from cl assical sou rces for the beginning of
If L a a a can the B abyloni an epoch . the tin tr nsl tion
d s t de lo A S a A ri . Cce 0 be trusted ( implicius , 5 3 ), the astronomical observations sent by K allis t he n e s from
a A B C 1 a a B bylon to ristotle i n . . 33 re ched b ck for
1 i . e B o a a a C. C 90 3 ye rs ( . to . Ber ssos the h lde n
N H a a a . . . histori n , ccording to Pliny ( vii st ted th at these observations com menced at B abylon 490
a e ra an d co n s e ye rs before the Greek of Phoroneus ,
B 22 A a Of C. . S quently in . 43 ccording to teph nos
z a a was 1 0 0 2 a By ntiu m , B bylon built ye rs before the d at e (given by Hellan iko s ) for the si e ge of Troy
B 22 1 C. B . C. ( . which would bring us to 3 , while
Kt es i as a S a , ccording to George yncellus , m de the reign of Belos or Bel - M erod ach l ast for fi ft y- fi ve ye ars
B 2 - a C. 28 6 22 1 . fi ft fi ve from . to 3 The y ye rs of Belos a f - fi h r s gree with the fi t y ve of K am m u aga . I add here the Canon Of B abyloni an kings given by Ptolemy i n the A lm agest .
a a a a n atsir 1 a I . N bon ss r (N bu ), 4 ye rs i i n u 2 a 2. Nad os Nad ( ), ye rs hi nz ir n P Yuki n a an Pul . K os a d d 3 oros ( zir ), 5 years 1 Il ulaios Y u aios a a s . o o 4 or g (Ulul ), 5 ye r
1 You aios not due a n the e m a e es en g , if it is to corruptio of t xt , y r pr t the nam M e a -b a a an e Ya i na th e a e of . of g , f th r rod ch l d 1 2 RECORDS OF THE PAST
B . C.
Mardokem ados a - a a a 1 2 a 2 1 5 . p (Merod ch b l d n), ye rs 7 6 Arkean os Sa a s 0 . ( rgon), 5 ye r 7 9 1 2 a 0 7. Interregnum for ye rs 7 4 2 8 B elibos — s a 0 2 . (Bel ebu ), 3 ye rs 7 3 A aran adi os A - a - a 6 a 0 0 9 . p ( ssur n din sum ), ye rs 7
l a - us z ib 1 a 0 Re eb e os e . 1 . 6 g (Nerg l y ), ye r 94 1 1 M esesim ordakos Musez ib - a a 6 . ( Merod ch), 4 ye rs 93 2 8 a 1 . Interregnum for ye rs 68 9
1 Asaridi nos E a - a 1 a 68 1 3. ( s r h ddon), 3 ye rs
1 Saosdoukhin os Sa - a- uki n 20 a 668 4 . ( ul sum y ), ye rs Ki n la an s Kan dalanu 2 2 a s 1 . e d o 6 8 5 ( ), ye r 4
1 6 Nabo olassaros a - al - utsur 2 1 a 6 26 . p (N bu p ), ye rs 1 Nabokolassaros ebuchadn ez z ar a 60 7. (N ), 4 3 ye rs 5 A - a 2 a 1 8 Ilauaroudam os . 6 2 . ( vil Merod ch), ye rs 5 4 1 eri asolasaros a - a a- utsur a 60 9 . N g (Nerg l s rr ), 4 ye rs 5
nadi s a - a 1 ea 6 20 . Nab o o (N bu n hid), 7 y rs 5 5
1 Filled up according to Al exan der Polyhistor by th e b roth er of Sen na ch erib b Ha isa Aki ses for a an d b M e a -b a a an for , y g or thirty d ys , y rod ch l d m n six o ths . 2 a e Eli b o b A e an e P C ll d s y l x d r olyhistor. 3 ‘ n e n P A ssordani os accordi g to Al x a der olyhistor. e m Be e e n e L ab oros oarkhodos the n an Jos phus (fro rossos )h r i s rts , i f t
son Neri li ssor ee m n . of g , for thr o ths — A 1 . A LA THE S C No . TR NS TI ON OF FIRST D YN TI TAB LET FROM BABY LON
OBVERSE
’ - i n 1 a S ab : . umu , the ki g 5 ye rs ’ - - S la son Of a . a s . umu ilu , the the s me 35 ye r
Za ti a : 1 a . b , the son of the s me 4 ye rs
- A Si n son a : 1 8 a . bil , the of the s me ye rs
- Si n m uballidh the son th e a : 0 ea s. , of s me 3 y r 1 K a - a a th n a ea s e so : . h mmu r g , of the s me 5 5 y rs ’ ’ - 2 Sa iluna the son the a : a . m su , of s me 35 ye rs 3 Ebisum the the a : 2 a . , son of s me 5 ye rs - f A sa a a th e son o a e : 2 a . mmi t n , the s m 5 ye rs 4 - A sadu a the son the a e : 2 1 ears. mmi gg , of s m y ’ ’ - h a 1 a s Sam su satana the so n Of t e s me 3 ye r . 1 1 n a f A B LO ki gs of the dyn sty o B Y N .
REVERSE
5 - h a of R AZAG A An m an . T e s U U G . 1 . ( dyn ty ) the king 6 Ki - AN i as 2 N . . [ ] g 7 D a - - su 3. mki ili .
1 v m e f the na are m Kham m ura as The first fi e na s o dy sty Se itic . g is “ a e or aean and n e e e of a a e am . Si n K ssit Koss , is i t rpr t d l rg f ily m ub allidh m a a e m a e a e n e y h v rri d for ig wif . 2 " The Sun - an e Sem nam e god (is)our god , oth r itic . 3 “ ” Th e e a Sem . do r, lso itic “ m ab e a e n e e e the a e . K ssit , i t rp r t d f ily is st lish d U ru-az agga is n ow represented by a part Of t he m oun ds of Telloh the an en Sir urla m m e a e n ( ci t p ) or its i di t vici ity. 6 Ni as was an E am e g l it word . 7 " Semi n n ra . tic , sig ifyi g g cious is his god x 4 RECORDS OF THE PA ST
l -ki - 4 . Is pal . 2 S . 5 . ussi 3 -ki - r 6 sa . . Gul
l - -m a Ki r a a a as . 7. g d r , the son of the s me
A- a a- a a a a 8 . . d r k l m , the son of the s me 5 - - - A u an a. 9 . kur d
- 6 1 0 a a. . Mel m kurkur Ea 1 1 .
- 2 a U RU AZAGG A . 1 . kings of the dyn sty of
1 “ Pe a b e ea in Sem Sa n - m at - n ukurti the ee e a a rh ps to r d itic pi , sw p r w y ” f h m e eem e of the an o t he foe T e na a b een a e . l d . s s to h v titl 2 “ th m nss n e a e Se s . P rh ps itic , sixty 3 “ M b id-ki ssa i th e e e of I n Sem uab t . itic , d stroy r hosts 4 h A a en e e e the s on t e e e n n . pp r tly , th r for , of pr c di g ki g 5 ’ “ Ren e e b th e Sem Ab -Bel - m - am e t he son of B el the d r d y itic il u su s , ( lord)Of t he treasury of h eaven . 6 Th e glory Of t h e world . 7 The a a a e a a e e . If m e a n e l st ch r ct r is p rti lly d stroy d y r stor tio is corr ct , n am b e m an d n Ea has e a e t he e would Se itic sig ify r w rd d.
1 6 RECORDS OF THE PA ST
1 - - 1 . A kak a 3 [gum rimi for ye rs] .
‘ Tb e nex t li n e of thi s col um n an d t/ze first t/zzrteen t/ze n ex t ar e destro e y d.
COLU MN II
1 . 2 2 a 4 for (ye rs).
1 26 a . 5 . for (ye rs) 1 6 . for 1 7 (years). 2 1 Ka a 2 a 7. r for (ye rs).
8 - 1 . a 6 a Gis mme ti for (ye rs). 1 - l i 1 Sa a sa t as a . 9 . g [y ] for 3 (ye rs) 20 Ka a 8 a . sb t his son for (ye rs). 2 1 B el - a - 1 a an 6 d o . . n din sumi for ye r ( ) m nths 3 2 2 Ka - a an 6 . a 1 d r Urus for ye r ( ) months.
2 - - 6 a a a . 3. Rimmon n din sum for (ye rs)
- - 2 a n atsir f r 0 a . 4 . Rimmon sum o 3 (ye rs) 4 2 - 5 . Meli Sipak for 1 5 (years).
2 6 a - a a- iddi n a - a a a f r . Merod ch bl (Merod ch b l d n) his son o 1 a 3 (ye rs). 5 m - - 1 a 2 Za am a a . 7. n din sumi for (ye r) 6 - 28 . B el s a a . um . for 3 (ye rs) 2 6 a 6 a 9. For 5 7 (ye rs) 9 months the 3 kings [of the dyn sty 7 T Of the KASSI ES] .
0 a 1 a 3 . Merod ch for 7 (ye rs).
1 S e m an n n of th e n m e e m e uppli d fro i scriptio ki g hi s lf, who styl s hi s lf th e son Ta - uru m as th e e en an Ab i th e son o f A u m Of ssi g , d sc d t Of g
an d th e Offspri ng of th e god Suqam una . 2 Dr ert Bel n en e b . O a to Id tifi d y pp with Kudur , who , ccordi g Nab on idos was the a e Sa asal ti -bur as the a e of m e ne , f th r of g y , l tt r who r ig d h n 8 0 0 ea b e e m e B . C . But t e e a n b y rs for hi s lf ( id tific tio is dou tful , sin ce the nam es do n ot agree . “ " 3 an Bel r -Bel i n a e The serv t Of (Kudu ) K ssit . " 1‘ Th e m an of M e a i n a e rod ch K ssit . 5 Zam am a-n adi n -sum i was a con temporary Of th e Assyri an ki ng Assur dan -an e n am e b ab b e ea A - dan an d b e en i e (whos should pro ly r d ssur , id t fi d - - - a of A u a an t he ea and a e Ti lath Pileser I . with th t ss r d y , gr t gr f th r of g ) 6 Or B el -n adin 7 Th e K assites were a rude tribe of th e Elam ite m oun tai ns on th e n orth ea e Of Bab n a NOldeke h as n a e m b e en e st sid ylo i . show th t th y ust id tifi d a with th e Koss aeans of classical geogr phy. D YNASTI C TA B LETS OF THE B A B YL ONI ANS 1 7
1 3 for 6 (years).
Tbe nex t li ne of t/i i s col um n and the first four of tbe nex t
COLU MN III
. 22 a for (ye rs). 1 o a h a for 1 a an d 6 o t Mer d c n din ye r m n hs . 2 - k l a u at 1 a . Merod ch D ] . for 3 (ye rs)
- a a Nebo n din for 9 (ye rs). For 7 2 (years an d) 6 months the 1 1 kings of 3 a S dyn sty of I IN .
1 0 imm a - a 1 8 . s S si[p k] for (years).
1 1 - kin - . m u Bel [ziri] for 5 months .
2 Ka u- a - a 1 . a ss n din khi for 3 (ye rs). 1 2 1 a an d t f 3. For (ye rs ) 5 mon hs the three kings O the 4 a a a dyn sty of the l nd of the Se .
E- ulbar- a - 1 a s s kin sumi for 7 (ye r ). a - kudurri - utsur for a s Ur s [ ] 3 (ye r ).
Sil ani ni - u am u n a S q [ ] for 3 months. For 2 0 (years an d)3 months the 3 kings of the dynasty of B IT
M [an ELA I TE] for 6 (years).
1 a for 3 (ye rs).
1 Pe a Me a - na n -ak the an a n of t he A an k n rh ps rod ch di hi , t go ist ssyri i g Ti lath -Pilese r I 1 8 ea b e e the n e Bab n b Senna e b g . . 4 y rs for co qu st of ylo y ch ri , a d n n en B 1 1 0 6 . co sequ tly . C . 2 e a the M e a - a -k a the S n n T ab e P rh ps rod ch s pik ull t Of y chro ous l t , who
- - - was a c n em a A b il a a the son of Ti lath Pil eser I . o t por ry of ssur k l , g 3 ' Isi n (PA -SE) was also called Pate si the city of the high -pri est i n B b n a a a n W A I . . 1 . ylo i ), ccordi g to . . , ii 5 3, 3 T a Pe an M e a -b al a an e be b e as the G . h t is , rsi ulf rod ch d is d scri d low a b e n n t he n a the nt the Sea and an e a lso lo gi g to dy sty of cou ry of , his c str l ki ngdom was that of the Kalda or Chaldees i n Bit -yagi na am on g t he m a e at f h rsh s the m outh o t e Eu phrates .
VOL . I 1 8 RE CORDS OF THE PAST
an 1 2 a for 6 months ( d) (d ys).
Tb e n ex t twel ve li nes of tbe col um n and til e first li n e of til e on rtlz col um n are destro ed f y .
COLU MN I v
- a- uki n Dakuri a NebO sum y [the son of ] for (ye rs). 1 - Nabu [n at sir] for [1 4] (years). 2 - - 2 Nebo nadin ziri his son for (years).
e - a- u 1 an d 1 2 a N bo sum yukl his son for month d ys. 3 The 31 [kings P] of t he dyn asty of BABYLON .
4 Yukin - a a f SA i a 7. zir of the dyn sty O s for 3 (ye rs). 5 8 P 2 a . ulu for (ye rs). 6 a a a 9 . Ulul of the dyn sty of TINU for 5 (ye rs).
0 Merodaeh - a a iddi na M r ac h- a a a . bl ( e od b l d n)ofthe dynasty S a 1 2 of the country of the e for (years).
1 1 Sa a . . rgon for 5 (ye rs)
1 2 Si n -a b - a S a a KHAB . k e erb ( enn cherib) of the dyn sty of I a 2 a the gre ter for (ye rs). a - - 1 3. Merod ch zakir sumi the son of Arad for 1
month . 7 1 Merodach ~ abla—iddi na a Of KHAB 6 m 4 . soldier I for onths. 1 - a of a a 5 . Bel ebus of the dyn sty B bylon for 3 (ye rs). 1 6 A - a - a KHA B a . ssur n din sumi of the dyn sty of I the gre ter 6 a for (ye rs). - z ib 1 a 1 a usez . 7. Nerg l for (ye r)
1 ' h ab na a m N P e an n B . . T e C . o ss r of tol y s o , C 747 2 e Nadi n i n th e Ba n n Call d u b yloni a Chro icl e . 3 “ " “ P b we ea n ea f n ossi ly should supply y rs i st d o ki gs . Th e an n als of Tigl ath -Pileser III Show that we should read Sapi or '
Yuki n z i ra t h e Khi n z iros o f P em C an n . Sape. is tol y s o 5 ' P th e Pul t he ld T am en t h e POros P em an n O e C . ulu is of st t , of tol y s o Hi s n am e is replaced by th at of Tigl ath - Pileser i n th e Bab ylon ian C n e and t h e two ea e n e n th e ea hro icl , y rs Of his r ig corr spo d with two y rs n l - l b duri g which Tig ath Pi eser reign ed over Ba ylonia . 5 Th e Shalm an eser o f t h e Bab ylon ian Chro n icle an d the Assyrian ' m n m en th e Il ul ai os of P em Can n . o u ts, tol y s o 7 Does this i m ply that h e was a differen t person from the fam ous M e a —b al a an the n em a Sa n an d He ek a rod ch d , co t por ry Of rgo z i h D YNASTI C TA B L ETS OF THE B A B YL ONIANS 1 9
Musez ib - Merodach of the dynasty of BABY LON
(years).
- - Si n akbe erba (Sennacherib) for 8 (years).
- kh - i i na E a a 1 2 a Assur a e dd ( s rh ddon) for [ ye rs] .
- - k n a k 0 Samas suma yu i (S osdu hi nos) for [2 years] .
- 2 Kandal [an u] (Khi neladan os) for [2 years] .
Tlze rest of tlze tabl et i s destroy ed. 20 RECORD S OF THE PAST
N — A LA F TH O. 3. TR N S TION O E THIR D DYN ASTIC TABLET
— OLU M 1 0 bv. C N
' n c ends ( o serve O ly tb y tw l i nes i n tlze m i ddl e pre d.
60 0 a (ye rs)he reigned. ll In a . [The kings] . (were)
— OLU M 1 1 Obv. C N
1 AN Illadu th a a ( ) e son of the s me for (ye rs). Mul men nunna Abil P- Ki ( ) s the son of .
b - OLU M 1 1 1 O v. C N
tai ned a b ut seve s en ti e st I t con o n li nes . I r ly l o . ty
Rem — C OLU MN Iv
a AB LO 1 1 s 2 a [The dyn sty] of B Y N , [ king for 94 ye rs] . ’ - Sumu [abi for 1 5 years] . Zabu [for 1 4 years ] - 1 a Abil Si n [for 8 ye rs] .
- 0 Si n [m uballidh for 3 years] .
Tbe n ex t si x l i n es are destro e y d.
s h a R - AZA The king of t e dyn sty of U U GGA] . a For ye rs] .
An [m an] Ki [-AN- n igas]
Tbe rest o tlze col um n i s destro e f y d.
1 This was th e Sem itic readi n g ; the Accadian seem s to have D YNA STI C TA B LETS OF THE B A B YL ONI ANS 2 1
Rea — COLU MN v
The mars/mi en of the country of the sea (were) in all
The leader of the m ars/1m m of the land of the sea (was) Sim m as- Sip ak the son of Erba- Sin whose reign was prosperous : his god brought him aid for a s 1 7 ye r he reigne d .
I n th e pal ace of Sargon (his corpse) was burned .
Ea- m uki n — a es a s se as the son zir t bli hed him lf king , of ’ 1 Kha m ar n h s for 3 mo ths e reign ed . ’ T - In the vestments of B I KHA SMA R he was burned . ~ - - Kassunadin akhi the son of Sappa reig n ed for 6 years. was e i n a a [He burn d] the p l ce . The 3 kings of the dyn asty of the country Of the Sea n 2 a reig e d for 3 ye rs .
[E] - ulbar- saki n - sumi the son of Bazi reign ed for 1 5 years the a a e KA R- E A in p l c of M R OD CH [he was burned] . U a - kudurri - ut sur the so n f 2 a [ r s] o Bazi reig ne d for ye rs . [Silan im ] - Suqam un a the son of Bazi reigne d for 3 months a a f LU A in the p l ce o S [he was burned] .
[The 3] kings Of the dynasty of the house of Bazi reigned an d o h fo r 20 years ( ) 3 m nt s .
a descendant of the race of ELA M reigned for
6 years . I n the a a a n wa p l ce of S rgo he s burned .
On [ e king] of the dynasty Of ELAM reigned for 6 years .
Tbe r est o fi re tabl et i s ost f l .
1 “ " M a a be ea m m n t a a k i n t he y lso r d Kut ar. The word m h w 2 “ i The Sapp te . 22 RECORDS OF THE PA ST
N — F THE A L A . A LA O. 4 TR NS TION O B BY ONI N C HRONICLE
— COLU MN 1
[In the 3d year of N ab onassar] king of BABYLON
- [Tiglath pileser] in ASSYRI A sat on the throne . In the same year [Tiglath—pileser] descended into the ACCA an d country of D , RAB B I KU and KHAMRANU the cities of he spoiled,
and the gods of the city Of SAPAZZA he carried away.
- a i r a a a 6. In the time of N abu n ts (N bon ss r) the town of B ORSI PPA
a w was separated from BABYLON . The b ttle hich N abonassar 1 fought against BORSIPPA is not described .
In the 5 th year of Nabu -natsi r Umma(n)-n igas h in ELAM sat upon t e throne.
2 1 1 - 1 . In (his) 4th year N abu natsi r fell ill and died in his a a p l ce .
— 1 2 1 a AB L . . For 4 ye rs Nabu natsir reigned over B Y ON 3 1 . 3 Nadi nu his son sat upon the throne in BABYLON .
a a i nu as a an . 1 4 . In the second ye r N d w sl in in insurrection
a a i n u AB LO . 1 5 . For two ye rs N d reigned over B Y N 4 1 6 S a- uki n the a i nsurrec . um y the governor, le der of the sat tion , upon the throne.
1 T a i n th e m h the r e e a e n e . h t is , history fro whic w it r xtr ct d his chro icl s 2 “ ” L e al a e e him it r ly f t (ov rtook ). 3 “ ” Th e Neb o -n adi n -ziri ( Neb o has given a s eed ) of the Dy nastic ’ e n n Tab l t Nadios i n Ptolem y s Ca o . ‘ 1 - - Called Neb o surna yuki n i n th e Dyn astic Tab let .
24 RECORDS OF THE PA ST
i n the province of D UR- I LI fought a battle against Sa A SS A and rgon king of YRI , 1 caused a revolt from A SSYRI A : he overthrew them
utterly.
a - a a a an d a w a a e Merod ch b l d n his rmy, hich to the ssist nc ELAM h ad a a a ' of the king of gone, did not obt in b ttle 2 a he rrived too late .
In the sth year of Merodach—baladan Umma(n)- migas ELAM king of died .
- LAM [For 3 years] Umma(n)n igas reigned over E . 3 [Sutruk —n ankhu n]du the son of his sister sat on the ELAM throne in . 1 1 o th a 4 . up to the ye r
Tli e rem ai n i n i n e o t e c l um n are destro ed g l s f lz o y .
COLU MN I I
h ar 1 . t e . . In the y 2 A at l . b t e
1 2 a a a a a 3. For ye rs [Merod ch b l d n reigned over 4 A B L B Y ON] . 4
a s AB LO . 4 . S rgon [at upon the throne in B Y N]
T e n ex t u e e are destro e b fo rt en li n s y d.
5 1 a a ress P 9 . The B byloni ns he did not opp ( )
20 S a a a - a a a . was a he ( enn cherib) ngry lso with Merod ch b l d n , an d [took him prisoner]
2 1 . a a an d he dev st ted his country, ' 6 2 2 A A A RA BA N . . the cities of L R K an d S R [U he destroyed]
1 T a the A an The Annal of Sa n on th e e an h t is , ssyri s . s rgo , oth r h d , a m th e for A a Bab n a was e i n th e an of cl i victory ssyri , though ylo i l ft h ds M e a -b a a an rod ch l d . 2 " L e a h e n e k t oo a e an a arki i tsbat it r lly , u d rtoo it l t ( 3 The El am ite Sutruk was iden tified by th e Assyri an s with th eir god e a d ss Ist r . 5 ' So e b W n [Mi m i s r stored y i ckler. ' 6 See wa th e L arankha f NO . I L a a s o W . A I . 6 . . , ii . 9 , 5 , 3 r k Be th e G ee e eem a e n n e Suri ak rossos , which r k writ r s s to h v co fou d d with pp n e i ar S ppara . D YNASTI C TA B LETS OF THE B A B YL ONI ANS 25
2 A his a a a - 3. fter c pture (Senn cherib) pl ced Bel ibni upon t h t AB L e hrone in B Y ON .
2 a - 4 . In the first ye r of B el ibni Sennacherib
2 h n KHARA RATU M . 5 . destroyed t e cities of K HI RI MMA a d
In the 3d year of Bel - ibni Senn acherib i nto the country of A C CA D
es e e an d as a A A . d c nd d , dev t ted the country of CC D
- A B el ibn i an d his officers he tran sported into A SSYRI .
- L For 3 years B el ibn i re ign ed over B ABY ON . Senn acherib his son Assur-nadi n - suma a n pl ced upo the throne in BABY LON .
I n the first year Of Assur- n adi n — suma Sut ruk- [nan] 1 khu n du ki n g of ELA M was seized by his brother Khallusu who closed the 2 a e e o g t b f re him .
- A M For 1 8 years Sutruk [n an ]khun du hadreig ned over EL .
His brother Khallusu sat upon the throne i n ELA M.
6 h - - a h 3 . In the 6t year of Assur n adin suma Senn c erib
. s e e t the ELA M an d the e 37 de c nd d in o country of , citi s of NAG ITU M KHI LMI , , 8 L A PE L TU M an K H PA PANU s . 3 . d U he de troyed He a e a a a Khallusu . A 39 c rri d w y their spoil . fterw rds the ki n g Of ELAM 0 a e n t A A an Si 4 . m rch d i to the coun ry of CC D d entered p para on the m are/i
1 H un - 4 . e killed some people (but)the S god did not issue E- A B A A forth from the temple of B R .
2 a A - - a an was a 4 . He c ptured ssur nadin sum d he c rried to ELA M .
- - AB LO . 4 3. For 6 years Assur nadin suma reigned over B Y N
1 W en Is-t ar-khu- un - du The S an n n the n ritt . usi i scri ptio s of ki g m e e th ------hi s lf writ e nam e Su ut ru uk [A H] Nakh khu u n te . 26 RECORDS OF THE PA ST
A a - 44 . The king Of EL M pl ced Nergal yusez ib in BABYLON
. a a A A. 4 5 on the throne . He c used [ revolt] from SSYRI
I st a a — usez ib 1 6 da In the ye r of Nerg l y , on the th y of 1 the m a onth T mmuz, 2 Nergal - yusez ib captured N IPU R an d occupied its n h u eig bo r/mod (P). On the first day Of the month Tammuz the soldiers of 3 ASS A had YRI entered URUK.
COLU MN I I I
1 as a . They spoiled the gods belonging to URUK well s its
inhabitants .
2 - z fl a E a an . a use ib ed t d b e Nerg l y f er the l mites, the gods longing to URU K as as i t s n a a A a s a a a well i h bit nts (the ssyri n )c rried w y. 4 On the 7th day Of the month Tisri in the province of NI PU R he fought a battle against the soldiers of ASSYRI A an d was a n th e an d t ke prisoner in conflict, 1 a an he was carried to ASSYRI A. For ye r d 6 months Nergal -yusez ib B L n the 2 6th a reigned over BA Y ON . O d y of the [month Tisri P] a a Khallusu ELAM hi s g inst king of people revolted, [the gate before] him im 6 a h e w h . K allusu they closed . Th y sle For ye rs A reign e d over EL M . A Kudur in ELAM sat upon the throne . fterwards Sen n acherib descended into ELAM an d from the country of RASI as far as 5 - a B IT BURNA he dev stated.
- A B L M usez ib Merodach sat upon the throne in B Y ON .
2 1 Now N f ne e . Ju . i f r 3 4 Now W a a the E e of G en . II . 1 0 . Se em b e . rk , r ch pt r 5 - - a Bi t B n a - K1 i n th e an na Sen na e b B it Burn a KI ) is c lled u ) ls of ch ri . D YNA STI C TAB LE TS OF THE B AB YL ONI A NS 27
In the first year of Musez ib - Merodach on the 1 7th day 1 of t he month Ab Kudur king of ELAM was seized in an insurrection and 1 0 killed . For months K ha LAM Men anu ELAM udur d reigned over E . in 2 sat n n ot w a upo the throne. I do kno the ye r when th e soldi ers of ELAM an d ACCAD he collected together an d in the city of KHALU LE a bat tle against ASSYRI A 3 h t Ass a e an d a se a o . fought, c u d rev l from yri In t he 4 th year of Musez ib- Merodach on the I 5 th 4 day of Ni san 5 Men an u n EL AM was a a se an d ki g of p r ly d , hi w s h s mouth was seize d an d he as deprived of peec . ‘j On t he first day Of the month Ki sleu the city [of B ABY
LON was t a e M usez ib - a ] k n , Merod ch was ta n an l a a AS A ke d ed w y to SYRI . For 4 years Musez ib - Merodach re igned over BA BY
LON. 7 On th e 7th day of the month Adar Menan u king of LAM E died . r LAM Fo 4 years Menanu reig ned over E . 3 - n h e Khum m a khaldasu i n ELAM sat upo t e thron .
2 n a the h was i n a 8 . I the eighth ye r of king t ere B by n the d da a lon . O 3 y of the month T mmuz th s e t o E ECH 29 . e god b longing R went down from the city 9 E E H of ERIDU to R C .
1 July . 2 ' The n e e e e a e him b ut W n e has n e chro icl r s sourc s h r f il d , i ckl r poi t d a n e e B 6 1 o r out that th e b attle of Khal ule m ust h ave tak en pl ce i ith r . C . 9 6 0 9 . 3 an The annals of Sennache rib claim a com pl ete victory for the Assyri s . 4 Ma rch . 5 “ ' L e a Te an n e him m i si dt uv i m i si a . W . A . I it r lly , t us co strict d ( , cf II 2 . 7 . 47 ,
7 F a eb ru ry . 8 - r n Called U m m an aldas i n t he Assyrian i n sc iptio s . 2 Er w f the e an G l idu as on th e coast o P rsi u f. 28 RECORDS OF THE PAST
On the 3d day Of the month Tisri Khum m a- khaldasu the king of ELAM by the Fire - god was stricken an d perished through the power (P)of the 8 a Khum m a—khal asu god . For ye rs d ELAM reigned over . Khum m a-khaldasu the second in the country of ELAM sat n upo the throne . 1 On 20 th da S a the y of the month Tebet, enn cherib king of ASSYRI A 2 s n by his own son wa murdered in a insurrection . For [24] years Sennacherib e A a 20 th da reign d over ssyri . From the y of the month Tebet until the 2d day Of t he month Ad ar is described as a A period of insurrecti on in ASSYRI . 3 On the 8 th day of the month Sivan Assur- akhi - iddi na (Esar-haddon) his son sat on the throne in A A SSYRI .
4 a E a - a Z a- a- esir In the first ye r of s r h ddon , ir kin of the 6 sea a co st, had a E ECH when he l id fetters on the city of R , the City of [EREC H P] destroyed in sight of the officers of ASSYRI A an d [fled] to ’ L the country of E AM. In ELAM the king of ELAM took him and [slew him]
with the sword. In a month I do not know the officer called C u-enn a P R was in the city of NI U .
6 ’ 7 E an d 4 4 . In the month lul , the god Gu si the gods [of the City of 1 e em b e D c r. 2 I b e n e a th e n e ea of n on e son e ea t will otic d th t chro icl r sp ks o ly , wh r s 3 M a are n am e i n the l d Te am en . two d O st t . y 1‘ Called b y Esar -h addo n Neb o -zira- ki na- esi r Nebo h as directed th e M - b a a an estab lished seed the son of erodach l d . 6 6 A T a the Pe an G u . . h t is , of rsi lf ugust 7 “ Th e t he a ab e m a a n e a be god of f vour l outh , loc l divi ity (p rh ps
n n Si ara W A I 1 and en e U a W . A. lo gi g to pp , . . . , v. 3 , id tifi d with r s (
I . . ii . 5 7 . 5 4) D YNA STI C TA B LETS OF THE B A B YL ON/ANS 29
DU R- ILI 4 5 . proceeded to [the gods of 6 DU R- SA GO 4 . proceeded to R N the A a the a 4 7. In month d r he ds of
8 a a - 4 . In the second ye r the m jor domo
Tbe nex t tw o li n es are d s o e e tr y d.
Rea — COLU MN Iv
akh - ullim h u - n a e s t e G en . 1 [the G im i r] ri marched against ASSYRI A an d in ASS A w a YRI ere sl in . the city of SIDON was taken its spoil was carried a a w y.
a - A The m jor domo mustered a gathering in ACC D .
In the 5 th year on the 2d day of the month Tisri the 2 Assyrian soldi ers BAZZA s a h occupied . In the month Ti ri the he d of t e king of the country of SIDON was c ut Off an d A s a I n , brought to s yri . the month Adar the head of the king ’ ’ 3 of the countries of GUNDU and SI SU was c ut Off an d A brought to ASSYRI .
h LAM I t e 6th a the E S PPARA . 9 . In ye r king of entered 4 He f e sa fi Sun - of er d cri ces. The god from
1 0 f - A BA A . As the temple O E B R did not issue forth . The sy 5 ETH A was a a EG T O . ri ns m rched into YP . I PI troubled
1 So b n e The G im irra are the G m e th e l restored y W i ckl r. o r of O d Te am en t he Kim m erian s a a e st t , of cl ssic l writ rs . 2 A a en the of A ab a Petrma a e Ba b E a - a n pp r tly district r i c ll d zu y s r h ddo , B uz i n t he Old T e am e n st t . 3 b ab i n Kilikia Pro ly . 4 The Sun - e em e h as b een e e b Mr Horm uz d god whos t pl discov r d y . Rassam i n t he m oun ds of Ab u - Hab b a was the patro n -de ity of Sipar or ” - Si ara . Be e Si ara o f the Sun e e was a ne b n pp sid s pp god , th r igh ouri g " a e i ara o f A n un i The e e m e the S a city c ll d S pp t . two tog th r for d criptur l " Se a a m Si aras ph rv i or two pp . 6 Ill el uk/z m i n a i . 30 RECORDS OF THE PAST
Khum m a- khaldasu the king Of ELAM without being s a a ick died in his p l ce .
a Khumm a- khaldasu AM For 5 ye rs reigned over EL . U rta u a LA g his brother s t upon the throne in E M . In a month I do not know N adin-Suma the C u- en na and K Dakuri A udur the son of went to A SSYRI .
In the 7th year on the sth day of the month Adar the ASS A a E T soldiers of YRI m rched into G YP . In the month Adar Istar of the city of ACCAD an d the gods of the city of ACCA D had departed from the country of ELAM and on the 1 o th day of the month Adar entered the City of A A CC D .
1 the 8 a Of E a - a 9 . In th ye r s r h ddon in the month Tebet 1 on a day of which the date has been lost 20 RU RIz A was was . the country of the occupied its spoil
carried away. 2 1 Kisl eu . In the month its spoil was brought into the city R of U . 2 2 On th da t A a . the 5 y of the mon h d r the wife of the
king died .
2 a a Of 3. In the tenth ye r in the month Nis n the soldiers 2 A a E ASSYRI m rched into gypt. 2 n d da a and a 4 . O the 3 y of the month T mmuz lso on the 1 6th and 1 8 th days 2 E a e a a 5 . three times the gypti ns were d fe ted with he vy
4 2 n 2 2d da a was ca 6. O the y Memphis, the roy l city, p
tured.
2 7. Its king fled his son descended into the country of ETH O A [ I PI ] .
1 n h e m th e n e e e a n I t history fro which chro icl r d riv d his ccou t. 2 The chron icler n otes h ere that the last ch aracter i n th e line was
wan ti ng i n his copy. 2 a e k a e i n E L e a m a . it r lly , ss cr s too pl c gypt W en M embi ritt .
32 RECORDS OF THE PA S T
— A LA F THE P NO. 5 . TR NS TION O IN SCRI TION GI V IN G THE ASSYRIAN INTERPRETATION OF T HE N AMES OF T HE EARLY BABY LONIAN KINGS
— OLU M Obv. C N I
A b ut i n s st o forty l e l o .
1 1 - A Man LA . P r Da cc. s . [U mu . ] of the goddes GU ” - — 2. P a a A un cc. S . [B b r uru . ] The god protects
r l Man - . a. A cc. . 3 [U . ] of the Moon god ” r- Man un - . a a A cc. S . 4 [U ]B bar . of the god I - ki - l A a a cc. Sw e a 5 . [s ]p . e per w y of the hostile ” country.
6 - ki - D sar. A c . . [Gul ] c. estroyer of hosts
A - a - n EA a a a a. A c So 7. [d r ] k l m c. of the god king of ” th a e l nd .
8 A- - u- na c Son BEL a . a A c. kur d . of (the mount in) ” f a a O the tre sury of he ven .
Lu l - E a A c. . a a c 9 g ginn . st blished
- B A 1 0 n A Ba U . . The quee zag u. The goddess is holy
1 1 ar . These e the kings who after the flood are not de i n a scribed chronologic l order.
3 “ 1 K a - a a K a a 2 as f a . . h mmu r g s . . O l rge f mily
1 A - i u a n h K a . f a s a a . d d . s O 3 mmi gg e t blis ed f mily. ” 1 Kur- l - z a u. Kas. a h 4. g Be shep erd .
1 T a A a - S m e an h t is , cc do u ri . 2 The n am e Of th e ki n g was reall y Sarganu (perh aps of the sam e origin as th e B b a Se b ut A a an b e m n e n n i lic l rug), his cc di su j cts isu d rstood it , tur i g “ ” n Sa - n establ Ished n was en i n S m e an it i to rru ki u , ki g , which writt u ri L u al - nna g gi . 3 T a a e or aean h t is , K ssit Koss . D Yl VASTI C TA B LETS OF THE B A B YL ONI ANS 33
im m a - K as f in S s a . . O E O A H sip k fspr g of M R D C .
a - - a Kas ff n Ul m bur y s. . O spri g of the lord of the ” world . i - uru a az M das. R s a RA . s N The sh dow of U . ” - M an f A S a . Kas. O E H Meli ip k M ROD C . “ - - a K a a s s. S h Burna bur y . erv nt [of the l ord of t e
world] .
Ka - n Kas B EL ra Ur s. . Minister of [ ] .
C OLU MN 1 1
A u t i - /zr e li n es a e l o bo t/z rty t e r st .
“ - kh al E A H an A c. O . [ ] eg . c With M R D C is life an- kh al A c E O A H v r [ ] eg . c. With M R D C is e
dure .
n - ili - l n- ar A Man E A H L S s . c O . 3. g c . of M R D C
- - ili - f h n S a A c . o t e a . c 4 U kur g lim . The lord l nd is ” A MEROD CH.
- m al - A c u ser . c 5 . C Tutu . The closer of the mouth is E A H M ROD C .
6 Sa A cc. E O A H an . zu M R D C is over a sh dowing god .
- — - - h a a a u. E O A H as a 7. S zu p til nen g M R D C decl red
life to him .
- - - Man of LA r a a. 8 . U Nin din b gg GU [the goddess an a of life d d e th] . ”
A c Man LA . Khum m c . e e. 9 . of GU — Man t PAP D c. 1 0 n . Ac e . ili khid ( of) h god ”1 AL SUK .
- - Ma a . 1 1 Mu n a a. A ce. . til y his n me live - - has b A cc. e 1 2 Nan n ak a . . s tu The Moon god ” gotten . 1 - 3. The Moon god is strong ll ” over a . “ - - m m u c a EA 1 La a di d. Ac . S 4 . b r Nu erv nt of [lord of the
universe] . ” - - h 1 A c . S as . . an c 5 Urudu m sun . The god NU KU given
1 L itera lly the messenger of the treas ury (of VOL I D . 34 RECORDS OF THE PA ST
- - f B L r a A c. S are o E . Kud u Alim . c weet the loins “ D - a- a- - c Ma A h r a b . A B U e . un g khe til c. y vivify womb D - m u as - al Ma LA a a . mu khe g y GU be one n me .
D - al — —taé A Ma BA cc. U a a un g tur . y est blish gre t ” n a a d sm ll . “ - - - l E A a A cc. O H a a Tutu bul nta ga . O M R D C s a comr de spare her
- - a Acc. D ugg makh Saz u . Supreme is the word of ” E A H M ROD C . “ K - a - r A cc AP- AL a a. P S o . hedu l mm . UK is the col ssos ” - - al A c a L s . M E B a . Mul khe c. y be ex lted
— - - u A cc. as D imir Uru d . The Moon god son [of the City
— - c. D imir Uruk du. Ac The god who is the son of
“ D - a- u- ru A cc EA as E d . . E imir rid [ son of RIDU, the
Tbe n ex t tw o l i n es are d st o e r yed.
Rea — COL U MN III
Tb c rst tw o li nes are destro e fi y d.
- a a. A edin cc. The choir of the goddess ” ZA A T RP NI . ’ - i ru . S Acc. B EL has created .
- Kur h - a a AS fi r - nigi g rr gurus UR is their st born . A ce nene . .
- l - a sa litar z ae . AS art Ur s g men UR , thou overseer.
“ a al z i a AS a Ur s q nes ki m UR who loves const ncy.
a a. A c m m c. “ - — ki - bi - i A c. EL Mul lil g . c B of Nipur has returned ” a to his pl ce . La hl h hi - ar a G . A cc. EBO a g g g N illumin tes. ' “ Kur al - - m u - a a r a g nin p d . The g e t mountai n (BEL) ” a records the n me .
1 The e ea n of b corr ct r di g this word is dou tful . D YNASTI C TAB LETS OF THE B AB YL ONI ANS 35
- — nabi a Acc. B EL a Aba Sa d ri . Who is like bride
groom .
- - A c i c . B EL Aba Sanab diri . Who is like (the lord) o f counsel .
- - - h - A cc. T e Es Guzi gin du. temple of E SA GG I L the establishment of the ” son .
- - B EL wh A cc. o Khu n u . o a zuh kn ws m nkind . ” - Acc. B EL s ab a e a. e . N s kh m nn , pro p r me
- ass al a a a e . a MM M u g B b r gud Wh t is shorn by RI ON .
- m n bi Acc. a A r ana E . U S . The of
- D A c Th m Ln a . c. e an LA mu of GU .
- The un - a l A c . S h S vu . c as Tutul god mustere d . - a A Nin sakh gu nu tat l . P P SUKA L who changes ” n ot his ( ) command .
- - - Acc. Agu sag algi . The Moon god has given ” 1 a son .
- - A c Ma the - Agu ba tila. c . y Moon god vivify ” h a w w t is belo him .
- - B EL n in u al Ac . O h Larru b . c t e a g , defend l nd ” a m rk .
ar- E- -az a a A c Se a E A Lub . c G L gir gg . rv nt of N R . “ ” - llill s a Mu a. A EL B d cc. Mini ter of B . “ - - a A c . o a a . c a N n k gul The M on god is gre t . - a a a a O Sun - od fi e nu l r gh d ng ( )g , in dif culti s
- - an d a m u al i a A cc. a su d bb . d ngers t ke m y a h nd . “ - - khars - E- SAGG I L Es a . a n [ Guzi ] g men is our mount i .
' r tlza t/nrt a dest o ed lzer M o e n y l i nes re r y e.
COLU MN I v
1 a - K a ff B EL . Ul m Urus . s. O spring of . ” 2 - K a s n LA e K a Ma . . M li h li . . of GU
1 Th e Ass ro- Bab n an an a n a a a a e as i n m e e y ylo i tr sl tio is p r phr s , so oth r “ n an e The A a - m m n l - i st c s . cc do Su erian co pou d is iterally The Moo n god " has e ab e a ea st lish d h d . RECORDS OF THE PAST
- Man Kas . A Meli Sumu . of the god SUQ MU NAP
- i arru Ro Man A S b . s. M L A Meli of the god SI I . ” - M an u — a . Kas. n Meli S kh of the S god . ” i i as K . . Nim g rab . The merciful
— - ir i a . Kas i s Nimg ab S kh . Merciful the Sun god .
- r s Kas B EL Nimgirabi Bu ya . . Merciful is [ the lord of the - r as Kas S a BEL Kara Bu y . . erv nt of [ lord of the
- K a S a un - a . s S . Kara S kh . erv nt of the god
- Kas. S a E A H a O . N azi Sip k . h dow of M R D C “ - r Kas S a B EL Nazi Bu yas. . [ h dow of lord] of ” the world .
rem ai ni n ez lzt li n e are o t Tb e g g s l s . D YNASTI C TA B LE TS OF THE B A B YL ONI A NS 37
N 6 — A SLA F THE A ALS OF O. . TR N TION O NN
1 SARGON OF ACCAD AND NARAM - SIN
OBVERSE
1 at e o a . When the moon its s tting with the col ur of dust 2 o fi the n o was a a cl ud lled cresce t, the mo n f vour ble for Sargon who at this season 2 a a a n th ELAM an d a e . m rched g i st e country of subjug t d A the m en of EL M . M i sery (P)he brought upon them ; their food he cut ff o .
When the moon at its setting filled the crescent with
o a - o an d a e the c lour of dust cl ud, over the f c of the sky the colour extended behind the moon during da and e ai the y r m ned bright, the mo on was favourable for Sargon who marched a a s the o PHCENICIA an d g in t c untry of [ ] , A ha c on subjugated t he country of PHCENICI . His nd
qu ered the four quarters (of the world).
a e i n a 7. When the moon incre s d form on the right h nd and e and o the da on the l ft, m reover [during] y the 3 a finger re ched over the horns,
1 M A I The e has b een an a e i n a b r. W . . . . . , iv 34 t xt tr sl t d p rt y The a a n e the a n of G eorge Sm ith . strologic l otic s with which ccou t ' Sargon s campaigns is associated are explain ed b y t h e fact that the great Chald ean work on astron om y an d astrology was compiled for his lib rary at A a and a on e of th e b e of was a e a n ne cc d , th t o j cts this work to tr c co c tion b etween certain astron om ical occurren ces and the events which im m e a e e em di t ly follow d th . 2 a i k/z i rt i —su tsi r i s a bi ki A n p p . 3 The m n l a on b a and the an e m the e em oo y its ck , dist c fro xtr ity of one horn to that of another was as m uch as a span . 38 RECORDS OF THE PA ST
wa a a a 8 . the moon s f vour ble for S rgon who at this season o P AB LO and produced j y ( )[in] B Y N , [like] dust the spoil of BAB- DHU NA was carried away
he m ade ACCAD a city ; the city of he called its name ; f i n [the men O the] midst he caused to dwell .
[When the moon] on the left the colour of fire Of a an d [on] the left the pl net, [the moon was favourable to Sargo]n who at this season against the country of PHCENICIA
[marched an d subjugated it] . The four quarters (of h a t e world)his h nd conquered .
[When the moon] behind the moon the a s a four he d were pl ced, [the moon was favourable to Sargon who at this season marched [again st] the country of PHCENI CIA an d a P [subjug ted the country of PH(ENI CIA . ] His [enemies he smote his heroes 1 a r in the g te of its ising .
[When the moon was fixed P] an d a span moon was favourable to Sargon] as for whom season the goddess [I STA R] [with favours] fi lled for him hi s hand goddess I STAR [all countries] caused him to conquer ; again st Tiri (P)
h 2 2. t e o a a a o o was [When mo n] ppe red [like] li n , the mo n favourable to Sargon who at this season was [very] exalted an d a rival (or)equal h ad n ot ; his
own country was at p eace . Over 2 [the countries] of the sea of the setting sun he crossed and for 3 years at t he setting sun
1 2 The Sun - m b e e e e The Me e an n god ust r f rr d to . dit rr ea .
40 RE CORDS OF THE PAST
1 a an d was was g ll, there no finger on the right side the colour of a sword the circumference of the left was visible 2 an d against its face the Seven advanced ; the . moon was a a Sa a a at f vour ble to rgon , g inst whom this season the elders of the whole country revolted and besieged him in the city of ACCAD but Sargon issued forth an d smote their forces ; their de
struction he accomplished .
REVERSE
Their numerous soldiery he massacred ; the spoil that h was upon t em he collected . “ 2 o a . . The bo ty of Ist r he shouted
m h ad an d When the oon two fingers, swords were seen r an d an d an d ea on the ight side the left, [ ] might p ce were on the left its hand presented a sword the sword i n i ts left hand ’ was of the colour of subb uruni ; the point was held in the left hand an d there were two heads m [the moon] was favourable for Sargon who at this season h ’ 3 C subjected the m en of [the country] of SU -EDIN in its and plenitude to the sword, Sa a a s and rgon c used their se t to be occupied, smote their forces ; their destruction he accomplished ; their mighty army c ut off an d h he , his troops e collected ; into the city of A A CC D he brought (them)back .
1 0 ha an d . [When the moon] d two fingers on the right side it was of the colour of a sword an d on the left it was Visible
1 I t n m e could ot b e asured . 2 The Seven Evil Spirits who were supposed to caus e eclipses of th e m n oo . 3 “ ' " The a n the S n m a be o n the ea e n e o f pl i of uti , or o d tri s st r sid D YNA STI C TAB LETS OF THE B A B YL ONI ANS 4 1
[an d against its face] the Seven advanced (its)appear ance was of the colour of gall the moon was favour able for Naram - Si n at s a a a a APIRA K [who ] this e son m rched g inst the city of , and
[utterly] destroyed it Ris- Rimmon the king of API RAK w an d APIRAK a c on [he overthre ] , the city of his h nd
quered .
[When the moon] on the right it was of the o o of a and the e was c l ur sword, on l ft it Visible [and against its face the Seve n advanced P] the moon was favourable for N aram - Si n who at this season 1 march e d [again st the country of MA]GANNA an d seized MAGANNA an d the country of ,
the king of MAGANNA hi s han d captured .
1 . a a the S w handed and 9 [When g inst moon] the even ere , [ ] behind it never m ay there be a son (P)
1 The n a en n a Si itic P i sul . T HE I N SCRI PT I ON S OF TELL OH
B Y A T H AMIAU D M . R UR
THE a n n mes of Telloh a d of the French Consul M . de Sarz ec are no longer strange to the Orientalist of
- da a a to y. The situ tion of the mou nds, which h ve hidden an d preserved to ou r day the ruins of one of
a a . the most ncient centres of civilis tion , is well known
a a n h as The history of the exc v tio s been often written , and I a a sh ll not d well upon it . Nor sh ll I discuss the results of these excavations from the point of view
art a ae h as a of or rch ology . This work been undert ken ' ’ 1 a a a D u ertes en /zaldee A t by m ster h nd i n the eco v C . present I sh all only ess ay to follow in the steps of
O ert a and Dr . pp by m king the monu ments of stone
a an d brick tell their own t le , by questioning them
a a an d su m m rily on the geogr phy, history, politics, 2 a e an d religion of their g country .
a a I . The first question one thinks of sking is wh t
. was the n am e of th at flourishing city of ancient Chald ae a which the Bedouin n ow kno ws only as
1 ’ ‘ See a M Leon Heuz e s U n Pal ai s Cbaldcen Pa Le lso . y ( ris , roux , 1 8 8 8 ) 2 ' On all e e n see H m m e Gesclz i clzte B ab l on i ens un d th s poi ts , o l s y A ss r i ens Be n 1 8 8 y ( rli , 5 THE I NSCRIPTI ONS OF TELL OH 43
Telloh ? Considering th at all the princes whose “ ” n ames occu r on the monu ments are entitled kings
” ' at es is S/t i r urla - Ri was en ei all a or p of p , it g y nswered 1 s ir A s ha at first : This city w a Sh purla. often p
h as . pens , the first impression proved to be correct I was wrong i n questioning the identification in an article i n the Zei tsc/zr if t f zi r K eilsclzrif tf orsc/t ung
. I h ad a a (i p . rem rked th t except in the title of the kings an d pat esi s the n am e of Shi rp urla - ki a a a ppe red very r rely i n the inscriptions of Telloh , a n d th at whenever a prince mentioned the site where a temple was erected he gave it another n am e
i r - ki - - h l -ki I G s u az a a ki G i s al a . , U ru gg , Nina , g now
an d a a a a believe , sh ll ttempt to prove, th t Telloh re lly represents the ruins of Shi rp u rla ; th at i t was the
a a a a a gener l n me of gre t centre of popul tion , of which
G i rs u - ki - az a a - ki an d G i sh alla-ki , U ru gg , Nina , g were only divisions or qu arters . Let us first remove a hypothesis which could pre
Shi r url a sent itself to the mind . M ight not p be the
a a G irs u - ki an d n m e of country, of which the three other cities mentioned above were the chief pl aces ? This supposition is forbidde n by the inscription of
a a a a a the st tue F of Gude , which st tes form lly th t “ ” Shi rp url a was the beloved city of the goddess
G at u m du i a 1 It a g (col . . , c ses 5 , is lso forbidden
1 ’ A n P n u i to tire Kou un z k Ga ll er L n n Mr. e G de ccordi g to i ch s ( y j y , o do , 1 8 8 n e S - -la -ki b e an e a m e 5 , p . 7 , ot hir pur would id ogr phic od of n the La a W e en e a a e m a e writi g word g sh . should th p rh ps h v to co p r - W . A . I . 2 a 60 eem n ne a La ash u ki am a , ii . 5 , , which s s to co ct city g with Ur " or U r P ( ). 44 RECORDS OF THE PA ST
A . I . 6 1 2 a a a by W . , l l . , , 37, where we le rn th t temple
hi r rl -ki otherwise u nknown was situ ated i n S pu a . The list of temples given i n this p assage might
a open the door to nother hypothesis, which m ust be b e removed i n its tu rn , for it would inconsistent with the rel ations existing between Shirpurl a an d the fou r
w an d are other to ns . In lines 34 35 two temples
- I i r -ki h d n amed as temples of Gi rsu ki . f G su a been
a a Shi r url a only qu rter of p , would there not be som e inconsistency on the p art of the A ssyri an scribe i n
a : S an d G i rs u-ki s ying u ch su ch temples belong to , such an other to Shi rpurl a-ki ? M ight one not con elude th at Shi rpurl a an d the fou r other towns were sep arate cities P Now i t is cert ai n th at Gudea tells us (in the i nscription on statue C) th at he h as constructed the
E- a a t he oddess a temple of nn for _ g Ninni or Ist r i n
i r - i 1 a G su k . a 1 (col 3, c ses , We further know th t
a a E h ad a the s me Ist r, the presiding deity of rech , celebrated temple i n th at city which also bore the
a E- a a a. a n me of nn M oreover, cert in texts of Gu de an d Dungi , which mention the construction of temples
G i rs u - ki i n , come, it is believed, from other sites
a a a E th n Telloh , some from W rk or rech, others from
h l - E d a Ze r u an d e . B bylon , from g from Tel But this
a E an d a a proves nothing in f vou r of rech , still less g inst
a a a had a a Telloh . From the f ct th t Ist r temple n med
E- a a at E a a a nn rech , we c nnot infer th t the s me god dess had not a temple of the s ame n ame i n another
a h ad a a city . We know th t Nebo temple c lled THE I NSCRI PTI ONS OF TELL OH 45
E- Z a Bors i a an d at a id in pp , there were le st two
a at a an d a a others of the s ame n me B bylon C l h .
a - ki an a Gi rs u We c nnot look for Nina , y more th n ki A a , outside Telloh , or identify it with the ssyri n 1 A s N ineveh . for the inscription cited by D r . Hom mel
a w i n support of the contr ry vie , the M useu m of the Louvre possesses several simil ar ones discovered by If Sarz e c at . a a M . de Telloh the text tr nsl ted by
. a Dr Hommel does not come from Telloh , it must h ve
a a a been moved from its origin l pl ce , like the t blet of
a a S bl ck stone, with emitic inscription of Dungi ,
a at and a believed to h ve been found Nineveh , ccord i n l a g y quoted by Dr. Hom mel to show th t the empire
s as far as a of the king of U r extended th t city . The text itself of the inscription , i mperfectly Copied by
Len orm ant a - a was , proves th t its primitive resting pl ce 2 G a. . Shi r url a uth But yet more Two princes of p ,
- a a his a - and a Uru K gin in b rrel i nscription , Gude in the
- A a a a cylinder inscription , st te th t they h ve worked “ a a a -ki - - a a upon c n l , Nina tu m , the f vourite river of ” In the goddess Nina . order to find this c an al I believe it will be useless to ascend as far as the
Khauss er a , the river of Ni neveh , if we comp re with “ arz e c In the context these lines of M . de S : going
’ S a - el - Hat at 0 0 from the h tt to the ruins, 5 m etres from the en cei n te of Telloh we meet with the bed of an a a i m mense c n l , still Visible, though filled with
a N. W . E S. . s nd , running from to It is possibly the
1 Th e pronun ciation of the nam e of the goddess Ni na and of the city a e a e h e c ll d ft r r is sti ll prob lem atical . ' ' 2 ' See Zei tsc/z r z t ur ss m l o i e . the A o . . f f y g , iii . p 94 46 RECORDS OF THE PA ST
‘ a a S a - el - Hai a origin l ch nnel of the h tt , possibly lso
a a a a a an d some c n l derived from th t gre t rtery, intended ” 1 C a to supply the ity with w ter .
- az a a an d Gi sh alla - ki a U ru gg g still rem in . The
a first m ust be sought ne r Telloh , if not in Telloh
. Sarz ec h as : 1 itself, since M de found in the ruins ( ) at least one brick commemorating the erection by Gudea of a temple of the goddess G at u m dug situ ated 2 i n U ru - az agga ; (2) the forep art of a lion or griffon
a a a a n of c lc reous stone, which be rs the s me inscriptio as a m a a a the brick of Gu de , so e i nsignific nt v ri nts 3 a a Nam m a han i excepted ; ( 3) doorstep of the p tesi g ,
B au intended for the temple of the goddess , which the inscriptions on several statues of Gudea pl ace in U ru 4 az agga; (4)a bu ttress of the pat esi En t en a intended for 5 G at um du - az a a the temple of the goddess g i n U ru gg .
- A s G ish alla ki w . t wo for g , hich is known only from
a a a U r- B au p ss ges in the inscription on the st tu e of , “ one of which calls the p atesi servant of the divine
G ish alla—ki an d a king of g , the other pl ces i n Gish
a a- ki a a n g ll temple of the goddess Ninni, its n me eve
n It a rem ains a obscu re problem . m ust h ve been
a a som e loc lity i n Telloh or its i m medi te vicinity . Otherwise the inscription of U r- Bau would off er u s the only ex ample i n our texts of a foreign temple
Shi r urla an d constructed by the princes of p , the sole
' 1 Découvert es en Ch al dl e . 1 2. , p 2 e b l ed Not y t pu ish . 3 I owe m n e e a as e as of e e a e th e y k owl dg of this f ct , w ll s v r l oth rs , to n ne of M Heuz e ki d ss . y. 4 ‘ D ecouvertes en Clza l dée 2 1 , pl . 7 , . 3 Not et b l e y pu ish d .
48 RECORDS OF THE PAST h avi n g enu merated the reforms which followed his a c a c ession to the throne, he describes the pe ce result “ ing therefrom to his country : On the territory of Shi rpurl a - ki no one has sued hi m who has right on his side ; a brigand h as entered the house of no ”
a . one (st tue B , col But if the s ame Gu dea wants to insist on the peace
h as r an d a which he given his count y, to prove th t no
a was a p rt of his city excluded from his c re, he tells “ : a a Shi r u rl a - ki h as a us Gude , p tesi of p procl i med
a G i rs u -ki - az a a a pe ce from to U ru gg (st tue G , col .
So a l , too, i n describing the position of temp e, the pri nces of Telloh never s ay th at it was situ ated in
Shi r urla Gi rsu-ki p , but more precisely in , i n U ru
- i ish al l - ki az a a k G a . gg , i n Nina , or in g I t is very difficult at present to determine the approxi m ate situ ation i n Telloh of these different
a a qu rters . I will , however, m ke some suggestions in regard to them . The fou r tels or mounds on the west side of Telloh
- ki perh aps represent the site of Nina . From one of
m Sarz ec has a the M . de recovered the be utiful bull an d the t ablet of bl ack stone which be ar the n ame of
an d Dungi , mention the erection of the temple of the
A ll tels goddess Nina . the other , including the great tel n a a a a a o which stood the p l ce, ppe r to h ve formed
- i a z part of Gi rs u k . It is i n this region th t bron es an d votive t ablets h ave been discovered with the n ames of the god Nin - G irs u an d of his sons G al - ali m an d - a a a Dun sh gan ; now we c nnot doubt, though we THE I NSCRI PTI ONS OF TELL OH 49
are a a not directly ssured of it, th t the temples of
’ - these three gods were situ ated i n G i rs u ki . A s for
- az a a a a la a Uru gg , it is not cert in th t it y in the p rt of
a a Sarz e c. Telloh exc v ted by M . de With the exception
a a a of some st tues , which h ve cert inly not been found
a e in their origin l position , the monuments int nded ,
a a ccording to their inscriptions , for this qu rter of
Shi r u rla- ki are an d p little numerous ; some , i f not
all a a a a an d , ppe r to h ve been displ ced , , to use the
e . He uz e a a expr ssion of M y, to h ve been repl ced by
a was i n the successive occup nts of Telloh , which still
a can a h bited in the Parthi an epoch . Nothing be s id
Gi s h alla- ki concerning g , which is mentioned only on
a r- B au the st tue of U .
I I . We now possess the n ames of twelve or thirteen
Shi r url a a princes of p , four or five of whom be r the “ ” “ ” Of d a an . . title king, eight the title of p tesi M He uz ey h as shown by argum ents derived from the more arch ai c ch aracter of their monu ments an d writ ing th at the most ancient of these princes were the
kings . H e h as also established th at among the pat es is the group comprising En t e n a an d En - ann a
a was tum m the oldest . The script used by these
at esi s a ha an d p is still line r like t t of the kings , not
a Of yet cuneiform like th at of the l ter princes . course I refer only to the inscriptions engraved on
a a a z a h rd m teri ls , bron e or stone . For we possess
a - a a cl y cylinder of the king U ru K gin , where the wedge already appe ars as distinctly as on the bricks and a cylinders of Gudea. We know th t it is j ust by
VOL. I E 50 RECORDS OF THE PAST the form of the stylus employed by the scribes when writing upon soft Cl ay th at the wedge which ch arac t eri s es It the cuneiform script is expl ained . is by i mitation only th at it has p assed from writing on cl ay to writing on stone . The dyn asties of Telloh were the following ( 1 ) Kings of Shi rpurla- ki “ a a r- The e rliest king known is perh ps U Nina, the ” m an Of a . of Nina, whom we h ve three inscriptions This prince was the son of a person age called Nini
a - - gh l gin (the re ading Gh al gi n being u ncertain). I t is
- a - had doubtful whether Ni ni gh l gin himself been king, since his son never gives hi m the title of sovereign .
A U r-Ni n é a S fter , ccording to the tele of the Vul “ ” — A a P . tu res , his son , Ku rg l ( the son of Bel ) reigned A nother p ass age i n the St élé of the Vultures “ appe ars to m ention a certain Igi — ginn a ( he who goes
as hi r u rl before king of S p a.
So far as c an was we j udge from the writing, it l a a a - a i a fter these mon rchs th t Uru k g n reigned , whose three i nscriptions h ave come down to us . Two of
a Shi r urla a a them c ll him king of p in third , on
a a as was . cl y cylinder, he be rs , first recognised by Dr ” 2 O e rt i r - ki G s u . pp , the title of king of (2) Pat esis of Shi rpurl a-ki °
at esi s The first series comprises three p , whose suc
1 " ' See Heuz e U n n ea de T e i n the Revu e A rclzeol o i ue y ouv u roi llo , g g
of 1 8 8 4 . 2 I t would s eem th at a p ri n ce m ore an cien t th an U ru - K agina an d per - n haps as an cien t as U r Ninab ore th e titl e of patesi an d n o t o f ki g .
But n am e l em a n n n n See b e . 6 . his sti l r i s u k ow . low , p 7 THE I NSCRI PTI ONS OF TEL LOH 5 1
a a cession cannot t present be ex ctly determined . Th e m useu m of the L ouvre possesses a portion of a
a a a Ent e n a buttress inscribed with the n me of p tesi ,
a a an d who does not record the n me of his f ther, a nother block be aring the n a me of a p atesi En - ann a
a a a Ent e na A s tum m , son of p tesi . the British M useu m possesses a block inscribed by a patesi
En t e n a a a En - a a- a a a , son of p tesi nn tu mm , we h ve
E a En t en a choice of two hypotheses . ither the p tesi of the British M useu m is t he s ame as the patesi
En t e na L a of the ouvre, in which c se the su ccession
: Eu- a a- a Ent e na an d En - a a will be nn tu mm I , , nn tum m a I I or else the En t en a of the British M useum
a a L is the gr ndson of th t of the ouvre, the order of the
s is En n Eu - a - n n I I at e t e a a a E t e a . p being I , nn tum m , L ater in d ate th an this family o f ri nces comes O p “ the p atesi U r- B au ( m an of B au whose statue is i n
L a the ouvre, together with nu mber of monuments of less i mportance . “ A short time after U r- B au comes Gudea ( the elect followed by his son and prob able successor “ U r- Nin -gi rs u ( m an of Nin - gi rs u It is of Gudea th at the l arger an d more import ant part of the m onu
: a ments of Telloh preserve the memory eight st tues ,
a a an d a two l rge cylinders of cl y, h undreds of fr g
f a a ments or sm all texts . O his successor we h ve
n few bricks a d a sm all obj ect of uncert ain use .
a a Nam Here must be pl ced , I believe, the p tesi
1 ' ‘ f Ledrai n o mm un i c ti on d l cadc m i e des I n scr i t t l l es C . C a A p i ons e B e Lettres 1 at h 1 8 8 2 , July . 5 2 RECORDS OF THE PAST
m aghani H is suprem acy whose reign is assigned
a r-Bau by Dr . Hom mel to period before U . But his m onu ments are too few (only a door- step an d some bricks) to allow us to determine with certainty
his rel ative d ate .
M He uz e h as a a a a an . y lso m de us cqu inted with
a L a- ui a a other p tesi, u k H is glory H is son Gh l
a a a a l m m , who does not, like his f ther, t ke the title of
a ff a an a p tesi , o ers hom ge in inscription on the fr gment 2
a a U r. of st tue to Dungi , king of
ffi a a I t is di cult to determine, even pproxi m tely , to wh at remote epoch the dyn asties of Telloh m ust be
a a a referred . We g ther but little from the f ct th t the son of one of the l ast pat es is of Shi rp url a was the con
a a e temporary of D ungi . For we c nnot yet fix the g of
L et m e z a . a a a the e rly kings of U r , however, h rd
a an m a hypothesis, i n consider tion of y light it y throw
a a on the d ark problem of Ch lde n chronology . I h ave already h ad occasion to cite an inscription of Gudea (on statue D) i n which this patesi tells us “ a a th t he received from the countries of M ag n , M e ” l u h ha an d a all g g , Gubi , Nituk , vessels l den with sorts
a Nit uk was of trees . The situ tion of is known . It 3 Ti lm n the Isle of u i n the Persi an Gulf. I t is not
1 Revue A rc/dolo i ue A 1 8 8 6 Le Roi Doun hi i n th e . g g g , pril 2 I m a a e of Shi r url a Em-an n a m a e n n us b G e e o it p t si p , , d k ow to y org Sm i n Earl Hi stor o B a b l on i a and e atesis e ith his y y f y , two oth r p whos m m a n am e are e b Dr H m m e e e Gescli i c/zte B ob. a n d s quot d y . o l fro so s ls ( n a e b G e e Sm h as no et A ss. . 2 0 The e a t , pp 9 , t xt tr sl t d y org ith y b ee n b e and th e ea n of the n n o n the ea e not pu lish d , r di g i scriptio s s ls do s ee m ab e e a n s solut ly c rt i . 3 en e the T los of as a e a b Dr. O ert and [Id tifi d with y cl sic l g ogr phy y pp .
the m e n Ba e n b Sir H. Ra n n P e e z with od r hr i y wli so , though rof ssor D lit sch THE I NSCRIPTI ONS OF TELL OH 53
an and possible, in m y opinion , to look for M ag M e l ughgha anywhere else th an i n the vicinity of the l S a a. in itic Peninsul Gubi , sometimes written Gubin ,
a a . lone rem ins, which Dr Hom mel would identify
o a G a una with Byblos i n Ph enici , the p of the hiero glyphic texts . I should , however, prefer to see in
a a E an d a Gubi n me of gypt, more precisely the n me
C a u t i a b . of optos , the ncient Q Gude would thus in his list of n ames h ave followed the route of his
a a vessels, st rting from the most dist nt points to the
Re d Sea a a E an d north of the , co sting long gypt
A a a a turning round r bi . I f the identific tion of Gubi or Gubin with Q ub t i meets with the approval
E an d A of gyptologists ssyriologists , the reign of Gudea m ight perh aps be pl aced in the interval
w E a a n bet een the si xth gypti n dyn sty, whe the monu ments of Pepi seem alre ady to testi fy to the 2 a a C and commerci l i mport nce of optos , the eleventh , when the cities of Upper Egypt obtained political
a suprem cy . No one of course will dream of bringing
a a a a the reign of Gude down to l ter d te . How must we expl ain the fact th at the l ast princes of Shi rpurl a contented themselves with the title of ” “ ” a a a p tesi , while the most ncient took th t of king I believe th at it is difficult not to see in this fact an indication of the loss of its earlier independence on considers it to form part of the delta which has accum ul ated at the m outh of the Euphrates — Ed ] 1 T t he n n n a o m a n a ne b Me Len orm ant his is opi io lo g g i t i d y ssrs . , O ert an d Sa M e a e ha b e . s a e en e i n the m e m pp , yc . D l ttr ly d f d d it oir ’ L A si e occi de n ta le cl a n s les I n scri t i on s A ss rier mes 1 se p y , pp. 49 q . 2 See Ma e Hi st oi re a n ci en ne th 8 1 sp ro (4 p . . 54 RECORDS OF THE PA ST the p art of Shirpurl a an d Of its subj ection to som e other
a A ll a a city, prob bly U r. the other inst n ces we h ve of ” “ a the use of the title of p tesi , lend it the sense of lieu “ ” a a a a ten nt before the n me of country, of vic r before 1 a divine n ame . We possess inscriptions in which the
- pat esi s of Nip ur an d.of I shk un Si n acknowledge thei r
a z z a I I dependency on the kings of U r. Nebu ch dne r
a a a Sa c lls hi mself the p tesi of the god M erod ch , rgon
a A a the p tesi of the god ssu r. The title of the e rliest ” A a a i A sovereigns of ssyri , p tes of the god ssu r, defines thei r power as being th at either of a king
a a a dom predomin ntly religious , or of viceroy lty
a z a was a a . u nder su er in , who without doubt B byloni n
a a a I t l ways i mplies the ide a of lieuten nt or depend nt . Why should we admit an exception in the case of Shi rpurl a ? I t is true th at Gude a comes before us as a a powerful prince . I n one of his inscriptions (st tu e B) he bo asts of h aving overthrown the city of A nsh an
a in the l and of El am . But for ught we know he m ay h ave m ade this expedition i n the company of
z a a his su er in . Dependence , moreover, dmits of de
an d c an a . a grees, it even be pu rely nomin l Fr nce h as known powerful vass als who h ave resisted
a roy lty .
a a a E a I I I . The c mp ign of Gude in l m , in the cou rse
A a w as a of which the city of nsh n c ptu red , is the only
a fact of m ilitary history of which we know . We h ve a a h a little better inform tion , t nks to two inscriptions
1 I a e en e H - P e See m Lect ures on t/ze [ should r th r r d r it igh ri st . y - — el i i o o il e n l a Ed. R n t A n ci e t B ab on i n s . 60 . g f y , pp 5 9 ]
56 RECORDS OF THE PA ST
— -ki i n a a tries the city of U rsu , the mou nt ins of Ibl (or
a a an d Sham al um r ther, Till which furnished wood , ,
Sham an um a a or , i n the m ount ins of M enu , which fur
c an i n a n i shed stones . But I suggest nothing reg rd to three other geographical n ames which I sh all con
a n Gha hum fine m yself to m entioning the mou nt i of g , fro m whence Gu dea procu red gold ; the city of A b ull at “ or A b ull a- A b ishu ( the great gate of his fathers 2 a a Ri - a situ ted i n the mou nt ins of m sh , whence he
an d a a procu red copper ; the country or city of M dg , 3 a G urru da P i n the mount ins of the river ( ), from whence he procured a product whose precise n atu re I am u n able to determine . Certain cities of B abyloni a are m entioned i n ou r
are a E texts . They the three ncient cities of ridu
Nun - bi L arrak B a r ba r —Ri an d ( ), ( ), the u nknown city
Ki n un i r-ki a a a a as of . They lw ys ppe r to figure
a an d a a s cred cities , the l st of the three only fter the “ a a z - ab z u n m e of goddess, Du i , the m istress of ” Ki nu n i r .
The n ames of the Euphrates an d Tigris frequently
o a b eli ev e I occu r on the t w cylinders of Gude . I h ave also found i n them the n ames of Shum er an d “ ” - A ccad an d Ki burbu r . But it is not
1 ‘ Dr H m m e has e ea Da a. . o l propos d to r d ll 2 “ Ki - m a eem b e the n M as or A ab a e aea [ sh s s to . cou try of , r i P tr ; m h M a ne 2 The Bab n an e e a n am e . t e G e . co p sh of sis x . 3 ylo i s d riv d for ‘ C e Rem ass u m S m e an a e a n . opp r , , fro its u ri pp ll tio 3 Can th e e G urruda a e b een th e ea Sea and can the riv r h v D d , product e e m t he n e b n i a e b een b m en as Dr H m m e d riv d fro igh ouri g distr ct h v itu , . o l h as conj e cture d P It is n ot prob ab l e th at all t he b itum en required for th e e h f i b uildi n gs of B abyloni a was exclusively provid d by t e little river o H t .
(See Hdt . i . THE I NSCRIPTI OTVS OF TELL OH 5 7 yet possible for m e to transl ate the p ass ages where
r they a e found .
a a The inscription of st tue B mentions two se s .
A fter he h ad caused the temple of Nin - girs u to be
- i rs u h as built, Nin g , the lord beloved by hi m , forcibly opened for hi m the ro ads from the s e a of the high ” “ a s e a s a l nds to the lower . The e of the highl ands
a an d is evidentlythe Persi n Gulf, it is i mpossible to “ ” doubt th at by the lower s ea is intended the M edi
a a terr ne n .
a a i r IV. For knowledge of the p ntheon of Sh rpu l a ki e a a a we poss ss docu ment of very great v lue . This is the list of divinities at the com mencement of the i mprecatory formul a in the inscription on statu e B
a are of Gude . The following the n ames of the divi n it i es a , which it is import nt to give i n the order, e a are a vidently s cred , in which they enu mer ted i n the inscription
A a Sk - A n n S nn , the y god , the of the emites ; “ ” 1 Ellilla a or Bel , the lord of the mount in of the world ,
a was a as as where the se t of the gods pl ced , well the “ a a a a a a h bit tion of the de d , lso c lled the f ther of the “ - h arsa gods N in g g or Belit, the mistress of the ” a Ellilla an d mount in , the wife of , mother of the gods “ ” En - ki Ea a an d a or , the lord of the e rth the w ters ;
En - z u Si n - , or , the M oon god , the eldest son of
Ellilla - i rs u C a a H ; Nin g or Ninib, the h lde n ercules ,
and a Ell illa a the son w rrior of ; Nina , the d ughter of
Ea has a as - a a and m a , who the s me titles Nin d r , y
1 I n an ab b e a e m the o f the r vi t d for , lord world . 58 RECORDS OF THE PAST therefore be regarded as the consort of this god ; 1 - a a a a Nin d r , who is the god Ninib under nother n m e
G at um du a A a g, the d ughter of nn , who is the goddess
B au a a B au a A a u nder nother n m e ; , d ughter of nn and - i rsu a a wife of Nin g ; Ninni or N na, the Isht r of
S a a A a S a a the emites, nother d ughter of nn ; h m sh ,
Sun - Eu- ki Ea Pas a a the god , the son of or ; gg , the
S an Ishu m of the emites, who is u ndoubtedly only
- En -ki other form of Gibil , the Fi re god , the son of or Ea ;
G al - a - i rs u - a a li m , the son of Nin g ; D un sh gan , a - i rs u - m ar- ki nother son of Nin g ; Nin , the eldest d aughter of Nina “ ' z - ab z u a Ki n uni r- ki - — z a Du i , l dy of ; Ni n gish id ,
a the god of Gude . It will be observed th at this list arranges the
i n I n divinities three generations . the first come the
a a fou r gre t gods, including goddess, distinguished a a A ss ro- a a lso by the l ter y B byloni n religious systems ,
n a d from whom all the other gods proceed . Next are pl aced the sons an d d aughters of these deities .
L a a a stly come the gr ndchildren . I h ve been obliged
z -ab z u an d - - z a to put Du i Nin gish id by themselves , since no text h as as yet given us any inform ation con
2 m a a cerning them . B ut we y believe th t one of them — Nin - gish — z id a— m ust be mentioned at the end of the
1 — [Or U ras Ed. )
2 - — - ki If our Duzi ahzu is a goddess and her title of lady of K inun ir does n ot allow us to doub t i t — i t is clear that we cann ot iden tify h er with - 6 - 8 as one of t he th e ab z u n am e i n W . A . I . god Duzi who is d ii 5 , 33 3 , nd n o f Ea It n e e a n e an n i n a a e , a six so s . is c ss ry to u d rst d six so s this p ss g " n ot en n e th e n n e n am e a a e Ea . six childr , si c followi g li s d ught r Of THE I NSCRI PTI ONS OF TELL OH 59
a m a a a list, wh tever y h ve been his r nk i n the divine
as a was a family, since, we sh ll see, he the speci l deity of Gudea an d his intercessor with the other gods . The preceding list does not give all the gods mentioned i n the texts of Telloh some even are
d hi r url a absent who ha their temples i n S p . Without
I m a a pretending to be complete , y further enu mer te
Ni n — a a Eu-k i the god ag l , who is only nother form of
Shidlam t a- é na a a - i rs u the god , nother n me of Nin g , an d a - sar the Nerg l of the Semites the god Nin , yet a a al - a nother n me of Nerg ; the goddess Nin tu , nother design ation of Nin - ghars ag ; the god Uru - ki or Si n ;
Ni rb a a - sha h Pa - a the god ; perh ps the god Nin g , p suk l ; “ ” a god called the king of G is hgalla- ki ; a goddess J Kfi - ann a ; a god Dun - sir ( P) ann a ; seven sons of
B an are Zaz aru Zaz auru Im - h u d , who termed (or ), g
na U r- u m- t a- én a - - t a- en a - - a é , (or Gi m nun ), Ghi gir nunn ,
- a a an d Zarm u . Ghi sh g , Gurmu , In a le arned articl e in the Zci tsc/z r if t f ur A ssy r i olo i s e h s a at e . 1 a g (ii . pp 79 a), Prof. Tiele shown th t
a a - a B bylon , by the side of the loc l god Bel M erod ch and E- a an d even i n his temple of sh gil , his wife son Zarpanit an d Nebo were also adored th at at Bor s i a and pp , by the side of the supreme god Nebo in
E- Z a Na was his temple of id , his consort na wor
If a shipped . we remember th t other temples existed at a a a a B bylon dedic ted to v rious other deities, we sh ll re adily admi t th at the cult rendered to these gods was a offered by re son of their being the mother, the
a . brothers , or the sisters of the princip l divinity We 60 RECORDS OF THE PA ST
m a a a y rem rk , moreover, th t the supreme god of the n ation al or l ocal pantheon was h ardly ever one of the l a . a a a pri mordi l deities The tter, indeed , ppe r to m e
a a to h ve been born fter thei r sons, in consequence of the need experienced by the mind of m an to est ablish
a a a a for his god f mily n logous to his own , with
a an d h p rents , wife, c ildren . The two exceptions which m ay be instanced from Nipur an d Eridu are
h a a . as a not cert in . Dr Hom mel rem rked th t one text at all events n ames Ninib an d not Bel as the chief
A s E I Ni ur. divi nity of p for ridu , do not feel su re
a a was al Ea th t the princip l deity there re ly . This
had a a l E as had god cert inly temp e i n ridu , j ust he at Shi r url a- ki was - p , but in both cities it under the title
a was of the divine f ther th at he adored . The very
a a a E interesting inscription on brick of p tesi of ridu ,
a Idadu a n med , which is unfortun tely still u npublished , would l e ad us to suppose th at the Chief god of the l a was -E a a M oda h er c . pl ce Nin ridu , possibly n me of
Shi r url a was — i rs u The suprem e god of p Nin g ,
was B au whose consort the goddess . Both were ff worshipped under di erent titles . Besides the temples
was as - i rs u h ad i n which he invoked Nin g , he others i n G i rs u - ki where he was known as Nin - d ara and
hid - s S l am t a e n a. Simil arly the goddess wa not only a as Bau was a dored , but she lso worshipped i n U ru az a a as G at u m du n d - ki as gg g a i n Nina Nina . Three at least of the p arent gods h ad s anctu aries in Shi r
1 See G eorge Sm ith i n t he Tran sact i on s of tbe Soci ety of B i bl i cal /I ceol o 2 A rc . gy, i . p 3 . THE I NSCRI PTI ONS OF TELL OH 6 1
“ a — Ellilla a S a a purl , (c lled peci lly the f ther of Nin “ En -ki an d , the mother of the gods , Nin
harsa e a En -ki g g. Temples were even d dic ted to
- - m a u nder his two titles of Eu ki an d Nin agal . We y question whether it was in virtue of her being his wife or his sister th at Ninni possessed a temple i n G i rs u ki and another in G ishgall a- ki and also whether Nin
- z a a at G i rs u- ki was gish id , i n his speci l temple , wor shipped as being a brother of the god or as being the It god himself u nder a fourth m anifestation . is cer t ai n on a a G al - a and - h a a , the other h nd, th t li m D un s ag n had each a temple because they were the sons of
- i rs u and a - m ar- ki h ad a Nin g , th t Nin one bec use she was a at re the d ughter of Nina . We do not know p sent wh at were the grounds of rel ationship which c aused temples to be erected i n C irsu - ki to the god 1 Ku- - It a desses a nn a an d Du z i ab z u . is possible th t some of these nu merous tem ples were only ch apels
‘ a E- n i n n t t a a a situ ted i n , the f vou rite s nctu ry of Nin
i rs u a g those, for ex mple, which belonged to the sons of the god . While regarding Nin -gi rsu as the suprem e object “ ” as his of his cult, king, to use the stereotyped ex
a Shi r u rla- ki a a pression , e ch prince of p selected lso
a n a a speci l deity from amo g the divine f m ily, who cted
2 as - i r u are a a his intercessor with Nin g s . We cqu inted
a with the deities of five of these princes . Th t of U ru
1 C n the Ma a n the Col l ect i on de Clerc . o sort of god rtu , ccordi g to q, cyl
1 1 . Cf W A . . . I . 6 b . 4 . iii . 7 , 35 2 See m 1 n U ru ore espe cially t he last li nes of in scri ption No . of Ki g
a na. M H he ne a e b een . euz e has awn m a e n n t K gi y dr y tt tio to li s , which h v an a e the m e b Dr O ert . tr sl t d for first ti y . pp 62 RE CORDS OF THE PA ST
K agi n a was perh aps Nin - sh agh or Pap —suk al — though the reading is doubtfu l ; th at of En t en a an d En ann a- tu m m a was Dun - si r(P)— ann a ; th at of U r - B au
- - - was a a a z a. Nin ag l th t of Gude , Nin gish id We h ave not yet succeeded i n ascertaining the ex act sense of the various appellations of Ni n - gi rsu and his wi fe B au ; it is consequently i mpossible to define with precision the ch aracter an d person ality
m a a a of these divinities . We y dmit , however, th t
- i rs u was a a ar Nin g sol r deity, personifying more p t ic ul arly the su n when veiled i n clouds ; hence the L combative and military aspect of the god . ike
A fitl a pollo , with whom he would be more y comp red
a was at an a an d th n with H ercules, he once venger
a a a a an d a a . s viour, huntsm n , perh ps shepherd “ ” A s B au was ar for , who termed the mother p “ cellence an d , to whom were given the titles of good ” ” a A a was a a l dy , M istress of bund nce , she terrestri l
a d ivinity, resembling in m ny points the Demeter of
I a the Greeks . t is even possible th t like Demeter
a a an d she presided lso over H des , not only over the
n l iving a d fertile earth . Two of ou r texts mention a a B an a festiv l of , which occurred , i f I underst nd the
a a a at a p ss ge right , the com mencement of the ye r ; an d it appears to result from another inscription th at the chief festival of Ni n - gi rs u took pl ace at the s ame
a a was at b e ti me . I ndeed i t is prob ble th t it the
of a at a a ginning the ye r, the vern l equinox , th t the cities of B abyloni a an d A ssyri a alike celebrated the l ' I es t i vals ] of thei r gods .
THE INSCRI PTIONS OF TEL- LOH
THE T O OF K G U R- A I . INSCRIP I NS IN NIN
— MN No . C0 LU I
‘ Niner- ur king SHI RPU RLA of ,
son - a - of Nini gh l gin , the temple of the god NIN- G IRSU h as erected . The [b-gal (P)
he has erected. The temple of the goddess NINA
he has erected .
COLU MN I I
Si - ai r P The g ( ) h he as erected . His tower in stages (P) h a he s erected . A The temple of E h e has erected . The temple of E-GHUD
His Observatory (P)
he has erected .
a
Ma 1 8 8 rch 3. H T E I NSCRI PTI ONS OF TEL LOH 65
COLU MN I I I
P [The palace]
1 -a li - ra . of the Ti s (P) h 2. as he erected . The e f 3. t mple o t he goddess G ATU MDU G ha s . 4 . he erected 1 a a u 5 . The gre t pz 6 h as s . he con tructed .
A - 7. fter that the temple of N IN GI RSU 8 has a s . he c u ed to be erected m 9 . seventy great easures (P) of c om 1 0 . in his house of fruits
COLU MN I V
ha u [he s stored p. ] 2 From MAGA N 3 the mountai n all has r sorts of wood he impo ted . 4 The castle of SHI RPU RLA ha he s built. The small apz u he has constructed
COLU MN V
P i n . [ the temple] A 1 . a of the goddess NIN , l dy of destinies 2 has a . he pl ced it. a P 3. Two st tues ( ) ha P 4 . he s set up ( ); t wo a P 5 . these st tues ( )
1 “ The a z u ee was th e b a n r a n a a e to a [ p , or d p, si for pu ific tio tt ch d " correspon ding to the sea of Solom on — Ed ]
3 " 4 “ Or th e n Or a cou try . w ll . 66 RECORDS OF THE PAST
— M 1 No. COLU N
I . 2 th . e king
. SHI RPURLA 3 of ,
- a - 4 . son of Nini gh l gin, ab tat n IR 5 . the li i i o (P) of G SU
COLU MN I I
1 . has constructed . 2 . The bricks of the foundation (P)
No — LU M . CO N I
I . 2 . the king
. SHIRPU RLA 3 of ,
COLUMN 1 1
1 - . the son of Nini ghal
1 Dt couv t er es 2 No . 2 . T an a e b , . , d Dr. H m m e pl r sl t y o l , B ab l on ien s u n d A ss ri n e s 28 . y y , p. 5 2 “ ” L He z e . u , Les R de Te i n the Revue A rc/zt ol o i ue Nov y ois llo , g g , .
1 8 8 2. THE INSCRI PTI ONS OF TELL OH 67
S T F AN W II . IN CRIP I ON O UNKN O N PRINC E ON A 1 BOULDER or STONE
COLU MN I
1 a . [p te]si 2 o f HI RP R LA . [ S U ]
C OLU MN I I
[of the god] NI N- G I RSU [the dun h as constructed . The palace of Ti - ra - aslz- di (P) has he built, an d he has 2 E- an - [n a] - du covered with renown
COLU MN I I I
1 NI N- G I RSU . by the god , 2 for . the countries
the NI N- OI R 3. by the power of god SU
b e l ast li n es are dest ro ed T y .
1 ’ No Th w n e n D ccouvertes 2 . . e i n n , pl . , 3 riti g us d this i scriptio resemb les that of th e i n scription s of U r- n i na and the Stele o f t he Vultures m e an an e H e e the e a em a n of t he m n or th y oth r. ow v r, littl th t r i s first colu ee m n a e a b e n a ates i and not a n e a s s to i dic t th t it lo gs to p to ki g, p rh ps to
2 T e nam e m a e b ut I b e e e m ea n e b his prop r is util t d , li v y r di g v ry pro
f the S e e the e b v . . 1 ab e . C O . l . t l of Vultur s , i 68 RECORDS OF THE PA ST
SC T O S OF RU - KAG A III . IN RIP I N U IN
— M No. COLU N I
For the god NI N- C IRSU a ELLI LLA the w rrior of the god , U rn- Ka a gin , the king SHI RPU RLA-KI of , his temple
has con structed . His palace of Ti - ra- ash
he has constructed .
COLU MN I I
The an- ta- slzur - ra
he has constructed .
E- i slz - m e- ra The . g i n order to [be] the E-ne- bi of the countries has he constructed . The house of fruits which produces abundance (P) in the country
he has constructed . For the god DU N-SHAGANA his habitation of AKKI L
COLUM N I I I
1 h h e as . . constructed
G AL-ALI MMA 2. For the god
E- M E- AL- B H—AN- R 3. the temple of G O US I h 4 . he as constructed .
1 m F a ee e i n th e L e . T an a e b Dr ro squ z ouvr r sl t d y . Oppert i n a THE I zVSCRI PTl ONS OF TEL LOH 69
. 1 m The temple of the goddess BAU x c has n he co structed . q For the god ELLI LLA o 2 p Of E-A A the temple DD ,
i m -sa - a p his g g ,
C OLU MN I V
h a he s constructed .
B ur P- sa The ( ) g, his temple which rises to the entrance of heaven has he constructed .
Of U rn - Ka a gin , the king
SHI RPU RLA- KI of , who the temple of E- NINNO has s con tructed, his god C OLU MN V
3 N- HA H 1 od NI S G . . is the g 2 the the . For life of king o a 3. during the l ng d ys to come
d - C S 4 . b efore the go NIN IR U
m a I N- SHAG H o a " 5 . y he (N )bow d wn his f ce
N 2— N A UTTRE o . O B ss
od NI N-G IRSU For the g ] ,
’ the] warrior L LI LLA ] ,
l n e e e th e n an d was e a n her b an i t rpr t d ight, who suppos d lo g with hus d “ “ K l n he o ia th e n a e e t he ene a n m e . T p , wi d , to h v produc d first g r tio of w h as b een m a e the Heb e boli u an a e i n G en . ord co p r d with r w , tr sl t d void RECORDS OF THE PA ST
1 A nta -Slzurra 7 [the ] , 6 9 a a [the house] of bund nce of his country, 0 h as . 2 [ ] constructed H0 His [palace] of Ti - [ra- ash] H“ h [he] as constructed.
d Li nes 1 2 a nd 1 3 are estroyed.
1 AL-ALI MMA 4 . [For the god] G
Li ne 1 - e d s ro ed s 5 2 1 ar e t y .
2 2 has . [he ] constructed . 2 d NI N— SAR 3. [For the go ] , 2 a e P 4 . the be r r [of the sword ]
- 2 . NI N G I RSU 5 [of the god] , 2 6. his temple 2 has 7. he constructed . 2 8 G I R P . [For the god ( ) 2 W - 9. the ell beloved
0 I N- G I R 3 . [of the god] N SU 1 3 . his temple 2 ha 3 . he s constructed . B ur P—sa 33. The ( ) g,
. w a of a P 34 his temple hich rises to the entr nce he ven ( ), has 35 . he constructed . 6 ELLI LLA 3 . For the god
- 1 . E A A 37 the temple of DD ,
8 i m - sa - a 3 . his g g , h . as s 39 he con tructed .
0 N - I R 4 . For the god IN G SU 1 t 4 . the sanc uary (P) 2 2 — la - a 4 . of Eme m kurr
‘
. ha n r c 4 3 he s c o st II ted.
- 4 4 . The temple wherein dwells (P)the god NIN C IR SU
. has 4 5 he constructed .
- 6. Of Ka a 4 Uru gin ,
1 h f th e — Ed T e em e o e a . t pl f th r. ] 2 The em e h - t e b e n m a n . Ed t pl of rilli ance of the (east r ) ount i . ]
RECORD S OF THE PA ST
1 2 has . temples he built for them . 1 3. For the
COLU MN III
The r t li n es a l os fi s re t .
[For the god ELLIL] LA E- A A his [the temple of ] DD , has s he con tructed. s A For the godde s NIN , a her f vourite river, the canal NINA-R I- TU M - A has x a ted P he e c va ( ). At a a the mouth (of the c n l),
Frag m en ts of four other col um ns THE I NSCRI PTI ONS OF TELL OH 73
IN SCRIPTI ON OF ENTENA ON A
G ATU MDU G To the goddess ,
SHIRPU RLA- KI the mother of , the patesi
SHIRPU RLA- RI of , who has built the temple of the goddess G ATU MDUG . Hi s god
the - R P- A is god DU N SI ( ) NNA . .74 RECORDS OF THE PAST
1 SC T O or EN-A A-T MMA ON A TT ESS V . IN RIP I N NN U BU R
NI N- G IRSU For the god , a r ELLI LLA the w r ior of the god ,
Em—an n a- a tumm ,
SHIRPU RLA-RI of , the chosen of the heart the A of goddess NIN , the great patesi
NIN- G I RSU of the god , the son of Entena the patesi
I RP R A- RI of SH U L . For the god NIN- G I RSU his house of fruits he ha s restored .
Of Eu-a a- a nn tumm , who the hou se of fruits of the god NI N-G I RSU has restored, his god
- - A is the god DU N SIR(P)ANN .
1 ’ No . . Dccouvertes . 6 , pl , 4 THE ' I NSCRI PTI ONS OF TELL OH 75
T or R-BAU AND HI E V I . IN SCRIP I ON S U S R I G N
— 1 No . 1 . ON A STATU E
COLU MN I
To the god NIN- G IRSH the powerful warrior od ELL I LLA of the g , U r- Bau the patesi
of HI RPU RLA - RI S ,
' t he o flspri n g begotten
NI N- AG AL by the god , n the a A chose by immut ble will of the goddess NIN , w NI N-C S endo ed with power by the god IR U , a a a a a B AU n med with f vour ble n me by the goddess , 2 e EN- KI endowed with int lligence by the god ,
COLU MN I I
1 w e . covered ith r nown by the goddess NINNI , 2 a a . the f vourite serv nt of the god who is king of GI SH
ALLA- RI G ,
- . a o D Z ABZ 3 the f v urite of the godd ess U I U .
am R- BA 4 . I U U ;
- . NIN I R i m 5 the god G SU s y king . 6 3 . s has a a The ite of he exc v ted .
. a a has 7 The e rth thence extr cted, like precious stones, he
8 . a P like precious metal he has weighed ( ) it.
1 De’couv ll ertes . and 8 . T an a e b Dr O ert i n a Comm un i , p 7 r sl t d y . pp ‘ cat i on t o the A cade m i e des I nscr i ti on s 1 5 t Ma 1 8 8 2 p , 3 rch . RECORDS OF THE PA ST
COLU MN I I I
I A a a has m a a . ccording to the pl n dopted he rked out large space has a r a h into the middle (of it)he c r ied this e rt , 1 and has a m undus he m de its . A a 6 h as . bove, substructure cubits high, he built Above this substructure E- O a P the temple NINN , which illumines the d rkness ( ), 0 3 cubits in height, ha he s built. 2 NI N-G HARSAG o the For the goddess , the m ther of
gods, COLU MN IV
her temple of G IRSU - RI has he constructed . th e B AU For goddess , a the good l dy, a A A the d ughter of NN , her temple Of U RU - AZAGGA has he constructed . ' a a sove For the goddess NINNI , the l dy ugust,
her temple of G ISHGALLA—KI he has constructed .
th e EN-RI E For god , the king of RIDU, his temple of C IR SU-RI
’ COLU MN V
I ha . he s constructed.
- 3 2. NI N A A d desti ni es P For the god D R , the lor of ( ),
3. his temple he has constructed ;
- . NIN AGAL 4 For the god ,
1 T an a n e e n e en n e e e e S we his tr sl tio Of th s six li s is giv u d r r s rv . hould
‘ com pare the cerem on i es at the foun dation of cities i n classical an tiquity ? 2 " Th e a t he m n a n — Ed- l dy of ou t i . I 3 Or U a — Ed [ r s . .] THE I NSCRI PTI ONS OF TELL OH 77
hi s m god , h C his temple X N he has constructed . O 1 O For the goddess NIN - MAR-K1 a 9 . the good l dy, 1 0 a s A . the eldest d ughter of the godde s NIN ,
1 1 Esh- u- t u r P h er a . the g ( ), the temple of const nt choice,
1 2 has . . he constructed
COLU MN VI
1 . For the god 2 s e G I R- SU - R I . the h pherd [of] [ ] , e e 3. his t mpl
has . 4 . he constructed 2 For s KU- A A 5 . the godde s NN , 6 a o P . the l dy of the cl udy sky ( ), her e e C S - RI 7. t mpl of IR U
8 has s . . he con tructed
For D Z - A BZU 9 . the goddess U I , 1 0 th e a K INU NI R- KI . l dy of , 1 G IRSU - RI I . her temple of
1 2 has . . he constructed
The rem ai n i ng i nscripti on s i f Tell oh wi l l be t ransl ated i n the t vol u m n ex e.
1 f h Mar — The a o t e . Ed l dy city of . ] 2 The n the M a R m m n a n a c l co sort of god rtu [or i o ] , ccordi g to y inder N n M . de C e o . W b e n . . A . I . 6 b lo gi g to l rcq ( cf , iii . 7 , . 35 . ’ SI N- GA SHID S EN DOWM EN T OF THE
TEM PLE E- A NA
E P HES BY H . C TRA NSLATED T O. G IN
T HI S short inscription of twenty - seven lines is on e
a of peculi ar interest . It i s record , written i n the
A a an a a an a an kk di l ngu ge, of endowment, m de by early M esopotami an king with a Sem iti c B abyloni an 1 a a at E a E- an a n m e , to the gre t tem ple rech c lled ;
an a a a an d it is not origin l , but copy i n cl y , written by
m an a a u-b al adhs u - i bi a a a n med N b q , of ston e t blet
a a s kept, i n ncient ti mes , in the gre t temple known a
E-z a a Bi rs - i - Ni m ro ud— id , now the rui n c lled the the
a a a has a supposed tower of B bel . G re t c re been t ken by the copyist i n inscribing the tablet ; an d the forms
a a as h as a of the ch r cters , he given them , prob bly
a a a Of reproduce f irly well the rch ic style the origin al . The text itself covers the greater p art of the two
a a sides of the cl y t blet, which is , like most of the docu ments of this kind found i n B abyloni a and
A a flat — or a s o — on e and ssyri , ne rly the obvers ,
a cu rved on the reverse . The l st three lines, which
1 - - - - W en Ean n a i n th e n n . The en d ab e n a ritt i scriptio s syll l is , how e e ene al e a e as a n n e m em en an d t he n v r, g r ly r g rd d ki d of pho tic co pl t , is H e e e not eal b e . The nam e m ean e ea en th r for r ly dou l s ous of h v .
TRANSLATION OF THE INSCRIPTION OF
SI N- GASHI D
1 2 Si n - ashid ERECH AMNANU M an d g , king of , king of , 3 a o E- ANA LU GAL- BA A an d NI N- GU L p tr n of , to ND his god
h e E-ANA e E- A AL his goddess. When built he erect d K NK , 4 W th a o f a D the house hich is e se t of the joy his he rt. ur 5 in W w 0 ur a g his dominion he ill endow it ith 3 g of whe t, 1 2 m ana of o 1 0 m an a 1 8 a a wo l , of produce, g of oil ccord 6 ff n 1 Ma a th e a a d S . ing to t ri , hekel of gold y his ye rs be years of plenty.
COLOPHON IN SEMI TI C-BABYLONI AN
7 C a un i - the E-Z A opy of the t blet of stone, property of ID , 6 bu—baladhsu- i bi Mi tsirfi ha w a a s . which N q , son of , ritten
I t m ay not be without i nterest to give here a transcription of the origin al text i nto Rom an ch ar
1 “ T nam e b ab Si n —hashid the M n - od h as m a e his is pro ly for , oo g d " captive. 2 The Akka an m n u a di for is U g . “ ” 3 L e a n u e ua e a en the Sem - Bab n an it r lly o rish r ( , quiv l t to itic ylo i z a n i n u ). 4 ” The Akka an e e use the m n sha - hull a h eart o di s h r co pou d g , j y. 6 " L e a m ea e out . it r lly , sur to it 6 f of the m e Or e a a n th e a . , p rh p s , ccordi g to t ri f ti 7 The origi n al h as the Akkadian word n igga Sem itic -Bab ylon i an m i m m a . 2 “ M iraa h E an it s t e . , gypti ’ SI N- CASHI D S END OW MENT OF TEMPLE E- ANA 8 I
act ers a , omitting the determi n tive prefixes , which were probably not pronounced
L u al - a a di n i ran i r - am ani r Si n g b nd , g , Nin gul ,
m n n m a E- ana ashid l u al U n u a l u al A a u u . g , g g , g ,
U d E- ana m u- dua E- a a é ki - sha h ulak an e , k nk l , tu r g ,
- m - l u al akani b a - - t a h du. a a n a mu en B l g she gur , ghu 1 m i n a a - t a a a - t a - a- a s al m n sig , ghu m n u m (ghu uss q )
- - i i t a a a a a k a i é h daz . gish , kil m d n , guski n g g g p g
M - ua n i m u ghigala ghi a.
a a a sha u i n i a E-z a a u-b al G bri n ru sh , gg id , N b
- adhs u i bi Mit si raa i sdhur. q , abil , The text begins with an i nvoc ation to L ugal
a a an d - a b nd his consort Ni n gul , who seem to h ve
’ - been Si n gashid s patron god and goddess . H e then
a E- ana a E spe ks of , one of the gre t temples of rech
’ was a Si n - ashid s a a an d E- kan (which , perh ps, g c pit l), kal a E- an a , prob bly one of the shrines i n . J udging
Si n - ashid s a from the wording, g eems to cl i m to be
a a the founder of both those f nes, though it is prob ble
a i n - ashid a th t he only rebuilt them . S g then gives
Of a . list the mounts of produce , etc , with which he h ad and a endowed the shrine, ends with pious wish
a a i n for his country . The d te of the origin l of this
m a a 26 0 B . a t 0 C. scription y be set down bout. The
h as a copy which come down to us, however, prob bly d ates from the ti me of the antiqu ari an revival i n
a a a a B byloni during the reign of N bonidus, f ther of
az z a Belsh r .
1 This is represented on the table t by a si ngle character form ed with four wedges ( three horizon tal an d o ne upright) of t he sam e form as the ' a a e as T i a a e Is e a en x 6 z 1 8 a ch r ct r . h s ch r ct r quiv l t to 3 ( )e .
VOL . I 8 2 RECORDS OF THE PA ST
I t is to be noted th at the i nscription is dedic ated to a god and a goddess W hose n ames I provisiona lly “ ” a as L u al - banda tr nscribe g ( powerful king, or king ” and Ni n - ul as of youthful strength ) g , his consort ( we learn from the second volum e of the Cuneif orm
n nd 2 I scri t o i a . 2 i ns o W estern A s . a p f , pl 5 9 , ll 4 5 This identificati on of Ni ngul as the consort of Lugal
a a a as a Si n - ashid b nd is i mport nt, i t shows th t g , who 2 a an d c lls her his mother, hi mself her son , did not
a a was a a a me n to i mply th t she his re l e rthly p rent,
a a but th t he simply tr ced his descent from her, thus
’ a S sserting his divine origin . The l ate George mith s “ double -queried Bel at - sun at (as he transcribed the “ a - a n me Nin gul), the e rliest known queen i n the
E a a a uphr tes v lley, must therefore be er sed from the
a E list of historic l rulers i n rech . The temple E- ana was prob ably the princip al 3 a E an d E- a a was f ne i n the city of rech , k nk l prob a f i m rob bly one O the shrines within it . I t i s not p able th at the E- k ank al m entioned here is the s ame
as -S E- - ana , or the fellow hrine to , the ghili mentioned
A - b ani ~ al as a a a a by ssur p the s nctu ry , pp rently i n or
E- an a connected with , to which he restored the
a a was a i m ge of the goddess N na, which c rried off
E a - nan khundi a 22 8 0 by the king of l m , Kudur , bout
1 F m a m ar n of th e e n am e i n th e e e e b e ro co p iso oth r s t xt th r pu lish d , it would seem th at othe r possible readi n gs of th ese two n am es are U m u n ba nda Un - ba n da and n - ut - ul F e e a a n i n th e Ea or (i g or Eg . r sh xc v tio s st can al n e e e m ne e e n o d t r i th s poi ts . 2 Gun . I n s. i a B m th e sum o W . A s . l No f , vol i . p . 3, . viii . ( rick fro m it of the Bowarieh n at W a a rui rk ). 3 The house of the s an ctuary ’ SHV CASHID S END OW H ENT OF TEMPLE E-A NA 8 3
A s a Si n - ashid years before Christ . the d te of g i s 1 s a a doubtful , it is i mpossible to y with cert inty W hether the captu re of the i m age of N ana by the
E a a a l mites took pl ce before or fter his reign , but 2 i t was probably a fter . The i nscription here transl ated and expl ained is a duplicate of one published i n the fourth volume of A I o W . s i a NO Cun ei or m ns . . . the f f , pl 35 , 3, from 3 a a Of two cones from W rk . this text , which is
a and a r ther roughly written , which gives few i nter
a a a a a a esting v ri nts from the text tr nsl ted bove, tentative transl ation w as given by the l ate George “ S Ea a a mith i n his rly H istory of B byloni , pub li sh e d i n the Trans act i ons of the Soci ety of B i bl i cal
r i nd A chwol o . . a gy , vol , i n the first series of the
Re rd o t e a t . co s h P s . f , vol iii
1 He m a b e e a e as a i n e n e ab 260 0 B y r g rd d h v g r ig d out . C . 2 ' The text o f Assur -b an i - pal s d escription is as follows Fo r 1 635 ea had the e Nana b een an h ad n e an d h ad e n y rs godd ss gry , go , dw lt withi E am was n ot h er e a e an d i n e a sh e and t h e l , which prop r pl c ; thos d ys her a e a m e m n am e t h e m n n o f t he She gods f th rs procl i d y to do i io world . ‘ i n trusted to m e th e re turn of h er divi nity thus Assur- b an i - pal sh all b ri n g m e out o f th e m e E am and a a e m e e n e n idst of wick d l , sh ll c us to t r withi ’ E— an a The o f th e m m an of h er n sh e h ad . words co d divi ity , which en m em e a s h e a a n e ea e t he a e e e I spok fro r ot d ys , g i r v l d to l t r p opl . a e t he an her ea n an d s he th e a a gr sp d h d of gr t divi ity , took str ight ro d , E- an I n t h e m n K isleu o n the da i o ea a. I w th j y of h rt , to o th , first y, a e h er e n e E e an d i n E- - an a she e I a e c us d to t r r ch , ghili , which lov s , c us d " n her an eve rlasti n g shri n e to b e fou d ed for . 3 The an en E e i n the em e E- an a was a e ci t r ch , which t pl situ t d . A N ERECHITE’S LA M EN T
A LATE BY HEO . P CHES TR N S D T . G IN
I N connection with the text referring to E- an a i n
E a a a rech , the following, kind of penitenti l ps lm
a a a a a n written i n the Su m eri n di lect, with tr nsl tio
S - a a a i nto emitic B byloni n , which I h ve entitled The
’ Erechit e s l am ent over the desol ation of his father
a m a a a a . l nd , y be here very ppropri tely ppended
a a This i nteresting composition , i f not ctu lly written an d sung after the c arrying away of the st atue of the
a a El am it i es a goddess N n by the , m ight well h ve been ch anted by the sorrowing Erechit es on th at
a occ sion .
I W A s i a a as Cun . ns . o . The fr gment published ( f ,
. 1 and iv 9 , No . 3) begins with the reverse o f the text,
- breaks off when rather less th an h alf w ay through it .
Of as re the obverse, which is yet unpublished , the m ains only of about sixteen li nes at the bottom are
a a s left . Wh t rem i n of the obverse refers to the devastation wrought by an enemy i n the city of
E and rech , the subj ect is continued on the reverse , which ends i n a kind of litany . The following is a free rendering of the inscription on the reverse . ’ AN ERECH/ TE S L AMENT 8 5
TRAN SLATI ON OF THE LAMENT
La a a How long, my dy, sh ll the strong enemy hold thy s nc t uary P a E ECH th a There is w nt in R , y princip l city o a E-ulbar s Bl od is flowing like w ter in , the hou e of thy oracle He has kindled and poured out fire like hailstones on all h a t y l nds. La s am e s My dy, orely I f ttered by mi fortune ; La t a o an d My dy, hou h st surr unded me, brought me to r g ief. h w The mighty enemy as smitten me do n like a single reed . 1 Not s a n a wi e myself, I c n ot t ke counsel an fi l s 2 I mourn day d night like the e d .
se a a . I , thy rv nt, pr y to thee L a a r s et . thy he rt t ke e t, let thy disposition be softened ea a e e weeping, let thy h rt t k r st. l a a et thy he rt t ke rest. a P s ve ( ) thou .
a Transl ation s of this text h ve been given by G .
S L eno rm an t a and Z mith , , H levy , Hom mel , im mern , and a a a ac com dr wing of the reverse of the fr gment ,
an ied a a an d a a was p with tr nscription tr nsl tion , given by me i n the B a byl on i an and Or ien tal Record for
1 December 8 8 6 .
1 " L e a I n ot a e n e m e I am not e S m e an it r lly , do t k cou s l , ys lf wis ( u ri i Di m m a n u -m un di b u i - m a n u - m usht u men A an Dh 'me u l t sabt ahu , g ssyri , r a m a n i 121 hha sah u ). 2 B e e e a L e the m a rshl a n d da an d n I an tt r , p rh ps , ik , y ight gro . I NSCRI P T I ON OF TIG LATH - PILESER I
KING OF ASSYRIA
TRA NSLATED BY THE EDITOR
HIS Ti lath - Pileser T inscription of g I . is the longest an d most i mportant of the e arly A ssyri an records
a th at h ave come down to us . The gene logical details given i n it are of gre at value for determining the chronology an d succession of the e arlier mon archs
A a a a of ssyri , while the description of the c mp igns of the king throws a brilli ant and unexpected light on
a A a the ncient geography of Western si . To the
a a Ti lath geogr pher, indeed , the c re with which g Pi les er enu merates the countries he overran and the
a a a A cities he s cked is of inesti m ble i mport nce . new ch apter h as been added to the history of ancient
a a ' a a geogr phy, nd we now possess f irly complete m ap of the districts north an d north - west of A ssyri a before the overthrow of the Hittite power had brought
n a a with it revolution a d ch ange . We find geogr phic l n ames of si mil ar form stretching westwards from the neighbourhood of Lake Van to the confines of A si a
o a M inor, t gether with evidence th t tribes like those
8 8 RECORDS OF THE PA ST fell into a st ate of decay ; its frontier cities p assed
a an d a a i nto other h nds , for n e rly two h u ndred ye rs
was i t i s hidden altogether from sight . It not until the ninth centu ry before ou r era th at under t he war like A ssu r -n at si r- pal and his son Sh alm aneser I I i t once more bec am e a n am e of terror to Western A si a.
Tigl ath - Pi leser I rem ained the central figu re of the
a older empi re, towering bove his fellows on the
A a ssyri an throne . When the ncient line of pri nces
a an d was z bec m e extinct, the crown sei ed by the
w wa usu rper P ul , the new king kne of n o better y i n - which to legiti mise his clai m to sovereignty th an by assuming the tim e - honou red n ame of Tuk ult i - pal “ E a Ti l ath -Pil es er a a s r or g , the serv nt of (Ur s) the ” Esarra divine son of . Though Tiglath - Pil eser was not brought i nto
a a a a direct rel tions with P lestine, it is prob ble th t his
a as a a w rs, followed they were by the tempor ry dec y
A a had of ssyri , m uch to do with the rise of the em
l - pire of D avid . The wars of Tig at h Pil es er weakened
and a the power of the H ittites in the north, llowed
a a s S a a a a a the sm ll st te of yri to m ke he d g inst them . For more th an a centu ry the l atter h ad no powerful neighbours to fear or cou rt . Egypt h ad p assed
and was a u nder eclipse, divided between riv l dyn asties
A a h ad of kings, while ssyri equ ally ceased to be
a formid ble . When D avid and J o ab built up the
a empire of Isr el, there was no strong enem y to
and a a a a z Z oppose tt ck them . H d de er of ob ah might g o to recover his border at the river INSCRI PTI ON OF TI GLA TH-PI LESER I 8 9
Euphrates ; there was no H ittite or A ssyri an mon arch
a wa to st nd i n his y. The i nscription of Tiglath - Pil eser I is i nscribed
a a a l a on fou r l rge oct gon l cyli nders of c y, origi n ally bu ried u nder the found ations of the fou r corners
a S a a of the gre t temple of Kileh hergh t, the ncient
A and an d city of ssu r, now i n the British M useu m ; it has been published i n the Cuneif or m I nscripti ons of
- e A s i a . . 1 W es t rn . . 8 , i pl ix xvi I n 5 7 the inscription was selected for testing the substanti al correctness of
A an d the method employed by the ssyriologists, of
a n a the results obt ined by them . O the propos l of
R a A a S a a the oy l si tic ociety , fou r tr nsl tions of i t,
a more or less complete, were m de i ndependently by
Si r Ra a H enry wlinson , M r. Fox T lbot, D r. H incks,
nd d a . O ert an a Dr pp , submitted u nder se l to the
a n secret ry of the Society. When opened a d com
a i t was a a a a p red , found th t they exhibited rem rk ble
a a as a resembl nce to one . nother reg rds both the transliteration of proper n ames and the rendering of
a a a . a a was i ndividu l p ss ges The resembl nce, i n f ct,
a a a gre ter th n co uld be ccounted for, except on the assumption th at the method employed by the
was a and a decipherers sound one , th t they were
a a 1 8 working on solid b sis . Since 5 7 i m mense advances h ave been m ade i n our knowledge of
A a un ssyri n . Ch aracters whose values were then
and a was known , words whose me ning obscu re , are now famili ar to the student ; an d a historical inscription like th at of Tigl ath - Pi leser presents 90 RECORDS OF THE PA S T but few difli c ulti es to the A ssyriologist of to da y. I n 1 8 8 0 the i nscription was re - edited an d trans
a and a L z l ted with notes gloss ry by Dr. W . ot u nder
a a . . z . the uspices of his te cher, Prof Fr D elit sch The transl ation embodied all the stores of incre ased knowledge which the incessant l abour of twenty - three
a had a a and l a a a ye rs ccu mul ted , it is on y i n comp r t ivel f a a y ew p ass ages th t i t c n be i mproved . The English reader m ay now consider th at he h as before
a a A a and c an hi m the ctu l words of the old ssyri n king, use them for historical and geographical pu rposes
a a - wi thout fe r or reserv tion . The foot notes will be foun d to contain all the geographical inform ation at present attain able rel ative to the localities mentioned i n the text . A word or two m ust be added on the n ame of the divinity to whom Tiglath- Pil eser was dedicated
a Sun - by his p rents . This deity represented the god pri mitively worshipped at Nipur (now Ni ffer) i n
a a a a a a d as a B byloni , who fterw rds c m e to be reg r ed
C a a sort of h lde n Herakles . H e is the only deity of the first rank whose n ame is still a m atter o f dispute . I t is generally given as A d ar i n default of a i n l ' f l s a c ert a a e . nything better, but the re di ng is y A ccording to the monum ents he was c alled Uras i n
A a a an d a w a as cc di n , lso i n Semitic, hen reg rded “ ” the god of light . Bu t he was further known i n “ ” A a as a a a ssyri n B ru the reve ler, though we le rn from a B abyloni an text recently d iscovered i n Upper .
INSCRIPTION OF TIGLATH - PILESER I
THE BEG INNIN G l
COLU MN I
1 AS a . UR the gre t lord, the director of the hosts of the
gods, 2 and a . the giver of the sceptre the crown, the est blisher of the kingdom BEL bil u all S , the lord ( ), the king of the pirits of the a e rth, a o the f ther of the g ds, the lord of the world SI N - on e (the Moon god), the sentient , the lord of the
crown , 1 a the ex lted one, the god of the storm ; SAMAS Sun - od a and a (the g ), the judge of he ven e rth, who beholds
the plots of the enemy, who feeds the flock MMO the Ai r- a o RI N ( god), the prince, the inund t r of
hostile shores, 2 of countries (an d)houses ; AS and UR , the hero, the destroyer of evil men foes, who discloses all that is in the heart STA a I R , the eldest of the gods, the l dy of girdles, a the strengthener of b ttles .
a e a an d a I 5 . Ye gre t gods, guid rs of he ven ( )e rth, 1 6 an d a . whose onset (is) opposition comb t, 1 a a 7. who h ve m gnified the kingdom 1 8 Ti lath—Pileser . of g , the prince, the chosen
1 en E i n I 0 21 . e a W A. I . I 6 Id tifi d with . , . , I NSCRI PTI ON OF TI GLA TH -PI LESER I 93
1 h a a he d 9 . of the desire of your e rts, the ex lted shep r , 2 0 h a ea as s o . w om you h ve conjured in the st df tne s of y ur a he rts, 2 1 a e a . with crown supr me you h ve clothed him to rule 2 2 a B EL a a . over the l nd of mightily you h ve est blished him ; 2 a an d h 3. priority of birth, suprem cy ( ) eroism 2 ha the es n s 4 . ve you given him d ti y of his lord hip 2 for his as an d S a 5 . incre e uprem cy, 1 2 6 t o a - khar a - kurkurra . inh bit Bit s g for o 2 a s . 7. ever h ve you umm ned
Ti la h- il s r w 28 . t P e e g , the po erful king, 2 s has a n 9 . the king of ho ts who no riv l , the ki g of the on es four z , ll s 0 . a o 3 the king of kinglet , the l rd of lords, the shepherd n e o f pri c , the king kings, 2 1 . a o w a a 3 the ex lted pr phet, to hom by the procl m tion of SAMAS
2 has n as a a 3 . the illustrious sceptre bee given gift, so th t the m en are B EL h e has 33. who subject to ruled e t the fa S e 34 . in (th ir)en irety ithful h pherd , a e e 35 . procl imed (lord) ov r kingl ts, 6 e o e a AS 3 . the supreme gov rnor wh s we pons UR ha n th . s e s a d e 37 pr de tined , for the government of four zones 8 3 . has proclaimed his name for ever the capturer 3 39 . of the distant divisions of the frontiers
1 “ Th e Tem e of the M n a n the W the nam e of an old pl ou t i of orld , em e i n the A h ad b een e e b Shalm aneser I t pl city of ssur , which r stor d y “ B . C I n ea Bab n an m th e M n a n of t he ( . rly ylo i ythology ou t i W was the Ol in os on th e e and was en orld y p which gods dw lt , which id ti fied M w n n a a 1 e e he n Ro a di z . It e e e i . t with ou t is r f rr d to Is i h xiv 3, wh r Bab n an n m a e sa a en n ea e n e al ylo i ki g is d to y I will sc d i to h v , I will x t m y throne ab ove th e stars of Elohi m I will sit also on t h e m oun t of the a e mb h m n l as en ab e ss ly (of t e gods)i n the extre ities of the orth . I wil c d ov th e e the b i e the m H h ights of clouds I will e l k ost igh . 2 " I si u e a e asi a a i v ne was b e b t he pp , r l t d to p , d i r, which orrow d y the nam e of e Jos ph . 3 Pul u i the Heb e Pele in e a the ea was e . g , r w g, whos d ys rth divid d 94 RECORDS OF THE PA ST
above an d below ; the illustrious prince whose glory has overwhelmed (all) regions h 1 the mig ty destroyer, who like the rush of a flood is made strong against the hostile land by the proclamation of B EL he has no rival ha a A he s destroyed the foem n of SUR .
May ASUR (and) the great gods who have magnified m y kingdom, ha a an d e who ve given incre se strength to my f tters, (who)have ordered the bound ary of their land n a a a to be e l rged, c use my h nd to hold a a their mighty we pons, even the deluge of b ttle . C s a ountrie , mount ins, e and ASS fortr sses kinglets, the enemies of UR , a an d s I h ve conquered , their territorie a a I h ve m de submit. With sixty kings, 2 a s an d I h ve contended furiou ly, power (an d)rivalry over them
a . A a a I displ yed riv l in the comb t, a i n h h a confronter t e battle ve I not . . the a ASS A a a e a m e n To l nd of YRI I h ve dd d l nd , to its (I have added) men ; the boundary of my Own lan d a ll a a a an d a e . I h ve enl rged, their l nds I h ve conquer d
6 2 At r an . the beginning of my eign twenty thous d men 3 6 h MU SKAYA an e fi e n . t e d v 3 of th ir ki gs, 4 6 a o the a AM I 4 . who for fifty ye rs fr m l nds of
1 a u m i n n N l b ab th e am e as th e Ne a G e . p , pro ly s word phili or g ts of and N mb b i n e b n th e n n . . . Se n na e vi 4 u xiii . 33 ch ri , d scri i g co structio of a a e a A ai n of ee b n e and t he ne Na all u his p l c , s ys r li g thr ro z cords divi p ” “ ” I e e e ab e e e th e n e Na al l u b ab e e t o th e r ct d ov it , wh r divi p pro ly r f rs m a e of a e n i g prot cti g deity . 2 “ L e al i n n en a n s u thuri s . it r ly , dru k f shio ( ) 3 The M e e th e ld T e am en th e M of th e a a sh ch of O st t , oschi cl ssic l e i n A an m e e th e n the n of M a a writ rs , who ssyri ti s occupi d cou try to orth l e I n th e a e A an n n e are a a e th e tiy h . l t r ssyri i scriptio s th y ssoci t d with
T b a or Tib aren i as i n t h e Ol d T e am en . u l , st t 4 A l a on t he e n b an of th e E a e b e ee n Pa and lzi y south r k uphr t s , tw lu n and n e B e th e Anz itén é of a a e a at the Khi i , i clud d uzit , cl ssic l g ogr phy (
96 RECORDS OF THE PAST
93. Their spoil, their property, their goods
9 4 . I brought forth ; their cities with fire
COLU MN II
1 . I burned , I threw down , I dug up. The rest 2 KU MMU KH a . of (the men of) , who before my we pons 1 . had SERESSE 3 fled, to the city of a 4 . on the further b nk of the TI G RI S
5 . passed over ; the city for their stronghold
6. a a and a they m de . My ch riots w rriors in cc o . ffi a and a ess 7. I t ok The di cult mount ins their ible 8 a . p ths with picks of bronze A a . a 9 I split. pontoon for the p ss ge
1 0 a s an a . . of my ch riot d rmy I contrived
1 . SE E G S . S I The TI RI I crossed The city of RI , 1 2 a . their strong city, I c ptured .
1 . a 3 Their fighting men , in the midst of the mount ins, 2 1 - 4 . I flung to the ground like sling stones (P). 1 5 . Their corpses over the TI G RI S and the high places of the mountains
1 6. a a I spread . In those d ys the rmies E3 1 . a URKH 7 of the l nd of Q , which for the preserva tion an a K MMU KH 1 8 . d help of the l nd of U ha a a 1 . d 9 come, long with the rmies
K MM KH - 20 U U a a . . of , like moon stone I l id low 2 1 a . The corpses of their fighting men into he ps 2 2 a a a . in the r vines of the mount ins I he ped up ; 2 AME 3. the bodies of their soldiers the river N
1 m a e i n ne Am This ust h v been the ighbourhood of id or Diarbekir . The an ni n Men uas m en n a H e Surisidas i n the n V c ki g tio s ittit city, , vici ity of
el m th e Sareisa S ab . Alzi . D itzsch co pares of tr o 2 “ Sutm as i . I n R. 20 . . 22 sa sa m m asi n e e e a n e 4 i is i t rpr t d sli g r , “ " I sa e n - n an d i n W A. 1 m a e. . . , iv. 3, 5 , is sli g sto 3 Th e an urkhi e t en e ea a a be k a n the l d of Q x d d stw rd of Di r ir , lo g n e n ban the T . The nam e ese e in a Kurkh orth r k of igris is pr rv d th t of ,
20 m e S. E. a b e e e e e are n and e e a e e S a il s of Di r kir, wh r th r rui s , wh r st l of h l m an I I h n e e eser as bee discov r d . INSCRI PTI ON OF TI GLA TE -PILESER 1 97
2 a a a G I S. 4. c rried w y into the TI R 2 Kil -an teru th e son of Kal ia n tem 5 . i , ’ ’ 1 2 6 the s a of Sa - - siusun i . ( de cend nt) ru pin , 2 i the s bat a 7. their k ng in mid t of tle my h nd 28 a hi s and . c ptured ; wives ( )children ' 2 ofls ri n h a t ro s 1 8 0 9 . the p g of his e r , his t op , f 0 . z e a o o 3 bron pl tes, 5 b wls copper, h d o and s 1 . a s 3 long with t eir go , g ld ( ) ilver,
2 o s o e . 3 . the ch ice t of their pr p rty, I removed
o an d o a a a . 33. Their sp il ( ) their g ods I c rried w y l n a a w 34 . The city i tse f a d its p l ce ith fire
. e n and . 35 I burned, I pull d dow , ( ) dug up
6 As for th e U RRA KHINA S s h 3 . city of , their trong old, was s a the ai of PA A 37. which itu ted on mount n N RI , ea t a a e t he ASS 38 . f r h t void d glory of UR my lord
w e . a e 39 . over helmed th m To s v t e e s 4 0 . heir lives they r mov d their god ; 1 t o a the t a 4 . the r vines of lof y mount ins
2 fled a . har 4 . they like bird My c iots
an d a o ss t he G S. 4 3. rmies I to k ; I cro ed TI RI 2 - Kh tt khi . Sa an teru so n a u 4 4 di , the of , the king U RRA KHI NA S a o 4 5 . of , th t he might not be c nquered ,
ha t oo m ee t. 4 6. in t t country k y f ' The l r the ofls rin of a and a 4 7. chi d en, p g his he rt, his f mily
8 t o as s a s . 4 . I o k ho t ge ' St o a es a o w of Co e 4 9 . y br nze pl t , b l pp r, f ea o 0 . an d a a o e 5 tr y h vy c pp r, 1 a o wi 1 20 m en x 5 . l ng th , o en, ' 2 and h as r an d ofieri n 5 . ( )s eep, t ibute g
1 Sar i na was the name of one the H e ci i es se od was i h p of ittit t , who g ' ' in the rea betw een Ram sa II an d th e H i e lnn “i th t he voked t ty itt t g. ‘ ' ma Abar - si in 8 2 erm na i n we c m are a of m . t i t o y o p th t u iv . 2 The fir a t of the name Sa -a em w i rem n the st p r di ut , h ch i ds us of L ian Sa -at ma the name th e d San a or San tés con ain o r). yd dy . y t of g d do
“ " s - H sufi x -kki as i n anni a a . a u khi ma n the ti e th e h d Kh tt s it t , , V c ,
- eri e rom U ri a the te m na i n nth -w in ann ic enoti n the ace d v d f , r i t o , V , d g pl ” the eo e f of p pl o .
VOL. I RECORDS OF THE PAST
h d a u . a (which)he bro ght, I received I comp ssion him a I granted his life . The he vy yoke a a of my lordship I l id upon him for future d ys. The broad land of KU MMU K H throughout its circuit e I conquered ; under my f et I subdued . In those days a tray of coppe r (an d) a bowl f an d of copper, rom the spoil tribute K MM KH a of U U I dedic ted to ASUR my lord . The sixty bronze plates along with their gods MM m I presented to RI ON who loves e.
a Through the violence of my powerful we pons , which ASSUR the lord a for an d m g ve strength herois , in thirty of my chariots that go at m y side 1 e an d my fle t steeds ( ) my soldiers, 2 W ho are strong in destructive fight, a a M I LDI S the I took ; g inst the country of , powerful, a a the disobedient, I m rched . Mighty mount ins, an a in ccessible district, (where it was) good in my chari ots (W here it was) bad
on my feet, At a A MA I crossed . the mount in of RU , a difli cult a a Of a district, which for the p ss ge my ch riots was a not suited, I left the ch riots the a I took le d of my soldiers. Like a lion (P) the obstacles (P) in the ravines of the in accessible mountains
Victoriously I crossed . 3 The land of M I LDI S like the flood of the deluge I l overwhe med . Their fighting men in the midst of battle
a - a like moon stone I l id low. Their spoil s and a their good ( )their property I c rried away.
1 L e a m e e e it r lly co pl t hors s . 3 “ “ L e a m n or t el it r lly ou d .
I OO RECORDS OF THE PA ST
COLU MN I I I
had seized the cities of SU BARTI which looked to 1 a AS the f ce of UR my lord, heard of my m arch against the land of SU BARTI the glory of my valour overwhelmed them they avoid ed battle my feet
they took . Together with their property an d 1 20 chariots (an d the horses)harnessed to their yokes I took them ; as the m en m of my own country I counted the .
In the fi ercen ess of my valour for the second time K MMU KH a h All to the country of U I m rc ed . a their cities I c ptured . Their spoil an e a r a a their goods d their prop rty I c r ied w y.
Their cities with fire I burned , an d an d I threw down ( ) dug up , the relics a w a of their rmies, who before my po erful we pons were terror- stricken an d the onset of my mighty battle a o a v ided , to s ve their lives sought the mighty summits
the a an a s . of mount ins, in cce sible region To the fastnesses of the lofty ranges an d the ravines of the in accessible mountai ns which were unsuited for the tread of m en as a a a a I cended fter them . Tri l of we pons, comb t n a d battle they essayed with me . A a destruction of them I m de . The bodies of their warriors in the ravin es of the mountains M h like the inundator (RI MON) I overt rew. Their corpses over the Vall eys an d high pl aces of the mou ntains ea I spr d . Their spoil , their goods an d their property from the mighty
1 T a e e b e h t is , w r su j ct to . I NSCRI PTI ON OF TI GLA TH- PI LESER 1 1 0 1
n a 33 summits of the mou t ins I brought down . a KU MMU KH 34 . The l nd of to its whole extent I sub a an d jug ted, a 35 dded to the territory of my country.
Ti lath - ileser g p the powerful king, n who the mighty overwhelmer of the disobedie t, he sweeps away
the opposition of the wicked .
I n the supreme power o f ASUR my l ord 1 against the land of KHA RI A an d the widespread armies a U RKHI — t a - a of the l nd of Q , lof y mount in r nges whose site no ki n g at all had sought out— ASUR the l ord commanded (me) a a an ar to m rch . My ch riots d mies 2 o the a I assembled . The neighbourho d of mount ins of I DNI an d AYA an a s a h , in cces ible district, I re c ed , a e t he a s lofty mount ins , which lik point of word e o w for t he assa e m ha o wer f rmed, hich p g of y c ri ts e a e w re unsuited . The ch riots in idl ness The a s I le ft th ere . precipitous mount in s All the a U RKHI I cro sed . l nd of Q had o e i ts s a a e s an d c llect d wide pre d rmi , a a a s a an d a to m ke tri l of rm , comb t b ttle 3 a n AZUTABG IS was a o and in the mount i of st ti ned , a an a s e w t in the mount in , in cces ibl spot, i h them
‘ h a fou i a of e . I g , destruction th m I m de
1 It is cl ear that Kh aria was a district of Q urkh i which l ay eastward of
a b e an d t he Su n at Seb e ne Su i n t he e n B . I t Di r kir p or h , dir ctio of itlis is e ap th e A a A -n ats i r- al adj n ed th e e e n n e o f p rh s ru of ssur ' p which oi w st r fro ti r A a a a n m at a m e n n e L a e Van an d th e r r t , ki gdo th t ti co fi d to k district o f h n t e La e . The n am e em n t he a a a ow south k r i ds us of cl ssic l Korr , a a a e the -ea o n a e G oldshik and the K ri , littl to south st of Kolkhis ( L k ), to n - e a b e orth w st of Di r kir . 1 0 2 RECORDS OF THE PA ST
The bodies of their warriors on the high places of the moun tains a a into he ps I he ped. The corpses of their warriors over the valleys an d high places a a A a of the mount ins I spre d . g inst the cities which were situ ated i n the ravines of the mountain s fiercely l - fi a I pierced (my way). Twenty ve cities of the l nd of K HARIA at a AYA S A which lie the foot of the mount ins of , UIR , I DNI , ’ Srz u SELO ARZANI BIU U RU SU an d ANITKU , U, , , ,
a . I c ptured Their spoil, n ff their goods a d their property I carried o . s Their citie with fire I burned , n I threw down (a d) dug up .
Th e country of ADAU S feared the onset of my mighty a b ttle,
' an - a i nh abitants aban don e d their dwelling pl ce (the ) d. To th e ravines of the lofty mountains U R like birds they fled . The glory of ASS my lord and overwhelmed them,
they descended an d took my feet. i
Tri bute and offeri n g I impo sed upon them .
’ an s ARA n AMMA 76. The l d of S U S a d U S
‘ which from days immemori al had not known
subjection , like the flood of the deluge
Q I e a 0 , overwhelmed . With th ir rmies 2 on a A M A o h an d the mount in of RU I f ug t, 8 1 h a a . . destruction of t em I m de The bodies
8 2 fi hti n - m en - e . of their g g like sling ston s
1 ’ ’ ' A z m n ot a m z g, g. 2 l n the n e of Mi ldi s Adaus As a n . 8 A m a a o , ccordi g to ii 7 , ru y fro ti r , , ’ Sa an an d Am m aus m a e b e en th e ea a r s , ust h v Kurdish districts to stw rd K um m ukh The n of A ans m en ne b A - natsir- al of . cou try d is tio d y ssur p i n nne n Kirruri l a b e een N m m e and urkhi . co ctio with , which y tw i Q
1 0 4 RECORDS OF THE PA ST
2 a a e o . of their p l ce, th ir sp il
a a a . 3. I c rried w y The city itself with fire
r e and . 4 . I bu n d, I threw down ( ) dug up a a 5 . In those d ys th t bronze
6 a MMO a . . I dedic ted to RI N the gre t lord who loves me
In the mightiness of the power of ASUR my lord ’ a a a SUGI an d U RKHI w had g inst the l nds of Q , hich not submitted m h 60 0 0 t o ASU d a . R my lor , I rc ed With a KHI ME L H of their troops from the l nds of , UK I , ARI RGI A LA M , UN, NIMNI an d all the l and of Q U RKHI
far- n a KHI RI KHI extending, on the mou t in of , an a w e a in ccessible district, hich lik the point of sword was o all f rmed , with those countries
on my feet I fought. A s a de truction of them I m de . Their fi ghti ng- men i n the ravin es of the mountains a into he ps I h eaped . With th e blood of their warriors the mountain of KHIRI KHI
o l like w o I dyed . ’ The l an d of SU GI throughout its circuit I conquered 2 o s s o Their 5 g d , their p il, s an a a a their good ( d)their property I c rried w y. All their cities with fire . h and . I burnt, I t rew down ( ) dug up Those who were left of their armies took my feet ; a a I showed f vour tow rds them . Tribute an d offeri n g upon them I imposed along with those who behold the face AS e of UR my lord I count d them .
2. a 2 o s of a 3 In those d ys the 5 g d those l nds, a o an s 33 the cquisiti ns of my h d ,
. h ad taken 5t o a ELT S 34 which I , gr tify G)the temple of B I
° the ea a o r AS 35 gr t wife , the f v u ite of UR my lord, INSCRIPTION OF TI GLA TH - PI LESER I 1 0 5
6 ANU MMO an d STA ASS 3 . , RI N ( ) I R of UR, a as a a A R 37. s well the p l ces of my city SSU and the o 38 . goddesses of my c untry a 39 . I g ve .
0 Ti lath- ileser 4 . g p the powerful king, 1 the a 4 . conqueror of hostile regions, the riv l 2 h n l t e a a l . 4 . of comp y of kings
o 4 3. I n those days through the supreme p wer h as n a . AS o t e e 4 4 of UR my lord, thr ugh ev rl ti g gr ce h m n s . SAM AS the a r o h t e 4 5 of w r i r, t rough i i try 6 he . a s t 4 of the gre t god , who in four zones
’ h a s . e n an d a 4 7 rule in right ous ess, ve no v nqui her 8 a a the a 4 . in the comb t, no riv l in b ttle, a a 4 9 . to the l nds of dist nt kings h h 1 0 . t e s e t e sea 5 on hor of upper , 1 who e 5 . knew not subj ction , A w n 2. S e and 5 UR the lord urg d me I e t . D a an t a es a s 5 3. ifficult p ths d r ckl s p s es
5 4 . whose interior in former d ays ll ha . n at a d o 5 5 no ki g kn wn , 6 a s wa 5 . steep ro d , ys e e a s 5 7. unop n d , I tr ver ed . 2 8 m a s o f ELAMA AMADANA ELKHI S 5 . The ount in , , ,
. SI RABELI A H A 5 9 , T RK UN ,
- K I 6o . A HU L ZRA TIRK K I , , 3 6 1 TARk HA- A BE ELU LA . N , , 6 2 KHA TARAE A KHISARA . S , S ,
6 BE A M rLr- A DRU NI 3. U R , , 6 SU LIANZI NU BANASI 4 . , , 6 an d E 1 6 h a . S S 5 I , mig ty mount ins,
1 a V n T La e a . h t is , k 2 Am A - natsir- al adan a was the district ab out Am id a or Di arb ekir. ssur p ea e Am adan a a e ea i n A an a a urkhi r ch d ft r l v g d , district of Q . 3 Com pare t he nam es of the G am gum ian an d Meli ten ian pri n ces Tarkhu a a an d Tarkh u-na an d t he H e Tarkh i - am a m en ne l r zi . of ittit city g s tio d 0 6 RECORDS OF THE PAST
66 was a . where the ground good in my ch riots, where it was difli c ult
6 n a 7. with picks of bro ze, I penetr ted.
- 68 c ut m um a . . I down the trees which grow in the mount ins 6 a a 9 . Bridges for the p ss ge 0 7 . of my troops I constructed well .
1 H ATE . a 7 . I crossed the EUP R S The king of the l nd of 1 1 ME N M , 2 2 TU NU BU AL 7 . the king of , the king of TU I , IDARI U ZU LA 73. the king of Q , the king of , n NI h ANDIABE . U NZAM U t e 74 the ki g of , king of , PI LA I NI ADHU RG I NI 75 . the king of Q , the king of , 3 - N I RNI 6. K L BA 21 1 SI I B 7 the king of U I R N , the king of , 4 the K HI MUA FAITER1 77. king of , the king of , h 8 . t e U I RAM SU RU RIA 7 king of , the king of , 5 th e A BAEN1 ADAENI 79 . king of , the king of , 8 c K A LBAYA . the king of IRINI , the king of , I NAz A BIA 8 1 . G NA the king of U , the king of , ’ 6 8 2 A BA - S an d DAYAENI . the king of R IUNI , ( )the king of , 7 8 all 2 NA1R1 3. the 3 kings of the countries of , 8 a a s 4 . in the midst of their l nds s embled 8 a n m and . o a d e a 5 their ch ri ts th ir r ies, 6 a and a 8 . to m ke conflict b ttle
1 N m m e a n A -natsir- al a ne A and Da aeni i n i , ccordi g to ssur p , djoi d lzi y h e n e b of M t igh ourhood ush . 2 T m b e th e Dhun ib un of S a m ane e II ea a of the e his ust h l s r , stw rd sourc s
of the T r on th e e of M the m e n a a Su . ig is , riv r ush ( od r K r ) 3 ’ “ I n t he ann an a e the e m na n m s en e b e n n to V ic l gu g t r i tio ( )d ot d lo gi g , ' " a rz i m z cm a and b or bar i signifi ed a ch pel . 4 The Vann ic kin g calls th e district i n which Palu stan ds th e lan d o f
Puteri as. 5 Pe rhaps th e Ab un is of th e Van n ic i n scription s . 6 Da aeni was on th e n e n b an of th e Arsani as t he n y orth r k , to orth of “ M It a e t he n m of th e son of a i n th e an n ush . is c ll d ki gdo Di us V ic e e i n e m e e as a e o n t he M a C a nea t xts , which d f it or clos ly situ t d ur d h i , r M elaz herd g . 7 “ Th e lan d o f Nairi or th e rivers d en oted i n th e age of Tigl ath il e er I h h T an d th e E a e I n P s . t e districts at t he sources of t e igris uphr t s . t he m e of A -n atsi r- al an d e on th e e an was ti ssur p his succ ssors , oth r h d , it th e n b e een La e Van and th e n e n n e of A r a an d cou try tw k orth r fro ti r ssy i , consequen tly l ay to th e south - west of t h e Nairi of th e tim e of Tiglath Pileser I It l b e n e a e e was as et n o n m of Ar a a . wi l otic d th t th r y ki gdo r t an or V .
1 0 8 RECORDS OF THE PAST
1 as a . 8 . host ges I took 1 an d 20 0 0 9 . Twelve hundred horses ( ) oxen
0 as . 2 . I imp osed upon them tribute
2 1 . . In their countries I left them
’ S DAYAENI ieni king of , AS who did not submit to UR my lord , captive and bound to my city of ASUR I brought ; mercy an d AS I extended to him, from my city of UR, as the exalter of the great gods a a a unto ex lt tion, live
a . a NAl RI I let him dep rt The l nds of ,
far- extending, I subdued throughout their whole extent, an d all their kings a I reduced bene th my feet.
In the course of the same campaign 1 2 a a M1L1D1A KHA g inst the city of , of the country of NI a the gre t, an d a . violent ( )unsubmissive , I m rched a The mighty onset of my battle they fe red . ha My feet they took I d mercy on them . The city itself I did not capture their hostages a A a tax a I ccepted . homer by w y of of le d as an annu al tribute
not to be intermitted I imposed upon them .
2 i l - - . T ath ileser 4 g p , the destroyer, the quick moving,
. a a a . 4 3 the impl c ble, the deluge of b ttle
' . A U R o a 4 4 In the servi ce of S m y l rd , my ch riots
. an d a 4 5 w rriors I took . In the desert
1 The a a M e en e n ow M al at i eh on the E ra e . cl ssic l lit , y , uph t s 2 “ T of Ka adoki a a e an t h e G ea his district pp is c ll d Kh i r t , to dis t in ui sh m an e an nea Bab n e n T uku lti - m er g it fro oth r Kh i r ylo , whos ki g , ' s on Ilu - ab a e a e a b n e am ea now i n the B M e m of s , d dic t d ro z r s h d , ritish us u , th e em e the un - od at Si ara to t pl of S g pp . INSCRIPTION OF T] GLA TH- PI LESER 1
wa a a 6 a . 4 . I m de (my y) To the b nk of the w ters 1 the a ARMAYANS AS 4 7. of l nd of the , the enemies of UR m y lord, ’ 2 t th an H1 8 a . o o e S 4 . I m rched From pposite l d of UK , 3 as far as t he G ARGAMrs a 49 . city of , of the l nd of the HI TT I TES
0 da n e . 5 . in one y I plu d red
1 s . o 5 . Their soldiers I lew Their sp il, 2 s an d o 5 . their good their p ssessions a e a a 5 3. to countless numb r I c rried b ck . a a e 5 4 . The rem ins of their rmi s, o the o w a AS 5 5 . who bef re p werful ( e pons)of UR my lord ' 6 had fled an d had os the EU H ATES 5 . cr sed P R , ' ’ 4 a t i n e s z n afea 5 7. fter hem v s els of fl skins 8 se the E H ATES 5 . I cros d UP R t es e e at th e oo of 5 9 . six of their ci i which (w r ) f t Mount 5 BI SRI 6 0 a e fi re . I c ptur d ; with I burned, h 1 h ew w an d . e o s 6 . e o I t r do n ( )dug up Th ir sp il , t ir g od 6 2 an d o s o AS . their p sses i ns to my city of UR
6 . 3 I brought.
6 Ti lath- il s r n h h . e e a e t e 4 g p , the tr mpl r upo mig ty, 6 6 th e s a e a e s 5 . l ught rer of the unsubmissive, who we k n
66. t ut erly the strong .
’ 7 6 n a S AS 7. To co quer the l nd of MU RI UR the lord
1 The A m ean ra s . 2 Th e Sh uhi t es the Old Te am en e en e a n th e e e n of st t , who xt d d lo g w st r b anks o f the Euphrates from t h e m outh of t he Khab o ur to ab ove th at o f " th e Be likh B a the S e ob 1 1 b e Be l - a a a a . ild d huhit (j ii . )would D dd , D dd , as we ea n m the n e m n n b e n a m Ha a th e l r fro cu ifor i scriptio s , i g for of d d , S an n am e h e o f e n ‘ yri of t god h ave . 3 Ca e m the H e a a on th e E a e b e een the m rch ish , ittit c pit l uphr t s , tw outh f h a e m n o f e ab u o t e S an d B e n ow e e en b th e . jur ir jik , r pr s t d y ou ds J r l s 4 ' ” ' Su ase b e m the A a an s u n and avsz a en e g , orrow d fro cc di , ski , g (wh c th e Sem absa itic g ). 5 Now T el - Ba e sh r . 6 ’ “ Al usarbz bu b e a n M Am iaud e a t he , su du r, ccordi g to . , who r g rds ' ’
as an e am e of a are" n a n Revue d A ss r zol o i q . 1 word x pl p co jug tio ( y g , ii , p. 7 ' M Muz ri la th e n -ea Khorsab ad i n the m un a n u sri or y to orth st of , o t i ous now n ab e b h e M The b e of a district i h it d y t issouri Kurds . tri ut 1 1 0 RECORDS OF THE PAST
an d w m a ELAMU NI urged me, bet een the ount ins of ’ A TALA an d KHARU S I made (my way). ’ I conquered the land of MU SRI throughout its
circuit,
I massacred their warri ors .
The cities I burned with fire, I threw down , a a MANi I dug up . The rmies of the l nd of Q U ’ to t he help of the land of MU SRI n a a had gone . O mount in with them
A m a . I fought. destruction of them I de ’ a A at m A SA To single city, RINI , the foot of ount I , n I drove a d shut them up . My feet a they took . The city itself I sp red . a an d f n Host ges, tribute o feri g a I l id upon them .
ll a MA i 8 2. a a U N In those d ys the l nd of Q , ’ 8 had a h S 3. which prep red to elp MU RI , ll 8 . a a t and 4 g thered together hose countries, 8 a an d a 5 . to m ke conflict b ttle
8 6 e . . were d termined With the violence of my powerful a we pons,
8 7. with of their numerous troops ALA 8 8 . on mount T I fought .
e e a . 8 9 . A d struction of th m I m de 0 9 . Their strong forces I broke through . ’ A s far as KHAR A i 1 . U S s o 9 mount , which ( )in fr nt of the ’ a S l nd of MU RI , T 2 . h 9 . I pursued their fugitives e bodies 9 3 of their warriors in the ravines of the m ou n tain
m - n . a n r 9 4 like oon sto e I flu g to the g ound . 9 5 Their corpses over the valleys an d the high places of th e mou ntains
6 a . a s 9 . I spre d Their gre t fortresse a w 9 7 I c ptured, ith fire I burned,
n e ak e e an an d a e b b n ab an S a rhi oc ros , y , l ph t , p s , rought y its i h it ts to h l m an eser I I m b e e a n e on the n a th e a a an a , ust xpl i d suppositio th t c r v ro d m the eas t a e d g . fro o p ss throu h it
1 1 2 RECORDS OF THE PAST
an of bricks I ordered to be destroyed, d from their foundations to their coping they were thrown down an d turned into a mound an d 30 0 families of evil- doers A S who (were)within it, who were not submissive to UR m ylord ,
were removed (out of it). I received them . Their hostages an d ff I took . Tribute o ering above what was previously paid upon them o an d t h e a a U MANi I imp sed, widespre d l nd of Q throughout its circuit under m y feet I subdued;
all 2 an d In , 4 countries their kings from the fords of the l ower ZAB (an d) the border of the distan t mountains E H ATES to the fords of the UP R , the land of the Hrm ‘ rr Es (K/zatté) an d the Upper Sea 1 m of the setting sun, from the beginning of y sovereignty fi t a a has until my f h ye r my h nd conquered . a m a On e word in unison h ve I de them utter.
Their hostages have I taken . Tribute a an d offering h ve I imposed upon them .
I left the numerous roads of foreign peoples which were not attached to my em pire was a a a where the ground f vour ble in my ch riots, where it was difficult on my feet; after them '
I marched . The feet of the enemy
I kept from my land .
Ti l ath - ileser a a o 5 5 . g p the v li nt her , 6 n a 5 . the holder of the sceptre u riv lled
5 7. who completes the mission of the supreme (gods).
1 T a La e Van h t is , k . INSCRIPTION OF TI GLA TH- PI LESER I 1 1 3
A n E GAL a n o 5 8 . UR S a d N R h ve give their f rceful a and 5 9. we pons their supreme bow
0 a s . 6 . to the h nds of my lord hip 1 U o AS s 6 . nder the pr tection of UR who love me
6 2. s an d a e from young wild bull , powerful ( ) l rg , h r a TA 63. in t e dese t in the l nd of MI NI l i 6 . an d i n ARAZI GI w s 4 the city of , hich ( )in front h TT TES 6 . a t e 5 of the l nd of HI I , with my mighty bow, 6 a ass and 6 . l o of iron my pointed
6 . ea t n e : 7 sp r, heir lives I e d d 68 an d e . their hides ( ) th ir horns
t A S . 69 . to my ci y of UR I brought
2 Ten powerful male- elephants in the l and of H ARRAN and the bank of the KHAB UR n a I slew. Four elepha ts live a I c ptured . Their hides (an d)their teeth al ong with th e live a A eleph nts I brought to my city SUR .
Under the protection of URAS who loves m e 1 20 w ea lions, ith my stout h rt, in the conflict of my heroism on my feet I slew an d 8 0 0 lions i n m y chariot a P a with j velins ( ) I sl ughtered. All the cattle of the field and the birds of heaven 3 a a a th t fly, mong my r rities a I pl ced .
After that the enemies of ASUR throughout their tories
1 Araz i the Era iz a of P em on the E a e th e n of g is g tol y , uphr t s , to orth Balls and the Ca em M an ee m be the Matenau south of rch ish . it i s s to of t he E an m en ne b Ram e I II m m e a e b e e Ca em gypti s tio d y s s i di t ly for rch ish . 2 I L i n en e n follow otz this r d ri g. 3 ’ ’ ' " " Ni sz i bor m m e an m rz e e th e S e . gg , row d fro u ri s cr t
VOL. I 1 1 4 RECORDS OF THE PAST
had STA the I conquered, the temple of I R of ( city) ASSUR 1 a MMO an d my l dy, the temple of RI N, ( )the temple of OL E B EL 2 the D R , 3 D n the temple of the ivi ities, the temples of the gods AS w a of my city UR , which ere dec yed, I built, a I com pleted . The entr nces of their temples
. a I constructed The gre t gods, my lords, I introduce d within a a I rejoiced the he rt of their gre t divinity. a a a The p l ces, the se t of sovereignty belonging to the great fortresses wh on the borders of my country, ich from the time of my fathers through long years had been deserted an d ruined an d
an d . were destroyed, I built ( )completed The castles of my country that were overthrown 4 l I enclosed . The conduits throughout a l the land of Assv a an d an a a I f stened together wholly, ccumul tion of grain in addition to that (collected)by my fathers r a an I b ought b ck ( d)heaped up . an d a Troops of horses, oxen ( ) sses
COLU MN VI I
1 . which in the service of A SUR m y lord
2. e h ad in the countri s which I conquered, as a 3. the cquisition of my hands
. e an d 4 which I took, I collected tog ther, troops
- . a a 5 of go ts, f llow deer, wild sheep , an a 6. ( d) ntelopes which ASUR and URAS
7. the gods who love me have given
8 . for hunting, in the midst of the lofty
1 He e a e Ma th e of th e em e r c ll d tu , god t p st . 2 “ Bel of Ni ur a e Mul - th e th e - b the Ac p , c ll d lil , lord of ghost world , y cadians an d n e m Bel M e a th e n e Bel of Bab n , disti guish d fro rod ch , you g r ylo . 3 This apparen tly m ean s that th e i m ages of several d eities were collected e e i n t he em e of the O e Bel tog th r t pl ld r . 4 L e a e e it r lly s w rs .
1 1 6 RE CORDS OF THE PAST
1 A - — The son of sur ris ilim , the powerful king, the con queror a a of hostile l nds, the subjug tor ll of a the mighty.
’ Th ran son Muta il- AS ef g d of gg Nu sku , whom UR the great lord i n the conjuration of his steadfast heart had an d required , to the shepherding
of the land of Asur had raised securely.
’ A - a a The true son of sur d n , a r the upr iser of the illust ious sceptre, who ruled 2 the e B EL who a peopl of , the work of his h nds an d the gift of his sacrifice a a commended to the gre t gods, so th t a a an a he arrived at gr y h irs d old ge.
a a — ileser 5 5 . The descend nt of Ur s p , 6 the a an P a AS 5 . gu rdi ( )king, the f vourite of UR, 3 w a 5 7. hose might like sling 8 was a and 5 . spre d over his country,
a AS a . 5 9 . the rmies of UR he shepherded f ithfully
60 a n . In those d ys the temple of ANU a d RI MMON 6 1 a . the gre t gods, my lords,
1 ir H Ra n n has e e a A - - m the an - S . wli so sugg st d th t sur ris ili is Chush rish ath aim e 8 a n am e e a n eem b e of Judg s iii . , which c rt i ly s s to corrupt . “ Chush an -rish - athaim is calle d ki n g of Aram Nah arai m or Aram of th e two " e e e en M e am a i n th e Old Te am en the riv rs , which r pr s ts sopot i st t , though Nah arai na of th e E an m n m en was t h e e n ab th e O n e gyp ti o u ts r gio out ro t s , while the Assyrian Nahri or Nairi was prim arily t h e district to the n orth e of Lak e Van and a e a th e n th e of A w st , ft rw rds cou try to south it . ssur “ ris -ilim cl ai m s to have sub dued Lul lum i an d all Q uti (or Kurdistan )with th e en an e m n a n - an e W A I 1 8 b ut e e tr c to its ou t i r g s ( . . . , iii . 3, ) th s dis ’ t n ct s la th e ea of A a an d no a n m a e an am a n y to st ssyri , llusio is d to y c p ig i n th e e w st . 2 T a th e B ab n an h t is , ylo i s . 3 " L e al l ne n ubal u ak n n ab/i i n th e Cuthean Le en it r ly fu ss ( , i to , g d of the C ea n r tio , iv. INSCRIPTION OF TI GLA TH-PILESER 1 1 1 7
1 Sa a - h - which in former times m s Rimmon, the igh priest AS of UR , son l sm e- D a - a AS the of gon, the high priest lso of UR, 6 1 a built, for 4 ye rs w e a ent on d c ying, ’ A - a a n AS sur d n the ki g of UR,
a - ileser a s AS the son of Ur s p , the king l o of UR , pulled down this tem ple (but) did not rebuild (it) for 60 years its found ations
were not laid .
At e n f 1 . o ANU 7 the b gi ning my reign , n d MMO h a 2. a t e o s 7 RI N gre t g d , my lords, t oo 73. who love my pries h d a n 74 . comm nded the rebuildi g
. a a a 75 of their h bit tion . I m de bricks ;
76 . I puri fied its site ; 2 o o s 77. I underto k its rec n truction ; its foundation s h 8 . a o t e a a n 7 I l id up n m ss of huge mou d . a e 79 . This pl c throughout its circuit
8 0 . P I piled up with bricks like a doué/e f ol zi ( ). ' ' 3 t zéé z 8 1 . Fifty below s n 8 2. I u k (it); upon it 8 o a o s h 3. the f und ti n of t e temple of ANU an d RI MMON 4 8 a ul u- s 4 . I l id with p tone. i t s o n at n 8 5 . From f u d i o s to its roof 8 the 6 . I built ( temple); greater than (it was) before I a re red (it). ea 8 7. Two gr t towers 8 8 w th a . hich for e glorific ti on o f their great divinities
8 . a a o 9 were d pted, I c nstructed .
1 ' ' Pate s z . 2 " ' L e a I k en ea da n n at — s u n o l zbrz at -s u t . it r lly too its str gth (r d , ) ' 3 ‘ The l z bk u was a m easure o f length which is explai ne d i n th e Talm ud h e n e b m m n n i as t a e e n 2 hr . lo g r cu it of 7 p l s tio d C . iii . 3 4 P D H M u e u - . be e e the l u n e a e b een b m rof. . ll r li v s p sto to h v rought fro ' A m en a and a e e e nam e m t h e an n u l u - si r i , to h v d riv d its fro V ic p , “ " en a e I t a a e i l i - n e I t was a e e e gr v d . is lso c ll d p sto . sp ci s of whit 1 1 8 RECORDS OF THE PA ST
l 0 a corn ic es 9 . The illustrious temple, building with , 1 a e 9 . the se t of th ir rejoicing, 2 a a a 9 . the h bit tion of their ple sure, w has beautifi ed a a 93. hich been like the st r(s)of he ven , an d art 94 . by the of the workmen has a 95 . been richly c rved ,
6 . a at a a 9 I h ve worked , h ve toiled over, h ve built
and a . 9 7. ( )h ve completed Its interior a e a a e 98 . I comp cted togeth r like the he rt of he v n a n 99 . its w lls like the resple dence
0 a a . 1 0 . of the rising of the st rs I dorned 1 0 1 . I strengthened its buttresses, an a n 1 0 2 . d its towers to he ve 1 0 an d o 3. I lifted ; its ro f
1 0 . as e 4 I f t ned together with brickwork . 2 1 0 . 5 The divining rod, 1 0 6 a a . the or cle of their gre t 1 0 7. divinities within it 8 1 0 a . . I pl ced 1 0 ANU an MMO a . d 9 RI N , the gre t gods 1 0 1 . I introduced within (it) 1 1 t 1 . on heir thrones supreme 2 a 1 1 . I se ted them an r 1 1 3. d the hea t of their great diviniti e s 1 1 a 4 . I gl ddened . COLU MN VIII
1 - KHAM RI h M . B IT t e e M O ( templ )of RI N, 3 2 - - . which Samas Rimmon the high priest of ASSUR
1 ’ ’ usuaa I n W A I 2 8 asau th e n n m a ll um th e Q . . . . , v . , 4 , g is sy o y of , A am a £142 r ic . 2 El a l l d I t eem a e b een a em of a r e e . s s to h v st p py us cov r d with n writi g. 3 Th e or - e o f A e e e t h e n A a high pri sts ssur , pr c d d ki gs of ssyri , m the a e a b een B l - k a k A am a -R m m n e e a u. s S of who first is st t d to h v p p s i o , th e - e fl e 0 1 ea b e e Ti lath -Pileser a e high p ri st , ourish d 7 y rs for g , his d t would b e ab B 1 8 0 I n Bab n a th e - e e e b e a e out . C . 3 . ylo i high pri sts w r su j ct to suz rai n ki n g it is therefore prob ab l e that th e high - priests of Assur also ad m itted t he suprem acy o f a suprem e m on arch who m ay have rul ed i n Bab n B a e b ee n n on t he e U r i n B ab n a b ea ylo ia. ricks h v fou d sit of ylo i r “ ” i n th e nam e o f I sm e - a n n of S m e an d A a b ut h e m g D go , ki g u r cc d , ust
1 20 RECORDS OF THE PAST
and a 34 . to myself my suprem cy m a a a and 35 . y they ppro ch in goodness, 6 d AS an d r a 3 . my priesthoo in the presence of UR their g e t a 37. divinities unto future d ys
8 m a a a a n . 3 . y they est blish like mount i for ever
The power of my heroism , the might a of my b ttle, the subjection of enemies, AS ANU an d MMO even the foes of UR, whom RI N a a h ve given for spoil, on my monuments an d my cylinder have I described ; i n the temple of ANU and RI MMON the great gods my lords I have deposited (them) for days to come ; a - Sa a - the monument l stones of m s Rimmon , 1 my (fore)father I have anointed with oil ; a victim a a a I h ve s crificed to their pl ce I have restored (them).
a a In future d ys, in the d ys to come, at an a m a a y time wh tever, y future prince , when the temple of ANU an d RI MMON the great and gods, my lords, these towers shall grow old an d a a sh ll dec y, renew their ruins my monumental-stones an d my cylinder m ay he anoint with oil a victim m ay he sacrifice a m a to their pl ce y he restore (them), an d m a a a y he write his n me long with mine. Like myself m ay ANU and RI MMON the great gods in goodness of heart an d the acquisition of power kindly conduct him "
6 a - n 3. Whoever my monument l stones a d my cylinder
6 . a a a e a a 4 sh ll sh tter, sh ll swe p w y,
1 T e eb n n em n Ed -els or n e a e n e C G en f. . h r y tur i g th i to th co s cr t d sto s . 1 8 xxviii . . INSCRIPTION OF TI GLA TH -PI LESER I 1 21
6 a a 5 . sh ll throw into the w ter, 66 a . sh ll burn with fire, 6 ha o a 7. s ll c nce l in the dust ; in the holy house of the god 68 i n a a ha a . ( ) pl ce invisible s ll store (them) up in fr g ments 6 a a a a w an d 9. sh ll obliter te the n me th t is ritten , 0 a a an d 7 . sh ll write his own n me, something 1 ha and 7 . evil s ll devise, 2 a a s a - 7 . g in t my monument l stones a 73. sh ll work injury
m a ANU and MMO a m o s 74 . y RI N the gre t gods, y l rd , e a an d 75 . fierc ly reg rd him
6 m a t s a e . 7 . y hey cur e him with with ring curse Ma t o his 77. y hey overthr w kingdom 8 m a at the his 7 . y they remove the found ion of throne of majesty ; m a a n a his s 79. y they n ihil te the fruit of lord hip ; 8 0 m a a wea s . y they bre k his pon 8 1 m a a s o t o a . y they c use de tructi n his rmy ; 2 i n e a 8 . the pres nce of his enemies in ch ins Ma MM n n 8 . m a ea O 3 y they s t him . y RI N with light i g 8 a 4 . destructive smite his l nd 8 wa n a n 5 nt, hu ger, f mi e 8 6 and s s m a he la . ( )corp e y y upon his country 8 m a n ot a 7. y he bid him live for one d y ; 8 m a hi s a an a 8 . y he root out n me ( d)his seed in the l nd
1 8 . i n the Kuz allu 2 th da 9 (Written) month , the 9 y, in the eponymy 2 - - - - 0 . I n a a a a the the o a 9 of ili y ll k chief of b dy gu rd .
1 Of ee - b ee n a nam e an M a S a n W A. I sh p r di g, of iv or y, ccordi g to . 1 v . 43 4 2 “ " ' ’ L e al the m m en e the Gz bborz m of the Old Te a it r ly ighty , lik st m en 2 Sam 8 A an n was e ne a n t ; cf. . xxiii . . ssyri chro ology r cko d ccordi g ' the e n m ffi e a e e nam e ea ea o f th e n to po y s , o c rs who g v th ir to ch y r ki g s - e n . As t he n n of R m m n n i ra ri I e e e Ti lat h r ig i scriptio i o , who pr c d d g Piles er I b ab n e ea a e i n the e n m S a y out two hu dr d y rs , is d t d po y y of h l “ m an -garradu ( t he god Solom o n is a accurate chronology i n A a en b a an ea e ssyri w t ck to rly p riod . THE A SSY RIA N STORY OF THE CREA T I ON
TRAN SLATED BY THE EDITOR
RAG MENTS a e F of long epic poem , d scribing the
a a a cre tion of the world i n series of t blets or books ,
S a were discovered by M r . George mith mong the cuneiform treasures of the British M useu m whi ch had come from the roy al library of Kouyu nj ik or
a a a Nineveh . The t blets ppe r to be seven i n nu m
and a was as ber, since the cre tion described consist
a a a ing of seri es of successive cts , i t presented curious si m il arity to the account of the creation recorded i n the first ch apter of Genesis . The epic embodied certai n of the ideas an d b e liefs current i n A ssyri a an d B abyloni a regarding the
a T a cre tion of the u niverse . h t there were other ideas an d legends is evident from the existence of a a a a nother story of the cre tion , which c m e origin lly
m a Cut ha an d f fro the libr ry of , di f ered entirely from
a . as a th t of the epic The epic, I h ve pointed out in my L ectures on t/ze Rel igi on of t/ze A nci en t B aby l on i ans a a (p . cle rly belongs to a l ate d te . The gods of the popul ar religion not only h ave their
1 24 RECORDS ' OF THE PAST
a a Sun - ssured ever since M erod ch , the god , overthrew “ ” a a a as the dr gon Ti m t , the wicked serpent she i s
a a a and a a . lso c lled , who represented ch os n rchy Ti am at is the A ssyri an equ ivalent of the H ebrew ‘ “ ” te/zofn a a , the deep, upon whose f ce, ccording to
1 2 a had Gen . . , d rkness rested before the u niverse was m ade . The cosmological system of the first t ablet found
wa a a Dam aski os its y i nto the p ges of Greek writer, ,
e ra De who lived in the sixth centu ry of ou r ( Pr i m . “ 8 a P n ci 1 2 . . . ri . p 5 , p 3 4 , ed Kopp) The B bylon ” “ a a a a i ns , he tells us , like the rest of the b rb ri ns,
a o n e p ss over i n silence the principle of the u niverse, and Tavthé and A ason m ak they constitute two , p ,
A ason a T avt hé and den om in at ing p the husb nd of ,
‘ ’ A n d i ng her the mother of the gods . from these
an - Mu m i s proceeds only begotten son , which , I con c eive a , i s no other th n the i ntelligible world pro ceedi ng from the two principles . From them also a L a an d L a an d nother progeny is derived , khe khos a a a Ki ssaré an d Assoros a g i n thi rd , , from which l st
A an Illi n d os and A os . three others proceed , nos
A nd A os and Day ké a a of is born son c lled Belos, ”
s a a a . who , they y, is the f bric tor of the world
’ Tavthé a a Ti avat A as on a s u is Ti m t or , p is p , ” a an d Mu m is Mum m u the byss , i s , who , however,
a a Ki ssaré an d is identified with Ti m t i n the epic, “ ” r s Ki -sar and A n - sar an d A sso o being , the lower “ ” L a fi rm am en t . L a an d a the upper khe khos, th t is
s a Lakhm u L akhvu and L akham u L a to y, or or THE ASS YRIAN STOR Y OF THE CREA TI ON 1 25
a a a a and Dakhos kh vu , must be re d inste d of the D khe “ - a . a of the m nuscripts Belos is Bel M erod ch , the ” “ a younger Bel , i n contr distinction to the older ” Ni ur A a a Bel of the city of p , one of whose cc di n l i l a was I l l Il i n os Dam askios . n mes , the of I t is prob able th at the n ame of Lakham u was c arried to
' Can aan along with t h os e of other B abyloni an gods ll as R an d Si n . A t a such i m mon , Nebo, events L akhm i seems to be the n am e of a Philistine in
- 1 C . an d a as hron xx . 5 , Beth lehem is best expl ined “ ” “ Le kh e m - a the house of , like Beth D gon , the ” “ a - A house of D gon , or Beth noth , the house of A ” n at . Only the com mencement of the first tablet (nu m
1 h as a bered K 5 4 9) been recovered , bu t the t blet was a as a a of no gre t length , the l rger p rt of the reverse appears to h ave been occupied by the colo I h t as . S phon . been published by M r George mith i n the Tran s acti on s of t/ze Society of B ibli cal A rc/zae l o o . 2 and . z gy , iv by Professor Fr Delit sch
A ss ri sc/ze Les es tn cke I st an d i n his y ( edition ,
’ has a a S C/zal aean been tr nsl ted by M r. mith i n his
Genes i s a r . a . O e t . T r nsl tions o f i t by Dr pp , Dr
S n a a d a a a . chr der, mysel f h ve subsequently ppe red A sm all fragment of the second tablet h as been
z a found by Professor Delit sch , cont ining the colo “ a phon , the second t blet (of the series beginning)
‘ when The third t ablet was partly repre
a Rm sented by the fr gments n u mbered K 3473, .
- 6 1 5 . Lines 1 7 4 2 of the obverse h ave been 1 26 RECORDS OF THE PAS T published by Professor Delitz sch in his A ssy ri s c/zes
° W 1 n d are orterbnclt . . 0 0 a , i p , portions of the text
’ ’ A a e transl ated in Smith s C/zalaean Gen es is . fr gm nt
a L a Ko u un ik of the fourth t blet from the ibr ry of y j ,
h as n u mbered K 34 37, been published by George
n d z S Tr ans B i A /i . a Soc. b. rc . mith ( . , iv Delit sch
r a h . nd a S A ss Leses . 8 2 a ( . , pp , t nsl ted by mit ,
O ert L e norm ant and a pp , , others but ne rly the whole of the text h as now been recovered from a t ablet
a a Rassam brought from B byloni by M r . (nu mbered
8 2- - 1 n i n 8 a d . 9 , published by M r Budge the Proceedi ngs of tbc Soci ety of B i bli cal A rc/wology for
6 h 1 8 A a n a h as t December 8 7 . tr sl tion of i t been given by myself i n m y L ectures on t/ze Rel ig i on of til e A n ci en t B ab l o i ans . se 1 n . y , pp 379 q ( which I c an now i mprove i n several p articul ars . The fifth
T ans Soc . tablet (K 35 67) was published by Sm ith ( r .
B eses . . A rc/i . . an z A ss . L ib. d , iv Delit sch ( , p
an d a a S O ert and Le n o rm an t . tr nsl ted by mith , pp ,
A - f P bout one thi rd of it i s lost . O the seventh ( )
a a a a 2 8 t blet only three sm ll fr gments rem in ( 34 5 , 4 ,
L eses . . z A ss . published by Delit sch ( , p ’ d n es i s an transl ated by Smith in his C/cala ean Ge . To the third tablet prob ably belongs an unpublished fragment (K describing the prep aration of the bow of M erod ach ; an attempt at its transl ation
’ ’ will be found in Smith s C/zal aean Gen es is . No fragments of the sixth tablet h ave as yet been
A z a noticed . ccording to Professor Delit sch the fr g ment belonging to the second tablet concludes with
1 28 RECORDS OF THE PA ST
“ a a - sm ll fr gment, concl uded with the words, (M ero d ach) ascended (from) thei r m idst (an d the great ” gods) determined (for hi m his) destiny . I t will be seen th at a good deal of the poem consists of the words put into the mouth of the god
a a . M erod ch , derived possibly from older l ys The
a first t blet or book , however, expresses the cosmo
’ da logic al doctrines of the author s own y. I t opens
at a before the beginning of ti me , the expression th t ” “ ” ti me answeri ng to the expression i n the beginning
an d a h ad of Genesis . The heavens e rth not yet
a an d a was been cre ted , since the n m e supposed to
a as a a h ad be the s me the thing n med , thei r n m es
as A a a a not yet been pronou nced . w tery ch os lone “ ” M m m u a a u a . existed , Ti m t, the ch os of the deep Out of the bosom of this ch aos proceeded the gods as a a well s the created world . First c m e the pri m ze val L akhm u and Lakham u divi nities , words of “ a an d A n - sar an d Ki - sar u nknown me ning, then , the ” “ ” and fi rm am en L a all upper lower t . st of were
a a a born the three suprem e gods of the B byloni n f ith ,
A n u - Illil the sky god , Bel or the lord of the ghost
d E n an a a d s ea. world , the god of the river But before the younger gods could find a suit able h abitation for themselves an d their creation i t was ” necessary to destroy the dragon of ch aos with all
f a s a her monstrous of spring . The t sk wa u ndert ken
a a - a Ea by the B byloni n su n god M erod ch, the son of ,
A n - sar t an d promising hi m vic ory , the other gods
’ rofi di n a a was p g for hi m his rms . The second t blet THE ASS YRI A N S TOR Y OF THE CREA TI ON 1 29 occupied wi th an account of the prep arations m ade to ensure the victory of light over d arkness and order over an archy . The third t ablet described the success of the god
a L was of light over the allies of Ti m at . ight intro duc ed an d a i n to the world , i t only rem ined to
a destroy Ti am at hersel f. The comb t is described i n a a a the fourth t blet, which t kes the form of poem
a and a an a i n honou r o f M erod ch , i s prob bly e rlier poem i ncorporated in to his text by the author of th e
a a was a an d a epic . Ti m t sl i n her llies put i n bond a e had g , while the books of destiny which hitherto been possessed by the older race of gods were now
a tr nsferred to the younger deities of the new world . The visible he aven w as formed ou t of the skin of
a a and a a A n -s ar Ti m t , bec m e the outw rd symbol of and a a A n u and Ea the h bit tion of , Bel , , while the ch aotic waters of the d ragon bec ame the law-bound
Ea s ea ruled over by .
a a a The he vens h ving been thus m de, the fifth t ablet tells us how they were furnished with m ansions
an d and a and for the su n moon st rs , how the heavenly bodies were bound dow n by fi xed l aws th at they might regul ate the c alend ar and determine
a the ye ar . The sixth t blet probably described the
a a as as a cre tion of the e rth , well of veget bles, birds, and fish . I n the seventh tablet the creation of a a an d was a a and nim ls reptiles n rr ted , doubtless also
a m a th t of nkind . It will be see n from thi s th at i n its m ai n outlines
VOL I . K 1 30 RECORDS OF THE PAST the A ssyri an epic of the cre ation bears a striking resembl ance to the accou nt of it given i n the first
a a ch apter of Genesis . I n e ch c se the history of the cre ation is divided i nto seven successive acts ; i n e ach c ase the present world h as been preceded by a
a a - a watery ch os . I n f ct the self s m e word is used of this chaos i n both the Biblical and A ssyri an accounts Ti m nat— the only di fference being th at i n “ ” the A ssyri an story the deep h as becom e a m yth o
a a a a . logic l person ge , the mother of ch otic brood
a a i n The order of the cre tion , moreover, grees the
a a two ccounts ; first the light, then the cre tion of
fi rm am e n t a a the of he ven , subsequently the ppoint “ m ent of the celesti al bodies for signs and for ” a an d a an d a an d se sons for d ys ye rs, next, the “ ” n creation of beasts a d creeping things . But the two accou nts also differ i n some i mportant par t i c ul ars A a . I n the ssyri n epi c the e arth seems not to h ave been m ade u nti l after the appointment of
a a as the he venly bodies, inste d of before i t i n
and a a a Genesis, the seventh d y i s d y of work
a inste d of rest, while there is nothing corresponding “ to the statement of Genesis th at the Spirit of God ” a moved upon the f ce of the waters . B ut the most i mportant di ff erence consists i n the interpol ation of the struggle between M erod ach and the powers of
as a e evil , consequence of which light was introduc d i nto the u niverse an d the fi rm am en t of the heavens was formed .
It has long since been noted th at the conception
1 32 RECORD S OF THE PAST
a was m an a wom n produced from the , con form bly
a . . 22 2 . a to the st tem ent i n Gen i i , 3 We there re d
A I I . . 6 of the seven evil spi rits (W . , iv. . i . 3 , 37) “ th at the wom an from the m an do they bring forth . THE ASSYRIAN EPIC OF THE CREATION
F IRST TABLET OF THE STORY OF THE CR EATI ON
OBVERSE
1 At a t a a had an . th t ime the he ven bove not yet nounced , 2 the ea a r e a na . or rth bene th ecord d , me 1 e was e a o 3. the unop ned deep th ir gener t r, MU MMU - AMAT ha sea was the e 4 . TI (the c os of the ) moth r
of th em all . 2 wa e s w as an d 5 . Their t r ere embosomed one, 3 - fi ld was a th a was un 6. e e the corn unh rvested, p sture
grown . At a had a a an N th t time the gods not ppe red , y of them O C n o a r had e by n me were they ecorded, no destiny ( th y x fi ed). the a w a e 9 . Then (gre t)gods ere cre t d, 1 0 LAKHMU an LA KHAMU ss . d i ued forth (the first), 1 1 . until they grew up (when)
AN- AR n - A R 1 2 S a K a . . d I S were cre ted 1 L the a s e was 3. ong were d y , ext nded ( the time, until) 1 AN B L EA . U E an d 4 the gods , ( were born),
AN- AR n - A 1 S a KI R a . 5 . d S (g ve them birth)
l st Tlze rest of tire t abl et i s o .
1 “ ” ' Or first -b n we a Deli tz sch s ea n ri st a n ea of l a or , if dopt r di g i st d t fl pa . 2 T n b e the n a n i sten i s b S 1 1 0 8 . his is show to sig ific tio of y 4 , 3 i V - i ba kdn nsak/ ma u ar u C ara see W A I . 1. 8 0 N r i p ; . . , . 4 5 . y p g p ’ “ si dt i su m m uklza i n bn t he n - n n a e th e n pp , cor god co ti uously c us d cor "
e t he a e e a en e S 2 . A n a fi ld to grow , p pyri w r gl dd d with fruit ; 79 9 , i ti ri el t u er ubbi A a an m i - ara - ki az a a i m m a -da n - t n t u the g p ( cc di p gg ), to n e he en n The has n n holy cor fi ld w t dow . word othi g to do with “ " “ " a ne clouds or d rk ss . 1 34 RECORDS OF THE PA ST
THIRD TAB LET OF THE STORY OF THE CREAT I ON
OBVERSE
“ 1 1 a a n all h 7. The gods h ve m rched rou d her, of t em ; a t 1 8 . up to those whom thou h st created a her side I ” have gone . 1 e athered P AMAT 9 . When th y were g ( )beside her, TI they a a ppro ched . 20 E O ACH . The strong one (M R D ), the glorious, who desists da not night or y, 2 1 a was s a . the exciter to b ttle, di turbed in he rt. 2 2 a a . Then they m rsh lled (their) forces ; they create dark
ness . “ 2 2 KH B a . all 3 The mother of U UR, the cre tress of them , 2 a a 4 . I pursued with (my)we pons unsurp ssed ; (then) did 3 a na the gre t s ke(s)bite . 2 h h l . e a e a 5 With my te t s rpen d unsp ring y did I bite . 6 2 . a o t s With poisoned bre th like bl od heir bodie I filled . 4 2 . ra a e w e o 7 The ging v mpires I cloth d ith t rr r. 5 8 . h 2 n as a . I lifted up the lightni g fl , on high I l unched (it) 2 e AR-BA BA 9 . Their m ssenger S
0 . o n t 3 Their b dies were struck, but it pierced o their ea br sts .
1 . a a a an d 3 I m de re dy the dr gon, the mighty serpent the LAKHA MA god ( ),
’ 1 - I sb/z ur u si . 2 ' Khub ur is iden tified with Su-edi n on the eastern side of th e Bab y l ni an e o a n i n W A I . 0 1 e e a pl i . . , ii . 5 , 5 . Prof ssor D litzsch sugg sts th t th e expression u m m u Klz ubn r m ay b e th e origi n of t he nam e Om oroka a ne b B m ssig d y erossos to Ti a at . 3 I tt a u r m n a ar u In Heb e the e b e e e al of q fro g . r w v r is us d sp ci ly e n t he e e pi rci g y s . 4 “ T he u s u mgal l i or solitary m on sters we re fab ul ous b easts who e e e e th e e of the ea and e e e e e n ot w r suppos d to d vour corps s d d , w r th r for e a am e e e t he n b ut e n e a e x ctly v pir s which d vour d livi g , corr spo d d r th r with on e the ea e m en ne i n Is . . 2 1 22 . 1 . of cr tur s tio d xiii , ; xxxiv 4 U m tas si r [ ] .
1 36 RECORD S OF THE PAST
FOURTH TABLET OF THE STORY OF THE CREATI ON
OBVERSE
o a i . e. E O ACH 1 . S he est blished for him ( M R D )the shrine of the mighty ; 1 f r i t before (P)his fathers o a kingdom did he found ( ). Yea t art a a o , hou glorious mong the gre t g ds 2 thy destiny is unrivalled ; thy gift- day is (that of)
ANU .
E O ACH art a a O M R D , thou glorious mong the gre t gods ; thy destiny is unrivalled ; thy gift- day is (that of)
ANU .
a da a a Since th t y unch nged is thy comm nd . High an d low entreat thy hand m ay the word that goes forth from thy mouth be
a th - a est blished ; untroubled is y gift d y. None among the gods has surpassed thy power at the time when (thy hand) founded the shrine of the 3 god of the sky. May the place of their got/wri ng (P)become thy home O E O A CH art a M R D , thou he who venges us n all we give thee the sovereig ty, (we)the hosts of the universe " an d a s Thou possessest (it), in the s embly (of the gods) mayest thou exalt thy word " 4 Never m ay thy weapons be broken ; m ay thine ene mies tremble 0 a u o who lord, be gr cio s to the s ul of him putteth hi s trust in thee,
1 T e e are t he a n e of th T Tab e h s l st two li s e hird l t. 2 ' Si ar I n VV A I 1 1 2 we ea a th e 1 2 a was g . . . , v . , , r d th t th of Iyy r ’ " the si ar e a of th e e a g or f stiv l godd ss G ul . 3 L e a the e n of h l it r lly cov ri g eaven (n a bas same). 4 L e al m a e en it r ly y th y op . THE ASS YRI A N S TOR y OF THE CREA TI ON 1 37
1 1 and has 8 . destroy the soul of the god who hold of ” evil . 2 h s a 1 9 . Then t ey set in their mid t his s ying unique
20 E O A H t fi rst - a . to M R D C heir born they sp ke “ 2 1 Ma th s 0 od . y y de tiny, lord , go before the g of heaven b n r P n all 2 2 m a e co m . a d a . y fi ( ) the destruction cre tion of a a th t is s id . t 23. Se thy mouth let it destroy his word
2 . a an d 4 turn , spe k unto it, let him lift up his word 3
a an his 25 . He sp ke d with his mouth destroyed word ;
- he a n hi was re ea e . 26 . a d s turned, he sp ke unto it word cr t d 2 L a 7. ike (the word) th t issues from his mouth the gods his fathers saw it
28 h a a E O ACH . . t ey rejoiced , they ppro ched M R D the king 2 an d and 9 . They bestowed upon him the sceptre ( )throne rei gn 0 a him w a a . a o 3 they g ve e p n unsurp ssed, consuming the s e ho til . “ 1 ff AMAT . e a an d o 3 Go (th y s id), cut the life of TI ; l ” 2 . et a t e a es 3 the winds c rry her blood o secr t pl c . h h EA 33. The gods i s fat ers also hear the rep ort of A a i a a e 34 . p th of p eace an d obedience s the ro d I h v ” a s him t a c u ed ( ) o t ke .
. was t oo the as a a 35 There bow, his we pon he prep red (it); 6 h a a . e 3 m de the club swing, he fixed its se t 4 an t h a a h a 37. d he lifted up e s cred we pon w ich he b de
his right hand hold . 8 an at 3 . The bow d the quiver he hung his side
1 “ L e a it r lly pour out . 2 “ " “ " The a n W e a e as a n -a ea e en e s yi g, or ord , is r g rd d h vi g r l xist c be ea e e e an d re- ea e b Me a The which could cr t d , d stroy d , cr t d y rod ch . W m a e n i n Ze ed 1 . ord is si il rly p rso ifi ch . ix . 3 “ W e have here th e sam e idea as i n t he b urden of the Heb rew “ e the A an e b u be n n as u the Heb e n asd proph ts , ssyri v r to lift p i g , r w , " ” en e mas sd a b en a e wh c , urd or or cl . 4 The bad/zd/z u was the nam e of the ea n a e M e a F m w po s cr d to rod ch . ro the e m sculptur s it would appear to have been a kin d of b oo erang. 1 38 RECORDS OF THE PA ST
th e h 39. he set lig tning before him
0 a a . 4 . with gl nce of swiftness he filled his body
1 . a a a a a 4 He m de lso sn re to enclose the . dr gon of the
sea.
2 e ha h 4 . He seiz d the four winds t t they mig t not issue an forth , y one of them, a an d 4 3. the south wind, the north wind, the e st wind ( )
the west wind . 1 a na a a 4 4 . His h nd brought the s re ne r the bow of his f ther
ANU .
a 4 5 . He cre ted the evil wind, the hostile wind, the storm,
the tempest, 6 w 4 . the four winds, the seven inds, the whirlwind, the unending wind and he a s had a 4 7. c u ed the winds which he cre ted to
issue forth, the seven of them , MAT a 8 . a A as 4 confounding the dr gon TI , they swept fter
him . f e a . 4 9 . Th n the lord li ted up the deluge, his mighty we pon 0 He a n a a w 5 . rode in the ch riot of desti y th t retre ts ithout 2 a a riv l. i 1 an d at ts . 5 . He stood firm hung the four reins side P a fl 2. a a over oods 5 (He held the we pon ) unsp ring, th t her a p noply. a 5 3. their teeth c rry poison . h a a t a . 5 4 . they sweep w y e le rned
an d a . 5 5 . might b ttle 6 n 5 . O the left they open their
8 - flash and 5 . With the lightning he crowned his
head . r a wa a a 5 9. He di ected lso (his y), he m de his p th descend, an d
60 he . . humbly set the before him 6 1 a a . By (his)comm nd he kept b ck the 6 2 e . His fing r holds the
1 He e we a e a eakene m Ri sti n ea of asti . r h v curiously w d for , i st d g 2 Or we e the e an d ea m aklt ri l a ali dta a ea n ot if corr ct t xt r d g , th t f rs " a a riv l .
1 40 RECORDS OF THE PAS T
a she uttered her former spells, she repe ted her com a m nd .
TIAMAT also cried out vehemently with a loud voice .
From its roots she strengt hened (her)seat completely. She an a a a a l recites inc nt tion , she c sts spe l , an d the gods of battle demand for themselves their a rms. Then TI AMAT attacked M ERODACH the chief prophet of the gods ;
i n combat they joined they met in battle.
An d the lord outspread his snare (and)enclosed her. He sent before hi m the evil wind to seize (her) from
behind . An AMA a d TI T opened her mouth to sw llow it. He made the evil wind enter so that she could not c lose her lips . a an d The violence of the winds tortured her stom ch, a her heart was prostrated an d her mouth w s twisted . n a a He swu g the club, he sh ttered her stom ch he cut out her entrails he overm astered (her)heart ; an d he bound her ended her life .
He threw down her corpse ; he stood upon it. When TI AMAT who marched before (them) was c on
quered , her was he dispersed her forces, host overthrown , an d the gods h er allies who marched beside her
trembled (and) feared (an d) turned their backs. a n They esc ped a d saved their lives .
They clung to one another fleeing helplessly. a He followed them an d shattered their we p ons.
He cast his snare an d they are caught in his net.
Knowing (P)the regions they are filled with grief. a are a They be r their sin, they kept in bond ge,
an d the elevenfold offspring are troubled through fear. The spirits as they march percei ved (P) the glory (of A H M EROD C ).
His hand lays blindness (on their eyes). At the same time their opposition (is broken) from under them THE ASS YRIAN S TOR Y OF THE CREA TI ON 1 4 1
6 and the K G had a s a 3 . god IN U who (m r h lled) their (forces) a o a n a 37. he bound him ls lo g with the god of the t blets
(of destiny in) hi s right hand . 8 And a a 3 . he took from him the t blets of destiny (th t were) n upo him . a an d 39 . With the string of the stylus he se led (them) a held the of the t blet. 0 w had n and a d k 4 . From the time hen he bou d ( )l i the yo e on his foes 1 a an 4 . he led the illustrious enemy c ptive like ox, 1 2 s a AN-SAR 4 . he e t blished fully the victory of over the foe E O A H a the a a EA 4 3. M R D C overc me l ment tion of ( )the lord
of the world . h . O e a a 4 4 v r the gods in bond ge he strengthened his w tc , an d
AMAT ho had a a 4 5 . TI w m he bound he turned he d b ck wards ;
' ‘
6 a a TIAMA I . 4 . then the lord tr mpled on the underp rt of
4 7. With his club unbound he smote (her) skull n fl w 4 8 . he broke (it) a d cau se d her blood to o ; 2 a a . 4 9 . the north wind bore (it) aw y t o secret pl ces 0 a EA an a the 5 . Then his f ther ( ) beheld ( d) rejoiced t savour ; 1 b e a e s ri ts P a a - ff 5 . c us d the pi ( ) to bring pe ce o ering to
himself.
1 The m ae a of th e F m am en pri v l god ir t . 2 The m ean ing of the b lood of Tiam at is shown by the two contradic B ab n an e en t he ea n Be o t he C a ean tory ylo i l g ds of cr tio which r ssos , h ld an h as am al am a e e e Be M e a am e and histori , g t d tog th r los ( rod ch) c cut t h e m an T am a a n e and of one alf of h er he m e th e ea wo ( i t) su d r , h for d rth , an d th e e a the ea en an d at the am e m e e e the of oth r h lf h v s , s ti d stroy d an m a n h er i n th e ab All was an a l e a e n i ls withi ( yss). this l goric l d scriptio o f na e For the e n e e n n m e and an m a tur . , whol u iv rs co sisti g of oistur , i ls b e n n n a ene a e e e n the e ab e m en ne Be i g co ti u lly g r t d th r i , d ity ov tio d ( los) cut ' ofi own ea n the e m e th e b as his h d ; upo which oth r gods ix d lood , it e the ea and m en e m en e e m e On gush d out , with rth , fro th c w r for d . this " a n a e are a na an d a ak e v ne n e e ccou t it is th t th y r tio l p rt of di i k owl dg . S m a a n Phil on B blios P oen an m e a e a i il rly , ccordi g to y , h ici cos ology d cl r d th t th e b an B aal - sam aim en m a e b son n lood of Ur os or , wh util t d y his Kro os n ea t he e an d n a n fl e n em and e l e th e ea r riv rs fou t i s , ow d i to th f rti is d rth . 1 42 RECORDS OF THE PAST
So the lord rested his body he feeds . mi n d P a a He strengthens (his) ( ), he forms clever pl n , n d a fi sh a a he stripped her of (her)skin like , ccording to hi s plan he d escribed h er likeness an d (with it) overshadowed the heavens a a h he stretched out the skin , he kept w tc , he urged on her waters that were n ot issuing forth a a a r he lit up the sky ; the s nctu ry (of he ven) ejoiced, an d
a EA . he presented himself before the deep, the se t of Then the lord measured (TI AMAT)the offspring of the de ep 1 the chief prophet made of her image the house of the 2 Firmament. E- SARRA which he had created (to be)the heavens o e a ANU B EL an d EA a the chief pr ph t c used , to inh bit
as their stronghold.
6 Fi rst li ne o t/ze n ex t t abl et a th e m an 4 . [ f ] He prep red a sions of the gre t gods.
n and - 6 OLO HO . O e 5 . [C P N ] hundred forty six lines of the “ th 4 th tablet (of e series beginning .When on ” a high unprocl imed . 66 A a a had . ccording to the p pyri of the t blet whose writing
been injured . 6 NEBo a - a h 7. Copied for his lord by N hid Merod c , the son a a of the irrig tor, for the preserv tion of his life ll and a 68 an d the a o . . life of his h use He wrote pl ced (it) 3 - in E ZIDA .
1 n n Its i th e origi al . 2 E- Sa a rr . 2 “ E- Z a th e n e e was th e ea em e o f Neb i n id , co stitut d hous , gr t t pl o i a n ir - - N m Th e th e e B ors ow e e en e b th e B s i . pp , r pr s t d y i rud copy of t xt - m n h an e d eposited i n it b y Nahid M erodach was prob ab ly ade i t e Persi ag .
1 44 RECORDS OF THE PAST
2 1 a a a a . (There fter) tow rds the p th of the sun thou sh lt a a ppro ch . 22 a a . (Then) the contr cted size of the sun sh ll indeed 1 change (P)
a . 2 3. seeking its p th
2 an d o . 4 . descend pr nounce judgment
Tb e rest of tb e obverse an dtit efi rst t/zree li n es of tire reverse are destro e y d.
REVERSE
Fi rst li ne o tbe nex t tabl et a 4 . [ f ] When the ssembly of the ha a him gods d he rd . “ a 5 . Fifth t blet of the (series beginning) When on high .
6 r of A - a - al . The prope ty ssur b ni p the king of hosts, the
ki ng of Assyria.
1 The m util ated condition of the table t m akes th e tran sl ation of this ne e em e T e e m a b e a e e en e i n he a Al -tar li xtr ly doub tful . h r y r f r c it to t st r or Da inu p . THE A SS YRIAN STOR Y OF THE CREA TI ON 1 45
THE SEVENTH TABLET OF THE STORY OF THE CREATI ON
OBVERSE
1 At ha a a . t t time the gods in their ssembly cre ted (the a be sts). f They made per ect the mighty (monsters). They caused the living creatures (of the field)to come
forth , a e a of and 4 . the c ttle of the fi ld , (the wild be sts) the field
th e creeping thi ngs (of the field). (They fi x ed their habitation s) for the living creatures e (of the fi ld). 1 They di stributed (in their dwelling- places) the cattle an h d the creeping things of t e city. a (They m de strong)the multitude of creeping things, all s f a the off pring (o the e rth). a a in the ssembly of my f mily.
EA the god of the illu strious face . the multitude of creeping things did I m ake
strong . s LAKHAMA the eed of did I destroy .
Tbe rest i s l ost .
1 1 46 RECORDS OF THE PA ST
THE FOLLOW ING FRAGMEN T (K 3449) BELONGS To THE
STO OF THE EAT O BU T ITs OS T O I S CE TA RY CR I N, P I I N UN R IN
OBVERSE
a had a e The sn re which they m de the gods b held . a ha d . They beheld lso the bow, how it been stored up had la The work they wrought they y down, and ANU a s lifted (it)up in the ssembly of the god .
i t . He kissed the bow , an d a a a s he ddressed the rch of the bow, (s ying)thu “ 1 an a The wood I stretch once d yet gain . The third time is th e of the star of the bow in
heaven . I have established also the position of ” Since the fates
1 I sten u m m a .
1 48 RECORDS OF THE PAST
C a a nothing of a creation i n successive acts . h os is
period when as yet writing was u nknown . B ut the
a a a an d was a e rth lre dy existed , i nh bited by the
a i a a a as ch otic brood of T m t, i mperfect first ttempts,
na a . it were, of ture , who lived in city underground
a They were destroyed , not by M erod ch , the god of
a a a - Cutha B bylon , but by Nerg l , the p tron deity of ,
a who is identified with Nerr , the god of pestilence,
and m a a a a Ner, the ythic l mon rch of B byloni who
reigned before the Deluge . The words of the poem
are a an d put i nto the mouth of Nerg l , the poem itself w as written for his great temple at Guth a. The legend of Cu t ha agrees better with th at reported by BerOsso s th an does the legend of the
E a a a r a pic . I n both like we h ve fi rst c e tion of
an d are a living beings, these beings of composite
a ff a a a n ture, the o spring of T i m t or Ch os . I n both alike the whole brood i s extermin ated by the gods of light . The d ate to which the legend i n its present form m a a i n y be ssigned i s di fficult to determine . The S scription is written i n emitic only , like the other
a - a an d a cre tion t blets, consequently c nnot belong to
- a e S . an the pre emitic g I t belongs, moreover, to epoch when the u nification of the deities of B aby
a had a a a a and loni lre dy t ken pl ce, the ci rcle of the
Ea Z a was . a am am a gre t gods complete , Ist r, ,
A nu and Sa a are all r n it, even Nebo m s, eferred to i n it . Possibly it m ay be d ated i n the age Of Kh am m ura as . B C g (ci r . . T HE CUTHIEAN LEGEN D OF THE CREATION
COLU MN I
M an li nes are l ost a t til e com m en cem en t y .
2 is a . His word ( )the comm nd of the gods
a - a - 3. His gl ncing white instrument (is) the gl ncing white h instrument (of t e gods). a a and a 4 . (He is)lord of th t which is bove th t which is s a h below, the lord of the spirit of e rt , a an n a a s 5 . who drinks turbid w ters d dri ks not cle r w ter ’ 6 a a a all t/zat rests . in whose field th t w rrior s we pon P t/zere ( . ) has a and 7. c ptured ( )destroyed . 8 On a ta h e n ot the h . blet wrote not, he opened ( mout ), an d bodies an d produce a n ot a an d 9 . he c used to come forth in the l nd , I n approached him ot . 1 0 a s o a a . W rrior with the b dy of bird of the v lley, men 1 1 t a a s . wi h the f ces of r ven , h a s 1 2 t e a . . did gre t god cre te
1 o a . 3. In the ground the g ds cre ted his city 1 AMAT a 4 . TI g ve them suck . 1 1 a 5 . Their progeny the mistress of the gods cre ted . 1 6 a n . In the midst of the mount ins they grew up a d became heroes and 1 a i n 7. incre sed number.
1 8 . S a a as even kings, brethren , ppe red begetters
1 . a a 9 six thous nd (in number were)their rmies . 20 od BA- a w s . The g NINI their f ther ( a ) king ; their mother 2 1 was M ELI LI . the queen ( ) ; 1 50 RECORD S OF THE PA ST
1 ME-MA GAB their eldest brother who went before them, N (was)his name ; 2 ME- was a (their)second brother, DUDU ( )his n me ;
ME- MAN PAI — ME A A was a . (their seventh brother, R R )his n me COLU MN II M an i ne a des ed y l s re troy . the evil curse He turned his word On a I arranged On a tablet the evil curse he wrote (P) a In I urged the ugurs on . S a a a even g inst seven in breadth I rranged (them). reeds P I set up the holy ( ). ra ed P a s I p y to ( )the gre t god , STA ZAMAMA ANU NIT I R , , , EBO an d SAMAS a N , ( ) the w rrior, son - od m the (of the Moon g , the of the gods y nn co ers. 1 2 an d he did not give, 1 3. thus I spake to my heart 1 . a : an d 4 s ying Verily it is I , 1 5 . never m ay I go beneath the dust " 1 6. m a a never y I go the pr yer. 1 Ma 7. y I go when the son my heart 1 8 . an d m a m a a a y I renew the iron , y I ssume the bl ck 4 garment 1 “ “ Th e e or n e ke Th e A a an e n am e voic thu d r stri s . cc di prop r s foun d i n the l egen d i n dicate th at although i n its presen t form it is of Sem n m b e b a e on e re -Sem m a e a M e e itic origi it ust s d old r p itic t ri ls . or ov r , “ " th e expressio n his n am e is written i n Accadian (m u - u i ) which shows a h as b een e m an a th t it quot d fro Accadi n text . 2 " The e e an d n voic go s up dow . 3 4 The e ea e A ti l u tsbat voic cr t s . . 1 5 2 RECORDS OF THE PAST holy laws I called the sons of the augurs a a a a seven ag inst seven in bre dth I rr nged (them). I placed the holy reeds (P) i m l ored P r a I p ( )the (g e t) gods, STA ZAMAMA ANU NIT I R, ( , ), EBO and SAMAS a N , ( the w rrior) - the son (of the Moon god, the of the gods my couriers) COLU MN I V M any l i n es are 1 . With 2 . the men 1 )" NAK C the city a city which to powerful king the gods my hand 2 O km an Thou, g, high priest, shepherd, or y one else, H a a n whom the god sh ll c ll (to) rule the ki gdom, H a a a a i n this t blet I h ve m de for thee, (this)stele I h ve scribed for thee 3 1 2 UTHA S L M . in the city of C in the temple of U I 4 1 ark E GAL a f 3. in the of N R I h ve le t it for thee . 5 1 a the an d 4 . He rken to voice of this stele, 6 1 n ot 5 . remove it not, forget it 1 6 ar . fe not, tremble not 1 Ma a a " 7. y he est blish thy se t 1 8 a a 7 . M yest thou chieve success in thy works 1 “ 2 ’ Pe a n ak r u e n Pate si rh ps ( ) for ig . . 3 The n am e of the rea em e of Ne a i n Cutha For th e ea n g t t pl rg l . r di g 4 Pa alHz t he ark i n the m a e of t he was a e an d p , which i g god c rri d , which stood i n the i n n er shri ne or holy of holies 5 “ " 7 L e a m . i a it r lly outh S p r . THE B AB YL ONIAN STOR Y OF THE CREA TI ON 1 53 1 1 9 . Build up thy fortresses 2 20 th a a s w a . Fill y c n l ith w ter 3 2 1 Ma a t h th . y thy p pyri , y corn , y silver, 22 th oo th e . y g ds, y prop rty, 2 h all . and t 3 ( ) y furniture, ( )of them 2 b the a s 4 . ( e multiplied) strengthen for (thy)h nd 2 h a 5 . make perfect t e stores of thine incre se 26 A h a o . . ( s for t e evil on e)thou shalt c use him to go f rth 2 h . 7. (As for the harmful one)thou shalt enc ain him 1 U rr i m en e ara m m u a a . , wh c , w ll 2 3 ’ Nabl i m VI Pi san n at i . n ubal u W A I . . 1 I . ; co p. , . . , i 5 , . 5 7 BA BYLON I A N LAWSU I T S A ND J U D G M EN T S A LAT BY R PPERT TR N S ED D . O H AVI NG worked for more th an fi ve - and- twenty years at the B abyloni an an d A ssyri an deeds of contract an d a and a a leg l decisions, h ving expl ined the docu ments rel ating to these subj ects which h ave been discovered a a am n ow a a a i n M esopot mi , I ble to st te th t the meaning of these difficult texts is at length fairly u S a a well understood by . The si mplest expl n tion is a f a and a th t which is the most di ficult to obt in , I h ve no doubt th at the transl ations an d interpretations I offer will appe ar to m an y schol ars so e asy an d con cl usive as to m ake them assu me th at any one might a m at . a h ve discovered the the outset Fortun tely, w a a a ho ever, not only the tr nsl tions of other schol rs , as a but m y own i mperfect ones well , h ve been pub lished an d , will thus convince you nger students of the i m mense diffi culty there is i n arriving at results which seem so evident . The first texts which I h ave selected cont ain cer tain contracts an d legal decisions rel ating indubitably to captive J e ws who h ad been carried to B abylon after 1 56 RECORDS OF THE PAST an d l a A a a some s ves . fter the de th of the two l dies he was sold to the we althy publi can I tti - M arduk l adh a a b a . , from whose house he esc ped twice T ken an a a the second ti me, he instituted ction i n order th t as a - z he might be recognised free born citi en , of the family of B el -ri m an ni and to prove th at he was of noble origin he pretended th at he had performed the ’ m atri m oni al solemnities at the m arri age of his m aster s 1 das - m d aughter Q u u with a certai n Sam as m udam iq . S a a a offi ciat u ch perform nce, doubtless , i mplied th t the was an d a a ing priest of free birth, th t no sl ve or freed m n was a a a a a . qu lified to t ke p rt i n it H e decl red , I ” ' ” am a m ar- ban i a a banu al a , or descend nt of , liter ly ” ” a a - a gener tor, or ncestor, one of those semi mythic l heroes who gave thei r n ames to the noble families of 2 “ ” “ a . I s a B bylon belong, he went on to y, to the ” a - rim an n i a l a f m ily of Bel , who i n other texts is c l ed - a was high priest . The c se brought before a cou rt of and a a B r i l j ustice, the roy l j udges sked a ach e to prove a was acti o udi ci ali s de th t he of free birth . This prej i n en ui ta te was an d a a an d al g u rged for g inst, eventu ly B r i l a ach e was obliged to retract his former statements . H e was u n abl e to rebut the evi dence alleged against an d a a a hi m , though it is prob ble th t the two m rried “ ” a h ad a persons whose h nds he j oined were de d , other witnesses came forward who proved th at he 1 “ The fath er of Akhi -n uri was Nab u - nadin - akh ( Neb o gives a b e and the a e of th e son -i n - law b ea th e am e n am e But roth r f th r rs s . it b n o m ean e a n a the n e m a e n e e n e th e is y s c rt i th t u cl rri d his i c , si c two e n m a a e b een ffe en p rso s y h v di r t . 2 I t would b e a useful work to collect the n am es of al l th e ban d or an e m en n b e b ke E ibi Nur- Sin and e c stors , of o l irth , li g , , oth rs . B A B YL ONI AN LA PVSUI TS AND j UDGIl/ENTS 1 57 was a sl ave with the power of purch asing his freedom . The ex act d ate at which the j udgment was delivered a a a is not quite cert in , but it m ust be l ter th n the a a a seventh ye r of N bonidus, when the f ther Itti a - al adh s M rduk b wa still alive . I will now proceed to m ake som e further rem arks a a as and on the det ils of the c se, it is very interesting, offers som e useful hints as to the legal procedure of a a the B byloni ns . The n ame of B ariki - ili or Barachi el is evidently ” a a ew. a a a a a th t of J He is c lled sl ve of r nsom , th t s a a a h as a a a is to y, not sl ve who lre dy pu rch sed his a a a freedom , since i n th t c se he would h ve been free , but a sl ave who was allowed by speci al l aws to employ his private fortune in the work of liberating himself. “ He professes to h ave been the avil tas li s u or joiner of the h ands of bride an d bridegroom at a wedding which m ust h ave t aken pl ace before the thirty- fi ft h ’ a a z z a ye r of Nebuch dne r s reign , when he still belonged “ A - a as to the house of khi nuri , the seller of the sl ve, he is called at the end of the text . A a a a fter the decl r tion of the sl ve, the docu ment is a a a a . . a comp r tively e sy to u nderst nd The j udges , fter all an a perusing the evidence , do not find y proofs th t B arachi el was a m an an d a s a of free birth, ccordingly y to hi m Prove to us th at you are the descend ant of ” a a B arachi el (noble) ncestor . Thereupon confesses a - has a a th t he is not free born , but twice ru n w y from a as act was the house of his m ster ; , however, the seen 1 58 RECORDS OF THE PA ST ‘ “ a was a a an d a I am by m ny people he fr id , s id, the ” ” a a I am - son of (noble) ncestor . But not free born , an d an a h e continues , then gives ccount of the events of his life . ' The words m ar- ban n t i n line 1 6 signify condition “ a - z an d of being free born citi en , not letter of client ” “ as . . n ship, Dr Peiser supposes The expressio letter ” z dz i m ar- ban ut a of citi enship ( pp )occu rs sever l times , an d signifies the warrant given by a m aster to his ” a a a - z was em ncip ted sl ve. Non citi enship the fourth fact gu aranteed by the seller of a sl ave to the pu r a : 1 a a ch ser, the other three being ( ) th t the sl ve should not rebel or run away ; i f he retu rned to his former m aster he was to be sent b ack ; (2) th at no cl ai m should lie against the validity of the s ale 0 11 account of technical or other errors an d (3) th at the purch aser should be secu red against any cl ai m m ade ‘ fli r upon the services of a sl ave by a roy al o ce . B arachi el adds th at after the death of the two a G a a an d Nub t é was l dies g , he sold for money to - a - b aladh E ibi a b e com Itti M rduk , of the g f mily, thus a servus redi m endus ar en to a a ing g , sl ve who could be a an d a a a r nsomed with money, th t he w its the sentence of the cou rt . The j udges decided that B arachi el should be i i a a an d a a was restored to his or g n l st tus, dded th t it i n the uz uz (or us ua) of the two m arried persons Sam as - m udam m iq an d Q udas u th at the j udgment “ ” was m a a pronounced . This y signify bsence, the two h aving died during the i nterval of m ore th an TRANSLATION OF A BABYLONIAN LAWSUIT RELATING To A JEW 1 I B arachiel a a a o a . is sl ve of r ns m belonging to G ga the daughter of th a a a whom in the 35 ye r of Nebuch dnezz r, 2 AB LO king of B Y N, m A h - a - a -akh [fro k i ]nuri , the son of N bu n din , for the third of a mina an d 8 shekels 3 ha n has an she d bought. Rece tly he instituted a a : am son a n ction , s ying thus I the of ( oble) 4 a a - rim an ni ncestor, of the f mily of Bel , who have joined the hands (in matrimony) of Samas m udam miq the son of N abu- nadin - akh an d a usadu a A - the wom n Q the d ughter of khi nuri , even I . In the presence of 5 - an d a the high priest, the nobles the judges of N bo nidus king of BAB YLON they pleade d the case an d listened t o their argum ents in regard to the obligation of servitude . arachi l th a ebuchadn ez z ar 9 of B e . From the 35 ye r of N king of BABYLON 6 1 0 th a a s k AB LO . to the 7 ye r of N bonidu ing of B Y N , he had had been sold for money, been put I I . an d as ubta a in pledge, ( ) the dowry of N the d ughter 1 2. a h A wa Nubtei had a of G ga ad been given . fter rds lien 7 ated him by a sealed contract ; 1 For th e m ean n of e e n see ab e . 1 8 . i g this xpr ssio ov , p 5 2 B . C. 5 70 . 3 A n a en i n n i not a e r Revill out e I , prop r nam e as D . suppos s Rea l u z i r Se e a n e n e e a e Bel -ri manni d . v r l disti guished p rso s w r c ll d , am n e a e the Sun - o g oth rs pri st of god . 6 C . B . . 5 49 7 The e e n ot eem m e a e b een e e e e t xt do s s to to h v corr ctly copi d h r . B AB YL ONI AN LA PVSUI TS A ND j UD GIl/EN TS 1 6 1 1 - 3. in exchange for a house an d slaves to Zam am a nadin 1 . s n an s h 4 her o d Idina her hu band ad given him . They read (the evide nce) and 1 a B arachi l a n a 5 . s id thus to e : Thou h st brought a ction an d said : The son of a (noble) ancestor 6 1 . am P B rachi l . a a e I rove to us thy (noble) ncestry. his former statement 1 . e a a : a a a 7 r tr cted , s ying Twice h ve I run w y from the a a house of my m ster, but m ny people (were pre sent), 8 1 1 . an w a n d I was seen . I as fraid a d said (accordingly) a am n th t I the son of a ( oble) ancestor . 1 m 9. My citizenship exists not I a the slave of ransom of ’ a G gat. 2 Nu ta 0 . b a as her _ her d ughter received me ( ) dowry ; Nubtfi 2 1 . a a a a a and Zam am a lien ted me by se led contr ct, to 2 nadin her son and Idin"1 her husband 22 a a an a a a . g ve me in exch nge ; d fter the de th of G ga and Nubtfi ( ) , - a - ala h th - b - n 23. to Itti M rduk b d e son of Nabu ak e iddi of a E ibi s the f mily of g , for ilver 2 w was . am a s a . n o o 4 . I [ sold] I l ve Go , [pr nounce sentence] about me . - h n th a 2 . t e o a d e 5 [The high priest] , n bles judges he rd the eviden ce 26 an d s B arachiel as a . [ ] re tored [ ] to his condition sl ve of a h a a Sa a r nsom, notwit st nding the bsence of m s m udam m iq 2 son a - a - akh an d udasu a 7. [the of N bu n din ] Q the d ughter 3 of Akhi - nuri, the seller 8 a n 2 a . . [of the sl ve] For the registr tio of this [decision] M usez ib the [priest] 1 N t Rd o . 2 S n am e are all I n em a m e a e : Idi né i e uch s , thi k , ph tic i p r tiv s , g v “ " “ Ba a ex 1 ba m C n e n the A am a transc ri s , ist I ri , ulti ply o sid ri g r ic p i n B n the a nam e we er a n n e Id ai asal . tio of l st , ought p h ps to pro ou c , 3 Na di n d u a n a n n th e am e e mi na n as m akizi ran u , si gul r ou with s t r tio , “ t he b e masi klm n u the m ea e a i ran u th e a n f uy r , sur r p g , pl i ti f ; " n a alkat tan u th e e en an p , d f d t . V OL . I 1 62 RECORDS OF THE PA ST 2 an - - 9 . [ d] Nergal akbe iddin the j udges - 0 . a E el the a a 3 of the f mily of pis , in city of the p l ce AB LO 1 da of the king of B Y N, the 7th y of 1 1 M r 3 . the month a chesvan [the 7th ? year] of N abonidus AB L king of B Y ON . 1 b e Octo r. 1 64 RECORDS OF THE PA ST a arduri s was Men uas a The gr ndson of S I , prince a a far an d and has a who c rried his rms wide, beque thed to us n u merous records of his w ars an d buildings . Far a a a a Dhus as a w y from his c pit l of p or Tosp , ne r a Rowandi z an d L a the mou nt in of the ke of Uru miyeh , a - on the su m mit of the p ss of Keli shin , feet a s ea a c am bove the level of the , is m onu ment of his ai ns a a a t p g , which is wr pt d uring the gre ter p r of the year i n a co ating of ice ; i n the north he engraved a A a his inscriptions beside the b nks of the r xes, while “ the record of his c amp aign against the l an d of the ’ ' Hittites is inscribed on the clifl of the Euphrates at a a a Malati eh and Van . P lu , bout m i dw y between y The inscription transl ated here was copied by i r z n . L a a a Schul a d S A . H y rd from stone built i nto a a a s an d the w ll of v ult u nder the church of St . Peter a at Van an d a z has a P ul , squee e of it been t ken by Captai n Cl ayton . The transliterated text an d a a n lysis will be found i n my M emoir, xxxii . p . 5 5 5 . a i n a and at The text i s m util ted p rts, the tim e my Memoi r was published I was un able to restore some a a a h as of the p ss ges i n it . The progress th t since a e a i n been m de , howev r, in the study of the V nni c sc ri ti on s a n ow p , en bles m e to supply their deficiencies , an d also to correct an d supplement the transl ation I ' then gave . For the s ake of Vannic schol ars I appen d here a transliterated text of the inscription as i t should read after the restoration of the m issing ch aracters INSCRIPTI ON OF l lIENUAS KI NG OF , ARARA T 1 65 od K a - - ui - ni us-m a- - mi man -nu-a- a 1 . [g h l di ] si Me s m n Is pu-u- i - ni - [khi - ni—s] 2 a- -e i - u - su- kha- a- ni l and Ma—a- na-a-i- us- a—a- . [li ] tu di t di l and e- ba- a- ni - a -u- bi a- m a- as- -u-bi i - ku- u-ka- a- ni 3. [ ] tu tu a - su- kha- n i- e erson Khu- ra- - ni - l ural - a 4 . [s li si ] p di li p kid d nu -u-li kha- a- i - tu -u m a - a-ha- - - —n i —n d- - i t - - - —ui 5 . [ n Sa d li ]e khi i l an ui ni c y Su ri si li ci ty Tar- khi -ga- m a- a- ni 6 ci t - - ra-a-ni m an a- a—ha- - - - ui -da- a-ni . [ y dhu S d li e khi ap-tI- ni ci t - —e-i stone ar-bi - e l and Kha- - na-as- ta—a-ui 7. [ y li g ti ap- ti - ni u- l an A - z -i -n —n I I erson 8 . i e d l i i i I IMCX I p ta-ar-su-a- n i sa- - e a- - ke z a-as- u- u- bi a- -ke ali e a- u-u- bi 9 . [ li ] li g li v g 1 od K a - - e a- -m a- a- - ru- u- bi ers n Khu- ra- 0 . [g h l di ] li nu a p o di na-u -e pl ural We learn from the i nscription th at the l and of the K a e as far as A z /z t or H ittites extended north l i , the situ ation of which is given i n the i nscription of - il s 6 a . Ti l ath P e er . g I (i 4 ; see bove, p 9 4 , note and a a a- a a a was a th t S d h d s , whose n me perh ps pro n o un ced Sa a- a a was a nd h d s, the king of th t portion of the H ittite n ation with which Men uas was brought h a a into contact . The mention of t e n me of the Kh te or H ittites on this and other Vannic monu ments shows th at the n ame w as not confined to the H ittites of th e south . INSCRI PTI ON OF THE VANNIC KING MENUAS 1 1 KHALDI S- ra Menuas . (To the gods), the g cious, the son 2 of I spui ni s 2 a I n s ri n P had a a . (spe ks)thus the p g ( ), when I ppro ched 3 the land of MINNI a a a a a 3. I c rried w y the people of (th t dist nt country), I a partitioned (them). The s me . a af a a a 4 (ye r), ter collecting the (b gg ge) of the rmy, the fruits (P)4 Sa a- a 5 . of the country of the son of d h lis, the cities of 5 I IL TARRHI - AMAS SU R S IS, G , 1 The em e Van was Khal dis b ut as ea b e or supr god of , ch tri district a e a of the am e nam e e e e e m an Kh aldi s - lso worshipp d god s , th r w r y gods who are in voked by the Van nic ki n gs alon g with th e suprem e Kh aldis of V It was m th e Kh al dis a the l a n of a a an . fro worship of th t popu tio p rt of A m en a b e am e kn n th e G ee as Kh aldae i a nam e na a l con r i c ow to r ks , tur l y f a ean Bab n a foun ded with that o th e Ch ld s of ylo i . 2 Th e an n n al al em e e n of Bi ai nas Bi anas V ic ki gs usu ly c l th s lv s ki gs or , a n am e which h as passed through th e Byana of Ptolemy i n to the m od ern Van Van n ow e e th e n am e the the an n n . is , how v r , of city which V ic ki gs a e Dhus as or Tos n ea en n a as di d i n e c ll d p p , i st d of d oti g district it th ir m e T os b e n now the n am e the . Biain as was kn n the ti , p i g of district ow to A an n e t he n am e of U rardh u t he A a a of th e Old Te am en . ssyri s u d r , r r t st t M n A a a m a b e n e a m e n e n a n th e n am e of ou t r r t , it y ot d , is od r d sig tio , Ararat not b e i n g appli ed to th e cou n try n orth of t h e Arax es i n the Bib lical ” a e an d the m un a n Ara a of G ene n n as i n th e g , o t i s of r t sis viii . 4 sig ifyi g , A an n n h K m n a n of a Van t e r the L e . ssyri i scriptio s , u dish ou t i s to south k 3 The M an a th e an n e are th e M an n a of th e A an the of V ic t xts ssyri s , M n n of t he Old Te am en e n n b the n n i i st t , whos positio is show y i scriptio s to a e b een m m e a e th e e the k n m of Van m e h v i di t ly to w st of i gdo , fro which th y e e e a a e b the n e w r s p r t d y Kotur ra g . 4 “ Kb ai -tfl m a b e nn e e kfi ai -di - a -u i r m kiw i y co ct d with , f uits (fro , " b ut m a a b e a m n of t u an d Rit a e to it y lso co pou d , to poss ss , ' " " e s ui - du set a e n r a l - r o bi i du set on fi e . lik , to for poss ssio , , to 5 T arkhi -gam as seem s to b e compoun ded wi th th e n am e of th e Hittite T arkhu e T arkhu- a a n of the G am um a an d Tarkhu-na god , lik l r , ki g g , zi , n M alati eh m en n e on the A an m n m e ki g of y , tio d ssyri o u n ts . THE A N CIEN T H EB REW I N SCRI P T I ON OF SI LOA M TRAN SLATED BY THE EDITOR THE oldest H ebrew i nscription yet discovered is en graved on the rocky wall of the subterranean ch annel ’ which conveys the water of the Vi rgin s Spring at a J erusalem into the Pool of Silo m . The history of 1 i ts discovery is cu rious . I n the su m mer of 8 8 0 one a S a a a of the n tive pupils of Dr. chick, Germ n rchitect a w as a long resident i n J erus lem , pl ying with some a an d a other l ds i n the Pool , while w ding u p the sub a an d a terrane an ch nn el slipped fell i nto the w ter . On a rising to the surf ce , he noticed , i n spite of the a a d rkness, wh t looked like letters on the rock which a a . S formed the southern w ll of the ch nnel D r. chick , and on being told of them , visited the spot, found a an a 1ns cr1 ti on a th t n cient p , conce led for the most a a a a . p rt by the w ter, ctu lly existed there The first thing to be done was to lower the level of a as the w ter, so to expose the inscription to View . ff B ut his e orts to copy the text were not successful . He was not a p al aeographer ; an d as the letters of the as as a an d flaw inscription , well every cr ck in the stone , ANCIENT HEERE W [NSCRI PTI ON OF SI L OAM 1 69 ad a a h been filled by the w ter with deposit of lime, it was i mpossible for him to distinguish between ch ar act ers an d ac a a cident l m rkings on the rock, or to m ake out the ex act forms of the letters . The first intelligible copy was accordingly m ade by m yself a a 1 8 8 1 . A s d uring m y visit to J erus lem i n Febru ry , h ad an d a however, I to sit for hours in the mu d w ter, of a a working by the di m light c ndle, m y copy required a an d was correction in sever l points, it not u ntil the G uth e a a an a arrival of Dr . six weeks l ter th t ex ct a was a G uthe f csimile obt ined . Dr . removed the de o f a l a an a an d posit lime by the pp ic tion of cid, so a a a a a a A a reve led the origin l ppe r nce of the t blet . c st was a and z a a of it t ken , squee es m de from the c st which could be stu died at leisure an d i n a good light . The inscription is engraved on the lower p art of an artifici al tablet cut i n the wall Of rock about 1 9 feet from the pl ace where the subterranean conduit opens S a an d a out upon the Pool of ilo m , on the right h nd at side of one who enters it . The conduit is first about 1 6 feet high ; but the height gradu ally lessens until i n one pl ace it is not quite 2 feet above the ’ a a A Ca a C floor of the p ss ge . ccording to pt in onder s a 1 0 8 me su rements, the tunnel is 7 yards i n length from the point where it l eaves the Spring of the Virgi n to the point where it enters the Pool of Silo am . It does a a an d a not run , however, in str ight line, tow rds the are culs de sac centre there two , the origin of which is 1 76 RECORDS OF THE PA ST C n is both ends, like the engineers of the M ont é tunnel , intending to meet i n the m iddle . But they did not a a h ad succeed i n doing so , though the two exc v tions approached one another su ffi ciently near for the work men i n the one to hear the sound of the pick axes used a a by the workmen i n the other . How such fe t of engineering was possibl e i n the age when the tunnel was a a difli cul t a exc v ted it is to underst nd , more especi ally when we remember th at the ch annel Sl opes a an d downw rd through the rock, winds very consider a It m a a a bly. y be dded th t the floor of the conduit ' has been rounded to allow the water to p ass through r it mo e e asily . The Pool of Silo am i s of comp aratively modern a a constru ction , but it encloses the rem ins of m uch a - a older reservoi r. I t is situ ted on the south e stern extremity of the hill , someti mes, but erroneously , a c lled Ophel, which lies to the south of the Temple n ow O a hill , represented by the M osque of m r, but a a a a a a sep r ted from the l tter by the rem ins of v lley, G the an d . which was first perceived by D r. u D r ’ Schick . The Vi rgin s Spring is on the opposite side the of the hill , but more to the north , overlooking a A s a a v lley of the Kidron . it is the only n tu r l as a a spring, or gihon , the J ews would h ve c lled i t, a a i n the neighbourhood of J erus lem , the comm nd of its supply of w ater was of pri m ary i mportance to the a a was a a . inh bit nts of the J ewish c pit l I t , however, a an d outside the w lls of the city , hence the necessity of cutting a condu it through the hill which should 1 72 RECORD S OF THE PA ST ’ I t would consequently appear from the chronicler s words th at the Pool of Silo am alre ady existed in the z a an d a a a ti me of H e eki h , th t wh t the J ewish mon rch was a a a did to exc v te second conduit, ru nning from a the Pool , not i n wi nding direction like the tunnel S a a a a of ilo m , but i n str ight direction long the a western side of the city of D vid . Now such a conduit h as actu ally been discovered cu t in the rock an d leading from the P ool of Silo am to another rese rvoi r which once existed below . a a There is, moreover, evidence i n the Book of Is i h th at the tunnel of Silo am was i n existence before 6 a a . a H ez eki ah cam e to the throne . I n Is i h viii A az was prophecy is recorded , uttered while h still “ a a a reigning, i n which llusion is m de to the w ters c n of Shilo ah th at go softly . This a h ardly refer to anything else th an the gently - flowi ng strea m a which still runs through the tu nnel of Silo m . The a S a i nference is supported by the n me hi lo h itself, “ ” a and which prob bly signifies the tu nnel , would h ave been given to the loc ality i n consequence of the ch annel which was here exc avated through the rock . The ch aracters of the inscription exhibit to us the alph abet which was u sed by the prophets before E a m a the xile . They belong to wh t y be termed the southern or J ewish branch of the old Ph oenici an a a a a a a was lph bet, p r llel br nch to which used i n a an d a S . M o b, i s fou nd on the M o bite tone The forms of som e of the letters are more archaic th an A NCI ENT HEB RE PV I NSCRI PTI ON OF SI L OAAI 1 73 a S those on the M o bite tone , the forms of others less S a are a a so . imil r forms met with on e rly Isr elitish and a a a J ewish se ls , which go b ck to period preced ar a a ing the Captivity . They e ch racterised by peculi arity which shows not only th at writing was a a a a a com mon , but lso th t the usu l writing m teri l was a a and a p pyrus or p rchment, not stone or met l . ” The tails attached to certai n letters are not straight as a S o a on the M o bite tone or i n Ph enici n inscriptions , m a a but rounded . The words , it y be dded , do not a lways end with the line . The l angu age of the i nscription is the pu rest Hebrew . I t presents us with only one unknown word , “ ” “ z ada/z i n a ob line 3, which seem s to me n excess or ” a a a st cle . Why it sho uld h ve been engr ved on the a a a - a a lower p rt of c refully prep red t blet , where the a a a w ter of the conduit woul d necess rily conce l it, i t a is i mpossible to conj ecture . The upper p rt of the ' t ablet m ay perh aps h ave been i ntended to contain a royal i nscription giving the n am e of the king under s whom the work wa executed . On e a a r a f ct, however, is m de ve y cle r by the S a text . Whether it were the ilo m tunnel itself, or a t o a the second tunnel le ding from i t lower reservoi r, a was z a a th t constructed by He eki h, i n either c se the “ Pool of Siloam would li e on the west side of the ” ” a a a city of D vid . The city of D vid m ust, ccord , i n l a e so - a g y, h ve stood on the south rn hill , the c lled Ophel ; and since the city of D avid was identical Z 2 a Sa V. with ion , ccording to muel 7, this hill must 1 74 RECORDS OF THE PA ST a represent the origin l mount of Zion . Consequently the valley of the Sons of H innom m ust be the valley which was known i n the ti m e of J osephus as the ’ T ro oeon a y p or Cheesem kers . I t once divided both the Temple hill and the southern hill from the a mou nt ins on the west, though i t i s n ow choked with the rubbish whi ch the n u merou s destroyers of a a a J erus le m h ve thrown i nto i t . I n some pl ces the a 0 e an d rubbish i s more th n 7 feet de p , under it, i f a nywhere, we m ust look for the tombs of the kings th at were cut i n the rocky cliff of the city of D avid . a Here, too, i f nywhere, will be fou nd the relics of the and a a a a z z a temple p l ce th t Nebuch dne r destroyed , overl aid with the accum ul ations of more th an two thous and years . A c ast of the Silo am i nscription m ay be seen in a E a an d the rooms of the P lestine xplor tion Fund, ’ facsi miles i n Canon I saac T aylor s History of tbe A l be 2 m tbe na t . an d Fres/t /zt ro p , i . p 34, i n n f M on um ents . 1 0 , p I . 1 a a " r . (Behold the) ex c v tion Now this is the histo y of a a a a the exc v tion . While the exc v tors were still lifting up 1 2 a a and . the pick, e ch tow rds his neighbour, while there a a was a were yet three cubits to (exc v te, there he rd) the voice of one m an t . a was an ex cess 3 c lling to his neighbour, for there ( ) in An d the rock on the right hand (and on the left P). after that on the day 1 " " Garz en an a e ax i n 1 n . e e e the , tr sl t d Ki gs vi 7 , wh r it is us d of ' n i strumen t with which the stones of Solom on s tem ple were quarried . B A G S T E R ’ S COMPREHENSI V E T EA C H ER’ S B I B LE ' tlz ew Hé’l s New Concordance I ndex ed A tl as W i N p , , , and t/ze om lete B a ster B ibl e C p g . ’ THE ONLY ;TEACHERS BIBLE PUBLISHED SINCE THE REVISED VERSION. THE FOLLO\VING PRINCIPALS OF COLLEG ES RECOMMEND IT M . A . Tan u l ou n . ELING . I a Rev . W AV ab e to e con , ( ) v lu l thos who b i duct Scripture cl asses . Ought to e n th e h ands of e very Sun d ay ” Tea e School ch r . — “ A BEET Ri clz m on d . It b far Rev . J . AG R ( ) is y the best that I ” h av e seen . l l/ E D. D od r at D DYK S . e or o S n d Rev . J . OSW AL o Lon don Pr sb , ( f y , e y ' terz an . A b ea B b e i n all e e m a e ) utiful i l r sp cts , ost c r fully edited ” t o a and w ell up d te . /z s l IIan c e ter . You . EENW O D wen s a n Dr . J G . GR O O e e e ( , ) h v co f rr d a ea b n n ot on ea e n b ut on all e en of gr t oo , t ch rs o ly , s rious stud ts ” Holy Scripture . “ b lz l as o — C u rc G w . Th M RRIS N D. . ree e n m a Rev. J . O O D , (F , g ) i for n a e a ne a b tio n is full a d m ark ed by schol rly x ct ss . Just such ook ” b i n a f e e S n a S Tea as should e the h nds o v ry u d y chool ch er . E b . . D. Cbesb u nt . e in an e v E R REYNOLDS D. of Re . , ( ) xc ls oth r g b e t: m a e e and n em e an d ne su j c tt r, ord r proportio of th , ful ss of ” e a an m a eff ea e n n b e e e . d t il , y si il r ort l v s othi g to d sir d u r b e di n b . T nam . D. E e h ALEX. W HYTE D. t e Rev , ( g ) his is w ll d ’ ’ ’ Tea e B b e and the C m e en e Tea e B b e i t ch r s i l , o pr h siv ch r s i l , for ” r comp e/zends the whol e apparatus the teach er n eeds . E N. It a a ea e an I . H. SPURG O w not Rev C. is just h t t ch r w ts do ” see how it could be b ette r. B A G S T E R ’ S E T EAC HER' B IB COMPREHENSIV S LE. f m t N e m It a m a e o e ene . n e Professor SAYCE. is rv l co pl ss othi g s s to b e w an ti ng . . D. Clzai r man o tire Con re ati n l . BRUCE D o a Un i on o Rev R. , ( f g g f n I t n m f E l an d a nd W ales . a e te e o km an g ) is xquisi g wor ship, the h elps for stud en ts an d teach ers are m ost com preh ensi v e and ” i n v alu ab l e . F RD D D Presiden t o tb e B a ti st n i on I Rev. J . CLI FO . . U . t , ( f p ) sup ” e th e e e n m a n th e ea e a k for and a pli s pr cis i for tio t ch r s s should h v e. Ex - ha r m an n r at n Rev A . MACKENNAL D. D. C i Co e i o al Un i on . , ( , g g ). The k a m ab n e ne a a and e en wor is d ir ly do for ful ss, ccur cy, pr s t ” n e I n ot kn an m n m e a da n e e e . y i t llig c , do ow y co p diu qu l to it ’ K B ost on U. S. ou n der o tb c You n Peo l s . . CLAR e Rev P E. ( , , F f g p i an n deavou r I Society of C/zri st E ). hope th at we shall b e ab l e ' ” b n the n otice of our n e e e e e e to ri g it to you g p opl v rywh r . ’ The m Mi ss MARIANNE FARNINGHAM . Co preh en siv e Teach er s B ib l e will h en ceforth alw ays li e on m y library t ab le for r e ference n a d h elp . N n t of an a r BOOKSELLER. othi g shor exh austiv e ppa atus cri ti cus ” a e i h a f t is pl c d n t e h n ds o he i n structor . T m m CHRISTIAN AGE. he ost co preh ensi ve an d com pl ete work of the ki n d . METHODIST TIMES Rev . Hu h Pri ce Hu /zes A a m ( g g ). v st a oun t ” of i n m a n of the ea e t al e B b e en for tio gr t s v u to i l stud ts . “ SUNDAY SCHOOL TIMES — A e e e B b e The p rf ct h lp to i l study . b est presen t . M e a ab e to ea an an FAMILY CHURCHMAN. or v lu l t ch ers th y c on ” cordance. m en m ena at the e Si ply ph o l pric . I n Ele en Edi ti ons ri ces rom Four /z ll n s c ti v S i i ac . , p f g SAM U EL B AG STER SONS L M TED LONDON , I I , . Th e Hi st or of Esarh addon Son of Senna e b Ki n A i a y ( ch ri ), g of ssyr , - I n n n B C . 68 1 668 . T an a e m the C ne f m . r sl t d fro u i or scriptio s upo O n a Cylin d ers an d Tab l ets i n th e British Museum Coll ection . rigi l Te e e i a G am m a a An a of ea W Ex xts , tog th r w th r tic l lysis ch ord , planation s of the I d eographs by Extracts from th e Bi -Li ngu al S ab a i e and L of E n m etc . B ER EST A . B U DG E yll r s , ists po y s , y N , A an E b n e C C e e Camb e ssyri xhi itio r, hrist oll g , ridg , C 1 0 s . 6d. M emb e f h e e of B b a Ar ae . 8 vo . r o t Soci ty i lic l ch ology loth , Rev HE R G EORG E St udi s es b rah B the . e on t he Ti m of A am . y N Y TOM K S Memb e of th e S e of B b a A ae et c . IN , r oci ty i lic l rch ology , Profusely i llustrat ed i n Chrom olithography and Phototint . 4to . a I 6 Cloth e xtr ; S. T k n ot a n ew b ra of Ab a am b ut e an a n his wor is iog phy r h , giv s ccou t of th e i e i n h e e m E am on th e Ea c vilis d world which liv d , fro l st E on th e W e a n m the e n e of E to gypt st , dr w fro xisti g r sults gyp to a and A i a e ea an d e a e th e e n logic l ssyriolog c l r s rch , lucid t s tru positio d Th a n are en m an ch aracter of th e Patri arch . e illustr tio s chos fro an e n a n of e as e m en of th e ea n a e o f th ogr phic poi t vi w, sp ci s l di g r c s h e t e arly world . Tom n s h as od e e d f the o n n Mr. ki pr uc d a v ry vivid an truthful picture o surr u di gs of Ab a am . The m ar n i t s n o e s i s a o t o be o I t wi be om e m e g j y d. r h i with " t h l ll s ti b e e a — o a b oo c n b e er e ed. A cadem y . f“r such k sup s d Th e boo i s a m on m en of ab o o s an d a en n es a on and a k u t l ri u p ti t i v tig ti , its utility . " s n ea e raw m r h D a i l i i cr s d by d gs which g eatly assist a com prehension of t e te xt . y ust n ot om it t o gi ve an appreciative word t o the great n um be r of illustra ’ n h n m t h e tio s from p otographs a d from t he auth or s fown drawi ngs . The y add uch o t " ' — e of a n e . l /z n valu highly i ter sti ng and i ndeed im portan t book L ztera 7y C mr e m a . Ori ent al Records : Monum ent al an d Hi st ori cal . C on firm at ory of the ld T m t A e f h m an O esta en Scriptures . Coll ction o t e ost import t e en e e e e a i n W e e n A a an d E e e r c t discov ri s, sp ci lly st r si gypt , d riv d from the high est attai nabl e an tiquity con firmatory and illustrativ e f h m n o t e a e e of H S . I B LL AM st t ts oly cripture llustrated . y W I I HA RR S LE D v RU D . C n 8 o . C e a ea 5 I , . row loth xtr , ch 5 . ” ’ — The o m e i s e a ned an d n e es n . L z t ra 7 h u r h m a n v lu l r i t r ti g e y C c . ” ' S e n of t h e S es W l ll fi n d t h e boo e e — a tud ts criptur k v ry us ful . L z t er ” ’ — The e i s an d s m e . 1 s rael s W a tch m a n . “ styl lucid i pl Th e o m m v lu e for s a valuable con tribution t o our stock of B iblical literature . Roek “ The m e M n m enta an d H two volu s o u l istorical are distinct . Gen esi s : wi t a Tal mudi cal omm n B P HER HON C e t ar . I S . h y y . . W an In E a b an PE E M A D m v C n S . e 8 o. ith troductory ss y y o NC , . y C 60 . 1 0 5 loth , 5 pp , . The texts of G en e s is s catte red throughout t h e twelve volum es of th e Talm ud ha ve be en care fully se arche d ou t and arrange d i n th e orde r i n which we fi n d them i n ou r b T e B i les . o ach i ndividual te xt i s added t he im m edia te con text as found i n t h e Ta m d. A e m an of t he e s and t h e e Ta m d a om m en on h e m l u ft r y t xt dir ct l u ic l c ts up t , so- a e d S n o a o es are n T e se e e t he n a s b s c ll ptic l N t i troduce d. h r f r o t pri cip l u j ects ug es e i n ye e s om m en e d on an d an r o s and n e es n e m a o n g t d t t xt j u t c t up , y cu i u i t r ti g r rk e se s b e s on a n ed i n t he M s a n m e e e en e j n a d G e ara appe nde d. a th u ct c t i i h is C"r ful r f r c s t o t h e — a ar e a se a e and o m n are i n all ase en . n t roducto¢ p rticul tr ti , p g , c lu c s giv I y SAM E B U L AG STER SONS L M TED LONDON. , I I ,