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Ashurbanipal 012 (Q003711)

Royal Inscription, Neo-Assyrian, Babylon (Bābili) · c. 911 BCE–612 BCE

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DesignationAshurbanipal 012
IDQ003711
CollectionArkeoloji Müzerleri, Istanbul, Turkey; Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA; Musée d’Art et d’Histoire, Geneva, Switzerland
LanguageAkkadian
PeriodNeo-Assyrian · c. 911 BCE–612 BCE
GenreRoyal Inscription
Find spotBabylon (Bābili)
Coordinates32.5434, 44.4222

English translation

By ORACC project rinap/rinap5 · Via Open Richly Annotated Cuneiform Corpus (ORACC) · CC BY-SA 3.0 (ORACC)

LineEnglish
Obverse Column i [0:1] i 1'1'–i 1'1'I placed (the bed) [...] ... [... which] is laden [with sexual charm].
Obverse Column i [1:3] i 2'2'–i 3'3'I presented the god Marduk, the one who loves my reign, with [a b]ed of ebony, a dur[able] wood, (and) which is clad with reddish gold.
Obverse Column i [3:6] i 4'4'–i 6'6'I stationed six fierce wild bulls of silver, protectors of my royal path, in the Luguduene Gate, the Gate of the Rising Sun, and the Lamma-RA.BI Gate, in the gateway(s) of Ezida, which is inside Borsippa.
Obverse Column i [6:9] i 7'7'–i 9'9'I cast Kizalaga, the seat of the god Nūru, with eighty-three talents of shiny zaḫalû-metal and, to make (it) shine (like) a brazier, I had the appurtenance(s) of Ezida, the seat of his great divinity, expertly fashioned.
Obverse Column i [9:12] i 10'10'–i 12'12'In (the gates) Kamaḫ and Kanamtila, for the processional way of his exalted rulership, I made the foundations of two shiny silver pirkus, whose weight is six talents each, as firm as a mountain.
Obverse Column i [12:21] i 13'13'–i 21'21'(As for) Emeslam, the temple of the god Nergal that is inside Cutha, which had become dilapidated and old, I renovated its collapsed section(s and) removed the portion(s) of it that had collapsed. In brick mold(s) of ebony (and) musukkannu-wood, I made its bricks with crushed pieces of aromatics. I made (people) take up hoe(s) and had its foundation(s) put (back) into alignment. In an auspicious month, (on) a propitious day, I laid its foundation(s) with perfumed oil, good quality oil, silver, (and) gold. Moreover, I secured its door bolt(s).
Obverse Column i [21:25] i 22'22'–i 25'25'I adorned its structure [with] musukkannu-wood, KA-wood, ebony, boxwood, ḫilēpu-wood, and UMBIN-wood and built (and) completed (it) [fr]om its foundation(s) to its crenellations with the craft of the god Ku[l]la. I raised its superstructure.
Obverse Column ii [0:6] ii 1'1'–ii 6'6'... [...] I established therein [...]. The great gods, my lords, whom I constantly revered, looked steadfastly upon me and stood in for me. At their exalted command, I constantly marched about through all the lands and had no rival (lit. “there was no one to rival me”).
Obverse Column ii [6:13] ii 7'7'–ii 13'13'I conquered the city Thebes, a royal city of Egypt and Kush. I carried off large horses, garment(s) with multi-colored trim, linen garments, silver, gold, (and) its people without number. I rem[o]ved from their places two magnificent obelisks cast with shiny zaḫalû-metal, (which) stood at a temple gate (and) whose weight was 2,500 talents, and I brought (them) to Assyria.
Obverse Column ii [13:20] ii 14'14'–ii 20'20'(As for) Baʾalu, the king of the land Tyre who did not honor my royal command(s and) who did not obey the pronouncement(s) from my lip(s), I set up outposts against him. By sea and dry land, I took control of (all of) his routes (and thus) constricted (and) cut short their lives. I made them (the people of Tyre) bow down to my yoke.
Obverse Column ii [20:24] ii 21'21'–ii 24'24'He brought before me his daughter and the daughters of his brothers to serve as housekeepers, together with his substantial payment.
Obverse Column iii [0:2] iii 1'1'–iii 2'2'(No translation possible)
Obverse Column iii [2:11] iii 1''1''–iii 9''9''For the pre[servation of his (own) life], he (Uallî) opened up [his hands] to me (and) made an appe[al to my lordly majesty]. He sent Erisinni, [his] heir design[ate], to Nineveh and he [kissed] my feet. He sent befor[e me] (his) daughter, his own offspring, <to> serv[e as a housekeeper], together with his su[bstantial] payment. I added thirty horses to [his] former paymen[t] and im[posed (it) upon him].
Obverse Column iii [11:24] iii 10''10''–iii 22''22''I did not abandon Urtaku, the king of the land Elam, an all[y of the father who had engendered me. My eyes] were firmly fixed on him (and) [I showed] favor. During his time, in the land Elam, [...] he brought about famine (and) starvation [...]; there was hunger. (iii 15´´) I sent to him gra[in, (which) sustains] the live(s) of people, and (thus) held [him by the hand]. (As for) his people, who had fled on account of hunger (and) starvat[ion] and settled i[n Assyria], I app[eased] their hunger [and] (thereby) brought them back to life. [I took them] by the han[d]. (iii 20´´) Through the good planning of (the god) Aššur and the goddess [Mullissu], the gods who support me, [... The al]ly of the father who had engendered me, who had work[ed] with him, [...]
Obverse Column iv [0:10] iv 1'1'–iv 10'10'[T]o support the gods of the land Akkad, I mustered my battle troops and took the road. Urtaku, the king of the land Elam, heard about the advance of my expeditionary force, fear overwhelmed him, and he returned to h[is] (own) land. I w[ent a]fter him (and) bro[ught about] his [def]eat. [I drove h]im [away] as far as the bord[er of his land].
Obverse Column iv [10:12] iv 11'11'–iv 12'12'[(As for) Urtaku, who had not ho]nored [my] friendsh[ip, ...] ... [...]
Obverse Column v [0:5] v 1v 1–v 55I installed Ta[mm]arītu, his third bro­ther, as king in the city Ḫidalu. With the suppo[r]t of the gods Aššur, Bēl (Marduk), and Nabû, I [return]ed safely to Assyria with much bo[oty] from the land Elam.
Obverse Column v [5:13] v 66–v 1313[In the cou]rse of my campaign, I march[ed against Dun]ānu, the son of Bēl-iqīša, [to the land Gambul]u. I conquer[ed the city Ša-pī-Bēl, his] fortified city, [...]. I brough[t Dunānu] (and) his [brothers] out of [that] city [alive. ...] ... [...]
Obverse Column v [13:37] v 1'1'–(No translation possible)
Obverse Column vi [2:8] vi 1'1'–vi 6'6'[...] ... [... Fe]ar of my royal majesty overwhelmed them and they sent before m[e their] mounted messenger(s with messages) of goodwill and peace, together with thei[r] substantial audience gift(s). They asked about the well being of my royal majesty, kissed my feet, (and) made appeals to my lordly majesty.
Obverse Column vi [8:15] vi 7'7'–vi 13'13'Cyrus, the king of the land Parsumaš, heard about the might[y] victories that, with the support of the gods Aššur, Bēl (Marduk), and Nabû — the great gods, my lords — I had achieved over the land Elam (and that) I had flattened the land Elam, all of it, like the Deluge, and he sent to Nineveh, my capital city, Arukku, his eldest son, with his payment, to do obeisance, and he made an appeal to my lordly majesty.
Obverse Column vi [15:27] vi 14'14'–vi 25'25'Pislumê, the king of the land Ḫudimiri — whose location is remote (and) which is situated on the far side of the land Elam, which from distant days, in (the time of) the kings, my ancestors, it had not sent its mounted messenger(s and) did not inquire about the well-being of their royal majesties — now (vi 20´) heard about the mighty victories that, with the support of the gods Aššur, Bēl (Marduk), and Nabû — the great gods, my lords — I had achieved over the land Elam [and] fear of my royal majesty overwhelmed [him and he sent] to Nineveh, my capital city, his mounted messenger (with a message) of peace, with [his substantial audience gift(s), and] he made an appeal to [my lordly majesty].
Obverse Column vii [0:5] vii 1'1'–vii 5'5'(No translation possible)
Obverse Column viii [0:5] viii 1'1'–viii 5'5'[...] ... [... one of] the kings, my descendants, [whom ...] name and [...] he should renovate [...] (and) should not re[m]ove an inscribed object [bearing my name f]rom its place. [M]ay he return (it) [to its place].
Obverse Column viii [5:13] viii 6'6'–viii 13'13'Whoever alters an inscribed object bearing [my name] and does [not] place (it) with an inscription (bearing) [his name], may the goddess Gula, the great lady, make persistent [le]sions, which never heal, appear [on] his body; may he constantly bathe in blood (and) pus [a]s if (they) were water; may his life come to an end from a prolonged sickness; (and) may she curse him angrily and make his name and seed disappear from the land.
Obverse Column viii [13:16] viii 14'14'–viii 16'16'Ayyāru (II), the sixth day, the thirtieth year of Ashurbanipal, [ki]ng of As[syria].

Transliteration (ATF)

From Open Richly Annotated Cuneiform Corpus (ORACC) · CC BY-SA 3.0 (ORACC default); per-file JSON license fields say: This data is released under the CC0 license (133618)

LineATFMachine English (draft)
i
1'[...] x x x [...]
2'sa-al-ḫu ad-di {[giš]}⸢NA₂⸣ {giš}ESI iṣ-ṣi ⸢da₃⸣-[re-e]
3'ša₂ KU₃.GI ḪUŠ.A lit-bu-šat a-na {d}AMAR.UTU ra-aʾ-im BALA-ia a-qiš
4'6 AM.MEŠ KU₃.BABBAR ek-du-ti na-ṣi-ru ki-bi-is LUGAL-ti-ia
5'ina KA₂ lu₂-gu₂-du₃-e-ne KA₂ ṣi-it {d}UTU-ši u KA₂ {d}LAMMA-RA.BI
6'ina KA₂ e₂-zi-da ša₂ qe₂-reb bar₂-sipa{<ki>} ul-ziz
7'ki-zalag₂-ga šu-bat {d}IZI.GAR 83 GUN za-ḫa-lu-u₂ eb-bu ap-tiq-ma
8'a-na nu-um-mur KI.NE si-mat e₂-zi-da
9'šu-bat DINGIR-ti-šu₂ GAL-ti nak-liš u₂-še-piš
10'2 per-ku KU₃.BABBAR eb-ba ša AŠ₄ GUN.TA.AM₃ KI.LA₂-šu-nu
11'ina ka₂-maḫ u ka₂-nam-ti-la
12'a-na tal-lak-ti ru-bu-ti-šu₂ ṣir-ti u₂-ḫum-meš SUḪUŠ.MEŠ-šu₂-nu
13'u₂-kin e₂-mes-lam E₂ {d}U.GUR ša₂ qe₂-reb GU₂.DU₈.A{ki}
14'ša₂ i-na-ḫu-ma il-li-ku la-ba-riš
15'an-ḫu-us-su ud-diš mi-qit-ta-šu₂ ad-ke
16'ina {giš}U₃.ŠUB {giš}ESI {giš}MES.MA₂.KAN.NA
17'ḫi-biš-ti ŠIM.ḪI.A SIG₅.ḪI.A-šu₂ al-bi-in
18'al-lu u₂-šat-rik-ma uš-te-eš-ši-ra UŠ₈-šu₂
19'ina ITI DUG₃.GA u₄-me še-mi₃-i
20'ina i₃-gu-la-a I₃ DUG₃.GA KU₃.BABBAR KU₃.GI ad-di tem-me-en-šu₂
21'u₃ ad-da-a ši-gar-šu₂
22'[ina] {⸢giš⸣}MES.MA₂.KAN.NA {giš}KA {giš}ESI {giš}TUG₂
23'{[giš]}KIM₃ u {giš}UMBIN us-si-ma ši-kit-ti-šu
24'[ul]-tu UŠ₈-šu₂ a-di gaba-dib-bi-šu₂ ina ši-pir {d}⸢kulla⸣
25'⸢ar⸣-ṣip u₂-šak-lil ul-la-a re-ši-⸢šu⸣
ii
1'x (x) x x [x] x [...]
2'u₂-kin qe₂-⸢reb⸣ x [x x x]
3'DINGIR.MEŠ GAL.MEŠ EN.MEŠ-ia ša₂ ap-tal-la-ḫu-šu₂-nu-ti
4'ke-niš ip-pal-su-u₂-in-ni-ma i-tap-pa-lu
5'A₂.II-a-a ina qi₂-bi-ti-šu₂-nu ṣir-ti ina kul-lat
6'KUR.KUR at-tal-lak-ma ma-ḫi-ri ul i-ši
7'{uru}ni-iʾ URU LUGAL-u₂-ti {kur}mu-ṣur
8'u₃ {kur}ku-ši ak-šu-ud
9'ANŠE.KUR.RA.MEŠ GAL.MEŠ lu-bul-ti bir-me GADA.MEŠ
10'KU₃.BABBAR KU₃.GI UN.MEŠ-šu₂ a-na la mi₃-ni aš₂-lu-la
11'2 tim-me MAḪ.MEŠ pi-⸢ti-iq za-ḫa⸣-le-e eb-bi
12'man-za-az KA₂ E₂.KUR ša 2 ⸢LIM 5 ME GUN⸣ KI.LA₂-šu₂-nu
13'ul-tu man-zal-ti-šu₂-nu as-⸢suḫ⸣-ma ⸢u₂⸣-ra-a
14'a-na KUR AN.ŠAR₂{ki} {m}ba-ʾa-lu LUGAL {kur}ṣur-ri
15'ša₂ a-mat LUGAL-ti-ia la iṣ-ṣu-ru la iš-mu-u₂
16'zi-kir NUNDUM-ia {uru}ḪAL.ṢU.MEŠ UGU-šu₂
17'u₂-rak-kis ina tam-tim u na-ba-li
18'ger-re-ti-šu₂ u₂-ṣab-bit
19'nap-šat-su-nu u₂-si-iq u₂-kar-ri
20'a-na {giš}ŠUDUN-ia u₂-šak-nis-su-nu-ti
21'DUMU.MUNUS-su u DUMU.MUNUS.MEŠ ŠEŠ.MEŠ-šu₂
22'it-ti man-da-at-ti-šu₂ DUGUD-ti
23'a-na e-peš {munus}AGRIG-u₂-ti
24'⸢u₂⸣-bi-la a-di maḫ-ri-ia
iii
1'[...]-na
2'[...] x
1''⸢aš₂-šu ba⸣-[laṭ ZI-ti₃-šu₂ up-na-a-šu₂]
2''ip-ta-a u₂-ṣal-⸢la⸣-[a EN-u₂-ti]
3''{m}e-ri-si-in-ni DUMU ri-⸢du⸣-[ti-šu₂]
4''ana NINA{ki} iš-⸢pu-ram-ma u₂⸣-[na-aš₂-ši-qa]
5''GIR₃.II-ia DUMU.MUNUS ṣi-it ŠA₃-šu₂ <ana> e-⸢peš⸣ {[munus}AGRIG-u-ti]
6''it-ti man-da-at-ti-šu₂ ⸢ka⸣-[bit-ti]
7''u₂-še-bi-la a-di maḫ-⸢ri⸣-[ia]
8''30 ANŠE.KUR.RA.MEŠ UGU man-da-at-⸢ti⸣-[šu₂]
9''maḫ-ri-tu₂ u₂-rad-⸢di⸣-ma ⸢e⸣-[mid-su]
10''{m}ur-ta-gi LUGAL {kur}ELAM.MA{ki} ⸢EN MUN⸣ [AD DU₃-ia]
11''ul u₂-maš-šir₃ it-ti-šu₂ šit-ku-na [IGI.II-a-a ar-ši]
12''sa-li-mu a-na tar-ṣi-šu₂ qe₂-reb {kur}ELAM.⸢MA⸣{[ki} ...]
13''su-un-qu ḫu-šaḫ-ḫu iš-kun-[...]
14''ib-ba-ši ne₂-eb-re-ti {d}⸢nisaba⸣ [ba-laṭ]
15''ZI-tim UN.MEŠ u₂-še-bil-šu-ma aṣ-bat [ŠU.II-su]
16''UN.MEŠ-šu₂ ša₂ la-pa-an un-ṣi bu-⸢bu⸣-[ti]
17''in-nab-tu-nim-ma u₂-ši-bu qe₂-[reb KUR AN.ŠAR₂{ki]}
18''bi-ru-su-nu u₂-šab-⸢bi⸣-[i-ma]
19''u₂-bal-liṭ nap-šat-su-nu qa-⸢ti⸣-[šu₂-nu aṣ-bat]
20''ina ṭe₃-e-me SIG₅ ša₂ AN.ŠAR₂ u {d}[NIN.LIL₂]
21''DINGIR.MEŠ ti-ik-le-ia ⸢u₂⸣-[... EN]
22''MUN AD DU₃-ia ša₂ it-ti-šu₂ i-⸢pu⸣-[šu ...]
iv
1'[a]-⸢na⸣ na-⸢ra-ru⸣-tu ⸢DINGIR.MEŠ⸣ KUR URI{ki}
2'{⸢lu₂⸣}ERIM.MEŠ ta-ḫa-zi-ia₂ ad-ke-e-ma
3'⸢aṣ⸣-ba-tu ḫar-ra-nu
4'{⸢m⸣}ur-ta-ki LUGAL {kur}ELAM.MA{ki}
5'a-la-ka ger-ri-ia iš-me-e-ma
6'ḫa-at-ta is-ḫu-up-šu-ma
7'i-tu-ur a-na KUR-⸢šu₂⸣
8'⸢ar⸣-ki-i-šu₂ aṣ-[bat]
9'[a-bi]-⸢ik⸣-ta-šu₂ aš₂-[kun]
10'[aṭ-ru-us]-⸢su⸣ a-di mi-⸢ṣir⸣ [KUR-šu₂]
11'{[m}ur-ta-ku ša₂ la iṣ]-ṣu-ru ib-ru-⸢u₂⸣-[ti]
12'[...] x x [...]
v
1{m}ta-⸢am⸣-ri-ti ŠEŠ-šu₂ šal-ša₂-a-a
2ina {uru}ḫi-⸢da⸣-lu a-na LUGAL-tu₂ aš₂-kun
3ina tu-kul-⸢ti⸣ AN.ŠAR₂ {d}EN u {d}AG
4it-ti ⸢šal⸣-[lat] {kur}ELAM.MA{ki} ma-at-ti
5⸢šal⸣-meš ⸢a⸣-[tu]-⸢ra⸣ a-na KUR aš-šur{ki}
6[ina me]-⸢ti-iq⸣ ge-er-ri-ia₂
7[UGU {m}du]-⸢na⸣-nu DUMU {m}{d}EN-BA-ša₂
8[ana {kur}gam-bu]-⸢lu⸣ lu-u₂ al-⸢lik⸣
9{[uru}ša₂-pi-i-{d}EN] URU dan-nu-ti-[šu₂]
10[...] ak-šu-[ud]
11{[m}du-na-nu ŠEŠ.MEŠ]-⸢šu₂⸣ ul-tu qe₂-reb ⸢URU⸣ [šu-a-tu]
12[bal-ṭu-su-un] u₂-še-ṣa-[a]
13[...] x (x) [...]
1'[...] x
2'[...] x
3'[...] x
4'[...] x
5'[...] x
6'[...] x
7'[...] x
8'[...] x
9'[...]
10'[...]
11'[...] x
12'[...] x
13'[...] x
14'[...] x
15'[...]
16'[...]
17'[...] x
18'[...]
19'[...] x
20'[...]
21'[...] x
vi
1x [...]
2x [...]
1'[...] x x x x (x x) [x x] x [...]
2'[pu]-⸢luḫ⸣-tu₂ LUGAL-u₂-ti-ia₂ is-ḫup₂-šu₂-nu-ti-ma {lu₂}RA.⸢GABA⸣-[šu₂-nu]
3'ša₂ ṭu-u₂-bu u su-lum-me-e it-ti ta-mar-ti-šu₂-⸢nu⸣
4'ka-bit-ti u₂-še-bi-lu-ni a-di maḫ-ri-⸢ia⸣
5'šu-lum LUGAL-u₂-ti-ia iš-ʾa-a-lu
6'u₂-na-aš₂-ši-qu še-pi-ia u₂-ṣal-lu-u₂ be-lu-ti
7'{m}ku-ra-aš₂ LUGAL {kur}par-su-ma-aš₂ li-i-ti u da-na-⸢na⸣
8'ša₂ ina tu-kul-ti AN.ŠAR₂ {d}EN u {d}AG DINGIR.ME GAL.ME EN.MEŠ-e-a
9'UGU {kur}ELAM.MA{ki} aš₂-ku-nu {kur}ELAM.MA{ki} ka-la-šu₂
10'a-bu-ba-niš as-pu-nu iš-me₂-e-ma
11'{m}a-ru-uk-ku DUMU-šu₂ GAL-u₂ it-ti man-da-at-ti-šu₂
12'a-na e-peš ARAD-u₂-tu a-na ni-nu₂-a
13'URU be-lu-ti-ia₂ iš-pur-am-ma u₂-ṣal-la-a EN-u₂-ti
14'{m}pi-is-lu-me₂-e LUGAL {kur}ḫu-di-mi-ri
15'ša₂ a-šar-šu₂ ru-u₂-qu ša₂ ina a-ḫi {kur}ELAM.MA{ki} ul-li-tu₂ aš₂-bu
16'ša₂ ul-tu UD.MEŠ ru-qu-ti ina LUGAL.MEŠ AD.MEŠ-e-a
17'{lu₂}RA.GABA-u₂-šu₂ la iš-pu-ru
18''la iš-a-lu šu-lum LUGAL-u₂-ti-šu₂-un
19'i-na-an-na li-i-ti u da-na-⸢na⸣
20'ša₂ ina tu-kul-ti AN.ŠAR₂ {d}EN u {d}AG DINGIR.MEŠ GAL.⸢MEŠ⸣
21'EN.MEŠ-u₂-a UGU {kur}ELAM.MA{ki} aš₂-ku-nu iš-me₂-⸢e⸣-[ma]
22'pu-luḫ-ti LUGAL-u₂-ti-ia is-ḫup₂-[šu₂-ma]
23'{lu₂}RA.GABA-u₂-šu₂ ša₂ šul-mi it-ti [ta-mar-ti-šu₂ ka-bit-ti]
24'a-na ni-nu₂-a URU be-lu-ti-ia₂ [iš-pur-am-ma]
25'u₂-ṣal-la-a [EN-u₂-ti]
vii
1'x [...]
2'x [...]
3'a-x [...]
4'ni-[...]
5'x [...]
viii
1'[...] x (x) [x x x]
2'[... ina] ⸢LUGAL⸣.MEŠ DUMU.ME-⸢e-a⸣
3'[...] i-nam-bu-šu-ma
4'[...] ⸢ud⸣-da-šu₂ MU.SAR-u₂
5'[ši-ṭir MU-ia] ⸢ul⸣-tu aš₂-ri-šu₂ la u₂-⸢nak⸣-kar
6'[a-na aš₂-ri-šu₂] ⸢li⸣-ter ša₂ MU.SAR-⸢u₂⸣ ši-ṭir
7'[MU-ia] ⸢u₂⸣-nak-kar-ru-u₂-ma it-ti ši-ṭir
8'[MU-šu₂ la] ⸢i⸣-šak-ka-nu {d}gu-la GAŠAN GAL-ti
9'[si]-⸢im⸣-mu la-az-zu ša₂ la ba-la-ṭu
10'[ina] ⸢zu⸣-um-ri-šu₂ li-šab-ši UŠ₂.MEŠ LUGUD
11'⸢GIM⸣ A.MEŠ li-ir-tam-muk ina GIG taz-bil-ti
12'na-piš-ta-šu₂ liq-ti ag-giš li-ru-ur-šu₂-ma
13'MU-šu₂ u NUMUN-šu₂ ina KUR li-ḫal-liq
14'{iti}GU₄ UD.6.KAM MU.30.KAM
15'{⸢m⸣}AN.ŠAR₂-DU₃-⸢IBILA⸣
16'⸢LUGAL⸣ KUR ⸢AN⸣.[ŠAR₂{ki]}

Sources & licences

Cite the original edition and translator. Page generated by Unread Atlas from the public corpus export of 2026-10-11.