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Ashurnasirpal II 002 (Q004456)

Royal Inscription, Neo-Assyrian, Nimrud (Kalhu) · c. 911 BCE–612 BCE

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DesignationAshurnasirpal II 002
IDQ004456
CollectionHarvard Museum of the Ancient Near East, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA; Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, New York, USA (a); Mosul Museum, Mosul, Iraq; British Museum, London, UK (a)
LanguageAkkadian
PeriodNeo-Assyrian · c. 911 BCE–612 BCE
GenreRoyal Inscription
Find spotNimrud (Kalhu)
Coordinates36.0992, 43.3275

English translation

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

LineEnglish
Obverse [0:4] 11–44Palace of Ashurnasirpal, vice-regent of Aššur, chosen of the gods Enlil and Ninurta, beloved of the gods Anu and Dagan, destructive weapon of the great gods, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, son of Tukultī-Ninurta (II), great king, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, son of Adad-nārārī (II) (who was) also king of the world (and) king of Assyria; valiant man who acts with the support of Aššur, his lord, and has no rival among the princes of the four quarters, marvelous shepherd, fearless in battle, mighty flood-tide which has no opponent, the king who subdues those insubordinate to him, he who rules all peoples, strong male who treads upon
Obverse [4:6] 55–66the necks of his foes, trampler of all enemies, he who breaks up the forces of the rebellious, the king who acts with the support of the great gods, his lords, and has conquered all lands, gained dominion over all the highlands and received their tribute, capturer of hostages, he who is victorious over all countries:
Obverse [6:9] 77–99When Aššur, the lord who called me by name (and) made my sovereignty supreme, placed his merciless weapon in my lordly arms, I felled with the sword the extensive troops of the Lullumu in battle.
Obverse [9:14] 1010–1414With the help of the gods Šamaš and Adad, the gods my supporters, I thundered like the god Adad, the devastator, against the troops of the lands Nairi, Ḫabḫu, the Šubaru, and the land Nirbu. The king who subdued (the territory stretching) from the opposite bank of the Tigris to Mount Lebanon and the Great Sea, the entire land Laqû, (and) the land Sūḫu including the city Rapiqu; he conquered from the source of the River Subnat to the land Urarṭu. I brought within the boundaries of my land (the territory stretching) from the passes of Mount Kirruru to the land Gilzānu, from the opposite bank of the Lower Zab to the city Tīl-Bāri which is upstream from the land Zaban, from the city Tīl-ša-Zabdāni
Obverse [14:16] 1515–1616and the city Tīl-ša-Abtāni, the cities Ḫirimu, Ḫarutu, (which are) fortresses of Karduniaš (Babylonia). I accounted (the people) from the passes of Mount Babitu to Mount Ḫašmar as people of my land. In the lands over which I gained dominion I always appointed my governors. They entered (lit. “performed') servitude.
Obverse [16:20] 1717–2020Ashurnasirpal, attentive prince, worshipper of the great gods, ferocious dragon, conqueror of cities and the entire highlands, king of lords, encircler of the obstinate, crowned with splendor, fearless in battle, merciless hero, he who stirs up strife, praiseworthy king, shepherd, protection of the (four) quarters, the king whose command disintegrates mountains and seas, the one who by his lordly conflict has brought under one authority ferocious (and) merciless kings from east to west:
Obverse [20:22] 2121–2222I have traversed mighty mountains; I have seen remote (and) rugged regions throughout all the (four) quarters; I have caused flaming arrows to rain down upon the princes of all cities (so that) they ever revere my command (and) pray to my lordship;
Obverse [22:24] 2323–2424I, Ashurnasirpal, sage, expert, intelligent one, open to counsel (and) wisdom which the god Ea, king of the apsû, destined for me; the great gods of heaven and underworld chose me, in their steadfast hearts, and my sovereignty, dominion, (and) power came forth by their holy command; they sternly commanded me to rule, subdue, and direct the lands and mighty highlands:
Obverse [24:30] 2525–3030By the command of Aššur, the great lord, my lord, and the god Ninurta who loves my priesthood, I marched to Mount Lebanon. I went up to the Great Sea. I cleansed my weapons in the Great Sea (and) made sacrifices to my gods. At that time I received tribute from the kings of the sea-coast, from the lands of the people of Tyre, Sidon, Amurru, Byblos, Maḫallatu, Kaizu, Maizu, and the city Arwad which is (on an island) in the sea — silver, gold, tin, bronze, bronze casseroles, linen garments with multi-colored trim, ivory of nāḫirus (which are) sea creatures. At that time I received from them with their tribute, large female monkeys (and) small female monkeys.
Obverse [30:34] 3131–3434I brought them (the monkeys) to my land Aššur. I bred herds of them in great numbers in Kalḫu (and) displayed (them) to all the people of my land. With my outstretched hand and my fierce heart I captured 15 strong lions from the mountains and forests. I took away 50 lion cubs. I herded them into Kalḫu and the palaces of my land into cages.
Obverse [34:37] 3535–3737I bred their cubs in great numbers. I captured live tigers (mindinaš). I formed herds of wild bulls, elephants, lions, ostriches, male monkeys, female monkeys, wild asses, deer, aialu-deer, female bears, panthers, senkurru, beasts of mountain (and) plain, all of them in my city Kalḫu. I displayed (them) to all the people of my land.
Obverse [37:39] 3838–3939O later prince among the kings my sons whom Aššur calls, or later people, or vice-chancellor, or noble, or eunuch — you must not despise (these animals). Before Aššur may these creature(s) live!
Obverse [39:42] 4040–4242The gods Ninurta and Nergal, who love my priesthood, gave to me the wild beasts (and) commanded me to hunt. I killed 30 elephants from an ambush pit. I slew 257 strong wild bulls from my ... chariots with my lordly assault with swords. I killed 370 strong lions like caged birds with the spear.
Obverse [42:45] 4343–4545On the eighth day of the month Ayyāru I moved from Kalḫu. After crossing the Tigris I approached the city Carchemish of the land Ḫatti. I received from it much of its palace property, the weight of which could not be determined. All the kings of the lands came (and) submitted to me. I took from them hostages (and) they were kept in my presence on the march to Mount Lebanon (lit. “(and) they marched to Mount Lebanon”).
Obverse [45:49] 4646–4949Moving on from the city Carchemish I took the way between Mounts Munzigānu (and) Ḫamurga. Leaving Mount Aḫānu on my left I approached the city Ḫazazu which (was ruled by) Lubarna, the Patinu. I received silver, gold, (and) linen garments. Passing on I crossed the River Aprê, pitched camp, (and) spent the night. Moving on from the River Aprê I approached the city Kunulua, the royal city of Lubarna, the Patinu. He took fright in the face of my raging weapons (and) fierce battle and submitted to me to save his life. I received as his tribute 20 talents of silver, one talent of gold, 100 talents of tin,
Obverse [49:51] 5050–5151100 talents of iron, 1,000 oxen, 10,000 sheep, 1,000 linen garments with multi-colored trim, decorated couches of boxwood with inlay, beds of boxwood, decorated ivory beds with inlay, many ornaments from his palace the weight of which could not be determined.
Obverse [51:54] 5252–5454The ancient city Kalḫu which Shalmaneser, king of Assyria, a prince who preceded me, had built — this city had become dilapidated; it lay dormant. I rebuilt this city. I took people which I had conquered from the lands over which I had gained dominion, from the land Sūḫu, (from) the entire land of Laqû, (from) the city Sirqu which is at the crossing of the Euphrates, (from) the entire land of Zamua,
Obverse [54:62] 5555–6262(from) Bīt-Adini and the land Ḫatti, and from Lubarna, the Patinu. I settled (them) therein. I cleared away the old ruin hill (and) dug down to water level. I sank (the foundation pit) down to a depth of 120 layers of brick. I founded therein a palace of cedar, cypress, daprānu-juniper, boxwood, meskannu-wood, terebinth, and tamarisk as my royal residence (and) for my lordly leisure for eternity. I made (replicas of) beasts of mountains and seas in white limestone and parūtu-alabaster (and) stationed (them) at its doors. I decorated it in a splendid fashion; I surrounded it with knobbed nails of bronze. I hung doors of cedar, cypress, daprānu-juniper, (and) meskannu-wood in its doorways. I took in great quantities and put therein silver, gold, tin, bronze, booty from the lands over which I gained dominion.

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)
1E₂.GAL {m}aš-šur-PAP-A ŠID aš-šur ni-šit {d}BAD u {d}MAŠ na-ra-am {d}a-nim u₃ {d}da-gan ka-šu-uš DINGIR.MEŠ GAL.MEŠ MAN dan-nu MAN ŠU₂ MAN KUR aš-šur
2DUMU GISKIM-{d}nin-urta MAN GAL-e MAN dan-ni MAN ŠU₂ MAN KUR aš-šur DUMU 10-ERIM.TAH₂ MAN ŠU₂ MAN KUR aš-šur-ma eṭ-lu qar-du ša₂ ina {giš}tukul-ti aš-šur EN-šu₂ DU.DU-ku-ma
3ina mal-ki.MEŠ ša₂ kib-rat LIMMU₂-ta ša₂-nin-šu₂ la-a TUKU-u₂ {lu₂}SIPA tab-ra-te la a-di-ru {giš}LAL e-du-u₂ gap-šu₂
4ša₂ ma-hi-ra la-a TUKU-u₂ MAN mu-šak-niš la kan-šu-te-šu₂ ša₂ nap-har kiš-šat UN.MEŠ i-pe-lu NITA₂ dan-nu mu-kab-bi-is
5GU₂ a-a-bi-šu₂ da-a-iš kul-lat KUR₂.MEŠ mu-pa-ri-ru ki-iṣ-ri mul-tar-hi MAN ša₂ ina {giš}tukul-ti DINGIR.MEŠ
6GAL.MEŠ EN.MEŠ-šu₂ DU.DU-ku-ma KUR.KUR.MEŠ DU₃-ši-na ŠU-su KUR-ud hur-ša₂-ni DU₃-šu-nu i-pe-lu-ma
7bi-lat-su-nu im-hu-ru ṣa-bit li-i-ṭi₂ ša₂-kin₂ li-i-te UGU DU₃-ši-na KUR.KUR.MEŠ e-nu-ma aš-šur EN
8na-bu-u₂ MU-ia mu-šar-bu-u₂ MAN-ti-ia {giš}TUKUL-šu₂ la pa-da-a a-na i-da-at EN-ti-ia
9lu-u₂ it-muh ERIM.HI.A.MEŠ {kur}lu-ul-lu-me-e DAGAL.MEŠ ina qe₂-reb tam-ha-ri ina {giš}TUKUL.MEŠ lu u₂-šam-qit
10ina re-ṣu-te ša₂ {d}ša₂-maš u {d}IŠKUR DINGIR.MEŠ tik-le-ia ERIM.HI.A.MEŠ KUR.KUR na-i-ri {kur}hab-hi {kur}šu-ba-re-e
11u {kur}ni-rib GIM {d}IŠKUR ra-hi-ṣi UGU-šu₂-nu aš₂-gu-um MAN ša₂ TA e-ber-tan {id₂}IDIGNA a-di {kur}lab-na-na
12u A.AB.BA GAL-te {kur}la-qe-e ana si-hir₂-ti-ša₂ {kur}su-hi a-di {uru}ra-pi-qi ana GIR₃.II-šu₂ u₂-šek₂-ni-ša₂
13TA SAG e-ni {id₂}su-ub-na-at a-di {kur}u₂-ra-ar-ṭi₂ ŠU-su KUR-ud TA KUR ne₂-reb ša₂ {kur}hab-ru-ri a-di {kur}gil₂-za-ni
14TA e-ber-tan {id₂}za-ba-KI.TA a-di {uru}DU₆-ba-a-ri ša₂ el-la-an {kur}za-ban TA {uru}DU₆-ša₂-za-ab-da-ni
15u {uru}DU₆-ša₂-ab-ta-a-ni {uru}hi-ri-mu {uru}ha-ru-tu {kur}bi-ra-a-te ša₂ {kur}kar-du-ni-aš₂ ana mi-iṣ-ri KUR-ia u₂-te-ri
16TA KUR ne₂-er-bi ša₂ {kur}ba-bi-te a-di {kur}haš-mar a-na UN.MEŠ KUR-ia am-nu ina KUR.KUR.MEŠ ša₂ a-pe-lu-ši-na-ni {lu₂}GAR-nu-te-ia al-ta-kan
17ur-du-ti u₂-pu-uš {m}aš-šur-PAP-A NUN-u₂ na-a-du pa-lih₂ DINGIR.MEŠ GAL.MEŠ u₂-šum₂-gal-lu ek-du ka-šid URU.DIDLI u hur-ša₂-ni
18paṭ gim-ri-šu₂-nu MAN EN.MEŠ-e mu-la-iṭ ek-ṣu-te a-pi-ir ša₂-lum-ma-te la-di-ru {giš}LAL ur-ša₂-nu la pa-du-u₂
19mu-rib a-nun-te MAN ta-na-da-a-te {lu₂}SIPA ṣa-lu-ul UB.MEŠ MAN ša₂ ina qi₂-bit KA-šu₂ uš-har-ma-ṭu KUR.MEŠ-e
20u A.AB.BA.MEŠ ša₂ ina qi-it-ru-ub EN-ti-šu₂ MAN.MEŠ-ni ek-du-te la pa-du-te TA ṣi-it {d}šam-ši a-di
21e-reb {d}šam-ši pa-a 1-en u₂-ša₂-aš₂-kin₂ e-ta-tiq KUR.MEŠ-e dan-nu-te a-tam-mar du-rug šap-ša₂-qi ša₂ DU₃-ši-na UB.MEŠ
22u₂-ša₂-az-ni-ni nab-li mul-mul-li UGU mal-ki.MEŠ ša₂ nap-har DU₃ URU.DIDLI si-qir KA-ia e-ta-nam-da-ru
23u₂-sa-pu-u₂ EN-ti ana-ku {m}aš-šur-PAP-A er-šu mu-du-u₂ ha-si-su pe-et uz-ni ne₂-me-qi {d}e₂-a MAN ZU.AB iš-ma-ni a-na ia₂-ši
24DINGIR.MEŠ GAL.MEŠ ša₂ AN-e u₃ KI-tim ina ke-e-ni ŠA₃-šu₂-nu u₂-du-ni-ma MAN-ti EN-ti kiš-šu-ti ina KA-šu₂-nu KU₃ u₂-ṣa-a KUR.KUR.MEŠ
25u hur-ša₂-ni dan-nu-te ana pe-e-li šuk-nu-še u₂ ša₂-pa-ri a-gi-iš u₂-ma-ʾe-ru-ni ina qi₂-bit aš-šur EN GAL-e EN-ia
26u {d}nin-urta AGA₂ SANGA-ti-ia a-na {kur}lab-na-na lu-u₂ a-lik ana A.AB.BA GAL-te lu-u₂ e-li ina A.AB.BA GAL-te
27{giš}TUKUL.MEŠ-ia lu ul-lil {udu}SISKUR.MEŠ a-na DINGIR.MEŠ-ni-ia lu aṣ-bat ina u₄-me-šu₂-ma ma-da-tu₂ ša₂ MAN.MEŠ-ni ša₂ ši-di tam-di
28ša₂ {kur}ṣur-ra-a-ia {kur}ṣi-du-na-a-ia {kur}a-mur-ra-a-a {kur}gu-bal-a-ia {kur}ma-hal-la-ta-a-a {kur}ka-i-ṣa-a-a
29{kur}ma-i-ṣa-a-a u {uru}ar-ma-da ša₂ MURUB₄ tam-di KU₃.BABBAR.MEŠ KU₃.GI.MEŠ AN.NA.MEŠ ZABAR.MEŠ UTUL₂.MEŠ ZABAR
30{tug₂}lu-bul₂-ti bir-me {tug₂}GADA.MEŠ ZU₂.MEŠ na-hi-ri bi-nu-ut tam-di am-hur ina u₄-me-šu-ma pa-ga-a-te GAL.MEŠ
31pa-ga-a-te.MEŠ TUR.MEŠ it-ti ma-da-ti-šu₂-nu am-hur-šu-nu a-na KUR-ia aš-šur lu ub-la-ši-na i-na {uru}kal-hi
32mar-ši-si-na ana ma-aʾ-diš u₂-ša₂-li-di UN.MEŠ KUR-ia DU₃-ši-na u₂-šab-ri ina ti-ri-ṣi ŠU-ia
33u₂ šu-uš-mur ŠA₃-ia 15 UR.MAH.MEŠ KAL.MEŠ TA KUR.MEŠ-e u₃ {giš}TIR.MEŠ ina ŠU-te DIB-bat 50 mu-ra-ni
34UR.MAH.MEŠ lu aš₂-ša₂-a ina {uru}kal-hi u₃ E₂.GAL.MEŠ KUR-ia ina E₂ e-sir lu ad-di-šu₂-nu mu-ra-ni-šu-nu
35a-na ma-aʾ-diš u₂-ša₂-li-di {ur}mi-in-di-na-aš₂ TI.LA.MEŠ ina ŠU.MEŠ u₂-ṣab-bi-ta su-gul-lat GU₄.AM.MEŠ
36AM.SI.MEŠ UR.MAH.MEŠ GA₂.NU₁₁{mušen.}MEŠ pa-ge-e pa-ga-a-te ANŠE.EDIN.NA.MEŠ MAŠ.DA₃.MEŠ DARA₃.MAŠ.MEŠ a-sa-a-te.MEŠ
37ni-im-ri.MEŠ se-en-kur-ri.MEŠ u₂-ma-am EDIN KUR-e DU₃-šu₂-nu ina URU-ia {uru}kal-hi lu-u₂ ak-ṣur UN.MEŠ
38KUR-ia DU₃-šu₂-nu u₂-šab-ri NUN-u₂ EGIR-u₂ ina MAN.MEŠ-ni DUMU.MEŠ-ia ša aš-šur i-na-bu-šu lu-u₂ UN.MEŠ
39EGIR.MEŠ lu-u₂ {lu₂}um-ma-an MAN lu-u₂ {lu₂}GAL-u₂ lu-u₂ {lu₂}ša₂-SAG {lu₂}ša₂-SAG la ta-ṭa-pil₂ ina pa-an aš-šur ZI ši-i TI
40{d}nin-urta u₃ {d}IGI.DU ša SANGA-ti AGA₂-mu MAŠ₂.ANŠE EDIN u₂-šat-li-mu-ni e-peš ba-ʾu-ri iq-bu-ni
4130 AM.SI.MEŠ ina šub-ti a-duk 2 ME 57 GU₄.AM.MEŠ KAL.MEŠ ina {giš}GIGIR.MEŠ-ia pa-tu-te ina qi-it-ru-ub
42EN-ti-ia ina {giš}TUKUL.MEŠ u₂-šam-qit 3 ME 70 UR.MAH.MEŠ KAL.MEŠ GIM MUŠEN.MEŠ qu-up-pi ina {giš}pu-aš-hi a-duk
43ina {iti}GU₄ UD.8.KAM₂ TA {uru}kal-hi at-tu-muš {id₂}HAL.HAL e-te-bir a-na {uru}gar-ga-miš ša {kur}hat-te
44aq-ṭi₂-rib NIG₂.GA E₂.GAL-šu₂ HI.A.MEŠ ša KI.LA₂-šu₂ NU ṣab-ta-at am-hur-šu₂ MAN.MEŠ-ni ša KUR.KUR.MEŠ DU₃-šu₂-nu
45ana muh-hi-ia DU-ku-ni GIR₃.II-a iṣ-ṣab-tu li-ṭi₂-šu₂-nu aṣ-bat pa-na-tu-ia uk-ti-lu a-na {kur}lab-na-na DU-ku
46TA {uru}gar-ga-miš at-tu-muš ina bi-rit {kur}mun-zi-ga-ni {kur}ha-mur-ga a-ṣa-bat {kur}a-ha-nu a-na GUB₃-ia u₂-ta-šer₃
47a-na {uru}ha-za-zi ša {m}lu-bar-na {kur}pa-ti-na-a-a aq-ṭi₂-rib KU₃.BABBAR KU₃.GI {tug₂}lu-bul₂-ti {tug₂}GADA.MEŠ at-ta-har e-te-tiq {id₂}ap-re-e
48e-te-bir₃ a-sa-kan be-dak₃ TA UGU {id₂}ap-re-e at-tu-muš a-na {uru}ku-nu-lu-a URU MAN-ti-šu₂ ša {m}lu-bar-na {kur}pa-ti-na-a-a aq-ṭi₂-rib
49TA IGI {giš}TUKUL.MEŠ-a ez-zu-te ME₃-ia šit-mu-ri ip-lah₂-ma a-na šu-zu-ub ZI.MEŠ-šu₂ GIR₃.II.MEŠ-a iṣ-bat 20 GUN KU₃.BABBAR.MEŠ 1 GUN KU₃.GI.MEŠ 1 ME GUN AN.NA.MEŠ
501 ME GUN AN.BAR.MEŠ 1 LIM GU₄.MEŠ 10 LIM UDU.MEŠ 1 LIM {tug₂}lu-bul₂-ti bir-me {tug₂}GADA.MEŠ {giš}ne₂-mat-ti {giš}TUG₂.MEŠ ša tam-li-te uh-hu-za-te
51{giš}NA₂.MEŠ {giš}TUG₂.MEŠ {giš}NA₂.MEŠ ZU₂.MEŠ ša tam-li-te GAR.RA.MEŠ u₂-nu-tu₂ E₂.GAL-šu₂ HI.A.MEŠ ša KI.LA₂-ša₂ NU ṣab-ta-at am-hur-šu₂
52{uru}kal-hu mah-ra-a ša₂ {m}{d}sal₂-ma-nu-SAG MAN KUR aš-šur NUN a-lik pa-ni-ia DU₃-uš URU šu-u₂ e-na-ah-ma iṣ-lal
53URU šu-u₂ ana eš-šu₂-te ab-ni UN.MEŠ ki-šit-ti ŠU-ia ša₂ KUR.KUR.MEŠ ša₂ a-pe-lu-ši-na-ni ša₂ {kur}su-hi
54{kur}la-qe-e ana si-hir₂-ti-ša₂ {uru}sir-qu ša₂ ne₂-ber-ti {id₂}pu-rat-te {kur}za-mu-a ana paṭ gim-ri-ša₂
55{kur}E₂-a-di-ni u {kur}hat-te u ša₂ {m}lu-bar-na {kur}pa-ti-na-a-a al-qa-a ina lib₃-bi u₂-ša₂-aṣ-bit DU₆ la-be-ru
56u₂-na-kir₇ a-di UGU A.MEŠ lu u₂-ša₂-pil₂ 1 ME 20 tik-pi ina muš-pa-li lu u₂-ṭa-bi E₂.GAL {giš}EREN.NA
57E₂.GAL {giš}ŠUR.MIN₃ E₂.GAL {giš}dap₂-ra-ni E₂.GAL {giš}TUG₂.MEŠ E₂.GAL {giš}mes-kan-ni E₂.GAL {giš}bu-uṭ-ni u {giš}ṭar-pi-ʾi
58a-na šu-bat MAN-ti-ia ana mul-ta-ʾi-it EN-ti-a ša₂ da-ra-a-te ina lib₃-bi ad-di u₂-ma-am KUR.MEŠ-e
59u A.AB.BA.MEŠ ša₂ {na₄}pe-li BABBAR-e u {na₄}pa-ru-te DU₃-uš ina KA₂.MEŠ-ša₂ u₂-še-zi-iz u₂-si-im-ši u₂-šar-rih-ši
60si-kat kar-ri ZABAR al-me-ši {giš}IG.MEŠ {giš}e-re-ni {giš}ŠUR.MIN₃ {giš}dap₂-ra-ni {giš}mes-kan-ni ina KA₂.MEŠ-ša₂ u₂-re-ti
61KU₃.BABBAR.MEŠ KU₃.GI.MEŠ AN.NA.MEŠ ZABAR.MEŠ ki-šit-ti ŠU-ia ša₂ KUR.KUR.MEŠ ša₂ a-pe-lu-ši-na-ni
62a-na ma-aʾ-di-iš al-qa-a ina lib₃-bi u₂-kin₂

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