Babylonian and Assyrian Literature Part 42

The city of _Urrakluiras_ their stronghold which was in the country of Panari, I went toward. The exceeding fear of the power of Ashur, my Lord, overwhelmed them. To save their lives they took their G.o.ds, and fled like birds to the tops of the lofty mountains. I collected my chariots and warriors, and crossed the Tigris. _Shedi Teru_[1] the son of _Khasutkh_[2]

King of _Urrakluiras_ on my arriving in his country submitted to my yoke.

His sons, the delight of his heart, and his favorites, I condemned to the service of the G.o.ds: 60 vessels of iron; _trays_[3] and _bars_ of copper ...[4] with 120 cattle, and flocks he brought as tribute and offerings. I accepted (them) and spared him. I gave him his life, but imposed upon him the yoke of my empire heavily forever. The wide spreading country of Comukha I entirely conquered, and subjected to my yoke. At this time one tray of copper and one bar of copper from among the service offerings and tribute of Comukha I dedicated to Ashur my Lord, and 60 iron vessels with their G.o.ds I offered to my guardian G.o.d, _Vul_.[5]

[Footnote 1: Sadiyantim. (Dr. Hincks.) Tiri-dates. (Fox Talbot.)]

[Footnote 2: Kuthakin. (Fox Talbot.) Kha-thukhi. (Dr. Hincks.)]

[Footnote 3: "Nirmah mamkhar." (Dr. Hincks.)]

[Footnote 4: Lacuna.]

[Footnote 5: "Yem." (Fox Talbot.)]

VIII

From among my valiant servants, to whom Ashur the Lord gave strength and power, in 30 of my chariots, select companies of my troops and bands of my warriors who were expert in battle, I gathered together. I proceeded to the extensive country of _Miltis_,[1] which did not obey me; it consisted of strong mountains and a difficult land. Where it was easy I traversed it in my chariots: where it was difficult I went on foot. In the country of Aruma, which was a difficult land, and impracticable to the pa.s.sage of my chariots, I left the chariots and marched in front of my troops. Like ...[2] on the peak of the rugged mountains, I marched victoriously. The country of _Miltis_,[1] like heaps of stubble, I swept. Their fighting men in the course of the battle like chaff I scattered. Their movables, their wealth and their valuables I plundered. Many of their cities I burned with fire. I imposed on them _religious service_[1], and offerings and tribute.

[Footnote 1: Eshtish. (Fox Talbot.)]

[Footnote 2: Lacuna.]

[Footnote 3: Hostages. Fox Talbot. For further and subsequent various readings see the edition of 1857.]

IX

Tiglath Pileser, the ill.u.s.trious warrior, the opener of the roads of the countries, the subjugator of the rebellious ...[1] he who has overrun the whole Magian world.

[Footnote 1: Lacuna.]

X

I subdued the extensive country of Subair, which was in rebellion. The countries of Alza and Purukhuz, which deferred their tribute and offerings, the yoke of my empire heavily upon them I imposed, decreeing that they should bring their tribute and offerings into my presence in the city of Ashur. While I was on this expedition, which the Lord Ashur, committing to my hand a powerful rebel subduing army, ordered for the enlargement of the frontiers of his territory, there were 4,000 of the _Kaskaya_ and _Hurunaya_ rebellious tribes of the Kheti[1] who had brought under their power the cities of Subarta, attached to the wors.h.i.+p of Ashur, my Lord (so that) they did not acknowledge dependence on Subarta. The terror of my warlike expedition overwhelmed them. They would not fight, but submitted to my yoke. Then I took their valuables, and 120[2] of their chariots fitted to the yoke, and I gave them to the men of my own country.

[Footnote 1: Hitt.i.tes.]

[Footnote 2: Two "soss."]

XI

In the course of this my expedition, a second time I proceeded to the country of Comukha. I took many of their cities. Their movables, their wealth, and their valuables I plundered. Their cities I burnt with fire, I destroyed and overthrew. The soldiers of their armies, who from before the face of my valiant servants fled away, they would not engage with me in the fierce battle: to save their lives they took to the stony heights of the mountains, an inaccessible region: to the recesses of the deep forests and the peaks of the difficult mountains which had never been trodden by the feet of men, I ascended after them: they fought with me; I defeated them: the ranks of their warriors on the tops of the mountains fell like rain: their carca.s.ses filled the ravines and the high places of the mountains: their movables, their wealth, and their valuables I carried off from the stony heights of the mountains. I subdued the country of Comukha throughout its whole extent, and I attached it to the frontiers of my own territory.

XII

Tiglath Pileser, the powerful king, the vanquisher of the disobedient, he who has swept the face of the earth.

XIII

In profound reverence to Ashur my Lord, to the country of Kharia, and the far-spreading tribes of the Akhe, deep forests, which no former King (of a.s.syria) had ever reached, the Lord Ashur invited me to proceed. My chariots and forces I a.s.sembled, and I went to an inaccessible region beyond the countries of Itni and Aya. As the steep mountains stood up like metal posts, and were impracticable to the pa.s.sage of my chariots, I placed my chariots in wagons, and (thus) I traversed the difficult ranges of hills. All the lands of the Akhe and their wide-spreading tribes having a.s.sembled, arose to do battle in the country of _Azutapis_. In an inaccessible region I fought with them and defeated them. The ranks of their (slain) warriors on the peaks of the mountains were piled up in heaps; the carca.s.ses of their warriors filled the ravines and high places of the mountains. To the cities which were placed on the tops of the mountains I _penetrated_ victoriously: 27 cities of Kharia, which were situated in the districts of Aya, Suira, Itni, Shetzu, Shelgu, Arzanibru, Varutsu, and Anitku, I took; their movables, their wealth, and their valuables I plundered; their cities I burnt with fire, I destroyed and overthrew.

XIV

The people of Adavas feared to engage in battle with me; they left their habitations, and fled like birds to the peaks of the lofty mountains. The terror of Ashur my Lord overwhelmed them; they came and submitted to my yoke; I imposed on them tribute and offerings.

XV

The countries of Tsaravas and Ammavas, which from the olden time had never submitted, I swept like heaps of stubble; with their forces in the country of Aruma I fought, and I defeated them. The ranks of their fighting men I levelled like gra.s.s. I bore away their G.o.ds; their movables, their wealth, and their valuables I carried off. Their cities I burnt with fire, I destroyed and overthrew, and converted into heaps and mounds. The heavy yoke of my empire I imposed on them. I attached them to the wors.h.i.+p of Ashur my Lord.

XVI

I took the countries of Itsua and Daria, which were turbulent and disobedient. Tribute and offerings I imposed on them. I attached them to the wors.h.i.+p of Ashur.

XVII

In my triumphant progress over my enemies, my chariots and troops I a.s.sembled; I crossed the lower Zab. The countries of Muraddan and Tsaradavas, which were near Atsaniu and Atuva, difficult regions, I captured; their warriors I cut down _like weeds_. The city of Muraddan, their capital city, and the regions toward the rising sun, I took possession of. Their G.o.ds, their wealth, and their valuables, one _soss_ bars of iron, 30 talents of iron, the abundant wealth of the Lords, of their palaces, and their movables, I carried off. This city I burnt with fire, I destroyed and overthrew. At this time this iron to the G.o.d Vul, my great Lord and guardian, I dedicated.