Babylonian and Assyrian Literature Part 45

XLII

The grandson of Mutaggil-Nabu, whom Ashur, the great Lord, aided according to the wishes of his _heart_ and established in strength in the government of a.s.syria.

XLIII

The glorious offspring of Ashur-dapur-Il, who held the sceptre of dominion, and ruled over the people of Bel; who in all the works of his hand and the deeds of his life placed his reliance on the great G.o.ds, and thus obtained a prosperous and _long life_.

XLIV

The beloved child[1] of Barzan-pala-kura, the king who first organized the country of a.s.syria, who purged his territories of the wicked as if they had been ...,[2] and established the troops of a.s.syria in authority.

[Footnote 1: Or, "heart of hearts."]

[Footnote 2: Lacuna.]

XLV

At this time the temple of Anu and Vul, the great G.o.ds, my Lords, which, in former times, Shansi-Vul, High-priest of Ashur, son of Ismi Dagan, High-priest of Ashur, had founded, having lasted for 641 years, it fell into ruin. Ashur-dapur-Il, King of a.s.syria, son of Barzan-pala-kura, King of a.s.syria, took down this temple and did not rebuild it. For 60 years the foundations of it were not laid.

XLVI

In the beginning of my reign, Anu and Vul, the great G.o.ds, my Lords, guardians of my steps, they invited me to repair this their shrine. So I made bricks; I levelled the earth, I took its _dimensions_; I laid down its foundations upon a ma.s.s of strong rock. This place throughout its whole extent I paved with bricks in _set order_, 50 feet deep I prepared the ground, and upon this substructure I laid the lower foundations of the temple of Anu and Vul. From its foundations to its roofs I built it up, better than it was before. I also built two lofty cupolas in honor of their n.o.ble G.o.ds.h.i.+ps, and the holy place, a s.p.a.cious hall, I consecrated for the convenience of their wors.h.i.+ppers, and to accommodate their votaries, who were numerous as the stars of heaven, and in quant.i.ty poured forth like flights of arrows.[1] I repaired, and built, and completed my work. Outside the temple I fas.h.i.+oned (everything with the same care) as inside. The mound of earth (on which it was built) I enlarged like the firmament of the rising stars, and I beautified the entire building. Its cupolas I raised up to heaven, and its roofs I built entirely of brick. An inviolable shrine for their n.o.ble G.o.ds.h.i.+ps I laid down near at hand. Anu and Vul, the great G.o.ds, I glorified inside,[2] I set them up on their honored purity, and the hearts of their n.o.ble G.o.ds.h.i.+ps I delighted.

[Footnote 1: Very doubtful.]

[Footnote 2: The shrine.]

XLVII

Bit-Khamri, the temple of my Lord Vul, which Shansi-Vul, High-priest of Ashur, son of Ismi-Dagan, High-priest of Ashur, had founded, became ruined. I levelled its site, and from its foundation to its roofs I built it up of brick, I enlarged it beyond its former state, and I adorned it.

Inside of it I sacrificed precious victims to my Lord Vul.

XLVIII

At this time I found various sorts of stone[1] in the countries of Nairi which I had taken by the help of Ashur, my Lord, and I placed them in the temple of Bit-Khamri, belonging to my Lord, Vul, to remain there forever.

[Footnote 1: The particular sorts cannot be identified.]

XLIX

Since a holy place, a n.o.ble hall, I have thus consecrated for the use of the great G.o.ds, my Lords Anu and Vul, and have laid down an adytum for their special wors.h.i.+p, and have finished it successfully, and have delighted the hearts of their n.o.ble G.o.ds.h.i.+ps, may Anu and Vul preserve me in power. May they support the men of my Government. May they establish the authority of my officers. May they bring the rain, the joy of the year, on the cultivated land and the desert during my time. In war and in battle may they preserve me victorious. Many foreign countries, turbulent nations, and hostile Kings I have reduced under my yoke; to my children and descendants may they keep them in firm allegiance. I will lead my steps, firm as the mountains, to the last days before Ashur and their n.o.ble G.o.ds.h.i.+ps.

L

The list of my victories and the catalogue of my triumphs over foreigners hostile to Ashur, which Anu and Vul have granted to my arms, I have inscribed on my tablets and cylinders, and I have placed them to the last days in the temple of my Lords Anu and Vul, and the tablets of Shamsi-Vul, my ancestor, I have raised altars and sacrificed victims (before them), and set them up in their places.

LI

In after-times, and in the latter days ...,[1] if the temple of the great G.o.ds, my Lords Anu and Vul, and these shrines should become old and fall into decay, may the prince who comes after me repair the ruins. May he raise altars and sacrifice victims before my tablets and cylinders, and may he set them up again in their places, and may he inscribe his name on them together with my name. As Anu and Vul, the great G.o.ds, have ordained, may he wors.h.i.+p honestly with a good heart and full trust.

[Footnote 1: Lacuna.]

LII

Whoever shall abrade or injure my tablets and cylinders, or shall moisten them with water, or scorch them with fire, or expose them to the air, or in the holy place of G.o.d shall a.s.sign them a position where they cannot be seen or understood, or who shall erase the writing and inscribe his own name, or who shall divide the sculptures, and break them off from my tablets,

LIII

Anu and Vul, the great G.o.ds, my Lords, let them consign his name to perdition; let them curse him with an irrevocable curse; let them cause his sovereignty to perish; let them pluck out the stability of the throne of his empire; let not offspring survive him in the kingdom;[1] let his servants be broken; let his troops be defeated; let him fly vanquished before his enemies. May Vul in his fury tear up the produce of his land.

May a scarcity of food and of the necessaries of life afflict his country.

For one day may he not be called happy. May his name and his race perish in the land.

In the month of _Kuzallu_[2] on the 29th day, in the High-Priesthood of _Ina-iliya-hallik,_ (ent.i.tled) _Rabbi-turi._