Babylonian and Assyrian Literature Part 48

31 G.o.d in the strength of his heart has overpowered me.

32 The G.o.ddess upon me has laid affliction and in pain has set me.

33 G.o.d who knew, (though) I knew not, hath pierced me.

34 The G.o.ddess who knew (though) I knew not hath caused darkness.

35 I lay on the ground and no man seized me by the hand.[3]

36 I wept,[4] and my palms none took.

[Footnote 1: Literally, "of my lord his heart."]

[Footnote 2: The Accadian throughout has the word "mother" before "G.o.ddess."]

[Footnote 3: Accadian, "extended the hand."]

[Footnote 4: Accadian, "in tears [water of the eye] I dissolved myself."]

REVERSE OF TABLET

1 I cried aloud; there was none that would hear me.

2 I am in darkness (and) trouble:[1] I lifted not myself up.

3 To my G.o.d my (distress) I referred; my prayer I addressed.

4 The feet of my G.o.ddess I embraced.

5 To (my) G.o.d, who knew (though) I knew not, (my prayer) I addressed.

6 To (my) G.o.ddess, who knew (though I knew not, my prayer) I addressed.

(The next four lines are lost.)

11 How long O my G.o.d (shall I suffer?).

12 How long O my G.o.ddess (shall I suffer?).

13 How long O my G.o.d, who knewest (though) I knew not, shall (thy) strength (oppress me?).

14 How long O my G.o.ddess, who knewest (though) I knew not, shall thy heart (be wroth?).

15 Of mankind thou writest the number and there is none that knoweth.

16 Of mankind the name (that) is fully proclaimed how can I know?

17 Whether it be afflicted or whether it be blessed there is none that knoweth.

18 O Lord, thy servant thou dost not restore.[2]

19 In the waters of the raging flood seize his hand.

20 The sin (that) he has sinned to blessedness bring back.

21 The transgression he has committed let the wind carry away.

22 My manifold affliction like a garment destroy.

23 O my G.o.d, seven times seven (are my) transgressions, my transgressions are before (me).

24 (To be repeated) 10 times.[3] O my G.o.ddess, seven times seven (are my) transgressions.

25 O G.o.d who knowest (that) I knew not, seven times seven (are my) transgressions.

26 O G.o.ddess who knowest (that) I knew not, seven times seven (are my) transgressions.

27 My transgressions are before (me): may thy judgment give (me) life.

28 May thy heart like the heart of the mother of the setting day to its place return.

29 (To be repeated) 5 times.[4] Like the mother of the setting day (and) the father of the setting day to its place (may it return).

30 For the tearful supplication of my heart 65 times let the name be invoked of every G.o.d.[4]

31 Peace afterward.

32 _(Colophon)_ Like its old (copy) engraved and written.

33 Country of a.s.sur-bani-pal King of mult.i.tudes, King of a.s.syria.

[Footnote 1: Or more literally, "hiding." The verb that follows means "to lift self up so as to face another."]

[Footnote 2: In the a.s.syrian "quiet."]

[Footnote 3: A rubrical direction.]

[Footnote 4: A rubrical direction.]

THE BLACK OBELISK INSCRIPTION OF SHALMANESER II

TRANSLATED BY REV. A.H. SAYCE, M.A.

This inscription is engraved on an obelisk of black marble, five feet in height, found by Mr. Layard in the centre of the Mound at Nimroud, and now in the British Museum. Each of its four sides is divided into five compartments of sculpture representing the tribute brought to the a.s.syrian King by va.s.sal princes, Jehu of Israel being among the number.

Shalmaneser, whose annals and conquests are recorded upon it, was the son of a.s.sur-natsir-pal, and died in 823 B.C., after a reign of thirty-five years. A translation of the inscription was one of the first achievements of a.s.syrian decipherment, and was made by Sir. H. Rawlinson; and Dr.

Hincks shortly afterward (in 1851) succeeded in reading the name of Jehu in it. M. Oppert translated the inscription in his "_Histoire des Empires de Chaldee et d'a.s.syrie_," and M. Menant has given another rendering of it in his "_Annales des Rois d'a.s.syrie_" (1874). A copy of the text will be found in Layard's "Inscriptions in the Cuneiform Character" (1851).

BLACK OBELISK OF SHALMANESER

FACE A

1 a.s.sur, the great Lord, the King of all 2 the great G.o.ds; Anu, King of the spirits of heaven 3 and the spirits of earth, the G.o.d, Lord of the world; Bel, 4 the Supreme, Father of the G.o.ds, the Creator; 5 Hea, King of the deep, determiner of destinies, 6 the King of crowns, drinking in brilliance; 7 Rimmon, the _crowned_ hero, Lord of ca.n.a.ls;[1] the Sun-G.o.d 8 the Judge of heaven and earth, the urger on of all; 9 (Merodach), Prince of the G.o.ds, Lord of battles; Adar, the terrible, 10 (Lord) of the spirits of heaven and the spirits of earth, the exceeding strong G.o.d; Nergal, 11 the powerful (G.o.d), King of the battle; Nebo, the bearer of the high sceptre, 12 the G.o.d, the Father above; Beltis, the wife of Bel, mother of the (great) G.o.ds; 13 Istar, sovereign of heaven and earth, who the face of heroism perfectest; 14 the great (G.o.ds), determining destinies, making great my kingdom.

15 (I am) Shalmaneser, King of mult.i.tudes of men, prince (and) hero of a.s.sur, the strong King, 16 King of all the four zones of the Sun (and) of mult.i.tudes of men, the marcher over 17 the whole world; Son of a.s.sur-natsir-pal, the supreme hero, who his heroism over the G.o.ds 18 has made good and has caused all the world[2] to kiss his feet;

[Footnote 1: Or, "fertility."]

[Footnote 2: Or, "the countries the whole of them."]

FACE B

19 the n.o.ble offspring of Tiglath-Adar 20 who has laid his yoke upon all lands hostile to him, and 21 has swept (them) like a whirlwind.

22 At the beginning of my reign; when on the throne 23 of royalty mightily I had seated myself, the chariots 24 of my host I collected. Into the lowlands[1] of the country of 'Sime'si 25 I descended. The city of Aridu, the strong city 26 of Ninni, I took. In my first year 27 the Euphrates in its flood I crossed. To the sea of the setting sun[2]

28 I went. My weapons on the sea I rested. Victims 29 for my G.o.ds I took.[3] To mount Ama.n.u.s [4] I went up.

30 Logs of cedar-wood and pine-wood I cut. To 31 the country of Lallar I ascended. An image of my Royalty in the midst (of it) I erected.

32 In my second year to the city of Tel-Barsip I approached.

The cities 33 of Akhuni the son of Adin I captured. In his city I shut him up. The Euphrates 34 in its flood I crossed. The city of Dahigu, a choice city of the Hitt.i.tes 35 together with the cities which (were) dependent upon it I captured. In my third year Akhuni 36 the son of Adin, from the face of my mighty weapons fled, and the city of Tel-Barsip,