Position in chronology
Ashurbanipal 076
Translation · reference
High confidenceCompletely missing (ii' 1') [I conquered, burned with fire, (and) pl]undered [the cities in the environs of the city Paddiri, which the Manneans had taken away (and) appropriated for] the[ms]elves [in the time of the kings, my ancestors. I returned those cities t]o the territory of A[ssyria]. (ii' 4') I leveled (and) b[urned] with fire [the d]istrict of the city [Arsiyaniš], which is between the city Azaq[anani and (lit. “of”) Mount Ḫarsi], which is before the land of the Kumurd[eans, who are in the land Mannea]. I [killed Rayadišadî], their fortress commander, [(and) I plundered it (Arsiyaniš)]. (ii' 9') [I conquered the district] of the city [Eristeyana],
Source: Novotny, J. & Jeffers, J. 2018–. The Royal Inscriptions of Ashurbanipal (668–631 BC), Aššur-etel-ilāni (630–627 BC) and Sîn-šarra-iškun (626–612 BC), Kings of Assyria. RINAP 5. University Park, PA: Eisenbrauns. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/rinap/rinap5/Q003775/
Why it matters
Chronicles Ashurbanipal's recapture of Mannean-occupied cities — Paddiri, Arsiyaniš, Eristeyana — documenting Assyrian efforts to reassert the northeastern frontier against a rival highland power.
Transliteration
[a-na] ⸢ra⸣-ma-ni-⸢šú-nu⸣ [ú-ter-ru ak-šu-ud ina dGIŠ.BAR aq-mu]1 / [áš]-⸢lu?⸣-la šal-lat-⸢sún⸣ [URU.MEŠ šá-a-tu-nu] / [a]-na mi-ṣir KUR ⸢AN⸣.[ŠÁR.KI ú-ter-ra] / ⸢na⸣-gu-ú šá ⸢URU⸣.[ar-si-ia-ni-iš] / ša bi-rit URU.a-za-⸢qa⸣-[na-ni ša KUR.ḫa-ar-si šá-di-i] / ša SAG KUR.ku-mu-ur-⸢da⸣-[a-a ša qé-reb KUR.man-na-a-a] / as-pu-un ina dGIŠ.BAR ⸢aq⸣-[mu mra-a-a-di-šá-di-i] / ⸢LÚ.GAL⸣ ḪAL.ṢU-šú-nu ⸢a⸣-[duk áš-lu-la šal-lat-su] / [na-gu-ú] ⸢šá URU⸣.[e-ri-is-te-ia-na ak-šu-ud]
Scholarly note
Royal inscription of Ashurbanipal or a late Sargonid successor, edited by Jamie Novotny & Joshua Jeffers (RINAP 5, 2018–). ORACC text Q003775.
Attribution
Image: BM — (British Museum, London, UK) — from Nineveh (mod. Kuyunjik) — Photo via Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (cdli.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/artifacts, P396623). source
Translation excerpted from Novotny, J. & Jeffers, J. 2018–. The Royal Inscriptions of Ashurbanipal (668–631 BC), Aššur-etel-ilāni (630–627 BC) and Sîn-šarra-iškun (626–612 BC), Kings of Assyria. RINAP 5. University Park, PA: Eisenbrauns. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/rinap/rinap5/Q003775/.
Related tablets
Related sources
The earliest historical document in human history. Before this, we have lists, accounts, and dedications. Here, for the first time, a ruler tells us what happened — with names, places, and consequences.
The oldest surviving law code in human history. The principle that the state — not the wronged family — defines and enforces justice begins here.
Not the first law code, but the most complete and the most famous. Inscribed on a black diorite stele over two meters tall, displayed in a public place — law made visible, law made monumental.