Position in chronology
Ashurbanipal 137
Translation · reference
High confidence(1') [...] ... [... who did not res]pect the kingship of [... did n]ot obey the com[mand of ... the str]ong one, the exalted one, the mig[hty one, ... (5´) ...] Šamaš-šuma-ukīn, (my) u[nfaithful] brother, [...] ... he cut him down with the swo[rd. ...] and they listened to [my] plea(s). [...] they fled and grasped m[y] feet. [...] sat [...]. (9'b) Their heart(s) [plotted evil (deeds) ... (10´) ..., wh]o commanded me to march [...] without [n]umber [...] Ummanald[ašu ... I] devastated [... I] laid waste (and) brought ab[out the defeat of ... (15´) ...] with [...] ... [...]
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/Q007545/
Why it matters
Attests Ashurbanipal's account of crushing his brother Šamaš-šuma-ukīn's rebellion (652–648 BCE) and defeating the Elamite king Ummanalداšu — Assyrian royal propaganda cast as divine sanction for fratricidal civil war.
Transliteration
[...] x ⸢šá⸣ x x [...] / [... la pa]-liḫ LUGAL-ut [...] / [...] ⸢ul⸣ iš-ma-a ⸢qí⸣-[bit ...] / [...] ⸢dan⸣-nu šá-qu-ú mug-⸢da⸣-[aš-ru ...] / [... m]⸢d⸣GIŠ.NU₁₁-MU-GI.NA ŠEŠ ⸢la?⸣ [ke-e-nu? ...]1 / [...] x-šu ú-ras-sib-šú ina GIŠ.⸢TUKUL⸣ [...] / [...] x-ma iš-mu-ú qa-ba-⸢a⸣-[a ...] / [...] ⸢in⸣-nab-tú-ma iṣ-ba-tu GÌR.II-⸢ia⸣ [...] / [...] ⸢ú⸣-šib lìb-ba-šú-⸢un⸣ [ik-pu-ud ḪUL-tú ...] / [...] ⸢šá⸣…
Scholarly note
Royal inscription of Ashurbanipal or a late Sargonid successor, edited by Jamie Novotny & Joshua Jeffers (RINAP 5, 2018–). ORACC text Q007545.
Attribution
Image: BM — (British Museum, London, UK) — from Nineveh (mod. Kuyunjik) — Photo via Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (cdli.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/artifacts, P395582). 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/Q007545/.
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The earliest historical document in human history.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.