Chapter 07 · 911 – 609 BCE

Neo-Assyrian

Empire, library, terror, scholarship.

Illustration: Scholars examining clay tablets in an Assyrian archive at Nineveh
An archive at Nineveh, around 650 BCE.

~875 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses

Ashurnasirpal II 017

“(i 1) (The god) Aššur, the great lord, king of all the great gods; the god Anu, foremost in strength, the one who decrees destinies; the god Ea, king of the apsû, lord of wisdom (and) understanding; the god Sîn, wise one, lord of the lunar disk, lofty luminary; the god Marduk, sage, lord god of oracles; the god Adad, strong, almighty among the gods, exalted; the god Ninurta, hero, warrior of the gods, the one who lays low the wicked; the god Nusku, bearer of the holy scepter, circumspect god; the goddess Mullissu, spouse of the god Enlil, mother of the great gods; the god Nergal, perfect one,…”

Source: Royal Inscriptions of Assyria online (RIAo), Munich Open-access Cuneiform Corpus Initiative (MOCCI), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München; in association with the RINAP Project, University of Pennsylvania. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/riao/Q004471/

Read the full tablet entry

~875 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses

Ashurnasirpal II 019

“(1) The deities Aššur, Adad, Sîn and Šamaš, (and) Ištar, the great gods who go at the head of my troops. (5) Ashurnasirpal (II), great king, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria; (the one who) acts with the support of the gods Aššur (and) Šamaš, the great gods, my lords, and has no rival among the rulers of the (10) four quarters (of the world); attentive ruler, subduer of all of the rulers, fearless in battle, ferocious dragon, the one who breaks up the forces of the rebellious, strong gišginû, who treads upon the necks of the rulers who are insubmissive to him, mighty flood-tide…”

Source: Royal Inscriptions of Assyria online (RIAo), Munich Open-access Cuneiform Corpus Initiative (MOCCI), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München; in association with the RINAP Project, University of Pennsylvania. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/riao/Q004473/

Read the full tablet entry

~875 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses

Ashurnasirpal II 020

“(1) [(The god) Aššur, the great lord, king of] all of the [great] gods; [the god Anu, king of the Ig]īgū and [Anunnakū gods; (lord of the lands,) the god Enlil], exalted one, father of the gods, [(creator of all); the god E]a, king of the [apsû, lord of wisdom (and) understanding; the god Sîn], wise one, king of the lunar disk, [lofty luminary; the god Adad], the exceptionally strong, [lord of abundance; the god Ša]maš, judge of heaven [and netherworld, commander of all; the god] Marduk, sage, [lord] god [of oracles; the god Ninurta], warrior of the Igīgū and [Anunnakū gods; the god] Nergal,…”

Source: Royal Inscriptions of Assyria online (RIAo), Munich Open-access Cuneiform Corpus Initiative (MOCCI), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München; in association with the RINAP Project, University of Pennsylvania. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/riao/Q004474/

Read the full tablet entry

~875 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses

Ashurnasirpal II 021

“(1') [...] … [...] troops [...] … [... I] brought them down [... I inflicted] upon them a major defeat. [(...) I carried off ...] their [possessions (and)] their flocks. [As for] their combat troops, [I cut off] their hands [... (x)] 200 of their fighting men [... I] destroyed [...]. (6') [...] I received [the pay]ment of the kings of lands (and) mountains. Irbibu [... of the city ...ḫ]āni, which was his fortified city, [...] trusted [in his own strength] and rebelled against me. By the command of (the god) Aš[šur, my lord, I marched against him (and)] besieged him. Around his city he had dug…”

Source: Royal Inscriptions of Assyria online (RIAo), Munich Open-access Cuneiform Corpus Initiative (MOCCI), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München; in association with the RINAP Project, University of Pennsylvania. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/riao/Q004475/

Read the full tablet entry

~875 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses

Ashurnasirpal II 022

“(1') which from the time of [...] the statue with the name of Tiglath-pil[eser (I) …] I marched [to the N]aʾiri [lands. I conquered] the city Barzaništu[(un) ... I carried off] their [property], possessions, oxen, sheep, [... (and)] turned (it) into a mound of ruins (lit. “a mound and ruins”). The heads of [their] warriors [I cut off ...] of the Naʾiri lands, horses, mules, [...] … I burned with fire. I destroyed, devastated, (and) [turned (it) into] a mound [of ruins (lit. “a mound and ruins”)]. (8') [...] the city Tillê rebelled [... t]hey stationed [a garrison at ...]. They stati[oned a…”

Source: Royal Inscriptions of Assyria online (RIAo), Munich Open-access Cuneiform Corpus Initiative (MOCCI), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München; in association with the RINAP Project, University of Pennsylvania. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/riao/Q004476/

Read the full tablet entry

~875 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses

Ashurnasirpal II 023

One of the standard titulary inscriptions of Ashurnasirpal II, tracing his legitimacy through three generations of Assyrian kings and anchoring royal authority in a chain of divine election by Aššur, Enlil, Ninurta, Anu, and Dagān.

“(1) Palace of Ashurnasirpal (II), vice-regent of (the god) Aššur, chosen of the gods Enlil and Ninurta, beloved of the gods Anu and Dagān, destructive weapon of the great gods, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, son of Tukultī-Ninurta (II), great king, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, son of Adad-nārārī (II), (who was) also great king, strong king, king of the world, (and) king of Assyria; the valiant man who acts with the support of (the god) Aššur, his lord, and who has no rival among the rulers of the four quarters (of the world); marvelous shepherd, fearless…”

Source: Royal Inscriptions of Assyria online (RIAo), Munich Open-access Cuneiform Corpus Initiative (MOCCI), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München; in association with the RINAP Project, University of Pennsylvania. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/riao/Q004477/

Read the full tablet entry

~875 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses

Ashurnasirpal II 024

“(1') See Ashurnasirpal II 023 lines 7-8.”

Source: Royal Inscriptions of Assyria online (RIAo), Munich Open-access Cuneiform Corpus Initiative (MOCCI), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München; in association with the RINAP Project, University of Pennsylvania. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/riao/Q004478/

Read the full tablet entry

~875 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses

Ashurnasirpal II 026

“(1) Ashurnasirpal (II), great king, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, son of Tukultī-Ninurta (II), great king, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, son of Adad-nārārī (II), (who was) also great king, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria; the valiant man who acts with the support of (the god) Aššur, his lord, and who has no rival among the rulers of the four quarters (of the world); marvelous shepherd, fearless in battle, mighty flood-tide which has no opponent, the king who subdues those insubordinate to him, who rules all of the peoples, strong male, who…”

Source: Royal Inscriptions of Assyria online (RIAo), Munich Open-access Cuneiform Corpus Initiative (MOCCI), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München; in association with the RINAP Project, University of Pennsylvania. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/riao/Q004480/

Read the full tablet entry