All tablets.

Sennacherib 213

(1) Sennacherib, great king, strong king, king of Assyria, unrivalled king, true shepherd, favorite of the great gods, guardian of truth who loves justice, renders assistance, goes to the aid of the weak, (and) strives after good deeds, perfect man, virile warrior, foremost of all rulers, the bridle that controls the insubmissive, (and) the one who strikes enemies with lightning: (4) The god Aššur, the great mountain, granted to me unrivalled sovereignty and made my weapons greater than (those of) all who sit on (royal) daises. (5) At the beginning of my kingship, after I sat on the lordly…

Sennacherib 214

(1) For the god Nergal, his lord: I, Sennacherib, king of Assyria, built Egallammes, which is in the city Tarbiṣu, from its foundations to its crenellations for my life, the well-being of my offspring, the overthrow of my enemies, the success of the harvest of Assyria, (and) the well-being of Assyria. [I deposited] (my) clay cones (therein).

Sennacherib 215

(1) Sennacherib, great king, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, had Egallammes, the temple of the god Nergal, which is in the city Tarbiṣu, built and I made (it) as bright as day.

Sennacherib 216

Records Sennacherib's construction of Egallammes, the temple of Nergal at Tarbiṣu — fixing the god's cult site to that city and the building's completion within Sennacherib's reign.

Sennacherib 218

(1) Sennacherib, great king, king of the world, king of Assyria, had the (inner) wall (and) the outer wall of the city Kilīzu built anew and raised as high as mountains.

Sennacherib 219

Attests Sennacherib's construction of Kilīzu's outer fortification wall in baked brick — locating this otherwise obscure Assyrian provincial town within the king's broader programme of imperial infrastructure.

Sennacherib 222

(1) The deities Aššur, Sîn, Šamaš, Adad, Ninurta, and Ištar, the great gods who stand at the side of the king, their favorite, and make his weapons prevail over all enemies: (6) Sennacherib, great king, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, the attentive prince (who is) your protégé, who by your [firm] ‘yes’ marched about and who made the insubmissive lands (and) disobedient people of the mountains bow down at his feet: (12) At that time, the cities Tumurrum, Šarum, Ḫalbuda, Kipšu, Ezāma, Qūa, (and) Qana, which were on the border of the land Katmuḫi, which were situated like the…

Sennacherib 223

(1) Deities Aššur, Anu, Enlil, Ea, Sîn, Šamaš, Adad, Marduk, Nabû, [Nerg]al, Ištar, (and) the Sebetti, the great gods, who install the lord (and) name the ruler to lead the black-headed (people) all over the inhabited world: (3) Sennacherib, great king, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, king of the four quarters (of the world), the prince who provides for them, by your firm ‘yes’ I marched about safely from the Upper Sea to the Lower Sea, and (then) I made rulers of the (four) quarters (of the world) bow down at my feet and they (now) pull my yoke: (5b) At that time, I greatly…

Sennacherib 224

(1) The palace of Sennacherib, king of the world, king of Assyria.

Sennacherib 225

(1) The palace of Sennacherib, king of Assyria.

Sennacherib 226

(1) Sennacherib, king of the world, king of Assyria: Over a long distance, I had the water of the two Ḫazur Rivers, the water of the Pulpullia River, the water of the city Ḫanusa, the water of the city Gammagara, (5) (and) water from mountain springs on the right and left sides of it added to it (and thereby) I had a canal dug to the plain of Nineveh. I had an aqueduct constructed (by packing down) white limestone over deep wadis (and thereby) enabled those waters to flow over it.

Sennacherib 227

(1) [Sennacherib ...]: I had a [can]al d[ug] over a long distance, from the Ḫusu[r] River [...] I had an aqueduct constructed (by packing down) limestone [over dee]p [wadis (and thereby) ...] water[s ...].

Sennacherib 228

(Frgm._A 1) At tha[t t]ime [... I marched] quick[ly] to Babylon [and ...], the king of Karduniaš (Babylonia), who [...] (Frgm._B 1) [...] captured [...] ... [... h]e, Mar[duk-apla]-iddin[a (II) (Merodach-baladan) ... hea]rd about [the advance of my expeditionary force] and fear and [t]err[or fell upon him ...] (Frgm._C 1) [...] his city gates [...] Marduk-apla-iddina (II) (Merodach-baladan) [...] I brought out [... from] that [...] and I counted (them) as booty. (Frgm._D 1) I brought out [...] precious [stones], utensils of ... [...] attendants, male singers, [...] and [I counted (them) as]…

Sennacherib 229

(1) Sennacherib, king of the world, king of Assyria: (As for) the three watercourses which (flow) from Mount Ḫāni, a mountain above the city Arbela, I dug out the springs which are on the right and left banks of those watercourses and (thus) added (the springs’ water) to them. I dug a (subterranean) watercourse and directed (all of) their course(s) inside the city Arbela, the dwelling of the goddess Ištar, the exalted lady.

Sennacherib 230

(1) The deities Aššur — great lord, the father of the gods — Anu, Enlil, and Ea, Sîn, Šamaš, Adad, Marduk, Nabû, Nergal, Ištar, (and) the Sebetti, the great gods who stand at the side of the king who reveres them and make his weapons prevail over all enemies: (3) Sennacherib, great king, strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, king of the four quarters (of the world), the king who was chosen by you, guardian of truth who loves justice, renders assistance, goes to the aid of the weak, (and) strives after good deeds, perfect man, virile warrior, foremost of all rulers, the bridle that…

Sennacherib 231

(1) [Palace of Sennacherib, great king], strong king, king of the world, king of Assyria, [king of the four quarters (of the world), favorite of the] great [god]s, wise prince, [circumspect] rul[er, shepherd of the peop]le, (and) leader of a widespre[ad] population, [I]: (4) [The god Aššur, father of the gods], looked steadfastly upon me [among all of the ru]lers and [made] my [we]apons [greater] than (those of) a[ll who sit on (royal) daises]. He gave me a ju[st] scepter [that widens borders (and) he put in my hand] a merciless [ro]d to fell ene[mies]. (7b) [I]n a pitched battle, I…

Sennacherib 232

(1) Sennacherib, king of Assyria.

Sennacherib 233

(1) [Senn]acherib, king of the world, [king of Assyria], gave (this object) [to] Esarhaddon, his senior-ranking son.

~695 BCE·Neo-AssyrianEditorial

Sennacherib's Annals (Taylor Prism)

One of the rare cuneiform texts that explicitly cross-references the Hebrew Bible: the same historical event narrated by both sides. The Taylor Prism gives us the Assyrian view of a moment the biblical authors framed as divine deliverance. It is also a masterpiece of imperial propaganda — the prismatic shape allows the text to be read on six faces, the cuneiform is meticulous, the rhetoric calibrated to terrify potential rebels.

Writing & LiteratureLaw

SAA 02 001. Treaty of Šamši-Adad V with Marduk-zakir-šumi, King of Babylon (AfO 08 28)

(Beginning destroyed) (2) [......] horses [......]. (3) If the governor [......] sends troops [to ......], the king [shall ... no]thing [......]. (5) [......] he shall trust [in] their [stead]fast heart ...[...]. (6) [......] he shall not deport [......] Babylonia and Assyria nor seize [......]. (7) He shall [......] to the forts and gar[risons ......]. (8) Šamši-Adad shall not say (any) evil words about Marduk-rimanni [... to] the king, (viz.): "Kill, blind, or se[ize him", nor] shall king Marduk-zakir-šumi listen to him (should he say such things). (11) [He shall not ......] him, [nor ...]…

SAA 02 002. Treaty of Aššur-nerari V with Mati’-ilu, King of Arpad (AfO 08 17+)

(Beginning destroyed) (i 1) [... may Mati'-ilu], his sons and daughters, his mag[nates and the people of his land become] altogether like [...], may his land [be reduced] to wasteland, may only an area of the size of a brick (be left) for [him to stand upon], may nothing be left for his sons, [his daughters, his magnates and the peo]ple of his land to stand upon. May Mati'-ilu [together with his sons], daughters, magnates and the people of his land [...] like limestone, and may he, together with the people of his land, be cru[shed] like gypsum. (i 10) This spring lamb has not been brought out…

SAA 02 003. Sennacherib’s Succession Treaty (PKTA 31)

(Beginning destroyed) (1) [...... which Sennach]erib, king of Assyr[ia, your lord], has set to you: (2) [If you should hear] improper things, you shall speak out [going] to Sennacherib, king of Assyria, [your lord], and totally devoting yourselves to the king, your lord, (5) if you should not protect [Esarhaddon, the crown prince designate, and] the other princes [whom Sennacherib, king of Assyria, has presen]ted to you; (otherwise): (7) [May Aššur, Mullissu, Šerua], Sin, Nikkal, Šamaš, Nu[r, Anu, Antu, Illil, Adad, Š]ala, Kippat-mati, [Ištar of Heaven, Ištar of Nineveh], Ištar of [Arbela,…

SAA 02 004. Accession Treaty of Esarhaddon (JCS 39 187)

(Beginning destroyed) (r 1) [...... t]ower[s ...] I shall tell [...] to [... and] trav[ellers, I shall send messengers] to the south and [the north ...]. (r 4) Should I he[ar an ug]ly word about him [from the mou]th of his progeny, [should I hear it] from the mouth of one of the magnates or [governors], [from the mouth of one o]f the bearded or from the mouth of [the eunuchs], I will tell it to Esarhaddon, my lord; (r 8) I [will] be [his servant] and speak good of him, I [will be] loyal to him and [... the fa]ce of Esarhaddon my lord, [...]; (r 10) I will [keep] the oath [of this treaty…

SAA 02 005. Esarhaddon’s Treaty with Baal, King of Tyre (Ash pl. 3+)

(i 1) [The treat]y of Esarhad[don, king] of Assyria, son of [Sennacherib likewise king of Assyria, with Baa]l, king of Tyre, with [..., his son, and his other sons and grandsons, with a]ll [Tyrians], young and old [... (Break) (i 5) or ...[......] (i 6) or [......] (i 7) or with [......] (i 8) not[......] (i 9) if [......] not ...[......] (i 10) If Assyr[ia ......] (i 11) ... you [......]...[......] (Break) (ii 10) [......] according to [...] (ii 11) [......] let [...] (ii 12) [......] ...[...] (ii 13) [...... t]o the ex[empt] (Break) (iii 1) [......] from ... until [......] (iii 2) [......]…

SAA 02 006. Esarhaddon’s Succession Treaty (VTE)

(i) Seal of the god Aššur, king of the gods, lord of the lands — not to be altered; seal of the great ruler, father of the gods — not to be disputed. (1) The treaty of Esarhaddon, (king of the world), king of Assyria, son of Sennacherib, (likewise king of the world), king of Assyria, with Humbareš, city-ruler of Nahšimarti (etc.), his sons, his grandsons, with all the Nahšimarteans (etc.), the men in his hands young and old, as many as there are from sunrise to sunset, all those over whom Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, exercises kingship and lordship, (with) you, your sons and your grandsons…

SAA 02 007. Oath of Loyalty to Esarhaddon (JCS 39 174)

(Beginning destroyed) (1) ..[......] (2) to the ci[ty ......] (3) to Esarh[addon ......] (4) you shall [......] (5) standing [......] (6) his seed and his fa[mily ......] (7) you shall ...[......] (8) has sacrificed yo[u ......] (9) fumigant[s ......] (10) you shall ...[......] (11) king of Assyria [......] (Break) (r 2) not [......] (r 3) you s[hall ......] (r 4) what you [......] (r 5) whol[eheartedly ......] (Rest destroyed)

SAA 02 008. Zakutu Treaty (ABL 1239+)

(1) The treaty of Zakutu, the queen of Senna[cherib, ki]ng of Assyria, mother of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, (3) with Šamaš-šumu-ukin, his equal brother, with Šamaš-metu-uballiṭ and the rest of his brothers, with the royal seed, with the magnates and the governors, the bearded and the eunuchs, the royal entourage, with the exempts and all who enter the Palace, with Assyrians high and low: (9) Anyone who (is included) in this treaty which Queen Zakutu has concluded with the whole nation concerning her favourite grandson [Assurba]nipal, (12) anyone (of you) who should [...] fabricate and carry…

SAA 02 009. Assurbanipal’s Treaty with Babylonian Allies (ABL 1105)

(Beginning destroyed) (1) [We swear by Aššur, Šerua,] Bel[et-ili, ......, a]ll [the gods of Assyria and Babylonia], and [all] the great gods [of heaven and earth, ......], (3) [that] from this day on [for as long as we live we will be subjects of Assurbanipal, king of Assyria], (that) Assurbanipal, king of Assyria [shall be our king and lord, and (that) we will be totally devoted] to Assurbanipal, king of Assyria, [our] lord. (6) We will not conceal nor hide [any message] or messenger whom Šamaš-šumu-ukin, ki[ng of Babylonia] has [sent or] made [... or who has come to us] from the sons of…

SAA 02 010. Assurbanipal’s Treaty with the Qedar Tribe (JCS 39 159)

(Break) (1) [The treaty of Assurbanipal, king of the world, king of Assyria, son of Esarhaddon, likewise king of the world, king of Assyria, with Abi-yate' son of Te'ri, his sons, grandsons, brothers and nephews, with all Qedarites, young and old, and with ...] son of Yau[ta', in the presence of all the gods of] Assyria and Qedar: (3) [Swear by Aššur], Mullissu and [Šerua]: (4) [Considering th]at Yauta' (your) malef[actor] handed all [Arab]s over to destruction [through] the iron sword, and put you to the sword, (8) [and that Assur]banipal, king of Assyria, your lord, put oil on you and…

SAA 02 011. Sin-šarru-iškun’s Treaty with Babylonian Allies (BRM 4 50)

(1) The treaty of Sin-šarru-išk[un, king of Assyria], son of Assurbanipal, [king of the world, king of Assyria], with Nabû-apla-iddina [......], with Kanunayu [......], (and) with Aqri [......] in the presence of Ju[piter, Venus ... (Break) (r 1) [By Aššur], augu[st] lord, [defeater of] enemies, lover of [the just], [who] loves the [kin]g and [destroys] his enemy: (r 5) [Whoever] a[lters] the wording of this tablet, or sins against the [trea]ty of the great gods, (r 7) May [......] of heaven and earth cover (sic) them with an evil, irremovable curse. Above, may [he uproot] them from the…

SAA 02 012. Extract from a Treaty of Sin-šarru-iškun (AfO 13 T14)

(1) If you should sin against this treaty of Sin-šarru-iškun, king of Assyria, your lord, and his sons and grandsons, (6) may Nergal, the perfect lord, (pour out) your blood into ditches and ravines.

SAA 02 013. A Vassal Treaty (JCS 39 175)

(Beginning destroyed) (ii 2) [...] him. (ii 3) You will not make peace [with] him (ii 4) nor make [common cause] with him, (ii 5) but will fe[ar] me (ii 6) and do what is [good] to me. (ii 7) [If] you do what is good to me, (ii 8) all [Ar]abia [... (ii 9) (Break) (ii 11) [Should] I march (ii 12) [...] against you (ii 13) [...] his mouth (ii 14) [...] keeping at a distance from you (ii 15) [...] you will bring forth (ii 16) [...] is set to him (ii 17) [... let them] make difficult (ii 18) [...] one of your servants (ii 19) [...] another country (ii 20) [...] ... (iii 1) You will send no…

SAA 02 014. Esarhaddon’s Treaty Inscription (JCS 39 158)

(i 1) [...] I asked ... Belet-ili, "Why?" ... [...] (i 2) [...]...... exceedingly before [......] (i 3) [... goo]dness with all my strength [......] (i 4) [...] the seven planets of the sky which [...] the oath of the king, (i 5) will curse [...] and not return [to his side]. (i 6) [I obeyed] the divinity of Belet-ili, [trusting] in her holy command. (i 7) At that time, when that treaty was imp[osed] and it was said: "The king my lord has imposed an oath on all [the lands]", Prince Marduk heard it, and turned [his attention to] Assyria to help (it) establish world dominion. (i 11) [He took…

SAA 02 015. Tell Tayinat Version of Esarhaddon’s Succession Treaty (JCS 64 091)

(i_T_1) Seal of the god Aššur, king of the gods, lord of the lands — [not to be altered]; seal of the great ruler, father of the gods — not to be disputed. (1_T_i_1) The treaty of Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, son of Sennacherib, king of Assyria, with the governor of Kunalia, with the deputy, the major-domo, the scribes, the chariot drivers, the third men, the village managers, the information officers, the prefects, the cohort commanders, the charioteers, the cavalrymen, the exempt, the outriders, the specialists, the shi[eld bearers (?)], the craftsmen, (and) with [all] the men [of his…

SAA 03 001. Assurbanipal’s Hymn to Aššur (ABRT 1 32-33)

(1) The exceedingly great one, king of the gods, the omniscient; venerable, surpassing, the Illil of the gods, he who decrees the fates! (3) Aššur, exceedingly great lord, omniscient; venerable, surpassing, the Illil of the gods, he who decrees the fates! (5) [Let me magn]ify Aššur, the superlatively strong, the king of the gods, the lord of the lands! [Let me procla]im his greatness, magnify his praise! (7) Let me proclaim the fame [of Aš]šur, let me extol his name; let me glorify the praise of [the god] who dwells in Ehursaggalkurkurra! (9) Let me mention the [superlatively strong one], let…

SAA 03 002. Assurbanipal’s Acrostic Hymn to Marduk and Zarpanitu (ABRT 1 29-30)

(1) a__ I praise your name, Marduk, the most powerful of the gods, the canal inspector of heaven and earth [......], who was well engendered, and alone is most high [......]! (3) na__ You bear Anuship, Illilship, Ninšikuship, lordship, kingship [......]! You gather all wisdom, total strength [......]! (5) ku__ Honoured ruler, exalted monarch, overpowering, magnificent [......]! They glorified his lordship, prepared battle, [......] A[nu]! (7) aš__ You are exalted in the heavens, king on earth, the skillful counsellor of the [great] gods [......], establisher of all habitations, grasper of the…

SAA 03 003. Assurbanipal’s Hymn to the Ištars of Nineveh and Arbela (OECT 6 11)

(1) Exalt and glorify the Lady of Nineveh, magnify and praise the Lady of Arbela, who have no equal among the great gods! (4) Their names are most precious among the goddesses! Their cult centres have no equal among all the shrines! (6) A word from their lips is blazing fire! Their utterances are valid for ever! (8) I am Assurbanipal, their favourite, most valued seed of Assur, offspring of Nineveh, product of Emašmaš and Egašankalamma, whose kingship they made great even in the House of Succession. In their pure mouths is [voic]ed the endurance of my throne. (13) I knew no father or mother,…

SAA 03 004. Nanaya Hymn of Sargon II (ABRT 1 54-55)

(Beginning destroyed) (i 1) [...... she holds in her hand] the naked sword, [emblem of Nergal], the pointed axe, appropriate to the [Pleiades]. (i 4) On (her) right and left battle is arrayed. (i 5) The foremost of the gods, (she) whose play is battle, who goes ahead of the brotherhood of the Seven (demons) — (i 7) Skilled musicians are seated before her, players of the lyre, the small harp, the clapper, the flute, the oboe, the long (pipes). (i 10) The kurgarrûs ease her heart with spindles, whiplashes, and with sweet [...]s. (i 12) [...]... of loveliness of ...... (i 13) they are clad in…

SAA 03 005. Nanaya Hymn of Assurbanipal (ABRT 1 09)

(1) Assurbanipal praises [the goddess ......] (2) who is revered and feared by the [great] gods [......] (3) Nanaya, the lady of the great gods [......] (4) Assurbanipal is your high priest [......] (5) Aššur, bless his kingship! [......] (6) As for his arms, bless them Nabû! [......] (7) Sin, keep safe his throne [......] (8) All the lands are praising Urkittu [......] (9) In the time of Assurbanipal [......] (10) In the days of the shepherd [......] (11) Nanaya, with her whole heart [......] (12) The kingship of Assurbanipal, [......] (13) In her sacred city, which [......] (14) she…

SAA 03 006. Assurbanipal’s Hymn to Tašmetu and Nabû (KAR 122)

(1) [Let me praise the wi]se [...], Tašmetu [...], (2) [...] lady, queen [......], (3) [Good-l]ooking, attractive [...], (4) [Goddess] of goddesses, queen of queens [...], (5) Princess of Ešarra, temple of the universe [...], (6) She who beseeches, wife of Nabû, the beloved of [...], (7) She who raises and lowers, sage of Ezida. (8) On the fifth day, monthly, is the procession of Tašmetu; (9) When she emerges from the holy workshop to [our] Nabû, the son of Bel raises his head from the tablet house to the nuptial bedroom, reci[tes ...]: (12) Say something, my Tašmetu, why [......]? (13) Bless…

SAA 03 007. Assurbanipal’s Hymn to Ištar of Nineveh (ABRT 1 07-08)

(1) O palm tree, daughter of Nineveh, stag of the lands! (2) She is glorious, most glorious, the finest of the goddesses! Nineveh is set with bunbullu decorations, within which there is no [...]. (4) O praised Emašmaš, ...[...], in which dwells Ištar, the que[en of Nineveh]! (6) Like Aššur, she wears a beard and is clothed with brilliance [...]. The crown on her head g[leams] like the stars; the luminescent discs on her breasts shine like the sun! (9) O ziggurat, pride of Nineveh, which bears [awe-inspiring splendour]! (10) On the 16th of Tebet is her ..., she brightens Emašmaš: The lady of…

SAA 03 008. Hymn to the city of Arbela (LKA 032)

(1) Arbela, O Arbela, (2) Heaven without equal, Arbela! (3) City of merry-making, Arbela, (4) City of festivals, Arbela! (5) City of the temple of jubilation, Arbela! (6) Shrine of Arbela, lofty hostel, (7) broad temple, sanctuary of delights! (8) Gate of Arbela, the pinnacle (of) holy to[wns]! (9) City of likenesses, Arbela! (10) Abode of jubilation, Arbela! (11) Arbela, temple of reason and counsel! (12) Bond of the lands, Arbela! (13) Establisher of profound rites, Arbela! (14) Arbela is as lofty as heaven. (15) Its foundations are as firm as the heavens. (16) The pinnacles of Arbela are…

SAA 03 009. Psalm in Praise of Uruk (SAAB 01 40)

(1) Uruk; I love ditto, I love Eanna, my nuptial chamber! (2) Ditto; I love (its) ziggurat, house of my pleasure! (3) Ditto; I love Babylon, my father's house! (4) Ditto; I love Esaggil, house of my veiling! (5) Ditto; I love Ehiligar, house of my joy! (6) Ditto; I love Borsippa, house of my kingship! (7) Ditto; I love Ezida, along with our Nabû! (8) Ditto; I love Šapazzu, along with Bel-ṣarbi! (9) Ditto; I love Cutha, along with Nergal! (10) Ditto; I love Der, along with Ištaran! (11) Ditto; I love Kiš and Ehursagkalamma! (12) Ditto; I love Sippar, along with Šamaš! (13) Ditto; I love the…

SAA 03 010. Blessing for the City of Assur (STT 087)

(1) [...]... [......] (2) [...]... [......] (3) [...] all [......] (4) [...] they rejoice, they [......] (5) [...] they rejoice ...[......] (6) [...] until [......] (7) [...] destiny...[......] (8) [...]... of prosperity [...] (9) [...]......[...] (10) [...] which [...] play! (11) Fill, fill their pails [with ...]! (12) [Aššur], Illil, bless the Inner City! (13) Fill [...] up to their necks! (14) [...]... abundance, may Esarhaddon restore life! (15) May joy of the heart be established; let constant joy come in, come in! (17) Pour oil into skull-(sized) containers, pluck countless (amounts of)…

SAA 03 011. Assurbanipal’s Coronation Hymn (LKA 031)

(1) May Šamaš, king of heaven and earth, elevate you to shepherdship over the four [region]s! (2) May Aššur, who ga[ve y]ou [the sceptre], lengthen your days and years! (3) Spread your land wide at your feet! (4) May Šerua extol [your name] to your god! (5) Just as grain and silver, oil, [the catt]le of Šakkan and the salt of Bariku are good, so may Assurbanipal, king of Assyria, be agreeable to the gods [of his] land! (8) May eloquence, understanding, truth and justice be given to him as a gift! (9) May [the people] of Assur buy 30 kor of grain for one shekel of silver! May [the peopl]e of…

SAA 03 012. Righteous Sufferer’s Prayer to Nabû (STT 065)

(1) [......] years (2) [......] ......[...] (3) [...] with [...] feet I grasped [the ...] of ... (4) O Nabû, to avoid sin, O son of Bel, to avoid guilt, [in view of] the culpable behaviour of my fathers and brothers, who neglected and disregarded [...], (6) I have yearned for Ezida, the lofty ground, the temple of our trust; I have longed for Ezida, to behold the threshold of delight. (8) In my [c]hildhood, I longed for the Assembly, to sit in the tablet house. (9) I ... the offerings of the precious temple of Nabû; I constantly think of its fine things; the fire of Ezida burns my heart. (11)…

SAA 03 013. Dialogue Between Assurbanipal and Nabû (ABRT 1 05-06)

(1) [I constantly spe]ak in praise of you, Nabû, in the assembly of the great gods; may [the host of] those who [wish] me ill not take possession of my life! (3) [In the temple of the Queen of Ni]neveh I approach you, hero among the gods, his brothers; [you are the t]rust of Assurbanipal for ever and ever! (5) [Ever since] I was [a small child] I have lain at the feet of Nabû; [do not abandon me] to the assembly of my ill-wishers, O Nabû!" (7) Pay a[ttent]ion, Assurbanipal! I am Nabû. Until the end of time your feet shall not grow slack, your hands not tremble; your lips shall not become…

SAA 03 014. Love Lyrics of Nabû and Tašmetu (TIM 09 54)

(1) May anyone trust in whomever he trusts; as for us, we trust in Nabû, we are devoted to Tašmetu! (4) What is ours is ours; Nabû is our lord, Tašmetu is the mountain of our trust! Ditto. (6) Say to her, to her of the wall, to her of the wall, to Tašmetu: "Save (us), sit down in the cella!" (8) Let (the scent of) holy juniper fill the sanctuary! Ditto. (9) The shade of the cedar, the shade of the cedar, the shade of the cedar, the king's shelter! The shade of the cypress (is for) his magnates! The shade of a sprig of juniper is shelter for my Nabû and my games! Ditto. (12) Tašmetu, fondles…

SAA 03 015. Elegy in Memory of a Woman (BA 2 634)

(1) Why are you cast adrift like a boat in midstream, your crossbars broken, your tows cut; your face veiled, you cross the river of the Inner City? (4) How could I not be cast adrift, how could my tows not be cut! (5) On the day I bore fruit, how happy I was! Happy was I, happy my husband. (7) On the day of my labor pains, my face was overcast; on the day I gave birth, my eyes were clouded; (9) My hands were opened (in supplication), as I prayed to Belet-ili: You are the mother of those who give birth, save my life! (11) When Belet-ili heard this, she veiled her face: You [......], why do…

SAA 03 016. Elegies Mourning the Death of Tammuz (STT 360)

(1) [The age]nt, the Babylonian merchant, [who] gave his word, has left behind his donkeys! The dog has been killed at the side of our sheep! (4) The agent, the Babylonian me[rchant], who gave his word, has left behind his donkeys! The dog has been killed at the [sid]e of our sheep! (7) Watch the brother of [my] heart ...[...], watch the [......] our daughter! [...]... [...... does not] pass. (10) [We let out] a scream [...... at] the onset of evening, as [......]... us, as [...... the ...] our daughter. (13) He has made the house of my father [into a ...]...! I ... his ... like the [temple]…