Babylonian and Assyrian Literature

The great nation which dwelt in the seventh century before our era on the banks of Tigris and Euphrates flourished in literature as well as in the plastic arts, and had an alpha...

Ho! there goes The eastern wall with Erech's strongest tower! And through the breach her furious foemen pour: A wall of steel withstands the onset fierce, But thronging Elam's s...

The hour has come when Izdubar will seek The cool enchantment of the cove, and slake His thirst with its sweet waters bubbling pure, Where Love has spread for him her sweetest l...

[Footnote 16: Literally, "he that shows favor." The above prayer was translated for the first time by Rev. A.H. Sayce, M.A., in the "Records of the Past," vol. ix. p. 151. We ha...

Within the council halls now lead the seers With trepidation and with many fears, To hear the seer explain their monarch's dream. Beside the royal throne he sits supreme Among t...

[Footnote 5: "Man-u-ban-i," a tree or shrub of unpleasant odor mentioned by Heabani. See Sayce's revised edition Smith's "Chald. Acc. of Genesis," p. 254. The fragment translate...

The glittering court is filled with chiefs and seers, When Ishtar at the entrance now appears, The Ner-kalli,[5] her heralds at the door, As some grand sovereign from a foreign...

When Ishtar, Queen of Love, from Earth had flown, With her love fled, and left all nature prone; From Earth all peace with love then fled amain. In loneliness the bull stalked o...

"The dream, my seer, which I beheld last night Within our tent, may bring to us delight. I saw a mountain summit flash with fire, That like a royal robe or god's attire Illumine...

And lo! a vision breaks before his eyes! The moon-god hides the shadows of the skies, And sweeps above with his soft, soothing light That streams around his face; he drives the...

Our King from us now goes, now goes! Away! away! His royal robe behind him glows Afar! afar! Across the waves where Hea reigns The waters swollen he soon gains! To our great see...

A dazzling pillared vista round him shines, Where golden columns bear the bowering shrines, With gemmèd domes that clustering round him rise, 'Mid fruit-trees, flashing splendor...

1 To Ninip[1] most powerful hero, great, chief of the gods, warrior, powerful Lord, whose onset in battle has not been opposed, eldest son, 2 crusher of opponents, first-born so...

1 and their maidens I dishonored, the city I overthrew, razed and burned with fire, In those days the cities of the land of Nirbi 2 (and) their strong fortresses, I overthrew, d...

l On the 22d day of the third month, May,[1] in the eponym of Dagan-bel-ussur,[2] withdrew from Calach; I passed the Tigris at its nearer bank 2 and received a large tribute; at...

[Footnote 40: Precisely thus: "The King of Assyria brought men from Babylon ... and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel."--2 Kings xvii. 24.]

1 The noble _cupbearer_ of Hea, the scribe of Merodach (am) I. 2 Like fire have I blazed (and) I rejoice;[1] 3 (like) fire have I burned (and) I grow; 4 the corn I purify and ma...

In the service of my Lord Ashur, my chariots and warriors I assembled; I set out on my march. In front of my strong men I went to the country of the Aramæans, the enemies of my...

The following psalm for remission of sins is remarkable alike for its deeply spiritual tone and for its antiquity. As it is written in Accadian, its composition must be referred...

153 fled, and the children of 'Surri together with the soldiers, the rebels, (whom) they had taken they delivered to me. 154 Those soldiers on stakes I fixed. 'Sa'situr of the c...

1 their foundations opposite to the waters 2,3 in cement and brick I founded, 4 and of strong stone of _zamat-hati,_ 5 bulls and images, 6 the building of its interior 7 skilful...

1 Thou who marchest before ...[1] 2 With Anu and Bel ...[1] 3 The support of crowds of men, direct them! 4 He who rules in heaven, he who arranges, is thyself. 5 He who establis...

In the length[6] above toward the North, turned to the river Zirzirri, adjoining the house of Ada, and the field of the house of the Satraps. In the length below, toward the Sou...

13 Whilst Iranzu of Van[13] lived, he was subservient and devoted to my rule, but fate removed him. His subjects placed his son Aza on the throne. Urzaha the Armenian intrigued...

54 With the help of Assur, may the King who has built these palaces, attain an old age, and may his offspring multiply greatly! May these battlements last to the most remote fut...