Assyro-Babylonian literature -- Translations into English
In the beginning of my reign 20,000 of the _Muskayans_[1] and their 5
kings, who for 50 years had held the countries of Alza and Perukhuz,
without paying tribute and offerings to Ashur my Lord, and whom a King of
Assyria had never ventured to meet in battle betook themselves to their
strength, and went and seized the country of Comukha. In the service of
Ashur my Lord my chariots and warriors I assembled after me ...[2] the
country of _Kasiyaia_[3] a difficult country, I passed through. With their
20,000 fighting men and their 5 kings in the country of Comukha I engaged.
I defeated them. The ranks of their warriors in fighting the battle were
beaten down as if by the tempest. Their carcasses covered the valleys and
the tops of the mountains. I cut off their heads. The battlements of their
cities I made heaps of, like mounds of _earth_, their movables, their
wealth, and their valuables I plundered to a countless amount. 6,000 of
their common soldiers who fled before my servants and accepted my yoke, I
took them, and gave them over to the men of my own territory.[4]
[Footnote 1: Sirki citizens. (Fox Talbot.)]
[Footnote 2: Lacuna.]
[Footnote 3: Mount Kasiyaia. (Dr. Hincks.)]
[Footnote 4: As slaves.]
VI
Then I went into the country of _Comukha,_[1] which was disobedient and
withheld the tribute and offerings due to Ashur my Lord: I conquered the
whole country of Comukha. I plundered their movables, their wealth, and
their valuables. Their cities I burnt with fire, I destroyed and ruined.
The common people of Comukha, who fled before the face of my servants,
crossed over to the city of _Sherisha_[2] which was on the further banks
of the Tigris, and made this city into their stronghold. I assembled my
chariots and warriors. I betook myself to _carts of iron_[3] in order to
overcome the rough mountains and their difficult marches. I made the
wilderness (thus) practicable for the passage of my chariots and warriors.
I crossed the Tigris and took the city of Sherisha their stronghold. Their
fighting men, in the middle of the forests, like wild beasts, I smote.
Their carcasses filled the Tigris, and the tops of the mountains. At this
time the troops of the _Akhe_,[4] who came to the deliverance and
assistance of Comukha, together with the troops of Comukha, like chaff I
scattered. The carcasses of their fighting men I piled up like heaps on
the tops of the mountains. The bodies of their warriors, the _roaring_[5]
waters carried down to the Tigris. Kili Teru son of Kali Teru, son of
Zarupin Zihusun, their King,[6] in the course of their fighting fell into
my power. His wives and his children, the delight of his heart I
dispossessed him of. One hundred and eighty[7] iron vessels and 5 trays of
copper, together with the gods of the people in gold and silver, and their
beds and furniture I brought away. Their movables and their wealth I
plundered. This city and its palace I burnt with fire, I destroyed and
ruined.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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