ADAD-NIRARI 1 STANDARD INTRODUCTION (#1)

Used in inscriptions:   ARI (Grayson) 7,8,10,13,16,19

Adad-nirari, holy prince, acceptable by the gods, lord, governor of the gods, founder of cult centres, defeater of the heroic – the army of the Kassites, Qutu, Lullumu and Šubaru – scatterer of all enemies above and below , trampler of their lands from Lubdu and the land Rapiqu to Eluhat, conqueror of the cities Taidu, Šuru, Kahat, Amasaku, Hurra, Shuduhu, Nabula, Washshukanni and Irridu, the entirety of Kašiyari to Eluhat, the fortress of the city Sudu, the fortress of Harran to Carchemish which is on the bank of the Euphrates, capturer of all people, extender of borders and boundaries, the king at whose feet the gods An, Assur, Shamash, Adad and Ishtar made all rulers and princes bow down, exalted priest of the god Enlil.

Son of Arik-den-ili, governor of the god Enlil, vice-regent of the god Assur, conqueror of the land of the Turukku and the land Nigimhu to its entire extent as well as all rulers of the mountains and hills of the extensive district of the Qutu, conqueror of the land Kudmuhu and its entire allies, the hordes of Ahlamu, Sutu, Yauru, together with their lands, extender of borders and boundaries;

Grandson of Enlil-nirari, also vice-regent of the god Assur, who defeated the army of the Kassites and overcame every one of his enemies, extender of borders and boundaries;

Offspring of Assur-uballit, strong king, whose priesthood was outstanding in awesome Ekur and the well-being of his sovereignty was established as faraway as the mountains, subduer of the land Musru, disperser of the hordes of the extensive land of the Šubaru, extender of borders and boundaries:

ADAD-NIRARI 1 STANDARD CURSE (#2)

Used in inscriptions:   ARI (Grayson) 3,7,8,10,13,16,19

He who erases my inscribed name and writes his (own) name or discards my steles, hands them over for destruction, consigns them to oblivion, covers them with dirt, burns them with fire, throws them into the water, puts them into a Taboo house where there is no visibility, or because of these curses, he incites a stranger, a foreigner, a malignant enemy, a man who speaks another language or anyone else to do any of these things, or conceives of and does anything injurious:

May the god Assur, the exalted god, dweller of Ehursagkurkurra, the gods An, Enlil, Ea and Ninmah, the great gods, the Igigu of heaven, the Anunnaku of the underworld. Etc…   

GRAYSON#3 

Property of the palace of Adad-nirari, king of the universe, son of Arik-den-ili, king of Assyria, son of Enlil-nirari, also king of Assyria.

Adad-nirari, king of the universe, strong king, king of Assyria, son of Arik-den-ili, king of Assyria, son of Enlil-nirari, also king of Assyria.

When Shattuara, king of the land Hanigalbat. rebelled against me and committed hostilities; by the command of Assur, my lord and ally, and (by the command) of the great gods who decide in my favour, I seized him and brought him to my city Assur. I made him take an oath and then allowed him to return to his land. Annually, as long as he lived, I regularly received his tribute within my city, Assur.

After his death, Wasashatta, his son, revolted , rebelled against me, and committed hostilities. He went to the land Hatti for aid. The Hittites took his bribes but did not render him assistance. With the strong weapons of the god Assur, my lord; with the support of the gods An, Enlil and Ea, Sin, Shamash, Adad, Ishtar and Nergal, most powerful among the gods, the awesome gods, my lords; I captured by conquest the city Taidu, his royal city, the cities Amasaku, Kahat, Šuru, Nabula, Hurra, Šuduhu and Washshukanu. I took and brought to my city, Assur, the possessions of those cities, the accumulated wealth of his fathers and the treasures of his palace. I conquered, burnt and destroyed the city and sowed kudimmus over it. The great gods gave me to rule from the city Taidu to the city Irridu, the city Eluhat and Mount Kašiyari in its entirety, the fortress of the city Sudu, the fortress of the city Harranu, to the bank of the Euphrates. As for the remainder of his people, I imposed upon them hoe, spade and basket. But as for him, I took out from the city Irridu his wife of the palace, his sons, his daughters and his people. Bound I brought them and his possessions to my city, Assur. I conquered, burnt and destroyed the city Irridu and the cities within the district of the city Irridu.

When I saw the deserted and uncultivated areas of the city Ta[idu]…I delineated its territory and therein founded a palace. I built it from top to bottom and deposited my steles.

In the future may a later prince restore it. May he restore my inscribed name to its place. Them Assur will listen to his prayers.

Standard Curse

Undated

 

Source: Grayson, ARI I, 60. Comment: This undated inscription is the only inscription which refers specifically to Shattuara and Wasashatta.  The conquest of Hanigalbat cities is however mentioned in the Standard Introduction, which occurs in dated inscriptions.

 

GRAYSON#4

At that time the ... of the city Taidu had become dilapidated and I removed its debris. I restored it. I rebuilt it from top to bottom and deposited my steles.

In the future may a later prince when that structure becomes old and dilapidated restore it. May he restore my inscrinbed name to its place. Then [Assur] will listen to its prayers. (as for) the one who [alters] my inscription and my name: May the [goddess] Ishtar, my mistress, bring about the defeat of [his land]. May he not stand firm before [his enemy]. May the god Adad [strike] his land [with] terrible [lightning and inflict] his land with want.

Undated

 

GRAYSON#5

see #3.

Undated

 

GRAYSON#6

see #3.

Undated  

 

GRAYSON#7 - construction of Step Gate, Assur

Standard Introduction

At that time the Step Gate of the temple of the god Assur, my lord, which is opposite the Gate of the Oath of the God of the Land and the Gate of the Judges and which was built (some time) ago, had become dilapidated, decrepit an shaky. I cleared that site down to the bottom of the foundation pit. I built the new structure with limestone and mortar from the city Ubase. I restored it and deposited my stele.  In the future may a later prince, when that site becomes old and dilapidated, repair it. May he restore my steles and my inscribed name to their places. Then the god Assur will listen to his prayers.

Standard Curse

Month of Muhur-ilani, day 20, eponym Šulmanu-qarrad.

GRAYSON#8 - Quay Wall, Assur

Standard Introduction

The quay wall which faces the River from the edge of the upper city at the Ea-šarru Gate, to the edge of the lower city. At the Tigris Gate; which through the (action of ) the water had become dilapidated and the flood had eroded away its limestone and baked brick; I refaced that quay wall with asphalt and baked brick and made it the thickness of 4 and ˝ bricks. I refaced the back of it with limestone and mortar from the city Ubase and deposited my steles.

In the future may a later prince, when that quay wall becomes old and dilapidated, repair it. May he restore my inscribed name to its place. Then the god Assur will listen to his prayers.

Standard Curse

Month of Sibbu, day …, eponym Ili-tarissina (Andarisina).

GRAYSON#9 - Quay Wall

Adad-nirari, king of the universe, strong king, king of Assyria, son of Arik-den-ili, king of Assyria, son of Enlil-nirari, also king of Assyria.

The quay wall, which faces the River from the edge of the upper city at the Ea-šarru Gate, to the edge of the lower city. At the Tigris Gate; which through the (action of) the water had become dilapidated and the flood had eroded away its limestone and baked brick; I refaced that quay wall with asphalt and baked brick and made it the thickness of 4 and ˝ bricks. I refaced the back of it with limestone and asphalt mortar.

 In the future may a later prince, when that quay wall becomes dilapidated and eroded by flood, restore it and reface it. May he restore my steles and my clay inscriptions to their places. Then the gods Assur and Adad will listen to his prayers.

As for the one who alters my steles and my name: may the god Assur, my lord, overthrow his sovereignty. May the god Adad, my lord, strike his land with terrible lightning and inflict his land with want. May he kill him, his people and his seed. May he not stand firm before his enemy and may he make his land look like ruin hills (created by) the deluge.

Month of Belat-ekallim, day 13, eponym Assur-ereš.

 Comment: Not standard introduction or curse.

GRAYSON #10 - wall of New City

Standard Introduction

At that time the wall of New City, which faces the River, which is opposite the tisaru, which Puzur-Assur, my forefather, a king who preceded me, had previously built, it was 2 ˝ bricks thick and 30 layers of brick high – had become dilapidated and was in ruin and eroded by flood: I cleared its face down to the foundation pit. I made it the thickness of 10 bricks (which were made) in my large brick mould. I laid its foundations on solid bedrock. I rebuilt (it) from top to bottom. I refaced with limestone, baked brick and asphalt and deposited my steles.

 In the future may a later prince, when that wall becomes old and dilapidated or eroded by flood, restore it. May he restore my steles and my inscribed name to their places. Then the god Assur will listen to his prayers.

Standard Curse

Month of Muhur-ilani, day 1, eponym Ana-assur-qalla, officer of the palace.

 

GRAYSON #13

Standard Introduction

At that time the great wall of New City, which was erected on a mound facing the [open country]; which stretches from the great wall of Inner City to all of [New City] as far as the River, which Puzur-Assur, my forefather, a king who preceded me, had previously built – to that wall Assur-bel-nišešu, also my forefather applied a facing; it again became dilapidated and the wall together with its gates and towers, Eriba-adad, vice-regent of the god Assur, also my forefather, a king who preceded me, reconstructed in some places and applied a facing in others; he rebuilt the ruined wall from top to bottom. The wall had become dilapidated and was in ruin.  I, Adad-nir[ari[, vice-regent of the god [Assur], restored and reconstructed the dilapidated and weakened (wall).  I rebuilt the ruined (wall) from top to bottom. I made it the thickness of 14 bricks (which were made) in my large brick mould and deposited my steles.

In the future may a later prince, when that wall becomes old and dilapidated, restore it. May he restore my inscribed name, my steles and my clay inscriptions to their places. Then the god Assur will listen to his prayers.

Standard Curse

Month of Qarratu, eponym Itti-ili-ašamšu

GRAYSON #14 - wall of Inner City

Adad-nirari, governor of the god Enlil, vice-regent of the god Assur, son of Arik-den-ili, governor of the god Enlil, vice-regent of the god Assur, son of Enlil-nirari, governor of the god Enlil, vice-regent of the god Assur.

At that time the wall of Inner City, had become dilapidated – the wall which previously my fathers, the kings who preceded me, had built and which is opposite the great new ziggurat of the god Assur, my lord, which Arik-den-ili, my father, had built. I cleared away its debris down to the foundation pit. I restored it, making it 10 bricks thick. I rebuilt (it) from top to bottom. I deposited my steles and my clay inscriptions.

In the future may a later prince, when that wall becomes dilapidated and he restores it, restore as I did. May he restore my inscribed name, my steles and my clay inscriptions to their places. Then the god Assur will listen to his prayers.

He who erases my inscribed name and writes his own name or discards my steles: may the god Assur, my lord, overthrow his sovereignty; may he slay him, his people and his seed and may he not stand firm before his enemy. May the goddess Ishtar, my mistress, bring about the defeat of his land. May the god Adad strike his land with terrible lightning and inflict his land with want.

Month of Sippu, eponym Assur-ereš<Abattu.

 

GRAYSON #15 - restoration of Temple of Ishtar

Adad-nirari, governor of the god Enlil, vice-regent of the god Assur, son of Arik-den-ili, governor of the god Enlil, vice-regent of the god Assur, son of Enlil-nirari, governor of the god Enlil, vice-regent of the god Assur.

At that time, the temple of the Assyrian Ishtar, my mistress, which Ilu-shuma, vice-regent of Assur, my forefather, son of Šalim-ahum, also vice-regent of Assur, had previously built and completed; that temple became dilapidated and Sargon,  vice-regent of Assur, son of Ikunum, also vice-regent of Assur, restored it; again it became dilapidated and Puzur-assur, vice-regent of Assur, my forefather, son of Assur-nirari, also vice-regent of Assur, restored it – that temple, its tower gates, the room of the šuhuru of the courtyard, the storeroom of the goddess Ishtar of the courtyard which is called the Inn of the Goddess Ishtar and the room of the goddess Ishhara of the courtyard, had again become dilapidated. At that time. I Adad-nirari, governor of the god Enlil, vice-regent of the god Assur, son of Arik-den-ili, governor of the god Enlil, vice-regent of the god Assur, son of Enlil-nirari, governor of the god Enlil, vice-regent of the god Assur. I constructed the weakened portions of that temple, I …. Its …. I strengthened its foundation with limestone. I removed the weakened (parts), the beams of the room of the šuhuru (together) with the support s and lashings as well as the beam of the storeroom of the goddess Ishtar and installed new beams. Thus I restored it and deposited my steles.

In the future may a later prince, when that temple becomes dilapidated and he restores it, restore my steles and my inscribed name to their places. Then the god Assur will listen to his prayers.

As for the one who removes my inscriptions and my name: may Assur, my lord, overthrow his sovereignty; may he destroy his name and his seed from the land. May the goddess Ishtar, my mistress, bring about the defeat of his land. May he not stand firm before his enemy. May the god Adad strike his land with terrible lightning and inflict his land with want.

Three dated versions: 

Month of Sin (4), day 1, eponym Ša-adad-ninu.

Month of Qarratu (2), eponym Ša-adad-ninu.

Month of Belat-ekallim (7), day 10, eponym Assur-dammiq.

GRAYSON #16

Standard Introduction

At that time, the palace of my city, Assur, which Assur-nadin-ahhe … of my forefathers, a king who preceded me, had previously built – the wall at the top of the door of the chapel which is opposite the terrace and which is within that palace, within which the dais of the god Assur, my lord, was built and annually the god Assur, my lord, proceeds to that dais to take up residence – that wall had become dilapidated. I removed its debris, renovated it, restored it and deposited my steles.

In the future may a later prince, when that wall becomes old and dilapidated, restore it. May he restore my inscribed name and my steles to their places. Then the god Assur will listen to his prayers.

Standard Curse

Month of Tanmartu [Kalmartu](3), day 20, eponym Ša-adad-ninu.

 

GRAYSON #19

Standard Introduction

At [that time the wall of the temple of the god Assur], my lord, which was adjacent to […] in which there was a drainage opening, [which was before the orchards] of the upper …., which the kings, [my fathers], my predecessors, previously [… had] built – that wal […had become] dilapidated. Its foundation [I strengthened. With baked brick and] asphalt I repaired (it). […] from top to bottom [I rebuilt it]….my steles and clay [inscriptions I deposited.]

Standard Curse

 

 

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