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From Nabû-Nasir to Šamaš-šuma-ukin (ABC 1)

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Sargon on a relief from Khorsabad, now in the Louvre.

The Chronicle on the Reigns from Nabû-Nasir to Šamaš-šuma-ukin (ABC 1) is one of the historiographical texts about ancient Assyria and Babylonia. It deals with the reigns of the Assyrian kings Nabû-Nasir (747-734) to the accessions of Aššurbanipal and Šamaš-šuma-ukin in 668. The first part can be found here; for a very brief introduction to the literary genre of chronicles, go here.

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Translation of Column II

1 The twelfth year of Marduk-apla-iddina (710/709): Sargon went down to Akkad and

2 did battle against Marduk-apla-iddina.

3 Marduk-apla-iddina retreated before him and fled to Elam.[1]

4 For twelve years Marduk-apla-iddina ruled Babylon.

5 Sargon ascended the throne in Babylon.

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6-11 [2] The first year of Sennacherib (704/703) [...] Marduk-apla-iddina [...] [too broken]

12 The second year of Sennacherib (703/702), he went down to Akkad. Before Kiš, he joined battle with Marduk-apla-iddina. Before him, Marduk-apla-iddina retreated and fled to Guzummanu. In Babylon, Sennacherib entered the palace of Marduk-apla-iddina and the royal treasury [...] he plundered, but

19 Sennacherib did not disperse the Babylonians.

20 He pursued Marduk-apla-iddina

21 [...] the territory [...] but Marduk-apla-iddina remained undiscoverable. Sennacherib plundered his land and

22 Larak and Sarrabanu he took.

23 When he withdrew, Sennacherib put Bêl-ibni on the throne in Babylon.

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24 The first year of Bêl-ibni (702/701): Sennacherib

25 ravaged Hirimma and Hararatum.

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26 The third year of Bêl-ibni (700/699): Sennacherib, to Akkad

27 he went down and plundered Akkad.

28 He led away to Assyria Bêl-ibni and his officers.

29 For three years Bêl-ibni ruled Babylon.

30 Sennacherib, Aššur-nadin-šumi, his son,

31 he put on the throne in Babylon.

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32 The first year of Aššur-nadin-šumni (699/698): Šutur-Nahhunte, king of Elam,

33 was seized by his brother, Hallušu-Inšušinak and Hallušu-Inšušinak shot the door in his face.[3]

34 For eighteen years Šutur-Nahhunte ruled Elam.

35 Hallušu-Inšušinak ascended the throne in Elam.

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36 The sixth year of Aššur-nadin-šumni (694/693): Sennacherib

37 went down to Elam and Nagitum, Hilmu,

38 Pillatum, and Huppapanu, he ravaged and

39 plundered. Afterwards, Hallušu-Inšušinak, king of Elam,

40 marched to Akkad and entered Sippar at the end of the month Tašrîtu.

41 He slaughtered its inhabitants. Šamaš did not go out of Ebabbar.

42 Aššur-nadin-šumni was taken prisoner and transported to Elam.

43 For six years, Aššur-nadin-šumni ruled Babylon.

44 The king of Elam put^[45] Nergal-ušezib in Babylon

45 on the throne. He effected an Assyrian retreat.

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46 The first year of Nergal-ušezib (693/692): On the sixteenth day of the month Du'ûzu

47 Nergal-ušezib captured Nippur, plundered and sacked it.

48 On the first day of the month Tašrîtu the army of Assyria entered Uruk and

>> To Column 3 >>

Note 1:
He was to return later.

Note 2:
For the reconstruction of lines 6-18, see John Brinkman, "The Babylonian Chronicle revisited" in T. Abusch, J. Huehnergard, P. Steinkeller (eds.): Lingering over words. Studies in ancient Near Eastern literature in honor of William L. Moran (1990 Atlanta).

Note 3:
Probably, this odd statement means that he was taken prisoner.

Assyrian and
Babylonian Chronicles

Literature

Mesopotamian Kings
Chronology

Online 2006
Latest revision: 1 April 2006

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