Sennacherib, the great king, mighty king, king of the universe, king of Assyria, king of the four regions of the world, favorite of the great gods.
Aššur and Ištar have given me an invincible weapon and have opened my hand for the destruction of the enemies of Assyria.
Trusting in their great might, I led my armies from one end of the earth to the other and brought in submission at my feet all princes, dwelling in palaces, of the four quarters of the world, and they assumed my yoke.
All that time I enlarged the site of Nineveh, my royal city.
I made its market-streets wide enough for a royal road and made the road shine like the day.
The wall and outer wall I caused to be skillfully constructed and raised them mountain high. I widened it most to 100 great cubits (c. 50 meters)
In days to come, that there might be no narrowing of the royal road, I had stelae made which stand facing each other. 52 great cubits I measured the width of the royal road, up to the Park Gate. If ever any one of the people who dwell in this city tears down his old house and builds a new one, and the foundation of his house encroaches upon the royal road, they shall hang him upon a stake over his house.
