Brugsch, Heinrich: Egypt under the pharaohs: a history derived entirely from the monuments (London, 1891)

Dtt xxv. RECOED OF ASSURE ANIPAL 411

owes the most important elucidation of the reign of this
king in Egypt, and of his wars against the great kings
of Assyria. Jules Oppert was the first who deciphered
the fragments relating to these wars, and brought out
the connection of their contents with the events in
Egypt. The subjoined important text is taken from his
work entitled ' Memoire sur les rapports de l'Egypte et
de l'Assyrie dans l'antiquite eclaircis par letude des
textes cuneiformes' (Paris, 1869) :—

Recohd of Assurbanipal.

(I.) In my first expedition I went against Muzur (Egypt) and
Meluhha (Meroe). Tarquu, the king of Muzur and Ku-u-si (Ethi-
opia), whom Asur-ah-idin (Assarhaddon), the father who begat me,
had subdued, returned out of his land. Trusting in his strength
{lit. hands) he despised the commandments of Assur and Istar, the
great gods, my lords. His heart was hardened, and he sinned of
his own will (lit. of himself). The kings, satraps, and generals,
whom Assarhaddon, my father, had set over the kingdom of Egypt,
were driven out by him.

(II.) They betook themselves to Ninua (Nineveh). Against such
deeds my heart was moved and my bile (lit. liver) was stirred up.
I numbered my army and my whole forces, with which the great
gods had filled my hands, to bring help to the kings, satraps,
generals, and servants, who were expecting my presence (lit. face).
I set forth speedily and came to the city Karbanit (Canopus).
When Tarquu, the king of Egypt and Ethiopia, in the city of
Memphis, heard of the arrival of my expedition, he prepared for
battle his munitions of war, and counted the host of his warriors.

(III.) Tarquu, king of Egypt and Ethiopia, despised the gods.
He put in motion his strength to take possession of Egypt. He
disregarded the commandments of the great god Assur, my lord.
He trusted in his own strength, and did not observe his own
treaties, which my father who begat me had made (with him). He
came from Ethiopia and entered Memphis, and took that city for
himself. Upon the Assyrians (lit. men of Assur), who were servants
m Egypt expecting my presence, whom Assarhaddon, my father,
had set over the kingdom in it (Egypt), he ordered his army to
inflict death, imprisonment, and plunder.

A messenger came in haste to Nineveh and.......On

account of such deeds my heart was moved and my bile was stirred.
I was incensed, and I ordered, by an imperative decree, the Tartan