Kelishin (A 3-11)
The Kelishin stele once stood in its original stone base at the Kelishin Pass in the northern Zagros Range, on the road between Ushnaviyeh (Ushnu) and Rowanduz, which marks the border between Iran and Iraq. “Kel-i-shin,” meaning “blue pillar,” refers to the bluish diorite stone. The stele has a height of 175 cm, a width of 62 cm, and a depth of 31 cm. Its base measures 130 x 140 cm and is 36 cm in height. In 1981, the stele was moved to the Urmia Museum, where it remains on display. The stele bears a bilingual Urartian-Assyrian inscription from the reign of Išpuini and Minua. The Urartian inscription is carved on the east-facing side and the Assyrian on the west-facing side. Its content glorifies a cultic journey by the Urartian rulers to the temple of the national god Haldi in the city of Ardini (Assyrian Muṣaṣir), a site located in present-day Iraqi Kurdistan.
Transliteration:
obverse
1 [i-ú d]⸢al⸣-di-ka-a-i ⸢URUar⸣-[di-ni-di]
2 [nu-na-li m]⸢iš-pu⸣-ú-i-ni-ni md⸢sar5⸣-[duri(BÀD)-e-hí]
3 [MAN DAN-NU MAN] ⸢KUR⸣šú-ra-a-ú-e MAN KURbi-⸢a-i-na⸣-[ú-e]
4 [a-lu]-si ⸢URU⸣ṭu-uš-pa-a URU mmì-⸢nu⸣-[a-ni]
5 [miš]-⸢pu-ú-i⸣-ni-hi ia-⸢ra-ni⸣-ni ši-di-iš-⸢tú⸣-[ni?]
6 [ dal]-⸢di-i-e tar⸣-a-i-⸢nu-ú⸣-a-di te-ru-[ú-ni?]
7 ⸢DUB-te⸣ [BÁRA?]-ka-a-i [m]⸢iš-pu-ú⸣-i-⸢ni⸣-[še]
8 [mdsar5]-⸢duri(BÀD)-hi-ni⸣-še ⸢na-hu-ni ú⸣-ri-iš-[hi]
9 [ga-zu]-li ni-ri-bi ga-zu-li na-hu-⸢ni⸣
10 [ÙRI].⸢GALMEŠ⸣ URUDU ⸢na-hu-ni⸣ šá-ni URUDU na-hu-ni ⸢du?⸣-[ni?]
11 [na-hu]-⸢ni⸣ ni-⸢ri⸣-be ⸢tar-a⸣-a-e a-da-⸢ni⸣
12 [te]-⸢ru-ni⸣ d⸢al-di⸣-na KÁ a-ru-⸢ni⸣ dal-⸢di⸣-[e]
13 [e]-⸢ú⸣-ri-⸢i-e⸣ ul-gu-ši-ia-⸢ni⸣ [e-di-ni]
14 [na-hu]-⸢ni⸣ 1 LIM 1 ⸢ME⸣ 12 ⸢GU4⸣MEŠ 9 LIM 20 UDU.MÁŠ-li [x]
15 [UDU].⸢NÍTAMEŠ e?⸣-gu-⸢ru⸣-hí 10 LIM 2 LIM ⸢4 ME 80?⸣
16 [UDU.MÁŠ] GALMEŠ at-qa-na-ni i-ú dal-di-ka-⸢a⸣-[i]
17 [URU]⸢ar-di⸣-ni-di ⸢nu-na⸣-be miš-pu-ú-i-ni-[ni]
18 [md]⸢sar5⸣-duri(BÀD)-e-hí MAN DAN-NU MAN KURšu-ra-a-⸢ú⸣-[e]
19 [MAN KUR]⸢bi-a⸣-i-na-⸢ú⸣-e a-lu-⸢si⸣ URUṭu-⸢uš-pa-a⸣ [URU]
20 [ dal]-di-ni-⸢ni uš-gi⸣-ni ⸢i-na⸣-ni bur-ga-⸢na⸣-[ni]
21 [x]-x-ni-i ⸢uš-la⸣-a-ni ⸢ba⸣-ú-ši-ni-[li]
22 [ha-a-ri]-⸢e⸣-di d⸢al-di-na KÁ⸣ te-ra-⸢a-i-ni⸣-[li]
23 [x x] ⸢na?-hí?⸣ URU⸢ar⸣-di-ni dhal-di-na-ni [KÁ]
24 [ni-ri]-⸢be e⸣-gu-ru-hu ha-i-ni ha-⸢ú?⸣-[x]
25 [x x x]-li ⸢i-ú⸣ i-ú d⸢hal⸣-di-ka-[a-i]
26 [URU]⸢ar⸣-di-ni-di ⸢nu⸣-na-a-⸢li⸣ m⸢iš⸣-pu-ú-i-⸢ni⸣-[ni]
27 [md]⸢sar5⸣-duri(BÀD)-e-⸢hí⸣ mmì-nu-a m⸢iš⸣-pu-ú-i-⸢ni⸣-[hí]
28 [at-qa]-⸢na⸣-di-tu dhal-⸢di⸣-e ni-ri-be ti-ia-i-tú ⸢a⸣-[lu-še]
29 [ni-ri]-be dhal-di-na-ni ⸢KÁ ha⸣-ú-li-i-e ⸢na?⸣-[x-(x)]
30 [áš?]-⸢du?-li-ni a⸣-lu-⸢še a-i⸣-ni-e-i ⸢ú-li⸣-[e-i]
31 [ha-i]-⸢di⸣ [x-x]-ia-me du-li-i-⸢e⸣ x [x (x)]
32 [x-x-x]-x-⸢li-i-ni⸣ a-lu-⸢si-i⸣-na-a-ni x [x]
33 [x x x?]-⸢ta⸣-ni ⸢URU⸣ar-di-ni URU ha-⸢šu⸣-li-⸢i⸣-[e]
34 [ni-ri-be] ⸢ dhal⸣-di-<na>-ni KÁ a-i-še-e-i ⸢ha-i⸣-[di]
35 [a-lu]-⸢še du-li⸣-i-e mì ku-ú-i ⸢ dhal-di⸣-[še]
36 [zi-il]-be ⸢qi-ú⸣-ra-a-e-di ku-lu-di-⸢i⸣-[e]
37 [a-lu]-⸢še⸣ DUB-te i-ni ⸢su⸣-ú-i-du-li-i-⸢e⸣ [i-nu-ka-ni?]
38 [e-si-i]-⸢ni⸣ a-⸢lu⸣-še ip-hu-li-i-e a-⸢lu⸣-še a-⸢i⸣-[ni-e-i]
39 [i-ni]-⸢li⸣ du-li-i-e ti-⸢i-ú⸣-li-i-e ⸢ú-li⸣-[i]
40 [tú]-⸢ri⸣ mì-⸢i d⸣hal-di-iš dIM-še dUTU-še DINGIRMEŠ-⸢še⸣
41 [URUar]-⸢di-ni⸣-ni-na-še zi-⸢li⸣-bi qi-ra-e-di ⸢ku-lu-di⸣-[e]
reverse
1 [ki-i ina] ⸢pa-an d⸣hal-di-e ana URUmu-ṣa-[ṣir DU-ú-ni]
2 [miš]-⸢pu⸣-i-ni A m⸢ dsar5⸣-duri(BÀD) MAN GAL-⸢ú MAN⸣ [dan-nu MAN ŠÚ]
3 [MAN KUR]⸢na⸣-i-ri GAR URUṭu-uš-pa-an ⸢URU⸣ [ù?]
4 [mmì]-⸢nu⸣-a DUMU miš-pu-ú-i-⸢ni⸣ pár-⸢rak⸣-[ku]
5 [uš]-ṭu-bu ana dhal-di-e ⸢ina⸣ UGU ⸢GÍR⸣-[ni]
6 [e?-li?]-⸢i-nu⸣ GAR-an ṭup-pu ina IGI pár-⸢rak⸣-[ki]
7 [m]⸢iš⸣-pu-ú-i-ni A mdsar5-[duri(BÀD)]
8 [na-ši] be-le SIG5MEŠ bi–bu ⸢SIG5⸣ na-[ši]
9 [ÙRI].⸢GALMEŠ–ni⸣ šá URUDU na-ši ÚTUL URUDU na-ši [x x?]
10 [na-ši] [bi]-bu ma-ʾa-du-tú tu-ru GAR-an ina mi-[hir]
11 [KÁMEŠ] ⸢šá⸣ dhal–di-⸢e⸣ [i]-⸢ti⸣-din ana dhal-⸢di⸣-[e]
12 [EN] ⸢ana⸣ pu-ut TI.LA-šú ⸢na⸣-[ši 1] ⸢LIM⸣ 1 ⸢ME⸣ 12 ⸢GU4⸣MEŠ
13 [9 LIM] ⸢1 ME 20 UDU.MÁŠ.A?⸣MEŠ ⸢UDU.NÍTA⸣MEŠ pa-áš-⸢ru⸣ [10] ⸢LIM⸣ 2 LIM 4 ⸢ME⸣ [80]
14 [UDU].⸢MÁŠ GAL⸣MEŠ e-qu-te ki-[i] ⸢ina⸣ pa-an dhal-⸢di⸣-[e]
15 [ana URU]mu-ṣa-ṣir DU-an-ni miš–pu-ú-i-ni A mdsar5-⸢BÀD⸣
16 [MAN GAL]-ú ⸢MAN dan⸣-nu MAN ŠÚ ⸢MAN KURna-i⸣-ri GAR URUṭu–uš-pa-[an URU]
17 [ina] ⸢e?⸣-né-⸢e?⸣-ni d[hal]-⸢di⸣-e an–ni–ú x-[x x]
18 [xx]-⸢ši⸣ an-na-te-[ma] ⸢INIM⸣MEŠ ina UGU GÍR-[ni]
19 [ina pa]-⸢an⸣ KÁMEŠ šá dhal–di–e ⸢INIM?⸣MEŠ
20 [šak]-na–te ⸢ina⸣ [URU]mu-ṣa-ṣir TA lìb–bi KÁ[MEŠ]
21 [šá] ⸢ d⸣hal–di-[e] bi–bu ki-i pa-áš-⸢ri ÍL⸣-[ú]
22 [na]-⸢ši⸣ i-du-⸢nu⸣ INIMMEŠ ki-i ina pa-an dhal-⸢di⸣-[e]
23 [ana] ⸢URU⸣mu-⸢ṣa⸣-ṣir il-lik-ú-ni-[ni]
24 [m]⸢iš⸣-pu-ú-i-ni A mdsar5-[duri(BÀD)]
25 [m]⸢mì⸣-nu–a DUMU miš-pu-ú-<i>-⸢ni⸣
26 [a]-⸢na⸣ e-qu-te ú-sa-li-ku bi-⸢bu⸣ šá d[hal–di–e]
27 [iq-ti-bi]-⸢ú ma⸣-a šá bi-bu TA lìb–bi ⸢KÁ⸣MEŠ
28 [šá] [ d]hal-⸢di–e ÍL⸣-ú-[ni]
29 [ú-qi]-li-li ṣi-ʾa-šú ⸢šúm⸣-mu me–ni-⸢me⸣-[ni]
30 [i]-⸢ta⸣-mar ki-i ÍL-ú-[ni]
31 [šúm?]-⸢mu?⸣ ú-pa-za-ar ina [ták]-⸢li-te⸣ [x?]
32 [x-x]-di-nu šá ina lìb-bi URU URU⸢mu-ṣa⸣-[ṣir]
33 [šúm?]-⸢mu?⸣ i-si-me ki-i bi-[bu]
34 [TA] lìb-⸢bi KÁ⸣[MEŠ] šá d[hal]-⸢di⸣-[e]
35 [x i]-⸢ni⸣-[iš]-⸢šú⸣-ni ⸢šúm⸣-mu [i-ta]-mar
36 [dhal-di]-⸢e⸣ [NUMUN]-šú ina UGU KI lu-[x x]
37 [ṭup-pu] an-ni-tu i-da-ʾi-ip-⸢ú⸣-[ni]
38 [TA] ⸢lìb⸣-bi ⸢maš-ka-ni⸣ an-⸢ni⸣-[i]
39 [šá i-hap]-pu-ú-ni ⸢šá a⸣-na me-ni-me-ni i-qa-⸢bi⸣-[ú-ni]
40 [ma-a] ⸢a-lik hi⸣-pi d⸢hal⸣-di-e d[IM?]
41 [ dUTU?] DINGIRMEŠ-ni šá URUmu-ṣa-[ṣir]
42 [NUMUN-šú] ina UGU KI-ti lu-la/li? x x
Translation:
obv. (Urartian)
“(1) When Išpuini, [son of] Sa[rduri, strong king, king] of the lands, king of the Bia lands, [lo]rd of Ṭušpa-City, and Minua, son of Išpuini, in the presence of the god Aldi [came to] the city A[rdini], (5) [he(?)] built a shrine for the god [Al]di to the tarainua. [He?] set up [an inscri]ption before the [shrine]. (7) Išpuini, son of [Sar]duri, brought along superb weapons, superb livestock. (10) He brought along [stan]dards of bronze, he brought along a vase of bronze, he brought along a d[uni?], (11) he brought along much livestock (and) [pla]ced it at the gate of the god Aldi. (12b) For the god Aldi, his (or: the) Lord, for his life he [brou]ght along 1112 oxen, 9020 kids and separated(?) rams, 12480 superb [kids] (for) the sacrifice. (16b) When in the presence of the god Aldi Išpuini, son of Sarduri, strong king, king of the lands, king of the Bia lands, lord of Ṭušpa-[City], came to the [city] Ardini (20) through the favor of the god Aldi this pen(?) . . . words towards [the way] were placed at the gate of the god Aldi. (23) [. . . ] . . . (in?) the city Ardini from the [gate] of the god Haldi [he?] took [live]stock separated(?) from(?) . . . (25) [. . .] When in the presence of the god Haldi Išpuini, son of Sarduri, (and) Minua, [son of] Išpuini, came [to the city] Ardini, (28) they [off]ered for the god Haldi livestock (and) they said: ‘(As for the one) who takes away the [live]stock from the gate of the god Aldi and takes (them) into possession, (as for the one) who anyone else [tak]es . . . . ., makes (. . .) by the lords . . . (33) . . . (if in?) the city Ardini (someone) may hear that somebody took away [livestock] from the gate of the god Haldi, (35) (as for the one) who did this, may the god Haldi annihilate (his) [pro]geny from the earth. (37) (As for the one) [w]ho removes this inscription from [this same pla]ce, (as for the one) who destroys it, (as for the one) who makes anyone else do [the]se things, and says: “go, [destr]oy”, may the god Haldi, the Weather-God, the Sun-God (and all) the gods of the city Ardini annihilate his offspring from the earth’.
rev. (Assyrian)
(1) [When in the] presence of the god Haldi [Išp]uini, son of Sarduri, great king, [strong] ki[ng, king of the world, king of the land] Nairi, governor of Ṭušpa-City, and [Mi]nua, son of I[šp]uini, [came] to the city Muṣa[ṣir], they made sound a shr[ine] for the god Haldi on the [ro]ad above (and) he put an inscription in front of the shrine. (6) Išpuini, son of Sar[duri], brought splendid weapons, he brought good livestock, he brought bronze [stand]ards, he brought a bronze vase, he brought [ . . . ], (10) [(and) he brought] much livestock. He put a tūru in the front of the [gate] of the god Haldi. He offered them to the god Haldi, [(his) Lord], for his (own) life. (12b) He brought 1112 oxen as a sacrifice, and 9120 goats and sheep, and 12480 big goats(?) for the offering(?). (14) When to the presence of the god Haldi in Muṣaṣir came Išpuini, son of Sarduri, [great king], strong king, king of the world, king of the Nairi lands, governor of Ṭušpa-[City], through the [fa]vor(?) of the god Haldi he did this [. . .], (and) these words have been placed on the road before the gate of the god Haldi. (20b) In Muṣaṣir, from the gate of the god Haldi they carried away livestock like separated (animals). (22) When Išpuini, son of Sarduri, and Minua, son of Išpuini, came [to the ci]ty Muṣaṣir, they brought livestock for the equte sacrifice to the god Haldi. (27) [Th]ey spoke as follows: (As for anyone) who carries away the livestock from the gate of the god Haldi, (as for the one) who reduces the flock, (29b) (or) if anyone sees that (someone) take(s) it away, [i]f he hides it from revelation . . . who in the city Muṣaṣir, (r 33) [i]f he hears that somebody takes the livestock away [from] the gate of the god [Hal]di, if he sees it/him, may [the god Hald]i [annihilate] his [offspring] from (the face of) the earth. (37) (As for the one) who removes this [inscription] from its place, (as for the one) [who brea]kes it, (as for the one) who says to someone else: (40) ‘go, destroy’, may the god Haldi, the [Weather-God, the Sun-God] (and all) the gods of the city Muṣa[ṣir scatter his seed] on the earth.”
References:
Avetisyan, P., R. Dan & Y. H. Grekyan (eds.) 2019. Over the Mountain and Far Away (Fs Salvini), Oxford (p. xv, Fig. 4).
Benedict, W. C. 1961. “The Urartian-Assyrian Inscription of Kelishin,” JAOS 81, 359–385.
Salvini, M. 2008–2018. Corpus dei Testi Urartei, v. 1 pp. 141–144, v. 3 pp. 90–97, v. 5 pp. 71–77.
Salvini, M. 2014. “The Spread of the Cuneiform Culture to the Urartian North (IX–VII Century BCE),” in Melammu : The Ancient World in an Age of Globalization, ed. M. J. Geller. Berlin, 299–328 (Fig. 14.13).
eCUT – Electronic Corpus of Urartian Texts (https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/ecut/Q006896).
CTU A 3-11 = CICh 12 = HchI 9 = UKN 19 = KUKN 30
Image Sources:
P. Avetisyan et al., 2009
M. Salvini, 2008, 2014