us. Th en the prophets and the major priests entered into
the temple, that they might perform every rite of his
purifi cation and his censing. Th en the commanders of His
Majesty and the offi cials of the palace entered into the
temple and put themselves upon their bellies before this
god. Th ey said, “We have come to you, O Amon-Re, Lord
of the Th rones of It-Tjwy, Resident in Napata, that you
might give to us a lord, to revive us, to build the temples
of the gods of Kemet and Rekhyt, and to present divine
off erings. Th at benefi cent offi ce is in your hands—may
you give it to your son whom you love!”
Th en they off ered the king’s brothers before this god,
but he did not take one of them. For a second time there
was off ered the king’s brother, son of Amon, and child
of Mut, Lady of Heaven, the Son of Re, Aspalta, living
forever. Th en this god, Amon-Re, Lord of the Th rones
of It-Tjwy, said, “He is your king. It is he who will revive
you. It is he who will build every temple of Kemet and
Rekhyt. It is he who will present their divine off erings.
His father was my son, the Son of Re, Inle-Amon, the
triumphant. His mother is the king’s sister, king’s
mother, Kandake of Kush, and Daughter of Re, Nensela,
living forever, He is your lord.”From: Schäfer, A History of Ancient
Aethiopian Kingship (London, 1905),
pp. 81–100.- Sargon, the mighty king, king of Akkadê am I,
- My mother was lowly; my father I did not know;
- Th e brother of my father dwelt in the mountain.
- My city is Azupiranu, which is situated on the bank of
the Purattu [Euphrates], - My lowly mother conceived me; in secret she brought
me forth. - She placed me in a basket of reeds; she closed my
entrance with bitumen. - She cast me upon the rivers, which did not overfl ow me.
- Th e river carried me; it brought me to Akki, the
irrigator. - Akki, the irrigator, in the goodness of his heart lifted
me out; - Akki, the irrigator, as his own son brought me up;
- Akki, the irrigator, as his gardener appointed me.
- When I was a gardener, the goddess Ishtar loved me,
- And for four years I ruled the kingdom.
- Th e black-headed peoples I ruled, I governed;
- Mighty mountains with axes of bronze I destroyed.
16. I ascended the upper mountains;
17. I burst through the lower mountains.
18. Th e country of the sea I besieged three times;
19. Dilmun I captured.
20. Unto the great Dur-ilu I went up,...
21 I altered....
22. Whatsoever king shall be exalted after me,
23....................................
24. Let him rule; let him govern the black-headed
peoples.
25. Mighty mountains with axes of bronze let him
destroy;
26. Let him ascend the upper mountains;
27. Let him break through the lower mountains.
28. Th e country of the sea let him besiege three time.;
29. Dilmun let him capture;
30. To great Dur-ilu let him go up.
From: George A. Barton, Archaeology and
the Bible, 3rd ed. (Philadelphia: American
Sunday-School Union, 1920), p. 310.Th e Legend of Sargon of Akkad, ca. 2300 b.c.e.
Th e Middle Eastempires and dynasties: primary source documents 423