[01] Recent archaeological excavations have concentrated on Khirbat en-Nahas, inside Jordan, as a copper producing site interpreted as an Edomite location belonging to the time of King Solomon. The dating was accomplished on the basis of the `massive fortifications, metal production facilities and more than 100 building complexes, as well as Egyptian scarabs of the 13th to 11th centuries BC'. The Egyptian scarabs, if typical for the 18th dynasty period, may actually indicate dates between 1000 to 800 BC; if the 19th and 20th dynasties (Ramses II & III) time are included it would include the late 7th - 4th century BC. [BAR, May/Jun 2005, p. 14.]
[02] An inscription of Adad-nirari reads: "I built administrative buildings throughout my land. I increased grain stores over those of former times. ... I increased the number of horses broken to the yoke. ..." H.W.F. Saggs, The Greatness that was Babylon, NY, 1962, p. 94.
[03] The reign length of Tutankhamun is usually given as 10 years which is supported by a cache of 36 amphorae/jars in his tomb with hieratic labels and with dates ranging from the 31st year of Amenhotep III to the 10th year of Tutankhamun. See Bryant G. Wood, Egyptian Amphorae in BA, June 1987, p. 75-(78)-83.
[04] According the investigation of F.J. Giles it is possible that Smenkhare did not have any sole reign after Akhnaton. F.J. Giles, Ikhnaton, p. 95-102.
[05] A king named Ammizaduga, according to Dean Hickman, reigned in Babylon some 94 years after Hammurabi (ca. 967-925 BC).
[06] The Euphrates is described as being often 300 to 400 yards wide between Jerablus (Carchemish) and the chiefly Kurdish beehive constructed, treeless village of Tel Ahmar (Ahuni's capital Til-Barsip), a site explored by D.G. Hogarth, 14 miles downstream from Jerablus. In the summer it flows about 2 miles an hour, in the winter and spring flood time nearly twice as fast. [See R. C. Thompson in PSBA, `Tel-Barsip, Its Cuneiform Inscriptions,' Feb. 14, 1914, p. 66-67-71. The article states that terns and ibis (kelinak in Turkish) of Birejik fly past in the area. The villages attracted them because of `Hittie' and a few cuneiform inscriptions. These inscriptions show that it was `Kar-Sulmanuasarid', a name given by Shalmaneser II for Til-Barsip. ]
Two lion sculpturs were found at the location of Til-Barsip. They were translated to read:
"O Aššur, great lord, king of the [great] gods ... Anu, powerful, chiefest, begetter of the gods ... Bęl, father of the gods, lord of the lands ... Ea, the wise, the king of the deep, who openest [the ear] ... ; Marduk, the ruler of the gods (devils); lord of omens, the ... [of the gods]...; Nabű, the scribe of E-saggil, who holdest the tablest of destiny [of the gods] ...; [Sin] ... agreement lord of the disk, who brightenest the sky (the sun); Ištar, lady of battle, perfect [in warlike ordinance]; Gula, lady of healing, [mistress] great, the wife of the hero of the gods, the son of Bęl, the mighty ...; (Shalmaneser?) the great king(?) [king(?)] of nations(?) ...(n1) who has swept the lands of Hatti, Gutî , and all the lands of the sea [from] the shore of the great sea(?)(n2) of the Setting Sun ... Sun ... who has defeated the lands of Musru and Urartu ... with its people; who have swept the land of Kittu' ...(n3) the lands of Harutu (and) Labdudu, effecting their subjection, When ... in Ura[rtu(?)(n4) (some enemy) trusted(?)] [in] the number of the army of his(?){n5) (some enemy trusted(?) nor had he approached any former king (for friendship), but revolted and [asked] not [for peace(?), and] had not accepted(?) (it); he directed the whole of his army against my land dot fight; they destroyed(n6) ... his nobles. ... Ninkarnunna(?) the mother of E-Šarra, I besought(?) .... (my general) to the midst of that mountain drew nigh; he was victorious; with great booty, spoil, great weapons(?)(n7) and(?) the weapon(?) ... he blew(n8) like a fierce windstorm that breaks(n9) the [trees(?)]; his [troops] against him like a hawk(n10) he let fly; his defeat(?) he effected. Then the remainder of his forces were all destroyed . . . and he himself like a thief went out from his camp. His royal treasure . . . in (their) hands they took. In those days two mighty lions in the great gate of the city Kar-Šulmanu-ašarid, The city of my rule - I proclaimed their names . . . The name of the one "... of fierce ..., of irresistible attack," The name of the other "Glorious(?) ... [which causeth to attain] the heart's desire." They stand ... Saviour .... for my royaly(?) [I set up(?)]." [Ibid., p. 74; Plate of lion inscription is plate VI, p. 75]. -- Notes: (n1) The sign ... a bat may be possible ... a kur, i.e. [mMarduk]-apalusur of the land of Suhai, between the Balihi and the Habur rivers, who brought tribute to Shalamaneser II. But it does not seem probable.;
(n2) The character is undoubtedly `uh', and cannot be read tam-tim with rabîtu(tu) following.;
(n3) The country at the end of this line might read Kit-bu-', Kit-tu-' or possibly U-tu-' or U-bu.;
(n4) Doubtful restoration: it might be ina šadű(u) ra-[bu-u] "in the [great] mountain."
(n5) Kit(?)=pašu doubtful; but the characters are fairly clear.;
(n6) I-nu-ru for i-ni-ru?;
(n7) It is possible that we should read "narkabâti", `chariots' instead of ^isukakki, `weapons.';
(n8) My copy has i-zi-is for the first word, with the iz doubtful. It is probable this should be ka.;
(n9) Murišat, See Muss-Arnolt, `Dictionary.' 974, b.;
(n10) Anzaniš, adverb from anzű. It is noticeable that Shalmaneser (Balaw, Col. III, 5) in his final campaign against Ahuni, king of Til-Barsip, uses this rare word in a similar context. It is uncertain whether the king's general or the enemy is the subject in II. 14-16. Abikti-šu, at the end of the line is merely a suggested reading for the characters in my copy.