In demanding Shalmaneser's help, Marduk-nadin-shumu had virtually thrown
on him the responsibility of bringing these turbulent subjects to order,
and the Assyrian monarch accepted the duties of his new position without
demur. He marched to Babylon, entered the city and went direct to the
temple of E-shaggil: the people beheld him approach with reverence their
deities Bel and Belit, and visit all the sanctuaries of the local gods,
to whom he made endless propitiatory libations and pure offerings.
He had worshipped Ninip in Kuta; he was careful not to forget Nabo of
Borsippa, while on the other hand he officiated in the temple of Ezida,
and consulted its ancient oracle, offering upon its altars the flesh
of splendid oxen and fat lambs. The inhabitants had their part in the
festival as well as the gods; Shalmaneser summoned them to a public
banquet, at which he distributed to them embroidered garments, and plied
them with meats and wine; then, after renewing his homage to the gods
of Babylon, he recommenced his campaign, and set out in the direction
of the sea. Baqani, the first of the Chaldaean cities which lay on his
route, belonged to Bit-Adini,* one of the tribes of Bit-Dakkuri; it
appeared disposed to resist him, and was therefore promptly dismantled
and burnt--an example which did not fail to cool the warlike
inclinations which had begun to manifest themselves in other parts of
Bit-Dakkuri.

* The site of Baqani is unknown; it should be sought for
between Lamlum and Warka, and Bit-Adini in Bit-Dakkuri
should be placed between the Shatt-et-Kaher and the Arabian
desert, if the name of Enzudi, the other royal town,
situated to the west of the Euphrates, is found, as is
possible, under a popular etymology, in that of Kalaat ain-
Said or Kalaat ain-es-Said in the modern maps.

He next crossed the Euphrates, and pillaged Enzudi, the fate of which
caused the remainder of Bit-Adini to lay down arms, and the submission
of the latter brought about that of Bit-Yakin and Bit-Amukkani. These
were all rich provinces, and they bought off the conqueror liberally:
gold, silver, tin, copper, iron, acacia-wood, ivory, elephants' skins,
were all showered upon the invader to secure his mercy. It must have
been an intense satisfaction to the pride of the Assyrians to be able
to boast that their king had deigned to offer sacrifices in the sacred
cities of Accad, and that he had been borne by his war-hor