ABSTRACT
WHILST these victories have been won for him, Assurbanipal has not been inactive in the palace of Arbela. He has banqueted, hunted, sacrificed to Ishtar even more often than his generals have marched, pillaged, and given battle. He has even received foreign embassies, to whom he has displayed his booty and paraded his success. Rousa, the king of Urartu, has sent his nobles to conclude a peace. To Assyria U rartu is no longer the formidable enemy that Tiglath-Pileser III. and Sargon had so much trouble in defeating. Its forces have been exhausted in the struggle, and some tribes from the west are contending with it for the cantons of the Euphrates, over which its authority has extended for many centuries. In order to concentrate all his strength against them, Rousa wishes to remain on good terms with his neighbour in Nineveh; the friendship, or, at least, the neuttality, of Assyria is well worth a few presents and a few words of praise, even of submission. Assurbanipal received the ambassadors in a public audience, and showed them the two Susian en voys, U mbadara and N abudamiq, in
chains. He wishes to give them a practical lesson, showing the danger of provoking his wrath, and, consequently, the advantages which foreign sovereigns will gain by retaining his favour. The Armenians retire, properly impressed, and after their departure Assurbanipal resumes his life of indolence and pleasure.
