I built thereon a palace with halls of cedar, cypress, juniper, boxwood, mulberry, pistachio and tamarisk; this I made my royal dwelling for the everlasting enjoyment of my lordship.
Politicians
Ashurnasirpal II
Third king of the Neo-Assyrian Empire (r. 883-859 BCE). He carried Assyrian arms to the Mediterranean, refounded the capital at Kalhu (Nimrud) and codified royal ideology — while boasting in his annals of mutilation.
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Ashurnasirpal II's Other Quotes
Their men young and old I took prisoners. Of some I cut off their feet and hands; of others I cut off the ears noses and lips; of the young men's ears I made a heap; of the old men's heads I made a minaret. I exposed their heads as a trophy in front of their city. The male children and the female children I burned in flames; the city I destroyed, and consumed with fire.
I resettled them in their abandoned towns and houses. I imposed more tribute and tax on them than ever before: horses, mules, oxen, sheep, wine and labor.
Ashur-nasir-apli, great king, mighty king, king of the universe, king of Assyria, son of Tukulti-Ninurta, great king, mighty king, king of Assyria.