Records of the Past, 2nd Series, Vol. IV , ed. by A.H. Sayce, [1890], at sacred-texts.com
MONOLITH INSCRIPTION OF ARGISTIS, KING OF VAN
1. On departing [out] of the country of BIAS
2. [I conquered the country of KHU]sAS. On approaching the country of DIms
3. (and) the city of ZUAS, the city of ZUAS
4. belonging to the son of Diaus, I partitioned.
5. I set up a tablet in the country of the city of ZuAS.1
6. Among the ASQALAIANS 105 palace[s]
7. I dug up; 453 cities [I] partitioned.
8. The people of three countries [I] despoiled.
9. The men with fire [I] burnt.
10. In a part of the country the district of QALIS [I destroyed]
11. (as well as) the city of SASILUS 21n the country of the ASQALAIANS. [I carried away]
12. 15,181 children, 2734 men,
13. 10(?)604 women, 4426 [horses],
14. Io(?)478 oxen, (and) 73,7(00) [sheep].
15. The [two] kings I reduced to vassalage,3 (namely) Saski .. 4
16. the son of Ardarakis (and) Qabi ... the son of Baltul.
17. Governors (and) lawgivers I established. The king, the son of Dia(us),
r This had already been done by his father Menuas, whose inscription has been copied by Schulz and translated by myself (Sayce, xxx).
2 Sasilus is described by Menuas as ' ` a royal city " of the son of Diaus or Diaves, in the country called Dayaeni by the Assyrians.
3 Literally " I brought to my side" (va-dia-du-bi).
4 He is stated by Menuas to be " a native of the city of Khaldiris," a word which signifies " the Khaldirian " in Vannic, and shows that the Vannic language was spoken in the place.
18. I appointed governor. I changed his [name],
19. and he, the son of Diaus, to Argistis
20. brought 41 manehs of gold, 37 manehs [of silver],
21. I(?)0,000 manehs of bronze, 1000 war magazines, 300 oxen,
22. (and) 2(?)0,000 sheep; and he submitted to (my) laws.
23. In the [land] of the son of Diaus I established as tribute (and) offerings
24. [41 (?)] manehs of gold, io,000 manehs [of bronze],
25. ... oxen, 100 wild bulls, 300 sheep, (and) 300 war magazines.
26. The cavalry, the horses, (and) the officers [I] took (with me).
27. To the KHALDISES I prayed, to the powers supreme,
28. who have given the land of the ETIUIANS as a present
29. to the family of Argistis; to KHALDIS the giver,
30. to the KHALDISES, the supreme, the givers, to the children of KHALDIS,
31. the propitious, I prayed, even to (the gods) of Argistis
32. the son of Menuas; I brought offerings to the KHAL-DIS[ES].
33. Argistis says: The whole [of the country]
34. (and) the fortresses of the son of Diaus [I occupied].
35. I conquered the country of LUSAS, the country of Katarzas,
36. the country of the son of Erias, the country of GULU-TAKHIKHAS
37. (and) the country of the son of Uidhaerus.
38. I departed out of the country of ABUNIS; the king of LUSAS
39. I reduced to vassalage; as governor of the country of IGAS
40. … I appointed (him). He submitted to the laws of Argistis.
END OF VOL. IV