For two consecutive years he wasted with fire and sword the "upper" or northern provinces, taking the cities of Kurri-Galzu--now Akkerkuf--Sippara of the Sun, and Sippara of Anunit (the Sepharvaim or "two Sipparas" of the Hebrews), and Hupa or Opis, on the Tigris; and finally capturing Babylon itself, which, strong as it was, proved unable to resist the invader.

On his return be passed up the valley of the Euphrates, and took several cities from the Tsukhi.

But here, it would seem that he suffered a reverse.

Merodach-iddiu-akhi, his opponent, if he did not actually defeat his army, must, at any rate, have greatly harassed it on its retreat; for he captured an important part of its baggage.

Indulging a superstition common in ancient times, Tiglath-Pileser had carried with him in his expedition certain images of gods, whose presence would, it was thought, secure victory to his arms.
Merodach-iddiu akhi obtained possession of these idols, and succeeded in carrying them off to Babylon, where they were preserved for more than 400 years, and considered as mementoes of victory.
The latter days of this great Assyrian prince were thus, unhappily, clouded by disaster.