Download 24. The Neo-Assyrian Empire

Before Baghdad:
Cities of Ancient
Mesopotamia
MW 10-11am, Peabody Museum 59D
24. The Neo-Assyrian Empire
nd
2
Written Assignment
In 800-1000 words, discuss the role of the king,
and the royal household generally, in the creation
and maintenance of cities of the 2nd and early 1st
millennia BC.
Due by email,
Mon April 20, 5 pm
Assyrian Empire
1400-1200 BC
Middle Assyrian Period Emergence of Assyria as a territorial state
and its expansion into Upper Mesopotamia
1200- 900 BC
Recession in the Early Iron age following the Late Bronze Age collapse
in the Eastern Mediterranean
900-745 BC
Neo-Assyrian Empire Flourishing of Assyria as an empire
and massive expansion of its frontiers
745-612 BC
Neo-Assyrian Empire Final phase of the expansion of the empire
while a socio-economic recession builds up.
Near Eastern Iron Ages II: The Neo-Assyrian Empire
Middle Assyrian period in Assyria: End of the Bronze Age
Aššur (modern Qalat Sherqat): The Building complexes and urban structure;
Urban history of the city from Old Assyrian to the Late Assyrian periods;
Important Middle Assyrian kings:
Adad-Nirari I (1307-1275 BC)
Shalmaneser I (1274-1245 BC)
Tukulti-Ninurta I (1244-1208 BC)
Kar Tukulti-Ninurta (modern Tulul ul Aqar), new foundation of the Middle Assyrian king TukultiNinurta I (1244-1208 BC), new administrative and monumental cult center.
Early Iron Age in Assyria: A general post-collapse recession with exceptions
Tiglath-pileser I (1114-1076 BC)
campaigns to the North and building activity in Assur.
Establishment of the Neo-Assyrian Empire (900-745 BC)
Assurnasirpal II (883-859 BC) and his new capital, Kalhu (modern Nimrud).
The Banquet stele and the celebration of the new foundation.
The sculptural program of the Northwest Palace at Nimrud/Kalhu
King Shalmaneser III (858-824 BC) and his ekal mašarti (review palace) at
Kalhu (Nimrud). Bronze gates at the site of Imgur-Enlil (modern Balawat).
Map of southeastern Anatolia showing the geopolitical
situation and the location of the Bohtan and Garzan River
= Assyrian Heartland
= Provinces
= Vassal States
= Buffer Zones
= Transport
Corridor
Capitals of the
Neo-Assyrian
Empire
Erbil in 1951
Comparative Mesopotamian cities
1. Aššur
2. Šubat Enlil (Tell Leilan)
3. Kar-Tukulti-Ninurta
4. Mari (Tell Hariri)
5. Nineveh
6. Kalhu (Tell Nimrud)
7. Dur-Sharrukin
8. Erbil
9. Ur
10. Uruk
Ashurnasirpal II
(883-859 BC)
Nimrud (ancient Kalkhu, Biblical Calah)
QuickBird 9 Sept 2002
QuickBird
9 September 2002
CORONA Mission 1039
28 February 1967
Kalhu (Nimrud) and Assurnasirpal II’s
Patt-Hegalli (“canal of abundance”).
CORONA
Photograph of
Nimrud and the
Patti-hegalli
“canal of
abundance”
Negub Tunnel
Water for
Nimrud
Local
Conforming
Irrigation
to
Topography
Austen Henry
Layard
Layard in 1885
Layard in 1843
Reconstruction of Nimrud published by Layard
Kalhu (Nimrud) citadel plan,
excavated areas
Main approach
Throne
room B
Bitanu
court
Babanu court
(Court D)
Nimrud/Kalhu Citadel, North-West Palace plan
Main approach
Throne
room B
Bitanu
court
Babanu
court
Nimrud/Kalhu Citadel, North-West Palace plan
Construction of the Assyrian palace as a
celebration, a festival
“Banquet stele” of Assurnasirpal II
“Banquet Stele” of
Assurnasirpal II
Narrative reliefs from the Throne Room B of Ashurnasirpal II’s Northwest Palace
Ashurnasirpal’s Throne Room at Nimrud
Ekal mašarti (“Review palace”) of Shalmaneser III (858-824 BC)
(“Fort Shalmaneser”)
Ekal mašarti: a state assemblage
“Jehu, son of Omri. I received from him…”
Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III
Balawat (Imgur-Enlil)
Royal tombs in the Northwest Palace:
Yaba, Queen of Tiglath-pileser III, king of Assyria 744-727
Banitu, Queen of Shalmaneser V, king of Assyria 726-722
Atalia, Queen of Sargon II, king of Assyria 721-705
Main approach
Throne
room B
Bitanu
court
Babanu court
(Court D)
Nimrud/Kalhu Citadel, North-West Palace plan