Assyria

Terror in the Land

Assyria

Assyria

History of Assyria

Earliest years (2,000’s BC), collection of city states

Shamshi-Adad I (ca. 1813–1781 B.C.), Amorite ruler over the city-state of Asshur. First significant ruler

Assyria becomes a political entity (ca. 1741–1274 B.C.). Little information from 1741–1364 B.C. Ashur-uballit I (ca. 1363–1328 B.C.): the first

appearance of Assyria as a political entity. First “king of Assyria” The beginning of Assyria’s rise to greatness

History of Assyria

The Middle Assyrian Empire (ca. 1273–1076 B.C.) Constant battle with Babylon; usually victorious Beginning of gory military tactics

Shalmaneser I (ca. 1273–1244) blinded over 14,000 Mitanni people taken captive

Began deporting conquered peoples Short decline; pressure from Mitanni and Babylon

Ashur-resha-ishi I (ca. 1132–1115 B.C.) Major revival

Tiglath-pileser I (ca. 1114–1076 B.C.): One of the greatest kings in Assyrian history

History of Assyria

Period of Decline (1076-934 B.C.) Rise of the Arameans (nomads from Syria) David’s battle against the Arameans/Syrians (2

Sam 8, 10) Aramean language: Aramaic Becomes the dominant trade language after 8th

century Cf. 2 Kings 18

History of Assyria

Neo-Assyrian Empire (934-744 B.C.) The first real empire in human history

History of Assyria

The Late Assyrian Empire (744–612 B.C.). “[T]he greatest and final flowering of Assyrian imperial

power in the ANE” (Grayson)

Three main kings:

Tiglath-pileser III (744–727 B.C.). Expansion and stability

Shalmaneser V (726–722 B.C.) Conquered Samaria (Israel) in 722 B.C.

Sennacherib (704–681 B.C.). Expansion and defeat (spanked by the “angel of the

LORD,” 2 Kings 18-20)

History of Assyria

Fall of Assyria Rise of Babylon (teamed up with the Medes)

War with Babylon 652 B.C. Marks period of Assyrian decline

Sacked Asshur in 614 B.C. Sacked Nineveh (capital) in 612 B.C. Moved capital to Harran and then to Carchemish Battle of Carchemish 605 B.C.

Assyria and Egypt (ally) fought against the Babylonian invaders

Babylon won. Assyrian Empire was forever ended. Babylon = new empire

Assyria’s Military

“The Assyrian army was the most successful army developed in the ancient world in pre-Persian times” (Grayson)

Militaristic state: the existence of Assyria was secured and maintained through an excessively strong military

King = military leader

Well organized standing (professional) army Massive infantry Calvary Chariots

Assyria’s Military

Psychological warfare Leader would taunt the city If this failed, a nearby city was brutally

mutilated to force the other city to surrender Isaiah 36:4-20 and 37:8

Siege of Lachish (Isa. 36:2; 37:8)

Glory in the gore

“I felled 50 of their fighting men with the sword, burnt 200 captives from them, [and] defeated in a battle on the plain 332 troops. … With their blood I dyed the mountain red like red wool, [and] the rest of them the ravines [and] torrents of the mountain swallowed. I carried off captives [and] possessions from them. I cut off the heads of their fighters [and] built [therewith] a tower before their city. I burnt their adolescent boys [and] girls.”

Glory in the gore

“In strife and conflict I besieged [and] conquered the city. I felled 3,000 of their fighting men with the sword … I captured many troops alive: I cut off of some their arms [and] hands; I cut off of others their noses, ears, [and] extremities. I gouged out the eyes of many troops. I made one pile of the living [and] one of heads. I hung their heads on trees around the city.”

Everyday life

Reading Many libraries in Assyria

Hunting

Low view of women

Social pyramid: king, nobles, skill labors, manual labors

Militarism permeated all of life “Assyria was a militaristic society, and everything

revolved around the warrior” (Grayson) Hobbies: Archery, javelin, stone throwing

Religion

Polytheistic: Believed in many gods

Asshur = chief god

Other gods: Ishtar (female), Ninurta, Shamash, Adad, and Sin.

Worshipped Babylonian gods: Enlil, Marduk, and Nabu

Many other “personal deities.”

King = Asshur’s representative on earth. I.e. he bore the image of Asshur

Legacy

1. First real “empire” “It was the Assyrian kings who first extended

their authority well beyond the confines of national boundaries to rule over or effectively control a variety of far-flung peoples and territories. Subsequent conquerors—the Achaemenid Persians, Alexander the Great, and the Romans—would strive to emulate the Assyrian achievement.” (Grayson)

2. Militarism. Assyrian military tactics would shape the way

other empires ruled the world