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Kings, Queens and Courts: Assyria

A rapid tour of Assyrian rulers, their monumental palaces, royal regalia and the legacy of their military and cultural achievements.

Chapters

• 0:07 Foundations of the Empire
• 1:34 Palaces and Power
• 3:01 Royal Regalia and Ritual
• 4:28 Military Might and Legacy

On-screen text

• 0:07 Foundations of the Empire
• 0:14 Foundations of the Empire
• 0:31 Assyrian King List shows dynastic continuity Historical record · Assyrian King List (c. 650 BC, British Museum BM 124735)
• 0:49 Balawat stele shows Shalmaneser III’s campaign Historical record · Stele of Shalmaneser III, Balawat Gates (British Museum BM 126618)
• 1:07 Obelisk records tribute from King Jehu Historical record · Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III (British Museum BM 120508)
• 1:25 Tiglath‑Pileser III claims conquest of Damascus Historical record · Inscription of Tiglath‑Pileser III at the temple of Ashur (KTM 1, 8th‑century BC)
• 1:34 Palaces and Power
• 1:41 Palaces and Power
• 1:58 Ashurnasirpal II’s palace at Nimrud Historical record · Palace of Ashurnasirpal II at Nimrud, excavated by Sir Austen Henry Layard (1851‑1855)
• 2:16 Lamassu guard the palace entrance Historical record · Lamassu statues from the palace of Ashurnasirpal II, British Museum (BM 124879)
• 2:34 Bronze throne of Sargon II in Khorsabad Historical record · Palace of Sargon II at Khorsabad, excavated by Hormuzd Rassam (1851‑1855); Bronze throne of Sargon II, Louvre Museum (AO 1975)
• 2:52 Bronze band of Ashurnasirpal II records victories Historical record · Bronze band of Ashurnasirpal II, Louvre Museum (AO 1976)
• 3:01 Royal Regalia and Ritual
• 3:08 Royal Regalia and Ritual
• 3:25 Assyrian crown likely featured gold and jeweled rosettes The Institute's interpretation · J. A. Brinkman, ‘The Assyrian Royal Crown’, Journal of Near Eastern Studies 45 (1986)
• 3:43 Royal robes woven from red wool with gold embroidery The Institute's interpretation · M. Roaf, ‘Assyrian Textiles’, Iraq 55 (1993)
• 4:01 Ashurbanipal depicted hunting lions Historical record · Wall relief of Ashurbanipal’s lion hunt, British Museum (BM 124983)
• 4:19 Ashurbanipal’s library held 30,000 tablets Historical record · Royal Library of Ashurbanipal, Nineveh (c. 668‑627 BC, tablets in the British Museum)
• 4:28 Military Might and Legacy
• 4:56 Lachish, Judah, c. 701 BC Historical record · Siege of Lachish relief, British Museum (BM 124617)
• 5:24 Royal Library, Nineveh, c. 660 BC Historical record · Royal Library of Ashurbanipal, Nineveh (c. 668‑627 BC, tablets in the British Museum)
• 5:45 Enuma Elish: Ashur chooses king Tradition / scripture · Mesopotamian myth, Enuma Elish
• 5:59 Babylon, 689 BC: Sennacherib’s conquest Historical record · Relief of Sennacherib’s campaign against Babylon, British Museum (BM 124618)

Sources

Historical record: Assyrian King List (c. 650 BC, British Museum BM 124735) · Stele of Shalmaneser III, Balawat Gates (British Museum BM 126618) · Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III (British Museum BM 120508) · Inscription of Tiglath‑Pileser III at the temple of Ashur (KTM 1, 8th‑century BC) · Palace of Ashurnasirpal II at Nimrud, excavated by Sir Austen Henry Layard (1851‑1855) · Lamassu statues from the palace of Ashurnasirpal II, British Museum (BM 124879) · Palace of Sargon II at Khorsabad, excavated by Hormuzd Rassam (1851‑1855); Bronze throne of Sargon II, Louvre Museum (AO 1975) · Bronze band of Ashurnasirpal II, Louvre Museum (AO 1976) · Wall relief of Ashurbanipal’s lion hunt, British Museum (BM 124983) · Royal Library of Ashurbanipal, Nineveh (c. 668‑627 BC, tablets in the British Museum) · Siege of Lachish relief, British Museum (BM 124617) · Relief of Sennacherib’s campaign against Babylon, British Museum (BM 124618)

Tradition / scripture: Mesopotamian myth, Enuma Elish

The Institute's interpretation: J. A. Brinkman, ‘The Assyrian Royal Crown’, Journal of Near Eastern Studies 45 (1986) · M. Roaf, ‘Assyrian Textiles’, Iraq 55 (1993)

Sound: synthesized ambient (wind, drone, water) (CC0 — made by SoapBox). Made in 168 s of CPU.