Before Baghdad: Cities of Ancient Mesopotamia MW 10-11am, Peabody Museum 59D 24. The Neo-Assyrian Empire 2nd 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 Tukulti- Ninurta 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 Valleys = 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 Water for Nimrud Photograph of Negub Tunnel ConformingLocal Nimrud and the Irrigationto Patti-hegalli Topography “canal of abundance” Austen Henry Layard in 1843 Layard Layard in 1885 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 Bitanu room B 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 .