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Tiglath Pileser III
Detail of a gypsum wall relief showing the Assyrian king Tiglath Pileser III from the South-West palace at Nimrud, Mesopotamia, modern-day Iraq, Neo-Assyrian Empire, 745-727 BCE.
The king is recognizable by his long beard, royal head cap, and exquisitely carved fringed robe. A charioteer stands on his left side while a royal attendant stands behind him (and holds a tasseled parasol, not shown here). The relief narrates the military campaign and capture of the city of Astartu, the Biblical Ashtaroth Karnaim in Gilead (Tell Ashtara).
The British Museum, London.
Questions & Answers
What are the dates for the Neo-Assyrian Empire?
- The Neo-Assyrian Empire ruled from 912-612 BCE.
Who is the greatest king of the Neo-Assyrian Empire?
- Ashurbanipal (r. 668-627 BCE) is considered the greatest king of the Neo-Assyrian Empire and also the last effective ruler before its fall.
Why is it called the Neo-Assyrian Empire?
- The term Neo-Assyrian Empire is a modern designation referring to the latter part of the Assyrian Empire when a new paradigm of leadership and organization emerged.
How did the Neo-Assyrian Empire fall?
- The Neo-Assyrian Empire had grown too large to maintain and, after the reign of Ashurbanipal, began to weaken. The enemies of the Assyrians - including the Babylonians, Medes, and Persians - saw their chance to liberate themselves and attacked, sacking the cities and toppling the empire.
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External Links
Assyria, 1365–609 B.C. | Essay | The Metropolitan Museum of Art | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History
metmuseum.org
Who Was Ashurbanipal?
britishmuseum.org
Ashurbanipal Library Project
museum.upenn.edu
