Ashurbanipal: King Of Assyria

Ashurbanipal

Ashurbanipal was king of Assyria (669-631 BCE), and counted as the last great ruler of the country. When his father Esarhaddon died, he left Ashurbanipal a kingdom that stretched from northern Egyp to Persia, but he laso made his brother king of babylonia. Ashurbanipal ruled his country from Nineveh. Ashurbanipal is remembered as one of the most cultured rulers in the Mesopotamian Region: He was literate in both Sumerian and old Akkadian scripts- uncommon for rulers of the epoch- and he supported the establishment of the first systematically organized library in the Middle East. This library contained tens of thousands of works, in, in shape of tablets. Most were pre-scientific works trying to explain events
in the world, but some works were even of scientific nature. There were also many religious texts ( like the Gilgamesh), but even folk tales were admitted into the library. From monumental presentations of Ashurbanipal, we see him in situations of hunting, archery and horseriding, but this could be propaganda for his qualities and abilities. From contemporary accounts- like his autobiographical works and correspondence- we hear of a king who was very active in ruling, often dealing with detailed questions. He was personally involved in the appointments of governors and prefects, and he functioned as the real general contractor when building state houses and structures. His queen was Ashur-sharrat, and he had sons Ashur-etel-ilani and SinShar-ishkun made coregents of Assyria and Babylonia. After Ashurbanipal the Assyrian Kingdom started to fall apart, but this is not considered to be his fault. It was not weakness inside Assyria, but contiuous attacks from hostile neighbors, that brought it down. Ashurbanipal is most likely a central part of the legendary construction of alleged king Sardanapalus.
Biography on King Ashurnbinipal 690s BCE?: Born.
There are no accounts about his birth, so this date must be estimated from his apparent age when he took power. 672:Is appointed crown-price of Assyria by his father Esarhaddon. His half brother Shamas-shum-ukin is appointed crown-prince of Babylonia, but is supposed to act under Ashurbanipal. 669: with the death of Esarhaddon, he becomes king over Assyrian. 668: He is forced to defeat the Egyptian King Taharqa, who gained control over over the Nile Delta. Asurbanipal’s troops soon reclaim control. 664-663-: The Assyrians have to invade Egypt again, to suppress the successor of Taharqa, Tanutanami. This results in Assyrians control over Memphis and pillage of Thebes. 654: The Assyrians are driven out of Egypt, but trade continues between the two countries. 652: The Assyrians are driven out of Egypt, but trade continues between the two countries. 652: Shamash-shum-ukin revolts against Ashurbunipal, and Shamash-shum-ukin get help from Babylonians, Arameans, Elamites and Arabs. 648: As Ashubanipal gets control over Babylonia, Shamash-sum-ukin commits suicide. 645: The rebels are finally beaten, but Assyria is strongly weakened. 640: The Assyrians sack the Elamite capital, Susa. 639: Elam is finally conquered, and Ashurbanipal makes 4 kings of conquered countries pull his chariot in the victory procession. 627: Dies, there are, however, no accounts of this and its
cause.
Background of Nineveh Nineveh a truly magnificent city (c. 700 BC) he laid squares and built within the walls on top, made out of mud brick were an additional 2o metres (66ft) tall. Some of the principal doorways were flanked by colossal stone door figures weighing up to 30,000 kilograms (30t); they included many winged lions or bulls with a man’s head. These were transported 50 kilometers (31 mi) from quarries at Balatai and they had to be lifted up 2o metres (66 ft) once they arrved at the site, presumably by a ramp. There are also 3,000 metres (9,843 ft) of stone panels carved in bas-relief, that include pictorial records documenting every construction step including carving the statues and transporting them on a barge. One picture shows 44 men towing colossal statue. The carving shows three men directing the operation while standing on the Colossus. Once the statues arrived at their destination the final carving was done. Most of the statue weigh between 9,000 and 27,000 kilograms ( 19,842 and 59,525 lb). The stone carvings in the wall include many battle scenes, impalings and scenes showing Sennacherib’s men parading the spoils of war before him. He also bragged about his conquest: he wrote of Babylon “Its inhabitants, young and old, I did not spare, and with their corpses filled the streets of the city.” He later wrote about a battle of Lachish” and Hezekiah of Judah who had not submitted to my yoke…him I shut up in Jeruselum his royal city like a caged bird. Earthworks I threw up against him, and anyone coming out of his city gate I made pay for his crime. His cities which I had plundered I had cut off from his land. At this time the total area of Nineveh comprised about 7 square kilometers (1,730 acres) and fifteen great gates penetrated its walls. An elaborate system of eighteen canals brough water from the hills to Nineveh, and several sections of a magnificently constructed aqueduct erected by Sennacherib were discovered at Jerwan, about 65 kilometres (40 mi) distant. The enclosed area had more than 100,000 inhabitants (maybe closer to 150,000) about twice as many as Babylon at the time, placing it among the largest settlements worldwide.
The reasons God judge Nineveh so harshly.
Answer: The message of Nahum concerns the impending destruction of Nineveh. The Lord’s word to the Assyrians is dire: “ I am against you….. I will burn up your chariots in smoke, and the sword will devour your young lions. I will leave you no prey on the earth. The voices of your messengers will no longer be heard” (2:3) God was obviously angry with the Ninevites, and Nahum reveals why.
Nineveh had long been an enemy of Judah and Israel, the people of God. In 722 B.C., the Assyrians defeated the northern kingdom of Israel, destroying it’s capital, Samaria. In 701 B. C. the Assyrians nearly conquered Jerusalem, the capital of Judah.
The text of Nahum provides additional clues regarding God’s anger with the Ninevites. Nahum 3:1 says “Woe to the city of violence, known for its brutal treatment of those it conquered. The Assyrians were notorious for amputating hands and feet, gouging eyes, and skinning and impaling their captives. The final verse of Nahum’s book emphasizes the violence of the Assyrians in the form of a rhetorical question: “Who has not felt your endless cruelty?” (Nahum 3:19)
Another reason for God’s anger against Nineveh was its extreme pride, implied in Nahum 3:8.
The pride of Nineveh may have been due in part to its wealth and power. One account reveals, “ In Sennacherib’s day the wall around Nineveh was 40 to 50 feet high. It extended for 4 kilometers along the Tigris River and for 13 kilometers around the inner city. The city wall had 15 main gates…. Each of the gates was guarded by stone bull statues. Both inside and outside the walls, Sennacherib created parks, a botanical garden, and a zoo. He built a water-system containing the oldest aqueduct in history atJerwan, across the Gomel
River.