World History Honors

Ahiababa, the son of a nobody

flayed all the chief men who had revolted, and I covered the pillar with their skins; some I walled up within the pillar, some I impaled upon the pillar on stakes, and others I bound to stakes round about the pillar; many within the border of my own land I flayed, and I spread their skins upon the walls; and I cut off the limbs of the officers, of the royal officers who had rebelled. Ahiababa I took to Nineveh, I flayed him, I spread his skin upon the wall of Nineveh.

At that time I fashioned a heroic image of my royal self, my power and my glory I inscribed thereon, in the midst of his palace I set it up. I fashioned memorial stelae and inscribed thereon my glory and my prowess, and I set them up by his city gate.

[I received] tribute from all the kings of the land of [Laqe], -- silver, gold, lead, copper, vessels of copper, cattle, sheep, garments of brightly colored wool, and garments of linen, and I increased the tribute and taxes and imposed them upon them. At that time, the tribute of Haiani of the city of Hindani, -- silver, gold, lead, copper, umu-stone, alabaster, purple wool, and [Bactrian] camels I received from him as tribute.

imperial rule of the Emperor Ashurnasirpal in the seventh century BCE

In the valor of my heart and with the fury of my weapons I stormed the city.

Emperor Ashurnasirpal describes how he lost political control of a city that he ruled

impaled on spikes

Tiglath Pileser III, who is refered to in the Bible by his Babylonian name, Pul

techniques the Assyrians used to capture a city.

wheeled battering ram

This picture illustrates some of the 1techniques the Assyrians used to capture a city. On the left hand side some men scale the wall with a ladder . On the right hand side a wheeled battering ram

1This picture illustrates some of the 1 techniques the Assyrians used to capture a city. On the left hand side some men 2 scale the wall with a ladder . On the right hand side a 3 2 wheeled battering ram is used to destroy the city walls. The three figures at the top next to the city have been 2

impaled on spikes

Assyrian kings often collected exotic animals and plants as an expression of their power.

tribute they exacted from their neighbours: including camels, monkeys, an elephant and a rhinoceros. Assyrian kings often collected exotic animals and plants as an expression of their power.

they did manage to invade Egypt's northern coast and apparently mounted campaigns against the Egyptians on more than one occasion.

when it came was a complete success for the Egyptians. The Sea Peoples, on land, were defeated and scattered but their navy continued towards the eastern Nile delta.

Between 1200 and 1176 BC, the chaos that occurred in that region was probably a direct outcome of Sea People activity, and may be one reason why we find it difficult to find historical documentation beyond that date in Asia Minor.

It would seem that, rather then bands of plunderers, the Sea People were probably part of a great migration of displaced people.

As they began to enter Egypt, the warriors were usually accompanied by their wives and families, and it appears that they carried their possessions in ox-drawn cards, prepared to settle down though whatever territory they transverse.

However, the Sea People's alliance appears to have remained strong, for afterwards they destroyed the Hittite empire, ransacking the capital of Hattusas, and were probably responsible for the sacking of the client city of Ugarit on the Syrian coast, as well as cities such as Alalakh in northern Syria. Cyprus had also been overwhelmed and its capital Enkomi ransacked. It was clear that their ultimate goal was Egypt.

The Sea People, who we are told of on reliefs at Medinet Habu and Karnak, as well as from the text of the Great Harris Papyrus (now in the British Museum), are said to be a loose confederation of people originating in the eastern Mediterranean.

Although the Egyptians had a reputation as poor seamen

Based on New Kingdom Egyptian text,  The Danuna are considered one of the major groups of the Sea Peoples.

Based on New Kingdom Egyptian text,  The Danuna are considered one of the major groups of the Sea Peoples.

The Danuna are known from Egyptian, Hittite, and classical sources. In the historical sources, the Danuna are known by many different names such as Denyen, Danunites, Danaoi, Danaus, Danaids, Dene, Danai, Danaian. 

The Danuna next appear during the reign of Ramesses III eighth year in 1188 BCE at his mortuary temple of Medinet Habu. The relief tells that their was a confederation of Philistines, Tjeker, Shelelesh, Denyen, and Weshesh that united to attack Egypt (Pritchard 1969:262-263). 

  I  slew the Denyen in their islands, while the Tjeker and the Philistines             were made ashes. The Sherden and the Weshesh of the Sea were             nonexistent, captured all together and brought in captivity to Egypt like             the sands of the shore (Pritchard 1969:260-261). 

There are several theories on where the Danuna came from: 1) Eastern Cilicia, 2) Mycenae, 3) Canaan. The first theory is that the Danuna came from Cilicia is based on the name of Adana, a city in the eastern part of Cilicia. Under the name Adaniya which,  was named by Telepinus whose reign is now dated at 1525-1500 BCE (Wainwright 1963:150). According to Barnett (1975:10), the Danuna lives in Cilicia in the ninth century BC, and caused alarm to their neighbors Amanus, Kalamu of Sam’al . Not only the Danuna of el-Amarna, but the Dnn of the Egyptian sources as well were the inhabitants of the Cilician Adana, without any connection with Greece. The “islands” where Ramesses III situated the Danuna were tiny islets and capes of the Cilician coast . The Danuna are also known from the Karatepe inscription, which mentions the legendary Greek hero named Mopsus. Mopsus is said to have found Aspendos, which is identical to the town, that Azitawadda in Cilicia. The event according to the Greeks are supposed to happen after the fall of Troy in 1180 BCE (Barnett 1953:142).   

.Many scholars associate the Danuna with the Greeks because all Greeks were referred to as Danaans by Homer. The fact that Homer lends the name Danaans to the Greeks is a credible suggestion because the Danaans came from Mycenae. Greek tradition suggests that the Danaoi settled in Argos and were named after the Danaos.

The Danuna and other Sea Peoples return to the Levant as a counter migration. While many of the Danuna, went to the Aegean and Mycenae and became known as the Danaans. Others went to Asia Minor and some of the Sea Peoples return to the Levant. The Danuna were accepted into the confederation of the tribes of Israel called Dan (Jones 1975:23). The Danuna were part of a confederation in the Levant with other groups of Sea People especially the Philistines. They were part of the sea battle against the Egyptians, which is depicted on the relief at Medinet Habu

Tribe of Dan was very close to the People of the Sea.

The tribe of the Danai originated in the east, and the introduction of the alphabet to Greece is attributed to it. Its members were outstanding seamen who had special connection with sun worship. The association with the Tribe of Dan is because their was two different tribes (the Danites and the Danai) with identical names and similar characteristics which operated in the same geographical region and period or there is a link between the tribe of Dan and the tribe of Danai, and possibly a certain measure of identity (Yadin 1968:22). 

Ashur and the great gods who have enlarged my kingdom, who have given me strength and power as my portion, commanded me to extend the territory of their (the gods') country, putting into my hand their powerful weapons, the cyclone of battle.

With sixty kings I fought, spreading terror (among them), and achieved a glorious victory over them.

In the beginning of my government, five kings . . . with an army of twenty thousand men . . .--and whose power no king had ever broken and overcome in battle--trusting to their strength rushed down and conquered the land of Qummuh (Commagene).

shur, my lord

Like the Thunderer (the storm god Adad) I crushed the corpses of their warriors in the battle that caused their overthrow. I made their blood to flow over all the ravines and high places of mountains.

army of twenty thousand men

1115-1077 BC

Ashur and the great gods who have enlarged my kingdom, who have given me strength and power as my portion, commanded me to extend the territory of their (the gods') country, putting into my hand their powerful weapons, the cyclone of battle.

conquered the land of Qummuh

t traversed Kashiari, an almost impassable region

aged battle in Qummuh with these five kings and their twenty thousand soldiers and accomplished their defea

I took away as prisoners and added to the people of my country.

and to save his life to [80] the mountains he ascended. After him I rode.

arrows I slew.

The greatness of my arms as far as the sea overwhelmed.

Arne his royal city with 100 of his (other) towns I captured.

Their spoil I carried away.

In my fifteenth year among the sources of the Tigris (and) the Euphrates I went. An image [93] of my Majesty in their hollows I erected.

The tribute of the Tyrians, [104] the Zidonians (and) the Gebalites I received.

To conquer [107] the mines of silver, of salt and of stone for sculpture I went.

Yan'su King of the Zimri from the face [113] of my mighty weapons fled and to save his life [114] ascended (the mountains).

The cities I threw down, dug up (and) burned with fire. An image of my Majesty [125] in the country of Kharkhara I set up.

To Assyria I brought (them).

[19] the noble offspring of Tiglath-Adar [20] who has laid his yoke upon all lands hostile to him, and [21] has swept (them) like a whirlwind.

In my first year [27] the Euphrates in its flood I crossed.

By the command of Assur, the great Lord, my Lord, [64] with them I fought. A destruction of them I made. [65] Their chariots, their war-carriages, their war-material I took from them.

His treasure [95] his army (and) his gods to Assyria I brought. Yan'su son of Khanban to the kingdom over them I raised.

In my fifth year to the country of Kasyari I ascended. [53] The strongholds I captured. Elkhitti of the Serurians (in) his city I shut up. His tribute [54] to a large amount I received. In my sixth year to the cities on the banks of the river Balikh

Their cities I captured. Their spoil [102] I carried off.

His fighting men I slew. [116] His spoil I carried away.

The cities I threw down, dug up, (and) with fire burned.

. The tribute of 27 Kings [120] of the country of Par'sua I received

Its entrance-space I marked out. A palace, the seat of my Majesty, in the middle (of it) I founded.

news had been brought (me, that) men of the Patinians [148] Lubarni their Lord had slain (and) 'Surri (who was) not heir to the throne to the kingdom had raised. [149] Dayan-Assur the Tartan, the Commander of the widespreading army at the head of my host (and) my camp [150] I urged, I sent. The Euphrates in its flood he crossed. In the city of Cinalua his royal city [151] a slaughter he made. (As for) 'Surri the usurper, exceeding fear of Assur my Lord [152] overwhelmed him, and the death of his destiny he went

To the country of Par'sua I went down. The tribute of the Kings [173] of the country of Par'sua I received. (As for) the rest of the country of Par'sua which did not reverence Assur, its cities [174] I captured

In my 31st year, the second time, the cyclical-feast [175] of Assur and Rimmon I had inaugurated

Two hundred and fifty of their cities I threw down, dug up (and) burned with fire.

Exceeding fear over them I cast.

strive

he tablet makes the king look like an unquestionable source of knowledge and power, giving the public a sense of security and confidence in their centralized  government.

has a maniacal desire to conquer

demonstrated by

thenagain.com,

is larger than any other person in the picture.  This shows how the Assyrians worshiped their king, and how focused they were on their military.

article

  “My power and might I established over the land…”

the emperor states

King Shalmaneser II constructed a magnificent obelisk detailing all of his conquests for thirty years and going so far as to proclaim “a destruction… I made.”

emp. as a whole worked well to expand the empire, this same ideology led them to expand unsustainably. The Assyrians sought power in any way possible, such as through nature and their military.