Neo-Assyrian History

The Neo-Assyrian Empire was an Ancient civilization located in Mesopotamia that existed between 912 and 612 BCE. Known for their incredible military strength, technological innovation, and sophisticated government, the Neo-Assyrians created the largest empire the world had seen at that time. Several important kings led the empire to great success, exemplified by the magnificent palaces built during their reigns. The Northwest Palace, located in Nimrud in modern-day Iraq, was built by king Ashurnasirpal II (r. 883-859 BCE) and contains the first instance of bas-relief slabs covering the entire interior of a palace. The Northwest palace reliefs would become one of the most recognizable forms of Assyiran art. Decorated with detailed depictions of various Assyrian conquests and customs, each slab also features the Standard Inscription—an Akkadian inscription describing the king’s achievements and the construction of the palace that is written in cuneiform script which repeats with little variation.

The Standard Inscription is a 22-line cuneiform text carved on most of the reliefs in Ashurnasirpal II's Northwest Palace. Written in Akkadian, one of the official languages of the Neo-Assyrian empire, the inscription lists King Ashurnasirpal’s titles and describes the geographic spread of his conquests and the construction of the Northwest Palace in Nimrud. Nearly all of the reliefs include the standard inscription, which was placed in a uniform band that divides the relief in half horizontally. However, not every slab had enough space to hold the lengthy text while following this standardized aesthetic, thus many slabs do not contain the standard inscription in its entirety.

The palace of Ashur-nasir-pal, chief-priest of Ashur, the chosen one of Enlil and Ninurta, the favorite of Anu and Dagan, the divine weapon of the Great Gods, the potent king, the king of the world, the king of Assyria.

The son of Adad-nerari, the king of the world, the king of Assyria.

The powerful warrior who always lives by (his) trust in Ashur, his lord, who has no rival among the princes of the four quarters of the earth; (who is) the shepherd of his people, fearless in battle, the overpowering tidewater who has no opponent; (who is) the king, subjugator of the unsubmissive, who rules the total sum of all humanity; (who is) the potent warrior who tramples his enemies, who crushes all the adversaries; (who is) the dispenser of the host of the haughty; (who is) the king who always lives by (his) trust in the Great Gods, his Lords, and captured all the lands himself, ruled all their mountainous districts, (and) received their tribute; who takes hostages, who establishes victory over all their lands.

When Ashur, who selected me, who made my kingship great, entrusted his merciless weapon into my lordly arms, I verily struck down the wide-spread troops of Lullumu with weapons, during the battle encounter.

As for troops of the lands of Nairi, Habhu, Shubaru, and Nirbu, I roared over them like Adad, the “destroyer,” with the aid of Shamash and Adad, my helper gods.

(I am) the king who caused (the lands) from the other bank of the Tigris to the Lebanon and the Great Sea, the whole of Laqu, and Sahu as far as Rapiqu, to submit; (who) himself conquered (the territory) from the source of the Subnat River to Urartu; (who) annexed as my own territory (the area) from the pass of Kirruru to Gilzanu, from the other bank of the Lower Zab to Til Bari which is upstream from Zaban, from Til sha Abtani to Til sha Zabdani. Hirimu, Harutu, the (border) fortresses of Karduniash.

I counted as my own people (those who occupy the territory) from the pass of Babite to Hashmar.

I set my resident (officials) in the lands over which I ruled [and imposed upon them] obeisance and [forced labor].

(I am) Ashur-nasir-pal, the obedient prince, the worshiper of the Great Gods, the fierce dragon, the conqueror of all cities and mountains to their full extent, the king of rulers, who tames the dangerous enemies, the (one) crowned with glory, the (one) unafraid of battle, the relentless lion, who shakes resistance, the king (deserving) of praise, the shepherd, protection of the world, the king whose command blots out mountains and seas, who forced into compliance the relentless, fierce kings from East to the West, at his very approach.

The former Kalhu, which Shalmaneser, king of Assyria, the lord of my predecessor, built- that city was dilapidated and deserted. I built that city anew.

As for my own captives from the lands over which I ruled— those from Suhu, the whole of Laqu, Sirqu which is on the opposite bank of the Euphrates-crossing, all Zamua, Bir Adini, and Hattu, and that of Lubama of Hattina— I took and settled them therein.

I removed the ancient tell. I went down as far as the headwaters. I laid in 120 brick courses into the depths. [From (the level of) the head-waters, I made a fill 120 brick courses up to the top.]

I built thereon (a palace with) halls of cedar, cypress, juniper, boxwood, teak, terebinth, and tamarisk (?) as my royal dwelling and for the enduring leisure of life of my lordship.

Beasts of the mountains and the seas, which I had fashioned out of white limestone and alabaster, I had set up in its gates. I made it (the palace) fittingly imposing. I bordered them all around with bronze studs. I mounted doors of cedar, cypress, juniper, and terebinth in its gates.

Silver. Gold, tin, bronze, iron, my own booty from the lands over which I ruled, as much as possible, I brought (to the palace); I placed it all therein.