Assur - Revision history

Chaldean at 12:21, 30 May 2015

2015-05-30T12:21:37Z

Chaldean at 12:16, 30 May 2015

2015-05-30T12:16:29Z

Chaldean at 12:12, 30 May 2015

2015-05-30T12:12:19Z

Chaldean at 12:10, 30 May 2015

2015-05-30T12:10:22Z

Chaldean at 12:09, 30 May 2015

2015-05-30T12:09:03Z

Chaldean at 12:05, 30 May 2015

2015-05-30T12:05:22Z

Chaldean at 12:04, 30 May 2015

2015-05-30T12:04:31Z

Chaldean at 09:22, 17 May 2015

2015-05-17T09:22:27Z

Chaldean: /* Name */

2015-05-17T09:15:53Z

‎Name

Chaldean: /* References */

2015-05-17T09:12:18Z

‎References

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 [[Ashur-uballit I]] overthrew the Mitanni empire in 1365 BC, and the locals benefited from this development by taking control of the eastern portion of the Mitanni Empire, and later also annexing [[Hittites|Hittite]], [[Babylonia]]n, [[Amorite]] and [[Hurrian]] territory. In the following centuries the old temples and palaces of Assur were restored, and the city once more became the seat of a local government from 1365 BC to 1076 BC. [[Tukulti-Ninurta I]] (1244–1208 BC) also started a new temple to the goddess [[Ishtar]]. The [[Anu]]-[[Adad]] temple was constructed during the reign of [[Tiglath-Pileser I]] (1115–1075 BC). The walled area of the city in the Middle Assyrian period made up some {{convert|1.2|km2|acre}}.
-==Neo-Assyrian Empire==
+==City History Summary==
 [[File:Assur temple.jpg|thumb|120px|left|Parthian temple in Assur.]]
-In the [[Neo-Assyrian Empire]] (912–608 BC), the royal residence was transferred to other Assyrian cities. [[Ashur-nasir-pal II]] (884–859 BC) moved the capital from Assur to Kalhu ([[Calah]]/[[Nimrud]]). Yet the city of Assur remained the religious center of the empire, due to its temple of the national god [[Ashur (god)|Ashur]]. In the reign of [[Sennacherib]] (705–682 BC), the House of the New Year, ''akitu'', was built, and the festivities celebrated in the city. Several Assyrian rulers were also buried beneath the Old Palace. The city was  sacked and largely destroyed during the conquest of Nenivah by the Chaldeans [[Babylonians]] in  612 BC.
+In (912–608 BC), the royal residence was transferred to other Chaldean cities. [[Ashur-nasir-pal II]] (884–859 BC) moved the capital from Assur to Kalhu ([[Calah]]/[[Nimrud]]). Yet the city of Assur remained the religious center due to its temple of the local god [[Ashur (god)|Ashur]]. In the reign of [[Sennacherib]] (705–682 BC), the House of the New Year, ''akitu'', was leveraged from Chaldeans of Babylon and the festivities celebrated in the city. Several local rulers were also buried beneath the Old Palace. The city was  sacked and largely destroyed during the conquest of Nenivah by the Chaldeans [[Babylonians]] in  612 BC.
 ==Persian Empire==

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 == Early Bronze Age ==
-Archaeology reveals the site of the city was occupied by the middle of the [[third millennium BC]]. This was still the [[History of Sumer|Sumerian period]], before the [[Assyria|Assyrian kingdom]] emerged in the 23rd to 21st century BC. The oldest remains of the city were discovered in the foundations of the [[Ishtar]] temple, as well as at the Old Palace. In the following [[Akkadian Empire|Old Akkadian period]], the city was ruled by kings from [[Akkadian empire|Akkad]] or Proto-Chaldean. During the [[Ur-III|"Sumerian Renaissance"]], the city was ruled by a Sumerian governor.
+Archaeology reveals the site of the city was occupied by the middle of the [[third millennium BC]]. This was still the [[History of Sumer|Sumerian period]], before the local government emerged in the 23rd to 21st century BC. The oldest remains of the city were discovered in the foundations of the [[Ishtar]] temple, as well as at the Old Palace. In the following [[Akkadian Empire|Old Akkadian period]], the city was ruled by kings from [[Akkadian empire|Akkad]] or Proto-Chaldean. During the [[Ur-III|"Sumerian Renaissance"]], the city was ruled by a Sumerian governor.
 ==Old city Assur of Chaldea==

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 The city was fully rebuilt by [[Chaldean people|Chaldeans]].  In the [[Parthia]]n period, between 100 BC and 270 AD, the city became an important administrative centre of Parthian rule. New administrative buildings were erected to the north of the old city, and a palace to the south. The old temple dedicated to the god of Assur ([[Ashur]]) was also rebuilt by ethnic [[Chaldean people|Chaldeans]].  However, the city was largely destroyed again by the [[Sassanid Empire|Sassanid]] king [[Shapur I]] (241–272 AD). However, the city remained occupied, and some settlement at the site is known right up to the 14th century.
-Assur seems to have been reoccupied by [[Chaldeans]] once again, and remained so well into the Parthian and Sassanid periods. It was occupied during the Islamic period until the 14th century when [[Tamurlane]] conducted a massacre of indigenous [[Chaldean people|Chaldean]] [[Christians]]. After that there are no traces of a settlement in the archaeological records.
+Assur seems to have been reoccupied by [[Chaldean people|Chaldeans]] once again, and remained so well into the Parthian and Sassanid periods. It was occupied during the Islamic period until the 14th century when [[Tamurlane]] conducted a massacre of indigenous [[Chaldean people|Chaldean]] [[Christians]]. After that there are no traces of a settlement in the archaeological records.
 == Threats to Assur ==

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 == Threats to Assur ==
-The site was put on [[UNESCO]]'s List of [[World Heritage]] in Danger in 2003, at which time the site was threatened by a looming large-scale dam project that would have submerged the ancient archaeological site.<ref>[http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1130/threats/ UNESCO World Heritage in Danger 2003]</ref>  The dam project was put on hold shortly after the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]].
+The Chaldean site was put on [[UNESCO]]'s List of [[World Heritage]] in Danger in 2003, at which time the site was threatened by a looming large-scale dam project that would have submerged the ancient archaeological site.<ref>[http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1130/threats/ UNESCO World Heritage in Danger 2003]</ref>  The dam project was put on hold shortly after the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]].
 As of march 7 2015, the city is in [[ISIL]] held territory. The very recent destruction of other ancient cities in ISIL territory such as [[Hatra]], [[Khorsabad]], and [[Nimrud]] shows that the city is at extremely high risk of unprecedented destruction. The city may have hope though, as it is on the border of ISIS held territory, and could potentially be saved if borders fluctuate or skirmishes continue with the [[Peshmerga]].

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 == External links ==
-*[http://libmma.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p15324coll10/id/42692 Assyrian origins: discoveries at Ashur on the Tigris: antiquities in the Vorderasiatisches Museum, Berlin], an exhibition catalog from The Metropolitan Museum of Art Libraries (fully available online as PDF), which contains material on Assur
+*[http://libmma.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p15324coll10/id/42692 discoveries at Ashur on the Tigris: antiquities in the Vorderasiatisches Museum, Berlin], an exhibition catalog from The Metropolitan Museum of Art Libraries (fully available online as PDF), which contains material on Assur
 * Friedhelm Pedde, Recovering Assur. From the German Excavations of 1903-1914 to today’s Assur Project in Berlin[http://asorblog.org/recovering-assur/]
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 [[Category:Amorite cities]]
-[[Category:Ancient Assyrian cities]]
+[[Category:Ancient Chaldean cities]]
 [[Category:Archaeological sites in Iraq]]
-[[Category:Assyrian geography]]
+[[Category:Chaldean geography]]
-[[Category:Assyrian settlements]]
+[[Category:Chaldean settlements]]
 [[Category:World Heritage Sites in Iraq]]
 [[Category:Former populated places in Iraq]]
 [[Category:Saladin Governorate]]
 [[Category:World Heritage Sites in Danger]]

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 Archaeology reveals the site of the city was occupied by the middle of the [[third millennium BC]]. This was still the [[History of Sumer|Sumerian period]], before the [[Assyria|Assyrian kingdom]] emerged in the 23rd to 21st century BC. The oldest remains of the city were discovered in the foundations of the [[Ishtar]] temple, as well as at the Old Palace. In the following [[Akkadian Empire|Old Akkadian period]], the city was ruled by kings from [[Akkadian empire|Akkad]] or Proto-Chaldean. During the [[Ur-III|"Sumerian Renaissance"]], the city was ruled by a Sumerian governor.
-==Old and Middle Assyria==
+==Old city Assur of Chaldea=
 [[File:Meso2mil-English.JPG|300px|right|thumb|[[Mesopotamia]] in 2nd millennium BC]]
-By the time the Neo-Sumerian Ur-III dynasty collapsed at the hands of the [[Elam]]ites in ca. the 21st century BC, the local Akkadian kings, including those in Assur, had shaken off the [[Sumer]]ian yoke. An [[Assyrian people|Assyrian]] king named [[Ushpia]] who reigned in ca. the 21st century BC is credited with dedicating the first temple of the god Assur in his home city. In around 2000 BC, [[Puzur-Ashur I]] founded a new dynasty, and his successors such as [[Ilushuma]], [[Erishum I]] and [[Sargon I]] left inscriptions regarding the building of temples to [[Ashur]], [[Adad]] and [[Ishtar]] in the city.  Assur developed rapidly into a centre for trade, and trade routes led from the city to Anatolia, where merchants from Assur established trading colonies. These Assyrian colonies in Asia Minor were called ''[[karum]]'', and traded mostly with tin and wool (see [[Kültepe]]). In the city of Assur, the first great temples to the city god Assur and the weather god [[Adad]] were erected. The first fortifications were also began in this period.
+A local governor named [[Ushpia]] who reigned in ca. the 21st century BC is credited with dedicating the first temple of the local god Assur in his home city. In around 2000 BC, [[Puzur-Ashur I]] founded a new dynasty, and his successors such as [[Ilushuma]], [[Erishum I]] and [[Sargon I]] left inscriptions regarding the building of temples to [[Ashur]], [[Adad]] in the city.  Assur developed rapidly into a centre for trade, and trade routes led from the city to Anatolia, where merchants from Assur established trading colonies. These Chaldean colonies in Asia Minor were called ''[[karum]]'', and traded mostly with tin and wool (see [[Kültepe]]). In the city of Assur, the first great temples to the city local god Assur and the weather local god [[Adad]] were erected. The first fortifications were also began in this period.
-Assur was the capital of the empire of [[Shamshi-Adad I]] (1813–1781 BC). He expanded the city's power and influence beyond the Tigris river valley, creating what some regard as the first Assyrian Empire. In this period, the Great Royal Palace was built, and the temple of Assur was expanded and enlarged with a [[ziggurat]]. This empire came to end when [[Hammurabi]], the [[Amorite]] king of [[Babylon]] incorporated the city into his short lived empire following the death of [[Ishme-Dagan I]] circa 1756 BC, and the next three Assyrian kings were regarded as vassals. A native king named [[Adasi]] drove the Babylonians and Amorites from Assur and Assyria as a whole circa 1720 BC, however little is known of his successors. Renewed building activity is known a few centuries later, during the reign of a native king [[Puzur-Ashur III]], when the city was refortified and the southern quarters incorporated into the main city defenses. Temples to the moon god Sin ([[Sin (mythology)|Nanna]]) and the sun god [[Shamash]] were erected in the 15th century BC. The city was then subjugated by the king of [[Mitanni]], [[Shaushtatar]] in the mid 15th Century, who removed the gold and silver doors of the temple to his capital, Washukani, as plunder.
+Assur was the capital of king [[Shamshi-Adad I]] (1813–1781 BC). He expanded the city's power and influence beyond the Tigris river valley. In this period, the Great Royal Palace was built, and the temple of Assur was expanded and enlarged with a Chaldean designed [[ziggurat]]. This local government came to end when Chaldean King [[Hammurabi]], from the [[Amorite]] tribe of [[Babylon]] incorporated the city into his Chaldean Babylonian empire following the death of [[Ishme-Dagan I]] circa 1756 BC, and the next three local kings were regarded as vassals. Renewed building activity is known a few centuries later, during the reign of a native king [[Puzur-Ashur III]], when the city was refortified and the southern quarters incorporated into the main city defenses. Temples to the moon god Sin ([[Sin (mythology)|Nanna]]) and the sun god [[Shamash]] were erected in the 15th century BC. The city was then subjugated by the king of [[Mitanni]], [[Shaushtatar]] in the mid 15th Century, who removed the gold and silver doors of the temple to his capital, Washukani, as plunder.
-[[Ashur-uballit I]] overthrew the Mitanni empire in 1365 BC, and the Assyrians benefited from this development by taking control of the eastern portion of the Mitanni Empire, and later also annexing [[Hittites|Hittite]], [[Babylonia]]n, [[Amorite]] and [[Hurrian]] territory. In the following centuries the old temples and palaces of Assur were restored, and the city once more became the seat of a powerful empire from 1365 BC to 1076 BC. [[Tukulti-Ninurta I]] (1244–1208 BC) also started a new temple to the goddess [[Ishtar]]. The [[Anu]]-[[Adad]] temple was constructed during the reign of [[Tiglath-Pileser I]] (1115–1075 BC). The walled area of the city in the Middle Assyrian period made up some {{convert|1.2|km2|acre}}.
+[[Ashur-uballit I]] overthrew the Mitanni empire in 1365 BC, and the locals benefited from this development by taking control of the eastern portion of the Mitanni Empire, and later also annexing [[Hittites|Hittite]], [[Babylonia]]n, [[Amorite]] and [[Hurrian]] territory. In the following centuries the old temples and palaces of Assur were restored, and the city once more became the seat of a local government from 1365 BC to 1076 BC. [[Tukulti-Ninurta I]] (1244–1208 BC) also started a new temple to the goddess [[Ishtar]]. The [[Anu]]-[[Adad]] temple was constructed during the reign of [[Tiglath-Pileser I]] (1115–1075 BC). The walled area of the city in the Middle Assyrian period made up some {{convert|1.2|km2|acre}}.
 ==Neo-Assyrian Empire==

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 }}
-'''Aššur''' (Akkadian) ([[English_language|English]] | Ashur/[[Chaldea]], [[Old Akkadian|Chaldean]] ''{{lang|akk-Latn|/ Aššur}}''; [[Chaldean Neo-Aramaic]] / Chaldean ; {{lang-he|אַשּׁוּר}} / ''{{transl|he|Aššûr}}''; {{lang-ar|آشور}} / [[ALA-LC]]: ''Āshūr; ''[[Kurdish languages|Kurdish]]:'' Asûr''), also known as '''Ashur''', '''Qal'at Sherqat''' and '''Kalah Shergat''', is a remnant city of the last [[Chaldean Empire]]. The remains of the city are situated on the western bank of the river [[Tigris]], north of the confluence with the tributary [[Little Zab]] river, in modern-day [[Iraq]], more precisely in the [[Al-Shirqat District]] (a small [[panhandle]] of the [[Salah al-Din Governorate]]).
+'''Aššur''' (Akkadian/Chaldean) ([[English_language|English]] | Ashur/[[Chaldea]], [[Old Akkadian|Chaldean]] ''{{lang|akk-Latn|/ Aššur}}''; [[Chaldean Neo-Aramaic]] / Chaldean ; {{lang-he|אַשּׁוּר}} / ''{{transl|he|Aššûr}}''; {{lang-ar|آشور}} / [[ALA-LC]]: ''Āshūr; ''[[Kurdish languages|Kurdish]]:'' Asûr''), also known as '''Ashur''', '''Qal'at Sherqat''' and '''Kalah Shergat''', is a remnant city of the last [[Chaldean Empire]]. The remains of the Chaldean city are situated on the western bank of the river [[Tigris]], north of the confluence with the tributary [[Little Zab]] river, in modern-day [[Iraq]], more precisely in the [[Al-Shirqat District]] (a small [[panhandle]] of the [[Salah al-Din Governorate]]).
-The city was occupied from the mid-3rd millennium BC (Circa 2600–2500 BC) to the 14th Century AD, when [[Tamurlane]] conducted a massacre of its population.
+The ancient city was occupied from the mid-3rd millennium BC (Circa 2600–2500 BC) to the 14th Century AD, when [[Tamurlane]] conducted a massacre of its population.
-[[Assur (god)|Aššur]] is also the name of the chief deity of the city. He was considered the highest god in the Assyrian pantheon and the protector of the Assur city.  In the [[Mesopotamian]] mythology he was the equivalent of Babylonian [[Marduk]].
+[[Assur (god)|Aššur]] is also the name of the chief deity of the city. He was considered the highest god in the local pantheon and the protector of the Assur city.  In the [[Mesopotamian]] mythology. Assur was a local god to the ancient locals in the ancient city and was not ever recognized as anything else.  The Chaldean Babylonian [[Marduk]] ways ruled as supreme god of all of [[Mesopotamia|Mesopotamia]].
 The site of Assur is a [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]], but was placed on the list of World Heritage Sites in danger in 2003, in part due to the conflict in that area, and also due to a proposed dam, that would flood part of the site. It is about 40 miles south of the former [[Nimrud]] and 60 miles south of [[Nineveh]].

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 ==Name==
 {{see|Syria (name)}}
-''{{lang|akk-Latn|Aššur}}'' is the name of the city, of the land ruled by the city, and of its tutelary deity.
+''{{lang|akk-Latn|Aššur}}'' is the name of the Chaldean city, of the land ruled by the city, and of its tutelary deity.
 At a late date it appears in Mesopotamia literature in the forms ''[[Anshar|An-sar]]'', ''An-sar (ki)'', which form was presumably read ''Assur''.
 The name of the deity is written ''A-šur'' or ''Aš-sùr'', and in Neo-Babylonian often shortened to  ''Aš''.
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 In the [[Enuma Elish|Creation tablet]], the heavens personified collectively were indicated by this term ''An-sar'', "host of heaven," in contradistinction to the earth, ''Ki-sar'', "host of earth."{{Citation needed|date=December 2008}}
-In view of this fact, it seems highly probable that the late writing ''An-sar'' for ''Assur'' was a more or less conscious attempt on the part of the Chaldean scribes to identify the peculiarly Assyrian deity ''Asur'' with the Creation deity ''An-sar''. On the other hand, there is an epithet ''Asir'' or ''Ashir'' ("overseer") applied to several gods and particularly to the deity ''Asur'', a fact which introduced a third element of confusion into the discussion of the name ''Assur''. It is probable then that there is a triple popular etymology in the various forms of writing the name Assur; viz. ''A-usar'',  ''An-sar'' and the stem ''asdru''.{{Citation needed|date=December 2008}}
+In view of this fact, it seems highly probable that the late writing ''An-sar'' for ''Assur'' was a more or less conscious attempt on the part of the Chaldean scribes to identify the peculiarly ancient Assyrian deity ''Asur'' with the Creation deity ''An-sar''. On the other hand, there is an epithet ''Asir'' or ''Ashir'' ("overseer") applied to several gods and particularly to the deity ''Asur'', a fact which introduced a third element of confusion into the discussion of the name ''Assur''. It is probable then that there is a triple popular etymology in the various forms of writing the name Assur; viz. ''A-usar'',  ''An-sar'' and the stem ''asdru''.{{Citation needed|date=December 2008}}
 == Early Bronze Age ==

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 * Steven Lundström, From six to seven Royal Tombs. The documentation of the Deutsche Orient-Gesellschaft excavation at Assur (1903-1914) – Possibilities and limits of its reexamination, in: J.M. Córdoba et al. (Ed.), Proceedings of the 5th International Congress on the Archaeology of the Ancient Near East, Madrid, April 3-8 2006. Universidad Autónoma de Madrid Ediciones, Madrid 2008, Vol. II, 445-463.
 * Friedhelm Pedde, The Assur-Project: A new Analysis of the Middle- and Neo-Assyrian Graves and Tombs, in: P. Matthiae – F. Pinnock – L. Nigro – N. Marchetti (Ed.), Proceedings of the 6th International Congress on the Archaeology of the Ancient Near East, May, 5th-10th 2008, “Sapienza” – Università di Roma. Harrassowitz, Wiesbaden 2010, Vol. 1, 913-923.
-* Barbara Feller, Seal Images and Social Status: Sealings on Middle Assyrian Tablets from Ashur, in: P. Matthiae – F. Pinnock – L. Nigro – N. Marchetti (Ed.), Proceedings of the 6th International Congress on the Archaeology of the Ancient Near East, May, 5th-10th 2008, “Sapienza” – Università di Roma. Harrassowitz, Wiesbaden 2010, Vol. 1, 721-729.
+* Barbara Feller, Seal Images and Social Status: Sealings on Middle Assyrian Tablets from Assur, in: P. Matthiae – F. Pinnock – L. Nigro – N. Marchetti (Ed.), Proceedings of the 6th International Congress on the Archaeology of the Ancient Near East, May, 5th-10th 2008, “Sapienza” – Università di Roma. Harrassowitz, Wiesbaden 2010, Vol. 1, 721-729.
 * Friedhelm Pedde, The Assur Project: The Middle and Neo-Assyrian Graves and Tombs, in: R. Matthews – J. Curtis (Ed.), Proceedings of the 7th International Congress on the Archaeology of the Ancient Near East, London 2010. Harrassowitz, Wiesbaden 2012, Vol. 1, 93-108.
 == External links ==