Ancient Ashur

The once proud city of Assur 

This painting reveals the awesome city of Ashur on the west bank of the Tigris River.

When the Babylonians and the Medes destroyed Assyria in 612 BC., the city of Ashur was the first to fall. The discovery of the ruins of ancient Ashur is important in the study of Biblical Archaeology, it reveals the promise of God and the fulfillment of His Word. 

"And he will stretch out his hand against the north, and destroy Assyria" - Zephaniah 2:13

List of Assyrian Kings

Assur-nasipal II (885-860 B.C.) A cruel warrior king, he made Assyria into the most fierce fighting machine of ancient world.

Shalmaneser II (860-825 B.C.) he was the first Assyrian king to come into conflict with Israel. King Ahab fought against him, and king Jehu paid him tribute.

Shansi-adad (825-808 B.C.) Assyria in decline

Adad-nirari (808-783 B.C.) Assyria in decline

Shalmaneser III (783-771 B.C.) Assyria in decline

Assur-dayan (771-753 B.C.) Assyria in decline

Assur-lush (753-747 B.C.) Assyria in decline

Tiglath-pileser III (Pul) (747-727 B.C.) He carried the Northern Kingdom of Israel into captivity.

Shalmaneser IV (727-722 B.C.) He besieged Samaria and died during the siege.

Sargon II (722-705 B.C.) He completed the destruction of Samaria and the captivity of Israel.

Sennacherib (705-681 B.C.) He was the most famous of the Assyrian kings, he mentions the name of Hezekiah on his prism. His army was defeated at the gates of Jerusalem by the Angel of the Lord. He also conquered Babylon.

Esar-haddon (681-668 B.C.) He rebuilt Babylon and conquered Egypt. He was one of Assyria's greatest kings.

Assur-banipal (668-626 B.C.) He destroyed the Thebes in Egypt and collected a great library, innumerable clay tablets were found.

Assur-etil-ilani (626-607 B.C.) It was under his reign that the Assyrian Empire fell.

Assyrian annals mention contacts with some ten Hebrew kings: Omri, Ahab, Jehu, Menahem, Hoshea, Pekah, Uzziah, Ahaz, Hezekiah, and Manasseh.

Related Pages:

Ashur in Fausset's Bible Dictionary

Ashur in Hitchcock's Names

Nineveh in Smith's Bible Dictionary

Nineveh - Background Bible Study

Ashurbanipal in the Bible Encyclopedia

Ashurbanipal Glossary Definition

Sennacherib

Sennacherib's Hexagonal Prism

Lachish Letters

Lachish in Easton's Bible Dictionary

Biblical Archaeology: Assyria

Archaeology of Ancient Assyria - Archaeological Discoveries

Ancient Near East - Images and Art

Bible History Online - Fallen Empires (Biblical Archaeology)

Bible History Links - Ancient Near East : Art & Images

Bible History Online - Ancient Art

Assyria and Bible Prophecy - Timeline of Events

Ancient History Timeline

The Destruction of Israel - Kings of Israel, Judah and Assyria

Archaeology of Ancient Assyria - Khorsabad

Timeline 800 - 700 BC

The Assyrians

The Captivity

Archaeology of Ancient Assyria - Calah

Ancient Babylonia - Nimrud

Archaeology of Ancient Assyria - Austen Henry Layard

Archaeology of Ancient Assyria - Ancient Assyria

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Calah

Ancient Sketches