Topic: History
Scholars discovered three new kings of ancient Assyria who were not listed in the official King List. Their findings suggest that early Neo-Assyrian politics was more complex and interesting than previously thought.
For over a century, scholars have relied on the Assyrian King List (AKL) to understand the rulers of the Assyrian Empire. However, a recent study by Alexander Johannes Edmonds and Eckart Frahm challenges this assumption.
The researchers identified three new kings who were not listed in the AKL but whose reigns can be reconstructed from other evidence. The first forgotten king is Tiglath-pileser, who ruled at the same time as Aššur-dān III. He tried to remove his nephew from power after a solar eclipse, which would have been a significant event in ancient times.
The second missing king is Shalmaneser, who may have ruled before Tiglath-pileser III came to power in 745 BCE. This discovery was made possible by a stela discovered in 1894 at Tell 'Abta, Iraq.
The third case centers on Aššur-uballiṭ, who is mentioned in a cuneiform text attributed to King Tukultī-Ninurta II. The researchers suggest that he may have ruled from 913-912 BCE and could explain the reference on the tablet as well as the identity of a royal figure shown in a statue discovered at Aššur.
The possible existence of these three rulers raises questions about what the Assyrian King List was actually designed to do. Edmonds and Frahm suggest that it may have functioned as a legitimizing canon of kings, which was periodically updated to remove short-lived or parallel Neo-Assyrian rulers.
Why It Matters
This discovery is important because it shows how our understanding of history can change when new evidence comes to light. It also highlights the importance of critically evaluating historical records and considering alternative perspectives.
Key Facts
- The Assyrian King List (AKL) has been used for over a century to understand the rulers of the Assyrian Empire.
- Three new kings were discovered by Alexander Johannes Edmonds and Eckart Frahm: Tiglath-pileser, Shalmaneser, and Aššur-uballiṭ.
- The researchers suggest that the AKL may have been used to legitimize certain rulers and remove others from power.
- The discovery of these new kings changes our understanding of early Neo-Assyrian politics.
Key Terms
- Neo-Assyrian
- Refers to the period in ancient Assyria's history when the empire was ruled by the Neo-Assyrian dynasty.
- Cuneiform text
- An ancient form of writing that used wedge-shaped characters.
Implications
This discovery is important because it shows how our understanding of history can change when new evidence comes to light. It also highlights the importance of critically evaluating historical records and considering alternative perspectives.
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