Ashur: Exploring The Ancient Heart Of The Assyrian Empire

Ashur also known as Assur and Qal'at Sherqat was capital of Middle Assyrian Empire for a time of Neo-Assyrian Empire 911–609 BC and semi-independent state during Parthian Empire between 2nd century BC and mid 3rd century AD. One hundred kilometres south of Mosul present-day Qal'at Sherqat is oldest Assyrian capital. It owes name to most revered god of Assyrians Ashur from which term Assyria derived. City dates back to 3rd millennium BC located on Tigris River northern Mesopotamia in specific geo-ecological zone borderline between rain-fed and irrigation agriculture.

Three Thousand Years On A Triangular Spur

Remains of city lie on western bank of Tigris River north of confluence with tributary Little Zab in what is now Iraq more precisely al-Shirqat District of Saladin Governorate. Assur lies 65 kilometres south of Kalhu biblical Calah Nimrud and 100 km south of Nineveh. City lies on south facing mountain spur with triangular layout northern higher area held public buildings including palace and temples of Ashur, Anu, Adad, Sin, Shamash, Ishtar. Occupation continued for approximately 3,000 years from Early Dynastic Period to mid-3rd century AD when city was sacked by Sasanian Empire after which sparsely populated until massacres of Assyrian Christians conducted by Tamurlane in 14th century AD after which remaining population relocated to countryside.

Site is UNESCO World Heritage Site and was added to list of sites in danger in 2003 as result of proposed dam which would flood some of site. Official name Ashur Qal'at Sherqat Type Cultural Criteria iii iv Designated 2003 27th session Reference 1130 Region Arab States Endangered 2003–present. Criterion iii Founded in 3rd millennium BCE most important role from 14th to 9th century BCE when it was first capital of Assyrian empire. Ashur was also religious capital of Assyrians and place for crowning and burial of its kings. Criterion iv city-state and trading platform of international significance.

Archaeology: briefly excavated by Austen Henry Layard and Hormuzd Rassam in 1800s while working at Nineveh Rassam 1850s and 1870s rarely present. Regular exploration began 1898 German archaeologists excavations began 1900 by Friedrich Delitzsch continued 1903–1914 by team Deutsche Orient-Gesellschaft led initially Robert Koldewey later Walter Andrae working 12 months year mainly northern public area excavated Anu Adad Sin Shamash Ishtar Nabu Assur temples along with Assur Enlil ziggurat Old Palace additionally city's double city cleared. More than 16,000 clay tablets with cuneiform texts discovered held at Pergamon Museum Berlin several thousand shell stone glass ceramic beads encountered deep level two beads much later determined Baltic amber about 700 worked unworked bone ivory objects found.

Karum, Limmu, And Sand Beneath Ishtar

Because large construction overburden from later periods full stratigraphy only possible at site of Ishtar temple in Nabu district. Eight primary construction occupation levels determined for Ishtar temple A–H most recent layers A–C later temples began oldest built by Tukulti-Ninurta I 1243–1207 oldest levels D–H began earliest Early Dynastic period excavator believed occupational hiatus level F during which no temple existed. In 2024 Iraqi and European archaeologists took four core samples deepest layers below foundation Ishtar temple showing built on thick layer pure sand standard practice Southern Mesopotamia but rare later temples built at Assur. Retrieved one charcoal sample earliest point found radiocarbon date 2896–2702 BC calibration IntCal20. Early excavators dated founding Ishtar temple early in 3rd millennium BC later work revised to Early Dynastic III period 2600–2350 BC. More recent work including radiocarbon suggests foundation city by Early Dynastic I period. Work continued 2025 finds included 8 fragments cuneiform text. In 2023 after drone survey caesium total field magnetometer survey mostly Parthian New Town area east side city data small 2 hectare magnetometry survey central area merged trial electrical resistivity tomography test eight core samples taken. Excavation resumed 2023 Assur Excavation Project led Professor Karen Radner team Iraqi European colleagues 2024.

During Third Dynasty of Ur c. 2112–2004 BC Assur under control Ur. One governors Zariqum known from references texts Drehem Umma originally Ur III official from Shulgi year 44 until year 47 about 3.5 years then Shulgi year 48 until Amar-Sin year 5 about 6 years governor Assur then became governor Susa Amar-Sin year 5 until Shu-Sin year 4 about 8 years thought at that time Assur and Susa under control single governor. Inscription found Ishtar temple where Zariqum recorded building temple for Bēlat-ekallim Ninegal for life Amar-Sin. Around end 21st century BC Ur III Empire collapsed at hands Elamites control shifted briefly to Eshnunna weight shape duck found at Assur read Dadusha son Ipiq-Adad king Eshnunna to Inibšina his daughter he presented this weight.

Shamshi-Adad I Amorite ruler Kingdom Upper Mesopotamia 1808–1775 BC eventually conquered Assur made it his religious capital primary capital being Ekallatum later Shubat-Enlil. In this era Royal Palace built temple of Assur expanded enlarged with ziggurat however empire met its end when Hammurabi Amorite king Babylon conquered incorporated city into First Babylonian dynasty empire following death Ishme-Dagan I around 1756 BC while next three Assyrian kings viewed as vassals Babylon. Temples to moon god Sin Nanna and sun god Shamash built dedicated through 15th century BC city subsequently subjugated king Mitanni Saushtatar late 15th century taking gold silver doors temple to his capital Waššukanni as spoils. After Mitanni destroyed by Hittites Ashur-uballit I annexed eastern portions forming Middle Assyrian Empire 1353–1056 BC. Following centuries restoration old temples palaces city once more became throne empire from 1365 BC to 1050 BC. Walled area Middle Assyrian period some 1.2 square kilometres 300 acres. In Neo-Assyrian Empire 912–605 BC royal residence transferred other cities Ashurnasirpal II 884–859 BC moved capital from Assur to Kalhu Calah Nimrud With reign Sargon II 722–705 BC new capital began rise Dur-Sharrukin Fortress Sargon died battle son successor Sennacherib 705–682 BC abandoned city choosing magnify Nineveh as royal capital city Assur remained religious center empire due temple national god Ashur. Many kings buried beneath Old Palace while some queens buried other capitals such as wife Sargon Ataliya.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where Is Ashur Located Today?

Qal'at Sherqat al-Shirqat District Saladin Governorate Iraq western bank Tigris River north confluence Little Zab 100 km south Mosul 65 km south Kalhu biblical Calah Nimrud 100 km south Nineveh triangular layout south facing mountain spur northern higher area public buildings palace temples Ashur Anu Adad Sin Shamash Ishtar.

How Old Is Ashur And Why UNESCO?

City dates 3rd millennium BC charcoal below Ishtar temple foundation radiocarbon 2896-2702 BC IntCal20 early excavators Early Dynastic III 2600-2350 BC later Early Dynastic I occupation approximately 3000 years Early Dynastic to mid-3rd century AD sacked Sasanian sparsely until Tamurlane 14th century massacres Assyrian Christians. UNESCO World Heritage Site Ashur Qal'at Sherqat Cultural criteria iii iv designated 2003 27th session reference 1130 endangered 2003-present proposed dam flood site founded 3rd millennium BCE most important 14th-9th BCE first capital religious capital crowning burial kings.

Why Was Ashur Religious Capital Of Assyria?

Owes name most revered god Assyrians Ashur from which Assyria derived temple national god Ashur remained religious center even after royal residence transferred Old Palace burial many kings queens other capitals like Ataliya wife Sargon House of New Year Akitu built Sennacherib 705-682 BC festivities celebrated Sargon II 722-705 BC Dur-Sharrukin Fortress Sargon abandoned son Sennacherib magnified Nineveh Ashurnasirpal II 884-859 BC moved capital to Kalhu.

What Was Karum Trading Network Of Old Assyrian?

In Old Assyrian period Ashur central hub karum trading network stretched Mesopotamia Syria Anatolia Kultepe another important location growth largely driven merchants established trading posts Anatolia early 2nd millennium BCE city assembly legislative judicial power limum city official yearly head finances transactions dated Limmu eponyms example month Belat-ekallim eponym Qis-Amurrim son Apapa several hundred inscriptions tablets bricks fragmentary cylinder seals ruler Irishum I clay sealings Ilusumma BM 115690 andurarum debt relief Akkadians copper purified from border marshes Ur Nippur Awal Kismar Der Ishtaran as far as Assur.

How Did Ashur Fall From Empire To Parthian?

Capital Middle Assyrian for time Neo-Assyrian 911-609 BC walled area Middle Assyrian 1.2 sq km 300 acres Tukulti-Ninurta I 1244-1208 BC new Ishtar temple Anu-Adad Tiglath-Pileser I 1115-1075 BC sacked largely destroyed decisive battle Assur Assyrian vs Median Babylonian armies Achaemenid Athura 549-330 BC gold glazing palace Lebanese cedar timber revolt 520 BC failed agricultural administrative center soldiers mainstay Persian Army revived Parthian 150 BC-257 AD administrative centre Assuristan semi-independent state 2nd century BC-mid 3rd AD independence alongside Adiabene Osroene Beth Nuhadra Beth Garmai new buildings north old city palace south old temple Ashur rebuilt Eastern Aramaic Syriac script same Edessa.

Ashur endures because it never tried to be only capital. A 3000-year occupation on triangular spur above Tigris taught city to be trading hub karum when needed, throne from 1365 to 1050 BC, religious crown and burial place when Nineveh and Kalhu took court. Even as World Heritage in danger since 2003 threatened by dam, its sand foundation 2896–2702 BC beneath Ishtar still holds meaning — earliest Assyrian capital that gave name to Assyria remains place where kings came to be crowned.