Ashur (Assur) was the capital of ancient Assyria. It was the first city built and named in honor of the supreme god Ashur. Apparently, he was on the site of an ancient Subarean settlement.
The article provides a brief description and a brief history of its occurrence and development.
Where is Ashur city located?
Near the city of Shergat (260 kilometers from Baghdad) there are ancient ruins. This is the former Ashur. It was located in northern Mesopotamia, on the western high bank of the Tigris River, which served as a natural defense. Starting from the third millennium, there are references to the first capital of the Assyrian empire.
Judging by the introduction, it becomes clear in what country the city of Ashur is located. This is the territory of the modern state of Iraq.
A brief history of the Assyrian kingdom
Ashur was built in the XXVI century BC. e. on the spot where in the middle of the fourth millennium there was a settlement of Subareans. They are related in their culture and language to the Hurrians. The Assyrians appreciated the profitability of this place, so they further expanded the settlement, protecting it with reliable defensive structures. The city was surrounded by walls, which were made of mud brick. The walls were about 6 meters thick and 15 meters high. Every 20 meters square towers were installed.
Thus, a real fortress appeared here.
Around the 13th century BC, the state of Ashur was formed, and after several centuries Assyria became one of the most powerful empires in the Ancient World. At that time, she subjugated to herself the areas located quite far from the center of Ashur. The Assyrian state had an influence on almost the entire Ancient world. Even Egypt was unable to resist the onslaught of this power.
Ashur was at the same time a religious capital and a center of trade of world significance. The city of Ashur, belonging to the state with the same name, was its first capital. It remained an important center of the country, even having lost this status. He ceded the role of the royal residence first to the city of Calchus, and in the 7th century to Nineveh. However, it has always remained the most revered city in Assyria, the center of religion and the burial place of kings. He had many privileges: exemption from duties, the right to duty-free trade, etc. The Assyrian kings patronized him in every possible way and made rich offerings to his temples.
How did it end?
The city of Ashur, captured by the Medes in 614 BC, ceased to exist. However, until the fall, he continued to be a city revered by the kings of Assyria.
In 614 BC e. a point was put in the history of Ashur. He was completely burned and plundered, disappearing from historical chronicles.
Archaeological excavations
Scientific archaeological excavations in the Ashur region were carried out by the German Oriental Society from 1903 to 1914 (supervisor V. Andre). As a result, the remains of a monumental gate and 2 lines of powerful defensive structures, as well as the ruins of royal palaces with lining from painted alabaster plates were discovered. In addition, scientists unearthed the roads of processions leading to ziggurats and numerous temples that were once erected in honor of such gods as Ashur, Ishtar, Shamash, Anu, Sin, Adad, etc. Also underground tombs of the kings of Assyria (treasures) were discovered. they didn’t appear in them, perhaps they were looted during the invasion of the city by enemies), residential and trade-craft districts. Here is found the oldest (older than Nineveh) library with texts from the time of Tiglath-Palasar I. Administrative, legal and other official documents were discovered.
The city-state of Ashur was revived in the III century BC. It lasted until the III century AD (Parthian era), but as a provincial city. The ruins from Parthian buildings that were erected on the ruins of the Assyrian structures have been preserved here. This is the citadel on the site of the former ziggurat, the Parthian Acropolis with squares and the temple of the god Ashur, as well as the ruins of the palace, the facade of which is decorated with three rows of half-columns. The interior of the palace is decorated with murals.
Current state
Today, the city of Ashur, although there are no surviving buildings, causes a feeling of some oppression. However, the ruins of former magnificent temples and palaces against the background of picturesque landscapes do not look particularly gloomy. While walking in these places, among the ruins of the distant past, the spirit of those ancient times penetrates the soul, filling it with delight.
Of particular interest are the ruins of the double temple of Anu, which looks like two cubes, set on top of each other. The lower one has a base perimeter of 160 meters. The central building was once surrounded by a wall, forming a vast inner courtyard, in the depths of which today are the remains of two steles. The foundations of 2 ziggurats are adjacent to the temple wall, one of them is 60 meters high.
A bit about the problems
Ashur, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was threatened with flooding in 2003. Then the construction of a huge dam was to begin on this site. The grandiose project was closed in connection with the invasion of Iraq by the US military and its allies in the spring of 2003. But even these hostilities created a threat to the safety of this priceless archaeological site.
In 2015, the vicinity of the ancient city was occupied by the Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist organization . As it became known, the militants began to destroy the ancient structures in Syria and Iraq. There were fears that Ashur might be destroyed. And according to existing sources, the citadel of the city was still blown up in the spring of 2015 with improvised explosive devices.
Finally
Apparently, the Medes and Babylonians at one time really wanted to destroy the city of Ashur to its very foundations, since for them it was a symbol of the hated Assyria. However, they failed to do this, as even time could not.
Although in this ancient city there is not a single whole structure, but looking even at what remains, it is quite possible to imagine how it all looked before. Unfortunately, as it turned out, there are people who do not appreciate the past with its interesting and mysterious history.