Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III

The Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III. (reigned about 858-824 BC ) is a newly - Assyrian bas-relief black limestone from Nimrud ( Kalchu ) in northern Iraq. It has a height of 197.85 cm and a width of 45.08 cm. He is currently on display in the British Museum.

Among the Assyrian obelisk yet discovered, he is the best preserved and is historically significant because of the earliest depiction of an Israelite. The obelisk was 825 BC, situated in a time of civil war as a public monument. In 1846 he was discovered by the archaeologist Sir Henry Layard.

The obelisk has 20 reliefs, five on each side. They represent five subjugated kings, which offer tribute and prostrating before the Assyrian king. From top to bottom these are:

  • Sua, the maddattu of Gilzanu ( KUR gil -a -na- aa) in the north-western Iran
  • Jehu from the house of Omri ( ia -ua DUMUhu - to - rii ), the ancient northern kingdom of Israel. According to some researchers ia -ua, however, should not be read as Jehu, but when Joram.
  • The maddattu of Musri ( ša mat mu -us- ri ), Egypt?
  • Marduk - apil - wearing-away of SUHI the Middle Euphrates, Syria and Iraq
  • Qalparunda of patina (the area of Antakya / Turkey).

Each scene has four fields around the obelisks around and each contains about an inscription in cuneiform.

The second register from the top includes the earliest surviving picture of an Israelite Jehu, king of Israel, who prostrates before the Assyrian king. The inscription describes how Jehu takes its toll and sends, in about the year 841 BC Jehu sparked Israel's alliance with the Phoenician city-states and Judah, and was of Assyrian vassal. The inscription above the representation, written in the Akkadian language, may be translated as follows:

"Tribute of Jehu, son of Omri: I received from him silver, gold, a golden bowl, a golden vase with painted floors, golden cup, golden vessels, tin, a scepter for the king's hand and spears ( puašatu ). "

At the top and at the bottom of the relief is a long cuneiform inscription, which the annals of Shalmaneser III. records. It lists the annual campaigns of the king and his generals to 31 year of reign. Some features suggest that the work was commissioned by the Commander in Chief Dayan - Ashur in order.

History of the Assyrian people Israelites Austen Henry Layard Kingdom of Judah
717547
de