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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 23 December 2013
To offer Richard Barnett remarks about Assyrian reliefs is a matter of self-indulgence. I wanted to have the reaction of this scholar most likely to be interested in my ideas about the meaning of the two principal scenes of the Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III (858–24 B.C.); the role of the ziggurat in Assyria, on which I will touch only slightly; and a fragment from the reliefs of Sennacherib (704–681 B.C.). I have had to appeal for his aid for the classification of the latter since he is preparing the publication of the collected reliefs from the palace of Sennacherib with the help of Erica Bleibtreu.
Each of the two scenes at the top of Shalmaneser's obelisk, Plate I, a—b, shows a foreign prince kneeling before the Assyrian king with hands and beard touching the ground in the posture of the greatest humility. The lower scene is often reproduced alone because the foreign ruler is Jehu of Israel, whose biblical association is of interest to the general public. The similarity of the two scenes, is unique and invites a search into its meaning. Fortunately, the identity of both foreign rulers is indicated in the inscription above the scenes.
1 Michel, E., “Die Assur-Texte Salmanassars III (858–824)”, Die Welt des Orients (WO) II (1955), p. 141Google Scholar: A, B.
2 Michel calls him Sua, Röllig, W. in RLA III/5, 1968, p. 375Google Scholar, s.v. Gilzānu calls him Asû, following Ebeling, E. in RLA I, p. 309Google Scholar, s.v. Asû.
3 Röllig, ibid., thought that Gilzanu was situated northwest of Lake Urmia; Reade, J. E., “Hasanlu, Gilzanu, and Related Considerations,” Archäologische Mitteilungen aus Iran 12 (1979), pp. 175–81Google Scholar, however, places Gilzanu close to the southern shore of Lake Urmia and suggests an identification of Gilzanu with Hasanlu.
4 Michel, , WO II (1956), p. 231 and note 44Google Scholar.
5 Sollberger, E., “The White Obelisk,” Iraq XXXVI (1974), p. 233Google Scholar.
6 Michel, , WO II (1955), p. 141Google Scholar, B and WO I (1949), p. 267Google Scholar, lines 25–26, and note 9.
7 For example the statement of Tiglathpileser I (1114–1076 B.C.): “Twenty-eight times (I fought) the Ahlamu peoples and the Arameans, (once) I even crossed the Euphrates twice in one year. I defeated them from Tadmar (Palmyra) which (lies) in the country Amurru, Anat which (lies) in the country Suhu as far as the town Rapiqu which (lies) in Kar-Duniash (i.e. Babylonia),” quoted from the translation by Oppenheim, A. L., in Ancient Near Eastern Texts… ed. Pritchard, J. B., Princeton, 1950, p. 275Google Scholar.
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10 Oates, D., “The Excavations at Tell al Rimah,” Iraq XXIX, 1967, pp. 70–96; Pl. XXXCrossRefGoogle Scholar.
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12 For a survey of Assyrian obelisks see Reade, J. E., “The Rassam Obelisk,” Iraq XLII (1980), pp. 20–21Google Scholar.
13 Porada, E., “Appendix A: The Cylinder Seal,” in Bikai, Patricia M., The Pottery of Tyre, London, 1978, pp. 77–82Google Scholar.
14 Dr. S. Dalley mentioned the text VS 19, 33, cited by Postgate, N. in Bibliotheca Orientalis XXXVII, 1980, p. 68Google Scholar, in which an oil presser was to supply sesame(?) ziggurats.
15 For the date of the inscription in the time of Ashurnasirpal II, see Sollberger, E., “The White Obelisk,” Iraq XXXVI, 1974, pp. 231–8CrossRefGoogle Scholar. For the earlier date of the reliefs see Reade, J. E. “Ashurnasirpal I and the White Obelisk,” Iraq XXXVII, 1975, pp. 129–50CrossRefGoogle Scholar.
16 Honolulu Academy of Arts Acc. No. 490514–2; length 72 cm., height 67 cm. Gift of Mrs. C. M. Cooke Sr., Dec. 1932.
17 Cf. Pinches, , Guide to the Kuyunjik Gallery, pp. 105–7Google Scholar, and A. Paterson, Palace of Sinacherib, Pl. 29.
18 Iraq, XXXIV, 1972Google Scholar, Pl. XXXIV, b.
