Science & Tech · Science & Environment · 1 day ago
Researchers identify three rulers omitted from Assyrian history
Researchers at Yale University have identified evidence for three rulers who briefly held power in the ancient Assyrian Empire.
The evidence comes from clay tablets, inscriptions and a stone monument that scholars examined again.
One ruler, Tiglath-pileser, appears to have seized the throne in 763 BC after overthrowing his nephew, but was later driven out.
The other two were named Shalmaneser and Ashur-uballit, and each may have ruled briefly before losing power.
Their names were left out of the Assyrian King List, a record that historians had long treated as a reliable account of the succession.
The study suggests the list was shaped to exclude rulers who were short-lived, defeated or removed by rivals.
Assyria once ruled much of the ancient Near East, and the findings suggest its political history was less stable than the official record made it seem.
Researchers from Yale University identified evidence for three previously unknown rulers of the Assyrian Empire.
The rulers appear to have been left out of the Assyrian King List, long treated as the definitive record of Assyrian kings.
One claimant, who took the name Tiglath-pileser, is believed to have seized power in 763 BC after overthrowing his nephew, Ashur-dan III.
A second ruler named Shalmaneser is thought to have reigned for a little over a year before losing power to Tiglath-pileser III.
A third, Ashur-uballit, may have ruled briefly before being deposed by Adad-nirari II.
The research suggests the king list was manipulated to omit rulers who had short, unsuccessful or contested reigns.
- Who
- Researchers from Yale University; the three rulers were Tiglath-pileser, Shalmaneser and Ashur-uballit.
- What
- Evidence was found that three rulers were omitted from the Assyrian King List.
- When
- The newly identified reigns date to the Neo-Assyrian period; Tiglath-pileser is believed to have seized power in 763 BC.
- Where
- The Assyrian Empire, including the city of Ashur.
- Why
- The study suggests the king list was shaped to exclude rulers who reigned briefly, failed militarily or were overthrown.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
What we have shown is that this list was manipulated.
What we've known about Assyrian history has been based on this one document, the Assyrian King List, and all historians have relied on it relatively uncritically,
This story does not have a timeline yet.
- Newly identified rulers
- Tiglath-pileser, Shalmaneser and Ashur-uballit
- Tiglath-pileser's reported seizure of power
- 763 BC
- Research institution
- Yale University
- Publication
- Journal of Cuneiform Studies
- Empire's approximate span
- Roughly 900 BC to 600 BC
Sources
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