Assyrians
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At the height of its power around 660 BC, the Assyrian empire, centred in northern Iraq, wielded dominance from Egypt to Iran. This vast region was ruled by a series of kings who showcased their power by constructing magnificent palaces adorned with superlative sculptures depicting royal rituals, battles and hunts. Established by military might, the empire thrived under administrators who relocated tens of thousands of people to serve the state, and scholars who interpreted divine will. This book relates the history of Assyria through the lens of its royal family and the officials who commissioned its superb buildings, art and literature, and laid the foundations for the later empires of Babylon and Persia.
Paul Collins is Keeper of the Middle East Department at the British Museum. Specializing in the art and archaeology of Mesopotamia and Iran, his books include Mountains and Lowlands: Ancient Iran and Mesopotamia (2016) and The Sumerians (Reaktion Books, 2021).