Understanding Ancient Fortifications by Unknown

Author:Unknown
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: HISTORY / Europe / General
ISBN: 9781785707490
Publisher: Casemate Publishers & Book Distributors, LLC
Published: 2017-11-29T00:00:00+00:00

By employing figurines and sculptures of such creatures in the building programmes, the Assyrian kings proved their success in ordering the world, which they also did through building city fortifications and temples or cultivating barren landscapes. Success in war and in the hunt, both understood as fighting forces of chaos, and building and agricultural activities were two sides of the same thing: ordering the world. By doing so, the king re-enacted the mythical deeds of gods like Ninurta and Marduk. The king’s successes simultaneously proved his might, his care for his people, and his nuanced understanding of the god’s will (Liverani 1979; Maul 1999). It is understandable that city gates, the points where the ordered world began, were chosen as places for demonstrating success in war and hunt and the performance of triumphal celebrations (Maul 2000, 22–25; May 2014, 89).

The ceremonial names of the Tabira Gate of Ashur, ‘Entrance for All Lands through the Strong Wall’ and ‘Controller of Princes’ (Grayson 1996, 99, ll. 40–1) suggest that certain ceremonies were performed there on foreign rulers (Maul 2000, 23). The performance of certain different rituals in front of, or in the gates, is indeed attested. At Ashur they even received offerings (May 2014, 83–84). This demonstrates clearly the sacred nature of city gates in Assyria, a sacredness that can be explained by their central position between the realm of civilisation – the city – and the unordered outside realm. Because of this city gates became foci of royal building activity and royal ideology.

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank the editors for their invitation to contribute to this volume. I am also indebted to Kyle Egerer for his careful proofreading and improving the text.

Abbreviations

RlA: Reallexikon der Assyriologie und Vorderasiatischen Archäologie.

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