Old Palace (Aššur)

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The Old Palace of Aššur was a monumental structure in the former Assyrian capital. It was probably built in the ancient Assyrian period . Its successor buildings were then used as a royal residence until the Neo-Assyrian era .

Building of Šamši-Adad I.

King Šamši-Adad I established an Upper Mesopotamian Empire at the end of the ancient Assyrian period. Its capital was Šubat-Enlil , but he also had a residence in Aššur. This probably stood on the site of the old palace. Here was a building with a side length of 100 × 110 meters. In addition to a large inner courtyard, it also had several smaller courtyards and numerous rooms. This building was completely leveled by Puzur-Sin .

Central Assyrian Period

In the Middle Assyrian period the palace was rebuilt on this site. Above all, King Adad-nirari I was instrumental in this. In addition, Aššur-bel-kala boasts in its broken obelisk to have contributed to this palace. He was later buried in the south wing of this palace. Conceptually, this building was based on both Šamši-Adad's building and the palace of Zimri-Lim in Mari . There were also similarities with the palace in Tell al-Rimah .

Neo-Assyrian time

King Aššur-nâṣir-apli II then had the building completely rebuilt in the Neo-Assyrian period . In the course of this, the building was moved a few meters to the south. In this building, the conception was used for the first time on which all other Neo-Assyrian palaces were based, including his later Northwest Palace in Nimrud . With his move to this new palace, Aššur lost its function as the imperial capital. Nevertheless, the old palace was repeatedly renovated and renewed. Presumably, it continued to serve as a royal residence when the rulers stayed in the city for religious ceremonies. It also served as a royal burial place . At least the rulers Aššur-nâṣir-apli II., Šamši-Adad V , Aššur-aḫḫe-iddina and Sîn-aḫḫe-eriba were buried here. The tombs of the first three mentioned have already been uncovered during archaeological excavations. The palace was built when Aššur was conquered by the Medes in 614 BC. Chr. Completely destroyed. Its ruins were partly still inhabited.

literature

  • Pedde, Friedhelm, The Palace of the Fathers , in Marzahn / Salje (ed.), Resurrecting Assur , Mainz 2003, pp. 119–128.
  • Pedde, Friedhelm / Lundström, Steven, The Old Palace in Assur. Architecture and building history , scientific publications of the German Orient Society 120. Harrassowitz, Wiesbaden 2008.
  • Lundström, Steven, The royal tombs in the Old Palace in Assur , Scientific publications of the German Orient Society 123. Harrassowitz, Wiesbaden 2009.
  • Lundström, Steven / Orlamünde, Julia, The Orthostats Tiglat-Pilesers I and Assurnasirpals II from the Old Palace in Assur , Scientific publications of the German Orient Society 136. Harrassowitz, Wiesbaden 2011, ISBN 978-3-447-06510-8
  • Pedde, Friedhelm, the old palace. Excavation and revision , in: J. Renger (Ed.), Assur - Gott, Stadt und Land, 5th International Colloquium of the German Orient Society 18. – 21. February 2004 in Berlin, CDOG 5 (2011), 33-62
  • Pedde, Friedhelm, The Old Palace in Assur , in Antike Welt , 2012/2, pp. 21–28.
  • Pedde, Friedhelm, Der Alte Palast , in Alter Orient Aktuell , 2012, pp. 41–43.