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ARWA – The International Association for Archaeological Research in Western & Central Asia has the pleasure to invite you to the following AAA online lecture of Art History and Visual Studies: “Divine Kingship under Esarhaddon“ Talah Anderson 19th May 2023 BST (London) CET (Rome, Paris, Berlin / GMT 2) (İstanbul, Athens / GMT 3) (New York / GMT-4) There has been much discussion in Assyriology about Esarhaddon’s selection of two heirs - Assurbanipal and Šamaš-šumu-ukīn – to succeed him in Assyria and Babylonia, particularly with respect to the many adê tablet fragments dated to 672 BC that have been excavated at Nimrud as well as, more recently, at Tell Tayinat. Revisiting this important textual evidence alongside the sculptural reliefs and inscriptions carved onto Esarhaddon’s steles from Zincirli and Tell Ahmar, which most notably celebrate Esarhaddon’s landmark victory over the Pharaoh Taharqa at Memphis in 671 BC but also depict the princes, the aim of this presentation is to advance an integrated interpretation of Esarhaddon’s ideological programme around the succession. As it will be argued, the immense religious significance of the two princes was communicated through monuments as well as rituals in central as well as provincial court contexts. Throughout, I intend to show that our understanding of Late Assyrian royal ideology may be continually augmented by approaching the ancient sources through the lens of kinship rather than kingship.
