AssyriaAssyriaThe EmpireThe Empire

Assyria was a great empire that Assyria was a great empire that spanned over four countries. It was a spanned over four countries. It was a

empire that had a strong army, empire that had a strong army, advanced technology and a influential advanced technology and a influential

Religion. Religion.

Assyrian Geography Assyrian Geography

Assyria was a great empire but it Assyria was a great empire but it was greatly affected by the was greatly affected by the climate its people lived in. climate its people lived in.

Geography and climate affects Geography and climate affects what you eat what you where and what you eat what you where and

the culture that you live in. the culture that you live in.

Placement of the Assyrian empirePlacement of the Assyrian empireAssyria spans 4 countries in Assyria spans 4 countries in the northern part of the northern part of Mesopotamia Mesopotamia To the west it reaches the To the west it reaches the Euphrates River Euphrates River To the north it extends to To the north it extends to the point of Lake Vanthe point of Lake VanTo the east it reaches Lake To the east it reaches Lake UrmiUrmiBoth the Euphrates and the Both the Euphrates and the Tigris Rivers run in the Tigris Rivers run in the empires areaempires areaTourus and Zagros Tourus and Zagros mountains lie north east of mountains lie north east of where Assyria waswhere Assyria wasTo the south west is a To the south west is a enormous limestone plateau enormous limestone plateau In the south lie alluvium In the south lie alluvium with is dumped on the land with is dumped on the land by the Tigris when the river by the Tigris when the river floodsfloods Even further south lies land Even further south lies land that doesn't have enough that doesn't have enough rainfall to hold agriculturerainfall to hold agricultureThese two inhabitable areas These two inhabitable areas mark the boundaries to mark the boundaries to Assyria and its neighbors Assyria and its neighbors

Farmland and Water Supply Farmland and Water Supply The Assyrians lived on flat exposed farmland Land was fertile and every region in the empire ad fields of

produce Two critical crop producers in the empire where the people

of the Arbel plain and the Nineveh plain These groups helped Assyrians receive food needed to

feed its enormous population And because of the surplus the empire was able to

advance and expand their civilization and its art Their lack of natural barriers like mountains or rivers it

meant they needed to build a strong army The Assyrians like the Egyptians where a river valley

civilization The Assyrians depended on the Tigris river for water for

transportation and for trading

Climate Climate On the lime stone plateau it was On the lime stone plateau it was

cold and wet in the winters cold and wet in the winters Warm in summerWarm in summer Apples where grown along figs, Apples where grown along figs,

olives , olives , pomegranates ,almonds ,mulberries pomegranates ,almonds ,mulberries ,and vines where grown as well,and vines where grown as well

A multitude of grains where also A multitude of grains where also harvested such as barley and wheat harvested such as barley and wheat

Rice was grown and popular in Rice was grown and popular in Babylonia Babylonia

Cotton was also grownCotton was also grown The people wore knee length tunics Clothing was mostly made of wool

but linen was used for nicer quality garments

They grew onions but considered to be peasant food

Onion leeks and Garlic plants where grown plentifully in the Assyrians gardens

Knew there fungi as they knew both poisons and non poisons mushrooms

Animals Animals The Assyrians also hunted The Assyrians also hunted

for food besides the trading for food besides the trading and crops that they grewand crops that they grew

In the nearby forests lions In the nearby forests lions livedlived

Wild bull lived in the plainsWild bull lived in the plains Also in the plains where Also in the plains where

wild asses, wild goats, and wild asses, wild goats, and GazellesGazelles

Mastiffs (very big dog) Mastiffs (very big dog) where tamed and used for where tamed and used for huntinghunting

Horses where imported Horses where imported from other landsfrom other lands

Pelicans trained for fishingPelicans trained for fishing The people hunted Fowl like The people hunted Fowl like

thrushes sparrows and larks thrushes sparrows and larks

Fishing was done by line and through means of nets

Fish eaten both fresh and dried as bigger fish would usually be dried for future purposes

In conclusion Assyria was affected by In conclusion Assyria was affected by its climate and geography. Its climate its climate and geography. Its climate and geography affected what they and geography affected what they wore what they lived in and what wore what they lived in and what they ate as wellthey ate as well

As a result, the Assyrians created and used devices that had helped them conquer nations and also assisted with everyday life.

War and Construction

mud brick construction: is a technique to build massive palaces with sculptures that portrayed battles and victories.

pontoons: floating structures used to support bridge; used them for crossing a river.

ladders: troops used them to climb up enemy’s city walls.

iron daggers and swords: weapons used by Assyrian army

iron tipped battering rams: used to destroy the enemy’s city walls.

Inventions and Ideas

locks and keys were first used. sexagesimal system of keeping time was

developed. developed medicine that eventually

influenced doctors as far away as Europe. first to divide a circle into 360 degrees and

invented the concept of longitude and latitude

Inventions and Ideas (Cont.)

Akkadian language was written on clay tablets.

Arameans had introduced a language and the idea of writing on parchment, leather, or papyrus; knew the it would replace the original Assyrian language because of the technological breakthrough in writing.

a piece of rock crystal unearthed and was discovered in Northern Iraq; possibly used as an telescope, which implies Assyria’s advanced understanding of Astronomy

As a result, the Assyrians created and used devices that had helped them conquer nations and also assisted with everyday life.

Assyrian Religion

Anastasiya Sergeyeva

IntroIntro

The ancient Assyrian religion existed as a belief The ancient Assyrian religion existed as a belief system for 1300 years. Assyrian religion originated system for 1300 years. Assyrian religion originated in Sumer and AkkadSumer and Akkad. The Assyrians were polytheistic. The Assyrians were polytheistic. They performed rituals and ceremonies, and built They performed rituals and ceremonies, and built temples for their gods. They had religious temples for their gods. They had religious celebrations. And they put a negative view on death. celebrations. And they put a negative view on death.

Gods/Deities

*Assyrians were polytheistic. They *Assyrians were polytheistic. They recognized thousands of gods, but recognized thousands of gods, but only about twenty were important in only about twenty were important in actual practice. actual practice.

Assyrian Gods:Assyrian Gods:AdadAdad:: Weather God, God of storms, Weather God, God of storms, creator and destroyer, God of Heaven, God creator and destroyer, God of Heaven, God of oracles and divination. The number six, of oracles and divination. The number six, the lion and the bull were sacred to him and the lion and the bull were sacred to him and his symbol was the cypress. his symbol was the cypress. AshurAshur: National God and God of War : National God and God of War AtrahasisAtrahasis: Only survivor, of the flood that : Only survivor, of the flood that destroyed mankind. destroyed mankind. BelBel: "Master", applied to Enlil and Marduk. : "Master", applied to Enlil and Marduk. LamassuLamassu: Protective spirits in the form of : Protective spirits in the form of winged bulls with a human head. Carved winged bulls with a human head. Carved around the throne of Sargon with 5 legs, around the throne of Sargon with 5 legs, (so that it looked like they were walking).(so that it looked like they were walking).MahMah:: Earth Goddess. Earth Goddess. MutuMutu: God of Underworld.: God of Underworld.PazuzuPazuzu: Demon king of the evil wind who : Demon king of the evil wind who protects humans from plague and evil. protects humans from plague and evil. SulmanuSulmanu: God of war and the Underworld.: God of war and the Underworld.

Assyrian Deities:Assyrian Deities: Assur / AnsharAssur / Anshar: patron of Assur : patron of Assur IshtaIshtarr: the goddess of love and : the goddess of love and war, patroness of Ninevehwar, patroness of NinevehAdramelechAdramelechAs ShallaAs Shalla: the Assyrian goddess : the Assyrian goddess of grain of grain AnasasAnasas: god of medicine : god of medicine NishraeliNishraeliNisrochNisroch: god of agriculture : god of agriculture NimrudNimrudOannes Oannes Nabu Nabu Samnuha Samnuha KubabaKubaba

TemplesTemplesTemples were built for all the various gods. In Assyrian religion it was assumed that a god or a goddess needed a home, or a place where humans could communicate with a god/goddess. The various gods were thought of as residing in cosmic places. They were also present in their idol, and lived in the temple as a king in his palace. The temples had an open court with fountains for ablution and altars for sacrifices. The indoor part of the temple contained the dwellings of the god. The god/goddess was represented with a statue. The most important gods were honored at large temples. The temples varied in size according to the god's importance. In these temples daily ceremonies were held. The monthly and yearly rituals were the most important.

Ceremonies/ Religious Sacrifices/Celebrations

There were ceremonies and sacrifices to worship a god or There were ceremonies and sacrifices to worship a god or goddess or group of deities. These ceremonies included, goddess or group of deities. These ceremonies included, animal sacrifices, ritualistic purification, libations, animal sacrifices, ritualistic purification, libations, sprinkling of water, and symbolical rites of all kinds. sprinkling of water, and symbolical rites of all kinds. In In ancient times the most important celebration of the year ancient times the most important celebration of the year was “Akitu”. It is the new year according to the ancient was “Akitu”. It is the new year according to the ancient Assyrian calendar. In ancient times, the event was held in Assyrian calendar. In ancient times, the event was held in the first month of the year (Nissanu). the first month of the year (Nissanu).

Marriage

An ancient Assyrian marriage contract reads: “Laqipum has married Hatala, daughter of Enishru in the country Laqipum [and] may not marry another [woman] in the City. He may marry a hierodule. If within two years she does not provide him with [an] offspring, she [must] purchase a slave woman. [If she does produce an offspring,] he may dispose of her by sale [or however] he pleases. Should Laqipum choose to divorce her, he must pay five minas of silver [to her] and should Hatala choose to divorce him, she must pay five minas of silver [to him]”. Witnessed by: Masa, Ashurishtikal, Talia, Shupianika. (Finkelstein)

Death

Death in and Assyrian religion was not viewed optimistically. The spirit of the dead Death in and Assyrian religion was not viewed optimistically. The spirit of the dead would go to the underworld. There wasn’t any paradise or hope for any rewards for would go to the underworld. There wasn’t any paradise or hope for any rewards for the righteous. The spirits would go to a large dark cavern below the earth, in which the righteous. The spirits would go to a large dark cavern below the earth, in which all the dead were gathered and they led a miserable existence of inactivity. all the dead were gathered and they led a miserable existence of inactivity. Occasionally a favored individual was permitted to escape from this fate and placed Occasionally a favored individual was permitted to escape from this fate and placed in a pleasant island. It appeared that the rulers were always singled out for divine in a pleasant island. It appeared that the rulers were always singled out for divine grace, owing to the prevailing view that the rulers stood nearer to the gods than grace, owing to the prevailing view that the rulers stood nearer to the gods than other mortals.other mortals.

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