Images, Power, and Politics: Figurative Aspects of Esarhaddon's Babylonian Policy (681-669 B.C.)", Memoirs, American Philosophical Society (Vol. 208) (Memoirs of the American Philosophical Society)

The Assyrians have usually been characterized as the strong men of the ancient Near East, controlling their empire largely through military force, terror, and intimidation. The new interpretation of Esarhaddon's reign offered here, however, suggests that his success in dealing with conquered Babylonia lay in his masterful use of non-violent tools of government: public works programs, royal public appearances, and especially the use of documents that presented different images of the king and his policies to different national audiences. Traces of these techniques in the policies of earlier Assyrian kings suggest that the Assyrians had long used them, as well as terror, to control their empire. Images, Power, and Politics: Figurative Aspects of Esarhaddon's Babylonian Policy (681-699 B. C. ) also proposes some new approaches to reading Assyrian royal inscriptions. It suggests, for example, that Assyrian building documents, although often buried in foundations, were first read to contemporary audiences and were primarily designed for them. Analysis of subtle differences in Esarhaddon's Babylon inscriptions suggests that variants may be clues to the identification of different intended audiences for texts that were once though of as duplicates. Images, Power and Politics combines documentary and archeological evidence to propose a new interpretation of Esarhaddon's reign based on close reading of texts. It also proposes a new, more complex model of the techniques by which Assyria succeeded in governing her empire. Introduction -- The Years Of Preparation -- Babylonia At The Beginning Of Esarhaddon's Reign -- Gifts And Public Works Projects In Babylonia And Assyria -- Images Of The King: The Royal Persona As An Instrument Of Public Policy -- Toward The Development Of A Single National Image. Barbara Nevling Porter. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 205-222) And Index.