The Writing on the Wall: Studies in the Architectural Context of Late Assyrian Palace Inscriptions (Mesopotamian Civilizations)

It is too often forgotten that every Assyrian "historical" inscription functioned in a very specific context. This context influenced its content and the way in which it was perceived by ancient viewers and readers. Russell's goal is to address the reconstruction of the context of these inscriptions in order to elucidate their original impact. In the past, the palace inscriptions, including Assyrian palace inscriptions, have been published in composite editions with little or no reference to the provenience of the individual exemplars; in addition, the original excavation reports often were more interested in the content of the inscriptions than in their locations. To achieve the objective of placing these inscriptions in their original contexts and thereby provide a base for further study of them, and stimulated by two seasons of renewed excavations at Nineveh during which he studied many inscriptions in situ, Russell returned to the British Museum and Layard's original, handwritten notes from the 19th century excavations at Nineveh--the goal being to catalogue fully and as completely as possible the individual inscriptions and their locations. The results of Russell's labors are here published, including the first publication of several shorter inscriptions. The book is lavishly illustrated, both with museum photos and with photos by the author of many of the inscriptions in situ. The book will no doubt be the basis of all further study of the relationship between inscription and context in the palaces of the Assyrian kings. The Writing on the Wall: Studies in the Architectural Context of Late Assyrian Palace Inscriptions......Page 4 Contents......Page 8 Acknowledgments......Page 10 Preface......Page 12 1 Introduction......Page 14 2 Assurnasirpal II (883–859 B.C.)......Page 22 Chronology......Page 27 Slab Backs......Page 32 The Texts on the Wall Slabs......Page 43 The Throne-Base Text......Page 54 Colossus Inscriptions......Page 58 Thresholds......Page 60 The Northwest Palace Inscriptions—Conclusions......Page 65 Epigraphs......Page 68 Summary: Assurnasirpal II......Page 74 3 Shalmaneser III (858–824 B.C.)......Page 77 Throne Bases......Page 79 Thresholds......Page 82 Colossi......Page 85 Bronze Doors: Epigraphs......Page 92 Summary: Shalmaneser III......Page 95 4 Adad-Nirari III (810–783 B.C.)......Page 96 Summary: Adad-Nirari III......Page 100 The Wall Slab Text......Page 101 Epigraphs......Page 109 Summary: Tiglath-Pileser III......Page 111 Kalhu, the Northwest Palace......Page 112 Dur Sharrukin......Page 113 The Text on the Backs of Slabs......Page 114 The Colossus Inscription......Page 116 Thresholds......Page 121 The Wall Slab Text......Page 124 Epigraphs......Page 128 Summary: Sargon II......Page 135 7 Sennacherib (704–681 B.C.)......Page 137 The Texts on the Backs of Slabs......Page 140 Colossus Inscriptions......Page 141 Thresholds......Page 145 Epigraphs on the Wall Reliefs......Page 147 Summary: Sennacherib......Page 156 The Nineveh Arsenal......Page 157 The Kalhu Arsenal......Page 159 The Southwest Palace at Kalhu......Page 160 The Palace of the Crown Prince at Tarbisu......Page 164 Summary: Esarhaddon......Page 165 The Palaces of Nineveh......Page 167 The Teumman-Dunanu Epigraphs......Page 169 The Epigraph Tablets: The Teumman-Dunanu Cycle......Page 170 Epigraphs on Reliefs in Room XXXIII of the Southwest Palace......Page 179 Epigraphs on Reliefs in Room I of the North Palace......Page 194 General Observations: The Teumman-Dunanu Reliefs and Epigraphs......Page 200 Text A......Page 204 Text B......Page 207 Text E......Page 208 Text F......Page 209 BM 83-1-18, 442......Page 210 Summary: The Teumman-Dunanu Reliefs and Epigraphs......Page 211 Other Assurbanipal Epigraphs......Page 212 Assurbanipal’s Epigraphs: General Observations and Conclusions......Page 218 Summary: Assurbanipal......Page 222 10 Conclusions......Page 223 Inscriptions on the Backs of the Slabs......Page 224 Thresholds......Page 225 The Text Register on Wall Slabs......Page 226 Colossus Texts......Page 227 Epigraphs......Page 228 General Patterns in Locations and Types of Palace Inscriptions......Page 230 11 Further Reflections......Page 233 Catalog 1: Assurnasirpal II Colossus Inscriptions......Page 259 Catalog 2: Assurnasirpal II Threshold Inscriptions......Page 265 Court H, Door c......Page 274 Court H, Door a......Page 275 Court H, Façade Bull 12......Page 278 Court H, Façade Bull 1......Page 282 Room I, Door d......Page 283 Room I, Door e......Page 285 Court VI, Door a......Page 286 Court LXIV, Door a......Page 288 Colossus Inscriptions of Uncertain Provenience......Page 289 The Papal Bull......Page 293 Loose Fragment in Room V......Page 294 Room I (B)......Page 296 Room V (C)......Page 297 Court VI (I)......Page 298 Room XXXVI......Page 300 Room XLVII......Page 301 Hall XLIX......Page 302 Room LXX......Page 304 Probably not an Epigraph......Page 305 Door a......Page 306 Door b......Page 307 Bibliography......Page 308 Figures Illustrating the Catalogs......Page 320 Index......Page 352 Ch. 1. Introduction -- Ch. 2. Assurnasirpal Ii (883-859 B.c.) -- Ch. 3. Shalmaneser Iii (858-824 B.c.) -- Ch. 4. Adad-nirari Iii (810-783 B.c.) -- Ch. 5. Tiglath-pileser Iii (744-727 B.c.) -- Ch. 6. Sargon Ii (721-705 B.c.) -- Ch. 7. Sennacherib (704-681 B.c.) -- Ch. 8. Esarhaddon (680-669 B.c.) -- Ch. 9. Assurbanipal (668-631 B.c.) -- Ch. 10. Conclusions -- Ch. 11. Further Reflections -- Catalog 1. Assurnasirpal Ii Colossus Inscriptions -- Catalog 2. Assurnasirpal Ii Threshold Inscriptions -- Catalog 3. Sennacherib Colossus Inscriptions -- Catalog 4. Sennacherib Epigraphs -- Catalog 5. Esarhaddon Colossi. John Malcolm Russell. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 295-306) And Index.