Esarhaddon, King of Assyria
Synopsis
Esarhaddon, King of Assyria continues Josette Elayi’s narrative journey through the lives of the kings of the Neo-Assyrian Empire. Using both archaeological and textual evidence, Elayi examines the contentious circumstances surrounding Esarhaddon’s accession to the throne in 681 BCE, his rebuilding of Babylon, which had been destroyed by his father Sennacherib, his successful campaigns in Media, the Arabian Peninsula, Anatolia, the Caucasus, and the Levant, and his ultimate achievement, the conquest of Egypt in 671 BCE. Throughout, Elayi presents a rich portrait of this enigmatic figure, whose short but impactful reign was plagued by chronic illness and a complex—and ultimately fatal—relationship with his court officials. Yet, through it all, Esarhaddon emerges as one of the most scholarly and most politically successful kings of the empire.
Chapters
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Front Matter
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Introduction
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1. A Portrait of Esarhaddon
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2. Esarhaddon, the Crown Prince
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3. His Accession to the Throne
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4. Diviners and Other Scholars in the Court of Nineveh
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5. The Rebuilding of Babylon and Other Building Activities
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6. The First Phase of Campaigns (680-675)
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7. The Second Phase of Campaigns (674-669)
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8. The Problem of Succession
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9. The End of Esarhaddon’s Reign
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10. An Assessment of Esarhaddon's Reign
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Selected Bibliography
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Indexes
