The Assyrian Sculpture during the First ‎Millennium BC: A Study of Its Topics and ‎Historical Implications

Abstract

The present research tackles the topic of the Assyrian sculpture during the first millennium BC., its most important subjects and the historical implications it involves. At the beginning, the focus is placed on investigating the beginnings of this art which is part of the arts of Mesopotamians, for the Assyrians with whom this art is associated are the Mesopotamians. Accordingly, the beginnings of this art progressed side by side with the beginnings of the Sumerian and the Babylonian sculpture until the Assyrian state turned into an empire the time when this kind of art shouldered the responsibility of defending the empire and maintaining its political and social stability. This new function of the art led it to be influenced by the other neighboring peoples or those subject to the Assyrian domination.   Then a review of the most important subjects represented by Assyrian sculptures is made which includes wars in the first place that comes in the forefront of its interests. This focus on wars by Assyrian Sculptures is attributable to the threats they faced from the neighboring countries and consequently the shift in the Assyrian Military Doctrine from the strategy of defense to that of attack to direct preemptive strikes to any possible enemies that may arise in their lands in the future. In fact, those subjects as were chosen by Assyrian sculpture expressed best the Assyrian military attitude. Besides, the art also tackled other subjects such as hunting and other peaceful activities that the Assyrian kings used to exercise. Obviously, the subject selected contributed in strengthening the ties between individuals and their institutions and in increasing the unity of society. Finally ,the study highlights  that the significance of the Assyrian sculpture is not confined to its artistic and aesthetic value that made it occupy a special position within the highbrow world arts but to its great historical value because we can glean from it a lot of information about the reality of daily life in the Assyrian society, let alone information about the political and military activities of kings, leaders and rulers, which are not easy to obtain elsewhere.