Ashurbanipal and Objects for Esagil and Ešarra; A Case Study of Erasing, Removing, and Replacing Texts at the Height of the Assyrian Empire

Novotny, Jamie (2025): Ashurbanipal and Objects for Esagil and Ešarra; A Case Study of Erasing, Removing, and Replacing Texts at the Height of the Assyrian Empire. In: Cammarosano, Michele (ed.) : Erasing and Rewriting in Manuscript Cultures : Practices of Text Obliteration and Manuscript Reuse in a Global Perspective. Studies in Manuscript Cultures, Vol. 48. Berlin: De Gruyter. pp. 191-216

Abstract

The destruction of Babylon and the removal god Marduk prized cult objects from his temple Esagil in 689 BCE caused a great deal changes Babylonia Assyria. Sennacherib’s alterations to Aššur during final years reign (r. 704–681 BCE) had significant impact on how son Esarhaddon 680–669 grandson Ashurbanipal 668–c. 631 supported principal cults Assyrian Empire. This paper explores navigated complex made Assur by grandfather order restore Marduk’s Babylon. difficult-to-navigate task required appropriate metal-plated Ešarra), remove inscriptions written those holy items, replace texts with new dedicated objects’ original owner, Marduk. Abstract: The destruction of Babylon and the removal god Marduk prized cult objects from his temple Esagil in 689 BCE caused a great deal changes Babylonia Assyria. Sennacherib’s alterations to Aššur during final years reign (r. 704–681 BCE) had significant impact on how son Esarhaddon 680–669 grandson Ashurbanipal 668–c. 631 supported principal cults Assyrian Empire. This paper explores navigated complex made Assur by grandfather order restore Marduk’s Babylon. difficult-to-navigate task required appropriate metal-plated Ešarra), remove inscriptions written those holy items, replace texts with new dedicated objects’ original owner, Marduk. Abstract: The destruction of Babylon and the removal god Marduk prized cult objects from his temple Esagil in 689 BCE caused a great deal changes Babylonia Assyria. Sennacherib’s alterations to Aššur during final years reign (r. 704–681 BCE) had significant impact on how son Esarhaddon 680–669 grandson Ashurbanipal 668–c. 631 supported principal cults Assyrian Empire. This paper explores navigated complex made Assur by grandfather order restore Marduk’s Babylon. difficult-to-navigate task required appropriate metal-plated Ešarra), remove inscriptions written those holy items, replace texts with new dedicated objects’ original owner, Marduk. Abstract: The destruction of Babylon and the removal god Marduk prized cult objects from his temple Esagil in 689 BCE caused a great deal changes Babylonia Assyria. Sennacherib’s alterations to Aššur during final years reign (r. 704–681 BCE) had significant impact on how son Esarhaddon 680–669 grandson Ashurbanipal 668–c. 631 supported principal cults Assyrian Empire. This paper explores navigated complex made Assur by grandfather order restore Marduk’s Babylon. difficult-to-navigate task required appropriate metal-plated Ešarra), remove inscriptions written those holy items, replace texts with new dedicated objects’ original owner, Marduk.

• Item Type: Book Section
• Keywords: Ashurbanipal ; Sennacherib ; Esarhaddon ; Esagil ; Marduk ; Assyria ; royal inscriptions
• Faculties: History and Art History > Department of History > Ancient History
• Research Centers: Münchner Zentrum für antike Welten (MZAW)
• Subjects: 400 Language > 490 Other languages; 900 History and geography > 900 Geschichte; 900 History and geography > 930 History of ancient world (to ca. 499)
• ISBN: 978-3-11-168298-3
• Place of Publication: Berlin
• Language: English