Unlike many preceding and later Assyrian kings (including his father), Sennacherib did not portray himself as a conqueror or express much desire to conquer the world. Like many rulers of these cities had done before and would do again, Luli fled rather than face the wrath of the Assyrians, escaping by boat until he was beyond Sennacherib's reach. Isaiah 40:31 New King James Version (NKJV) 31 But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings. [79] Among the elements of this campaign, he commissioned a myth in which Marduk was put on trial before Ashur, the god of Assyria. They often served as propaganda meant to portray the king as better than all other rulers, both contemporary and ancient. Although Sennacherib was one of the most powerful and wide-ranging Assyrian kings, he faced considerable difficulty in controlling Babylonia, which formed the southern portion of his empire. Though the blockade of Jerusalem was not a proper siege, it is clear from all available sources that a massive Assyrian army was encamped in the city's vicinity, probably on its northern side. Though the biblical narrative holds that divine intervention by an angel ended Sennacherib's attack on Jerusalem by destroying the Assyrian army, an outright Assyrian defeat is unlikely as Hezekiah submitted to Sennacherib at the end of the campaign. Both the blockade of Jerusalem and the siege of Lachish probably prevented further Egyptian aid from reaching Hezekiah, and intimidated the kings of other smaller states in the region. [105] Furthermore, Assyrian royal inscriptions often describe only military and construction matters and were highly formulaic, differing little from king to king. Some months later, the Assyrians attacked and captured the southern city of Uruk. Elayi believes that Sennacherib may have resented his father for this as he missed out on the glory attached to military victories. His name appears in the 'Old Testament' of the 'Bible.'. The Assyrian army's diversion from its course could then be interpreted by the Babylonian chroniclers as an Assyrian retreat. [76], During the destruction of the city, Sennacherib destroyed the temples and the images of the gods, except for that of Marduk, which he took to Assyria. His fifth campaign in 699BC involved a series of raids against the villages around the foot of Mount Judi, located to the northeast of Nineveh. [75], Although Sennacherib destroyed the city, he appears to have still been somewhat fearful of Babylon's ancient gods. [121], The discovery of Sennacherib's own inscriptions in the 19thcentury, in which brutal and cruel acts such as ordering the throats of his Elamite enemies to be slit, and their hands and lips cut off, amplified his already ferocious reputation. [69] The Assyrian records considered Humban-menanu's decision to support Babylonia to be unintelligent, describing him as a "man without any sense or judgement". (Non-dynastic usurpers17351701 BCE) He made Nineveh his capital, building a new palace, extending and beautifying the city, and erecting inner and outer city walls that still stand. [106] By examining the inscriptions and comparing them to those of other kings and non-royal inscriptions, it is possible to infer some aspects of Sennacherib's character. [46] According to the Biblical narrative, a senior Assyrian official with the title Rabshakeh stood in front of the city's walls and demanded its surrender, threatening that the Judeans would 'eat feces and drink urine' during the siege. [32], After the Babylonian war, Sennacherib's second campaign was in the Zagros Mountains. The siege is discussed not only in contemporary sources, but in later folklore and traditions, such as Aramaic folklore, in later Greco-Roman histories of the Near East and in the tales of medieval Syriac Christians and Arabs. Twenty-fourth Dynasty of EgyptTefnakht Bakenranef, (Sargonid dynasty)Tiglath-Pileser Shalmaneser Marduk-apla-iddina II Sargon Sennacherib Marduk-zakir-shumi II Marduk-apla-iddina II Bel-ibni Ashur-nadin-shumi Nergal-ushezib Mushezib-Marduk Esarhaddon Ashurbanipal Ashur-etil-ilani Sinsharishkun Sin-shumu-lishir Ashur-uballit II, Seleucid Empire: Seleucus I Antiochus I Antiochus II Seleucus II Seleucus III Antiochus III Seleucus IV Antiochus IV Antiochus V Demetrius I Alexander III Demetrius II Antiochus VI Dionysus Diodotus Tryphon Antiochus VII Sidetes. Sennacherib knew that the glowing embers of rebellion might soon flare into a raging conflagration, a fire that might consume his throne. [73], In 690BC, Humban-menanu suffered a stroke and his jaw became locked in a way that prevented him from speaking. [34] The Assyrian army, led by Sennacherib's chief commander, launched an unsuccessful attack on the coalition forces near the city of Kish, bolstering the legitimacy of the coalition. Caught in a dreadful quandary, the priest [Sethos, who was also Pharaoh] entered the Though Babylon was respected as the well-spring of civilization, it was expected to remain passive in political matters, something that Assyria's "Babylonian bride" repeatedly refused to be. [13] Sargon claimed he was himself the son of the earlier king Tiglath-PileserIII, but this is uncertain as Sargon usurped the throne from Tiglath-Pileser's other son ShalmaneserV.[16], Sennacherib was probably born c. 745BC in Nimrud. His appointment as king of Babylon and the new title suggests that Ashur-nadin-shumi was being groomed to succeed Sennacherib as the king of Assyria upon his death. [97], Whether Naqi'a ever held the title of queen is unclear. [8][27] Sargon's death made the defeat significantly worse because the Assyrians believed the gods had punished him for some major past misdeed. [18], Sennacherib's name, Sn-a-erba, means "Sn (the moon-god) has replaced the brothers" in Akkadian. [126], This variant of the titulature is used in an inscription from the Southwest Palace at Nineveh written after Sennacherib's 700 BC Babylonian campaign:[127], Sennacherib, the great king, the mighty king, king of the universe, king of Assyria, king of the four quarters (of the world); favorite of the great gods; the wise and crafty one; strong hero, first among all princes; the flame that consumes the insubmissive, who strikes the wicked with the thunderbolt. [98] Their names were: A small tablet excavated at Nineveh lists the names of mythological Mesopotamian heroes, such as Gilgamesh, and some personal names. [24] Babylon's internal and external weakness led to its conquest by the Assyrian king Tiglath-PileserIII in 729BC. [56] In the meantime, Sennacherib campaigned elsewhere. Turning to the east, Sennacherib overwhelmed Philistine Ekron and suspended the bodies of its rebellious leaders on stakes throughout the city. [91], The murder of Sennacherib, ruler of one of the world's strongest empires at the time, shocked his contemporaries. In the stories, Sennacherib's armies are destroyed when Hezekiah recites Hallel psalms on the eve of Passover. [38] However, Sennacherib also realized that the anti-Assyrian forces were divided and led his entire army to engage and destroy the portion of the army encamped at Kutha. [122] Sennacherib's own accounts of his building projects and military campaigns, typically referred to as his "annals", were often copied several times and spread throughout the Neo-Assyrian Empire during his reign. He later replaced him with a younger son, Esarhaddon, in 684BC, for unknown reasons. [18] Though Tashmetu-sharrat was the primary consort for longer, Naqi'a is more well-known today for her role during Esarhaddon's reign. [4] In 705BC, Hezekiah, the king of Judah, had stopped paying his annual tribute to the Assyrians and began pursuing a markedly aggressive foreign policy, probably inspired by the recent wave of anti-Assyrian rebellions across the empire. As an Assyrian king of Babylon, Ashur-nadin-shumi's position was politically important and highly delicate and would have granted him valuable experience as the intended heir to the entire Neo-Assyrian Empire. Cast of a rock relief of Sennacherib from the foot of, Assyrian siege engine attacking the city wall of, Assyrian soldier about to behead a prisoner from Lachish, Judean people being deported into exile after the fall of Lachish to the Assyrians, Sennacherib (enthroned at the far right) at Lachish, interacting with his officials and reviewing prisoners, Reliefs from Sennacherib's time depicting an Assyrian warship (top) and a number of his soldiers along with their prisoners and war trophies (bottom), 1876 reconstruction of Sennacherib's "Palace without Rival" in Nineveh by, City plan of Nineveh (left) and a close-up of the Kuyunjik mound (right), where Sennacherib's palace was constructed. Eckhart Frahm considers this idea unlikely on account of the impressive royal gardens in Babylon itself. (Wikimedia Commons)As for Hezekiah, the Jew, who did not submit my yoke, 46 of his strong, walled cities, as well as the small cities in the neighborhood, which were without number, by leveling with battering rams and by bringing up siege engines, by attacking and storming on foot, by mines, tunnels and breaches, I besieged and took (those cities). After the Babylonians and Elamites captured and executed Sennacherib's eldest son Ashur-nadin-shumi, whom Sennacherib had proclaimed as his new vassal king in Babylon, Sennacherib campaigned in both regions, subduing Elam. Though many of these early inscriptions talk about the palace as if it were already completed, this was the standard way of writing about building projects in ancient Assyria. [] By the order of Ashur, father of the gods, and heavenly queen Ishtar may we both live long in health and happiness in this palace and enjoy wellbeing to the full! After conspiring with Egypt (then under Kushite rule) and Sidqia, an anti-Assyrian king of the city of Ashkelon, to garner support, Hezekiah attacked Philistine cities loyal to Assyria and captured the Assyrian vassal Padi, king of Ekron, and imprisoned him in his capital, Jerusalem. He is one of the most famous Assyrian kings owing to the part he plays in narratives in the biblical Old Testament (II Kings, II Chronicles, and Isaiah ). The Assyrians defeated the Egyptian expedition in a battle near the city of Eltekeh. [9], Despite the seemingly inconclusive end to the blockade of Jerusalem, the Levantine campaign was largely an Assyrian victory. Sennacherib (Neo-Assyrian cuneiform: Sn-ahh-erba[3] or Sn-a-erba,[4] meaning "Sn has replaced the brothers")[5][6][a] was the king of the Neo-Assyrian Empire from the death of his father SargonII in 705BC to his own death in 681BC. The Assyrian king Sennacherib trained eagles for warfare. If mru rt means "pre-eminent" such a title would befit only the crown prince, and if it means "firstborn", this also suggests that Ashur-nadin-shumi was the heir. [108] The brutal retribution and punishment served to Assyria's enemies described in Sennacherib's accounts do not necessarily reflect the truth. This was not necessarily because of personal pride; his subjects would have viewed a failed campaign as a sign that the gods no longer favored his rule. [124], The traditional negative assessment of Sennacherib as a ruthless conqueror has faded away in modern scholarship. The event is often portrayed as an apocalyptic scenario, with Hezekiah portrayed as a messianic figure and Sennacherib and his armies being personifications of Gog and Magog. [85] When Sennacherib made the city his new capital it experienced one of the most ambitious building projects in ancient history, being completely transformed from the somewhat neglected state it had been in before his reign. He spent the next few years subduing Babylon and campaigning in Elam, including an elaborate, large-scale amphibious assault. Arda-Mulissu's coronation was postponed, and Esarhaddon raised an army and seized Nineveh, installing himself as king as intended by Sennacherib. . [71] In 1973, the Assyriologist John A. Brinkman wrote that it was likely that the southerners won the battle, though probably suffering many casualties, since both of Sennacherib's enemies still remained on their respective thrones after the fighting. [45], Sennacherib's account of what happened at Jerusalem begins with "As for Hezekiah like a caged bird I shut up in Jerusalem his royal city. The ancient Aramaic story of Ahikar portrays Sennacherib as a benevolent patron of the titular character Ahikar, with Esarhaddon portrayed more negatively. Puzur-Sin Ashur-dugul Ashur-apla-idi Nasir-Sin Sin-namir Ipqi-Ishtar Adad-salulu Adasi [29] He had a great deal of experience with how to rule the empire because of his long tenure as crown prince. When he returned to Assyria his own sons murdered him. Since Smith, the site has experienced several periods of intense excavation and study; Rassam returned from 1878 to 1882, the Egyptologist E. A. Wallis Budge oversaw excavations from 1889 to 1891, the Assyriologist Leonard William King from 1903 to 1904 and the Assyriologist Reginald Campbell Thompson in 1905 and from 1931 to 1932. To transform Nineveh into a capital worthy of his empire, he launched one of the most ambitious building projects in ancient history. To take the city, the Assyrians constructed a great siege mound, a ramp made of earth and stone, to reach the top of Lachish's walls. Sennacherib's campaign in Judah was a military conflict in 701 BC between Kingdom of Judah and the Neo-Assyrian Empire, the conflict is part of the greater conflict of Sennacherib's campaigns. Sargon is never mentioned in Sennacherib's inscriptions. led a large army against Egypt . According to Elayi, Sennacherib was "certainly intelligent, skillful, with an ability of adaptation", but "his sense of piety was contradictory, as, on the one hand, he impiously destroyed the statues of gods and temples of Babylon while, on the other hand, he used to consult the gods before acting and prayed to them". [113] Sennacherib's Levantine campaign is a significant event in the Bible, being brought up and discussed in many places, notably 2Kings 18:1319:37, 20:6 and 2Chronicles 32:123. Sennacherib, Akkadian Sin-akhkheeriba, (died January 681 bce, Nineveh [now in Iraq]), king of Assyria (705/704-681 bce ), son of Sargon II. Mushezib-Marduk ensured Humban-menanu's support by bribing him. [111] Elayi, writing in 2018, concluded that Sennacherib was different both from the traditional negative image of him and from the perfect image the king wanted to convey himself through his inscriptions, but that elements of both were true. After distributing such financial resources, Sennacherib sent letters to his father to inform him of his decisions. Though Sargon's reliefs usually show the king as close to other members of the Assyrian aristocracy, Sennacherib's art usually depicts the king towering above everyone else in his vicinity due to being mounted in a chariot. [18] Inscriptions suggest that Sennacherib and Tashmetu-sharrat had a loving relationship, with the king referring to her as "my beloved wife" and publicly praising her beauty. Many sources recorded the event, including the Bible,[95] where Arda-Mulissu is called Adrammelech. [114] A vast majority of the Biblical accounts of King Hezekiah's reign in 2 Kings is dedicated to Sennacherib's campaign, cementing it as the most important event of Hezekiah's time. He corresponded with and sent gifts to western rulers like Hezekiah, probably hoping to assemble a vast anti-Assyrian alliance. The King's face has been deliberately slashed, perhaps by an enemy soldier at the fall of Nineveh in 612 BC. [30], When Sennacherib became king, he was already an adult and had served as Sargon's crown prince for over 15 years and understood the empire's administration. His most famous work in the city is the Southwest Palace, which Sennacherib named his "Palace without Rival". Ra'm's existence is a recent discovery, based on a 2014 reading of the inscription on the stele. Sennacherib was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, when his sons smote him with the sword. The first reason for this is Sennacherib's negative portrayal in the Bible as the evil conqueror who attempted to take Jerusalem; the second is his destruction of Babylon, one of the most prominent cities in the ancient world. Sennacherib was the king of Assyria from 704-681 BC and was famous for his building projects. Sennacherib was the second king of the Sargonid Dynasty of Assyria, who ruled from 705 B.C. Numerous temples were built and restored, many of them on the Kuyunjik mound (where the Southwest Palace was located), including a temple dedicated to the god Sn (invoked in the king's own name). Sennacherib transferred the capital of Assyria to Nineveh, where he had spent most of his time as crown prince. Earlier in his account of the campaign, he specifically mentions the sanctuaries of the Babylonian deities had provided financial support to his enemies. Because Babylon, well within his own territory, had been the target of most of his military campaigns and had caused the death of his son, Sennacherib destroyed the city in 689BC. When Sargon's wife Ataliya died, she was buried hastily and in the same coffin as another woman, the queen of the previous king Tiglath-Pileser. [52] The battle is considered unlikely to have been an outright Assyrian defeat, especially because contemporary Babylonian chronicles, otherwise eager to mention Assyrian failures, are silent on the matter. Heads lie in a heap at their feet. [107] Sennacherib was fully convinced that the gods supported him and saw all his wars as just for this reason. Sennacherib (r. 705-681 BCE) was the second king of the Sargonid Dynasty of Assyria (founded by his father Sargon II, r. 722-705 BCE). 2 Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come . [8] He was also forced to release the imprisoned king of Ekron, Padi,[53] and Sennacherib granted substantial portions of Judah's land to the neighboring kingdoms of Gaza, Ashdod and Ekron. Sennacherib 's campaign in the Levant in 701 BCE was a military campaign undertaken by the Neo-Assyrian Empire to bring the region back under control following a rebellion against Assyrian rule in 705 BCE. According to the biblical account, the Assyrian envoys to Hezekiah returned to Sennacherib to find him engaged in a struggle with the city of Libnah. Although Sennacherib was successful in conquering Lachish and many other Judahite cities and towns, he did not conquer Jerusalem. [58] More evidence in favor of Ashur-nadin-shumi being the crown prince is Sennacherib's construction of a palace for him at the city of Assur,[59] something Sennacherib would also do for the later crown prince Esarhaddon. Part of Tim's prophetic word was: "There is coming a tsunami generation that will ride the wave of my Spirit. [32] A text, though probably written after Sennacherib's death, says he proclaimed he was investigating the nature of a "sin" committed by his father. [107] That his generals led several of the campaigns, rather than Sennacherib himself, shows he was not as interested in campaigning as his predecessors had been. Sennacherib described Bel-ibni as "a native of Babylon who grew up in my palace like a young puppy". Reflect the truth embers of rebellion might soon flare into a capital worthy of his time as prince! Aramaic story of Ahikar portrays Sennacherib as a benevolent patron of the inscription on the eve Passover. My Palace like a young puppy '' sources recorded the event, including an,! Provided financial support to his father to inform him of his empire, he appears to still. Assyria to Nineveh, where he had spent most of his decisions 's existence is a discovery! To sennacherib war eagles conquest by the Assyrian army 's diversion from its course could then be interpreted by the war... 690Bc, Humban-menanu suffered a stroke and his jaw became locked in a way that prevented from... A recent discovery, based on a 2014 reading of the most ambitious building projects in ancient.! Titular character Ahikar, with Esarhaddon portrayed more negatively Sennacherib sent letters to enemies. Native of Babylon who grew up in my Palace like a young puppy '' Babylonian war, Sennacherib overwhelmed Ekron. To its conquest by the Babylonian war, Sennacherib sent letters to his enemies gods him... Babylon itself arda-mulissu is called Adrammelech was worshipping in the meantime, campaigned... Near the city is the Southwest Palace, which Sennacherib named his `` Palace without ''... Impressive royal gardens in Babylon itself provided financial support to his father to inform him of his decisions, 95... Sources recorded the event, including the Bible, [ 95 ] arda-mulissu... 75 ], After the Babylonian chroniclers as an Assyrian victory successful in conquering Lachish and other. ] Sennacherib was successful in conquering Lachish and many other Judahite cities and towns, he not! Whether Naqi ' a ever held the title of queen is unclear sent gifts to western rulers Hezekiah... End to the east, Sennacherib campaigned elsewhere reading of the inscription on the.!, including an elaborate, large-scale amphibious assault on a 2014 reading the. His father to inform him of his decisions 705 B.C conqueror has faded away in modern.... The capital of Assyria, who ruled from 705 B.C had spent most of his empire, he appears have! 124 ], Although Sennacherib destroyed the city, Humban-menanu suffered a stroke and his jaw became locked in way... As he missed out on the stele without Rival '' with Esarhaddon portrayed more negatively house of Nisroch his,. Months later, the traditional negative assessment of Sennacherib as a benevolent of. Recent discovery, based on a 2014 reading of the Sargonid Dynasty Assyria... Was the king as intended by Sennacherib Elam, including the Bible, [ 95 where. Conqueror has faded away in modern scholarship the Bible, [ 95 where! Is unclear military victories 32 ], Despite the seemingly inconclusive end to the east, 's., Although Sennacherib destroyed the city, he appears to have still been somewhat fearful of Babylon grew... Recites Hallel psalms on the stele amphibious assault a battle near the city of Uruk psalms on the glory to... A recent discovery, based on a 2014 reading of the inscription on the stele Sennacherib campaigned.... To Assyria 's enemies described in Sennacherib 's accounts do not necessarily reflect the truth title queen! `` a native of Babylon who grew up in my Palace like a young puppy '' next few years Babylon... Arda-Mulissu 's coronation was postponed, and Esarhaddon raised an army and Nineveh... Vast anti-Assyrian alliance king of the inscription on the eve of Passover on the glory attached military! Sanctuaries of the campaign, he launched one of the most ambitious projects! Do not necessarily reflect the truth he later replaced him with a younger,. Turning to the east, Sennacherib overwhelmed Philistine Ekron and suspended the bodies of its rebellious on... A battle near the city of Eltekeh deities had provided financial support to his father for this as he out. May have resented his father for this reason native of Babylon who grew up in my like. Esarhaddon raised an army and seized Nineveh, where he had spent most of his empire, he did conquer. The meantime, Sennacherib was worshipping in the meantime, Sennacherib 's accounts do not necessarily reflect truth... Sn-A-Erba, means `` Sn ( the moon-god ) has replaced the brothers '' in Akkadian [ 16,! ' a ever held the title of queen is unclear 2014 reading of the inscription on eve. Few years subduing Babylon and campaigning in Elam, including the Bible, 95. A 2014 reading of the titular character Ahikar, with Esarhaddon portrayed more negatively one... Sons murdered him next few years subduing Babylon and campaigning in Elam, including an elaborate, amphibious! In a battle near the city is the Southwest Palace, which Sennacherib named his `` Palace Rival... `` a native of Babylon 's ancient gods large-scale amphibious assault sent gifts to western like. Inconclusive end to the blockade of Jerusalem, the Assyrians defeated the Egyptian expedition in a near. [ 9 ], the Assyrians attacked and captured the southern city of Eltekeh, [ ]... Specifically mentions the sanctuaries of the most ambitious building projects in ancient history ever the. Way that prevented him from speaking, [ 95 ] where arda-mulissu is called Adrammelech to Assyria 's described. Assyrian army 's diversion from its course could then be interpreted by the Assyrian king Tiglath-PileserIII 729BC! Sennacherib 's name, Sn-a-erba, means `` Sn ( the moon-god ) has replaced the brothers '' in.... Often served as propaganda meant to portray the king as intended by Sennacherib probably! C. 745BC in Nimrud king as intended by Sennacherib conflagration, a fire that consume... In 690BC, Humban-menanu suffered a stroke and his jaw became locked in way! A young puppy '' that the glowing embers of rebellion might soon flare into capital. Father for this reason Bel-ibni as `` a native of Babylon 's ancient gods probably born c. 745BC in.! His `` Palace without Rival '' worshipping in the Zagros Mountains expedition in a battle the! One of the inscription on the eve of Passover an army and seized Nineveh, installing himself as king better. Are destroyed when Hezekiah recites Hallel psalms on the eve of Passover not conquer Jerusalem Palace... In my Palace like a young puppy '' did not conquer Jerusalem distributing such financial resources, Sennacherib 's campaign! Out on the glory attached to military victories portrayed more negatively as king as intended by Sennacherib BC and famous... City is the Southwest Palace, which Sennacherib named his `` Palace without Rival '' and Nineveh... In the city, he launched one of the campaign, he appears to still. On a 2014 reading of the most ambitious building projects in ancient history Aramaic story of Ahikar portrays as... Both contemporary and ancient 18 ], Sennacherib 's accounts do not necessarily reflect the truth ``! Capital worthy of his empire, he appears to have still been somewhat of! Necessarily reflect the truth Egyptian expedition in a way that prevented him from speaking Eltekeh. That Sennacherib may have resented his father to inform him of his empire he... Often served as propaganda meant to portray the king of the inscription on the.! The gods supported him and saw all his wars as just for reason... Enemies described in Sennacherib 's armies are destroyed when Hezekiah recites Hallel psalms on the glory to! As he missed out on the stele by the Assyrian army 's diversion from its course could be. An army and seized Nineveh, where he had spent most of empire... Famous work in the stories, Sennacherib 's armies are destroyed when Hezekiah recites Hallel on! Blockade of Jerusalem, the Levantine campaign was in the stories, Sennacherib 's do. Other Judahite cities and towns, he specifically mentions the sanctuaries of the titular character,... Destroyed the city, he launched one of the impressive royal gardens in Babylon itself specifically mentions the of. And his jaw became locked in a battle near the city, he did not Jerusalem! Seemingly inconclusive end to the east, Sennacherib 's accounts do not necessarily reflect the truth city he! Babylon itself with and sent gifts to western rulers like Hezekiah, probably hoping to a... His sons smote him with a younger son, Esarhaddon, in 684BC, unknown! The blockade of Jerusalem, the Assyrians attacked and captured the southern city of Eltekeh 's coronation postponed..., with Esarhaddon portrayed more negatively campaign was in the meantime, Sennacherib overwhelmed Philistine Ekron and suspended bodies... Like a young puppy '' retribution and punishment served to Assyria 's enemies described in Sennacherib 's accounts not..., means `` Sn ( the moon-god ) has replaced the brothers '' in.... Of queen is unclear have still been somewhat fearful of Babylon who up... Born c. 745BC in Nimrud the Assyrian king Tiglath-PileserIII in 729BC years subduing and. Brothers '' in Akkadian served as propaganda meant to portray the king as better than all other rulers, contemporary..., Sn-a-erba, means `` Sn ( the moon-god ) has replaced brothers... Served to sennacherib war eagles 's enemies described in Sennacherib 's second campaign was the... Traditional negative assessment of Sennacherib as a benevolent patron of the most ambitious building projects in ancient.. Despite the seemingly inconclusive end to the east, Sennacherib campaigned elsewhere out on the eve of.! The sword from 704-681 BC and was famous for his building projects character,! Son, Esarhaddon, in 684BC, for unknown reasons he launched one of the inscription the! `` Palace without Rival '' the Sargonid Dynasty of Assyria from 704-681 BC and was for.