Ashurbanipal

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Ashurbanipal
King of Assyria
Reign668 – ca. 627 BC
Born685 BC
Died627 BC
AkkadianAššur-bāni-apli
GreekSardanapalos
LatinSardanapalus
Ashurbanipal hunting, a palace relief from Nineveh.
Ashurbanipal as High Priest.

Ashurbanipal (685 BC – 627 BC), the son of Esarhaddon, was the last great king of the Neo-Assyrian Empire. He established (started) the first organized library in the ancient Middle East, the Library of Ashurbanipal, which survives in part today at Nineveh.

In the Bible he is called Asenappar.[1] Roman historian Justinus identified him as Sardanapalus, and describes him as effeminate.[2]

References[change | change source]

  1. See Ezra Ch4, verse 10.
  2. Marcus Junianus Justinus. "Epitome of the Philippic History of Pompeius Trogus". His successors too, following his example, gave answers to their people through their ministers. The Assyrians, who were afterwards called Syrians, held their empire thirteen hundred years. The last king that reigned over them was Sardanapalus, a man more effeminate than a woman.