ASSYRIA (the Asshur of the Hebrews, Athurd of the ancient Persians), the ancient name of a portion of Mesopotamia, lying main ly between the Euphrates and the Tigris, the seat of the earliest recorded monarchy. In the earliest times it was probably limited to the low lying tract between the Jebel Makloub and the little Zab (Zab-Asfal), on the left bank of the Tigris; but at its greatest extent Assyria must have been nearly 500 miles long, with an area of about 100,000 square miles. Toward the north Assyria bordered on the mountainous country of Armenia, which was at times under Assyrian dominion, but which at no time was considered as an actual part of the country. On the east dwelt numerous independent and warlike tribes, sheltered by the fastnesses of the Zagros Mountains. On the southeast Susi ana or Elam was the frontier state east of the Tigris, while Babylonia occupied the same posi tion between the rivers. Southwest of Assyria lay Arabia, and higher up Syria and the land of the Hittites. The chief cities of Assyria in the days of its greatest prosperity were Nine veh, whose site is marked by the mounds oppo site Mosul (Nebi Yunus and Kuyunjik), Calah (or Kalakh, the modern Nimrud), Assur (or Al Astir, Kalit Sherkat), Sargina (Khorsa bad), Arbela (Arbil), etc. The surface of the country within its widest limits was of a diver sified character. On the north and east the lofty mountain-ranges of Armenia and Kurdistan are succeeded by low ranges of arid limestone hills, occasionally enclosing fertile plains and valleys. Immediately south of this is a well-watered, productive and undulating belt of country, into which run limestone rocks of a golden color and wooded with dwarf-oak. This sinks sud denly down upon the great Mesopotamian plain (the modern El Jezireh), about 250 miles in length, interrupted only by a single limestone range branching off from the Zagros Mountains across the plain. The numerous remains of ancient habitations show how thickly this vast flat must have once been peopled; now, for the most part, it is a mere wilderness.
History.— Scripture tells us that the early inhabitants of Assyria went from Babylon, and the traditions of later times, as well as inscriptions on the disinterred Assyrian monu ments, and the character of those remains go to show that the power and civilization of Babylon were earlier than those of Assyria. In Genesis x, 11 it is mentioned that Nineveh was founded by Assur, but for long the country was subject to governors appointed by the kings of Babylon. We learn from monumental in scriptions that about 1820 B.C., when Assur was the capital of the country, Shamshi-Adad III founded temples there to Assur, the great national deity, and to Anu and Adad, besides a temple to the goddess of Nineveh in the city of that name. The Assyrian rulers gradually began to treat with their southern neighbors on equal terms, the boundaries of the two coun tries were for a time clearly marked out, and intermarriages among the reigning families oc casionally took place. About the latter end of the 14th century Shalmaneser I acquired the whole of Naharina (the country round the sources of the Euphrates and Tigris) by con quest, and planted Assyrian colonies there; he also founded the city of Calah or Kalakh and restored the great temple at Nineveh. About 1300 a.c. he was succeeded by his son Tukulti Ninib I, who conquered the whole of the valley of the Euphrates and built or restored the palace at the city of Assur. The five follow ing reigns were occupied with wars, more or less successful, with the Babylonians. About
the year 1107 Lc. Tiglathpileser I, one of the most eminent of the sovereigns of the first As syrian monarchy, ascended the throne, begin ning his reign by the conquest of the Syrians and Hittites in the west. He then carried his arms far and wide, subjugating the Moschians, Commagenians, Urumanians and other tribes in the north; on the south he shattered the Baby lonian power and took their capital. But this empire, acquired and ruled by the energy and genius of one man, began to fall to pieces at his death. The period of decline lasted over 200 years, during which time little is known of Assyrian history. Under Assurnasirpal, who reigned from 884 to 858 ac., Assyria once more advanced to the position of the leading power in the world. The extent of his kingdom was greater than that of Tiglathpileser, and the magnificent palaces, temples and other build ings erected during his reign, with their elabo rate sculptures and paintings, proved that wealth, art and luxury must have readied a high stage of development. When he ascended the throne Nineveh was the capital of the kingdom, but he restored and beautified Calah, which had suffered during the troubled and declining years of the country, made it his favorite resi dence, and raised it to the dignity of the chief city of the state. Among the first acts of his reign was the suppression of a revolt by the Assyrian colonists of Naharina (883). This was followed by the victorious campaigns in Zamua on the eastern frontier (882-881), against several rebellious provinces in the northwest (880), and against the Shukhi or Shuhites, who then occupied a tract of country between Babylon and Assyria (879). In an other expedition he crossed the Euphrates and advanced to the Mediterranean, near the mouth of the Orontes. In 858 Assurnasirpal was suc ceeded by his son Shalmaneser III, whose career of conquest was equally successful. The clos ing years of his reign were troubled by the re bellion of his eldest son, Assur-danin-apli, who had gained over to his side the cities of Nine veh, Assur, Arbela and other important towns. After much fighting the rebellion was put down by Shalmaneser's second son Shamshi-Adad V. who succeeded to the throne in 823. The old dynasty came to an end in the person of As sur-nirari V, who was driven from the throne by a usurper, Tiglathpileser, in 745, after a struggle of some years. (See ASSYRIOLOGY). Tiglathpileser IV was driven from his throne by another claimant named Shalmaneser V. (727). (See Assvatowcy). His successor was Sargon II (722-705). (See ASSYRIOLOGY) . The attitude of Babylonia now began to look extremely dangerous. Merodachbaladan, a Chaldnan leader, taking advantage of the troubles which closed the reign of Tiglath pileser, had possessed himself of Babylonia and held it for 12 years, strengthening himself by alliances with Egypt and the various rulers of Palestine. In 710 Merodach-baladan was driven out of Babylonia; in a single campaign the allies were crushed, Judah was overrun, and Ashdod leveled to the ground. Sargon spent the latter years of his reign in internal reforms, and in founding or beautifying several cities of his kingdom. A new city, called Dur-Sargina, was founded to the north-northeast of Nineveh, now Khorsabad, the library of Calah was re stored and enlarged, and special attention was devoted to law reform. In the midst of these labors Sargon was murdered, and was suc ceeded by Sennacherib, one of his younger sons, in 705.