|
|
Article: Palace of Sargon, king of the universe.(ancient Assyria)
- Article from:
- Calliope
- Article date:
- September 1, 2004
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2004 Carus Publishing Co. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
I planned day and night how to settle that city and how to raise its great shrines, the dwellings of the great gods, and my royal residential palaces.
--from one of Sargon's royal inscriptions
In 722 B.C., Sargon II, whose name means "true king," ascended to the throne of Assyria. He soon built a new capital from which to rule his extensive empire. Known today as Khorsabad, it was one of the largest cities of antiquity. Its walls, with many bastions and seven monumental gates, stretched for a mile on each of its four sides.
Sargon began work on Khorsabad in 717 B.C. and was closely involved with its construction. He divided the duties and ...