The Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III is a black limestoneAssyrian sculpture with many scenes in bas-relief and inscriptions. It comes from Nimrud (ancient Kalhu), in northern Iraq, and commemorates the deeds of King Shalmaneser III (reigned 858β824 BC). It is on display at the British Museum in London, and several other museums have cast replicas.
It is one of two complete Assyrian obelisks yet discovered, the other one being the much earlier White Obelisk of Ashurnasirpal I, and is historically significant because it is thought to display the earliest ancient depiction of a biblical figure β Jehu, King of Israel. The traditional identification of "Yaw" as Jehu has been questioned by some scholars, who proposed that the inscription refers to another king, Jehoram of Israel.[1][2] Its reference to Parsua is also the first known reference to the Persians.
Tribute offerings are shown being brought from identifiable regions and peoples. It was erected as a public monument in 825 BC at a time of civil war, in the central square of Nimrud. It was discovered by archaeologist Sir Austen Henry Layard in 1846 and is now in the British Museum.
It features twenty relief scenes, five on each side. They depict five different subdued kings, bringing tribute and prostrating before the Assyrian king. From top to bottom they are: (1) Sua of Gilzanu (in north-west Iran), (2) "Yaua of Bit Omri" (Jehu of the House of Omri), (3) an unnamed ruler of Musri (in northern Iraq, (4) Marduk-apil-usur of Suhi (middle Euphrates), and (5) Qalparunda of Patin (Antakya region of Turkey). Each scene occupies four panels around the monument and is described by a cuneiform script above them.
On the top and the bottom of the reliefs there is a long cuneiform inscription recording the annals of Shalmaneser III. It lists the military campaigns which the king and his commander-in-chief headed every year, until the thirty-first year of reign. Some features might suggest that the work had been commissioned by the commander-in-chief, Dayyan-Assur.
Second register
Β Jehu, bows before Shalmaneser III.[3] This is "the only portrayal we have in ancient Near Eastern art of an Israelite or Judaean monarch".[4]Β Ia-ΓΊ-a mar Hu-um-ri-i (Akkadian: π ππ π₯ π·πππΏ): "Jehu, son of Omri".
The second register from the top is thought to include the earliest surviving picture of a biblical figure. The name appears as mIa-ΓΊ-a mar mHu-um-ri-i. Rawlinson's original translation in 1850 seminal work "On the Inscriptions of Assyria and Babylonia" stated: "The second line of offerings are said to have been sent by Yahua, son of Hubiri, a prince of whom there is no mention in the annals, and of whose native country, therefore, I am ignorant"[5][6] Over a year later, a connection with the bible was made by Reverend Edward Hincks, who wrote in his diary on 21 August 1851: "Thought of an identification of one of the obelisk captives β with Jehu, king of Israel, and satisfying myself on the point wrote a letter to the Athenaeum announcing it".[7] Hincks' letter was published by Athenaeum on the same day, entitled "Nimrud Obelisk".[8] Hincks' identification is now the commonly held position by biblical archaeologists.
The identification of "Yahua" as Jehu was questioned by contemporary scholars such as George Smith[9] as well as in more recent times by P. Kyle McCarter and Edwin R. Thiele,[1][2] based on the fact that Jehu was not an Omride, as well as transliteration and chronology issues. However, the name read as "Yaw, son of Omri (Bit-Khumri", see House of Omri), is generally accepted to follow Hincks as the Biblical Jehu, king of Israel.
The stele describes how Jehu brought or sent his tribute in or around 841 BC.[10] The caption above the scene, written in Assyrian cuneiform, can be translated:[4]
βI received the tribute of Iaua (Jehu) son of (the people of the land of) Omri (Akkadian: π ππ π₯ π·πππΏ): silver, gold, a golden bowl, a golden vase with pointed bottom, golden tumblers, golden buckets, tin, a staff for a king [and] spears."[4]
Β
The four illustrated faces of the Black Obelisk. The second row of reliefs illustrates the Israelite delegation of King Jehu.[11]
Β
The Assyrian king Shalmaneser III receives tribute from Sua, king of Gilzanu, The Black Obelisk.
Β
Part of the gift-bearing Israelite delegation of King Jehu, Black Obelisk, 841-840 BCE.[12]
Β
Jehu on the Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III.[13] This is "the only portrayal we have in ancient Near Eastern art of an Israelite or Judaean monarch".[4]
^ abP. Kyle McCarter, Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research, No. 216 (Dec., 1974), pp. 5β7
^ abEdwin R. Thiele, Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research, No. 222 (Apr., 1976), pp. 19β23
^Kuan, Jeffrey Kah-Jin (2016). Neo-Assyrian Historical Inscriptions and Syria-Palestine: Israelite/Judean-Tyrian-Damascene Political and Commercial Relations in the Ninth-Eighth Centuries BCE. Wipf and Stock Publishers. pp.Β 64β66. ISBNΒ 978-1-4982-8143-0.
^ abcdCohen, Ada; Kangas, Steven E. (2010). Assyrian Reliefs from the Palace of Ashurnasirpal II: A Cultural Biography. UPNE. p.Β 127. ISBNΒ 978-1-58465-817-7.
^On the Inscriptions of Assyria and Babylonia, 1850
^The Bible in the British Museum: Interpreting the Evidence, T. C. Mitchell, page 14
^Studies on the Text and Versions of the Hebrew Bible in Honour of Robert Gordon, edited by Geoffrey Khan, Diana Lipton, p. 159
^Assyrian Eponym Canon, George Smith, 1875, page 190, "There is another supposed Hebrew king in the annals of Shalmaneser, b.c. 842, Extracts VIII. and X., called "Jehu son of Omri," who is generally identified with "Jehu son of Nimshi," the king of Israel. The country ruled by Jehu, son of Omri, is not stated in the inscriptions; and it appears unlikely that Jehu, king of Israel, who exterminated the family of Omri, should call himself son of that king. Without advancing any theory for the identification of the monarch mentioned in the Assyrian inscriptions, I would urge that the identity of the Jehu of the Bible with the Jehu of the inscriptions is not proved, and that these notices are not enough to force us to alter all our Bible dates."
^Millard, Alan (1997) Discoveries from Bible Times, Oxford, Lion, p121
^Delitzsch, Friedrich; McCormack, Joseph; Carruth, William Herbert; Robinson, Lydia Gillingham (1906). Babel and Bible;. Chicago, The Open court publishing company. p.Β 78.
^Delitzsch, Friedrich; McCormack, Joseph; Carruth, William Herbert; Robinson, Lydia Gillingham (1906). Babel and Bible;. Chicago, The Open court publishing company. p.Β 78.
^Kuan, Jeffrey Kah-Jin (2016). Neo-Assyrian Historical Inscriptions and Syria-Palestine: Israelite/Judean-Tyrian-Damascene Political and Commercial Relations in the Ninth-Eighth Centuries BCE. Wipf and Stock Publishers. pp.Β 64β66. ISBNΒ 978-1-4982-8143-0.
^Delitzsch, Friedrich; McCormack, Joseph; Carruth, William Herbert; Robinson, Lydia Gillingham (1906). Babel and Bible;. Chicago, The Open court publishing company. p.Β 78.
External links
Β
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Black Obelisk.
British Museum page on the Black Obelisk
Photo; Article
;
Jehu Panel; Article
Photos of the four panels of the Black Obelisk dealing with Jehu and his tribute
July 26, 2023
black, obelisk, shalmaneser, black, obelisk, redirects, here, band, black, obelisk, band, novel, black, obelisk, black, limestone, assyrian, sculpture, with, many, scenes, relief, inscriptions, comes, from, nimrud, ancient, kalhu, northern, iraq, commemorates,. Black Obelisk redirects here For the band see Black Obelisk band For the novel see The Black Obelisk The Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III is a black limestone Assyrian sculpture with many scenes in bas relief and inscriptions It comes from Nimrud ancient Kalhu in northern Iraq and commemorates the deeds of King Shalmaneser III reigned 858 824 BC It is on display at the British Museum in London and several other museums have cast replicas Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser IIIBlack Obelisk of Shalmaneser III in the British Museum The White Obelisk of Ashurnasirpal I is located next to itMaterialblack limestoneSizec 1 98 metres high 45 cm wideWritingAkkadianCreated827 824 BCDiscoveredNimrud Iraq36 05 53 N 43 19 44 E 36 09806 N 43 32889 E 36 09806 43 32889Present locationBritish Museum LondonRegistrationME 118885Nimrudclass notpageimage Location of discoveryIt is one of two complete Assyrian obelisks yet discovered the other one being the much earlier White Obelisk of Ashurnasirpal I and is historically significant because it is thought to display the earliest ancient depiction of a biblical figure Jehu King of Israel The traditional identification of Yaw as Jehu has been questioned by some scholars who proposed that the inscription refers to another king Jehoram of Israel 1 2 Its reference to Parsua is also the first known reference to the Persians Tribute offerings are shown being brought from identifiable regions and peoples It was erected as a public monument in 825 BC at a time of civil war in the central square of Nimrud It was discovered by archaeologist Sir Austen Henry Layard in 1846 and is now in the British Museum Contents 1 Description 2 Second register 3 Casts and replicas 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksDescription EditIt features twenty relief scenes five on each side They depict five different subdued kings bringing tribute and prostrating before the Assyrian king From top to bottom they are 1 Sua of Gilzanu in north west Iran 2 Yaua of Bit Omri Jehu of the House of Omri 3 an unnamed ruler of Musri in northern Iraq 4 Marduk apil usur of Suhi middle Euphrates and 5 Qalparunda of Patin Antakya region of Turkey Each scene occupies four panels around the monument and is described by a cuneiform script above them On the top and the bottom of the reliefs there is a long cuneiform inscription recording the annals of Shalmaneser III It lists the military campaigns which the king and his commander in chief headed every year until the thirty first year of reign Some features might suggest that the work had been commissioned by the commander in chief Dayyan Assur Second register Edit Jehu bows before Shalmaneser III 3 This is the only portrayal we have in ancient Near Eastern art of an Israelite or Judaean monarch 4 Ia u a mar Hu um ri i Akkadian π ππ π₯ π·πππΏ Jehu son of Omri The second register from the top is thought to include the earliest surviving picture of a biblical figure The name appears as mIa u a mar mHu um ri i Rawlinson s original translation in 1850 seminal work On the Inscriptions of Assyria and Babylonia stated The second line of offerings are said to have been sent by Yahua son of Hubiri a prince of whom there is no mention in the annals and of whose native country therefore I am ignorant 5 6 Over a year later a connection with the bible was made by Reverend Edward Hincks who wrote in his diary on 21 August 1851 Thought of an identification of one of the obelisk captives with Jehu king of Israel and satisfying myself on the point wrote a letter to the Athenaeum announcing it 7 Hincks letter was published by Athenaeum on the same day entitled Nimrud Obelisk 8 Hincks identification is now the commonly held position by biblical archaeologists The identification of Yahua as Jehu was questioned by contemporary scholars such as George Smith 9 as well as in more recent times by P Kyle McCarter and Edwin R Thiele 1 2 based on the fact that Jehu was not an Omride as well as transliteration and chronology issues However the name read as Yaw son of Omri Bit Khumri see House of Omri is generally accepted to follow Hincks as the Biblical Jehu king of Israel The stele describes how Jehu brought or sent his tribute in or around 841 BC 10 The caption above the scene written in Assyrian cuneiform can be translated 4 I received the tribute of Iaua Jehu son of the people of the land of Omri Akkadian π ππ π₯ π·πππΏ silver gold a golden bowl a golden vase with pointed bottom golden tumblers golden buckets tin a staff for a king and spears 4 The four illustrated faces of the Black Obelisk The second row of reliefs illustrates the Israelite delegation of King Jehu 11 The Assyrian king Shalmaneser III receives tribute from Sua king of Gilzanu The Black Obelisk Part of the gift bearing Israelite delegation of King Jehu Black Obelisk 841 840 BCE 12 Jehu on the Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III 13 This is the only portrayal we have in ancient Near Eastern art of an Israelite or Judaean monarch 4 Casts and replicas EditReplicas can be found at the Oriental Institute in Chicago Illinois Harvard s Museum of the Ancient Near East in Cambridge Massachusetts the ICOR Library in the Semitic Department at The Catholic University of America in Washington D C Corban University s Prewitt Allen Archaeological Museum in Salem Oregon the Siegfried H Horn Museum at Andrews University in Berrien Springs MI Kelso Museum of Near Eastern Archaeology in Pittsburgh PA Canterbury Museum in Christchurch New Zealand the Museum of Ancient Art at Aarhaus University in Denmark and in the library of the Theological University of the Reformed Churches in Kampen the Netherlands Israelite delegation to Shalmaneser III composed of the four friezes of the second tier Black Obelisk 841 840 BCE 14 See also EditKurkh Monoliths List of artifacts significant to the BibleReferences Edit a b P Kyle McCarter Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research No 216 Dec 1974 pp 5 7 a b Edwin R Thiele Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research No 222 Apr 1976 pp 19 23 Kuan Jeffrey Kah Jin 2016 Neo Assyrian Historical Inscriptions and Syria Palestine Israelite Judean Tyrian Damascene Political and Commercial Relations in the Ninth Eighth Centuries BCE Wipf and Stock Publishers pp 64 66 ISBN 978 1 4982 8143 0 a b c d Cohen Ada Kangas Steven E 2010 Assyrian Reliefs from the Palace of Ashurnasirpal II A Cultural Biography UPNE p 127 ISBN 978 1 58465 817 7 On the Inscriptions of Assyria and Babylonia 1850 The Bible in the British Museum Interpreting the Evidence T C Mitchell page 14 Studies on the Text and Versions of the Hebrew Bible in Honour of Robert Gordon edited by Geoffrey Khan Diana Lipton p 159 Nimrud Obelisk Athenaeum 1251 1384 85 Assyrian Eponym Canon George Smith 1875 page 190 There is another supposed Hebrew king in the annals of Shalmaneser b c 842 Extracts VIII and X called Jehu son of Omri who is generally identified with Jehu son of Nimshi the king of Israel The country ruled by Jehu son of Omri is not stated in the inscriptions and it appears unlikely that Jehu king of Israel who exterminated the family of Omri should call himself son of that king Without advancing any theory for the identification of the monarch mentioned in the Assyrian inscriptions I would urge that the identity of the Jehu of the Bible with the Jehu of the inscriptions is not proved and that these notices are not enough to force us to alter all our Bible dates Millard Alan 1997 Discoveries from Bible Times Oxford Lion p121 Delitzsch Friedrich McCormack Joseph Carruth William Herbert Robinson Lydia Gillingham 1906 Babel and Bible Chicago The Open court publishing company p 78 Delitzsch Friedrich McCormack Joseph Carruth William Herbert Robinson Lydia Gillingham 1906 Babel and Bible Chicago The Open court publishing company p 78 Kuan Jeffrey Kah Jin 2016 Neo Assyrian Historical Inscriptions and Syria Palestine Israelite Judean Tyrian Damascene Political and Commercial Relations in the Ninth Eighth Centuries BCE Wipf and Stock Publishers pp 64 66 ISBN 978 1 4982 8143 0 Delitzsch Friedrich McCormack Joseph Carruth William Herbert Robinson Lydia Gillingham 1906 Babel and Bible Chicago The Open court publishing company p 78 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Black Obelisk British Museum page on the Black Obelisk Photo Article Photo Article Jehu Panel Article Photos of the four panels of the Black Obelisk dealing with Jehu and his tribute Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III amp oldid 1158112753, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
