Narrating the Empire with Images: Assyrian Narrative Art

The Neo-Assyrian period is characterised by a progressive imperial policy promoted by the Assyrian kings since the 9th century bce. Ashurnasirpal II (883 – 859 bce), the founder of this new era, launched a systematic programme of annual military campaigns with the aim of enlarging the land of Assur, on behalf and with the support of the national god Aššur. The imperial mission and view are a prerogative of each Assyrian king, until the 7th century bce with the expansion of the Assyrian empire to include Egypt under the reigns of Esarhaddon (680–669 bce) and Ashurbanipal (668–631 bce). This duty is not a personal choice that the Assyrian king could deny, but is the result of the official coronation, when the god Aššur chooses his representative on the throne of Assyria.