Claiming the world : geographical conceptions and royal ideology in the Neo-Assyrian Empire, with focus on the reign of Sargon II (721-705 B.C.)
The thesis investigates the way in which the world and its various aspects are presented in sources from the Neo-Assyrian empire, and how they relate to the ideology of kingship. The investigation follows a two-pronged approach, exploring natural landmarks such as watercourses, lakes, seas and oceans, as well as man-made landmarks in the form of cities and toponyms used to label the Assyrian and non-Assyrian worlds. These are analysed in the context of a wide range of textual and visual sources, including royal inscriptions and reliefs, archival documents such as correspondence and administrative texts, and scribal and literary compositions. While the role of geographical conceptions in shaping and promoting royal ideology forms the underlying theme of the research, this is contrasted where possible with perceptions of the world in administration, scholarship and literature. The result is a rich and multi-layered picture in which different ways of seeing the world emerge from different types of sources. The main chronological focus of the study is the reign of Sargon II (r. 721â705 B.C.). It was during this period that the world view presented in official documents underwent an important shift, from the
ZamazalovĂĄ, S.
Claiming the world : geographical conceptions and royal ideology in the Neo-Assyrian Empire, with focus on the reign of Sargon II (721-705 B.C.). The thesis investigates the way in which the world and its various aspects are presented in sources from the Neo-Assyrian empire, and how they relate to the ideology of kingship. The investigation follows a two-pronged approach, exploring natural landmarks such as watercourses, lakes, seas and oceans, as well as man-made landmarks in the form of cities and toponyms used to label the Assyrian and non-Assyrian worlds. These are analysed in the context of a wide range of textual and visual sources, including royal inscriptions and reliefs, archival documents such as correspondence and administrative texts, and scribal and literary compositions. While the role of geographical conceptions in shaping and promoting royal ideology forms the underlying theme of the research, this is contrasted where possible with perceptions of the world in administration, scholarship and literature. The result is a rich and multi-layered picture in which different ways of seeing the world emerge from different types of sources. The main chronological focus of the study is the reign of Sargon II (r. 721â705 B.C.). It was during this period that the world view presented in official documents underwent an important shift, from the
world geographical conception royal ideology neo_assyrian empire focus reign investigates way world various_aspect present source neo_assyrian empire relate ideology kingship investigation follow_two explore natural landmark watercourse lake sea ocean well man_made landmark form city use label assyrian non assyrian world analyse context wide_range textual_visual source_include royal inscription reliefs archival_document correspondence administrative text scribal literary composition role geographical conception shape promote royal ideology form underlie theme contrast possible perception world administration scholarship literature rich multi_layered picture different_way see world emerge different_type source main chronological focus study reign period world_view present official_document underwent important shift