Representations of rebellion in the Assyrian royal inscriptions

Dewar, Benjamin Neil (2019). Representations of rebellion in the Assyrian royal inscriptions. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

This dissertation is a study of the literary motifs and topoi relating to rebellion in the Assyrian royal inscriptions. It is particularly concerned with the ways in which the Assyrian kings and their scribes emplotted rebellion into the narratives of the royal inscriptions in order to present these events in a favourable light. Details such as the identities of those responsible for a rebellion; the location of the king at the time at which the rebellion began; or the involvement of the gods (or lack thereof) all contributed towards a message that rebellions against Assyria were unjustified and lacked divine backing. In cases where it was felt that events could not be made to present the king in a favourable light, reference to rebellion was omitted from the inscription. I argue that the approach to these events changed during the reign of Ashurbanipal. This king presented events which might otherwise have been seen as negatively connoted as having been decreed by the gods in order to allow him the opportunity to gain further military successes against his enemies.

Type of Work: Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)
Award Type: Doctorates > Ph.D.
Supervisor(s):
Supervisor(s)EmailORCID
Burton, PhilipUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Frame, GrantUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Macrides, RuthUNSPECIFIEDUNSPECIFIED
Licence: All rights reserved
College/Faculty: Colleges (2008 onwards) > College of Arts & Law
School or Department: School of History and Cultures, Department of Classics, Ancient History and Archaeology (CAHA)
Funders: None/not applicable
Subjects: D History General and Old World > DS Asia
P Language and Literature > PJ Semitic
P Language and Literature > PN Literature (General) > PN0441 Literary History
URI: http://etheses.bham.ac.uk/id/eprint/9238

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