A Companion to Ethnicity in the Ancient Mediterranean

Ethnicity in Empire 165

Figure 11.1 Relief from the palace of Sharrukin II at Dur-Sharrukin (modern Khorsabad),
717–707BC. Eunuch (beardless) Assyrian soldier at right presenting foreign prisoner (in hooded
cape, with bound hands) to Assyrian king in his chariot. Drawing from Botta and Flandin 1849 v.
II, pl. 100 (lower half). Courtesy of Special Collections Library, University of Michigan.

Figure 11.2 Relief from the palace of Sharrukin II at Dur-Sharrukin (modern Khorsabad),
717–707BC. Siege of the city of Pazashi (in the Zagros Mountains of Iran). From left, Assyr-
ian archer and shield-bearer, two non-Assyrian archers, enemy prisoner being beheaded, and two
non-Assyrian spearmen attack the city. Defenders of the city wear animal skins on their backs, a
generic reference to foreigners. Botta and Flandin 1849 v. II, pl. 145 (lower half). Courtesy of
Special Collections Library, University of Michigan.

Reade 1972; Dalley 1985; Nadali 2005). Army chariots are mentioned in texts but not
represented in reliefs, where only the king is depicted in a chariot (Figure 11.1). One
group of foreign archers wears headbands and were probably from the Aramaean states,
while spearmen with curving crests (Figure 11.2) may derive from the mountains north
of Assyria (Reade 1972: 105).