Arzawa (1) (fl. 14th century B.C.E.) Hittite ruler whose
correspondence is in the ’Amarna Letters
He communicated with AMENHOTEP III (1391–1353
B.C.E.) and AKHENATEN(1353–1335 B.C.E.). He resided in
Hattusas (modern Bogazkoy) in Anatolia (Turkey) in “the
lake district.”
See also ’AMARNA LETTERS.
Arzawa (2) These were an Anatolian people living in
the Turkish lake district.
Asar See OSIRIS.
Asasif This is a depression on the western shore of the
Nile near DEIR EL-BAHRI, across from the city of THEBES.
Located near the KHOKHAhills, the area was used as a
necropolis. Tombs of the Saite or Twenty-sixth Dynasty
(664–525 B.C.E.) were discovered in the region, as well
as mortuary complexes from the Eleventh Dynasty
(2134–1991 B.C.E.). RAMESSES IV(1163–1156 B.C.E.) also
started a temple on the site.
aser The ancient Egyptian name for the tamarisk tree
connected to cultic traditions and to several deities who
recorded personages and events.
See also PERSEA TREE.
Ashait(fl. 21st century B.C.E.) Royal woman of the
Eleventh Dynasty
She was a lesser ranked consort of MONTUHOTEP II (r.
2061–2010 B.C.E.). Ashait was buried in the elaborate
mortuary complex at DEIR EL-BAHRI, on the western shore
of the Nile at THEBES. Her tomb reliefs supposedly identi-
fied her as an Ethiopian or Nubian. Ashait’s coffin con-
tained an enchanting hymn about the four winds,
delineating the sort of weather and abundance that came
from the four cardinal points of the earth, all brought to
Egypt by mythical beings.
Ashmunien, el See HERMOPOLIS MAGNA.
Ashoka (Asoka)(d. c. 238 B.C.E.) Emperor of India
A vigorous patron of the Buddhist religion, Ashoka sent
an embassy to ALEXANDRIA and received one from
PTOLEMY II PHILADELPHUS(r. 285–246 B.C.E.). He invited
Ptolemy to become a Buddhist. Buddhist monks lived in
Alexandria, and there was a great procession in the city in
270 B.C.E. of Indian women, pets, and cattle, all religious
and social symbols of India at the time. Ashoka sent Bud-
dhist books to the LIBRARY OF ALEXANDRIAas well.
Ashurnasirpal II(d. c. 859 B.C.E.)Assyrian king who
established an empire
He was a contemporary of OSORKON II(r. 883–855 B.C.E.)
and assumed the Assyrian throne in Kalakh, now Nimrod
(near modern Mosul) in Iran. After conquering northern
Mesopotamia, Syria, and the Orontes Valley, he stood
poised before Egypt and Osorkon’s defenses, but he did
not attack.Ashur-uballit I(d. c. 1330 B.C.E.)Assyrian ruler who
created the First Assyrian Empire
Ashur-uballit I created the first Assyrian empire, threaten-
ing the Hittites and Hurrians of the era as he ruled all of
Babylonia. He also aided the HITTITESin destroying the
MITANNIEmpire. Ashur-uballit I served as an ally of Egypt
in the reign of AKHENATEN(1335–1353 B.C.E.). He sent
AMENHOTEP III, Akhenaten’s father, a statue of Ishtar.Asiatics See HYKSOS.Assiut (Lykopolis, Lyconpolis, Zawty, Syut) A
city located south of HERMOPOLIS MAGNAon the eastern
side of the Nile, Assiut was dedicated to the god WEP-
WAWET, the wolf deity. The city was important because it
was the terminus of the caravan route from the KHARGA
OASISand the lands below the first cataract. Assiut also
served as a center for a trade route, called “the FORTY DAY
ROUTE,” from Darfur to the Libyan OASES. The nomarchs
of Assiut were famous in many eras of Egyptian history
for their military prowess and were enlisted to aid some
rulers during periods of unrest.
Inscriptions carved into the tombs of the necropolis
that was hewn out of the cliffs overlooking Assiut indi-
cate the power and independent status of these locals.
Most of the tombs date from the period of the Ninth (c.
2134 B.C.E.) and Tenth (2134 B.C.E.) Dynasties when the
Herakleopolitan kings looked to the Assiut warriors to
defend the land against the encroaching Thebans. One
interesting relief among those discovered in the tombs is
that of a female nomarch named Sitré, who served as
regent and kept the hereditary land intact until her son
reached his majority. Two Ramessid (1307–1070 B.C.E.)
tombs were also found there.Assurbanipal(d. c. 627 B.C.E.)Ruler of Assyria who
attacked Egypt
He reigned from 669 B.C.E. until his death and succeeded
his father, ESSARHADDON. Upon gaining the throne, Assur-
banipal renewed his campaign against Egypt. He used the
ruler of SAIS,NECHO I(r. 672–664 B.C.E.), and then PSAM-
METICHUS I (r. 664–610 B.C.E.), to gain an Assyrian
foothold on the Nile. In 663, he led a campaign against
TANUTAMUN(r. 664–657 B.C.E.), the successor to TAHARQA
(r. 690–664 B.C.E.), but Babylonian affairs caused him to
halt his Egyptian efforts. His wife was Anhursharrat, and
he ruled from NINEVEH(opposite modern Mosul, in Iraq).56 Arzawa