|
|
Ancient World / Mesopotamia / Assyria /
Kings
Akkadian: sharrum
Assyrian kings, called sharrum, were not divine like one could see in Egypt. The king was from early on designated as ishshiak assur, "the steward of Ashur". But the kings legitimacy appears not given by the gods, rather it was a matter of belonging to the royal family. In the Middle period, the king was also the High Priest of Ashur, the state god.
Several times one sees that apparent usurpers make a point of stating they are of the royal family. There are a few possible exceptions, kings that create themselves apart from previous rulers, but this could be understood as strong rulers legitimazing breaking free from the influence of the elite.
The king was a practical ruler, often heading the military on dangerous campaigns. He was on top of administration, but the governance of the state rested on the competence of governors, dignitaries and regional representatives.
Kings proudly associated themselves with religions, building, expanding or repairing important temples.
Confused? Try to find a good place to start learning about Mesopotamia in
Where to begin?
|
|
