Battle of Ulai
Battle of Ulai | |||||||
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Part of the Assyrian conquest of Elam | |||||||
Monumental relief of the Battle of Ulai, also called the Battle of Tulliz, British Museum.[1] | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Neo-Assyrian Empire | Elam | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Ashurbanipal |
Teumman † Tammaritu † |
The Battle of the Ulai River (called in modern times the Kerkha[2] or Karkheh River), also known as the Battle of Til-Tuba or the Battle of Tulliz, in c. 653 BCE, was a battle between the invading Assyrians, under their king Ashurbanipal, and the kingdom of Elam, which was a Babylonian ally. The result was a decisive Assyrian victory. Teumman,[3] the king of Elam, and his son Tammaritu were killed in the battle.
Background
Under the reign of
Battle and aftermath
Teumman, Nabo-Usallim and Shamash-Shuma-Ukin all formed a coalition and marched against Assurbanipal and met his forces on the banks of the Ulai River (hence the name "Battle of the Ulai River") where they were defeated. Teumman was killed in battle and his head was carried to Nineveh and placed on display in Ashurbanipal's court. Ashurbanipal began a 4-year campaign against Babylonia and placed Kandalanu on the throne to replace his brother. Susa, the capital of Elam was sacked in 647 BCE and Elam never regained its power until the Persians conquered it a century later.[7]
Relief carvings
The Battle of Ulai is well known because of the relief carvings found in Ashurbanipal's palace in Nineveh. These chaotic images portray the torture and death of countless enemy soldiers. The severed head of Teumman can be found in nearly every panel including the panel depicting the king's victory banquet. This is consistent with the Assyrian propaganda "which urges viewers to be both fearful and in awe of Assyrian might".[8]
As an innovation for Assyrian relief art, the cycle of battle is based on the Egyptian depictions of the Battle of Kadesh, which are more than 600 years older.[9]
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Battle scene
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Battle scene
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Two Elamite chiefs flayed alive after the battle during the crowning ofKhumban-Igash.[12]
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Aftermath of the battle of Ulai, with scenes of surrender and torture: the crowning ofKhumban-Igash
References
- ^ "Wall panel; relief British Museum". The British Museum.
- ^ Roux, p. 333
- ^ Roux, p. 332
- ISBN 978-1-4051-4911-2.
- ^ Roux, p.332
- JSTOR 605938.
- ISBN 978-1-4051-4911-2.
- ^ Bahrani, Zainab. "Battle of Til-Tuba (Battle of the River Ulai)". Archived from the original on 2014-12-02. Retrieved 2014-12-09.
- ISBN 978-3-7278-1552-2.
- JSTOR 4200565.
- JSTOR 4200565.
- ^ Maspero, G. (Gaston); Sayce, A. H. (Archibald Henry); McClure, M. L. (1903). History of Egypt, Chaldea, Syria, Babylonia and Assyria. London : Grolier Society. p. 217.
Sources
Georges Roux, Ancient Iraq
External links
- Assyrian limestone wall panel depicting the battle, held by the British Museum