Diplomaten in Assur-Alltag oder Anzeichen für eine internationale krise?

A surge in diplomatic activity at the Assyrian capital of Ashur (Qal'at Sherqat) during the reign of King Tukulti-Ninurta I suggests a significant international crisis, likely tied to the Assyrian war against Babylonia. Analysis of the Middle Assyrian archive from Tall Humera/Harbe reveals that within six weeks, ambassadors from Hatti, Egypt, Amurru, and Sidon traveled to Ashur, an unusual concentration of foreign envoys. This finding is supported by letter orders from the Grand Vizier to provincial governors along the steppe route, alongside chronicles, royal inscriptions, and new eponym data from archaeological sites like Tall Huwera and Tall Šeh Hamad/Dur-Katlimmu. The study proposes a connection between this diplomatic flurry and Assyria's eventual victory over Babylon, offering insights into ancient geopolitical dynamics.

Jakob, S. (2016). Diplomaten in Assur-Alltag oder Anzeichen für eine internationale krise? Isimu, 6, 103–114. https://doi.org/10.15366/isimu2003.6.006