From bābānu to bētānu, Looking for Spaces in Late Assyrian Palaces

Late Assyrian palaces, as reflected in textual sources, reveal a complex duality between public and private spaces, articulated through the Akkadian terms bābānu (outside) and bētānu (inside). This study highlights the challenges in reconstructing palatial topography due to fragmented spatial designations that lack coherence. By comparing these ancient structures with better-documented examples like Versailles and Topkapi, it underscores how access and social organization shaped Assyrian palaces. The analysis relies on textual evidence, though its limited attestation complicates interpretations.

Kertai, D. (2014). From bābānu to bētānu, Looking for Spaces in Late Assyrian Palaces. The Fabric of Cities, 189–201. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004262348_007