Esarhaddon in Yemen, Punt, and the Horn of Africa

A groundbreaking study identifies the ancient land of Bāzu, conquered by the Assyrian king Esarhaddon in 676 BCE, as South Arabia (modern-day Yemen), resolving a longstanding historical enigma. By cross-referencing Esarhaddon's ten recorded conquests with known polities of ancient South Arabia and the Horn of Africa, researchers pinpointed Bāzu's location near Wadi Zabid, coinciding with archaeological evidence of a wealthy Red Sea trading power linked to the legendary Land of Punt. This finding sheds light on Esarhaddon's strategic motivations for his arduous campaign, potentially tied to the Sargon Geography's description of a 'bridge' into Kush (ancient Nubia), suggesting an alternative route bypassing northern defenses. The study leverages toponymic analysis and historical records to reconstruct ancient geopolitical dynamics, offering new insights into the connectivity between South Arabia, Punt, and the Horn of Africa during the Assyrian period.

Compton, S. C. (2026). Esarhaddon in Yemen, Punt, and the Horn of Africa. Journal of Ancient near Eastern History, 13(1), 23–91. https://doi.org/10.1515/janeh-2025-0001