German archaeologist. Born 18th February 1875 (Leipzig), died 28th July 1956 (Berlin). Under Robert Koldewey, Andrae participated in the excavations in Babylon in 1899. Later, Walter Andrae directed the excavations in Assur (1903-1914).
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Ur
The ancient city of Ur was located at the modern site of Tell el-Muqayyar in Southern Iraq, approximately 20 km south of the Euphrates.
Khorsabad
Khorsabad is the modern name of the ancient city Dur Šarrukin (“Fortress of Sargon”) which was built as the new Assyrian capital in the reign of Sargon II. It was only finished towards the end of this king’s reign (in the year 706 BCE). Since Sargon’s son and successor Sennacherib relocated the capital city to Nineveh. Khorsabad might have never actually functioned as imperial capital, or only for a very short period.
Ištar
The Mesopotamian goddess of love and war. Her symbol is the star Venus. See also here.
Assur
Assur was the religious and political centre of Assyria from the early 2nd millennium on. While it remained the seat of Assyria’s main god Aššur and, hence, kept its religious key function throughout Assyrian history, other cities were established as imperial capitals of Assyria in the course of the first millennium BCE.
Assurbanipal
King of Assyria and suzerain of Babylonia (668-627). The Akkadian form of his name is Aššur-bāni-apli. Assurbanipal had to quell the so-called Great Babylonian Rebellion (652-648) led by his brother with Elamite support. In the aftermath, Assurbanipal appointed a new puppet-king over Babylon. Meanwhile, Assurbanipal ordered the collection of scholarly and literary texts from Babylonia and their transport to Nineveh. These tablets would become part of the famous Library of Assurbanipal.
Cambyses II
King of Persia and Babylonia (530-523). He succeeded his father Cyrus the Great and expanded the Achaemenid Empire through the conquest of Egypt. Cambyses is attested in several economic texts, the Uruk King List and the Nabonidus Chronicle.
Cyrus II
King of Persia and Babylonia (539-530). Commonly known as “Cyrus the Great“. Founder of the Teispid dynasty and the Achaemenid Empire, to which he added Babylonia in 539 BCE by defeating the last Neo-Babylonian king Nabonidus. Attested in several cuneiform sources such as the Nabonidus Chronicle, the Uruk King List and the so called Cyrus Cylinder.
Darius I
King of Persia and Babylonia (522-486), commonly known as “Darius the Great“. Founder of the Achaemenid dynasty, he ascended to the throne by a coup, eagerly justified by him in the Bisitun Inscription. After his rise to power, Darius I dealt with several revolts across the empire (including Babylonia) and promoted a restructuration of the Achaemenid Empire’s administration and authority. Among other building projects, Darius I was the founder of Persepolis. He is attested in the Uruk King List and several economic texts.
Sargon II
King of Assyria (721-705). Presumably son of Tiglath-pileser III, Sargon II is attested in BKLa as Šarru-ukīn and in the PC as Arkeanos, Sargon exerted direct rule over Babylon between 709-705 BCE. He is well-known for his military campaigns, including his 8th campaign against Urartu. In his reign, Khorsabad was established as the new Assyrian capital. His death in battle (and the loss of his body) had a traumatizing effect which is recorded in the Assyrian text known as the Sin of Sargon (K 04730 + Sm 1816, SAAo3, 33) and prompted his son to revert some of his policies.