Sargon II
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Sargon II (Akkadian: Šarru-kên, "legitimate king", reigned 722 – 705 BC) was an Assyrian king. Sargon II became co-regent with Shalmaneser V in 722 BC. Shalmaneser V died in 722 BC. From then on, Sargon II was the only ruler of Assyria. It is not clear if he was the son of Tiglath-Pileser III or a usurper unrelated to the royal family. In his inscriptions, he styles himself as a new man and rarely talks about his predecessors. He nevertheless took the name Sharru-kinu ("true king"), after Sargon of Akkad — who had founded the first Semitic Empire in the region about 16 centuries earlier.[1] Sargon is the Biblical form of the name.
Sargon II Media
Relief from Nimrud depicting Sargon II's probable father Tiglath-Pileser III (r. 745–727 BC; right) and possibly also his probable brother Shalmaneser V (r. 727–722 BC; left)[2]
20th-century illustration of Sargon being proclaimed king in 722 BC
Sargon of Akkad (c.2334–2279 BC) as depicted on his victory stele. Sargon II likely took his regnal name from this ancient king and sought to emulate his exploits.
Sargon depicted in a chariot in one of the reliefs from his palace in Dur-Sharrukin
Map of the kingdom of Urartu, between -715 and -713.
Layout of Dur-Sharrukin, including the palace and the arsenal. Other than these structures, the city remains poorly excavated.[3]
1905 reconstruction of Sargon's palace
References
- ↑ Another "Sargon", a predecessor of Shamshi-Adad of the 18th century BC.
- ↑ Yamada & Yamada 2017, pp. 402–403.
- ↑ Elayi 2017, p. 206.