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The
Palace of Sargon of Assyria
The case of Sargon provides a good illustration of the value of archaeology
in relation to the Bible. Sargon is one of the forgotten persons who has been
brought to life by the archaeological pick, and he provides a great illustration
of the historical trustworthiness of the Bible.
James Orr commented in 1906, "Ancient
writers knew nothing of him (Sargon). He was
a mystery: some did not hesitate to deny that
he ever existed.” Late in his reign Sargon
built a new capital city, which he called Dur-Sharrukin
('the fortress of Sargon'), known today as
Khorsabad. Among the buildings was a magnificently
sculptured palace, which was discovered by
the French archaeologist Paul-Emile Botta between
1842 and 1844. The British Museum has numerous
artifacts depicting Sargon including the “Sargon
Vase” which contains an inscription with
his name on it. The Oriental Institute of the
University of Chicago contains information
and photographs of the early excavations of
Sargon’s palace. |
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Sargon Brick Inscription
The
Vatican Museum’s
collection includes an inscribed brick from
Sargon’s palace in Khorsabad. The inscription
celebrates the construction of the city and
of the palace:
"Sargon, king of the universe, built
this city: Dûr-Sharrûkin ("The
fortress of Sargon") is its name; inside
it he had this unrivalled Palace built.” |
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The
Sargon Annals - Inscriptions
This clay prism contains Assyrian inscriptions in cuneiform writing that validates
the Biblical account regarding the capture and deportation of the northern kingdom
of Israel in 722 BC. The inscriptions record the 8th campaign of Sargon II in
Syria and the revolts in Samaria, the capital of northern Israel, before and
after Sargon’s campaigns. The Assyrian inscriptions also record king Sargon’s
boasting, "I besieged and captured Samaria, and carried off 27,290 of its
inhabitants" (2 Kings 17:5-6). This cuneiform tablet now resides in the
Louvre Museum in Paris. |
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Sargon
Fall of Samaria Inscription
From Ancient Near East Volume 1 - ANET
"Property of Sargon, King of Assyria,
conqueror of Samaria and of the entire country
of Israel (Bit-Hu-um-ri-a) who despoiled Ashdod
and Shinuhti, who caught the Greeks who live
on islands in the sea"
"Iamani from Ashdod, afraid of my armed
force, left his wife and children and fled
to the frontier"
"I beseiged and conquered the cities of Ashdod and Gath"
(Gath according to the Bible is where Goliath was
from) |
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Scriptures
Isaiah 20:1 In the year
that Tartan came unto Ashdod, when Sargon
the king of Assyria sent him, and fought
against Ashdod, and took it. |
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