The Assyrian (novel)
Encyclopedia
The Assyrian is a 1987 novel by Nicholas Guild http://www.ohiocenterforthebook.org/index.php?q=node/11&id=199. Together with its companion sequel, The Blood Star, it tells the history of Tiglath Ashur, the fictional half-brother of Esarhaddon
, a historical king of Assyria
. The novels are notable for a consistently high moral tone and for the feeling of immediacy present in the many vignettes that offer pictures of everyday life and, not incidentally, a kind of travelogue of ancient Mesopotamia
and the Mediterranean.
In this first chapter of the Tiglath Ashur's story, the author narrates the youth of the main character until the age of twenty-five. His love for Esharhamat, the woman who, according to a prophecy, will generate a great monarch: Ashurbanipal
. But only the king could marry Esharhamat, and the gods prefer his brother Esarhaddon
to get the crown.
With descriptions of many battles and many ancient peoples, this book talks about wars, hate, revenge and overall, love. Guild uses language that transports the reader into the ancient time of the Assyrian empire, with vivid descriptions of the culture, food, clothing and life styles of the people of Assyria.
Esarhaddon
Esarhaddon , was a king of Assyria who reigned 681 – 669 BC. He was the youngest son of Sennacherib and the Aramean queen Naqi'a , Sennacherib's second wife....
, a historical king of Assyria
Assyria
Assyria was a Semitic Akkadian kingdom, extant as a nation state from the mid–23rd century BC to 608 BC centred on the Upper Tigris river, in northern Mesopotamia , that came to rule regional empires a number of times through history. It was named for its original capital, the ancient city of Assur...
. The novels are notable for a consistently high moral tone and for the feeling of immediacy present in the many vignettes that offer pictures of everyday life and, not incidentally, a kind of travelogue of ancient Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia is a toponym for the area of the Tigris–Euphrates river system, largely corresponding to modern-day Iraq, northeastern Syria, southeastern Turkey and southwestern Iran.Widely considered to be the cradle of civilization, Bronze Age Mesopotamia included Sumer and the...
and the Mediterranean.
In this first chapter of the Tiglath Ashur's story, the author narrates the youth of the main character until the age of twenty-five. His love for Esharhamat, the woman who, according to a prophecy, will generate a great monarch: Ashurbanipal
Ashurbanipal
Ashurbanipal |Ashur]] is creator of an heir"; 685 BC – c. 627 BC), also spelled Assurbanipal or Ashshurbanipal, was an Assyrian king, the son of Esarhaddon and the last great king of the Neo-Assyrian Empire...
. But only the king could marry Esharhamat, and the gods prefer his brother Esarhaddon
Esarhaddon
Esarhaddon , was a king of Assyria who reigned 681 – 669 BC. He was the youngest son of Sennacherib and the Aramean queen Naqi'a , Sennacherib's second wife....
to get the crown.
With descriptions of many battles and many ancient peoples, this book talks about wars, hate, revenge and overall, love. Guild uses language that transports the reader into the ancient time of the Assyrian empire, with vivid descriptions of the culture, food, clothing and life styles of the people of Assyria.