Creating capitals : the rationale, construction, and function of the imperial capitals of Assyria /

The creation of new capital cities are watershed moments in the lives of ancient empires. Assyria, arguably the most successful imperial state of the ancient Near East, repeatedly engaged in capital creation. 'Capital creation' denotes the development of a monumental capital, either in a n...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Politopoulos, Aris (Author)
Format: Book
Language:English
Published: Leiden : Leiden University Press, [2020]
Series:Archaeological studies Leiden University ; 51.
Subjects:
Description
Summary:The creation of new capital cities are watershed moments in the lives of ancient empires. Assyria, arguably the most successful imperial state of the ancient Near East, repeatedly engaged in capital creation. 'Capital creation' denotes the development of a monumental capital, either in a new location or through the profound transformation of a pre-existing settlement. This volume focusses on the rationale, construction and function of the imperial capitals of Assyria, Kar-Tukulti-Ninurta, Kalhu, Dur-Sarruken and Nineveh. By exploring three key questions, why was a capital created, how was a capital created and what were the functions of the capital, this study presents a comparative analysis of these four urban centers and presents a new perspective on their creation, as well as an innovative framework for the study of capital creation from antiquity to today.
Physical Description:182 pages : chiefly color illustrations, maps ; 28 cm.
Bibliography:Includes bibliographical references (pages 154-175).
ISBN:9789087283520
9087283520