What is a Sargon known for?
Sargon, byname Sargon of Akkad, (flourished 23rd century bce), ancient Mesopotamian ruler (reigned c. 2334–2279 bce) who was one of the earliest of the world’s great empire builders, conquering all of southern Mesopotamia as well as parts of Syria, Anatolia, and Elam (western Iran).
What did King Sargon do?
Sargon sent Akkadian governors to rule Sumerian cities and tear down defensive walls. He left the Sumerian religion in place but made Akkadian the official language of all Mesopotamia. By lowering physical and linguistic barriers and unifying his realm, he promoted commerce both within Mesopotamia and well beyond.
How did Sargon strengthen his power?
King Sargon, the founder of the empire, conquered several regions in Mesopotamia and consolidated his power by instating Akaddian officials in new territories. He extended trade across Mesopotamia and strengthened the economy through rain-fed agriculture in northern Mesopotamia.
Where is the mask of Sargon?
Finding. The piece was found in the temple of Ishtar , in the ancient city of Nineveh , near present-day Mosul , a town in northern Iraq in 1931, and restored in 1936. The damage it presents was probably caused during the destruction of Nineveh by Medes and Babylonians in 612 BC. C.
When did Sargon born?
One of the most striking stories about Sargon’s early life is his birth legend, reported in an 8th-century BC neo-Assyrian source. The legend reports that Sargon was the son of a priestess and an unknown father. This is a transcript from the video series Between the Rivers: The History of Ancient Mesopotamia.
What did Sargon the Great invent?
Sargon’s reign provided stability. He built roads and irrigation canals, extended trade routes and encouraged science and the arts. Sargon created a postal system, ensuring privacy of the mail by innovating the use of clay envelopes for the tablets. His taxes were fair for rich and poor.
How many children did King Sargon have?
Probably the son of Tiglath-Pileser III ( r. 745–727), Sargon is generally believed to have become king after overthrowing Shalmaneser V ( r. 727–722), probably his brother….
| Sargon II | |
|---|---|
| Issue | Sennacherib Ahat-abisha At least four more children |
| Akkadian | Šarru-kīn |
| Dynasty | Sargonid dynasty |
| Father | Tiglath-Pileser III (?) |
Who killed king Sargon?
Sargon died in 705 BCE in a battle in Tabal, in southeast Anatolia. The enemy army seized the Assyrian camp and the king’s body was never found. As a result, he did not receive a proper burial in his palace at Khorsabad, which was considered a curse in Mesopotamia.
What was Sargon’s army like?
Sargon made improvements to this existing military system. He had the Akkadian army employ a phalanx six men deep, armed with pikes and axes, with the front rank carrying large, rectangular shields. He had the infantry trained to fight in a looser formation in rough or broken terrain.
What was Sargon’s real name?
Sargon of Akkad
Sargon of Akkad (/ˈsɑːrɡɒn/; Akkadian: 𒊬𒊒𒄀 Šarrugi), also known as Sargon the Great, was the first ruler of the Akkadian Empire, known for his conquests of the Sumerian city-states in the 24th to 23rd centuries BC. He is sometimes identified as the first person in recorded history to rule over an empire.
How long did king Sargon rule?
56 years
Here, Sargon is mentioned as the son of a gardener, former cup-bearer of Ur-Zababa of Kish. He usurped the kingship from Lugal-zage-si of Uruk and took it to his own city of Akkad. Various copies of the king list give the duration of his reign as either 54, 55 or 56 years.