THE ASSYRIAN ARMY

During the New Empire, the Assyrian army developed from a part-time amateur force that was conscripted for plundering raids to a highly professional standing army that was one of the most efficient and deadly fighting forces ever known. Up until the ninth century BCE, the army consisted mainly of peasants and farmers who were forced to join the king on his annual campaigns. In theory, all men had to do military duty, but many wealthy Assyrians managed to evade service by providing slaves instead. These conscripts, led by a core of professional soldiers, consisted mostly of light infantrymen armed with bows and arrows, slings, pikes, spears, battle-axes, and swords. Of these light infantrymen, the archers were the most important. Troops in the heavy infantry were also equipped with armor.

By the ninth century BCE, a standing army had been formed. The commander in chief was the king, who often led campaigns in person. The bulk of the army consisted of foreign contingents of foot soldiers conscripted from various subjugated lands and led by Assyrian officers. The army was divided into units of varying size. The company, which was the basic unit, consisted of 50 men under the command of a captain.

The elite of the army were the charioteers. Each chariot carried a driver, an archer, and usually one or two shield bearers to protect the driver and archer. The chariots were backed up by cavalry, which rode bareback and operated in pairs. One cavalryman wielded a short bow, while his partner carried a shield to protect him.

The marching army was followed by engineers who would build bridges and other structures. Engineers were also in charge of battering rams, siege towers, and other devices, such as scaling ladders, that were used in siege warfare. The battering rams were contained in wheeled huts that both protected the ram itself and carried archers who could shoot at attackers.

The preferred tactic in conquering a new region was to choose one particular city and lay siege to it. Once a breach in the city's walls was made, the army poured through and proceeded to massacre both the defenders and the citizens. The mutilated bodies would then be hung on the city's walls as a warning to others.

A battering ram is shown breaking down the walls of a city in this bronze relief from the ninth century BCE.

This relief shows an angel or spirit, one of many mythological beings depicted in Assyrian art.

Plexes of halls built around two central courtyards and connected by a narrow throne room measuring 65 by 33 feet (20 by 10 m).This double architectural design may reflect Aramaean influence.