ANCIENT WARFARE

 Wall engraving from the Northwest Palace at Nimrud

The causes have changed, the weapons are deadlier, but the ferocity of battle remains the same.

The wall engraving shown above was taken from the walls of the palace at Nimrud, the new and sophisticated capital of the Assyrian ruler Ashurnasirpal. It was built at roughly the time that the two kings Joram and Ahaziah were killed at Jezreel.

Ashurnasirpal used a new form of palace decoration, stone relief. His artists carved long panels showing events from the king's reign, propogranda about the king's strength, ferocity and power.

One such panel at Nimrud shows a warrior shot in the back with arrows. He has fallen to the ground, trampled under the hooves of chariot horses - just as King Joram was.

See Bible Archaeology - Warfare for more information.

But if you are interested in ancient warfare, go to the web pages on 'Lachish', which include detailed information on:

• Ancient Fortifications, the walls of an ancient city
• The City Gates of an ancient city
• Siege Ramps
• Battering Rams
• Psychological Warfare in ancient times
• Different types of soldiers in ancient armies
• Armor used by an ancient army
• Weapons and Strategies
• Aftermath of an ancient battle

The type of war chariot and battle armor used in Israel
at the time of Joram, Ahab and Jezebel