ASSYRIAN NAMES

Assyria

(Lower Tigris/Euphrates basin, East of Euphrates)
History

The area was first settled in around 3500 BC and inhabited by several small tribes which fought against Israel. It was subject to Sumer until around 2350 BC and then to the Assyrians who adopted most of the Sumerian religious and social structure. The early capital was Assur, later Nineveh. Assyria originally consisted of the narrow strip of fertile land each side of the river Tigris. It was under Babylonian and Egyptian supremacy until c 1450 BC and became a military power under King Ashuru-ballit (1380-40 BC) and his successors. Tukulti-enurta I conquered Babylon and took the title of King of Sumer and Akkad. Under Nebuchadnezzar I, Assyria was subject to Babylon again but was liberated by Tiglathpileser I although much land was lost during the Aramaean invasions. After the accession of Adad-nirai II from c 911 BC, Assyria expanded greatly, conquering Elam, Mesopotamia, Syria, Palestine, the Arabian borders and Egypt. Events of this period are recorded in the Old Testament and inscriptions such as the Black Obelisk, which celebrates the triumphs of Shalmaneser III, survive. The C9th saw virtually continuous warfare with Syrian states and after the setback of the battle of Qarqar in 854 BC, there was a period of decline. Tiglath-pileser III's accession in 746 BC began the last period of Assyrian ascendancy which culminated in the conquest of Egypt in 671 BC.

Nabopolasser of Babylon and Cyaxares of Media united against the Assyrians and Nineveh was destroyed in 612 BC. Assyria became a Median province and later a principality of the Persian Empire which was conquered by Alexander the Great. Assyria began to regain prominence under Seleucus Nicator, one of Alexander's generals, who became ruler, and later governor, of Babylonia after Alexander died in 323 BC. He conquered Syria and had himself crowned king in 306 BC but was killed after his policy of expansion led to conflict with the Ptolemies, another Macedonian dynasty, in Egypt. He founded Antioch or Antiocheia, which became the capital, and was succeeded by his son, Antiochus III, establishing the Seleucid Dynasty. During the reign of the last Seleucid king, Antiochus XIII, Pompey the Great made Syria a Roman province. It became part of the Roman and Byzantine empires and was conquered by the Saracens in 636. During the Middle Ages, it was the scene of conflict between European Crusaders and the Muslims and became part of the Ottoman Empire in 1516. It is now the modern state of Iraq.
Assyrian Names
Male
Abazu Abdi-Ashirta Abelkala
Abgarus Abibaal Adadnirai
Adamu Addadshumausur Agabus
Ahaz Apiashal Ashur-dan
Ashurnadin-ahhe Ashurnasirpal Ashurniran
Ashurreshishi Ashuruballit Assi
Assurbanipal Azarah Aziru
Belu Didanu Elibaal
Eriba-Adad Esarhaddon Hadadziru
Hairan Hanu Hanud
Harharu Harsu Ibashshi-ilu
Ili-Hadda Imsu Kaushmalaku
Kitlamu Kummu Kushtashpi
Labynetus Maeonius Mandaru
Mansour Matanbael Mithridates
Mitinti Musa Nikmaddu
Ninsun Nuabu Odainat
Panammu Pul Rahbani
Ribaddi Salamanu Sampsiceramus
Sanipu Sargon Sennacherib
Shalmaneser Shamshi-Adad Shilkanni
Shipitbaal Shopak Shullay
Shutatarra Sibittibael Sohemus
Tehuteshub Tiglathpileser Tudiya
Tukutli-Ninurta Ululaya Ushpiya
Vaballathus Yakin Yangi
Yantin-Ammu Yehimilk Zabdas
Zimrilim Zuabu

Female
Aishah Hind Maesa
Mamaea Mawia Sammu-ramat
Samsi Semiramis Tanit
Urshanabi Zabibi Zainab
Zebba Zenobia

Religion

The Assyrians adopted the Sumerian pantheon with their own god, Ashur, taking the chief position.
Ashur/Assur Chief of gods
Bel Sky
Dushara
Reshop/Rashap Storms

Rulers
Name Reign Lineage Spouse
Assurnirari I
Shamsi-Adad II c 1715
 
Ashur-uballit c 1380-40
Adadnirai I
Shalmaneser I 1276-57
Tukulti-enurta I
Nebuchadnezzar I 1150-10
Tiglath-Pileser I c 1115-1063
Assurdan II c 934
Adadnirai II 911-
Assurnasipal II c 889
Assurnasirapli II 883-59
Shalmaneser III Ululaya c 859-24
Shamsi-Adad V c 824-11 Sammuramat / Semiramis
Adadnirai III 811-783
Semiramis 811-08 wife of Shamsi-Adad V
Tiglathpileser III Pulu 745-27
Sargon II 722-5 Son of Tiglathpileser III
Sennacherib 705-681 Son of Sargon II
Esarhaddon 681-69 Son of Sennacherib Babylonian wife
Assurbarnapal 668-26 Son of Esarhaddon
Assuruballit -612


Seleucid Dynasty (Syria)
Seleucus I Nicator 358-286 Alexander's general Stratonice
Antiochus I Soter 'the Saviour' c 286-61 son of Seleucus I
Antiochus II Theos 'the Divine' 261-47 son of Antiochus I 1 Laodice 2 Berenice d Ptol II Eg
Antiochus Heirax son of Antiochus II
Seleucus II Callinicus 247-26 son of Antiochus II + 1
Seleucus III -223 ex
Antiochus III 'the Great' 223-c187 brother or cousin of Seleucus III
Seleucus IV -175
Antiochus IV Epiphanes 'the Illustrious' 175-63 son of Antiochus III cousin of Ptolemies of Egypt
Antiochus V 163-2 (9 yrs old)
Demetrius I Nicanor 162-150 deposed Antiochus V Rhodogune of Parthia
Alexander Bala 150-
Antiochus VII 138-29
Antiochus VIII Grypus c 100 BC 1 Cleopatra of Egypt
2 Cleopatra Selene of Egypt, sister of 1
Antiochus IX Cyzenicus dep Ant VIII brother of Ant VIII Cleopatra Selene of Egypt
  - son of Ant IX Cleopatra Selene of Egypt
Seleucus V
Seleucus VI
Demetrius (several)
Tigranes c 83
Philip II
Antiochus XIII C1st BC Last Seleucid