Archaeologists have been working to reconstruct a site in Mosul, an Iraqi city, that was bulldozed as part of the extremists’ systematic destruction of cultural heritage by the Islamic State group fighters in 2016. This restoration project intends to turn this damaged site into an educational centre.
Two weeks ago during this reconstruction, archaeologists discovered rock carvings that are around 2,700 years old, dating back to the rule of King Sennacherib, in 705-681 BC. These detailed carvings include eighty scenes of war and images alike during the rule of Assyrian kings, carved into finely made marble bas-reliefs.
Head of the Iraqi archaeologist team, Fadel Mohammed Khodr, said these carvings were most likely from Sennacherib’s palace and taken to be used as construction material for the gate of Mashki – the target of the bulldozed attack.
“We believe that these carvings were moved from the palace of Sennacherib and reused by the grandson of the King, to renovate the gate of Mashki and to enlarge the guard room.” – Fadel Mohammed Khodr.
Due to the slabs being partially buried, only what was underground retained its carvings. Any carvings that were aboveground, have been smoothed down over time.
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King Sennacherib’s capture of Lachish is mentioned in 2 Kings 18:13-14 –
In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah’s reign, Sennacherib king of Assyria attacked all the fortified cities of Judah and captured them. So Hezekiah king of Judah sent this message to the King of Assyria of Lachish: “I have done wrong. Withdraw from me, and I will pay whatever you demand of me.” The King of Assyria exacted from Hezekiah King of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.
Despite his attempt, he was unable to capture Jerusalem. Inscribed on a clay prism, known as The Taylor Prism or The Sennacherib Prism, is his personal account of his campaign against Judah. He was unsuccessful.
According to Assyrian and Biblical records, Sennacherib did not reattempt to campaign against Judah again and died at the hand of his son/s, one of whom succeeded him – Esarhaddon.
