THE NAIRIAN CAMPAIGN OF TUKULTĪ-NINURTA I (1242-1206 BC) IN THE CONTEXT OF THE CONQUESTS IN THE FIRST THREE YEARS OF HIS REIGN

Abstract

The "Nairi land(s)" (KUR.KUR Na-i-ri) was first mentioned in the inscriptions of the Middle Assyrian king Tukultī-Ninurta I (c. 1242-1206 BC). Currently, the "Nairi land(s)" is mentioned in 18 of the 55 known inscriptions. In historiography, the chronology and motives of the Tukultī-Ninurta I campaign to the "Nairi land(s)" have been discussed many time. However, in some cases, the existing opinions are contradictory and need to be justified. A new reading of the inscriptions of Tukultī-Ninurta I allows to discuss the date, reasons and outcome of the campaign not in isolation, but in the context of the campaigns of the first three years of his reign.

Keywords

• assyria, mass deportations in ancient near east