Battle of Susa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Susa |
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| Part of the Assyrian conquest of Elam | |||||||
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Susa, sacked by the Assyrians. Ashurbanipal's brutal campaign against Susa in 647 BC is triumphantly recorded in this relief. Here, flames rise from the city as Assyrian soldiers topple it with pickaxes and crowbars and carry off the spoils. |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
| Assyria | Elam | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| King Assurbanipal | [data missing] | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| Unknown | Unknown | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Unknown | Unknown | ||||||
The Battle of Susa was a major conflict between the ancient Assyrians and the Elamites. The Assyrian king, Ashurbanipal, decided to destroy the city of Susa as a punishment. He was tired of the Elamites constantly attacking the people of Mesopotamia.
Contents
What Was the Battle of Susa?
The Battle of Susa took place in 647 BC. During this war, the city of Susa was completely destroyed by the Assyrian king Ashurbanipal. The people of Susa had sided against the Assyrians.
Why Did the Battle Happen?
A special clay tablet, found in 1854, tells us why Ashurbanipal attacked Susa. He saw himself as an "avenger." He wanted to get back at the Elamites for all the times they had caused trouble for the Mesopotamians over many centuries.
The Destruction of Susa
After a successful attack on Susa, King Ashurbanipal ordered its complete destruction. He wanted to make sure the Elamites would not bother his people again.
What Ashurbanipal Said
King Ashurbanipal himself recorded what happened to Susa. He said that he conquered Susa, which was a very important and holy city to the Elamites. He entered its palaces and took all the silver, gold, and other valuable treasures.
He also destroyed the city's tall temples, called ziggurats. He broke their shiny copper decorations and scattered the statues of their gods and goddesses. Ashurbanipal even dug up the tombs of the Elamite kings, both old and new. He took their bones away to the land of Assyria. Finally, he ruined the lands around Susa and even spread salt on them, so nothing could grow there. This showed how completely he wanted to destroy the Elamite power.
See also
In Spanish: Batalla de Susa para niños
