2 August 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

Chariots in Neo-Assyrian Army

The first data related to the use of vehicles by humans appeared on a clay tablet found in stage IVa of Uruk residents, South Mesopotamia, at the end of the 4th millennium BC (3200-3100 BC).

At the beginning of the third millennium BC, we can say that wheeled chariots appeared on two objects; the vehicles that took place on the battlefield of the “Standard of Ur” and “Stele of Vulture” in the early 3rd millennium BC were also used in the military Purpose.

Cars became one of the most important weapons in the war, allowing governments to succeed in terms of politics, territorial expansion, and defense. Chariots were the most significant element of the army for the Assyrians.

The oldest known depiction of an Assyrian chariot took place on a cylindrical seal from the Ninurta-Tukulti-Ašur period (1133 BC), dating back to the Assurnasirpal I period (1050-1032 BC) and from the Tukulti-Ninurta II period (888-884 BC). The earliest systematic study of the Assyrian chariot was carried out on the relief of the palace of Assurnasirpal II. (883-859 BC).

During the reigns of Assurnasirpal II (883-859 BC) and Assurbanipal (668-631 BC), the chariot has developed into a form more suitable for meeting needs.

When the Assyrians attacked a city, they usually used three methods. These; demolishing the city or castle gates with rams, climbing the walls by leaning a ladder against the wall, and demolishing the walls with diggers.
When the Assyrians attacked a city, they usually used three methods. These; demolishing the city or castle gates with rams, climbing the walls by leaning a ladder against the wall, and demolishing the walls with diggers.

The design and development of the chariot depended were dictated by tactical requirements and field conditions. Two soldiers were pulled by two or three horses in chariots, but as chariots advanced, four horses and four warriors were drawn. It has become fast and functional.

Systematic on two-wheeled chariots studies II. Palace of Assurnasirpal (883-859 BC) made possible by examining the reliefs. Accordingly, in chariots the front of the case is rounded, and the case serves as a kind of armor.They were covered with metal panels and converted into heavy chariots. Likewise, horses are heavily armored. Thus, The safety of both military personnel and horses has been increased.

From the period of Assurnasirpal II (883-859 BC), six-spokes wheeled cars were used.
From the period of Assurnasirpal II (883-859 BC), six-spokes wheeled cars were used.

III. Tiglath-Pileser (745-727 BC) and II. Sargon (721-705 BC) there were significant changes in war chariots during the periods.

These changes are the result of wheel diameters and rims growth and an increase in the number of spokes from six to eight. Thus, the durability and robustness of the chariots increased.

From the period of Assurnasirpal II (883-859 BC), six-spokes wheeled cars were used, while III. Eight spoke wheels began to be used from the period of Tiglat-Pileser (745-727 BC) to the period of Assurbanipal (668-631 BC).

Thus, the endurance of the chariots against high speeds on the battlefield and their durability against rough terrain conditions has increased. In addition, the outer surface of the wooden circle in contact with the ground is covered with an iron protective ring.

Sargon II. consisting of three people in chariots during the period, we meet the crew.
Sargon II. consisting of three people in chariots during the period, we meet the crew.

Sargon II. consisting of three people in chariots during the period, we meet the crew. The third person(Tašlīšu) has protected the driver (Mukil appāte) and archer (Māru damqu) in the chariot with his two-round shields. Another important development in this period was the use of the yoke system, where four horses could run together.

The Assyrian army was the most advanced, largest, and best organized in the ancient world.

The Assyrian army, which was initially under the influence of Mitanni, but showed great developments in time and exhibited an excellent example of organization, also became the pioneer of the imperial armies to be established later. This great army, which was always in the shadow of the god Assyria and under the command of ruthless rulers, showed itself as a force that could decisively pursue the state policy aimed at exploitation and plunder and posed a great threat to its enemies.

In this article, excerpts are taken from the article Chariots in Neo-Assyrian Army published in The Journal of Social Sciences Institute.

Related Articles

How Was the Life of Teenager in Ancient Times?

1 March 2021

1 March 2021

Youth is the same in every era. Not so hard to guess. How was your life as a teenager? You...

Glazed Bricks with Bull and Dragon Motifs Discovered at Persepolis

17 December 2021

17 December 2021

A team of Iranian and Italian archaeologists recently unearthed some glazed bricks bearing bull and dragon motifs in the ancient...

Mystery of the World’s Oldest Map on a Nearly 3,000-year-old Babylonian Tablet Finally Solved

28 October 2024

28 October 2024

A recent British Museum video reveals that the “oldest map of the world in the world” on a clay tablet...

From Türkiye to Iraq: Returning 6,000-Year-Old Cuneiform Tablets That Unlock Ancient Mesopotamia

2 July 2025

2 July 2025

Türkiye has made a significant contribution to cultural diplomacy and historical justice by returning six ancient cuneiform clay tablets to...

Archaeologists discover a 4,000-year-old ancient city in the Iraqi Dhi Qar region

20 July 2021

20 July 2021

An astonishing find was made by archaeologists in Iraq‘s Dhi Qar province, where an ancient settlement estimated to be 4,000...

Archaeologists reconstructing how the Assyrian army conquered the ancient Judean city of Lachish 2700 years ago

9 November 2021

9 November 2021

Archaeologists discovered how King Sennacherib’s soldiers constructed the huge siege ramp that enabled them to defeat the Lachish city 2,700...

Al-Aqiser Church, Disappears in the Depths of The Iraqi Desert

10 May 2021

10 May 2021

In a country that has been devastated by successive conflicts and economic crises, Al-Aqiser, like the numerous Christian, Islamic and...

Queen Kubaba: Some 4,500 years ago, a woman rose to power and reigned over one of the largest civilizations in ancient Mesopotamia

28 December 2023

28 December 2023

Is it possible to say who was the first queen in history? Given the size and diversity of human civilization,...

A new magnetic survey of the ancient Assyrian capital of Khorsabad has revealed a 127-room villa twice the size of the U.S. White House

26 December 2024

26 December 2024

Archaeologists in northern Iraq have conducted an extensive magnetic survey using an exhaustive magnetic survey at Khorsabad, once the ancient...

Ancient Hebrew “Incantation Bowls” discovered in a home in Israel

8 March 2022

8 March 2022

The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) said Monday that 1,500-year-old magical “incantation bowls” and other rare and ornate bone and ivory...

The Temple of Persian Water Goddess Anahita Discovered in Iraqi Kurdistan

8 March 2024

8 March 2024

Archaeologists excavating the Rabana-Merquly mountain fortress in what is present-day Iraqi Kurdistan suggest that it may also have served as...

4000-year-old boat salvaged near the ancient city of Uruk one of the most important cities in ancient Mesopotamia

6 April 2022

6 April 2022

A team of archaeologists from the Iraqi German Mission of the State Board of Antiquities and the Orient Department of...

Archaeologists Discovered Remarkably Preserved Shrines inside the Assyrian Temple of Ninurta, in Nimrud

29 December 2024

29 December 2024

Recent archaeological work in Nimrud, led by the Penn Museum in collaboration with Iraqi archaeologists, has uncovered two remarkably well-preserved...

Recent excavations at Girsu uncovered innovative civilization-saving technology of Ancient Sumerians

19 November 2023

19 November 2023

In ancient city Girsu, located near the modern city of Nasiriyah in southern Iraq, revealed through a recent excavation by...

Oldest known alphabet unearthed in ancient Syrian city -500 years older than thought

22 November 2024

22 November 2024

Johns Hopkins University researchers uncovered evidence of the oldest alphabetic writing in human history. The writing was etched onto finger-length...