The Assyrians Courage

The Assyrians

The Assyrians expanded their empire by military conquest. This was different from the Phoenicians who influenced the Middle East by a primative form of economic imperialism. The Assyrians were the first to use the power of technological improvement to dominate another culture. They cast bronze into weapons of war. This distinct technological breakthrough gave the Assyrians an insurmountable technological advantage. It can be compared to the impact that the cannon had on castles in the feudal ages. Before the cannon castles were built and, after the cannon no more castles were erected because the cannon rendered them meaningless.

The technological breakthrough of casting bronze gave Assyria a superior weapons advantage. They used their advantage for conquest. We could of course call the glory and pride associated with these victories a vice instead of a virtue. But, the silver lining of a vice usually contains at least one virtue.

The Assyrians were a courageous people. It takes courage to expand your borders and expose your culture to other people. Two elements of courage are strength and initiative. These elements are important to anyone who will be starting a new project or venture. Courage can also be used to protect as well as conquer. For example, the virtue of loyalty is tied to courage when we use it to protect. Courage is a great amplifier of virtue. As an adjective we can place it beside most other virtues to amplify the power of Assyrian conquest into that virtue. The word courage is a noun and our first adjective in the language of virtue.

Izdubar slays the Midannu, Heabani declares Izdubar to be a god - Alcove 1, Tablet 3: Column 6
Taken from ...Epic of Ishtar and Izdubar Text Source: Library collection: "World's Greatest Literature" Published work: "Babylonian and Assyrian Literature" Translator: Leonidas Le Cenci Hamilton, M.A. Publisher: P. F. Collier & Son, New York Copyright: Colonial Press, 1901

The guests are seated round the festal board; Heabani takes his seat beside his lord. The choicest viands of the wealthy plain Before them placed and fishes of the main, With wines and cordials, juices rich and rare The chieftains all enjoy - the royal fare. This day, with Izdubar they laugh and joke 'Mid courtesies and mirth, and oft provoke The ringing merry laughter through the halls. When all are satisfied within the walls, Their fill have eaten of the royal fare, With wine they banish from them every care. The Su-khu-li[l7] with tinkling bells proclaim, "Our Sar would speak! Our king of mighty fame. Who says: "My chieftains, lords, our seer requests A test of strength before assembled guests; Unarmed requires your Sar-dan-nu to slay The Mid-an-nu[18] which he hath brought to-day. So stand aside, my friends, behold the test! Your Sar will satisfy his seer and guest." The monster now is brought before the king, Heabani him unchains to let him spring Upon the giant king. His chieftains stand In terror looking at their monarch grand, Who smiling stands, his eyes on the beast fixed; While they in wildest terror are transfixed. Heabani claps his hands towards the king, And the wild beast upon his form doth spring. The giant grasps its throat in high mid-air, [19]And holds it 'neath his arm without a fear. With sullen choking roars it struggling dies, While shouts of joy from all the guests arise. The mighty deed of strength the seer appals, And at the feet of Izdubar he falls: "Immortal king! illustrious of men! Thy glorious strength reveals the gods again On earth. To thee I bow in reverent fear, A god returned thou art! O Erech, hear! Of kingdoms thou art blessed with grandest fame, That thou among thy kings a god can name." Again they gathered round the festal board, And joy and revelry they soon restored. The revels high are raised o'er sparkling wine; Through all the night they praise their king divine.