Join our Community
Support ToI and remove all ads
Learn more
×

Assyrian

Ido Koch holds a 2,600-year-old seal found at Tel Hadid in 2019 (Courtesy/Ido Koch)
June 18, 2026, 11:15 am
Rare mother-of-pearl seal highlights movement of goods and ideas across Assyrian empire
2,600-year-old shell, used for a tiny seal stamped with an Assyrian-era religious symbol, originated in the Indo-Pacific. How did it reach the Holy Land?
By Zev Stub
An aerial view of the Ein Hatzeva archaeological site south of the Dead Sea in an undated picture. A new study published in the journal Levant on April 27, 2026, suggests that the ancient fortress at the site was built by the biblical kingdom of Israel in the first half of the 8th century BCE and not by the Assyrian empire as previously thought. (Asaf Peretz/ Israel Antiquities Authority)
May 16, 2026, 7:51 am
How ancient seeds are rewriting the history of biblical-era trade with Arabia
New radiocarbon dating of Ein Hatzeva fortress on ancient trade route in the Arava suggests it was built 2,800 years ago by the Kingdom of Israel, shoring up Bible’s account
By Rossella Tercatin
Illustration of a rendering of slab 28 of the Southwest Palace in Nineveh (modern Mosul), Iraq, showing a city that research says may be Jerusalem, superimposed on a picture of the slab taken in 1990 by John Russell. (Trustees of the British Museum, John Russell; Illustration by Times of Israel staff)
January 25, 2026, 4:14 pm
Smashed by ISIS, a 2,700-year-old carving may have been the earliest-known depiction of Jerusalem
New research suggests a long-overlooked bas-relief in King Sennacherib’s palace in modern-day Mosul, Iraq, destroyed with other priceless artifacts, showed the Temple Mount and Bible’s King Hezekiah
By Rossella Tercatin
A 2,700-year-old tomb featuring a trove of ornate artifacts was uncovered at the Horvat Tevet site in the Jezreel Valley (northern Israel), as announced in a study published in the journal Tel Aviv in October 2025. (Rachel Lundeman - Courtesy of Omer Sergi and Karen Covello-Paran/Horvat Tevet Expedition)
December 18, 2025, 4:36 pm
Unearthed in last-ditch dig, one-of-a-kind tomb offers glimpse of Assyrian rule over Israel
Newly published findings from salvage dig near Afula detail discovery of burial pits where high official’s remains may have been interred along with dozens of opulent and rare artifacts
By Rossella Tercatin
An ivory plaque decorated with a lotus flower from the First Temple period (1200-586 BCE) unearthed in excavations by the Israel Antiquities Authority and Tel Aviv University at the Givati Parking Lot in the City of David in Jerusalem, in a discovery announced on September 5, 2022. (Yaniv Berman/Israel Antiquities Authority)
November 8, 2025, 10:01 am
‘A millennium-long monopoly’: How biblical Israel imported a steady flow of African ivory
Analysis of 1,500 artifacts shows imports from Nubia between 1600-600 BCE, a trade network that endured from Canaanite times to the era of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah
By Rossella Tercatin
Dr. Ayala Zilberstein, excavation director at the Davidson Archaeological Park in Jerusalem on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority, holds a 2,700-year-old pottery fragment bearing the first-ever Assyrian inscription found in the city. The discovery was announced on October 22, 2025. (Emil Aladjem/Israel Antiquities Authority)
October 22, 2025, 3:16 pm
Biblical tax notice: 1st-ever Assyrian inscription found near Jerusalem’s Temple Mount
2,700-year-old fragment of pottery suggests Judeans delayed paying their tributes to the empire, echoing the events described in the book of II Kings
By Rossella Tercatin
A jug handle stamp impression showing that the contects beloged to the Kingdom of Judah administration, found at an 8th century BCE site in Jerusalem. (courtesy IAA)
October 10, 2024, 4:12 pm
The taxman cometh: Jerusalem dig shows tribute system after biblical revolt against Assyria
Remains of buildings and a collection of stamped jar handles for the first time offer clues to how agricultural produce in the Jerusalem area was distributed to the empire
By Gavriel Fiske
Rare First Temple-era seal found in Jerusalem, in an image released on August 29, 2023. (Emil Aladjem/IAA)
August 29, 2024, 11:43 am
‘Extremely rare, beautiful’ First Temple-era ‘genie’ seal discovered in Jerusalem
2,700-year-old stone seal is inscribed with the words ‘Yehoʼezer son of Hoshʼayahu’; its image of a protective winged demon or genie betrays Assyrian influence
By Gavriel Fiske
New South Wales police guard the perimeter of the Christ the Good Shepherd Church in Sydney's western suburb of Wakeley after several people were stabbed in the church premises, on April 15, 2024 (David Gray/AFP)
April 15, 2024, 5:28 pm
Four injured in stabbing attack at Assyrian church in Australia, man arrested
Incident occurs during live-streamed service in Sydney suburb central to small Christian community that fled war in Iraq and Syria; second stabbing to rock city in days
By Agencies
An undated photo of the Assyrian ramp at Lachish, constructed using 3 million stones. (Yosef Garfinkel/courtesy)
November 9, 2021, 6:53 am
How Lachish fell: Study reconstructs Assyrian onslaught almost 3,000 years ago
Israeli, US researchers suggest powerful army quarried and transported 3 million stones in just weeks to build a ramp for battering rams to breach the hilltop stronghold in 701 BCE
By Michael Bachner
IDF soldiers take part in a large-scale exercise 'Lethal Arrow' simulating war in the north in October 2020. (Israel Defense Forces)
October 29, 2020, 6:01 pm
With massive exercise in north, IDF prepares for war on multiple fronts
Lethal Arrow drill simulates fighting in Lebanon, Syria, Gaza and elsewhere against Iranian proxies and Palestinian terror groups
By Judah Ari Gross
Members of the Khabour Guards (MNK) Assyrian Syrian militia, affiliated with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), walk in the ruins of the Assyrian Church of the Virgin Mary, which was previously destroyed by Islamic State (IS) group fighters, in the village of Tal Nasri south of the town of Tal Tamr in Syria's northeastern Hasakah province on November 15, 2019. (Delil souleiman / AFP)
November 19, 2019, 10:54 am
In northeast Syria, last Assyrians fear Turkish advance
Just 1,000 of 20,000 members of Christian minority remain in Syria after Islamic State invasion; now, the remnants of the community fear being ‘pushed into exile’
By Delil Souleiman
In this April 1, 2018 photo, Assyrian Christian dancers wear their traditional costumes, as they celebrate Easter and the Assyrian New Year, or Akitu, in the village of Tal Arboush, northern Syria. They were snatching joy out of a sober surrounding. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)
April 3, 2018, 11:36 am
Syria’s tiny Assyrian community celebrates its survival
Bittersweet new year celebrations take place in one of more than 30 villages by the Khabur River destroyed by Islamic State
By Sarah El Deeb
A 4,000-year-old Assyrian tablet is the first evidence of surrogacy in infertility. (Istanbul Archaeology Museum)
November 12, 2017, 9:05 pm
4,000-year-old prenup pushes for surrogacy in case of infertility
Cuneiform tablet calls for a contractual sex slave to be freed after a son’s birth — and would have prevented the bitter rivalry between biblical Hagar and Sarah
By Amanda Borschel-Dan
Artifacts on display at the Morgan Library and Museum in New York in the 'Noah’s Beasts: Sculpted Animals from Ancient Mesopotamia' exhibit. (Courtesy)
June 26, 2017, 2:59 am
In NY, a wild exhibit on biblical Noah’s feral seafarers
Flood myths were common in the Fertile Crescent 5,000 years ago — and the Morgan Library and Museum has the artifacts to prove it
By Cathryn J. Prince
Load More
Sign in or Join The Times of Israel Community
Paying ToI Community members are invited to comment on articles
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Or Continue with
By joining you agree to the terms and conditions
Register to continue
Or Continue with
Log in to continue
Sign in or Join The Times of Israel Community
Only ToI Community members can comment below articles
Forgot your password? / Send me a login link
Or Continue with
check your email
Check your email
We sent an email to you at .
It has a link that will sign you in.
Join The Times of Israel Community
Commenting is available for paying members of The Times of Israel Community only. Please join our Community to comment and enjoy other Community benefits.
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Confirm Mail
Thank you! Now check your email
You are now a member of The Times of Israel Community! We sent you an email with a login link to . Once you're set up, you can start enjoying Community benefits and commenting.
Back to top
Never miss breaking news on Israel
Get notifications to stay updated
You're subscribed
image
Register for free
and continue reading
Registering allows you to manage your newsletters and alerts and helps us improve your experience. It takes just a few seconds.
Already registered? Enter your email to sign in.
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Or Continue with
By registering you agree to the terms and conditions. Once registered, you’ll receive our Daily Edition email for free.
Register to continue
Or Continue with
Log in to continue
Sign in or Register
I forgot my password / Send me a sign in link
Or Continue with
check your email
Check your email
We sent an email to you at .
It has a link that will sign you in.