A gold cuneiform tablet discovered in Dur Sharukin
(900-600 BC) An example of the inscriptions found in the foundations of official buildings commemorating Sargon II's founding of the Neo-Assyrian capital at Dur-Sharukin. This tablet includes information about the king's royal title; Construction activities in the city, incl
palaces and temples; A curse against anyone who might destroy the king's property
Sargon II, king of Assyria from 722 - 705 BC. He was the son of Tiglath-Pileser III and the successor of his brother Shalmaneser V. Before his inscriptions were discovered and their symbols were deciphered, some scholars confused him with his predecessor, Shalmaneser V (who was mistakenly considered to be IV). Others also confused him with his son, Sennacherib. But in 1843 AD, Paul Emile Botta - the French consul in Mosul, Iraq - began excavating in Khorsabad, which was proven to be the ancient city of “Dur Sharukin” (meaning “Sargon’s Castle”), which is located some distance away. Twelve miles northeast of Mosul, on the west bank of the Tigris, opposite the ruins of Nineveh. The excavation resulted in the discovery of Sargon II's palace. Thus, he paved the way for revealing the history of Sargon himself and giving him his rightful place in history. The area on which the palace is based is about 25 acres. The palace itself is the best preserved of the Assyrian royal palaces, and it stands above the city walls. It contained more than two hundred rooms and thirty courtyards. The walls were very decorated and beautifully carved.
In 717 BC, King Sargon II laid the foundations of the new capital, Dor Sharukin (i.e. Sargon's Fortress). He built a luxurious palace surrounded by a wall on a terrace along the city walls. This castle contained an area of temples and residences for important figures. This project was completed within 10 years, during which a workforce was mobilized from all regions of Assyria.
Current location of the Louvre Museum
Source: websites