The Hexagonal Prism of Sennacherib, (The Taylor Prism).

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Cylinder of Sennacherib, king of Assyria, about 705-681bce.
One of the finest & most perfect objects of its class ever discovered.
Its importance as an historical document can hardly be overrated.
It contains 487 lines of closely written cuniform text & was inscribed in the eponymy of Bel-murranni, prefect of Karkemish, c. 691 BCE.
The text records eight expeditions of Sennacherib.

1. The defeat of Merodach-baladan, king of Babylon, & the sack of the city.
2. The conquest of Ellipi & subjugation of the Medes.
3. An invasion of Judah & siege of Jerusalem.
4. A second campaign against Merodach-baladan, who was deposed in favour of Sennacherib's son Assur-nadin-shum.
5. A campaign in the countries to the north-west of Assyria.
6. An expedition to the Persian Gulf & the defeat of the Elamites.
7. A final expedition to Elam & the conquest of the allied Babylonians & Elamites.

Illustration: "The Illustrated Bible Dictionary",
Inter-Varsity Press, 1980.
Taylor Prism: British Museum.

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