The Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III (2024)

The Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III is a stone monument that celebrates thirty-one successful years of military campaigns by king Shalmaneser III and his chief minister, Dayyan-Aššur. It was erected in 825 BC in a courtyard of a central building in Kalhu. Carved into its four faces are scenes showing king Shalmaneser III receiving tributeTT from vassalTT subjects across the Assyrian empire. After its rediscovery in 1846, the Obelisk became a museum object in London, and gained fame for depicting an Israelite king mentioned in the Christian Bible.

Image 1: The Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III, carved with scenes celebrating the achievements of the Assyrian king and his chief minister; 825 BC. British Museum, BM 118885 [http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=367012&partId=1]. View information and large image on the British Museum's website. © The Trustees of the British Museum.

The Black Obelisk (Image 1) is a monument (or stelaTT) carved from black limestone, which stands just under two metres high. It has four sides, each 45 cm wide. The top is stepped as though shaped like a zigguratTT with four sloping stages. The significance of this shape is unknown, but it does seem to be standard for Assyrian obelisksTT. The White Obelisk of Assurnasirpal I found by Hormuzd Rassam at Nineveh shares this shape.

The function of obelisks is not certain, but judging from its four faces, and its findspotTT, it is reasonable to conclude that it was designed for public display. The Black Obelisk (Image 1) was erected in a courtyard outside a large building in the centre of Kalhu, now known as the "Central Building", which is thought to be one of the temples listed in Assurnasirpal II's Standard Inscription (1). At the time of the stela'sTT erection, Kalhu was the capital of an Assyrian empire torn apart by civil war, so maybe it was intended to remind the king's retinue of the extent of his authority and rule.

Acts of tribute to the Assyrian king

Five scenes wrap around the Obelisk. They each depict tributeTT exacted from a vassalTT, who is named in a cuneiformTT caption. The tribute includes exotic animals such as camels, monkeys, an elephant and a rhinoceros. Assyrian kings often collected exotic animals and plants as an expression of their power. It is thought that the vassals shown here are chosen to demonstrate the geographical bounds of the empire, from east to west. The Black Obelisk also has a longer inscription, which tells of Shalmaneser's achievements in more detail (2).

The five tribute scenes as they wrap around the monument are as follows, from top to bottom:

Scene 1: Shalmaneser receives tribute from Sua of Gilzanu

Scene 2: Shalmaneser receives tribute from Iaua (Jehu) of the House of Omri (ancient northern Israel)

Detail from Scene 2, Side A of the Black Obelisk. A vassal subject named IauaPGP (known in the Bible as king Jehu of IsraelPGP) crouches in a pose of tribute at king Shalmaneser III's feet. View high-quality large image of Scene 2 (1.7 MB). © The Trustees of the British Museum.

"I received tribute from Iaua, son of Omri: silver, gold, a golden bowl, a golden tureen, golden pails, tin, the staffs 'of the king's hand' and a spear."

Side A: Shalmaneser, beneath a parasolTT, accepts the "tribute of IauaPGP of the House of Omri" in 841 BC. This is king Jehu of IsraelPGP, who appears in the Bible (2 Kings 9-10).
Side B: Two Assyrian officials and three tribute-bearers from Israel with "silver, gold ... gold vessels ... tin ...".
Side C: Five more tribute-bearers from Israel with "a gold bowl, a golden tureen, gold vessels, gold pails, tin, the 'staffs of the king's hand' (and) spears".
Side D: Five tribute-bearers from Israel with "silver, gold, a gold bowl, a gold tureen, gold vessels, gold pails (and) tin".

View high-quality large image of Scene 2 from the Obelisk (1.7 MB).

Scene 3: A parade of exotic animals from Muṣri

Detail from Scene 3, Side D of the Black Obelisk. A monkey or ape from MuṣriPGP? This strange-looking humanoid figure, chained by its leg and restrained by a keeper, is described as one of the "female monkeys and apes" brought as tribute to Shalmaneser from the country of Muṣri. View high-quality large image of Scene 3 (1.6 MB). © The Trustees of the British Museum.

"I received tribute from Muṣri: two-humped camels, a water buffaloTT, a rhinoceros, an antelope, female elephants, female monkeys and apes."

Side A: Attendants bring "tribute from Muṣri: two-humped camels". Muṣri, meaning 'borderland', probably refers to a country far to the east.
Side B: Exotic animals from Muṣri: "a river-ox [water-buffalo], an [Indian] rhinoceros (and) an antelope". The sculptor seems never to have seen a rhinoceros.
Side C: "Female [Indian] elephants, female monkeys (and) apes" from Muṣri.
Side D: More "monkeys" and their keepers from Muṣri. The way the monkeys are carved suggests that the sculptor had not seen them himself. This may not be the case, however. Monkeys were not new sights for the Assyrian court at this time.

View high-quality large image of Scene 3 from the Obelisk (1.6 MB).

Scene 4: Marduk-apla-uṣur the Suhean sends animals and other tribute

Detail from Scene 4, Side A of the Black Obelisk. A roaring big cat, given as tribute to Shalmaneser III by Marduk-apla-uṣurPGP from SuhuPGP (on the Middle Euphrates). View high-quality large image of Scene 4 (1.7 MB). © The Trustees of the British Museum.

"I received tribute from Marduk-apla-uṣurPGP, the SuheanPGP: silver, gold, pails, ivoryTT, spears, byssusTT, garments with multi-coloured trim and linen."

Side A: Lions and a stag from "Marduk-apla-uṣurPGP the SuheanPGP", probably for the royal hunting park.
Side B: Four tribute-bearers from Suhu with "silver, gold... byssus, garments with multi-coloured trim and linen [garments]".
Side C: Five tribute-bearers with "silver, gold, gold pails, ivory [tusks] (and) spears" from Suhu.
Side D: Four tribute-bearers with "silver, gold, gold pails, ivory [tusks] (and) spears" from Suhu.

View high-quality large image of Scene 4 from the Obelisk (1.7 MB).

Scene 5: Qarparunda the Patinean sends precious metals, ivory and ebony

Detail from Scene 5, Side A of the Black Obelisk. A bearded man from PatinaPGP carries a large basket or bowl on his head, as tribute for king Shalmaneser III. View high-quality large image of Scene 5 (1.8 MB). © The Trustees of the British Museum.

"I received tribute from QarparundaPGP the PatineanPGP: silver, gold, tin, bronze compound, bronze cauldrons, ivory and ebony."

Side A: "Tribute from Qarparunda the Patinean: silver, gold, tin, 'fast' bronze ... ivory [tusks] (and) ebony".
Side B: Two Assyrian officials introduce three tribute-bearers from PatinaPGP.
Side C: Five tribute-bearers with "gold and silver" vessels and a "bronze cauldron" from Patina.
Side D: Four tribute-bearers with "gold and silver" vessels and a "bronze cauldron" from Patina.

View high-quality large image of Scene 5 from the Obelisk (1.8 MB).

Content last modified: 18 Dec 2019.
nimrud at oracc dot org

Jonathan Taylor, 'The Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III', Nimrud: Materialities of Assyrian Knowledge Production, The Nimrud Project at Oracc.org, 2019 [http://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/nimrud/livesofobjects/blackobelisk/]