ancient kingdom of Asia, concerning the commencement, duration, and extent of which historians are not agreed. Ctesias and Diodorus Siculus describe the Assyrian monarchy, under Ninus and Semiramis, as of very great extent; but the silence of Homer, and the brief statements of Herodotus, are not easily reconciled with this opinion; and there is no mention of the greatness of Assyria in the history of the judges and succeeding kings of Israel, though during that period the latter kingdom was oppressed and enslaved by different powers. According to Ptolemy, Assyria was bounded on the north by Armenia Major, on the west by the Tigris, on the south by Susiana, and on the east by Media; but the name is generally used in a more comprehensive sense, so as to include Mesopotamia, and sometimes even Babylonia and Chaldea. The most common account of the origin and revolutions of the Assyrian monarchy is the following:—The founder of it was Ashur, the second son of Shem, who, removing out of Shinar, either by the appointment of Nimrod or to elude the fury of a tyrant, conducted a large body of adventurers into Assyria, and laid the foundation of Nineveh (Gen. x. 11). These events happened not long after Nimrod had established the Chaldean monarchy, and fixed his residence at Babylon. The Persian historians suppose that the kings of Persia of the first dynasty were the same with the kings of Assyria, of whom Zohab or Nimrod was the founder of Babel. It does not, however, appear that Nimrod reigned in Assyria. The kingdoms of Assyria, Babylon and Assyria were originally distinct and separate (Micah v. 6); and in this state they remained until Ninus conquered Babylon and made it tributary to the Assyrian empire. Ninus, the successor of Ashur (Gen. x. II. Diod. Sic. lib. I.), seized on Chaldea after the death of Nimrod, and united the kingdoms of Assyria and Babylon. This great prince is said to have subdued Asia, Persia, Media, Egypt, and other countries. If he did so, the effects of his conquests were of no duration; for in the days of Abraham we do not find that any of the neighbouring kingdoms were subject to Assyria. He was succeeded by Semiramis, a princess of a heroic mind; bold, enterprising, fortunate; but of whom many fabulous things have been recorded. It appears, however, that there were two princesses of the same name, who flourished at very different periods. Whether there was an uninterrupted series of kings from Ninus to Sardanapalus or not, is still a question. Some suspicion has arisen that the list which Ctesias has given of the Assyrian kings is not genuine; for many names in it are of Persian, Egyptian, and Grecian extraction. Nothing memorable has been recorded concerning the successors of Ninus and Semiramis. Of that effeminate race of princes it is barely said that they ascended the throne, lived in indolence, and died in their palace at Nineveh. Diodorus (lib. ii.) relates, that, in the reign of Teutames, the Assyrians, solicited by Priam their vassal, sent to the Trojans a supply of 20,000 foot and 200 chariots, under the command of Memnon, son of Tithonus president of Persia. But the truth of his relation is rendered more than doubtful by the accounts of other writers. Sardanapalus was the last of the ancient Assyrian kings. Contemning his indolent and voluptuous course of life, Arbaces, governor of Media, withdrew his allegiance, and rose up in rebellion against him. He was encouraged in this revolt by the advice and assistance of Belesis, a Chaldean priest, who engaged the Babylonians to follow the example of the Medes. These powerful provinces, aided by the Persians and other allies, who despised the effeminacy or dreaded the tyranny of their Assyrian lords, attacked the empire on all sides. Their most vigorous efforts were in the beginning unsuccessful. Firm and determined, however, in their opposition, they at length prevailed, defeated the Assyrian army, besieged Sardanapalus in his capital, which they demolished, and became masters of the empire, n. c. 821.

After the death of Sardanapalus the Assyrian empire was divided into three kingdoms, viz. the Median, Assyrian, and Babylonian. Arbaces retained the supreme power and authority, and fixed his residence at Ecbatana, in Media. He nominated governors in Assyria and Babylon, who were honoured with the title of kings, while they remained subject and tributary to the Median monarchs. Belesis received the government of Babylon as the reward of his services, and Pul was intrusted with that of Assyria. The Assyrian governor gradually enlarged the boundaries of his kingdom. He invaded Israel, and compelled the usurper Menahem to relinquish the independence of his kingdom, and pay 1000 talents of silver. It is probable that other nations submitted to the power of his arms. The Syrians were either propitiated by an alliance, or reduced by compulsion, to allow his army to cross their country on his invasion of Israel, for through it he must have marched. On Nabonasser he bestowed the sovereignty of Babylon, and left his elder son Tiglathpileser heir of his Assyrian dominions. This prince also invaded Israel, and carried more than one of the ten tribes captive to Assyria. The dominions of Ahaz king of Judah being invaded by the confederate hosts of the kings of Israel and Syria, that prince despoiled the temple of