Nineveh: Prism of Sennacherib

This six-sided prism of baked clay preserves the annals of Sennacherib, who was the king of Assyria from 704-681 BCE. It was written around 689 BCE in the Akkadian language (and cuneiform script). The text contains the records of Sennacherib's eight military campaigns, and includes a reference to the campaign against Hezekiah, king of Judah, in order to reclaim the tribute that he owed to Assyria. Sennacherib's attack on Jerusalem and Judah is preserved in the biblical books of 2 Kings (18:13ff) and Isaiah (36:1ff). According to the Prism, Sennacherib's campaign against Hezekiah led to his submission; according to 2 Kings 19:8ff, the mission was without success.