History of Assyria

Abydenus or Abydenos () was a Greek historian who wrote a history of Assyria and Babylonia entitled On the Assyrians. Only some fragments are preserved by Eusebius in his Praeparatio Evangelica and the Armenian translation of his Chronicon; by Cyril of Alexandria in his work against the Emperor Julian; and by George Syncellus.

mesopotamian writings, 23rd–6th century BC

thumb|Detail. Stele of Shamsh-bel-usur, limmu of the years 864 and 851 BCE. From Assur, Iraq. Pergamon Museum

thumb|Rabshakeh illustration, by William Brassey Hole Rabshakeh (Akkadian: 𒃲𒁉𒈜𒈨𒌍 rab šāqê [GAL.BI.LUL.MEŠ]; ; Rapsakēs; ; ; alternative spellings include Rab-shakeh, Rabsaces, or Rab shaqe) is a title meaning "chief of the princes/cup-bearers" in the Semitic Akkadian and Aramaic languages. The title was given to the chief cup-bearer or the vizier of the Akkadian, Assyrian and Babylonian royal courts in ancient Mesopotamia, and revived by the Assyrians as a military rank during World War I.

"Turtanu" or "Turtan" (Akkadian: 𒌉𒋫𒉡 tur-ta-nu; tartān; ; ; tartan) is an Akkadian word/title meaning 'commander in chief' or 'prime minister'. In Assyria, the Turtanu ranked next to the king.

history of Assyrian civilization of Mesopotamia between 2500 BCE and 2025 BCE