Assur (also known as Ashur) was the supreme god of the Assyrians.

What did Assur look like?

Assur's iconography depicts him as a crown, a crown on a throne, or an archer within a winged disc.

Why is Assur important?

Assur is important because he became the supreme deity of the Assyrian Empire and belief in him was nearly monotheistic. As the empire spread, this semi-monotheism did as well, influencing other cultures.

When was Assur worshipped?

Assur was worshipped from at least c. 2047 BCE until 612 BCE when the Assyrian Empire fell.

Assur

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Definition

Assur (also Ashur, Anshar) is the god of the Assyrians who was elevated from a local deity of the city of Ashur to the supreme god of the Assyrian pantheon. His attributes were drawn from earlier Sumerian and Babylonian deities and so he was, at once, a god of war, wisdom, justice, agriculture, and kingship among others.

More about: Assur

Timeline

2047 BCE - 1750 BCE
Assur is first attested to during the Ur III Period of Mesopotamian History.
c. 1900 BCE
Assur credited as patron god of the City of Ashur in Mesopotamia.
1792 BCE - 1750 BCE
Worship of Assur overshadowed by Marduk during the reign of Hammurabi of Babylon.
c. 1300 BCE - c. 612 BCE
Assur is recognized as the supreme god of the Assyrians who legitimizes their empire in Mesopotamia and beyond.