“In the year that Tartan came unto Ashdod, when Sargon the king of Assyria sent him, and fought against
Ashdod, and took it.” - Isaiah 20:1
Sargon II The King of Assyria - Isaiah 20:1
The case of Sargon provides a good illustration of the value of archaeology in relation to the Bible. Sargon is
one of the forgotten persons who has been brought to life by the archaeological pick, and he provides a
great illustration of the historical trustworthiness of the Bible.
The Palace of Sargon II of Assyria
James Orr commented in 1906, "Ancient writers knew nothing of him (Sargon). He was a mystery: some
did not hesitate to deny that he ever existed.” Late in his reign Sargon built a new capital city, which he
called Dur-Sharrukin ('the fortress of Sargon'), known today as Khorsabad. Among the buildings was a
magnificently sculptured palace, which was discovered by the French archaeologist Paul-Emile Botta
between 1842 and 1844. The British Museum has numerous artifacts depicting Sargon including the
“Sargon Vase” which contains an inscription with his name on it. The Oriental Institute of the University of
Chicago contains information and photographs of the early excavations of Sargon’s palace.
Sargon Brick Inscription
The Vatican Museum’s collection includes an inscribed brick from Sargon’s palace in Khorsabad. The
inscription celebrates the construction of the city and of the palace:
"Sargon, king of the universe, built this city: Dûr-Sharrûkin ("The fortress of Sargon") is it's name; inside it he
had this unrivalled Palace built.” - Sargon Brick Inscription
The Annals of Sargon
A clay prism that contains Assyrian inscriptions in cuneiform writing that validates the Biblical account
regarding the capture and deportation of the northern kingdom of Israel in 722 BC. The inscriptions record
the 8th campaign of Sargon II in Syria and the revolts in Samaria, the capital of northern Israel, before and
after Sargon’s campaigns. The Assyrian inscriptions also record king Sargon’s boasting, "I besieged and
captured Samaria, and carried off 27,290 of its inhabitants" (2 Kings 17:5-6). This cuneiform tablet now
resides in the Louvre Museum in Paris.
Battle of Ashdod
Sargon’s Annals confirm the Biblical record of the Assyrians attacking the city of Ashdod. The following
inscriptions are documented in the book The Ancient Near East, Volume 1: An Anthology of Texts and
Pictures (Princeton University Press)
“This is the property of Sargon, King of Assyria, conqueror of Samaria and of the entire country of Israel
(Bit-Hu-um-ri-a) who despoiled Ashdod and Shinuhti, who caught the Greeks who live on islands in the
sea"- Sargon Fall of Samaria Inscription
"Iamani from Ashdod, afraid of my armed force, left his wife and children and fled to the frontier"
"I beseiged and conquered the cities of Ashdod and Gath"
Biblical Archaeology Study Notes for the Book of Isaiah Provided by: BibleIsaiah.com
Sargon Vase. A cuneiform inscription on
the vase reads: “Palace of Sargon King of
Assyria”. The inscription is accompanied by
an engraving of a lion. The lion is a common
symbol that is often depicted with kings of
the ancient Assyrian empire.
Winged bull statues from the palace of Sargon II on display inside the British Museum.