Ashur


 * The main deity of Assyria was the sun-god Ashur, who was conceived as far more abstract, less mythical, than the Babylonia Marduk. Assyrian Monarchs fought for his glory.**

Under Sargon’s successor [|Sennacherib], deliberate and thorough attempts were made to transfer to Ashur the primeval achievements of [|Marduk], as well as the whole ritual of the [|New Year festival] of Babylon—attempts that clearly have their background in the political struggle going on at that time between Babylonia and Assyria. As a consequence, the image of Ashur seems to lack all real distinctiveness and contains little that is not implied in his position as the city god of a vigorous and warlike city that became the capital of an empire. The Assyrians believed that he granted rule over Assyria and supported Assyrian arms against enemies; detailed written reports from the Assyrian kings about their campaigns were even submitted to him. The symbols of Ashur include
 * 1) a [|winged disc] with horns, enclosing four circles revolving round a middle circle; rippling rays fall down from either side of the disc;
 * 2) a circle or wheel, suspended from wings, and enclosing a warrior drawing his bow to discharge an arrow;
 * 3) the same circle; the warrior's bow, however, is carried in his left hand, while the right hand is uplifted as if to bless his worshippers (see picture above).