Being there . . . . relaxed, comfortable, and, in your hands, reading one of this year’s most
mesmerizing, lavishily illustrated photo studies, the ancient Assyrian war state, the most
dynamic military power the Ancient Near East had yet known between the end of the 10 th
Century to the 7 th Century BC. Drawing upon his significant research and utilizing the fantastic
Assyrian collections of museums around the world, renowned author Mark Healy, one of the
world’s three foremost Assyriologists, and the author of the popular “Warriors of the Old
Testament” (1990, Firebird), has provided us a much clearer picture and better understanding
of the Assyrians, who included Babylonian Semites. We learn, via Mark’s detailed and
comprehensive thesis, how these Assyrians were derived from an ancient Semitic race forming
the Neo-Assyrian Empire. In two main section, Part One, “The Empire”, he chronicles how for
over 300 years the Assyrians dominated the vast middle East area with unique governing
strategies, “modern” moveable battle weapons, and inordinately brave warriors. Mark’s 30
years of serious scholarship on the Assyrian language, military, and various antiquities are of
enormous help in appreciating and now honestly respecting the least valued, but mightiest,
of all the worlds smaller battle kingdoms and monarchies.
“THE ANCIENT ASSYRIANS – Empire and Army, 883 – 612 BC”, by Mark Healy. Osprey
Publishing, Bloomsbury Plc: 2023, 320 pages, 9 7/8” x 7 7/8”, hardcover, $45, on sale, 08/8/23.
See, www.ospreypublishing.com; Email, info@ospreypublishing.com.

“Ashurbanipal, the great king, the mighty, king of the universe, king of Assyria, king of the four
regions of the world, king of kings, unrivalled prince, who, at the command of the gods, his
allies, holds sway from the Upper to Lower Sea and has brought into submission all rulers; son
of Esarhaddon, the great king, the mighty king, king of the universe, king of Assyria, viceroy of
Babylon, king of Sumer and Akkad . . . grandson of Sennacherib, the great king, king of the
universe, king of Assyria, am I.” Ashurbanipal 668? – 627 BC
Assyria was the first world empire, the progenitor of all others, and it ruled from the
Mediterranean coast in the north-west to the Persian Gulf, from Media in the north-east to
Lower Egypt in the south-west. The instrument that secured such immense conquests was the
Assyrian Army, one of the most effective and terrifying pre-classical forces. It was not only
responsible for subjugation of the independent city-states of the Near East, but it also oversaw
the creation of history’s first independent cavalry arm as well as the development of siege
weapons later used by both Greece and Rome. Brilliantly, Mark explains all this in great detail –
a narrative so easy to follow, one doesn’t want the photo-history to end, while awaiting Volume
2.
The rediscovery and excavation of the Assyrian civilization in the mid-19 th century provided a
great deal of visual evidence showing how this army evolved over three centuries. The recovery
of wall reliefs and artefacts, coupled with the enormous amount of research carried out by
Assyriologists since that time, has revealed the immense impact of the Assyrian Empire on
history. Such has been the scale of archaeological discovery in more recent years that it is now
possible to give the actual names of the commanders of cavalry and chariot unit.

Mark has an academic background in theology, philosophy, and politics. Since his equally
readable, “Warriors of the Old Testament”, he has written extensively on both ancient and
modern military history subjects. His titles include works on Ancient Egypt. Assyria and Rome,
all for Osprey. Us World War II buffs know his War in Europe titles well since they all sit
prominently on our personal library shelves. In addition, this good man has scripted and edited
some 30 films on German armor, U-boats, and the Luftwaffe. Although now retired, he has
taught for over 30 years.