EllaMegan

The Neo-Assyrian Empire was a warlike society with an expansionist ideology and, as a result of their constant expansion, they acquired a diverse and multi-ethnic empire. One Assyrian identity did not happen until, ironically, Ashurnasirpal II began deporting people from the empire. The majority of the displaced peoples were settled in the urban heart of the empire bringing with them what would become the common language: Aramaic, the first unifying factor.[1] The spreading of Aramaic is known as the Aramaization period and soon the new language would become the common language as well as the imperial language. As the people settled in the new land, they became exposed to Assyrian cultural ideas such as "royal ideologies, religious ideas and mythologies..." and it "was incessantly propagated to all segments of the population through imperial art, emperor cult, religious festivals, and the cults of Aššur, Ištar, Nabû, Sîn and other Assyrian gods."[2] This was a process known as "Assyrianization."[3] The process of Assyrianization was a gradual process that occurred through generations of intermarriages, military participation, and daily interaction with Assyrian people (those who weren't descended from the deportees generations earlier).[1] Through the generations of cultural and linguistic exchange there came to be a homogeneous Assyrian identity.

Eunuchs in Elite Society

A eunuch accompanying the king during a transfer of tribute.

Eunuchs carrying war loot

Traditionally, empires and cultures that embraced war and conquering as the Assyrians did, also come with defined traits of masculinity. However, at least within elite society, eunuchs subverted the traditionally masculine warrior image and held a substantial amount of power within the empire. Eunuchs often filled roles as servants to the kings and accompanied him in almost all aspects of ruling, such as administrative duties and rituals. During battles, eunuchs also accompanied and fought alongside the king with no distinction in warrior status. Royal eunuchs were also regularly promoted to being provincial governors and they could rule the lands as they please; they could "erect their own steles, place their names before that of the king’s, and grant zakatu (tax-free status) to their subjects." These were powers that were normally reserved for the king but the royal eunuchs were in such high standing, their power was on par to that of the king. As governors of their on lands, they had the right to declare war on other governances and collect any loot that may have resulted from the battles. While engaging in battles or helping the king with administrative duties, there was no distinction between eunuch or non-eunuch, other than the lack of beard all eunuchs have. In their uniform and clothing, they wore the same as intact males and oftentimes, eunuchs had more male privilege than non-eunuchs, as they were allowed in the most hypermasculine of places: the personal space of the king. Eunuchs, more than just warriors and servants, were also seen and used as protectors of women because they weren't a threat to a woman's honor. Eunuchs were an important part to elite society and, while they didn't have the traditionally masculine traits that were revered by the Assyrians (such as a beard), they still acted and were treated like every other male in the empire.

Language

Two tablets that record the sale of a female servant reveals how the Neo-Assyrian Empire incorporates Aramaic into as the the official language of the empire. Aramaic was the common language of the people and traders but the official government language was still in Akkadian (or a version of Akkadian just known as Assyrian). While the tablets are written in Aramaic, it is still written in an Akkadian format: on clay tablets versus the traditional papyrus for Aramaic texts. The medium used to write the document is traditionally Akkadian, it is written so that when it is read, it is read sideways, which is Aramaic in origin. The language of the tablets is also a mixture of Aramaic and Akkadian, just like the format, and this is called "Aramaic-Akkadian symbiosis." Because both languages and cultures are both prominent in the tablets, scholars have suggested that the tablets were probably written before Aramaic had become the dominant langauge of the empire.

Even though Aramaic was the common tongue of the empire, Akkadian continued to be the preferred language of royalty and the elites. Rulers, royalty, and elites were all trained to speak both Aramaic and Akkadian until, by the seventh century BC, the ruling class was fully billingual. The rest of the empire was divided into two sects: those who speak Aramaic and those who speak Akkadian. Generally, the common people and traders were also bilingual but Aramaic continued to dominate the empire outside of Assyria proper.