Chapter 3

_PHOENICIA AND THE NORTHERN NATIONS AFTER THE DEATH OP RAMSES III.--THE FIRST ASSYRIAN EMPIRE: TIGLATH-PILESUR I.--THE ARAMÆANS AND THE KHÂTI._

_The continuance of Egyptian influence over Syrian civilization after the death of Ramses III.--Egyptian myths in Phoenicia: Osiris and Isis at Byblos--Horus, Thot, and the origin of the Egyptian alphabet--The tombs at Arvad and the Kabr-Hiram; Egyptian designs in Phoenician glass and goldsmiths’work--Commerce with Egypt, the withdrawal of Phoenician colonies in the Ægean Sea and the Achæans in Cyprus; maritime expeditions in the Western Mediterranean._

_Northern Syria: the decadence of the Hittites and the steady growth of the Aramæan tribes--The decline of the Babylonian empire under the Cossæan kings, and its relations with Egypt: Assuruballit, Bammdn-nirdri I. and the first Assyrian conquests--Assyria, its climate, provinces, and cities: the god Assur and his Ishtar--The wars against Chaldæa: Shalmaneser I., Tulculi-ninip I., and the taking of Babylon--Belchadrezzar and the last of the Cosssæans._

_The dynasty of Pashê: Nebuchadrezzar I., his disputes with Elam, his defeat by Assurrîshishî--The legend of the first Assyrian empire, Ninos and Semiramis--The Assyrians and their political constitution: the limmu, the king and his divine character, his hunting and his wars--The Assyrian army: the infantry and chariotry, the crossing of rivers, mode of marching in the plains and in the mountain districts--Camps, battles, sieges; cruelty shown to the vanquished, the destruction of towns and the removal of the inhabitants, the ephemeral character of the Assyrian conquests._

_Tiglath pileser I.: Ms campaign against the Mushhu, his conquest of Kurhhi and of the regions of the Zab--The petty Asiatic kingdoms and their civilization: art and writing in the old Hittite states--Tiglath-pileser I. in Nairi and in Syria: his triumphal stele at Sebbeneh-Su--His buildings, his hunts, his conquest of Babylon--Merodach-nadin-akhi and the close of the Pashê dynasty--Assur-belkala and Samsi-rammân III.: the decline of Assyria--Syria without a foreign rider: the incapacity of the Khdti to give unity to the country._