assyrisch

Assyrisch refers to the language of the ancient Assyrian civilization, a Semitic language that was spoken in Mesopotamia, particularly in the region of northern Iraq and parts of modern-day Syria, Turkey, and Iran. The language belongs to the East Semitic branch of the Afroasiatic language family, closely related to Akkadian, which was the dominant language of the neighboring Babylonian civilization. Assyrian emerged as a distinct language around the 26th century BCE, evolving from Proto-Assyrian dialects spoken by Akkadian speakers in northern Mesopotamia.

The Assyrian language was primarily written in cuneiform script, a system of wedge-shaped symbols invented by the Sumerians. Early Assyrian inscriptions date back to the 19th century BCE, with the most extensive records appearing during the Neo-Assyrian Empire (911–609 BCE), a period of significant military and cultural expansion. The language flourished under Assyrian kings such as Ashurnasirpal II and Sargon II, who commissioned monumental inscriptions, legal texts, and literary works, including epic poems like the *Assyrian King List* and adaptations of Sumerian myths.

By the 7th century BCE, Assyrian began to decline as the empire collapsed following military defeats and internal strife. The language persisted in a reduced form under Persian rule and later influenced Middle Assyrian Neo-Aramaic dialects. Assyrian scripture and religious texts, particularly those related to the worship of the god Ashur, provide valuable insights into ancient Mesopotamian religious practices and political structures.

Modern research in Assyriology, the academic study of ancient Assyrian culture, relies heavily on deciphering cuneiform tablets housed in museums and archaeological sites. While Assyrian is no longer spoken as a living language, its legacy endures in linguistic and historical scholarship, offering critical perspectives on the development of early civilizations in the Fertile Crescent.