ASSYRIA-EGYPT RELATIONS FROM THE ASSYRIAN PERSPECTIVE

Assyrian-Egyptian relations constitute one of the most important military and political rivalries in history. The decisive point in this relationship was the dominance of the Levant, which had political and economic importance for both states. While Assyria started to shape its policies on the Levant, especially in the Neo-Assyrian Period, Egypt's policies on the region had a longer history. When the Assyrian kings, who gained power in the Neo-Assyrian Age, started to expand in the western direction and established direct contact with the eastern Mediterranean cities, which were important commercial kingdoms, this situation disturbed Egypt and Egypt took some measures against Assyria. At this point, the main method used by Egypt was to provoke the local kings against Assyria. Thus, rebellions against Assyrian rule occurred frequently in the region and Assyrian kings had to organise military expeditions to the region. In the face of this situation, the Assyrian kings, who had to constantly fight against the rebellions, tried to eliminate Egypt, one of the most important sources of rebellions, and military expeditions were organised to the Egyptian country during the Asarhaddon Period. In this study, the progress and consequences of Assyrian-Egyptian relations in the light of Assyrian royal annals and reliefs will be discussed.