ASHURDAN II

(reigned 934–912 B.C.)

   King of Assyria, son and successor of the undistinguished Tiglath-pileser II, he ended the long period of decline suffered by the country after the demise of Tiglath-pileserI. Royal inscriptionsonce more become abundant. Ashur-Dan began by turning against his neighbors to the north, who had inflicted much damage on his border area. In the west he had to take on the ever menacing Aramean tribes and restored land and possessions that they had taken from the Assyrians. He pacified the eastern border region to secure trade with the Iranian plateau and beyond. Thereafter he made efforts to reactivate the ravaged economy by resettling displaced populations to make uncultivated land productive. Hand in hand with these efforts to secure the agricultural bases, he invested in the chariotry and the armed forces (see ARMY). He also undertook various building projects, mainly restoration work on the palaces, temples, and gates of the capital, Assur.