160 The Balawat Gates

Museum Description: The Balawat Gates

Room: 6/Case: None/Number: ANE 121651-121663

Scripture: Isaiah 10:24

These scenes are from the actual gates of the ancient city of Balawat in Assyria.  They show the conquests of Shalmaneser III, the same king depicted on the famous Black Obelisk.  They give the names of the countries captured, or from which the king was receiving tribute.  We can imagine what it was like for the Israelites to be dominated by this fearsome nation.

Cities typically had as few gates as possible, as they were a weak point when the city was under attack.  For this reason, they were often designed as part of a fortification in the wall, with towers to defend the gates.  In fact, as Solomon is said to have built Megiddo, Hazor and Gezer, the discovery of identically designed gates at Megiddo and Hazor caused archaeologist to also search at Gezer.  Sure enough, exactly the same design was found there too!  The Bible proved to be accurate history and a reliable guide for their excavations.  Other similar or related artefacts are on display in The British Museum.