ashurbanipal: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowAcademic / Historical
Quick answer
What does “ashurbanipal” mean?
The last great king of the Neo-Assyrian Empire (reigned 668–627 BCE), known for his military campaigns and for assembling a vast library of cuneiform tablets at Nineveh.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The last great king of the Neo-Assyrian Empire (reigned 668–627 BCE), known for his military campaigns and for assembling a vast library of cuneiform tablets at Nineveh.
A historical figure symbolizing ancient Mesopotamian scholarship, imperial power, and the preservation of knowledge. Often referenced in contexts discussing ancient libraries, Assyrian history, or early imperialism.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or spelling. Minor variation in pronunciation stress.
Connotations
Identical historical and academic connotations in both regions.
Frequency
Equally rare in both British and American general usage; confined to academic/historical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “ashurbanipal” in a Sentence
[King] Ashurbanipal [verb: ruled/collected/conquered] [object]Ashurbanipal's [noun: library/reign/army]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “ashurbanipal” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The scholar attempted to Ashurbanipal the disparate texts into a single catalogue. (Non-standard, creative use.)
American English
- The curator wanted to Ashurbanipal the entire collection. (Non-standard, creative use.)
adverb
British English
- The manuscripts were collected Ashurbanipal-style. (Non-standard, creative use.)
American English
- He curated his records Ashurbanipal-style. (Non-standard, creative use.)
adjective
British English
- The library had an Ashurbanipal ambition in its scope. (Non-standard, creative use.)
American English
- It was an Ashurbanipal-level effort of preservation. (Non-standard, creative use.)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Central figure in Assyriology, ancient Near Eastern history, and history of libraries.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Used in archaeology, historiography, and library science to reference his collection.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “ashurbanipal”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “ashurbanipal”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “ashurbanipal”
- Misspelling as 'Ashurbanipal' (double 'n'), 'Ashurbanipal', or 'Ashurbanibal'. Confusing him with his grandfather Sennacherib or brother Shamash-shum-ukin.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In British English, it's often /ˌæʃʊəˈbiːnɪpəl/. In American English, it's commonly /ˌɑːʃərˈbɑːnɪpɑːl/.
He is best known as the Assyrian king who assembled the Library of Ashurbanipal, one of the ancient world's greatest collections of cuneiform texts.
He reigned from approximately 668 BCE to 627 BCE.
No, Ashurbanipal is not mentioned by name in the Bible, though he was a contemporary of several Biblical figures, and his empire affected the kingdoms of Israel and Judah.
The last great king of the Neo-Assyrian Empire (reigned 668–627 BCE), known for his military campaigns and for assembling a vast library of cuneiform tablets at Nineveh.
Ashurbanipal is usually academic / historical in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'A-shore-BAN-ih-pal' – a king who 'banned' ignorance by building a 'pal'ace for books on the 'shore' of the Tigris.
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER (embodied by a king who was both a warrior and a scholar).
Practice
Quiz
Ashurbanipal is most famously associated with which achievement?