Carchemish
“Possibly 'fort of Chemosh'”
Summary
An ancient Hittite fortress city on the Euphrates, site of a decisive battle between Egypt and Babylon in 605 B.C.
☩Location and Importance
Carchemish was situated on the right bank of the Euphrates in northern Syria, identified with modern Jerablus, about twenty-three hours from Aleppo. It was a frontier stronghold commanding an important passage of the Euphrates. The city's strategic position made its possession a matter of contest between Babylon and Egypt. From about 1100 to 850 B.C., it was a chief city of the Hittites who controlled all Syria.
☩Assyrian Conquest
Carchemish appears in Assyrian records under Tiglath-pileser I around 1268 B.C. Later, Ashur-nasir-pal received tribute from Sangara, king of Carchemish, including twenty talents of silver, gold objects, one hundred talents of copper, and 250 talents of iron. Sargon of Assyria finally incorporated the city into his empire around 717 B.C., capturing King Pisiris who had allied with other rulers against Assyria.
☩The Battle of Carchemish
Pharaoh Necho of Egypt advanced to take Carchemish around 609 B.C., shortly after the battle of Megiddo in which King Josiah fell. Three years later, in 605 B.C., Nebuchadnezzar defeated Necho at Carchemish in a battle that decided the fate of Western Asia. Jeremiah prophesied against the Egyptian army 'which was by the river Euphrates in Carchemish, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon smote.'
☩Archaeological Discoveries
Excavations at the site have revealed Hittite sculptures and inscriptions in the distinctive Hittite style—boldly carved natural objects arranged in bands between division-lines. The patron deity of the city was the Asiatic goddess Atargatis, whose worship was later transferred to Hierapolis (Membij). The city had vast walls and palace-mounds about 8,000 feet in circumference.
References
- 1.James Orr (ed.), "Carchemish," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. I (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 2.John McClintock and James Strong, "Carchemish," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. II (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 3.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Carchemish," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).
- 4.George Morrish, "Carchemish," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).