| Iran Stele | |
| Material: | Dolomite (rock) |
| Writing: | Akkadian |
| Discovered: | Zagros Mountains, Iran |
| Location: | Jerusalem, Israel |
| Height: | 240cm (90inches) |
| Period1: | Iron Age |
| Period: | Reign of Tiglath-Pileser III of the Neo-Assyrian Empire |
The Iran Stele is a stele from the Neo-Assyrian Empire.[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] Dated to around 737 BCE, it is written in Akkadian and was discovered in the Zagros Mountains of Iran, hence the name.
The Assyrian king Tiglath-Pileser III was instrumental in expanding the Neo-Assyrian Empire westward, reaching the Levant and encountering Israel and Judah.[6] The Iran Stele was discovered in three large fragments and details his military campaigns during the first nine years of his reign.[7]
Of particular interest to ancient Israel is a section of the inscription listing the kings who paid tribute to him, including Menahem of Samaria.[8] Two of the Iran Stele fragments are now housed at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem after being part of various private collections.[9]
Text:
“Menahem of Samaria, Hiram of Tyre, . . . gold, silver . . .”[10]
“. . the place of Samaria only did I leave their king”[11]