The Truths of War

In the first chapter of Rituals of War, Bahrani describes the dynamics behind the importance of the beheading of Teumann during the Battle of Til-Tuba. She emphasizes the fact that the decapitation of this king serves as a vital part of the narrative, standing in front of the actual battle scene that is depicted behind him. Bahrani says that the event is of “paramount importance” and that it can be seen as the most significant symbol in the relief, demonstrating the sheer glamour of the Assyrian victory. It is also interesting to note that although this chapter is mainly an opinionated critique of what Bahrani thinks is happening in the relief, it is treated as purely factual information. There is no actual evidence that the decapitation was to be seen as a symbol of the entire portrait, yet Bahrani is confident that this was the artist’s intention. The highly opinionated first chapter gives an impression that the non-factual information presented in the rest of the book should be taken with a grain of salt.
In “The Art of War”, Bahrani turns to analyzing the effectiveness of military tactics geared towards the obtainment of sculptures and monuments. In an age where religion and Godly figures ruled superior to every human-being, the abduction of religious monuments resulted in catastrophic consequences for the citizens of an invaded state. Bahrani says that these tactics were most influential in terms of reordering space and dislocating the people of a state. These strategies were so effective because they led to a feeling of abandonment by the people due to the lack of protection from the Gods, who were embodied in these taken statues. As we read in a claim by Joannes, the only interaction some people had with the Gods was through these statues, so we can speculate the mental toll that was felt by these people as these lasting symbols of religion were stripped away from them.