In the 7th century BC, the Neo-Assyrian Empire, the first world empire in history, boasted the largest territory in the Middle East. The king at the time was Ashurbanipal. Obsessed with a library containing 50,000 clay tablets, he conquered from Egypt to Iran and was acclaimed by the people in lion hunting rituals. He was feared for his brilliance and cruelty, the last and strongest king of the empire—his rare life and the empire, spanning forty years of his reign. Purchased at a flea market. No price reduction or returns. Shipping can be discounted when combined with other purchases. Please comment. Scheduled to be deleted at the end of March.