Comparison of Banquet and Shi Qiang

The city Cahal of Mesopotamia in modern day South

West Asia, and what is now modern day China, are

locations of the kings that once reigned on high.

Each, like the drastically different locations, had

cultures that were highly contrasting though they both

saw dynasties/empires that lasted many years.

The text, "The Banquet of Ashurnasirpal II" portrays

a warrior king which was chosen from the God above,

Ashur to conquer lands far and wide. It describes how

the king came upon the ruins at Cahal and erected a

lavish castle to fill with all the material goods he

had acquired on his conquests of far away states.

Within his city were people whom he had dispersed from

other city-states which were probably the ones to take

part in the building of temples to the Gods. One can

see how his culture is still close to the land, the

nomadic hunt to kill drive is still in him. The

overall picture that has been painted is one of a king

who is thankful to Ashur, who gave him this power, but

also of one who is very luxurious with gold busts, a

vast garden, and one who can throw a feast for ten

days with over 50,000 in attendance.

On the other side of the continent and spectrum is

the writing for the Western Zhou king in the

"Inscription of the Shi Qiang Pan". This king as well

is a warring king, but for another reason. Rather than

creating war