00:00 The Greek mercenary army, led by Xenophon, stumbles upon the ruins of the ancient cities of Nimrud and Nineveh in the desert while trying to find their way back to Greece after their leader, Cyrus the Younger, is killed in battle.

11:18 The Assyrians, who saw themselves as the culmination of human progress, had a rich awareness of their ancient history, revered ancient kings like Gilgamesh and Sargon the Great, and believed that the ruins of ancient cities were remnants of a great flood.

22:28 The Assyrians believed that the more successful their city became, the more powerful their god Ashur was, and over time, Ashur replaced Enlil as the supreme god of the city, leading to the rise of the Assyrians as a powerful civilization.

33:02 Tiglath Pelazer, a harsh ruler of Assyria, conquered multiple lands and territories, including the Mushku, Hittites, and Aramaeans, and boasted of his victories, bringing wealth and new trade routes to the city of Asur.

43:55 Ashurnazipal II, a remorseless and ruthless warrior, used terror tactics and tortuous methods of execution to drive fear into the hearts of his enemies, and celebrated his victories with the construction of grand palaces and the resettlement of conquered peoples in Assyria.

54:09 Tiglath Pelasa transformed the Assyrian military into a modern army with elite troops, cavalry, and chariots, as well as a large engineering component, allowing them to conquer territories and maintain a formidable fighting force, while also increasing iron production and using it to equip their soldiers, resulting in the rapid expansion of the Assyrian empire and the conquest of lands in Syria, Israel, and Babylon.

01:04:20 The Assyrian Empire was a bustling and prosperous civilization, with cities like Nineveh that had large walls, bustling docks, and a sophisticated road network, where everyday life included activities such as cooking, brewing beer, trading, and socializing on rooftops.

01:14:20 The Assyrians believed in the existence of countless demons and spirits that caused illness and disease, requiring the constant attention of exorcists, and they used talismans and cylinder seals as protective and identifying objects in their everyday lives.

01:24:24 King Hezekiah of ancient Judah defied the Assyrian Empire, leading to the brutal destruction of the city of Lakish and the deportation of its inhabitants.

01:34:25 The Assyrian army, led by King Sennacherib, laid siege to Jerusalem, but after King Hezekiah prayed to Yahweh for deliverance, an outbreak of plague or some other mysterious event caused the Assyrian army to suffer heavy casualties and ultimately fail in their siege.

01:44:50 Sennacherib renovated the city of Nineveh and built a new palace, including beautiful gardens, but his decision to name his youngest son, Esarhaddon, as crown prince instead of his older son, Urdu-Mulisu, led to a plot against him and his eventual murder, resulting in Esarhaddon taking the throne and executing the conspirators.

01:56:45 Esar Haddon repaired relations with Babylon and rebuilt the city, but his health deteriorated, leading to depression and a mysterious illness, ultimately resulting in his death and the ascension of his sons to the thrones of Assyria and Babylon.

02:07:55 Ashurbanipal, the king of Assyria, was known for his ability to read and his vast collection of clay tablets, which included ancient texts and stories that have survived to this day, but he faced challenges ruling the empire, including rebellions in Egypt and conflicts with the Elamite people of southern Iran, who were supplied and armed by his own brother in an attempt to overthrow him.

02:18:00 Ashurbanipal's brother rebelled against him, leading to a siege of Babylon that lasted four years, resulting in the city's fall and the brutal punishment of its citizens, followed by Ashurbanipal's campaign to exterminate Elam and destroy its capital city of Suza.

02:27:52 The downfall of the Assyrian Empire was likely caused by a combination of a rapid climate shift, including a prolonged drought, and their heavy-handed approach to maintaining their empire, which made them incredibly unpopular and constantly on the verge of rebellion.

02:38:08 The downfall of the Assyrian Empire was marked by chaos, rebellion, and the invasion of the Medean armies, leading to the capture and destruction of the capital city of Nineveh.

02:49:08 The Assyrian Empire's three capitals, Ashur, Nineveh, and Nimrod, were left in ruins after the Medes destroyed them, and the Assyrian army, led by General Ashur Ubalit, made a last stand in the town of Haran before being crushed by the Medes, ultimately leading to the downfall of the empire.

02:59:40 The speaker reflects on the destruction of their city and the loss of their loved ones, while also expressing gratitude to the voice actors and consultants involved in the podcast, and promoting a sister project called Vaccine.