Assyrian. Heavy-armed archers in action.

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From Nineveh, South-West Palace. These archers, the front one of whom may be a eunuch due to his beardless appearance, are each accompanied by a soldier tasked with holding a tall shield in position and safeguarding against any approaching enemies. Relief, British Museum The Assyrian war machine was the most efficient military force in the ancient world until its downfall in 612 BCE. Its success was rooted in a professionally trained standing army, iron weapons, advanced engineering expertise, effective tactics, and, above all, an unwavering ruthlessness that characterized the Assyrians to their neighbors and subjects and still clings to the reputation of Assyria today. A phrase frequently repeated by Assyrian kings in their inscriptions regarding military conquests is: "I razed, desecrated, and incinerated with fire" those cities, towns, and regions that resisted Assyrian rule.