Page "Ashurbanipal" Paragraph 6

Ashurbanipal grew up in the small palace called bit reduti ( house of succession ), built by his grandfather Sennacherib when he was crown prince in the northern quadrant of Nineveh.

In 694 BC, Sennacherib had completed the " Palace Without Rival " at the southwest corner of the acropolis, obliterating most of the older structures.

The " House of Succession " had become the palace of Esarhaddon, the crown prince.

In this house, Ashurbanipal's grandfather was assassinated by uncles identified only from the biblical account as Adrammelek and Sharezer.

From this conspiracy, Esarhaddon emerged as king in 680 BC He proceeded to rebuild as his residence the bit masharti ( weapons house, or arsenal ).

The " House of Succession " was left to his mother and the younger children, including Ashurbanipal.