Page 424 - Four Thousand Years Ago by Geoffrey Bibby

ceived news that Tiglathpileser was on his way to join them

again. The fleshpots of the west had proved unexpectedly pleas­
ant, and they had little desire to be relieved by the new troops. It
proved an arduous campaign, too, that year, for after Tiglath­
pileser had superintended the change-over of garrisons and made

a triumphal tour of the coast—including a porpoise hunt—he led

ONE OF THE EARLIEST REPRESENTATIONS OF A RIDING CAMEL, FROM
THE ARAMAEAN SETTLEMENT AT TELL HALAF IN NORTH IRAQ.

them into the desert behind the Anti-Lebanon, deep into the
territory of the Aramaeans, to the oasis of Palmyra far south of
the Euphrates.

Just why they should be tackling the Aramaeans they did not
at first understand. It could hardly be solely to acquire the camel
corps which the king recruited from his captives. But then the

rumor got around that the aim was to dominate the country on