The Elamites, however, defended themselves bravely, and it was only after a struggle of many years, when their cities had fallen one by one, and Shushan, the capital, was itself destroyed, that Elam became an Assyrian province.

The conquerors, however, found it a profitless desert, wasted by fire and sword, and in the struggle to possess it their own resources had been drained and well-nigh exhausted.
The second Assyrian empire was now at the zenith of its power.
Ambassadors came from Ararat and from Gyges of Lydia to offer homage, and to ask the help of the great king against the Kimmerian and Scythian hordes.

His fame spread to Europe; the whole of the civilised world acknowledged his supremacy.
But the image was one which had feet of clay.

The empire had been won by the sword, and the sword alone kept it together.

Suddenly a revolt broke out which shook it to its foundations.