The Destruction of Sennacherib

A leading figure in 19th-century English Romanticism, Lord Byron published “The Destruction of Sennacherib” in 1815. The poem is based on the biblical account of Assyrian emperor Sennacherib’s attack on Jerusalem in 701 BCE. Sennacherib fielded a mighty army which had so far been invincible, but as the story is related in the Old Testament, Jerusalem was saved through divine intervention. The poem’s religious themes are not typical of Lord Byron’s work, as he was generally a secular poet. However, “The Destruction of Sennacherib” features the rich imagery and melodious sound found in his most celebrated works.