There are many different brands and types of silk thread available. Some are single ply with a high luster (e.g. Kreinik Silk Serica) and some are multi-ply (e.g.Kreinik Silk Mori). Silk is very popular to stitch with because it has a sheen (luster) and is strong. It is more expensive than cotton.
Ashurnasirpal II. Ashur-nasir-pal II (centre) meets a high official after a successful battle. Ashur-nasir-pal II (transliteration: AÅ¡Å¡ur-nÄá¹£ir-apli, meaning Ashur is guardian of the heir) was king of Assyria from 883 to 859 BC. Ashurnasirpal II succeeded his father, Tukulti-Ninurta II, in 883 BC.
Assyria is named for its original capital, the ancient city of AÅ¡Å¡ur (a.k.a. Ashur), which dates to c. 2600 BC (located in what is now the Saladin Province of northern Iraq), originally one of a number of Akkadian city states in Mesopotamia. In the 25th and 24th centuries BC, Assyrian kings were pastoral leaders.