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.
Like the Babylonians, Assyrians were Akkadians, thus descending from the Semites that during the third millennium BC went out of Arabia and conquered Sumer and Akkad. Assyria emerged around 1900 BC, but it was under the control of the Mitanni kingdom.