Shimashki dynasty

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The Shimashki dynasty[a] was an early dynasty of the ancient region of Elam, to the southeast of Babylonia, (c. 2100 – c. 1900 BC).[1] A list of twelve kings of Shimashki is found in the Elamite king-list of Susa, which also contains a list of kings of Awan dynasty.[2] It is uncertain how historically accurate the list is (and whether it reflects a chronological order[3]), although some of its kings can be corroborated by their appearance in the records of neighboring peoples.[2] The dynasty corresponds to the second Paleo-Elamite period (dated to c. 2015 – c. 1880 BC). It was followed by the Sukkalmah dynasty. Shimashki was likely near today's Masjed Soleyman.

Shimashki dynasty

Šimaški dynasty
Dynasty
A map of the Near East detailing the geopolitical situation in the region during the Shimashki dynasty c. 2000 BC occupied by various contemporaneous civilizations such as those of the:
A clickable map of the present-day Islamic Republic of Iran detailing the locations of various ancient, archaeological sites, settlements, hamlets, villages, towns, and/or cities (and the approximated locations of four lost cities: Urua, Hidali, Hurti, and Kimash; also, the two lost capital cities of the Elamite Empire: Awan and Shimashki) that may have been visited, interacted and traded with, invaded, conquered, destroyed, occupied, colonized by and/or otherwise within the Elamites’ sphere of influence at some point temp. the dynasty of Shimashki.
Parent familyAwan dynasty
CountryElam
Earlier spellingslugal-e-ne si-mash-giki
EtymologyKings of the country of Simashgi
Foundedc. 2220 – c. 2015 BC (c. 2220 – c. 2015 BC)
Founder
  • Girnamme (fl.c. 2033 BC)
  • (Unknown, d.c. 2100 BC)
Final rulerIndattu-Inshushinak II (r. c. 1970 BC)
Final headEparti II (m.c. 1973 BC)
Historic seatShimashki
Titles
List
  • Sukkalmah
  • Sukkal
  • Sukkal of Susa
  • Sukkal of Elam and Shimashki and Susa
  • Sukkal and Ippir of Susa
  • King of Anshan and Susa
  • King of Simashki
  • Enlarger of the Empire
  • Governor of Elam
  • Prince of Elam
  • Governor of Susa
  • Shepherd of the people of Susa
  • Shepherd of Inshushinak
Connected familiesSukkalmah dynasty
Dissolutionc. 1980 – c. 1790 BC (c. 1980 – c. 1790 BC)
Depositionc. 1980 – c. 1830 BC (c. 1980 – c. 1830 BC)
The Elamites remained a major source of tension for the Sumerians, Akkadians, Amorites, Assyrians, Babylonians, and Kassites centuries after Kindattu’s victory over Ibbi-Sin from the third dynasty of Ur c. 2004 BC and Kindattu’s subsequent defeat by Ishbi-Erra from the dynasty of Isin c. 2001 BC.

History

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Gutian period (c. 2154 – c. 2112 BC)

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Shimashki is first mentioned on the inscription to an image of Puzur-Inshushinak, king of Awan around 2100 BC, which depicts a Shimashkian king as subordinate to him. A royal inscription recorded "in a single day he made (those lands) fall prostrate at his feet; and, when the king of Šimaški came up (on learning about it), he seized the feet of PuzurInšušinak (in submission)".[4][5]

Daryaee suggests that, despite the impression from the king-list that the rulers of Shimashki was a dynasty of sequential rulers, it is perhaps better to think of Shimashki as an alliance of various peoples "rather than a unitary state."[6]

Ur III period (c. 2112 – c. 2004 BC)

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The names in the king-list, as found in Potts, are "Girnamme, Tazitta, Ebarti, Tazitta, Lu[?]-[x-x-x]-lu-uh-ha-an, Kindattu, Idaddu, Tan-Ruhurater, Ebarti, Idaddu, Idaddu-napir, Idaddu-temti, twelve Sumerian kings" (bracketed letters original).[7] An inscription establishes Idattu I was the son of Kindattu and the grandson of Ebarat (Yabrat/Ebarti) I.[8]

Girnamme ruled at the same time as Shu-Sin, king of Ur, and was involved, as either a groom or simply a facilitator, in the marriage of Shu-Sin's daughter.[9] Gwendolyn Leick places this event in 2037 BC.[9] Girnamme, along with Tazitta and Ebarti I, appears in "Mesopotamian texts establishing food rations issued to messengers," texts from 2044 to 2032 BC.[4]

Tazitta, the second figure in the list, is referred to in a document from the eighth year of the reign of Amar-Sin of Ur.[3]

Ebarat I (Old Elamite ia-ab-ra-at), king number 3 in the Shimashki kings list (SKL). He is mentioned in several documents of Third Dynasty of Ur, from year 44 of Šulgi (the earliest) to year 8 of Šu-Sin. Documents show that he ruled at about the same time as Girnamme and at the same time as Tazitta, kings #1 and #2 from the SKL. The inscription on bronze bowl MS 4476 mentions Ebarat (de-ba-ra-at) as a father of Kindattu and grandfather of Idadu I, kings no 6 and 7 in the SKL. The spelling ia-a-ba-ra-at later became e-ba-ra-at and e-ba-ar-ti reflecting the historic shift of /’a/ to /e/ in Elamite.

The Shimashki confederacy led an alliance against the Ur III Empire, and managed to defeat its last ruler Ibbi-Sin.[10] After this victory, they destroyed the kingdom, looted the capital of Ur, and ruled through military occupation for the next 21 years.[10][11]

Kindattu was also known as Kindadu.[12] A Kindattu, who according to Daryaeee was "apparently" the Shimashkian king of the list above, lead the army that destroyed the Third Dynasty of Ur in 2004 BC.[3] The operation was a joint effort between Kindattu and his then-ally Ishbi-Erra, who defeated Ur and captured Ibbi-Sin, its king.[4] The Ishbi-Erra hymn claims that Ishbi-Erra later expelled Kindattu from Mesopotamia.[3]

Isin-Larsa period (c. 2004 to c. 1763 BC)

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Idaddu I (also known as Indattu-Inshushinak,[4] or simply Indattu) called himself "king of Shimashki and Elam".[4] According to Stolper and André-Salvini, he was the son of Kindattu,[4] while Gwendolyn Leick calls him "son of Pepi," claiming that Kindattu may have been his grandfather.[13] According to Leick he ascended to the throne of Shimashki around 1970 BC.[13]

Tan-Ruhurater, also known as Tan-Ruhuratir, formed an alliance with Bilalama, the governor of Eshnunna, by marrying Bilama's daughter Mê-Kubi.[14][15]

Ebarti II of Shimashki may have been the same individual known as Ebarat, a Sukkalmah, or "Grand Regent".[16] If so, he was ruler simultaneously to the next member of the list of twelve Shimaskin kings: Idaddu II.[16]

Idaddu II was the son of Tan-Ruhurater, during whose reign he oversaw building projects as the governor of Susa.[17] According to Leick, he was the last of the Shimashkian kings.[1]

The Shimashki rulers became participants in an ongoing conflict with the rulers of Isin and Larsa after the fall of Third Dynasty of Ur.[18]

Under the Shimashki and their successors the Sukkalmah, Elam then became one of the most powerful kingdoms of West Asia, influencing the territories of Mesopotamia and Syria through commercial, military or diplomatic contacts.[10] Expansion in Mesopotamia was only halted by the Babylonian king Hammurabi in the 18th century BC.[10] After a prolonged conflict, the military forces of Elam were finally forced to retreat their forces positioned along the Tigris river, and to return to Susa.[10]

The Shimashki dynasty was followed by the Sukkalmah dynasty (c. 1900–1500).[18]

List of rulers

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The following list should not be considered complete:

# Portrait Name Succession Title Approx. dates Notes
Gutian period (c. 2154 – c. 2119 BC)
Unknown Unclear succession King of Shimashki Uncertain, fl.c. 2240 – c. 2100 BC
d.c. 2100 BC
Awan dynasty (c. 2600 – c. 2120 BC)[19][20]
12th   Puzur-Inshushinak
𒅤𒊭𒀭𒈹𒂞
Nephew of Khita (?) Military Governor of Elam
Governor of Susa
Mighty King of Elam

King of Awan

Uncertain, fl.c. 2240 – c. 2100 BC

"Twelve kings of Awan."

— Susanian Dynastic List
Ur III period (c. 2119 – c. 2025 BC)
Shimashki dynasty (c. 2120 – c. 1980 BC)
  Girnamme I (?) Unclear succession King of Shimashki Uncertain, fl.c. 2120 – c. 2028 BC
Ebarat I (?)
𒂊𒁀𒊏𒀜
Relative of Gir-Namme I (?) King of Shimashki
1st Girnamme II Relative of Ebarat I (?) King of Shimashki
3rd Ebarat II
𒂊𒁀𒊏𒀜
Relative of Tazitta I King of Shimashki
  • temp. of Shulgi
2nd Tazitta I Relative of Gir-Namme I (?) King of Shimashki
4th Tazitta II Unclear succession King of Shimashki
Isin-Larsa period (c. 2025 – c. 1894 BC)
6th   Kindattu
𒆠𒅔𒁕𒌅
Son of Ebarat I (?) King of Shimashki Uncertain, fl.c. 2028 – c. 2001 BC
(26 years)
Imazu Son of Kindattu King of Anshan Uncertain, fl.c. 2015 BC
5th   Lurak-Luhhan Unclear succession King of Shimashki
  • temp. of Shu-Sin
Tan-Ruhuratir I (?) Same person as Lurak-Luhhan (?) King of Shimashki
  • temp. of Shu-Sin
Hutran-Temti I (?) Same person as Kindattu (?) King of Shimashki
  • temp. of Shu-Sin
7th Indattu-Inshushinak I
𒀭𒄿𒁕𒁺
Son of Hutran-Temti I (?) King of Shimashki Uncertain, reigned c. 1970 BC
8th Tan-Ruhuratir II Son of Indattu-Inshushinak I (?) King of Shimashki Uncertain, r. c. 1945 – c. 1925 BC
Indattu-Inshushinak II (?) Son of Tan-Ruhuratir I (?) King of Shimashki
Epartid dynasty (c. 1980 – c. 1850 BC)
9th   Ebarat III
𒂊𒁀𒊏𒀜
Unclear succession Sukkalmah
King of Anshan and Susa

King of Shimashki

Uncertain, fl.c. 1980 – c. 1928 BC
  • temp. of Iddin-Dagan
10th   Indattu-Inshushinak III
𒀭𒄿𒁕𒁺
Son of Pepi[21] King of Shimashki Uncertain, r. c. 1925 – c. 1870 BC
(≥3 years)
Shilhaha Son of Ebarat II Sukkalmah

King of Anshan and Susa

Uncertain, fl.c. 1980 – c. 1928 BC
Kuk-Nashur I Son of Shilhaha Sukkalmah
Sukkalmah dynasty (c. 1850 – c. 1450 BC)
Palar-Ishshan Unclear succession Sukkalmah Uncertain, fl.c. 1980 – c. 1928 BC
Kuk-Sanit Son of Palar-Ishshan (?)
Lankuku Father of Kuk-Kirwash
Kuk-Kirwash Nephew of Palar-Ishshan (?) Sukkalmah

Sukkal of Elam and Shimashki and Susa

Tem-Sanit Son of Kuk-Kirwash Uncertain, fl.c. 1928 – c. 1894 BC
Kuk-Nahhunte Son of Kuk-Kirwash
Old Babylonian period (c. 1894 – c. 1450 BC)
Attakhushu Son of Kuk-Nashur I (?) Sukkal and Ippir of Susa
Shepherd of the people of Susa

Shepherd of Inshushinak

Uncertain, fl.c. 1928 – c. 1894 BC
Tetep-Mada Son of Kuk-Nashur I (?) Shepherd of the people of Susa
11th   Idattunapir Unclear succession King of Shimashki Uncertain, fl.c. 1894 – c. 1792 BC
12th Idattutemti Unclear succession King of Shimashki

"Twelve kings of Shimashki."

— Susanian Dynastic List
Shirukduh Descendant of Shilhaha (?) Sukkalmah Uncertain, fl.c. 1792 – c. 1778 BC
Siwe-Palar-Khuppak Son of Shirukduh (?) Sukkalmah
Sukkal of Susa

Prince of Elam

Uncertain, reigned c. 1778 – c. 1745 BC
Tan-Uli Unclear succession Sukkalmah

Sukkal

Uncertain, fl.c. 1745 – c. 1650 BC
Temti-Halki Son of Tan-Uli (?) Sukkalmah

Sukkal of Elam and Simashki and Susa

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See also

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References

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Notes

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  1. ^ Sumerian: 𒈗𒂊𒋛𒈦𒄀𒆠, romanized: Šimaški, lit.'Kings of the country of Simashgi'; transliterated: lugal-e-ne si-mash-giki; anglicized: Shimashki; alternatively: Simashki; also: Simaski

Citations

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  1. ^ a b Gwendolyn Leick (31 January 2002). Who's Who in the Ancient Near East. Routledge. p. 72. ISBN 978-1-134-78795-1.
  2. ^ a b I. E. S. Edwards; C. J. Gadd; N. G. L. Hammond (31 October 1971). The Cambridge Ancient History. Cambridge University Press. p. 654. ISBN 978-0-521-07791-0.
  3. ^ a b c d Touraj Daryaee (16 February 2012). The Oxford Handbook of Iranian History. Oxford University Press. p. 67. ISBN 978-0-19-020882-0.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Matthew Stolper; Béatrice André-Salvini (1992). "The Written Record". The Royal City of Susa: Ancient Near Eastern Treasures in the Louvre. Metropolitan Museum of Art. p. 262. ISBN 978-0-87099-651-1.
  5. ^ Paladre, Clélia, "Glyptic Art from the Ur III to the Šimaški Periods: Heritage and Overtaking of the Models", Ur in the Twenty-First Century CE: Proceedings of the 62nd Rencontre Assyriologique Internationale at Philadelphia, July 11–15, 2016, edited by Grant Frame, Joshua Jeffers and Holly Pittman, University Park, USA: Penn State University Press, pp. 341-370, 2021
  6. ^ Touraj Daryaee (16 February 2012). The Oxford Handbook of Iranian History. Oxford University Press. p. 68. ISBN 978-0-19-020882-0.
  7. ^ D. T. Potts (1999). The Archaeology of Elam. Cambridge University Press. p. 141.
  8. ^ Piotr Steinkeller, "New Light on Šimaški and Its Rulers", Zeitschrift für Assyriologie und Vorderasiatische Archäologie 97, pp. 215–32, 2007
  9. ^ a b Gwendolyn Leick (31 January 2002). Who's Who in the Ancient Near East. Routledge. p. 78. ISBN 978-1-134-78795-1.
  10. ^ a b c d e Bryce, Trevor (2009). The Routledge Handbook of the Peoples and Places of Ancient Western Asia: The Near East from the Early Bronze Age to the fall of the Persian Empire. Routledge. p. 221. ISBN 9781134159079.
  11. ^ D. T. Potts (12 November 2015). The Archaeology of Elam: Formation and Transformation of an Ancient Iranian State. Cambridge University Press. p. 133. ISBN 978-1-107-09469-7.
  12. ^ Touraj Daryaee (16 February 2012). The Oxford Handbook of Iranian History. Oxford University Press, USA. p. 42. ISBN 978-0-19-973215-9.
  13. ^ a b Gwendolyn Leick (31 January 2002). Who's Who in the Ancient Near East. Routledge. p. 92. ISBN 978-1-134-78795-1.
  14. ^ On the alliance, see Katrien De Graef; Jan Tavernier (7 December 2012). Susa and Elam. Archaeological, Philological, Historical and Geographical Perspectives.: Proceedings of the International Congress held at Ghent University, December 14–17, 2009. BRILL. p. 54. ISBN 978-90-04-20741-7.
  15. ^ On Bilalama's position as governor of Eshnunna, see Douglas Frayne (1990). Old Babylonian Period (2003-1595 BC). University of Toronto Press. p. 491. ISBN 978-0-8020-5873-7.
  16. ^ a b Elizabeth Carter; Matthew W. Stolper (1984). Elam: Surveys of Political History and Archaeology. University of California Press. p. 73. ISBN 978-0-520-09950-0.
  17. ^ Gwendolyn Leick (31 January 2002). Who's Who in the Ancient Near East. Routledge. p. 76. ISBN 978-1-134-78796-8.
  18. ^ a b Sigfried J. de Laet; Ahmad Hasan Dani (1994). History of Humanity: From the third millennium to the seventh century B.C. UNESCO. p. 579. ISBN 978-92-3-102811-3.
  19. ^ Some archaeologists have suggested that Simashki was located in the north of Elam and Anshan near modern Isfahan.
  20. ^ Cameron, 1936; The Cambridge History of Iran; Hinz, 1972; The Cambridge Ancient History; Majidzadeh, 1991; Majidzadeh, 1997; Vallat "Elam ...", 1998.
  21. ^ Hinz, 1972.
  22. ^ "Awan King List".
  23. ^ SCHEIL, V. (1931). "Dynasties Élamites d'Awan et de Simaš". Revue d'Assyriologie et d'archéologie orientale. 28 (1): 1–46. ISSN 0373-6032. JSTOR 23283945.

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