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(Redirected from Amar-Suen)
Sumerian king, 21st-century BC
"Bur-Sin" redirects here. For the 7th king of the 1st Dynasty of Isin, see Bur-Suen.
An architectural foundation-nail figurine depicting king Amar-Sin himself carrying the builder's wicker traybasket, and a cuneiform dedication tablet of Amar-Sin
Amar-Sin (Akkadian: ๐ญ๐ซ๐ญ๐๐ช: AmarSรฎn, "calf of Sรฎn", the "๐ญ" being a silent honorific for "Divine"), initially misread as Bur-Sin (c. 2046โ2037 BC) middle chronology, was the third ruler of the Ur III Dynasty. He succeeded his father Shulgi (c. 2030โ1982 BC). His name translates to 'bull calf of the moon-god'. The name Amar-Sin was not recorded before his ascension and is a "throne name". His original name, and whether he was actually the son of Shugi, is unknown. It has been proposed that Amar-Sin, Shu-Sin, and Ibbi-Sin were all brothers and sons of Shulgi. Alternatively it has been suggested that Amar-Sin was a nephew of Shulgi, explaining his difficulties at the beginning and ending of his reign.
Reign
Year-names are known for all nine years of his reign. These record campaigns conducted against Urbilum, and several other regions with obscure names: Shashrum, Shurudhum, Bitum-Rabium, Jabru, and Huhnuri. Amar-Sin is otherwise known to have campaigned against Elamite rulers such as Arwilukpi of Marhashi, and the Ur Empire under his reign extended as far as the northern provinces of Lullubi and Hamazi, with their own governors. He also ruled over Assur through the Akkadian governor Zariqum, as confirmed by his monumental inscription.
Amar-Sin's reign is notable for his attempt at regenerating the ancient sites of Sumer. He apparently worked on the unfinished ziggurat at Eridu.
The Babylonian Weidner Chronicle records the following: "Amar-Sin ... changed the offerings of large oxen and sheep of the Akitu festival in Esagila. It was foretold that he would die from goring by an ox, but he died from the 'bite' of his shoe."
Attempted Coup
The administrative documentation from Amar-Sin's reign suggests that in his final years, he was confronted with some internal strife, and it is likely that his brother, Shu-Sin, was behind an effort to ovethrow him. The imperial guard, the agร -รบs, were replaced in Amar-Sin's seventh year with a unit called the gร r-du, often the gร r-du of Amar-Sin. This unit disappears from the record in his ninth year shortly after his death. Also in his seventh year, the king hosted military officials from throughout the empire at a banquet in Ur, where they were required to swear an oath of loyalty. Cylinder seals bearing dedications to the king Shu-Sin appear towards the end of Amar-Suen's reign, but certainly before his death. The provincial governors also see some unusual transitions during this time, including being ousted during the middle of Amar-Sin's reign, only to return to their post after his death. Taken together, it seems likely that Shu-Sin attempted to take power during his brother's reign. It is unclear if Amar-Sin was assassinated during this period, or if he died of natural causes.
Year names of Amar-Sin
All the year names of Amar-Sin are known, and, as was standard for the time, document events during that king's reign. While some events are military conquests, most of Amar-Sin's years record cultic activities. Some examples include:
1a. Year: "Amar-Suen is king"
1b. Year: "Harshi and Kimaลก were destroyed"
2a. Year: "Amar-Suen, the king, destroyed Urbilum"
5a. Year: "Enunugalanna was installed as en-priest of Inanna in Uruk"
6b. Year: "Amar-Suen, the king, destroyed Shashrum for the second time and Shurudhum"
7b: Year: "Amar-Suen, the king, destroyed Bitum-rabium, Jabru, their territories and Huhnuri"
โ Some year names of Amar-Sin.
Artifacts
Statue fragment bearing incised cuneiform inscription of Amar-Sin, ca. 2046โ2038 B.C. Neo-Sumerian
Stamped mud-brick of Amar-Sin
Fired clay brick stamped with the name of Amar-Sin, Ur III, from Eridu. British Museum.
Cuneiform tablet impressed with cylinder seal. Receipt of goats, ca. 2040 BC, year 7 of Amar-Sin. Neo-Sumerian.
Cuneiform tablet impressed with cylinder seal. Receipt of goats, ca. 2040 BC, Neo-Sumerian (drawing).
Zariqum does not appear on the Assyrian King List tablets, but is usually placed by archaeologists between Akkiya and Puzur-Ashur I. He is well known from contemporary documents as a career governor who was also appointed over Susa at various times between Shulgi year 40 and Shu-Sin year 4.
References
Sharlach, Tonia, "Princely Employments in the Reign of Shulgi", Journal of Ancient Near Eastern History, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 1-68, 2022
Michalowski, Piotr, "Of Bears and Men. Thoughts on the End of ล ulgiโs Reign and on the Ensuing Succession", in Literature as Politics, Politics as Literature:Essays on the Ancient Near East in Honor of Peter Machinist, ed. David S. Vanderhooft and Abraham Winitzer. Winona Lake, IN: Eisenbrau, pp. 285โ320. 2013
An architectural foundation-nail figurine depicting king Amar-Sin himself carrying the builder's wicker traybasket, and a cuneiform dedication tablet of Amar-Sin
Statue fragment bearing incised cuneiform inscription of Amar-Sin, ca. 2046โ2038 B.C. Neo-Sumerian
Stamped mud-brick of Amar-Sin
Fired clay brick stamped with the name of Amar-Sin, Ur III, from Eridu. British Museum.
Cuneiform tablet impressed with cylinder seal. Receipt of goats, ca. 2040 BC, year 7 of Amar-Sin. Neo-Sumerian.
Cuneiform tablet impressed with cylinder seal. Receipt of goats, ca. 2040 BC, Neo-Sumerian (drawing).
Inscription with the name "Amar-Sin"
Dedication tablet of Amar-Sin
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