Erra-imitti: Difference between revisions
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'''Erra-Imittī''', (<sup>d</sup>''èr-ra-i-mit-ti''<ref group=i>''Ur-Isin King List'' 14.</ref>) ca. 1805–1799 BC ([[Short chronology timeline|short chronology]]) or ca. 1868–1861 BC ([[Chronology of the ancient Near East#Variant Bronze Age chronologies|middle chronology]]),<ref name=edzard>{{ cite book | title = Reallexikon der Assyriologie und Vorderasiatischen Archäologie: Ia - Kizzuwatna | author = D. O. Edzard | editor = Erich Ebeling, Bruno Meissner | volume = 5 | publisher = Walter De Gruyter Inc | year = 1999 | page = 170 }}</ref> was king of [[Isin]], modern Ishan al-Bahriyat, and according to the ''[[Sumerian King List]]'' ruled for eight years. He succeeded Lipit-Enlil, with whom his relationship is uncertain and was a contemporary and rival of [[Sumuel|Sūmû-El]] and [[Nur-Adad|Nūr-Adad]] of the parallel dynasty of [[Larsa]]. He is best known for the legendary tale of his demise. |
'''Erra-Imittī''', ([[cuneiform]]: <sup>d</sup>''èr-ra-i-mit-ti''<ref group=i>''Ur-Isin King List'' 14.</ref>) ca. 1805–1799 BC ([[Short chronology timeline|short chronology]]) or ca. 1868–1861 BC ([[Chronology of the ancient Near East#Variant Bronze Age chronologies|middle chronology]]),<ref name=edzard>{{ cite book | title = Reallexikon der Assyriologie und Vorderasiatischen Archäologie: Ia - Kizzuwatna | author = D. O. Edzard | editor = Erich Ebeling, Bruno Meissner | volume = 5 | publisher = Walter De Gruyter Inc | year = 1999 | page = 170 }}</ref> was king of [[Isin]], modern Ishan al-Bahriyat, and according to the ''[[Sumerian King List]]'' ruled for eight years. He succeeded [[Lipit-Enlil]], with whom his relationship is uncertain and was a contemporary and rival of [[Sumuel|Sūmû-El]] and [[Nur-Adad|Nūr-Adad]] of the parallel dynasty of [[Larsa]]. He is best known for the legendary tale of his demise. |
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==Biography== |
==Biography== |
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He seems to have recovered control of Nippur from Larsa early in his reign but perhaps lost it again, as its recovery is celebrated by his successor. The later regnal year-names offer some glimmer of events, for example “the year following the year Erra-Imittī seized [[Kisurra]]"<ref group=nb>BM 85348: mu ús-sa ki-sur-ra<sup>ki</sup> <sup>d</sup>Ìr-ra-i-mi-ti ba-an-dib.</ref> (the modern site of Abū-Ḥaṭab) for the date of a receipt for a bridal gift and “the year Erra-Imittī destroyed the city wall of Kazallu,”<ref group=nb>YOS 14 319: mu <sup>d</sup>Ìr-ra-i-mi-ti bàd ka-zal-lu<sup>ki</sup> ba-gal.</ref><ref>{{ cite book | title = Tablets from Kisurra in the Collections of British Museum | author = Anne Goddeeris | publisher = Harrassowitz | year = 2009 | page = 16 }}</ref> a city allied with Larsa and antagonistic to Isin and its |
He seems to have recovered control of [[Nippur]] from Larsa early in his reign but perhaps lost it again, as its recovery is celebrated again by his successor. The later regnal year-names offer some glimmer of events, for example “the year following the year Erra-Imittī seized [[Kisurra]]"<ref group=nb>BM 85348: mu ús-sa ki-sur-ra<sup>ki</sup> <sup>d</sup>Ìr-ra-i-mi-ti ba-an-dib.</ref> (the modern site of Abū-Ḥaṭab) for the date of a receipt for a bridal gift and “the year Erra-Imittī destroyed the city wall of Kazallu,”<ref group=nb>YOS 14 319: mu <sup>d</sup>Ìr-ra-i-mi-ti bàd ka-zal-lu<sup>ki</sup> ba-gal.</ref><ref>{{ cite book | title = Tablets from Kisurra in the Collections of British Museum | author = Anne Goddeeris | publisher = Harrassowitz | year = 2009 | page = 16 }}</ref> a city allied with Larsa and antagonistic to Isin and its ally, [[Babylon]]. His conquest of Kisurra would have been a significant escalation of hostilities against Isin's rival Larsa.<ref name=bryce>{{ cite book | title = The Routledge Handbook of The Peoples and Places of Ancient Western Asia | author = Trevor Bryce | publisher = Routledge | year = 2009 | page = 391 }}</ref> A haematite [[cylinder seal]]<ref group=i>Cylinder seal BM 130695.</ref> of his servant and scribe Iliška-uṭul, son of Sîn-ennam, has come to light from this city, suggesting prolonged occupation.<ref>{{ cite book | title = Old Babylonian Period (2003-1595 B.C.): Early Periods, Volume 4 | author = Douglas Frayne | publisher = University of Toronto Press | year = 1990 | page = 76 }}</ref> The latest attested year-name gives the year he built the city wall of ''gan-x-Erra-Imittī'', perhaps an eponymous new town. |
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When the omens predicted impending doom for a monarch, it was customary to appoint a substitute as a "statue though animate",<ref group=nb>NU-NÍG-SAG-ÍL-e.</ref> a scape-goat for a hundred days to deflect the disaster, at the end of which the proxy and his spouse would be ritually slaughtered and the king would resume his throne.<ref>{{ cite book | title = Daily Life in Ancient Mesopotamia | author = Karen Rhea Nemet-Nejat | publisher = Greenwood Press | year = 1998 | page = 189 }}</ref> |
When the omens predicted impending doom for a monarch, it was customary to appoint a substitute as a "statue though animate",<ref group=nb>NU-NÍG-SAG-ÍL-e.</ref> a scape-goat who stood in the place of the king but did not exercise power for a hundred days to deflect the disaster, at the end of which the proxy and his spouse would be ritually slaughtered and the king would resume his throne.<ref>{{ cite book | title = Daily Life in Ancient Mesopotamia | author = Karen Rhea Nemet-Nejat | publisher = Greenwood Press | year = 1998 | page = 189 }}</ref> The ''Chronicle of early kings''<ref group=i>''[[Chronicle of Early Kings]]'' (ABC 20) A 31 to 36 and repeated as B 1 to 7.</ref> relates that: |
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{{ quote|<sup>d</sup>Èr-ar-zà.dib lugal <sup>d</sup>En-l íl-dù <sup>lú</sup>nu.kiri<sub>6</sub><br> a-na nu nì.sag.gil<sup>e</sup> ina <sup>giš</sup>gu.za-šú ú-še-šib<br> aga lugal<sup>ti-šú</sup> ina sag.du-šú iš-ta-kan<br> <sup>d</sup>Èr-ra-i-mit-ti ina é.gal-šú pap-pa-su im-me-tú in sa-ra-pi-šú im-tu-ut<br> <sup>d</sup>En-l íl-dù šá in <sup>giš</sup>gu.za ú-ši-bi ul it-bi<sup>im-tu-ut</sup><br> a-na lugal <sup>ú-ti</sup>it-taš-kan<br><br> |
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Translation: King Erra-imittī ordered Enlil-bâni, the gardener, to sit on the throne as a royal substitute (and) put the crown of kingship on his head. Erra-imittī died in his palace while swallowing hot porridge<ref group=nb>pappasu = a porridge, in CAD “p” vol. 12 (2005), p. 111, other translators say soup or broth.</ref> in little sips. [[Enlil-bani|Enlil-bâni]], who sat on the throne, did not resign and was elevated to the royal office.<ref name=glassner>{{ cite book | title = Mesopotamian Chronicles | author = [[Jean-Jacques Glassner]] | publisher = SBL | year = 2005 | page = 271 }}</ref>|Chronicle of early kings|after Glassner but with correction }} |
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He was succeeded by [[Ikūn-pî-Ištar]], according to two variant copies of the [[Sumerian King List]], or Enlil-bâni, if the other sources are correct.<ref name=glassner/> |
Presumably his error was to remain in the palace while the substitute ceremony was conducted. While the tale may be apocryphal, it provides a literary demarcation between dynasties.<ref>{{ cite journal | title = The Limits of Skepticism | author = William W. Hallo | journal = Journal of the American Oriental Society | volume = 110 | number = 2 | year = 1990 | jstor = 604525 | page = 189 }}</ref> He was succeeded by [[Ikūn-pî-Ištar]], according to two variant copies of the [[Sumerian King List]], or Enlil-bâni, if the other sources are correct.<ref name=glassner/> |
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== Inscriptions == |
== Inscriptions == |
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Revision as of 15:21, 24 September 2016
| Erra-Imittī | |
|---|---|
| King of Isin | |
| Reign | 1805–1799 BC |
| Predecessor | Lipit-Enlil |
| Successor | Enlil-bâni |
| House | 1stDynasty of Isin |
Erra-Imittī, (cuneiform: dèr-ra-i-mit-ti[i 1]) ca. 1805–1799 BC (short chronology) or ca. 1868–1861 BC (middle chronology),[1] was king of Isin, modern Ishan al-Bahriyat, and according to the Sumerian King List ruled for eight years. He succeeded Lipit-Enlil, with whom his relationship is uncertain and was a contemporary and rival of Sūmû-El and Nūr-Adad of the parallel dynasty of Larsa. He is best known for the legendary tale of his demise.
Biography
He seems to have recovered control of Nippur from Larsa early in his reign but perhaps lost it again, as its recovery is celebrated again by his successor. The later regnal year-names offer some glimmer of events, for example “the year following the year Erra-Imittī seized Kisurra"[nb 1] (the modern site of Abū-Ḥaṭab) for the date of a receipt for a bridal gift and “the year Erra-Imittī destroyed the city wall of Kazallu,”[nb 2][2] a city allied with Larsa and antagonistic to Isin and its ally, Babylon. His conquest of Kisurra would have been a significant escalation of hostilities against Isin's rival Larsa.[3] A haematite cylinder seal[i 2] of his servant and scribe Iliška-uṭul, son of Sîn-ennam, has come to light from this city, suggesting prolonged occupation.[4] The latest attested year-name gives the year he built the city wall of gan-x-Erra-Imittī, perhaps an eponymous new town.
When the omens predicted impending doom for a monarch, it was customary to appoint a substitute as a "statue though animate",[nb 3] a scape-goat who stood in the place of the king but did not exercise power for a hundred days to deflect the disaster, at the end of which the proxy and his spouse would be ritually slaughtered and the king would resume his throne.[5] The Chronicle of early kings[i 3] relates that:
dÈr-ar-zà.dib lugal dEn-l íl-dù lúnu.kiri6
a-na nu nì.sag.gile ina gišgu.za-šú ú-še-šib
aga lugalti-šú ina sag.du-šú iš-ta-kan
dÈr-ra-i-mit-ti ina é.gal-šú pap-pa-su im-me-tú in sa-ra-pi-šú im-tu-ut
dEn-l íl-dù šá in gišgu.za ú-ši-bi ul it-biim-tu-ut
a-na lugal ú-tiit-taš-kan
Translation: King Erra-imittī ordered Enlil-bâni, the gardener, to sit on the throne as a royal substitute (and) put the crown of kingship on his head. Erra-imittī died in his palace while swallowing hot porridge[nb 4] in little sips. Enlil-bâni, who sat on the throne, did not resign and was elevated to the royal office.[6]— Chronicle of early kings, after Glassner but with correction
Presumably his error was to remain in the palace while the substitute ceremony was conducted. While the tale may be apocryphal, it provides a literary demarcation between dynasties.[7] He was succeeded by Ikūn-pî-Ištar, according to two variant copies of the Sumerian King List, or Enlil-bâni, if the other sources are correct.[6]
Inscriptions
- ^ Ur-Isin King List 14.
- ^ Cylinder seal BM 130695.
- ^ Chronicle of Early Kings (ABC 20) A 31 to 36 and repeated as B 1 to 7.
Notes
External links
References
- ^ D. O. Edzard (1999). Erich Ebeling, Bruno Meissner (ed.). Reallexikon der Assyriologie und Vorderasiatischen Archäologie: Ia - Kizzuwatna. Vol. 5. Walter De Gruyter Inc. p. 170.
- ^ Anne Goddeeris (2009). Tablets from Kisurra in the Collections of British Museum. Harrassowitz. p. 16.
- ^ Trevor Bryce (2009). The Routledge Handbook of The Peoples and Places of Ancient Western Asia. Routledge. p. 391.
- ^ Douglas Frayne (1990). Old Babylonian Period (2003-1595 B.C.): Early Periods, Volume 4. University of Toronto Press. p. 76.
- ^ Karen Rhea Nemet-Nejat (1998). Daily Life in Ancient Mesopotamia. Greenwood Press. p. 189.
- ^ a b Jean-Jacques Glassner (2005). Mesopotamian Chronicles. SBL. p. 271.
- ^ William W. Hallo (1990). "The Limits of Skepticism". Journal of the American Oriental Society. 110 (2): 189. JSTOR 604525.
