Iškuza

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Iškuza or Ischkuza is in the 7th century BC. The Akkadian name of an unspecified region not far from the Zagros Mountains and Mannea . The immigrant nomads are under Assurbanipal around 665 BC. First described as a threat to Assyria . As an Akkadian peoples' name, they were given the name Iškuza-ia / im and are equated by modern research with the name Scythians .

origin

The origin is not clear. Modern research suggests a relationship with the Kimmerers . However, an equation must not be made, since both peoples are mentioned at the same time and there is a clear separation of the two tribes. The names and their language show strong similarities to the Hittite , Luwian and Eastern Anatolian languages.

Iškuza in the mentions of Ashurbanipal

Assurbanipal reports around 665 BC. From a locust-like incursion of barbaric destroyers who devastated the country and used the Assyrian swear word Gutäer for their leader Dugdamme . Together with Urartu , Mannea and Cimmeria, Iškuza was named in the list of hostile states. Around 667 BC King Gyges asked for Assyrian help against the wandering Iškuzaia . Assurbanipal did not respond to the call for help and shortly afterwards noted the capture of Gyges. In the further course Gyges must have succeeded in the reconquest, since between 666 BC. BC and 650 BC A victory over the Iškuzaia is reported.

Whether Assurbanipal was able to completely repel the attack by the Iškuzaia remains a matter of dispute.

After Gyges' death in 644 BC His son and successor Ardys II asked again for Assyrian help. It could not be clarified whether the request was complied with. The written tradition for Dugdamme ends around 642 BC. With his death in Kilikien . His son and successor Sandakkurru (reading Sandakšatru also possible) is mentioned in a hymn to Marduk around 640 BC. Called BC, in which Ashurbanipal asks for a final victory over the Iškuzaia ; further evidence that the threat persisted in the years after Tugdamme.

In another oracle request to Shamasch , the Cimmerians and Iškuzaia are named together, who at that time besieged and attacked the provinces of Bit Hamban and Parsumaš .

literature