Sea of ​​Nairi

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The term Sea of ​​Nairi from the Assyrian sources (A.AB.BA ša KUR Na-i-ri, māt na-'i-ri) is usually translated as Vansee . An “upper and lower sea of Nairi ” has been mentioned since Shalmaneser II , Russell suspects Lake Van and Lake Urmia here , so the more general phrase “Sea of ​​Nairi” may designate both waters. In the report of his third year of reign, Shalmanasser only mentions the Sea of ​​Nairi, although he must have reached both Lake Van and Lake Urmia.

In the Assyrian sources, Lake Van is also referred to as the " Upper Sea ". The name appears, for example, in the inscriptions of Tukulti-Ninurta I in connection with the Nairi countries. Even Ashur-bel-kala mentions the "Upper Sea" in a fragment. In several inscriptions by Tiglath-pileser III. the "Upper Sea of ​​Sunset" is mentioned. The term is apparently used for both Lake Van and the Mediterranean , which Tiglat-pileser reached as the first Assyrian ruler.

Gregor Melikišvili wants to interpret the upper sea as the Black Sea , in which, however, hardly any other researchers followed him.

Shalmaneser III.

In the inscription on his throne in Kalhu , Shalmaneser III reports . of his actions. In the year of his accession to the throne, i.e. 850 BC He moved to the sea of ​​the land of Nairi. He cleaned his weapons in the sea, sacrificed sheep and erected a stele with his image as a king "to make my name known". He conquered and burned the cities of Aridu , Ḫubuškia , Sugunia and all the cities in their vicinity and carried away booty. He received tribute from Ḫarǧa , Harmasa , Ulmasa , Simera , Siriš and Gilzanu - chariot horses and camels with two humps.

literature

  • Hugh F. Russell: Shalmaneser's Campaign to Urartu in 856 BC and the Historical Geography of Eastern Anatolia according to the Assyrian Sources. In: Anatolian Studies. 34, 1984, ISSN  0066-1546 , pp. 171-201.
  • Eberhard Schrader : The names of the seas in the Assyrian inscriptions. In: Treatises of the Royal Academy of Sciences in Berlin. 1877, ZDB -ID 955708-8 , pp. 169-195, digitized .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ HF Russell, Shalmaneser's campaign to Urarṭu in 856 BC and the historical geography of Eastern Anatolia according to the Assyrian sources. Anatolian Studies 34, 1984, 191
  2. ^ G. Melikišvili, Kulcha. Drevnij Mir, Moscow 1962; G. Melikisvili Cernoje more v assirijskije klinopisnych istocnikach XIII-XII vv do ne In: Kavkasiis xalxat'a istoriis sakit'xebi (Festschrift for NA Berjenisvili, Tiflis 1966) quoted from O. Lordkipanidze, Archäologie in Georgien 1991, Weinheim
  3. ^ P. Hulin, The Inscriptions on the carved Throne-Base of Shalmaneser III. Iraq 25/1, 1963, 51