Larsa (also Larag or Larak, modern Tell as-Senkereh, Iraq, possibly the Biblical Ellasar), was an important city of ancient Sumer. Mesopotamia (from the Greek meaning "land between the rivers" is an area geographically located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers largely corresponding Hammurabi ( Akkadian from Amorite ˤAmmurāpi, "the kinsman is a healer" from ˤAmmu, "paternal kinsman" and Rāpi Amurru (or Martu) are names given in Akkadian and Sumerian texts to the god of the Amorite /Amurru people often forming part of personal Hammurabi ( Akkadian from Amorite ˤAmmurāpi, "the kinsman is a healer" from ˤAmmu, "paternal kinsman" and Rāpi The 2nd millennium BC marks the transition from the Middle to the Late Bronze Age. The Louvre Museum (Musée du Louvre located in Paris is the world's most visited art museum a historic monument and a national museum of France For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iraq topics. Arioch is a Hebrew name that means "fierce lion" It originally appears in the Book of Genesis chap Sumer ( Sumerian: sux-Latn [[Ki (earth ki]]-[[EN (cuneiform en]]-'''ĝir15''', Akkadian: Šumeru; possibly Biblical Shinar It lies some 25 km southeast of the ruin mounds of Uruk (biblical Erech), near the east bank of the Shatt-en-Nil canal (modern day southern Iraq). Uruk ( URU UNUG, Sumerian: unug Akkadian: uruk) from the Akkadian rendering of the Sumerian Toponym 'unug' is modern Erech ( Hebrew name ארך meaning 'to extract or draw out' was an ancient city in the land of Shinar, the second city built by king Nimrod (later Amraphel For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iraq topics.
Larsa is mentioned in Sumerian inscriptions as early as the time of Ur-Gur, 2700 or 2800 BC, who built or restored the ziggurat of E-babbara, the temple of Utu, the sun god. A ziggurat ( Akkadian ziqqurrat, D-stem of zaqāru "to build on a raised area" was a Temple tower of the ancient Mesopotamian É is the Sumerian for "house" or " Temple " written ideographically with the Cuneiform sign 𒂍 (Borger nr This article refers to the Sumerian Deity. For other uses see Utu (disambiguation.
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History
According to the Sumerian king list, Larsa was one of the five cities to "exercise kingship" in pre-dynastic times (before ca. The Sumerian king list is an ancient text in the Sumerian language that lists kings of Sumer from Sumerian and foreign dynasties 2900 BC).
The city again became a political force during the so-called Isin-Larsa period. Isin (modern Ishan al-Bahriyat was a city of lower Mesopotamia, which flourished during the 20th century BC. After the Third Dynasty of Ur collapsed ca. The Third Dynasty of Ur refers simultaneously to a 21st to 20th century BC ( Short chronology) Sumerian ruling dynasty based in the city of 1940 BC, Ishbi-Erra, an official of Ibbi-Sin, the last king of the Ur III Dynasty, relocated to Isin and set up a government which purported to be the successor to the Ur III dynasty. Ibbi-Sin, son of Shu-Sin, was king of Sumer and Akkad and last king of the Ur III dynasty and reigned Isin (modern Ishan al-Bahriyat was a city of lower Mesopotamia, which flourished during the 20th century BC. From there Ishbi-Erra recaptured Ur as well as the cities of Uruk and Lagash, which Larsa was subject to. Ur ( Sumerian:urim; Akkadian: ?) is modern Tell el-Mukayyar, Iraq, and was a city in ancient Sumer. Uruk ( URU UNUG, Sumerian: unug Akkadian: uruk) from the Akkadian rendering of the Sumerian Toponym 'unug' is modern Lagash ( is modern Tell al-Hiba, Iraq. Located northwest of the junction of the Euphrates and Tigris rivers and east of Uruk Subsequent Isin rulers appointed governors to rule over Lagash; one such governor was an Amorite named Gungunum. Amorite ( Sumerian MARTU, Akkadian Tidnum or Amurrūm, Egyptian Amar, Hebrew ’emōrî Gungunum ruled the Ancient Near East city-state of Larsa from 1868 BC to 1841 BC He eventually broke with Isin and established an independent dynasty in Larsa. To legitimize his rule and deliver a blow to Isin, Gungunum captured the city of Ur. Ur ( Sumerian:urim; Akkadian: ?) is modern Tell el-Mukayyar, Iraq, and was a city in ancient Sumer. As the main center of trade with the Arab-Persian gulf, Isin lost an enormously important portal to a profitable trade route, not to mention a city with much cultic significance. Beyond these few details, the precise reason for Gungunum's break with Isin are largely unknown. One group of scholars theorizes that Isin's internal problems were to blame; it does seem that Isin's rulers allowed the once burgeoning irrigation and agricultural systems to wane. It is possible this was due to sheer neglect, but there is evidence that acquiring access to water in this arid region posed quite a problem for most of southern Mesopotamia in this period.
Gungunum's two successors, Abisare (ca. Abisare ruled the Ancient Near East city-state of Larsa from 1841 BC to 1830 BC 1841 - 1830 BC) and Sumu-el (ca. 1830 - 1801 BC), both took steps to cut Isin completely off from access to canals. After this period, Isin quickly lost political and economical force.
Larsa grew powerful, but it never accumulated a huge tract of land. At its peak under king Rim-Sin I (ca. Rim-Sin I ruled the Ancient Near East city-state of Larsa from 1758 BC to 1699 BC 1758 - 1699 BC), Larsa controlled only about 10-15 other city-states, nowhere near the territory controlled by other dynasties in Mesopotamian history. Nevertheless, huge building projects and agricultural undertakings can be validated by archaeological evidence.
Archaeology
Loftus conducted excavations at this site in 1854. He describes the ruins as consisting of a low, circular platform, about 4. 5 miles in circumference, rising gradually from the level of the plain to a central mound 70 ft. high. This represents the ancient ziggurat of the temple of E-babbara, which was in part explored by Loftus. From the inscriptions found there it appears that, besides the kings already mentioned, Hammurabi, Burna-buriash and Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon restored or rebuilt the temple to Shamash. Hammurabi ( Akkadian from Amorite ˤAmmurāpi, "the kinsman is a healer" from ˤAmmu, "paternal kinsman" and Rāpi Burna-Buriash I and II were two kings in the Kassite dynasty of Babylon. Nebuchadrezzar II, more often called Nebuchadnezzar (c 630-562 BC was a ruler of Babylon in the Chaldean Dynasty, who reigned c The excavations at Senkereh were peculiarly successful in the discovery of inscribed remains, consisting of clay tablets, chiefly contracts, but including also an important mathematical tablet and a number of tablets of a description almost peculiar to Senkereh, exhibiting in bas-relief scenes of everyday life. Loftus found also the remains of an ancient Babylonian cemetery. From the ruins it would appear that Senkereh ceased to be inhabited at or soon after the Persian conquest.
Kings of Larsa
| Ruler | Reigned | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Naplanum | ca. The short chronology is one chronology of the Near Eastern Bronze and Early Iron Age, which fixes the reign of Hammurabi to 1728 BC – 1686 BC and the Sack of Hammurabi ( Akkadian from Amorite ˤAmmurāpi, "the kinsman is a healer" from ˤAmmu, "paternal kinsman" and Rāpi The Louvre Museum (Musée du Louvre located in Paris is the world's most visited art museum a historic monument and a national museum of France Naplanum ruled the Ancient Near East city-state of Larsa ca 1961 BC to 1940 BC 1961—1940 BC (short) | Contemporary of Ibbi-Suen of Ur III |
| Emisum | ca. The short chronology is one chronology of the Near Eastern Bronze and Early Iron Age, which fixes the reign of Hammurabi to 1728 BC – 1686 BC and the Sack of Ibbi-Sin, son of Shu-Sin, was king of Sumer and Akkad and last king of the Ur III dynasty and reigned The Third Dynasty of Ur refers simultaneously to a 21st to 20th century BC ( Short chronology) Sumerian ruling dynasty based in the city of Emisum or Iemsium ruled the Ancient Near East city-state of Larsa from 1940 BC to 1912 BC 1940—1912 BC (short) | |
| Samium | ca. The short chronology is one chronology of the Near Eastern Bronze and Early Iron Age, which fixes the reign of Hammurabi to 1728 BC – 1686 BC and the Sack of Samium ruled the Ancient Near Eastern city-state of Larsa from 1912 BC to 1877 BC 1912—1877 BC (short) | |
| Zabaia | ca. The short chronology is one chronology of the Near Eastern Bronze and Early Iron Age, which fixes the reign of Hammurabi to 1728 BC – 1686 BC and the Sack of Zabaia ruled the Ancient Near East city-state of Larsa from 1877 BC to 1868 BC 1877—1868 BC (short) | Son of Samium, First royal inscription |
| Gungunum | ca. The short chronology is one chronology of the Near Eastern Bronze and Early Iron Age, which fixes the reign of Hammurabi to 1728 BC – 1686 BC and the Sack of Gungunum ruled the Ancient Near East city-state of Larsa from 1868 BC to 1841 BC 1868—1841 BC (short) | Gained independence from Lipit-Eshtar of Isin |
| Abisare | ca. The short chronology is one chronology of the Near Eastern Bronze and Early Iron Age, which fixes the reign of Hammurabi to 1728 BC – 1686 BC and the Sack of Lipit-Ishtar (Lipit-Eshtar was the fifth ruler of the first dynasty of Isin, and ruled from around 1934 BCE to 1924 BCE Isin (modern Ishan al-Bahriyat was a city of lower Mesopotamia, which flourished during the 20th century BC. Abisare ruled the Ancient Near East city-state of Larsa from 1841 BC to 1830 BC 1841—1830 BC (short) | |
| Sumuel | ca. The short chronology is one chronology of the Near Eastern Bronze and Early Iron Age, which fixes the reign of Hammurabi to 1728 BC – 1686 BC and the Sack of Sumuel or Sumu-El ruled the Ancient Near East city-state of Larsa from 1830 BC to 1801 BC 1830—1801 BC (short) | |
| Nur-Adad | ca. The short chronology is one chronology of the Near Eastern Bronze and Early Iron Age, which fixes the reign of Hammurabi to 1728 BC – 1686 BC and the Sack of Nur-Adad ruled the Ancient Near East city-state of Larsa from 1801 BC to 1785 BC 1801—1785 BC (short) | Contemporary of Sumu-la-El of Babylon |
| Sin-Iddinam | ca. The short chronology is one chronology of the Near Eastern Bronze and Early Iron Age, which fixes the reign of Hammurabi to 1728 BC – 1686 BC and the Sack of Sumu-la-El (also Sumulael or Sumu-la-ilu) was a King in the First Dynasty of Babylon. Babylon was a City-state of ancient Mesopotamia, the remains of which can be found in present-day Al Hillah, Babil Province, Iraq Sin-Iddinam ruled the Ancient Near East city-state of Larsa from 1785 BC to 1778 BC 1785—1778 BC (short) | Son of Nur-Adad |
| Sin-Eribam | ca. The short chronology is one chronology of the Near Eastern Bronze and Early Iron Age, which fixes the reign of Hammurabi to 1728 BC – 1686 BC and the Sack of Sin-Eribam ruled the Ancient Near East city-state of Larsa from 1778 BC to 1776 BC 1778—1776 BC (short) | |
| Sin-Iqisham | ca. The short chronology is one chronology of the Near Eastern Bronze and Early Iron Age, which fixes the reign of Hammurabi to 1728 BC – 1686 BC and the Sack of Sin-Iqisham ruled the Ancient Near East city-state of Larsa from 1776 BC to 1771 BC 1776—1771 BC (short) | Contemporary of Zambiya of Isin, Son of Sin-Eribam |
| Silli-Adad | ca. The short chronology is one chronology of the Near Eastern Bronze and Early Iron Age, which fixes the reign of Hammurabi to 1728 BC – 1686 BC and the Sack of Isin (modern Ishan al-Bahriyat was a city of lower Mesopotamia, which flourished during the 20th century BC. Silli-Adad ruled the Ancient Near East city-state of Larsa from 1771 BC to 1770 BC 1771—1770 BC (short) | |
| Warad-Sin | ca. The short chronology is one chronology of the Near Eastern Bronze and Early Iron Age, which fixes the reign of Hammurabi to 1728 BC – 1686 BC and the Sack of Warad-Sin ruled the Ancient Near East city-state of Larsa from 1770 BC to 1758 BC 1770—1758 BC (short) | Possible co-regency with Kudur-Mabuk his father |
| Rim-Sin I | ca. The short chronology is one chronology of the Near Eastern Bronze and Early Iron Age, which fixes the reign of Hammurabi to 1728 BC – 1686 BC and the Sack of Kudur-Mabuk was a ruler in the Ancient Near East city-state of Larsa from 1770 BC to 1754 BC Rim-Sin I ruled the Ancient Near East city-state of Larsa from 1758 BC to 1699 BC 1758—1699 BC (short) | Contemporary of Irdanene of Uruk, Defeated by Hammurabi of Babylon, Brother of Warad-Sin |
| Hammurabi of Babylon | ca. The short chronology is one chronology of the Near Eastern Bronze and Early Iron Age, which fixes the reign of Hammurabi to 1728 BC – 1686 BC and the Sack of Uruk ( URU UNUG, Sumerian: unug Akkadian: uruk) from the Akkadian rendering of the Sumerian Toponym 'unug' is modern Hammurabi ( Akkadian from Amorite ˤAmmurāpi, "the kinsman is a healer" from ˤAmmu, "paternal kinsman" and Rāpi Babylon was a City-state of ancient Mesopotamia, the remains of which can be found in present-day Al Hillah, Babil Province, Iraq Hammurabi ( Akkadian from Amorite ˤAmmurāpi, "the kinsman is a healer" from ˤAmmu, "paternal kinsman" and Rāpi Babylon was a City-state of ancient Mesopotamia, the remains of which can be found in present-day Al Hillah, Babil Province, Iraq 1699—1686 BC (short) | Official Babylonian rule |
| Samsu-iluna of Babylon | ca. The short chronology is one chronology of the Near Eastern Bronze and Early Iron Age, which fixes the reign of Hammurabi to 1728 BC – 1686 BC and the Sack of Samsu-Iluna ( Samsuiluna) was the King of Babylon, who reigned from 1749 BC to 1712 BC. Babylon was a City-state of ancient Mesopotamia, the remains of which can be found in present-day Al Hillah, Babil Province, Iraq 1686—1678 BC (short) | Official Babylonian rule |
| Rim-Sin II | ca. The short chronology is one chronology of the Near Eastern Bronze and Early Iron Age, which fixes the reign of Hammurabi to 1728 BC – 1686 BC and the Sack of Rim-Sin II ruled the Ancient Near East city-state of Larsa from 1678 BC to 1674 BC 1678—1674 BC (short) | Killed in revolt against Babylon |
References
- This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain. The short chronology is one chronology of the Near Eastern Bronze and Early Iron Age, which fixes the reign of Hammurabi to 1728 BC – 1686 BC and the Sack of Babylon was a City-state of ancient Mesopotamia, the remains of which can be found in present-day Al Hillah, Babil Province, Iraq The Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition (1910–1911 is a 29-volume reference work that marked the beginning of the Encyclopædia Britannica The public domain is a range of abstract materials &ndash commonly referred to as Intellectual property &ndash which are not owned or controlled by anyone
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