Shu-Sin, also Šu-Suen (
Akkadian: 𒀭𒋗𒀭𒂗𒍪: DŠuDSîn, after the Moon God
Sîn", the "
𒀭" being a silent honorific for "Divine", formerly read Gimil-Sin) was king of
Sumer and
Akkad, and was the penultimate king of the
Ur III dynasty. He succeeded his father
Amar-Sin,[1] and reigned 2037–2028 BC (
Middle Chronology) or 1973–1964 BC (
short chronology).
Reign
Following an open revolt of his
Amorite subjects, he directed the construction of a fortified wall between the
Euphrates and the
Tigris rivers in his fourth year, intending it to hold off any further Amorite attacks. He was succeeded by his son
Ibbi-Sin.
An erotic poem addressed to Shu-Sin by a female speaker is preserved in a
cuneiform tablet.[2] The poem's speaker expresses her strong desires and longings for the king.[3][4][5]
An inscription states that he gave his daughter in marriage to the ruler of
Šimānum "His daughter was given as a bride to Simanum. Simanum, Habura, and the surrounding districts rebelled against the king, they chased his daughter away from her residence." Shu-Sin subsequently conquered
Šimānum and restored his daughter there.[6]
Year names of Shu-sin
The year names for the reign of Shu-sin are all known and give an information about the events of his reign. The most important ones are:[7]
1 Year Szu-Sin became king
2 Year Szu-Sin the king of Ur made / caulked the boat of Enki (called the) 'ibex of the abzu'
3 Year Szu-Sin the king of Ur destroyed Simanum
4 Year Szu-Sin the king of Ur built the amurru wall (called) 'muriq-tidnim / holding back the Tidanum'
6 Year Szu-Sin the king of Ur erected a magnificent stele for Enlil and Ninlil
7 Year Szu-Sin, the king of Ur, king of the four quarters, destroyed the land of Zabszali
9 Year Szu-Sin the king of Ur built the temple of Szara in Umma
Artifacts
There is vast number of artifacts with inscriptions in the name of Shu-sin.[8]
Door socket inscribed with the name of Shu-Sin, king of Ur, Ur III. From Mesopotamia, Erbil Civilization Museum.
Inscription with the name of Shu-Sin
Seal of Shu-Sin: "Shu-sin, the Great King, King of Ur, King of the four world quarters..."
Inscribed stone ring of a fountain, in the name of king Shu-Sin.
Pergamon Museum.
Inscription of King Shu-Sîn, commemorating the construction of the temple of the god Shara at Umma. Musée national d'histoire et d'art, Luxembourg, Cabinet des Médailles.
Seal of Abbakalla of Ur, riding a horse (reign of Shu-Sin, UR III, 2037–2028 BCE), one of the first known such depiction.[9][10]
^Fant, Clyde E.; Reddish, Mitchell G. (2008-10-15). Lost Treasures of the Bible: Understanding the Bible Through Archaeological Artifacts in World Museums. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing.
ISBN9780802828811.
^Longman, Tremper III;
Enns, Peter (2008-06-06). Dictionary of the Old Testament: Wisdom, Poetry & Writings: A Compendium of Contemporary Biblical Scholarship. InterVarsity Press.
Nicole Brisch, The Priestess and the King: The Divine Kingship of Šū-Sîn of Ur, Journal of the American Oriental Society, vol. 126, no. 2, pp. 161–176, (Apr. - Jun., 2006)
Shu-Sin, also Šu-Suen (
Akkadian: 𒀭𒋗𒀭𒂗𒍪: DŠuDSîn, after the Moon God
Sîn", the "
𒀭" being a silent honorific for "Divine", formerly read Gimil-Sin) was king of
Sumer and
Akkad, and was the penultimate king of the
Ur III dynasty. He succeeded his father
Amar-Sin,[1] and reigned 2037–2028 BC (
Middle Chronology) or 1973–1964 BC (
short chronology).
Reign
Following an open revolt of his
Amorite subjects, he directed the construction of a fortified wall between the
Euphrates and the
Tigris rivers in his fourth year, intending it to hold off any further Amorite attacks. He was succeeded by his son
Ibbi-Sin.
An erotic poem addressed to Shu-Sin by a female speaker is preserved in a
cuneiform tablet.[2] The poem's speaker expresses her strong desires and longings for the king.[3][4][5]
An inscription states that he gave his daughter in marriage to the ruler of
Šimānum "His daughter was given as a bride to Simanum. Simanum, Habura, and the surrounding districts rebelled against the king, they chased his daughter away from her residence." Shu-Sin subsequently conquered
Šimānum and restored his daughter there.[6]
Year names of Shu-sin
The year names for the reign of Shu-sin are all known and give an information about the events of his reign. The most important ones are:[7]
1 Year Szu-Sin became king
2 Year Szu-Sin the king of Ur made / caulked the boat of Enki (called the) 'ibex of the abzu'
3 Year Szu-Sin the king of Ur destroyed Simanum
4 Year Szu-Sin the king of Ur built the amurru wall (called) 'muriq-tidnim / holding back the Tidanum'
6 Year Szu-Sin the king of Ur erected a magnificent stele for Enlil and Ninlil
7 Year Szu-Sin, the king of Ur, king of the four quarters, destroyed the land of Zabszali
9 Year Szu-Sin the king of Ur built the temple of Szara in Umma
Artifacts
There is vast number of artifacts with inscriptions in the name of Shu-sin.[8]
Door socket inscribed with the name of Shu-Sin, king of Ur, Ur III. From Mesopotamia, Erbil Civilization Museum.
Inscription with the name of Shu-Sin
Seal of Shu-Sin: "Shu-sin, the Great King, King of Ur, King of the four world quarters..."
Inscribed stone ring of a fountain, in the name of king Shu-Sin.
Pergamon Museum.
Inscription of King Shu-Sîn, commemorating the construction of the temple of the god Shara at Umma. Musée national d'histoire et d'art, Luxembourg, Cabinet des Médailles.
Seal of Abbakalla of Ur, riding a horse (reign of Shu-Sin, UR III, 2037–2028 BCE), one of the first known such depiction.[9][10]
^Fant, Clyde E.; Reddish, Mitchell G. (2008-10-15). Lost Treasures of the Bible: Understanding the Bible Through Archaeological Artifacts in World Museums. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing.
ISBN9780802828811.
^Longman, Tremper III;
Enns, Peter (2008-06-06). Dictionary of the Old Testament: Wisdom, Poetry & Writings: A Compendium of Contemporary Biblical Scholarship. InterVarsity Press.
Nicole Brisch, The Priestess and the King: The Divine Kingship of Šū-Sîn of Ur, Journal of the American Oriental Society, vol. 126, no. 2, pp. 161–176, (Apr. - Jun., 2006)