Simurrum

Simurrum (: ''Si-mu-ur-ri-im'') was an important city state of the Mesopotamian area from around 2000 BCE to 1500 BCE, during the period of the Akkadian Empire down to Ur III. The Simurrum Kingdom disappears from records after the Old Babylonian period. It has been
proposed that in Old Babylonian times its name was Zabban, a notable cult center of Adad. It was neighbor and sometimes ally with the Lullubi kingdom. Zabban is noted as a
cult center of Adad into the Neo-Babylonian period.

History

The Simurrum Kingdom seems to have been part of a belt of Hurrian city states in the northeastern portion of Mesopotamian area. They were often in conflict with the rulers of Ur III.Douglas Frayne, "Simurrum", Old Babylonian Period (2003-1595 B.C.): Early Periods, Volume 4, Toronto: University of Toronto Press, pp. 707-716, 1990 Mesopotamian sources refer to them as
"highlanders".

Several Kings ( 𒈗, pronounced ''Šàr'', "''Shar''", in Akkadian) of Simurrum are known, such as Iddin-Sin and his son Zabazuna. Various inscriptions suggest that they were contemporary with king Ishbi-Erra (). Another king, mentioned in The Great Revolt against Narām-Sîn, was ^mPu-ut-ti-ma-da-al.

Several inscriptions suggest that Simurrum was quite powerful, and shed some light on the conflicts around the Zagros area, another such example being the Anubanini rock relief of the nearby Lullubi Kingdom. Four inscriptions and a relief (now in the Israel Museum) of the Simurrum have been identified at Bitwata near Ranya in Iraq, and one from Sarpol-e Zahab in Iran.

Akkadian Period

The Simurrun were regularly in conflict with the Akkadian Empire. The names of four years of the reign of Sargon of Akkad describe his campaigns against Elam, Mari, Simurrum, and Uru'a (an Elamite city-state):

One unknown year during the reign of Akkadian Empire king Naram-Sin of Akkad was recorded as "the Year when Naram-Sin was victorious against Simurrum in Kirasheniwe and took prisoner Baba the governor of Simurrum, and Dubul the ''ensi'' (ruler) of Arame". Arame is known to be associated with Eshnunna. An Old Babylonian letter also associates Simurrum with Eshnunna. This suggests Simurrum was in the area of that city.

After the Akkadian Empire fell to the Gutians, the Lullubians and the Simurrums rebelled against the Gutian ruler Erridupizir, according to the latter's inscriptions:

At one point, Simurrum may have become a vassal of the Gutians.

Ur III Period

The Ur III empire was frequently in conflict with the city. The 44th year name of the second ruler, Shulgi (c. 2094–2046 BC), was "Year Simurrum and Lullubum were destroyed for the ninth time". In one of these conflicts Shulgi captured the ruler of Sumurrum, Tabban-darah, and sent him to exile in Drehem. Sillus-Dagan is known to have been a governor of Simurrum under Ur III at the time of ruler Amar-Sin. It has been suggested that he was an Amorite. Four texts from Drehem with seals mentioning him have been found, including:

For a time, Simurrum was in alliance with Ur and a diplomat from Simurrum, Kirib-ulme, is recorded as active during Amar-Sin (c. 2046–2037 BC) years 8 and 9 into Shu-Sin (c. 2037–2028 BC) years 1 and 2. During the rule of Su-Sin in the waning years of the Ur III Empire an administrator assigned to build the Mardu Wall reported "When I sent for word (to the area) between the two mountains it was brought to my attention that the Mardu were camped in the mountains. Simurrum had come to their aid. (Therefore) I proceeded to (the area) "between" the mountain range(s) of Ebih in order to do battle".

Military struggles continues up to the time of the final ruler of Ur III, Ibbi-Sin (c. 2028–2004 BC) with his third year name reporting destroying Smiurrum.
Simurrum seems to have become independent after the collapse of Ur III.

In order to make peace with a fellow ruler Turukki leader Zaziya (Ur III period) handed over a ruler of Simurrum:

Isin-Larsa period

Simmurum is known from writings found at Eshnunna dated to the reign of Isin ruler
Ishbi-Erra (c. 2017-1986 BC). Three officials from Simurrum are mentioned, Teheš-atal, Zili-ewri, and Ili-dannu. The ruler of Simurrum at that time was Iddi(n)-Sin, followed by
his son Anzabazuna.

Old Babylonian period

Accepting the equivalence of Simurrum and Simurru, certainly the later was
in the same area, a letter from Shamshi-Adad I of Ekallatum states,
in a letter found at Tell Shemshara:

Rulers of Simurrum

The kings and governors of the kingdom or province of Simurrum.

Akkadian Period, Early Bronze IVA
* Ka-Nisba of Simurrum, instigated Simurrum and Lullubi to revolt against the Gutian ruler Erridu-Pizir.

Ur III Period - Early Bronze IVB - Province
* Tabban-darah under Shulgi of Ur III
* Sillus-Dagan under Amar-Sin of Ur III

Kingdom - Middle Bronze I - Independent
* Iddi-Sin
* Zabazuna, son of Iddi-Sin

Location

There is general agreement that the city lies east of the Tigris river in the valleys
and semi-mountainous of the Trans-Tigridian area.

It has been proposed that the city was on the Diyala river (which begins as the Sirwan River in Iran).Frayne, D.R., "On the location of Simurrum" in Crossing Boundaries and Linking Horizons: Studies in Honor of Michael C. Astour, pp. 243-269, 1997

An early Assyriologist suggested Simurrum was near "Tell 'Ali" which is not far from mouth of the Lower Zab on its left bank and is on the direct line from Assur to Arrapha (Kirkuk), which it is west of, saying "The region south of Tell 'Ali has never been examined by archaeologists, but seems to contain numerous ruined towns and canals". Twenty five cuneiform tablets from the Middle Assyrian period were found at the site.

The site of Qala Shirwana, a large mound tall with an additional citadel at the top in the southern basin of the Diyala river, on its west bank, near the modern town of Kalar, has been suggested as the site of Simurrum. The upper mound has an area of 5.5 hectares. While the site is completely built over now, early satellite photographs indicate that there was a 100 hectare lower town. Second millennium BC pottery is often found during construction.

Altun Kupri, on the Little Zab river, has also been suggested.

A complication is that when a city-state captured large numbers of soldiers etc. they were sometimes placed in rural settlements named after their origin, a practice that continued into Neo-Babylonian times. There were settlements near Girsu/Lagash named Lullubu(na) and Šimurrum for example.

Karaḫar

The as yet unlocated city of Karaḫar (also Qarahar and Harahar) is known mainly from the Ur III period. A number of texts closely link Karaḫar and Simurrum and they are thought to be in the same area. Karaḫar is thought to be between Simurrum and Eshnunna and near Hamazi and Pašime, possibly on the Alwand River, a tributary of the Diyala river, in the Zagros mountain foothills.Ghobadizadeh, Hamzeh and Sallaberger, Walther, "Šulgi in the Kuhdasht Plain: Bricks from a Battle Monument at the Crossroads of Western Pish-e Kuh and the Localisation of Kimaš and Ḫurti", Zeitschrift für Assyriologie und vorderasiatische Archäologie, vol. 113, no. 1, pp. 3-33, 2023Frayne, Douglas, "Šulgi", Ur III Period (2112-2004 BC), Toronto: University of Toronto Press, pp. 91-234, 1997 It is known to have been a major producer of sesame.

The second Ur III ruler, Sulgi (c. 2094–2046 BC) reports defeating/destroying Karaḫar in his year names S24 "Year: Karahar was destroyed", S31 "Year: Karaḫar was defeated for the second time", and in S45 "Year: Šulgi, the strong man, the king of Ur, the king of the four-quarters, smashed the heads of Urbilum, Simurrum, Lullubum and Karahar in a single campaign". Two ensis (governors) of Karaḫar under the Ur III empire are known, Ea-rabi and Arad-Nanna. During the reign the fourth ruler of the Ur III dynasty Shu-Sin (c. 2037–2028 BC) it is known that the military governor of the nearby city of Pašime was a Arad-Nanna though it is not known if that was the same person. Also in the Ur III period a Arad-Nanna was a ruler of Hamazi. Also during the reign of Shu-Sin, a Ir-Nanna is recorded as being "... military governor of Usar-Garsana, general of Basime, governor of Sabum and the land of Gutebum, general of Dimat-Enlila, governor of Al-Sü-Sîn, general of Urbillum, governor of Ham(a)zi and Karahar, general of NI.HI, general of Simaski and the land of Karda ...", showing those polities were in the same area.

A Tiš-atal (also Tish-atal/Tehes-atal/Diš-atal/Ankiš-atal) is recorded as ruling Karaḫar toward the end of the Ur III empire. A Tish-atal also ruled Urkish in that period but is not known if it was the same person.

A lapis lazuli seal of Zardamu, king of Karaḫar from the Ur III period, reads "^dZardamu, sun-god of his land; beloved of the god Nergal, his (personal) deity; Annunïtum (is) his mother ... mighty king, king of Karaḫar, and king of the four quarters, spouse of the goddess Estar". Note that this identifies him as being deified and is in the style of major rulers such as Naram-Sin of Akkad. The seals iconography shows Zardamu with "double-axe, a multiple mace, and treading on an enemy before Ištar, who offers him the same regalia".

A carnelian cylinder seal appeared on the antiquities market reading "Keleš-atal, king of Karaḫar: Balalatum (is your) wife."

In the Old Babylonian period texts linked Karaḫar administratively with Me-Turan which lies in the area thought to hold Karaḫar.Guichard, M., "Guerre et diplomatie: lettres d’Iluni roi d’Ešnunna d’une collection privée", Semitica 58, pp. 17–59, 2016

Gallery

File:Rock Relief of Iddin-Sin, King of Simurrum, c. 2000 BC (detail).jpg, King Iddin-Sin of the Kingdom of Simurrum, holding an axe and a bow, trampling a foe (). Israel Museum.
File:Stela of Iddi-Sin, King of Simurrum. It dates back to the Old-Babylonian Period. From Qarachatan Village, Sulaymaniyah Governorate, Iraqi Kurdistan. The Sulaymaniyah Museum, Iraq.jpg, Stela of Iddi-Sin, King of Simurrum. It dates back to the Old-Babylonian Period. From Qarachatan Village, Sulaymaniyah Governorate, Iraqi Kurdistan. The Sulaymaniyah Museum, Iraq
File:Sar-e Pol-e Zahab, relief IV.jpg, Sarpol-e Zahab, relief I. Beardless warrior with axe, trampling a foe. Sundisk above. A name "Zaba(zuna), son of ..." can be read. He is usually considered as a ruler of the Lullubi, but he could be a ruler of the Kingdom of Simurrum, son of Iddin-Sin.
File:Sar-e Pol-e Zahab, relief I (extracted).jpg, Outline of relief I (extracted). Beardless warrior with axe, trampling a foe. Sundisk above. A name "Zaba(zuna), son of ..." can be read.

See also

*Cities of the ancient Near East
*

References

External links

*

Ancient History.The Secret History of Iddi-Sin's StelaSeal of Zardamu at CDLI

{{Iran topics

Ancient Mesopotamia