Ishbi-Erra (Akkadian: 𒀭𒅖𒁉𒀴𒊏diš-bi-ir₃-ra) was the founder of the dynasty of Isin, reigning from c. 2017 — c. 1986 BC on the middle chronology or 1953 BC — c. 1920 BC on the short chronology. Ishbi-Erra was preceded by Ibbi-Sin of the third dynasty of Ur in ancient Lower Mesopotamia, and then succeeded by Šu-ilišu. According to the Weld-Blundell Prism,[i 1] Išbi-erra reigned for 33 years and this is corroborated by the number of his extant year-names.[1] While in many ways this dynasty emulated that of the preceding one, its language was Akkadian as the Sumerian language had become moribund in the latter stages of the third dynasty of Ur.
Map detailing the full territorial extent of the third dynasty of Ur in Mesopotamia just before the treason of Ishbi-Erra c. 1953 BC (short chronology). Map oriented approximately towards the northwest.
At the outset of his career, Ishbi-Erra was an official working for Sumerian King Ibbi-Sin, the last king of the third dynasty of Ur. Ishbi-Erra was described as a man of Mari,[i 2] either his origin or the city for which he was assigned. His progress is recorded in letters to the king and to the governor of Kazallu (Puzur-Numushda, later renamed Puzur-Šulgi). These are literary letters, copied in antiquity as scribal exercises and their authenticity is unknown.[2] Charged with acquiring grain in Isin and Kazallu, Ishbi-Erra complained that he could not ship the 72,000 GUR he had bought for 20 talents of silver—apparently an exorbitant price—and now kept secure in Isin to other conurbations due to the incursions of the Amorites (“Martu”) and requested Ibbi-Sin supply 600 boats to transport it while also requesting governorship of Isin and Nippur.[i 3][3] Although Ibbi-Sin baulked at promoting him, Ishbi-Erra apparently succeeded in wrestling control over Isin by Ibbi-Sin’s 8th year, when he began assigning his own regnal year-names, and thereafter an uneasy chill descended on their relationship.[4]
Ibbi-Sin bitterly lambasted Ishbi-Erra as being "not of Sumerian seed" in his letter to Puzur-Šulgi and opined that: “Enlil has stirred up the Amorites out of their land, and they will strike the Elamites and capture Ishbi-Erra.” Curiously, Puzur-Šulgi seems to have originally been one of Ishbi-Erra’s own messengers and indicated the extent to which loyalties were in flux during the waning years of the regime of the third dynasty of Ur. While there was no outright conflict, Ishbi-Erra continued to extend his influence as Ibbi-Sin’s steadily declined over the next 12 years or so, until Ur was finally conquered by Kindattu of Elam.[5]
Ishbi-Erra went on to win decisive victories against the Amorites in his 8th year and the Elamites in his 16th year. Some years later, Ishbi-Erra ousted the Elamite garrison from Ur, thereby asserting suzerainty over Sumer and Akkad, celebrated in one of his later 27th year-name, although this specific epithet was not used by this dynasty until the reign of Iddin-Dagan.[2] He readily adopted the regal privileges of the former regime, commissioning royal praise poetry and hymns to deities, of which seven are extant, and proclaiming himself Dingir-kalam-ma-na, “a god in his own country.”[i 4] He appointed his daughter, En-bara-zi, to succeed that of Ibbi-Sin’s as Egisitu(priestess of An), celebrated in his 22nd year-name. He founded fortresses and installed city walls, but only one royal inscription is extant.[i 5][6]
Various hymns to Ishbi-Erra, king of Isin, are known.[7]
^IM 58336, Construction of a great lyre for Enlil.
References
^Taha Baqir, "", A date-list of Ishbi-Erra", Sumer. vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 103-114, September 1948
^ abMarc Van De Mieroop (2015). A History of the Ancient Near East, ca. 3000-323 BC. Wiley-Blackwell. p. 87.
^Joan Aruz; Ronald Wallenfels, eds. (2003). Art of the First Cities: The Third Millennium B.C. from the Mediterranean to the Indus. Metropolitan Museum of Art. p. 469.
^S. N. Kramer (1963). The Sumerians: Their History, Culture, and Character. University of Chicago Press. pp. 93–94.
^C. J. Gadd (1971). "Babylonia, 2120-1800 B.C.". In I. E. S. Edwards; C. J. Gadd; N. G. L. Hammond (eds.). The Cambridge Ancient History Volume 1, Part 2: Early History of the Middle East. Cambridge University Press. pp. 612–615.
^Douglas Frayne (1990). Old Babylonian Period (2003-1595 B.C.) RIM The Royal Inscriptions of Mesopotamia (Book 4). University of Toronto Press. pp. 6–11.
^Hallo, William W. (2010). The World's Oldest Literature: Studies in Sumerian Belles-Lettres. BRILL. pp. 212–214. ISBN978-90-04-17381-1.
External links
Wikiquote has quotations related to Ishbi-Erra.
A tigi to Nanaya for Išbi-erra at ETCSL.
Year names for Išbi-erra at CDLI.
March 06, 2023
ishbi, erra, akkadian, 𒀭𒅖𒁉𒀴𒊏, diš, founder, dynasty, isin, reigning, from, 2017, 1986, middle, chronology, 1953, 1920, short, chronology, preceded, ibbi, third, dynasty, ancient, lower, mesopotamia, then, succeeded, ilišu, according, weld, blundell, prism, išb. Ishbi Erra Akkadian 𒀭𒅖𒁉𒀴𒊏 dis bi ir ra was the founder of the dynasty of Isin reigning from c 2017 c 1986 BC on the middle chronology or 1953 BC c 1920 BC on the short chronology Ishbi Erra was preceded by Ibbi Sin of the third dynasty of Ur in ancient Lower Mesopotamia and then succeeded by Su ilisu According to the Weld Blundell Prism i 1 Isbi erra reigned for 33 years and this is corroborated by the number of his extant year names 1 While in many ways this dynasty emulated that of the preceding one its language was Akkadian as the Sumerian language had become moribund in the latter stages of the third dynasty of Ur Ishbi Erra𒀭𒅖𒁉𒀴𒊏King of SumerIshbi Erra appears in the Sumerian King List on the Weld Blundell Prism Reignfl c 2017 c 1986 BC middle chronology c 1953 BC c 1920 BC short chronology PredecessorIbbi Sin Ur III SuccessorSu ilisuAkkadianIsbi erraHouseFirst Dynasty of Isin Contents 1 Biography 2 See also 3 Inscriptions 4 References 5 External linksBiography Edit Map detailing the full territorial extent of the third dynasty of Ur in Mesopotamia just before the treason of Ishbi Erra c 1953 BC short chronology Map oriented approximately towards the northwest At the outset of his career Ishbi Erra was an official working for Sumerian King Ibbi Sin the last king of the third dynasty of Ur Ishbi Erra was described as a man of Mari i 2 either his origin or the city for which he was assigned His progress is recorded in letters to the king and to the governor of Kazallu Puzur Numushda later renamed Puzur Sulgi These are literary letters copied in antiquity as scribal exercises and their authenticity is unknown 2 Charged with acquiring grain in Isin and Kazallu Ishbi Erra complained that he could not ship the 72 000 GUR he had bought for 20 talents of silver apparently an exorbitant price and now kept secure in Isin to other conurbations due to the incursions of the Amorites Martu and requested Ibbi Sin supply 600 boats to transport it while also requesting governorship of Isin and Nippur i 3 3 Although Ibbi Sin baulked at promoting him Ishbi Erra apparently succeeded in wrestling control over Isin by Ibbi Sin s 8th year when he began assigning his own regnal year names and thereafter an uneasy chill descended on their relationship 4 Ibbi Sin bitterly lambasted Ishbi Erra as being not of Sumerian seed in his letter to Puzur Sulgi and opined that Enlil has stirred up the Amorites out of their land and they will strike the Elamites and capture Ishbi Erra Curiously Puzur Sulgi seems to have originally been one of Ishbi Erra s own messengers and indicated the extent to which loyalties were in flux during the waning years of the regime of the third dynasty of Ur While there was no outright conflict Ishbi Erra continued to extend his influence as Ibbi Sin s steadily declined over the next 12 years or so until Ur was finally conquered by Kindattu of Elam 5 Ishbi Erra went on to win decisive victories against the Amorites in his 8th year and the Elamites in his 16th year Some years later Ishbi Erra ousted the Elamite garrison from Ur thereby asserting suzerainty over Sumer and Akkad celebrated in one of his later 27th year name although this specific epithet was not used by this dynasty until the reign of Iddin Dagan 2 He readily adopted the regal privileges of the former regime commissioning royal praise poetry and hymns to deities of which seven are extant and proclaiming himself Dingir kalam ma na a god in his own country i 4 He appointed his daughter En bara zi to succeed that of Ibbi Sin s as Egisitu priestess of An celebrated in his 22nd year name He founded fortresses and installed city walls but only one royal inscription is extant i 5 6 Various hymns to Ishbi Erra king of Isin are known 7 Preceded byIbbi Sin Ur III King of Sumerfl c 1953 BC c 1921 BC Succeeded bySu ilisuSee also Edit Asia portalSumer History of Sumer Sumerian peopleInscriptions Edit WB 444 the Weld Blundell prism r 33 Tablet UM 7772 CBS 2272 letter from Isbi erra to Ibbi Sin Tablets NBC 6421 7087 7387 IM 58336 Construction of a great lyre for Enlil References Edit Taha Baqir A date list of Ishbi Erra Sumer vol 4 no 2 pp 103 114 September 1948 a b Marc Van De Mieroop 2015 A History of the Ancient Near East ca 3000 323 BC Wiley Blackwell p 87 Joan Aruz Ronald Wallenfels eds 2003 Art of the First Cities The Third Millennium B C from the Mediterranean to the Indus Metropolitan Museum of Art p 469 S N Kramer 1963 The Sumerians Their History Culture and Character University of Chicago Press pp 93 94 C J Gadd 1971 Babylonia 2120 1800 B C In I E S Edwards C J Gadd N G L Hammond eds The Cambridge Ancient History Volume 1 Part 2 Early History of the Middle East Cambridge University Press pp 612 615 Douglas Frayne 1990 Old Babylonian Period 2003 1595 B C RIM The Royal Inscriptions of Mesopotamia Book 4 University of Toronto Press pp 6 11 Hallo William W 2010 The World s Oldest Literature Studies in Sumerian Belles Lettres BRILL pp 212 214 ISBN 978 90 04 17381 1 External links Edit Wikiquote has quotations related to Ishbi Erra A tigi to Nanaya for Isbi erra at ETCSL Year names for Isbi erra at CDLI Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ishbi Erra amp oldid 1126244939, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
