Naram-Sin
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Naram-Sin (2255 BC–2219 BC short chronology) was the third successor and grandson of Sargon of Akkad; under Naram-Sin the Akkadian Empire reached its zenith.
He was the first Mesopotamian king to claim divinity, and the first to be called "King of the Four Quarters". He traded with Meluhha (possibly corresponding to the Indus Valley civilization) and controlled a large portion of land along the Persian Gulf. Naram-Sin expanded his empire by defeating the King of Magan at the southern end of the Persian Gulf and conquering the hill tribes northwards in the Taurus Mountains. He built administrative centers at Nagar (Tell Brak) and Nineveh.
Part of Mesopotamian mythology has it that the Goddess Inanna abandoned the former capital of Akkad due to Naram-sin's plunder of the Ekur (temple of the god Enlil) in Nippur. In his anger, Enlil brought the Gutians down from the hills to bring plague, famine and death throughout Mesopotamia. To prevent this destruction eight of the gods decreed that Agade (Akkad) should be destroyed to spare the remaining cities. While this story is mostly mythological, it does suggest that Gutian raids contributing to the downfall of the Akkadian empire began during this period.
Naram-Sin's famed victory stele (illustration) depicts him as a god-king (symbolized by his horned helmet) climbing a mountain above his soldiers and enemies. The stele of victory was broken off at the top when it was stolen and carried off by the Elamites but nonetheless, it still strikingly reveals the pride and glory and divinity of Naram-Sin. This is probably the first instance in history when a king was depicted as a god. The stele broke off from traditions by using successive diagonal tiers rather than a horizontal format to communicate the story to viewers.
[edit] See also
- Sumerian king list.
- Name of alternative rock band of the late 1970s-1980s based out of Boulder, Colorado fronted by Jon Martinez.
[edit] References
- H.W.F. Saggs, The Babylonians, Fourth Printing, 1988, Macmillan Publishers Ltd.
| History of Sumer: Notable Rulers of Sumer |
|
|---|---|
| Legendary Kings: | Alulim Dumuzid Ziusudra |
| First Dynasty of Kish: | Etana Enmebaragesi |
| First Dynasty of Uruk: | Enmerkar Lugalbanda Gilgamesh |
| First Dynasty of Ur: | Meskalamdug Mesannepada Puabi |
| Dynasty of Adab: | Lugal-Anne-Mundu |
| Third Dynasty of Kish: | Kubaba |
| First Dynasty of Lagash: | Ur-Nanshe Eannatum En-anna-tum I Entemena Urukagina |
| Third Dynasty of Uruk: | Lugal-Zage-Si |
| Dynasty of Akkad: | Sargon Enheduanna Manishtushu Naram-Sin Shar-Kali-Sharri Dudu Shu-turul |
| Second Dynasty of Lagash: | Gudea |
| Fifth Dynasty of Uruk: | Utu-hegal |
| Third Dynasty of Ur: | Ur-Nammu Shulgi Amar-Sin Shu-Sin Ibbi-Sin |
