Shutruk-Nahhunte

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Shutruk-Nahhunte was king of Elam from about 1185 to 1155 BC, and the second king of the Shutrukid Dynasty. Elam amassed an empire that included most of Mesopotamia and western Iran. Under his command, Elam defeated the Kassites and established the first Elamite Empire, which proved to be very short-lived as Nebuchadnezzar I of Babylon conquered Elam around 1120 BC, bringing the empire to an end.

Shutruk-Nahhunte gained a small public exposition in Ethan Canin's short story "The Palace Thief", and its adaptation in the 2002 movie The Emperor's Club, in which one of the key elements is a tablet describing the exploits of Shutruk-Nahhunte, a once famous egomaniacal conqueror virtually unknown today.

[edit] Reference from The Emperor's Club

I am Shutruk Nahunte, King of Anshand and Sussa, Sovereign of the land of Elam. I destroyed Sippar, took the stele of Niran-Sin, and brought it back to Elam, where I erected it as an offering to my god. Shutruk Nahunte - 1158 B.C.

Plate above Mr. Hundert's classroom door in The Emperor's Club (2002 Movie).

It's a quote from a virtually unknown king, who speaks of his list of conquests, but speaks nothing about the benefits. This king is unknown in history, because "great ambition and conquest without contribution is without significance."

Preceded by
Khallutush-Inshushinak
King of Elam
1185–1155 BC
Succeeded by
Kutir-Nahhunte III
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