Isin-Larsa period

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Isin-Larsa period
c. 2025 BCE – c. 1763 BCE
MC
)
• Disestablished
c. 1763 BCE (MC)
Preceded by		 Succeeded by
Third Dynasty of Ur
Old Babylonian Empire
Sealand Dynasty
Today part of

The Isin-Larsa period (c. 2025–1763 BCE,

Sack of Babylon in 1595 BCE and the rise of the Kassites.[2]

The Third Dynasty of Ur immediately preceded the Isin-Larsa period, and its fall was due to the combined attacks of the

Yamkhad). The dynasties of this period have in common a Semitic Amorite origin, even if they quickly acculturated to Mesopotamian traditions.[2]

Isin as the main polity (2025–1924 BCE)

Main article:
Isin Dynasty
Impression of a cylinder seal. Presentation scene, c. 2000–1750 B.C. Isin-Larsa.

When the deteriorating Third Dynasty of

Ur III) finally collapsed at the hands of the Elamites at the end of the third millennium BCE, a power vacuum was left that other city-states scrambled to fill. The last king of the Ur III dynasty, Ibbi-Sin, lacked the resources and the organized government needed to expel the Elamite invaders. One of his governmental officials, Ishbi-Erra, relocated from Ur to Isin, another city in southern Mesopotamia, and established himself as a ruler there. One of Ishbi-Erra's year names reports his defeat of Ibbi-Sin in battle.[4]

Although he is not considered to be a part of the Third Dynasty of Ur, Ishbi-Erra did make some attempts at continuing the trappings of that dynasty, most likely to justify his rule.[4] Ishbi-Erra had ill luck expanding his kingdom, however, for other city-states in Mesopotamia rose to power as well—Eshnunna and Ashur were developing into powerful centers. However, he did succeed in repulsing the Elamites from the Ur region. This gave the Isin dynasty control over the culturally significant cities of Ur, Uruk, and the spiritual center of Nippur.

For over 100 years, Isin flourished. Remains of large building projects, such as temples, have been excavated. Many royal edicts and law-codes from that period have been discovered. The centralized political structure of Ur III was largely continued, with Isin's rulers appointing governors and other local officials to carry out their will in the provinces. Lucrative trade routes to the Persian Gulf remained a crucial source of income for Isin.

Rise and dominance of Larsa (c. 1924–1763 BCE)

Rim-Sin I
foundation figurine, 1822–1763 BCE. Oriental Institute Museum, University of Chicago

The city of Larsa had been subject to the city of Lagash, which had been captured by the Isin ruler

Amorite named Gungunum
, who eventually broke with Isin and established his own independent dynasty in Larsa. This was akin to a coup d'état, and Isin quickly lost political and economic force, which it never again regained.

The exact events surrounding Isin's disintegration as a kingdom are mostly unknown, but some evidence can be pieced together from the historical and archaeological record. For Gungunum to legitimize his rule and deliver a blow to Isin, he captured the city of Ur. As the region of Larsa was the main center of trade via the Persian Gulf, Isin had lost access to enormously profitable trade routes. Ur was a city with tremendous historic and cultic significance; at some point, another cultic center, Nippur, was also lost. Documents also indicate that Isin had a huge problem maintaining access to its water sources. Gungunum's two successors, Abisare (c. 1841–1830 BCE) and Sumuel (c. 1830–1801 BCE), both took steps to completely cut off Isin's access to canals by rerouting them into Larsa.

Larsa grew powerful, but never accumulated much territory. At its peak, under king

Rim-Sin I
(c. 1758–1699 BCE), Larsa only controlled 10–15 other city-states — nowhere near the territory controlled by other dynasties in Mesopotamian history. Nevertheless, huge building projects and agricultural undertakings have been found by archaeologists.

Around 1860 BCE, an outsider named Enlil-bani seized the throne of Isin, ending the hereditary dynasty established by Ishbi-Erra over 150 years earlier.[5]

Demise

Sealand Dynasty of Babylon.[6]

Art

Artistically, the Isin-Larsa period is a period of turmoil, marked by the rise of the influence of the

First Babylonian Dynasty, except when inscriptions permit datable attribution.[7]

  • Four-faced god, Ishchali, Isin-Larsa to Old Babylonia periods, 2000–1600 BCE, bronze - Oriental Institute Museum, University of Chicago
    Four-faced god, Ishchali, Isin-Larsa to Old Babylonia periods, 2000–1600 BCE, bronze - Oriental Institute Museum, University of Chicago
  • Title "Rim-Sin, King of Larsa" on the stone bowl: 𒀭𒊑𒅎𒀭𒂗𒍪 Rim-Sin 𒈗 King of 𒌓𒀕 Larsa
    Title "
    Rim-Sin, King of Larsa
    " on the stone bowl:
    𒀭𒊑𒅎𒀭𒂗𒍪 Rim-Sin
    𒈗 King of
    𒌓𒀕 Larsa
  • A praise poem to Iddin-Dagān, currently at Musée du Louvre
    A praise poem to
    Musée du Louvre
  • List of the kings of Larsa, Louvre Museum.
    List of the kings of Larsa,
    Louvre Museum
    .
  • Votive statuette of a dog, dedicated by a doctor from Lagash to goddess Ninisina, for the life of Sûmû-El, king of Larsa. Musée du Louvre.
    Votive statuette of a dog, dedicated by a doctor from
    Sûmû-El
    , king of Larsa. Musée du Louvre.
  • Ceramics from the Isin-Larsa period. Museum of Oriental Institute of Chicago
    Ceramics from the Isin-Larsa period. Museum of Oriental Institute of Chicago
  • Terracotta male figurine holding an axe or adze, from Tell Telloh, Isin-Larsa period, c. 1900 BCE. Iraq Museum
    Terracotta male figurine holding an axe or adze, from Tell Telloh, Isin-Larsa period, c. 1900 BCE. Iraq Museum

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Isin-Larsa Period.
  1. ^
    ISBN 978-0-300-06470-4
    .
  2. ^
    ISBN 978-1-58983-106-3
    .
  3. ^
    ISBN 978-0-300-06470-4
    .
  4. ^ a b Vaughn E. Crawford, An Ishbi-Irra Date Formula, Journal of Cuneiform Studies, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 13–19, 1948
  5. ^ William W. Hallo, The Last Years of the Kings of ISIN, Journal of Near Eastern Studies, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 54–72, 1959
  6. ^ W. G. Lambert, "The Home of the First Sealand Dynasty", Journal of Cuneiform Studies, 26 (1974), pp. 208–210
  7. ISBN 978-0-300-06470-4
    .
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