Shalmaneser II
Shalmaneser II | |
---|---|
King of Assyria | |
King of the Middle Assyrian Empire | |
Reign | 1031–1019 BC |
Predecessor | Ashurnasirpal I |
Successor | Ashur-nirari IV |
Issue | Ashur-nirari IV |
Father | Ashurnasirpal I |
Salmānu-ašarēd II, inscribed mdSILIM-ma-nu-MAŠ/SAG, meaning " Being peaceful is foremost," was the king of Assyria 1030–1019 BC, the 93rd to appear on the Khorsabad copy[i 1] of the Assyrian Kinglist, although he has been apparently carelessly omitted altogether on the Nassouhi copy.[i 2]
Biography
In the Synchronistic Kingliest[i 4] he is listed beside his Babylonian counterpart, Eulmaš-šakin-šumi (1004–988 BC) of the Bῑt-Bazi dynasty, an unlikely pairing reflecting perhaps the isolation of the two kingdoms at the time. In all likelihood, he reigned concurrently with Nabû-šuma-libūr (1033–1026 BC) and Simbar-Šipak (1025–1008 BC), whose reigns were characterized by droughts, crop failures and incursions by Arameans, migrating under the pressure from climate change. The later king, Aššur-dān II (935–912 BC), recalled Salmānu-ašarēd's own losses to this tribal group:
[… who] from the time of Salmānu-ašarēd, king of [Assyria, my forefather], had destroyed [people of Assyria by …] and murder, had sold [all] their [sons (and) daughters].[3]
Another retrospective reference can probably be found in an inscription of Aššur-nāṣir-apli II unless it refers to the earlier king by this name. It relates "I repossessed the cities of Sinabu (and) Tidu—fortresses which Salmānu-ašarēd, king of Assyria, a prince who preceded me, had garrisoned against the land of Nairi (and) which the Arameans had captured by force."[3]
There are few inscriptions which may be attributed for certainty to him as several may belong to the
He was succeeded by his son, the briefly reigning Aššur-Nērārī IV, and then his brother Aššur-rabi II.
Inscriptions
- ^ Khorsabad Kinglist, tablet IM 60017 (excavation nos.: DS 828, DS 32-54), iv 6-7.
- ^ Nassouhi Kinglist, Istanbul A. 116 (Assur 8836).
- ^ a b Eponym List KAV 21, tablet VAT 11254, iv.
- ^ Synchronistic Kingliest, tablet excavation no. Ass 14616c, first publication KAV 216.
- ^ Temple endowment, KAV 78.
- ^ KAR 98.
References
- JSTOR 25683683.
- ^ M. T. Larsen (1974). "Unusual Eponymy-datings from Mari and Assyria". Revue d'Assyriologie: 21.
- ^ a b K. Lawson Younger (2007). "The LB/Iron Age Transition and the Origins of the Arameans". Ugarit at Seventy-Five. Eisenbrauns. pp. 159, 161.
- ^ Heather D. Baker (2008). "Salmānu-ašarēd II". Reallexikon der Assyriologie: Prinz, Prinzessin – Samug, Bd. 11. Walter De Gruyter. p. 581.
- ^ W.G. Lambert (1999). "Idiglat". In Edzard (ed.). Reallexikon der Assyriologie und Vorderasiatischen Archäologie: Ia – Kizzuwatna. Walter De Gruyter. p. 31.
- ^ A. K. Grayson (1972). Assyrian Royal Inscriptions, Volume 1. Otto Harrassowitz. p. 99. § 33.
Further reading
- Albert Kirk Grayson (1991). Assyrian Rulers of the Early First Millennium BC I (1114–859 BC). University of Toronto Press.