View source for Amar-Sin

{{Short description|Sumerian king, 21st-century BC}}
{{redirect|Bur-Sin|the 7th king of the 1st Dynasty of Isin|Bur-Suen}}
{{Infobox royalty|name=Amar-Sin<br>{{cuneiform|𒀭𒀫𒀭𒂗𒍪}}|title={{unbulleted list
| King of [[Ur]]
| [[King of Sumer and Akkad]]
| [[King of the Four Corners of the World]]
}}|reign=c. 2046 &nbsp;BC&nbsp;– 2037 &nbsp;BC
(Middle Chronology)|predecessor=[[Shulgi]]|successor=[[Shu-Sin]]|father=[[Shulgi]]|dynasty=[[Ur|3rd Dynasty of Ur]]|succession=King of the [[Neo-Sumerian Empire]]|image=P1150892 Louvre figurine-clou-Ur AO3142 rwk.jpg|caption=An architectural foundation-nail figurine depicting king Amar-Sin himself carrying the builder's wicker traybasket, and a [[cuneiform]] dedication tablet of Amar-Sin}}
'''Amar-Sin''' ({{langx|akk|{{cuneiform|𒀭𒀫𒀭𒂗𒍪}}}}: ''<sup>[[dingir|D]]</sup>Amar<sup>[[dingir|D]]</sup>[[Sin (mythology)|Sîn]]'', "calf of Sîn", the "[[𒀭]]" being a silent honorific for "Divine"), initially misread as '''Bur-Sin''' (c. 2046–2037 BC) [[middle chronology]], was the third ruler of the [[Third Dynasty of Ur|Ur III Dynasty]]. He succeeded his father [[Shulgi]] (c. 2030–1982 BC). His name translates to 'bull calf of the moon-god'. The name Amar-Sin was not recorded before his ascension and is a "[[Regnal name|throne name]]". His original name, and whether he was actually the son of Shugi, is unknown.<ref>Sharlach, Tonia, "Princely Employments in the Reign of Shulgi", Journal of Ancient Near Eastern History, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 1-68, 2022</ref> It has been proposed that Amar-Sin, Shu-Sin, and Ibbi-Sin were all brothers and sons of Shulgi. Alternatively it has been suggested that Amar-Sin was a nephew of Shulgi, explaining his difficulties at the beginning and ending of his reign.<ref>Michalowski, Piotr, "Of Bears and Men. Thoughts on the End of Šulgi’s Reign and on the Ensuing Succession", in Literature as Politics, Politics as Literature:Essays on the Ancient Near East in Honor of Peter Machinist, ed. David S. Vanderhooft and Abraham Winitzer. Winona Lake, IN: Eisenbrau, pp. 285–320. 2013</ref>
==Reign==
Year-names are known for all nine years of his reign. These record campaigns conducted against [[Arbil|Urbilum]], and several other regions with obscure names: Shashrum, Shurudhum, Bitum-Rabium, Jabru, and Huhnuri.<ref>[http://cdli.ucla.edu/tools/yearnames/HTML/T6K3.htm Year-names for Amar-Sin]</ref> Amar-Sin is otherwise known to have campaigned against Elamite rulers such as Arwilukpi of [[Marhashi]], and the [[Ur]] Empire under his reign extended as far as the northern provinces of [[Lullubi]] and [[Hamazi]], with their own governors. He also ruled over [[Assur]] through the Akkadian governor [[Zariqum]], as confirmed by his monumental inscription.{{efn|Zariqum does not appear on the ''[[Assyrian King List]]'' tablets, but is usually placed by archaeologists between Akkiya and [[Puzur-Ashur I]]. He is well known from contemporary documents as a career governor who was also appointed over [[Susa]] at various times between Shulgi year 40 and Shu-Sin year 4.<ref>Potts, ''The Archaeology of Elam'', p. 132.</ref>}}
Amar-Sin's reign is notable for his attempt at regenerating the ancient sites of [[Sumer]]. He apparently worked on the unfinished [[ziggurat]] at [[Eridu]].<ref>Mallowan, Max, "The Development of Cities from Al-U'baid to the end of Uruk 5" (Cambridge Ancient History)</ref>
The Babylonian ''[[Babylonian Chronicles|Weidner Chronicle]]'' records the following: "Amar-Sin ... changed the offerings of large oxen and sheep of the Akitu festival in Esagila. It was foretold that he would die from goring by an ox, but he died from the [scorpion?] 'bite' of his shoe."
===Attempted Coup===
The administrative documentation from Amar-Sin's reign suggests that in his final years, he was confronted with some internal strife, and it is likely that his brother, [[Shu-Sin]], was behind an effort to ovethrow him. The imperial guard, the agà-ús, were replaced in Amar-Sin's seventh year with a unit called the gàr-du, often the gàr-du of Amar-Sin.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CDLI-Archival View |url=https://cdli.ucla.edu/search/archival_view.php?ObjectID=P128174 |access-date=2022-12-04 |website=cdli.ucla.edu}}</ref> This unit disappears from the record in his ninth year shortly after his death. Also in his seventh year, the king hosted military officials from throughout the empire at a banquet in Ur, where they were required to swear an oath of loyalty.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Steinkeller |first=Piotr |title=Joys of Cooking in Ur III Babylonia |url=https://www.academia.edu/35603948}}</ref> Cylinder seals bearing dedications to the king Shu-Sin appear towards the end of Amar-Suen's reign, but certainly before his death.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Allred |first=Lance |date=2010-06-01 |title=More Šu-Suen Seals During the Reign of Amar-Suen |url=https://cdli.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/articles/cdln/2010-3 |journal=Cuneiform Digital Library Notes |language=en-US |volume=2010 |issue=3 |issn=1546-6566}}</ref> The provincial governors also see some unusual transitions during this time, including being ousted during the middle of Amar-Sin's reign, only to return to their post after his death.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Allred |first=Lance |date=2013 |title=The Tenure of Provincial Governors: Some Observations |url=https://www.academia.edu/5399581 |journal=From the 21st Century B.C. To the 21st Century A.D. |pages=115}}</ref> Taken together, it seems likely that Shu-Sin attempted to take power during his brother's reign. It is unclear if Amar-Sin was assassinated during this period, or if he died of natural causes.<ref>Lafont, Bertrand, "L’avènement de Shu-Sin", RA88, pp. 97–119, 1994</ref><ref>Waetzoldt, Hartmut, "Thronfolger auch Mitregent?", Mesopotamia 5–6, pp. 321–23, 1970–71</ref>
==Year names of Amar-Sin==
All the year names of Amar-Sin are known, and, as was standard for the time, document events during that king's reign. While some events are military conquests, most of Amar-Sin's years record cultic activities. Some examples include:
{{Quote|
1a. Year: "Amar-Suen is king"<br>
1b. Year: "Harshi and Kimaš were destroyed"<br>
2a. Year: "Amar-Suen, the king, destroyed [[Urbilum]]"<br>
5a. Year: "Enunugalanna was installed as en-priest of Inanna in Uruk"<br>
6b. Year: "Amar-Suen, the king, destroyed Shashrum for the second time and Shurudhum"<br>
7b: Year: "Amar-Suen, the king, destroyed Bitum-rabium, Jabru, their territories and Huhnuri"
|Some year names of Amar-Sin.<ref>{{cite web |title=Amar-Sin year names |url=http://cdli.ox.ac.uk/wiki/doku.php?id=amar-suen_year-names}}</ref>}}
==Artifacts==
<gallery widths="200px" heights="200px" perrow="4">
File:Statue fragment beariing incised cuneiform inscription of Amar-Sin,ca. 2046–2038 B.C. Neo-Summerian.jpg|Statue fragment bearing incised cuneiform inscription of Amar-Sin, ca. 2046–2038 B.C. Neo-Sumerian
File:Stamped mud-brick of Amar-Sin.JPG|Stamped mud-brick of Amar-Sin
Fired clay brick stamped with the name of Amar-Sin, Ur III, from Eridu, currently housed in the British Museum.jpg|Fired clay brick stamped with the name of Amar-Sin, Ur III, from [[Eridu]]. British Museum.
File:Cuneiform tablet impressed with cylinder seal. Receipt of goats,ca. 2040 B.C. Neo-Summerian.jpg|Cuneiform tablet impressed with cylinder seal. Receipt of goats, ca. 2040 BC, year 7 of Amar-Sin. Neo-Sumerian.<ref name="IS">{{cite book|last1=Spar|first1=Ira|title=Cuneiform Texts in The Metropolitan Museum of Art Volume I Tablets Cones and Bricks of the Third Ur Dynasty|date=1988|publisher=The Metropolitan Museum of Art|page=38, Nb 35|url=http://resources.metmuseum.org/resources/metpublications/pdf/Cuneiform_Texts_in_The_Metropolitan_Museum_of_Art_Volume_I_Tablets_Cones_and_Bricks_of_the_Third_.pdf}}</ref>
File:Cuneiform tablet impressed with cylinder seal. Receipt of goats,ca. 2040 B.C. Neo-Summerian (drawing).jpg|Cuneiform tablet impressed with cylinder seal. Receipt of goats, ca. 2040 BC, Neo-Sumerian (drawing).<ref name="IS"/>
File:Amar-Sin (name).jpg|Inscription with the name "Amar-Sin"
File:Dedication tablet of Amar-Sin.jpg|Dedication tablet of Amar-Sin
</gallery>
==See also==
{{Wikiquote}}
*[[Correspondence of the Kings of Ur]]
*[[Mashkan-shapir]]
==Notes==
{{Notelist}}
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-reg}}
{{s-bef
| before=[[Shulgi]]
| rows=2
}}
{{s-ttl
| title=King of Ur, Sumer and Akkad
| years=ca. 21st century BCE
}}
{{s-aft
| after=[[Shu-Sin]]
| rows=2
}}
|-
{{s-end}}{{Kings of Ur|state=collapsed}}{{Rulers of Sumer}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Amar-Sin}}
[[Category:Sumerian kings]]
[[Category:21st-century BC Sumerian kings]]
[[Category:20th-century BC Sumerian kings]]
[[Category:Third Dynasty of Ur]]