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Sargon of Akkad and UR III. The Rise of Sargon The Akkadian Empire The Third Dynasty of Ur. Sargon of Akkad 2334-2279 BCE. Powerful ruler of the first successful empire
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Sargon of Akkad and UR III The Rise of Sargon The Akkadian Empire The Third Dynasty of Ur
Sargon of Akkad 2334-2279 BCE • Powerful ruler of the first successful empire • Powerful legend: Mesopotamians still talking about him 1500 years later. As late as the 8th c. BCE one Assyrian king took his name! • Akkadian Name: Sharru-kun (The Legitimate King) • United Sumer and Akkad • Interesting traditions of early life
Sargon’s Humble Beginning • Unknown father, mother called a changling • Mother placed Sargon in a basket sealed with pitch and threw him in the river • Rescued and raised by Akki the Water-Drawer • Later became the Cup-Bearer of Urzababa, King of Kish • Overthrew his master and seized the throne
Powerful Expansion • After securing Kish, Sargon’s forces marched on Uruk and defeated Lugalzagesi, Over-Lord of Sumer and his 50 Ensi • Hung him in a cage outside Enlil’s gate at Nippur • Attacked Ur, Lagash, and Umma • Washed weapons in the Sea at the Port of Lugash
Secured Sumerian and Akkadian Centers • Found new capital: Agade • Built a palace and temple complex there • Dedicated to Ishtar and Zababa (Warrior God of Kish) • Appointed Akkadian rulers in all new Sumerian territory • Sumerian leaders also kept their posts
Unified Culture • Sargon maintained Sumerian culture and started new traditions • Sargon was annointed priest of Anu, the great Ensi of Enlil • Daughter Enheduanna, made High Priestess of Nanna, Moon goddess of Ur • She wrote hymns and poems • Future leaders appointed their daughters to this post
More Expansion • Across the Tigris R. towards Iran • Along the Euphrates towards Syria • East: Elamites become vassals of Akkadia • West: Sargon dominated Mari and Ebla • Gained important resources • Later legends have him dominating Cyprus and Crete as well as Anatolia (no evidence) • Final years beset with rebellions
Sons of Sargon • Rimush (2278-2270) • Continued to suppress rebellions • Killed by servants with kunukku • Succeeded by brother Manistusu (2269-2255) “Who is with him?” • Pushed south to Omar for resources • Also murdered by his servants
Naram-Sin (2254-2218) • Strong Leader, like Sargon • Continued Oman campaign • Numerous campaigns against Syrians • Defeated the powerful Lullubi • Took titles such as “King of the Universe” or “King of the 4 Regions of the World” • Shown with dinger sign, indicating his status as a living god.
Shar-Kali-Sharri (2218-2193) • Lost Elam and Syrian Territory • Killed in palace revolution and Empire collapsed • Who was king? Who was not king? • Was Igigi King? Was Nanum King? • Was Imi King? Was Elulu King? • Their Tetrad was King and reigned 3 years! • (Sumerian King List)
Conquest Rapid Expansion Ceaseless Rebellions Palace Revolutions Frontier Wars Death by Nomads Repeat! The Preview of Future History
The Third Dynasty of Ur • Around 2100 BCE, one last flowering of Sumerian Culture at Ur • Gradually began to dominate the rulers of the cities of Sumer and Akkad • Remarkable artwork and tombs • Rulers again began to consider themselves divine • Great ruler, Ur-Nammu, produced the first surviving law code
Notable Features • Not many records in this period • 100 years of relative peace • Rulers appear to be part Sumerian and part Akkadian • Marvelous buildings, tombs and artwork • There appears to be no ethnic tension between Sumerians and Akkadians
UR III Daggers: One on right of meteoritic iron: especially magic
The Fall of UR III • In last decades, war in the west • Desert invaders mass on the west • Elamites threaten form the east • Amorites (MAR-TU) invade • Elamites capture last king Ibbi-sin • Died in captivity in Iran • Amorites will later form the Babylonian state