Simbar-shipak
Encyclopedia
Simbar-Šipak, or more frequently Simbar-Šiḫu,Earlier readings render his name as Simmash-Shipak. ca.1025-1008 BC, founded the 2nd Dynasty of the Sealand, Babylon
’s 6th Dynasty and conducted a program of restoration of a number of temples that had been destroyed earlier by the marauding Arameans and the Sutû.
to fall. As a soldier from the southern region of Mesopotamia, he emerged to stabilize the situation. He reigned for 18 years according to the King List A,King List A, BM 33332. 17 years according to the Dynastic ChronicleDynastic chronicle (ABC 18) v 2-4. which names him Simbar-šihu, “knight of the Sealand,” rēdû ša māt tām-tim, “knight of the Sealand,” son of Eriba-Sin, and soldier of the dynasty of Damiq-ilišu, a reference to the ultimate king of the first dynasty of Isin
, whom the founder of the first Sealand dynasty, Iluma-ilum, had claimed filiation. Despite the apparent Kassite character of his name, there is no other evidence of this tribal affiliation.
Only four contemporary written documents from his reign are known, but one comprises two late copies of a royal inscription, another a legal deed drawn up in the king's twelfth year, a third an inscribed dagger in the Archaeological Museum of Tabriz, Iran, apparently found in a river in the eastern Azerbaijan province, and the fourth an arrowhead inscribed "(Property) of Simbar-Siḫu, son of Eriba-Sin," thus confirming the name of his father given in two late chronicles. The deed details the sale of land in compensation for apprenticeships for the former landowner’s three sons, and the inscription on the bottom edge (pictured) reads:
It would be tempting to identify the first witness with his nemesis and successor, Ea-mukin-zēri
but this would be speculative and fairly unlikely. The copy of an inscription of the king recording the rededication of the throne of the god Enlil
in the Ekurigigal temple at Nippur
states that it is Marduk
that sits at the throne where Enlil and Marduk are apparently treated as the same god. The Eclectic Chronicle describes the same event.Eclectic Chronicle (ABC 24) BM 27859 obverse, lines 12-13. It goes on to describe the travails inflicted by the Arameans and Sutû, harking back to the reign of Adad-apla-iddina
:
In his dedication to Enlil, he describes himself as, “he who puts in order the paths of Anum and Dagan, he who preserves their rites.”muštēšir alkakāti Anim u Dagan mušallimu mēsīšunu. The Sun God Tablet of Nabu-apla-iddina
The Sun God Tablet, BM 91000 i 13-23. relates that “during the troubles and disorders in Akkad”, the Sutû, the evil foe, had overthrown the cult idol of Šamaš
in Sippar
. Simbar-Šipak, had sought to recover it but had been unsuccessful due to lack of divine support – so he suspended a sun disc (“nipḫu”) as a substitute idol, established regular offerings, and installed Ekur-šum-ušabši, the seer and priest of Sippar, at the temple.
The Religious Chronicle is thought to record events of his reign, based on the order of preceding kings, and provides some fairly obscure portents such as “a wolf was lurking in the west,” “a badger in the Uraš gate at the door of the šatammu's (temple administrator’s) residence,” “two deer entered Babylon,” and most ominously “on the twenty-sixth of the month Simanu, in the seventh year, day turned to night and there was a fire in the sky,” an eclipse, speculated to have taken place on 9th May 1012 B.C. Things seemed to have taken a turn for the worse from the thirteenth year onward as the chariot of Bel did not come out for three successive years and the eighteenth year was marked by a wave of water coming down from the Ištar gate
, entering Babylon, two soldiers were killed and an idol was knocked off its pedestal.Religious Chronicle (ABC 17) tablet BM 35968, ii 1–25. This was the year his reign came to a dramatic end when he was assassinated, quite possibly by his successor, Ea-mukin-zēri, “by the sword,” plunging the country once again into chaos. He “was buried in the palace of Sargon.”
Babylon
Babylon was an Akkadian city-state of ancient Mesopotamia, the remains of which are found in present-day Al Hillah, Babil Province, Iraq, about 85 kilometers south of Baghdad...
’s 6th Dynasty and conducted a program of restoration of a number of temples that had been destroyed earlier by the marauding Arameans and the Sutû.
Biography
Simbar-Šipak lived during turbulent times, where crop failures and almost constant conflicts with semi-nomadic migrants caused the Babylonian government of the preceding 2nd Dynasty of IsinIsin
Isin was an ancient city-state of lower Mesopotamia about 20 miles south of Nippur at the site of modern Ishan al-Bahriyat in Iraq's Al-Qādisiyyah Governorate.-History:...
to fall. As a soldier from the southern region of Mesopotamia, he emerged to stabilize the situation. He reigned for 18 years according to the King List A,King List A, BM 33332. 17 years according to the Dynastic ChronicleDynastic chronicle (ABC 18) v 2-4. which names him Simbar-šihu, “knight of the Sealand,” rēdû ša māt tām-tim, “knight of the Sealand,” son of Eriba-Sin, and soldier of the dynasty of Damiq-ilišu, a reference to the ultimate king of the first dynasty of Isin
Isin
Isin was an ancient city-state of lower Mesopotamia about 20 miles south of Nippur at the site of modern Ishan al-Bahriyat in Iraq's Al-Qādisiyyah Governorate.-History:...
, whom the founder of the first Sealand dynasty, Iluma-ilum, had claimed filiation. Despite the apparent Kassite character of his name, there is no other evidence of this tribal affiliation.
Only four contemporary written documents from his reign are known, but one comprises two late copies of a royal inscription, another a legal deed drawn up in the king's twelfth year, a third an inscribed dagger in the Archaeological Museum of Tabriz, Iran, apparently found in a river in the eastern Azerbaijan province, and the fourth an arrowhead inscribed "(Property) of Simbar-Siḫu, son of Eriba-Sin," thus confirming the name of his father given in two late chronicles. The deed details the sale of land in compensation for apprenticeships for the former landowner’s three sons, and the inscription on the bottom edge (pictured) reads:
It would be tempting to identify the first witness with his nemesis and successor, Ea-mukin-zēri
Ea-mukin-zeri
Ea-mukin-zēri, mdé-a-mu-kin-zēri, son of Hašmar,Dynastic Chronicle v 5-6: E2-mu-kin-NUMUN LUGAL … ina ra-qa-ti ša2 E2Iḫaš-mar qi2-bir. was the 2nd king of the bῑt-Bazi or 5th Dynasty of Babylon, ca. 1008 BC, but only for 3 months.Babylonian King List A, iii 7.-Biography:His predecessor was...
but this would be speculative and fairly unlikely. The copy of an inscription of the king recording the rededication of the throne of the god Enlil
Enlil
Elizabeth Barrett Browning was one of the most prominent poets of the Victorian era. Her poetry was widely popular in both England and the United States during her lifetime. A collection of her last poems was published by her husband, Robert Browning, shortly after her death.-Early life:Members...
in the Ekurigigal temple at Nippur
Nippur
Nippur was one of the most ancient of all the Sumerian cities. It was the special seat of the worship of the Sumerian god Enlil, the "Lord Wind," ruler of the cosmos subject to An alone...
states that it is Marduk
Marduk
Marduk was the Babylonian name of a late-generation god from ancient Mesopotamia and patron deity of the city of Babylon, who, when Babylon became the political center of the Euphrates valley in the time of Hammurabi , started to...
that sits at the throne where Enlil and Marduk are apparently treated as the same god. The Eclectic Chronicle describes the same event.Eclectic Chronicle (ABC 24) BM 27859 obverse, lines 12-13. It goes on to describe the travails inflicted by the Arameans and Sutû, harking back to the reign of Adad-apla-iddina
Adad-apla-iddina
Adad-apla-iddina,mdAdad-àpla-idinnana. meaning the storm god “Adad gave a son/heir”, was the 8th king of the 2nd Dynasty of Isin and the 4th Dynasty of Babylon and ruled 1067-1046 BC...
:
In his dedication to Enlil, he describes himself as, “he who puts in order the paths of Anum and Dagan, he who preserves their rites.”muštēšir alkakāti Anim u Dagan mušallimu mēsīšunu. The Sun God Tablet of Nabu-apla-iddina
Nabu-apla-iddina
Nabu-apla-iddina was a Babylonian king who reigned ca. 888 – 855 BC. His father was King Nabu-shuma-ukin. During much of Nabu-apla-iddina's reign Babylon faced a significant rival in Assyria under the rule of Ashurnasirpal II...
The Sun God Tablet, BM 91000 i 13-23. relates that “during the troubles and disorders in Akkad”, the Sutû, the evil foe, had overthrown the cult idol of Šamaš
Shamash
Shamash was a native Mesopotamian deity and the sun god in the Akkadian, Assyrian and Babylonian pantheons. Shamash was the god of justice in Babylonia and Assyria, corresponding to Sumerian Utu...
in Sippar
Sippar
Sippar was an ancient Near Eastern city on the east bank of the Euphrates river, located at the site of modern Tell Abu Habbah in Iraq's Babil Governorate, some 60 km north of Babylon and 30 km southeast of Baghdad....
. Simbar-Šipak, had sought to recover it but had been unsuccessful due to lack of divine support – so he suspended a sun disc (“nipḫu”) as a substitute idol, established regular offerings, and installed Ekur-šum-ušabši, the seer and priest of Sippar, at the temple.
The Religious Chronicle is thought to record events of his reign, based on the order of preceding kings, and provides some fairly obscure portents such as “a wolf was lurking in the west,” “a badger in the Uraš gate at the door of the šatammu's (temple administrator’s) residence,” “two deer entered Babylon,” and most ominously “on the twenty-sixth of the month Simanu, in the seventh year, day turned to night and there was a fire in the sky,” an eclipse, speculated to have taken place on 9th May 1012 B.C. Things seemed to have taken a turn for the worse from the thirteenth year onward as the chariot of Bel did not come out for three successive years and the eighteenth year was marked by a wave of water coming down from the Ištar gate
Ishtar Gate
The Ishtar Gate was the eighth gate to the inner city of Babylon. It was constructed in about 575 BC by order of King Nebuchadnezzar II on the north side of the city....
, entering Babylon, two soldiers were killed and an idol was knocked off its pedestal.Religious Chronicle (ABC 17) tablet BM 35968, ii 1–25. This was the year his reign came to a dramatic end when he was assassinated, quite possibly by his successor, Ea-mukin-zēri, “by the sword,” plunging the country once again into chaos. He “was buried in the palace of Sargon.”