Shu-Sin

Shu-Sin, also Šu-Suen (Akkadian: 𒀭𒋗𒀭𒂗𒍪: ^DŠu^DSîn, after the Moon God Sîn", the "𒀭" being a silent honorific for "Divine", formerly read Gimil-Sin) was king of Sumer and Akkad, and was the fourth king of the Ur III dynasty. He succeeded his father Amar-Sin,^[1] and reigned 2037–2028 BC (Middle Chronology).

Shu-Sin 𒀭𒋗𒀭𒂗𒍪
King of Ur King of Sumer and Akkad King of the Four Corners of the World
5-mina weight with the name of Shu-Sin, with his regnal titles, from Girsu, Louvre Museum
King of the Neo-Sumerian Empire
Reign	c. 2037–2028 BC (Middle Chronology)
Predecessor	Amar-Sin
Successor	Ibbi-Sin
Issue	Ibbi-Sin
Dynasty	3rd Dynasty of Ur
Father	Amar-Sin

Reign

Following an open revolt of his Amorite subjects, he directed the construction of a fortified wall between the Euphrates and the Tigris rivers in his fourth year, intending it to hold off any further Amorite attacks. He was succeeded by his son Ibbi-Sin.

An erotic poem addressed to Shu-Sin by a female speaker is preserved in a cuneiform tablet called Istanbul 2461.^[2] The poem's speaker expresses her strong desires and longings for the king.^[3][4][5]

An inscription states that he gave his daughter in marriage to the ruler of Šimānum "His daughter was given as a bride to Simanum. Simanum, Habura, and the surrounding districts rebelled against the king, they chased his daughter away from her residence." Shu-Sin subsequently conquered Šimānum and restored his daughter there.^[6]

Year names of Shu-sin

The year names for the reign of Shu-sin are all known and give an information about the events of his reign. The most important ones are:^[7]

1 Year Szu-Sin became king
2 Year Szu-Sin the king of Ur made / caulked the boat of Enki (called the) 'ibex of the abzu'
3 Year Szu-Sin the king of Ur destroyed Simanum
4 Year Szu-Sin the king of Ur built the amurru wall (called) 'muriq-tidnim / holding back the Tidanum'
6 Year Szu-Sin the king of Ur erected a magnificent stele for Enlil and Ninlil
7 Year Szu-Sin, the king of Ur, king of the four quarters, destroyed the land of Zabszali
9 Year Szu-Sin the king of Ur built the temple of Szara in Umma

Artifacts

There is vast number of artifacts with inscriptions in the name of Shu-sin.^[8]

• 
  Door socket inscribed with the name of Shu-Sin, king of Ur, Ur III. From Mesopotamia, Erbil Civilization Museum.
• 
  Inscription with the name of Shu-Sin
• 
  Seal of Shu-Sin: "Shu-sin, the Great King, King of Ur, King of the four world quarters..."
• 
  Inscribed stone ring of a fountain, in the name of king Shu-Sin. Pergamon Museum.
• 
  Inscription of King Shu-Sîn, commemorating the construction of the temple of the god Shara at Umma. Musée national d'histoire et d'art, Luxembourg, Cabinet des Médailles.
• 
  Seal of Abbakalla of Ur, riding a horse (reign of Shu-Sin, UR III, 2037–2028 BCE), one of the first known such depiction.^[9][10]

See also

• A Love Song of Shu-Sin (B)
• History of Sumer
• Sumerian king list

References

1. "Sumerian King List", Wikipedia, 2022-11-29, retrieved 2022-12-05
2. "Oldest love poem". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 2019-07-18.
3. Fant, Clyde E.; Reddish, Mitchell G. (2008-10-15). Lost Treasures of the Bible: Understanding the Bible Through Archaeological Artifacts in World Museums. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. ISBN 9780802828811.
4. Longman, Tremper III; Enns, Peter (2008-06-06). Dictionary of the Old Testament: Wisdom, Poetry & Writings: A Compendium of Contemporary Biblical Scholarship. InterVarsity Press.
5. "The World's Oldest Love Poem". World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2019-07-18.
6. Michalowski, Peter, "The Bride of Simanum", Journal of the American Oriental Society, vol. 95, no. 4, pp. 716–19, 1975
7. "T6K4.htm". cdli.ucla.edu.
8. "CDLI-Found Texts". cdli.ucla.edu.
9. Klecel, Weronika; Martyniuk, Elżbieta (July 2021). "From the Eurasian Steppes to the Roman Circuses: A Review of Early Development of Horse Breeding and Management". Animals. 11 (7): 1859. doi:10.3390/ani11071859. ISSN 2076-2615. PMC 8300240. PMID 34206575.
10. Aruz, Joan; Farkas, Ann; Fino, Elisabetta Valtz (2006). The Golden Deer of Eurasia: Perspectives on the Steppe Nomads of the Ancient World. Metropolitan Museum of Art. p. 4. ISBN 978-1-58839-205-3.

• Nicole Brisch, The Priestess and the King: The Divine Kingship of Šū-Sîn of Ur, Journal of the American Oriental Society, vol. 126, no. 2, pp. 161–176, (Apr. - Jun., 2006)
• Stiebing Jr., William H. (2003). Ancient Near Eastern History and Culture. New York: Pearson Education. ISBN 0-321-06674-X.

External links

• Shu-Sin year names at cdli

Regnal titles
Preceded by Amar-Sin	King of Ur, Sumer and Akkad ca. 21st century BCE	Succeeded by Ibbi-Sin