Abī-ešuḫ | |
|---|---|
| Title | King ofBabylon |
| Term | 28 years 1711–1684 BC (MC); 1703–1676 BC (LMC) |
| Predecessor | Samsu-iluna |
| Successor | Ammī-ditāna |
| Children | Ammī-ditāna |
Abī-ešuḫ (ma-bi-e-šu-uḫ,[1] variants:ma-bi-ši,[i 1] "Abiši",mE-bi-šum,[i 2] "Ebišum") was the 8th king of the 1st Dynasty ofBabylon and reigned for 28 years in 1711–1684 BC (Middle Chronology) or eight years later (Lower Middle Chronology).[2][3] He was preceded by his fatherSamsu-iluna.
His exuberant titles included, "descendant ofSumu-la-El, princely heir of Samsu-iluna, eternal seed of kingship, mighty king, king of Babylon, king of the land of Sumer and Akkad, king who makes the four quarters be at peace." This was presumably achieved by his two aggressive military campaigns. His fourth year-name records that he subdued the army of theKassites.[i 3] TheChronicle of Early Kings[i 1] recalls his damming of the Tigris in a vain attempt to captureIlum-ma-ilī, the founder of theSealand Dynasty. A clay cylinder fragment[i 4] fromKiš is tentatively assigned to this king because the events it commemorates coincide with three of his year-names. It mentions theTigris river (year “o” the damming of the Tigris), the Tigris gate (year “m” theká-gal-i7idigna), the fashioning of a mace forMarduk (year “g”) and digging of the Zubi canal (year “I”). He is described as “the great champion” in his son,Ammī-ditāna's inscription,[i 5] and in the genealogy of his descendantAmmī-ṣaduqa.[4]
TheElamites under their kingKutir-nahhunte I raided into Babylonia early in his reign and sacked 30 cities.
Two copies of a building inscription[i 6] commemorate his construction activities at Luḫaia, a town founded byḪammu-rāpi on the Araḫtum canal to the north of Babylon.[5] A single inscription exists found on an onyx eye stone dedicated to the goddess Ningal.[i 7]
He is richly attested in the cylinder seal impressions of his minions with one[i 8] of his servant, Lamānum, son of Bēl-kulla, another[i 9] of Luštāmar-Adad, son of Mār-Sipparim, another[i 10] of Nabi’um-an[dasa], son of Ilšu-ib[nīšu], another[i 11] ... son of Awīl-..., another[i 12] Ilšu-nāṣir, diviner, son of Marduk-nāṣir, another a copy[i 13] Iddin-Šamaš, sanga priest of the goddessNinisina, son of Ku-Ninisina, and another[i 14] overseer of the merchants, Sīn-iddina[m] son of Šērum-bān[i].[5] TheUruk List of Kings and Sages[i 15] records that "during the reign of Abī-ešuḫ, the king, Gimil-Gula and Taqis-Gula were the scholars.".[6]
| Preceded by | Kings of Babylon | Succeeded by |
