An architectural foundation-nail figurine depicting king Amar-Sin himself carrying the builder's wicker traybasket, and acuneiform dedication tablet of Amar-Sin
Amar-Sin (Akkadian:𒀭𒀫𒀭𒂗𒍪:DAmarDSîn, "calf of Sîn", the "𒀭" being a silent honorific for "Divine"),(died c. 2037 BC) initially misread asBur-Sin (c. 2046–2037 BC)middle chronology, was the third ruler of theUr III Dynasty. He succeeded his fatherShulgi (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 "throne name". His original name, and whether he was actually the son of Shulgi, is unknown.[1] 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.[2]
Year-names are known for all nine years of his reign. These record campaigns conducted againstUrbilum, and several other regions with obscure names: Shashrum, Shurudhum, Bitum-Rabium, Jabru, and Huhnuri.[3] Amar-Sin is otherwise known to have campaigned against Elamite rulers such as Arwilukpi ofMarhashi, and theUr Empire under his reign extended as far as the northern provinces ofLullubi andHamazi, with their own governors. He also ruled overAssur through the Akkadian governorZariqum, as confirmed by his monumental inscription.[a]
Amar-Sin's reign is notable for his attempt at regenerating the ancient sites ofSumer. He apparently worked on the unfinishedziggurat atEridu.[5]
The BabylonianWeidner 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."
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.[6] 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.[7] Cylinder seals bearing dedications to the king Shu-Sin appear towards the end of Amar-Suen's reign, but certainly before his death.[8] 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.[9] 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.[10][11]
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:
1a. Year: "Amar-Suen is king" 1b. Year: "Harshi and Kimaš were destroyed" 2a. Year: "Amar-Suen, the king, destroyedUrbilum" 5a. Year: "Enunugalanna was installed as en-priest of Inanna in Uruk" 6b. Year: "Amar-Suen, the king, destroyed Shashrum for the second time and Shurudhum" 7b: Year: "Amar-Suen, the king, destroyed Bitum-rabium, Jabru, their territories and Huhnuri"
^Zariqum does not appear on theAssyrian King List tablets, but is usually placed by archaeologists between Akkiya andPuzur-Ashur I. He is well known from contemporary documents as a career governor who was also appointed overSusa at various times between Shulgi year 40 and Shu-Sin year 4.[4]
^Sharlach, Tonia, "Princely Employments in the Reign of Shulgi", Journal of Ancient Near Eastern History, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 1-68, 2022
^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
![Cuneiform tablet impressed with cylinder seal. Receipt of goats, ca. 2040 BC, year 7 of Amar-Sin. Neo-Sumerian.[13]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aCuneiform_tablet_impressed_with_cylinder_seal._Receipt_of_goats%2cca._2040_B.C._Neo-Summerian.jpg)
![Cuneiform tablet impressed with cylinder seal. Receipt of goats, ca. 2040 BC, Neo-Sumerian (drawing).[13]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aCuneiform_tablet_impressed_with_cylinder_seal._Receipt_of_goats%2cca._2040_B.C._Neo-Summerian_(drawing).jpg)
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