Subartu was apparently a kingdom inUpper Mesopotamia, at the upperTigris and later it referred to a region of Mesopotamia. Most scholars suggest thatSubartu is an early name for people of upper Mesopotamia proper on the Tigris and westward, although there are various other theories placing it sometimes a little farther to the east and/or north. Its precise location has not been identified. From the point of view of theAkkadian Empire, Subartu marked the northern geographical horizon, just asAmurru,Elam andSumer marked "west", "east" and "south", respectively, functioning as a term to mean 'north'.[1]
The Sumerian mythological epicEnmerkar and the Lord of Aratta lists the countries where the "languages are confused" as Subartu,Hamazi,Sumer, Uri-ki (Akkad), and the Martu land (theAmorites). The earliest references to the "four-quarters" by the kings of Akkad name Subartu as one of these quarters around Akkad, along with Martu,Elam, and Sumer. Subartu in the earliest texts seem to have been farming mountain dwellers, frequently raided for slaves.
Eannatum ofLagash was said to have smitten Subartu or Shubur, and it was listed as a province of the empire ofLugal-Anne-Mundu; in a later eraSargon of Akkad campaigned against Subar, and his grandsonNaram-Sin listed Subar along withArmani, which has been identified withAleppo,[2] among the lands under his control.Ishbi-Erra ofIsin andHammurabi also claimed victories over Subar.
Three of the 14th-century BCAmarna letters – Akkadian cuneiform correspondence found in Egypt – mentionSubari as a toponym. All are addressed toAkhenaten; in two (EA 108 and 109),Rib-Hadda, king ofByblos, complains thatAbdi-Ashirta, ruler of Amurru, had sold captives to Subari, while another (EA 100), from the city ofIrqata, also alludes to having transferred captured goods to Subari.
Subartu (Subaru of the letters) is a toponym mentioned in theAmarna letters (14th century BC); the letters were written in the short period approximately from1350–1335 BC. It is commonly accepted that the region referenced was Subartu.
Subartu is only referenced in three of the Amarna letters: EA 100, 108, and EA 109. All three letters state that people, or 'items' are needed to be sold in Subaru, for money.
"Rib-Hadda writes to his lord, king of all countries,Great King,King of Battle: May theLady of Gubla grant power to the king, my lord. I fall at the feet of my lord, my Sun, 7 times and 7 times. Moreover, is it pleasing in the sight of the king, who is likeBaal andŠamaš in the sky, that the sons of'Abdi-Aširta do as they please? They have taken the king's horses andchariots, and they have soldinto captivity, charioteers: ši-x-y(?) and soldiers to ((to))-(emphasis?) the land ofSu(ba)ru. In whose lifetime has such a deed been done? False words are now being spoken in the presence of the king, the Sun. I am your loyal servant, and whatever I know or have heard I write to the king, my lord. Wh[o] are they, thedogs, that they couldres[ist] thearchers of the king, the Sun? I wrote t[o] ((to))-(emphasis?) your father-(i.e.Amenhotep III), and he he[eded] my wor[d]s, and he sent ar[ch]ers. Did he not take 'Abdi-Aširta forh[imself]? Moreover, since the mayors have not oppo[sed] th[em], they are stron[g]. The army furnishes whatever they ne[ed], and so they are not afra[id] of the magnate. Because they have taken the hors[es], they are bold. Because we know that they are strong, we haveto(ld) the king, "They are strong," Truly, they will not prevail. When I sent 2messengers toSumur-(Zemar), I retained this man in order to report to the king. Moreover, why do you listen to other men? The king's messengers must bring (news) by night and bring (it) back by night because of thedog. If the king, the Sun, desires, they will be taken in a day. Moreover, has he [n]o[t]plotted evils [upon evils a]gainst you, andrev[olted? A]nd as for the man of [my]god,'Apiru came from Sumur to take him prisoner, but I did not give him up. May the [k]ing he[ed] the words of his servant. Send me [2]0 men fromMeluhha and 20 men from Egypt-(named 'Mizri'-seeMizraim), to guard the city for the king, the Sun, my lord. (I am)-Your loyal se[rvan]t. -EA 108, lines 1-69 (complete)
Arthur Ungnad, "Die ältesten Völkerwanderungen Vorderasiens. Ein Beitrag zur Geschichte und Kultur der Semiten, Arier, Hethiter und Subaräer", Kulturfragen 1, 4–8, 1923
Arthur Ungnad, "Subartu, Beiträge zur Kulturgeschichte und Völkerkunde Vorderasiens", Berlin/Leipzig, 1936
