Hamazi orKhamazi (Sumerian:𒄩𒈠𒍣𒆠,ha-ma-ziki, or𒄩𒈠𒍢𒆠Ḫa-ma-zi2ki)[4] was an ancient kingdom or city-state which became prominent during theEarly Dynastic period. Its exact location is unknown.
In the early days of archaeology two pottery fragments were found in Nippur which it was assumed were part of the same vessel (CBS 9571+CBS 9577). One referred to aUhub/Utug ruler of Kish and the other to an unknown ruler defeating Hamazi. Subsequent analysis showed that the two fragments did not in fact belong to the same vessel.[5] The relevant fragment (BM 129402) reads "[To the deity DN P]ussussu, vanquisher of Hamazi, dedi[cated] (this vessel).".[6]
One of the earliest references to Hamazi is found in the epic literary compositionEnmerkar and the Lord of Aratta, whereEnmerkar prays toEnki about the confusion of languages in the various inhabited lands, at the time of the building of theziggurats inEridu andUruk. Hamazi is the only land mentioned in this prayer with the epithet "many-tongued". A sequel,Enmerkar and En-suhgir-ana also mentions that the sorcerer of Hamazi, Urgirinuna, went toAratta after Hamazi "had been destroyed"; he is later sent by the Lord of Aratta on a failed mission attempting to bring Enmerkar into submission.[7][8]
According to the semi-literarySumerian King List, king Hadanish of Hamazi held hegemony overSumer after defeating Kish, but was in turn defeated byEnshakushanna ofUruk.[9]
An uncertain attestation is a clay tablet found in the archives atEbla in Syria bears a copy of a diplomatic message sent from kingIrkab-Damu of Ebla to king Zizi of Hamazi, along with a large quantity of wood, hailing him as a brother, and requesting him to send mercenaries in exchange. A tablet from a few years later states " ... 470 g. of silver of the king of A. which the king of Hamazi has handed over and is his giving (as) a gift to PN, the representative-messenger, (for) the king of Ebla".[10] A later analysis of the toponyms in the tablets in question indicate that the Hamazi mentioned in the Ebla tablets is actually a different Hamazi, at modern Qalah Hom, the “citadel hill” of modern Homs.[6]
In the Akkadian period, little is known about Hamazi which probably was a province/governorate of the Akkadian Empire.
In theUr III period, Hamazi was a province/governorate during the reign ofAmar-Sin. Two governors orensis during this reign named Lu-nanna son of Namhani, and Ur-Ishkur are recorded in tablets from Drehem. The first, Lu-nanna, was recorded in Amar-Sin year 1 and then in year 2: "when His Majesty drank beer in the house of Lu-Nanna, son of Namhani, the ruler of Hamazi.". By the 5th year of Amar-Sin Ur-Ishkur is mentioned as governor of Hamazi. In year nine his daughter-in-law is mentioned "when Ur-Iskur, ruler of Hamazi, 'brought/fetched' his daughter-in-law". We learn her name in an inscription from AS7 "when Tabur-hattum, the daughter-in-law of the ruler Ur-Iskur, when she went (back) to Hamazi". A further possible ensi, under Su-Sin, was Arad-Nanna, though that is thinly attested.[11][12][13]
According to a letter from Puzur-Numušda, governor ofKazallu, in the last days of the Ur III empire wrote to Ibbi-Sin, last ruler of that empire and claimed that the land of Hamazi was plundered byIshbi-Erra ofIsin. He also claimed that the god Enlil had promised Isbi-Erra dominion "from the land of Hamazi (down) to the Sea of Magan".[14][15]
Hamazi is thought to have been located inZagros Mountain region somewhere between theUpper Zab andDiyala Rivers. The mention of a "Šu-Eštar of Hamazi" and another person named Ititi from there in Old Akkadian documents found atNuzi sparked suggestions that Hamazi was nearby.[15] One researcher proposed that Hamazi was the later Old Babylonian period city ofEkallatum.[16] Two researchers have proposed that "Hamazi is located at the site of Kani Jowez about 10 kms SE of modern Halabjah".[6]
TheSumerian King List (SKL) lists only one ruler for Hamazi. The following list should not be considered complete:
| Portrait or inscription | Ruler | Approx. date and length of reign (Middle Chronology) | Comments, notes, and references for mentions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Dynastic period (c. 2900 – c. 2350 BC) | |||
| Hamazi dynasty of Sumer (c. 2530 – c. 2010 BC) | |||
— Sumerian King List (SKL) | |||
 | Hadanish 𒄩𒁕𒉌𒅖 | Uncertain,fl. c. 2530, c. 2430 BC (7, 360, or 420 years) |
|
— SKL | |||
| Akkadian period (c. 2350 – c. 2154 BC) | |||
| Zizi 𒍣𒍣 | Uncertain,fl. c. 2450, c. 2430, c. 2320 BC |
| |
| Gutian period (c. 2154 – c. 2119 BC) | |||
| Ur-Adad | Uncertain,fl. c. 2154 – c. 2046 BC |
| |
| Ur III period (c. 2119 – c. 2004 BC) | |||
| Lu-nanna 𒇽𒀭𒋀𒆠 | Uncertain,reigned c. 2046 – c. 2041 BC |
| |
| Ur-Ishkur 𒌨𒀭𒅎 | Uncertain,r. c. 2041 – c. 2037 BC |
| |
| Arad-Nanna 𒀴𒀭𒋀𒆠 | Uncertain,fl. c. c. 2037, c. 2030, c. 2010 BC |
| |
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