 | Parts of this article (those related to Finds of limmu lists in past couple years, covering a much wider range of dates than indicated below) need to beupdated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(November 2012) |
Inthe history ofAssyria,Limmu was an Assyrianeponym (a person after whom something is named). At the beginning of the reign of anAssyrian king, the limmu, an appointed royal official, would preside over the New Year festival at the capital. Each year a new limmu would be chosen.[1] Although picked by lot, there was most likely a limited group, such as the men of the most prominent families or perhaps members of the city assembly.[2] The Assyrians used the name of the limmu for that year todesignate the year on official documents. Lists of limmus have been found accounting for every year between 892 BC and 648 BC.
During theOld Assyrian period, the king himself was never thelimmum, as it was called in their language. In theMiddle Assyrian andNeo-Assyrian periods, however, the king could take this office.
