Awan dynasty

The Awan Dynasty (Sumerian: 𒈗𒂊𒉈𒀀𒉿𒀭𒆠 lugal-e-ne a-wa-anki, "Kings of Awan") was the first dynasty of Elam of which very little of anything is known today, appearing at the dawn of historical record. The Dynasty corresponds to the early part of the Old Elamite period (dated c. 2700 – c. 1600 BC), it was succeeded by the Shimashki Dynasty (2200-1900 BC)[3] and later the Sukkalmah Dynasty. The Elamites were likely major rivals of neighboring Sumer from remotest antiquity; they were said to have been defeated by Enmebaragesi of Kish (c. 25th century BC), who is the earliest archaeologically attested Sumerian king, as well as by a later monarch, Eannatum I of Lagash.[4]

Awan dynasty
Territory of the Awan in the Mesopotamia area.
Dynastic list of twelve kings of Awan dynasty and twelve kings of the Shimashki Dynasty, 1800–1600 BCE, Louvre Museum Sb 17729.[1][2]

Awan was a city-state or possibly a region of Elam whose precise location is not certain, but it has been variously conjectured to be north of Susa, in south Luristan, close to Dezful, or Godin Tepe.[5][6][7]

Elam and Sumer

According to the Sumerian King List, a dynasty from Awan exerted hegemony in Sumer after defeating the First Dynasty of Ur, probably in the 25th century BCE.[8] It mentions three Awan kings, who supposedly reigned for a total of 356 years.[9] Their names have not survived on the extant copies, apart from the partial name of the third king, "Ku-ul...", who it says ruled for 36 years.[10] This information is not considered reliable, but it does suggest that Awan had political importance in the 3rd millennium BC.

A royal list found at Susa gives 12 names of the kings in the Awan dynasty.[11][12][13] The twelve kings of Awan given in the list are: Pieli, Tari/ip, Ukkutahieš, Hišur, Šušuntarana, Na-?-pilhuš, Kikkutanteimti, Luhhiššan, Hišepratep, Hielu?, Hita-Idaddu-napir, Puzur-Inšušinak. The twelve kings of the Shimashki Dynasty are: Girnamme, Tazitta, Ebarti, Tazitta, Lu?-x-luuhhan, Kindattu, Idaddu, Tan-Ruhurater, Ebarti, Idaddu, Idaddu-Temti.

A God putting a foundation nail in the ground, protected by a Lama goddess, in front of a roaring lion. Coiled snake on top. Inscriptions in Linear Elamite and Akkadian. Time of Kutik-Inshushinak, circa 2100 BC, Louvre Museum

As there are very few other sources for this period, most of these names are not certain. Little more of these kings' reigns is known, but Elam seems to have kept up a heavy trade with the Sumerian city-states during this time, importing mainly foods, and exporting cattle, wool, slaves and silver, among other things. A text of the time refers to a shipment of tin to the governor of the Elamite city of Urua, which was committed to work the material and return it in the form of bronze — perhaps indicating a technological edge enjoyed by the Elamites over the Sumerians.

It is also known that the Awan kings carried out incursions in Mesopotamia, where they ran up against the most powerful city-states of this period, Kish and Lagash. One such incident is recorded in a tablet addressed to Enetarzi, a minor ruler or governor of Lagash, testifying that a party of 600 Elamites had been intercepted and defeated while attempting to abscond from the port with plunder.[14]

Events become a little clearer at the time of the Akkadian Empire (c. 2300 BC), when historical texts tell of campaigns carried out by the kings of Akkad on the Iranian plateau. Sargon of Akkad boasted of defeating a "Luh-ishan king of Elam, son of Hishiprashini", and mentions plunder seized from Awan, among other places. Luhi-ishan is the eighth king on the Awan king list, while his father's name "Hishiprashini" is a variant of that of the ninth listed king, Hishepratep - indicating either a different individual, or if the same, that the order of kings on the Awan king list has been jumbled.[2][15][10][3]

Sargon's son and successor, Rimush, is said to have conquered Elam, defeating its king who is named as Emahsini. Emahsini's name does not appear on the Awan king list, but the Rimush inscriptions claim that the combined forces of Elam and Warahshe, led by General Sidgau, were defeated at a battle "on the middle river between Awan and Susa". Scholars have adduced a number of such clues that Awan and Susa were probably adjoining territories.

With these defeats, the low-lying, westerly parts of Elam became a vassal of Akkad, centred at Susa. This is confirmed by a document of great historical value, a peace treaty signed between Naram-Sin of Akkad and an unnamed king or governor of Awan, probably Khita or Helu. It is the oldest document written in Elamite cuneiform that has been found.

Although Awan was defeated, the Elamites were able to avoid total assimilation. The capital of Anshan, located in a steep and mountainous area, was never reached by Akkad. The Elamites remained a major source of tension, that would contribute to destabilizing the Akkadian state, until it finally collapsed under Gutian pressure.

Reign of Kutik-Inshushinak, the height of Awan
Statue of goddess Narundi dedicated by Awan king Kutik-Inshushinak, with inscriptions in Linear Elamite and in Akkadian, circa 2100 BC, Louvre Museum.

When the Akkadian empire started to break down around 2240 BC, it was Kutik-Inshushinak (or Puzur-Inshushinak), the governor of Susa on behalf of Akkad, who liberated Awan and Elam, ascending to the throne.

By this time, Susa had started to gain influence in Elam (later, Elam would be called Susiana), and the city began to be filled with temples and monuments. Kutik-Inshushinak next defeated Kimash and Hurtum (neighboring towns rebelling against him), destroying 70 cities in a day. Next he established his position as king, defeating all his rivals and taking Anshan, the capital. Not content with this, he launched a campaign of devastation throughout northern Sumer, seizing such important cities as Eshnunna. When he finally conquered Akkad he was declared king of the four quarters, owner of the known world. Later, Ur-Nammu of Ur, founder of the 3rd dynasty of Ur defeated Elam, ending the dynasty of Awan.

Bilingual Linear Elamite-Akkadian inscription of king Kutik-Inshushinak, "Table of the Lion", Louvre Museum Sb 17

Kutik-Inshushinak's work was not only as a conqueror; he created Elam's organization and the administrative structure. He extended the temple of Inshushinak, where he erected a statue of her.

After his defeat, the Awan dynasty disappears from history, probably cut down by the Guti or Lullubi tribes that then sowed disorder in Mesopotamia and the Zagros, and Elam was left in the hands of the Shimashki dynasty.

Awan and Anshan?

The toponym "Awan" only occurs once more following the reign of Kutik-Inshushinak, in a year-name of Ibbi-Sin of Ur. The name Anshan, on the other hand, which only occurs once before this time (in an inscription of Manishtushu), becomes increasingly more commonplace beginning with king Gudea of Lagash, who claimed to have conquered it around the same time. It has accordingly been conjectured that Anshan not only replaced Awan as one of the major divisions of Elam, but that it also included the same territory.[15]

List of rulers of Awan
# Portrait or inscription Ruler Approximated date Succession and death details Notes and references for mentions
Awanite rulers mentioned on the Awanite King List
1. Peli or Feyli Uncertain, reigned c. 2800 – c. 2350 BC (?) Unclear succession
2. Tata
3. Ukku-Tanhish
4. Hishutash
5. Shushun-Tarana
6. Napi-Ilhush
7. Kikku-Siwe-Temti
9. Hishep-Ratep Uncertain, r. c. 2350 – c. 2254 BC (?) temp.:
8. Luh-ishan Son of Hishep-Ratep (?)
d. c. 2325 BC
10. Helu Unclear succession
11. Khita Uncertain, r. c. 2254 – c. 2200 BC (?) temp.:
12. Puzur-Inshushinak Uncertain, r. c. 2200 – c. 2090 BC (?) Nephew of Khita (?) temp.:
  • Sharkalisharri of Akkad (r. c. 2218 – c. 2193 BC)
  • Puzer-Mama of Lagash (r. c. 2200 BC)
  • Gudea of Lagash (r. c. 2144 – c. 2124 BC)
  • Ur-Nammu of Ur (r. c. 2112 – c. 2094 BC)

"Twelve kings of Awan."

— Awanite King List
# Portrait or inscription Ruler Approximated date Succession and death details Notes and references for mentions
Akkadian governors and other Elamite rulers
Sanam-Shimut Uncertain, r. c. 2325 BC (?) Unclear succession temp.:
  • Sargon of Akkad (r. c. 2334 – c. 2279 BC)
Zinuba Uncertain, r. c. 2315 BC (?)
Lamgium Uncertain, r. c. 2315 – c. 2254 BC (?) temp.:
Uba
Ur-Ili-Adad[16]
Eshpum
Epirmupi
Enammuna
Ili-ishmani[16] Uncertain, r. c. 2254 – c. 2200 BC (?) temp.:
  • Naram-Suen of Akkad (r. c. 2254 – c. 2218 BC)
  • Sharkalisharri of Akkad (r. c. 2218 – c. 2193 BC)
Shinpi-hish-huk[16]
Khita
Puzur-Inshushinak Uncertain, r. c. 2200 – c. 2090 BC (?) Nephew of Khita (?) temp.:
  • Sharkalisharri of Akkad (r. c. 2218 – c. 2193 BC)
  • Puzer-Mama of Lagash (r. c. 2200 BC)
  • Gudea of Lagash (r. c. 2144 – c. 2124 BC)
  • Ur-Nammu of Ur (r. c. 2112 – c. 2094 BC)

References

Citations
  1. "Awan King List".
  2. Scheil 1931.
  3. Leick 2001, p. 99.
  4. Jacobsen 1939, pp. 82–85.
  5. Gershevitch 1968, pp. 25–26.
  6. Liverani 2013, p. 142.
  7. Hansen & Ehrenberg 2002, p. 133.
  8. Kriwaczek 2010, p. 136: "Then Urim was defeated and the kingship was taken to Awan."
  9. Legrain 1922, pp. 10–22.
  10. Stolper 1987.
  11. Hinz 1972.
  12. Cameron 1936.
  13. Vallat 1998.
  14. Kramer 1963, p. 331.
  15. Hansman 1985.
  16. Legrain 1922, pp. 10–22.

Bibliography
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