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Irkab-Damu

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Irkab-Damu
King of Ebla
Tenurec. 2340 BC.Middle chronology
PredecessorIgrish-Halam
SuccessorIsar-Damu
King of Ebla
WifeDusigu
IssueIsar-Damu
Princess Iti-Mut.[1]
Princess Tarib-Damu.[2]
Princess Tište-Damu.[2]
Princess Tinib-Dulum.[3]
FatherIgrish-Halam
MotherKesdut

Irkab-Damu(reigned c. 2340 BC),[4]was the king (Malikum) of the firstEblaite kingdom,whose era saw Ebla's turning into the dominant power in theLevant.[5][6]

During his reign, the vizier started to acquire an important role in running the affair of the state and the military. Irkab-Damu's reign is also noted for the wide diplomatic relations between Ebla and the surrounding kingdoms.[7][8][9]

Reign[edit]

Ebla at the end of Irkab-Damu's reign.

Irkab-Damu succeeded king Igrish-Halam,[10][11]whose reign was characterized by an Eblaite weakness, and tribute paying to the kingdom ofMariwith whom Ebla fought a long war.[8]Irkab-Damu started his reign by concluding a peace and trading treaty withAbarsal(probably located along the Euphrates river east of Ebla),[12]one of the first recorded treaties in history.[13]Ebla paid tribute to Mari during Irkab-Damu's first years on the throne.[8]A letter from kingEnna-Daganof Mari was discovered at Ebla,[14]and was used by the Mariote monarch as a tool to assert Mari's authority,[14]as it contained a historic telling of the victories won by Enna-Dagans's predecessors over Ebla.[15]

Expansion[edit]

Irkab-Damu launched a successful counteroffensive against Mari, and ended the tribute.[5][6]He expanded the borders of Ebla to its greatest extent, and controlled an area roughly half the size of modernSyria,[16]half of which was under the direct control of the king and administered by governors, while the rest consisted of vassal kingdoms paying tribute and supplying military assistance to Ebla.[16]Atabletfrom Ebla mention an Eblaite victory overNagar,most probably during Irakb-Damu's reign.[17]The same tablet mention the concluding of a treaty with Enna-Dagan.[17]Irkab-Damu appointedArrukumas the firstvizier of Ebla,[18]who kept his office for five years,[19]and had his sonRuzi-Malikmarrying princessIti-Mut,the daughter of the king.[1]

Diplomacy was an important part of Irkab-Damu's policy, a clay tablet found in the archives at Ebla, bears a copy of a diplomatic message sent from Ebla to king Zizi ofHamazi,along with a large quantity of wood, hailing him as a brother,[20]and requesting him to send mercenaries in exchange.[21]Gifts fromAncient Egyptwere discovered in the royal palace, indicating the far reaching relations of Ebla,[22]which is described byKarl Mooreas the history first world power.[23]

Succession and family[edit]

Irkab-Damu was the son of Igrish-Halam and his queenKesdut.[24]He ruled for eleven years,[12]and marriedDusiguin his fifth year on the throne.[25]Irkab-Damu last two years saw the rise of vizierIbrium,[19]who campaigned against Abarsal duringArrukum's term,[7]and became Ebla's strongest official during the reign of Irkab-Damu's son and successorIsar-Damu.[7]

King Irkab-Damu ofEbla
Regnal titles
Preceded by King of Ebla
2340 BC 		Succeeded by

See also[edit]

References[edit]

Citations[edit]

  1. ^abArchi, Alfonso (2002). "Jewels for the Ladies of Ebla".Zeitschrift für Assyriologie und vorderasiatische Archäologie.92(2): 162.doi:10.1515/zava.2002.92.2.161.S2CID161759399.
  2. ^abArchi, Alfonso (2002). "Jewels for the Ladies of Ebla".Zeitschrift für Assyriologie und vorderasiatische Archäologie.92(2): 183.doi:10.1515/zava.2002.92.2.161.S2CID161759399.
  3. ^Archi, Alfonso (2002). "Jewels for the Ladies of Ebla".Zeitschrift für Assyriologie und vorderasiatische Archäologie.92(2): 170.doi:10.1515/zava.2002.92.2.161.S2CID161759399.
  4. ^William J. Hamblin (2006-09-27).Warfare in the Ancient Near East to 1600 BC.p. 239.ISBN9781134520626.
  5. ^abAmanda H. Podany (2010).Brotherhood of Kings: How International Relations Shaped the Ancient Near East.p. 24.ISBN9780199798759.
  6. ^abLisa Cooper (2006).Early Urbanism on the Syrian Euphrates.p. 64.ISBN9781134261079.
  7. ^abcMario Liverani (2013-12-04).The Ancient Near East: History, Society and Economy.p. 207.ISBN9781134750917.
  8. ^abcJoan Aruz; Ronald Wallenfels (2003).Art of the First Cities: The Third Millennium B.C.p. 462.ISBN9781588390431.
  9. ^Diane Bolger; Louise C. Maguire (2010).The Development of Pre-State Communities in the Ancient Near East: Studies in Honour of Edgar Peltenburg.p. 132.ISBN9781842178379.
  10. ^Gregorio del Olmo Lete (2008).Mythologie et religion des sémites occidentaux, Nummer 1(in French). p. 118.ISBN9789042918979.
  11. ^Antonio Panaino; Giovanni Pettinato (2002).Ideologies as Intercultural Phenomena: Proceedings of the Third Annual Symposium of the Assyrian and Babylonian Intellectual Heritage Project, Held in Chicago, USA, October 27-31, 2000.p. 200.ISBN9788884831071.
  12. ^abArchi, Alfonso (2011). "In Search of Armi".Journal of Cuneiform Studies.63(1): 5–34.doi:10.5615/jcunestud.63.0005.JSTOR10.5615/jcunestud.63.0005.S2CID163552750.
  13. ^Stephen C. Neff (2014).Justice Among Nations.p. 14.ISBN9780674726543.
  14. ^abGeorges Roux (1992).Ancient Iraq.p. 200.ISBN9780141938257.
  15. ^Mario Liverani (2013).The Ancient Near East: History, Society and Economy.p. 119.ISBN9781134750849.
  16. ^abWilliam J. Hamblin (2006-09-27).Warfare in the Ancient Near East to 1600 BC.p. 240.ISBN9781134520626.
  17. ^abDavid Oates,Joan Oates,Helen McDonald (2001).Excavations at Tell Brak: vol 2. Nagar in the third millennium BC.p. 100.ISBN9780951942093.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  18. ^Alfonso Archi (1998).Archiv für Orientforschung, Volume 44,Deel 1 -Volume 45,Deel 1.p. 108.
  19. ^abDouglas Frayne (2008).Pre-Sargonic Period: Early Periods, Volume 1 (2700-2350 BC).p. 148.ISBN9781442690479.
  20. ^Jovan Kurbalija; Hannah Slavik (2001).Language and Diplomacy.p. 52.ISBN9789990955156.
  21. ^Giovanni Pettinato (1981).The archives of Ebla: an empire inscribed in clay.Doubleday. p.98.ISBN9780385131520.
  22. ^Amanda H. Podany (2010).Brotherhood of Kings: How International Relations Shaped the Ancient Near East.p. 52.ISBN9780199798759.
  23. ^Karl Moore; David Charles Lewis (2009).The Origins of Globalization.p. 43.ISBN9781135970086.
  24. ^Archi, Alfonso (2002). "Jewels for the Ladies of Ebla".Zeitschrift für Assyriologie und vorderasiatische Archäologie.92(2): 174.doi:10.1515/zava.2002.92.2.161.S2CID161759399.
  25. ^Anne Porter (2012).Mobile Pastoralism and the Formation of Near Eastern Civilizations: Weaving Together Society.p. 230.ISBN9780521764438.

Bibliography[edit]

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