CHAPTER I. introductory: babylon's place in the history of antiquity

 

CHAPTER II. the city of babylon and its remains : a discussion of the recent excavations

 

CHAPTER III. the dynasties of babylon : the chronological scheme in the light op recent discoveries

 

CHAPTER IV. the western semites and the first dynasty of babylon

 

CHAPTER V the age of hammurabi and its influence on later periods

 

CHAPTER VI the close of the first dynasty of babylon and the kings from the country of the sea

 

CHAPTER VII the kassite dynasty and its relations with egypt and the hittite empire

 

CHAPTER VIII the later dynasties and the assyrian domination

 

CHAPTER IX the neo-babylonian empire and the persian conquest

 

CHAPTER X greece, palestine, and babylon : an estimate of cultural influence -

 

The letters and inscriptions of Hammurabi, king of Babylon, about B.C. 2200, to which are added a series of letters of other kings of the first dynasty of Babylon

VOLUME I ....... VOLUME II ....... VOLUME III

 

Babylonian letters of the Hammurapi period

 

 

I. A Comparative List oF the Dinasties of Nisin, Larsa, and Babylon II. A Dynastic List of the Kings of Babylon .

DYNASTY OF NISIN		DYNASTY OF LARSA		FIRST DYNASTY OF BABYLON
1. Ishbi Erra 2339-2308	2339-2308
		1 Naplanum	2335-2315
		2-Emisu	2314-2877
2. Gimil-ilishu	2307-2298
3. Idin-Dagan	2297-2277
		3. Samum	2286-2252
4.Idin-Dagan	2276-2257
5.Libit-Ishtar	2256-2246
		4.Zabaia	2251-2243
6.Ur Ninib	2254-2218
		5. Gungunum	2242-2216
7. Bur Sin II	2217-2197
				1 Sumu Abum	2225-2212
		6.Abi-sare	2215-2205
				2.Sumu-la-ilum	2211-2176
		7-Sumu Ilum	2204-2176
8.Iter Pisha	2196-2192
9.Ura Imiti	2191-2185
10.......	2185
11.Enlil.bani	2184-2161
		8. Nur Adad	2175-2160	3. Zabum	2175-2162
12.Zambia	2160-2158			4.Apil Sin	2161-2144
13......	2157-2153	9.Sin-idinnam	2159-2153
14......	2152-2149	10.Sin-iriban	2152-2151
15.Sin-magir	2148-2138	12-Sili Adad	2144
16. Damik-Ilishu	2137-2115	13. Warad Sin	2143-2132	5.Sin Mullabit	2143-2123
Capture of Nisin	2115	14.Rim Sin	2137-2071
		15.Hammurabi	2092-2081
		16. Samsu Iluna	2080-2069	7.Samsu Iluna	2080-2043
				8- Abi-eshu	2042-2015
				9.Ammi-ditana	2014-1978
				10-Ammi Zaduga	1977-1957
				11.Samsu-ditana	1956-1926

CONTEMPORARIES RULERS	DYNASTIES I AND II
	FIRST DYNASTY
	1. Sumu Abum	2225-2212
	2.Sumula Ilum	2211-2176
	3.Zabum	2175-2162
	4.Apil Sin	2161-2144
	5. Sin Mulabit	2143-2124
SECOND DYNASTY	6.Hammurabi	2123-2081
1.Iluma Ilum	7- Samsu Iluna	2080-2043
2. Iti-ili-nibi	8.Abi Eshu	2042-2015
3. Damki Ilusu	9. Ammi Ditana	2014-1978
4. Ishkibal	10.Ammi Zaduqa	1977-1957
5. Sushki	11. Samsu Ditana	1956-1926
6. Gulkishar	THIRD DYNASTY
7. Peshgal Daramash
8. A dara kalama
9. Akur ul ana	1. Gandash	1760-1745
10. melam Kurhura	2. Agum	1744-1723
11. Ea Gamil	3. Kastiliash I	1722-1701
	4. Ushshi	1700-1693
	5. Abi Rattash	1692
	6. Agum Kakrine
	Kadashman Kharbe I
	Kurigalzu I
Contemporaneus Kings of Assyria	Meli Shipak I
Ashur Rim Nisheshu	16. Kara Indash I	c. 1425
	17. Kadashman Enlil I
	18. Buriash
	19.Kurigalzu II
Puzur Ashur	20. Burna Buriash	c. 1385
Ashur Uballit	21. Kara Indash II
	Nagi Bugash (usurper)
Enlil Nirari	22. Kurigalzu III	1357-1335
Adada Nirari I	23. Nazi Maruttash	1334-1309
	24. Kadashman Turgu	1308-1292
	25. HKadasman Enlil II	1291-1286
	26. Kudur Enlil	1285-1277
	27. Shagarakti Shuriash	1276-1264
Tukulti Ninib I	28. Kashtiliash II	1263-1256
	29. Enlil Nadim Shum	1255-1254
	30 Kadashman Kharbe III	1254-1253
	31. Adad Shum Iddin	1252-1247
Enlil Kudur Usur	32.Adad Shum Usur	1246-1217
	33. Meli Shipak II	1216-1202
	34. Merodach Baladan I	1201-1189
AshurDan I	35.Zamama Shum Iddin	1188
	36.Bel Nadin Akhi	1187-1185

DYNASTIES IV-IX		LATER PERIOD
FOURTH DYNASTY		PERIOD OF ASSYRIAN DOMINATION
1. Marduk	1184-1168	1. Nabu Mukin Zer	732-730
2........	1167-1162	2. Pulu (Tiglath Pileser IV)	729-727
3..........		3. Ulalai (Shalmaneser V)	727-722
4. Nebuchadnezzar I	c. 1140	4.Merodach Baladan II	721-710
5.Enlil Nadin Apli		5. Sargon	709-705
6.Marduk Nadin Akhe	c.1110	6. Sennacherib	704-703
7. Marduk Shapik Zermati	c. 1110	7. Marduk Zakir Shum	703-702
8.Adad Aplu Iddina	1095-1074	8. Merodach Baladan II
9.Marduk Akhi Erba	1073	9. Bel Ibni	702-700
10. Marduk Zer	1072-1061	10. Ashur Nadin Shum	699-694
11. Nabu Shum Libur	1060-1053	11. Nergal Ushezib	693-692
FIFTH DYNASTY		12. Mushezib Marduk	692-689
1. Simmash Shipak	1052-1035	13. Senacherib	688-681
2. Ea Mukin Zer	1035	14. Esarhaddon	681-669
3.Hashu Nadin Akhu	1034-1032	15.Shamash Shum Ukin	668-648
SIXTH DYNASTY		16.Kandalanu	647-626
		17. Ashur Etil Ilani	625-618
1. E Ulmash Shakin Shum	1031-1015	18- Sin Shum Lishir	c.618
2. Ninib Kudur Usur	1014-1012	19. Sin Shar Ishkun	c. 616
3. Shilanum Shukamuna	1012	Capture of Nineveh by the Medes 606
SEVENTH DYNASTY		NEO-BABYLONIAN EMPIRE
1. Ae Aplu Asur	1011-1006
EIGHTH DYNASTY		1. Nabopolassar	625-604
1 Nabu Mukin Apli	1005-970	2. Nebuchadnezzar II	604-561
.......		3. Amel Marduk	561-559
Sibir		4. Neriglissar	559-556
........		5.Labashi Marduk	556
		6.Nabonidus	555-539
Sahamash Mudamunik	c. 910	AECHAEMENIAN KINGS
Nabu Shum Ishkun I
Nabu Aplu Idinna	c. 885	1. Cyrus	539-529
Marduk Zakir Shum	c.855	2. Cambyses	529-522
Marduk Batalsu Ikbi	c 830	3. Daris I	522-486
Erba Marduk		4.Xerxes I	486-465
Bau Akhi Iddina	c. 815	5. Artaxerses I	465-424
NINTH DYNASTY		6.Xerxes II	424
........		7. Darius II	424-404
Nabu Shum Ishkun II		8. Artaxerxes II	404-359
Nabonassar	747-734	9. Artaxerxes III	359-338
Nabu Nadin Zer	733-732	10. Arses	338-336
Nabu Shum Ukin	732	11. Darius III	336-331
		Capture of Babylon by Alexander, 331

 

PREFACE

 

In the first volume of this work (A HISTORY OF SUMER AND AKKAD) an account was given of the early races of Babylonia from prehistoric times to the foundation of the monarchy. It closed at the point when the city of Babylon was about to secure the permanent leadership under her dynasty of West-Semitic kings. The present volume describes the fortunes of Babylonia during the whole of the dynastic period, and it completes the history of the southern kingdom. Last autumn, in consequence of the war, it was decided to postpone its publication; but, at the request of the publishers, I have now finished it and seen it through the press. At a time when British troops are in occupation of Southern Mesopotamia, the appearance of a work upon its earlier history may perhaps not be considered altogether inopportune.

Thanks to recent excavation Babylon has ceased to be an abstraction, and we are now able to reconstitute the main features of one of the most famous cities of the ancient world. Unlike Ashur and Nineveh, the great capitals of Assyria, Babylon survived with but little change under the Achaemenian kings of Persia, and from the time of Herodotus onward we possess accounts of her magnificence, which recent research has in great part substantiated. It is true that we must modify the description Herodotus has left us of her size, but on all other points the accuracy of his information is confirmed. The Lion Frieze of the Citadel and the enamelled beasts of the Ishtar Gate enable us to understand something of the spell she cast. It is claimed that the site has been identified of her most famous building, the Hanging Gardens of the royal palace; and, if that should prove to be the case, they can hardly be said to have justified their reputation. Far more impressive is the Tower of Babel with its huge Peribolos, enclosing what has been aptly described as the Vatican of Babylon.

The majority of the buildings uncovered date from the Neo-Babylonian period, but they may be regarded as typical of Babylonian civilization as a whole. For temples were rebuilt again and again on the old lines, and religious conservatism retained the mud-brick walls and primitive decoration of earlier periods. Even Nabopolassar’s royal palace must have borne a close resemblance to that of Hammurabi; and the street network of the city appears to have descended without much change from the time of the First Dynasty. The system which Hammurabi introduced into the legislation of his country may perhaps have been reflected in the earliest attempt at town-planning on a scientific basis. The most striking fact about Babylon's history is the continuity of her culture during the whole of the dynastic period. The principal modification which took place was in the system of land-tenure, the primitive custom of tribal or collective proprietorship giving place to private ownership under the policy of purchase and annexation deliberately pursued by the West-Semitic and Kassite conquerors. A parallel to the earlier system and its long survival may be seen in the village communities of India at the present day.

In contrast to that of Assyria, the history of Babylon is more concerned with the development and spread of a civilization than with the military achievements of a race. Her greatest period of power was under her first line of kings; and in after ages her foreign policy was dictated solely by her commercial needs. The letters from Boghaz Iveui, like those from Tell el-Amarna, suggest that, in keeping her trade connections open, she relied upon diplomacy in preference to force. That she could fight at need is proved by her long struggle with the northern kingdom, but in the later period her troops were never a match for the trained legions of Assyria. It is possible that Nabopolassar and his son owed their empire in great measure to the protecting arm of Media; and Nebuchadnezzar's success at Carchemish does not prove that the Babylonian character had suddenly changed. A recently recovered letter throws light on the unsatisfactory state of at least one section of the army during Nebuchadnezzar's later years, and incidentally it suggests that Gobryas, who facilitated the Persian occupation, may be identified with a Babylonian general of that name. With the fall of Media, he may perhaps have despaired of any successful opposition on his country's part.

Babylon's great wealth, due to her soil and semi-tropical climate, enabled her to survive successive foreign dominations and to impose her civilization on her conquerors. Her caravans carried that civilization far afield, and one of the most fascinating problems of her history is to trace the effect of such intercourse in the literary remains of other nations. Much recent research has been devoted to this subject, and the great value of its results has given rise in some quarters to the view that the religious development of Western Asia, and in a minor degree of Europe, was dominated by the influence of Babylon. The theory which underlies such speculation assumes a reading of the country's history which cannot be ignored. In the concluding chapter an estimate has been attempted of the extent to which the assumption is in harmony with historical research.

The delay in the publication of this volume has rendered it possible to incorporate recent discoveries, some of which have not as yet appeared in print. Professor A. T. Clay has been fortunate enough to acquire for the Yale University Collection a complete list of the early kings of Larsa, in addition to other documents with an important bearing on the history of Babylon. He is at present preparing the texts for publication, and has meanwhile very kindly sent me transcripts of the pertinent material with full permission to make use of them. The information afforded as to the overlapping of additional dynasties with the First Dynasty of Babylon has thrown new light on the circumstances which led to the rise of Babylon to power. But these and other recent discoveries, in their general effects do not involve any drastic changes in the chronological scheme as a whole. They lead rather to local rearrangements, which to a great extent counterbalance one another. Under Babylon's later dynasties her history and that of Assyria are so closely interrelated that it is difficult to isolate the southern kingdom. An attempt has been made to indicate broadly the chief phases of the conflict, and the manner in which Babylonian interests alone were affected. In order to avoid needless repetition, a fuller treatment of the period is postponed to the third volume of this work. A combined account will then also be given of the literature and civilization of both countries.

I take this opportunity of expressing my thanks to Monsieur F. Thureau-Dangin, Conservateur-adjoint of the Museums of the Louvre, for allowing me last spring to study unpublished historical material in his charge. The information he placed at my disposal I found most useful during subsequent work in the Ottoman Museum at Constantinople shortly before the war. Reference has already been made to my indebtedness to Professor Clay, who has furnished me from time to time with other unpublished material, for which detailed acknowledgment is made in the course of this work. With Professor C. F. Burney I have discussed many of the problems connected with the influence of Babylon upon Hebrew literature ; and I am indebted to Professor A. C. Headlam for permission to reprint portions of an article on that subject, which I contributed in 1912 to the Church Quarterly Review.

To Dr. E. A. Wallis Budge my thanks are due, as he suggested that I should write these histories, and he has given me the benefit of his advice. To him, as to Sir Frederic Kenyon and Mr. D. G. Hogarth, I am indebted for permission to make use of illustrations, which have appeared in official publications of the British Museum. My thanks are also due to Monsieur Ernest Leroux of Paris for allowing me to reproduce some of the plates from the " Memoires de la Delegation en Perse," published by him under the editorship of Monsieur J. de Morgan; and to the Council and Secretary of the Society of Biblical Archaeology for the loan of a block employed to illustrate a paper I contributed to their Proceedings. The greater number of the plates illustrating the excavations are from photographs taken on the spot; and the plans and drawings figured in the text are the work of Mr. E. J. Lambert and Mr. C. O. Waterhouse, who have spared no pains to ensure their accuracy. The designs upon the cover of this volume represent the two most prominent figures in Babylonian tradition. In the panel on the face of the cover the national hero Gilgamesh is portrayed, whose epic reflects the Babylonian heroic ideal. The panel on the back of the binding contains a figure of Marduk, the city-god of Babylon, grasping in his right hand the flaming sword with which he severed the dragon of chaos.

L. W. KING.