Amar-Sin (: dingirAmardingirSîn, "calf of Sîn", the "𒀭" being a silent honorific for "Divine"; died c. 2037 BC) initially misread as Bur-Sin (c. 2046–2037 BC) middle chronology, was the third ruler of the Third Dynasty of Ur. He succeeded Shulgi, who might have been his father. His name translates to 'bull calf of the moon-god'. The name Amar-Sin was not recorded before his ascension and is a "Regnal name". His original name, and whether he was actually the son of Shulgi, is unknown.[Sharlach, Tonia, "Princely Employments in the Reign of Shulgi", Journal of Ancient Near Eastern History, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 1-68, 2022] It has been proposed that Amar-Sin, Shu-Sin, and Ibbi-Sin were all brothers and sons of Shulgi. Alternatively, it has been suggested that Amar-Sin was a nephew of Shulgi, explaining his difficulties at the beginning and ending of his reign.[Michalowski, Piotr, "Of Bears and Men. Thoughts on the End of Šulgi’s Reign and on the Ensuing Succession", in Literature as Politics, Politics as Literature:Essays on the Ancient Near East in Honor of Peter Machinist, ed. David S. Vanderhooft and Abraham Winitzer. Winona Lake, IN: Eisenbrau, pp. 285–320. 2013]
Reign
Year-names are known for all nine years of his reign. These record campaigns conducted against
Arbil, and several other regions with obscure names: Shashrum, Shurudhum, Bitum-Rabium, Jabru, and Huhnuri.
Amar-Sin is otherwise known to have campaigned against Elamite rulers such as Arwilukpi of
Marhashi, and Ur under his reign extended as far as the northern provinces of
Lullubi and
Hamazi, with their own governors. He also ruled over
Assur through the Akkadian governor
Zariqum, as confirmed by his monumental inscription.
Amar-Sin's reign is notable for his attempt at regenerating the ancient sites of Sumer. He apparently worked on the unfinished ziggurat at Eridu.[Mallowan, Max, "The Development of Cities from Al-U'baid to the end of Uruk 5" (Cambridge Ancient History)]
The Babylonian Weidner Chronicle records the following: "Amar-Sin ... changed the offerings of large oxen and sheep of the Akitu festival in Esagila. It was foretold that he would die from goring by an ox, but he died from the scorpion? 'bite' of his shoe."
Attempted Coup
The administrative documentation from Amar-Sin's reign suggests that in his final years, he was confronted with some internal strife, and it is likely that
Shu-Sin was behind an effort to ovethrow him. The imperial guard, the agà-ús, were replaced in Amar-Sin's seventh year with a unit called the gàr-du, often the gàr-du of Amar-Sin.
This unit disappears from the record in his ninth year shortly after his death. Also in his seventh year, the king hosted military officials from throughout the empire at a banquet in Ur, where they were required to swear an oath of loyalty.
Cylinder seals bearing dedications to the king Shu-Sin appear towards the end of Amar-Suen's reign, but certainly before his death.
The provincial governors also see some unusual transitions during this time, including being ousted during the middle of Amar-Sin's reign, only to return to their post after his death.
Taken together, it seems likely that Shu-Sin attempted to take power during his brother's reign. It is unclear if Amar-Sin was assassinated during this period, or if he died of natural causes.
[Lafont, Bertrand, "L’avènement de Shu-Sin", RA88, pp. 97–119, 1994][Waetzoldt, Hartmut, "Thronfolger auch Mitregent?", Mesopotamia 5–6, pp. 321–23, 1970–71]
Year names of Amar-Sin
All the year names of Amar-Sin are known, and, as was standard for the time, documented events during that king's reign. While some events are military conquests, most of Amar-Sin's years record cultic activities. Some examples include:
Artifacts
File:Statue fragment beariing incised cuneiform inscription of Amar-Sin,ca. 2046–2038 B.C. Neo-Summerian.jpg|Statue fragment bearing incised cuneiform inscription of Amar-Sin, c. 2046–2038 BC. Neo-Sumerian.
File:Stamped mud-brick of Amar-Sin.JPG|Stamped mud-brick of Amar-Sin
Fired clay brick stamped with the name of Amar-Sin, Ur III, from Eridu, currently housed in the British Museum.jpg|Fired clay brick stamped with the name of Amar-Sin, Ur III, from Eridu. British Museum.
File:Cuneiform tablet impressed with cylinder seal. Receipt of goats,ca. 2040 B.C. Neo-Summerian.jpg|Cuneiform tablet impressed with cylinder seal. Receipt of goats, ca. 2040 BC, year 7 of Amar-Sin. Neo-Sumerian.
See also
Notes
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