Untash-Napirisha was king of Elam (in present-day southwest Iran) during the Middle Elamite period, circa 1300 BCE. He was the son of the previous Elamite king, Humban-Numena and of a daughter (or granddaughter) of Kurigalzu II.[ He was named after Napirisha, an Elamite deity.
]
He founded and built extensively a new city, Dur-Untash, 40 km SE of Susa, modern Chogha Zanbil. He built extensively in this city, and its main temple, the famous Ziggurat, still stands there.[Elizabeth Carter, Matthew W. Stolpe. Elam: Surveys of Political History and Archaeology p. 37] Although construction in this religious city complex abruptly ended after Untash-Napirisha's death, the site was not abandoned, but continued to be occupied until it was destroyed by the Assyrian king Ashurbanipal in 640 BC.
Untash-Napirirsha also left numerous building inscriptions for more than 50 temples and buildings, either built or renovated during his reign, in Chogha Zanbil, Susa, Choga Gotvand and other places.
He dedicated a statue of the god Immiriya in Chogha Zanbil to his father-in-law, the Babylonian Burnaburiash. A later Elamite letter from Berlin (Pergamon Museum VAT17020) mentions that he was married to βthe daughter of Burna-buriash (a Babylonian king) and they had a son (and the future Elamite king) Kidin-hudurdish (Hutran)". If this was the Babylonian king Burna-Buriash II, then the reign of Untash-Napirisha could be dated ca. 1340β1300 BC. However, some scholars consider a different model for the synchronism between the Kassite dynasty in Babylon and the Elamite kings, and suggest that the mentioned Burna-buriash was a later prince, and that the reign of Untash-Napirisha could be dated c. 1275β1240 BC; see, for example The Berlin Letter, Middle Elamite Chronology and Sutruk-Nahhunte I's Genealogy.
File:Axe Sb 3973.jpg|Axe bearing the name of the king Untash-Napirisha.
File:Untash king Axe.jpg|Axe inscribed with the name of King Untash-Napirisha
File:Tchogha_Zanbil.jpg|The Ziggurat at Chogha Zanbil was built by Untash-Napirisha.
Image:Untash Napirisha stele Louvre Sb12.jpg|Fish-tailed deity holding snakes. Stele of Untash Napirisha, sandstone, ca. 1340β1300 BC, brought from Tchoga Zanbil to Susa in the 12th century BC.
File:Plaque with inscription "Palace of Untash-Napirisha" from Choga-Zanbil.jpg|Plaque with inscription "Palace of Untash-Napirisha" from Chogha Zanbil
Notes