Urshu

 ( Hurrian Cities ) 

Urshu, Warsuwa

or Urshum was a Hurrian-Amorite

(2000). 9789053565032 . ISBN 9789053565032

Mogens Herman Hansen (2025). 9788778761774 . ISBN 9788778761774

city-state in southern Turkey, probably located on the west bank of the Euphrates, and north of Carchemish.

(1973). 9780521082303 . ISBN 9780521082303

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History Urshu was a commercial city governed by a Lord (EN). It was an ally of Ebla and appears in the Ebla tablets as Ursa'um.

Gojko Barjamovic (2025). 9788763536455 . ISBN 9788763536455

Later it was mentioned in the inscriptions of Gudea (r. c.2144–2124 BC according to the Middle chronology) as the city where wood resins were procured.

(1971). 9780521077910 . ISBN 9780521077910

An old Assyrian letter that dates to the 19th century BC mentions a temple of the god Ashur in Urshu.

Gwendolyn Leick (2009). 9781134261284 . ISBN 9781134261284

According to Archi (2011), Uršum (Uršaum) lay north of Hassum (Hassuwan/Haššum), and now has been "placed between Gaziantep and Birecik on the Euphrates, or at Gaziantep itself." p.29

In the beginning of the 18th century BC, Urshu allied with Yamhad against Yahdun-Lim of Mari. Relations with Assyria were also strained, and men of Urshu were summoned by Yapah-Adad and his Habiru to attack the lands of Shamshi-Adad I of Assyria. The texts of Mari mentions a conflict between Urshu and Carchemish: the tribes of Upra-peans and Ra-beans attacked Urshu through the land of Carchemish, which caused Urshu to attack a contingent of Carchemishean troops and civilians that advanced along the bank of the Euphrates.

Later, Urshu became an economic rival to Yamhad

and entered an alliance with Qatna and Shamshi-Adad I to attack Sumu-Epuh of Yamhad (r. c.1810-1780 BC). The death of Shamshi-Adad and the rise of Yarim-Lim I of Yamhad brought an end to this rivalry, as Yamhad was elevated into a and imposed its direct authority over northern, western and eastern Syria,

William J. Hamblin (2006). 9781134520626 . ISBN 9781134520626

bringing Urshu under its sphere of influence without annexing it.

Trevor Bryce (2014). 9780199646678 . ISBN 9780199646678

The Tablets of Mari mention a few kings of Urshu who date to this era, including Shennam

Horst Klengel (1992). 9783050018201 . ISBN 9783050018201

and Atru-Sipti, who visited Mari in the 12th year of its king Zimri-Lim.

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Hittite conquest

The Hittites king Hattusili I attacked Urshu in his second year, laying siege to the city for six months. The Hittite king had 80

Robert Drews (1993). 9780691025919 . ISBN 9780691025919

and conducted his operations from the city of Lawazantiya (located in modern Elbistan district) in the Taurus Mountains foothills of eastern Cilicia.

(1973). 9780521082303 . ISBN 9780521082303

Despite receiving aid from Yamhad and Carchemish, Urshu was burned and destroyed; its lands were plundered and the booty taken to the Hittites capital Hattusa.

Seton Lloyd (1999). 9780520220423 . ISBN 9780520220423

The history of Urshu after the conquest is ambiguous. In the 15th century BC it appears in the Tablets of Alalakh as "Uris" or "Uressi", and is mentioned "Urussa" in the treaty between the Hittite Tudhaliya II and Sunassura II of Kizzuwatna as part of the latter's territory.

The city again became part of the Hittite empire and was last mentioned in records dated to the final periods of that empire.

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See also

• Hurrians
• Yamhad
• History of the Hittites

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Citations

Categories: Hurrian Cities, Former Populated Places In Turkey

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