Shu-Sin

Shu-Sin, also Šu-Suen (Akkadian: 𒀭𒋗𒀭𒂗𒍪: ^DŠu^DSîn, after the Moon God Sîn", the "𒀭" being a silent honorific for "Divine", formerly read Gimil-Sin) was king of Sumer and Akkad, and was the penultimate king of the Ur III dynasty. He succeeded his brother Amar-Sin, and reigned c. 1972-1964 BC (short chronology).

Shu-Sin 𒀭𒋗𒀭𒂗𒍪
King of Ur King of Sumer and Akkad King of the Four Corners of the World
5-mina weight with the name of Shu-Sin, with his regnal titles, from Girsu, Louvre Museum
King of the Neo-Sumerian Empire
Reign	c. 2037  BC – 2029  BC
Predecessor	Amar-Sin
Successor	Ibbi-Sin
Issue	Ibbi-Sin
Dynasty	3rd Dynasty of Ur
Father	Shulgi

Reign

Following an open revolt of his Amorite subjects, he directed the construction of a fortified wall between the Euphrates and the Tigris rivers in his fourth year, intending it to hold off any further Amorite attacks. He was succeeded by his son Ibbi-Sin.

The oldest love poem ever found is addressed to Shu-Sin by a female speaker.[1] It includes erotic language, and the speaker expresses her strong desires and longings for the king.[2][3][4]

Year names of Shu-sin

The year names for the reign of Shu-sin are all known and give an information about the events of his reign. The most important ones are:[5]

1 Year Szu-Sin became king
2 Year Szu-Sin the king of Ur made / caulked the boat of Enki (called the) 'ibex of the abzu'
3 Year Szu-Sin the king of Ur destroyed Simanum
4 Year Szu-Sin the king of Ur built the amurru wall (called) 'muriq-tidnim / holding back the Tidanum'
6 Year Szu-Sin the king of Ur erected a magnificent stele for Enlil and Ninlil
7 Year Szu-Sin, the king of Ur, king of the four quarters, destroyed the land of Zabszali
9 Year Szu-Sin the king of Ur built the temple of Szara in Umma

Artifacts

There is vast number of artifacts with inscriptions in the name of Shu-sin.[6]

• 
  Door socket inscribed with the name of Shu-Sin, king of Ur, Ur III. From Mesopotamia, Erbil Civilization Museum.
• 
  Inscription with the name of Shu-Sin
• 
  Seal of Shu-Sin: "Shu-sin, the Great King, King of Ur, King of the four world quarters..."
• 
  Inscribed stone ring of a fountain, in the name of king Shu-Sin. Pergamon Museum.

See also

• A Love Song of Shu-Sin (B)
• History of Sumer
• Sumerian king list

References

1. "Oldest love poem". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 2019-07-18.
2. Fant, Clyde E.; Reddish, Mitchell G. (2008-10-15). Lost Treasures of the Bible: Understanding the Bible Through Archaeological Artifacts in World Museums. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. ISBN 9780802828811.
3. Longman, Tremper III; Enns, Peter (2008-06-06). Dictionary of the Old Testament: Wisdom, Poetry & Writings: A Compendium of Contemporary Biblical Scholarship. InterVarsity Press.
4. "The World's Oldest Love Poem". Ancient History Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2019-07-18.
5. "T6K4.htm". cdli.ucla.edu.
6. "CDLI-Found Texts". cdli.ucla.edu.

• Nicole Brisch, The Priestess and the King: The Divine Kingship of Šū-Sîn of Ur, Journal of the American Oriental Society, vol. 126, no. 2, pp. 161–176, (Apr. - Jun., 2006)
• Stiebing Jr., William H. (2003). Ancient Near Eastern History and Culture. New York: Pearson Education. ISBN 0-321-06674-X.

External links

• Shu-Sin year names at cdli

Regnal titles
Preceded by Amar-Sin	King of Ur, Sumer and Akkad ca. 21st century BCE	Succeeded by Ibbi-Sin