Awan (ancient city)

Awan
𒀀𒉿𒀭𒆠
	Shown within Near East Awan (ancient city) (Iran)
Location	Uncertain; somewhere in the Lorestan province of the Islamic Republic of Iran
Region	Western Iran
Coordinates	33°29′13.6″N 48°21′13.7″E / 33.487111°N 48.353806°E
Type	City
History
Founded	c. 2600 BC
Abandoned	c. 2015 BC
Periods	Early Dynastic I, II, and III, Akkadian, Ur III, Old Elamite I
Cultures	Elam
Associated with	Elamites
Site notes
Condition	Lost city

Awan (Sumerian cuneiform: 𒀀𒉿𒀭𒆠 a-wa-an^ki, "Country of Awan") was an ancient city-state or region of Elam in the western area of modern-day Iran. It often appears together with the cities of Susa and Anshan in the early history of Mesopotamia, having many conflictual interactions with Sumer.^[1]

Location

The city of Awan still has not been located archaeologically. Given the 15th year name of Ibbi-Sin, the fifth and last ruler of the Ur III empire "The year Ibbi-Sîn, king of Ur, roared like a storm against Susa, Adamdun, (and) the land of Awan; made them submit in a single day; and took their lord(s) as bound captive(s)" Awan is thought to be close to Susa and Adamdun (thought to be Andimeshk).^[2]

An inscription of Rimush (c. 2279–2270 BC) second ruler of the Akkadian Empire states that he fought a battle "between Awan and Susa" near the "Qablitum River" (Qablitum=Middle).^[3]

"<Rimus, king of the world, in battle> was victorious over Abalgamas, king of Parahsum. Zahar, Elam, [G]upin, and [Me]luhha assembled in Pa[rah]sum for battle, but he, (Rimus) captured S[idga'u], general of [Parahsum] (and) [the king(?) of] Elam i[nbetwe]en (the cities of) [Aw]an and [Susa], by the '[Mid]dle Ri[ver]'. [Further], he [h]eaped up over [them] a [burial mo]und i[n] the [are]a of the city. In addition, he tore out the [fo]undation of Parahsum from the land of Elam and (thereby) Rimus, king of the world, rule[d] Elam .... "^[4]

Awan

Possible location of Awan. The approximate Bronze Age extension of the Persian Gulf is shown.

The territory of Awan and related polities in the Mesopotamia area circa 2000 BC.

History

A dynasty of Elamite rulers was named after the city, the Awan Dynasty. It was founded by a ruler named Peli, and is therefore sometimes called "the dynasty of Peli".^[1] According to the Sumerian King List, Awan put an end to the First Dynasty of Ur circa 2450 BC, and three kings of Awan then ruled over the southern regions of Sumer. Unfortunately, the names of the three rulers are broken off in the text. The primary source of this information is a much later king list, recorded on an Old Babylonian period tablet. The tablet has two lists, twelve rulers of Awan and twelve of Šimaški.^[5]^[6]^[7] Doubts have been raised about the list, especially the Awan section.^[8]^[9] Only two of the rulers on the Awan list are known with certainty from contemporary records Luh-ishan and Puzur-Inshushinak, and a third Khita has been suggested but is not at all certain.^[10]

On a monument recording one of his military campaigns, Sargon of Akkad (c. 2334–2279 BC), first ruler of the Akkadian Empire, lists captives and loot acquired including "booty of Awan".^[4] An unknown king of Awan (sometimes speculated to be Khita) is recorded as having signed a peace treaty, in Old Elamite language written in an Old Akkadian ductus, with Naram-Sin (not deified in the text), stating: "The enemy of Naram-Sin is my enemy, the friend of Naram-Sin is my friend".^[11]^[12]^[13] Old Elamite is poorly understood (all other texts being very short) as yet making interpretation of the text challenging. The text mentions about twenty gods, mostly Elamite but with a few Sumerian and Akkadian, including Inshushinak, Humban, Nahiti, Simut, and Pinikir. It has been suggested that the formal treaty allowed Naram-Sin to have peace on his eastern borders, so that he could deal more effectively with the threat from Gutium.^[14]^[15]

Awan wrestled independence from the Akkadians during the reign of Shar-Kali-Sharri. But some time later, the Awan Dynasty ended with the defeat of its last king, Puzur-Inshushinak by Ur-Nammu (c. 2112–2094 BC), followed by the control of the Third Dynasty of Ur over the region.^[1]^[10]

The last mention of Awan was during the reign of Ibbi-Sin (c. 2028–2004 BC), final ruler of the Ur III Empire, and then only as a geographical area.^[16]

List of rulers

Portrait or inscription	Ruler	Approx. date and length of reign (Middle Chronology)	Comments, notes, and references for mentions
Early Dynastic IIIa period (c. 2600 – c. 2500 BC)
Awanite dynasty of Sumer (c. 2600 – c. 2500 BC)
"Then Ur was defeated and the kingship was taken to Awan." — Sumerian King List (SKL)
	Unknown	fl. c. 2600 BC	Historicity uncertain Same person as Peli (?) Said on the Sumerian King List (SKL) to have held the title of, "King" of not just Awan; but, to have held the "Kingship" over all of Sumer^[17]
	...Lu	fl. c. 2580 BC	Historicity uncertain Same person as Tata (?) Said on the SKL to have held the title of, "King" of not just Awan; but, to have held the "Kingship" over all of Sumer
	Kur-Ishshak 𒆪𒌌	fl. c. 2550 BC (36 years)	Historicity uncertain Same person as Ukku-Tanhish (?) Said on the SKL to have held the title of, "King" of not just Awan; but, to have held the "Kingship" over all of Sumer

"3 kings; they ruled for 356 years. Then Awan was defeated and the kingship was taken to Kish." — SKL
Portrait or inscription	Ruler	Approx. date and length of reign (MC)	Comments, notes, and references for mentions
Early Dynastic IIIb period (c. 2500 – c. 2350 BC)
Dynasty of Peli (c. 2500 – c. 2015 BC)
	Peli or Feyli	reigned c. 2500 BC	Historicity uncertain Held the title of, "King of Awan" Founder of the, "Dynasty of Peli"
	Tata 𒋫𒀀𒅈	r. c. 2450 BC	Historicity uncertain Held the title of, "King of Awan" Same person as ...Lu (?)
	Ukku-Tanhish	r. c. 2400 BC	Historicity uncertain Held the title of, "King of Awan" Same person as Kur-Ishshak (?)
	Hishutash	fl. c. 2400 – c. 2350 BC	Historicity uncertain Held the title of, "King of Awan"
	Shushun-Tarana 𒋗𒋗𒌦𒋫𒊏𒈾		Historicity uncertain Held the title of, "King of Awan"
	Napi-Ilhush 𒈾𒉿𒅍𒄷𒄷		Historicity uncertain Held the title of, "King of Awan"
	Kikku-Siwe-Temti		Historicity uncertain Held the title of, "King of Awan"
Portrait or inscription	Ruler	Approx. date and length of reign (MC)	Comments, notes, and references for mentions
Proto-Imperial period (c. 2350 – c. 2334 BC)
	Luh-ishan 𒇻𒄴𒄭𒅖𒊮𒀭	d. c. 2325 BC	Son of Ḫišibrasini Held the title of, "King of Awan" temp. of Sargon
Portrait or inscription	Ruler	Approx. date and length of reign (MC)	Comments, notes, and references for mentions
Akkadian period (c. 2334 – c. 2154 BC)
	Sanam-Shimut	fl. c. 2325 BC	temp. of Sargon
	Hishep-Ratep I	fl. c. 2320 BC	Historicity uncertain Same person as Ḫišibrasini (?) Held the title of, "King of Awan"
	Zinuba	fl. c. 2315 BC	temp. of Sargon

	Helu	fl. c. 2300 BC	Historicity uncertain Held the title of, "King of Awan"
	Emahsini	fl. c. 2280 BC	temp. of Rimush Historicity certain Held the title of, "King of Elam"

	Epirmupi 𒂊𒉆𒈬𒉈	fl. c. 2279 BC	temp. of Rimush (?) Held the titles of "Military Governor of Elam" and "Governor of Susa"
	Enammuna	Uncertain	temp. of Rimush (?)

	Autalummash	fl. c. 2270 BC	temp. of Manishtushu (?) Historicity certain Held the title of, "King of Kings of Elam"

	Eshpum 𒀹𒅗	fl. c. 2269 BC	temp. of Manishtushu Held the title of, "Governor of Elam"
	Lamgium	Uncertain	temp. of Manishtushu
	Uba	Uncertain	temp. of Manishtushu
	Ur-Ili-Adad^[18]	Uncertain	temp. of Manishtushu
	Khita 𒄭𒋫𒀀	fl. c. 2250 BC	temp. of Naram-Suen Held the title of, "King of Awan"
	Ili-ishmani 𒉌𒉌𒅖𒈠𒉌^[18]	fl. c. 2200 BC	temp. of Shar-Kali-Sharri Held the titles of "Military Governor of Elam" and "Governor of Susa"
	Hita'a 𒄭𒋫𒀀	Uncertain	Same person as Khita (?) temp. of Shar-Kali-Sharri Held the title of, "King of Awan"
	Shinpi-hish-huk^[18]	Uncertain	Brother of Khita (?) temp. of Shar-Kali-Sharri

Portrait or inscription	Ruler	Approx. date and length of reign (MC)	Comments, notes, and references for mentions
Gutian period (c. 2154 – c. 2112 BC)
	Puzur-Inshushinak 𒅤𒊭𒀭𒈹𒂞	r. c. 2150 BC	Son of Shinpi-hish-huk temp. of Gudea Held the titles of "Military Governor of Elam", "Governor of Susa", and, "King of Awan"

References

Notes

Citations

^ ^a ^b ^c Gershevitch, I. (1985). The Cambridge History of Iran. Cambridge University Press. p. 26. ISBN 978-0-521-20091-2.
^ Frayne, Douglas, "Ibbi-Sin", Ur III Period (2112-2004 BC), Toronto: University of Toronto Press, pp. 361-392, 1997
^ Laurito, Romina, and Mariapaola Pers, "Attestations of Canals in the Royal Sources from the Sumerian to the PaleoBabylonian Period", Egitto e Vicino Oriente, vol. 25, pp. 275–325, 2002
^ ^a ^b [1] Douglas R. Frayne, "Akkad", The Sargonic and Gutian Periods (2334–2113), University of Toronto Press, pp. 5-218, 1993 ISBN 0-8020-0593-4
^ Scheil, V., "Dynasties Élamites d’Awan et de Simaš’, Revue d’Assyriologie et d’archéologie orientale,28(1), pp. 1–8, 46, 1931
^ Gelb, I. J. and B. Kienast, "Die altakkadischen Königsinschriften des Dritten Jahrtausends v. Chr", (Freiburger altorientalische Studien, Bd. 7), Stuttgart: F. Steiner, 1990
^ Sallaberger, W. and I. Schrakamp, "Part I: Philological Data for a Historical Chronology of Mesopotamia in the 3rd Millennium", in W. Sallaberger and I. Schrakamp (eds), ARCANE (Associated Regional Chronologies for the Ancient Near East and the Eastern Mediterranean)III: History and Philology, Turnhout: Brepols, pp. 1–136, 2015
^ Glassner, J.-J., "Les dynasties d’Awan et de Shimashki", Nouvelles assyriologiques brèves et utilitaires, 34, 1996
^ Steinkeller, "New Light on Šimaški and Its Rulers", Zeitschrift fürAssyriologie, 97, pp. 215–32, 2007
^ ^a ^b [2]Pittman, Holly, "The “Jeweler’s” Seal from Susa and Art of Awan", Leaving No Stones Unturned: Essays on the Ancient Near East and Egypt in Honor of Donald P. Hansen, edited by Erica Ehrenberg, University Park, USA: Penn State University Press, pp. 211-236, 2002
^ Hinz, Walther, "Elams Vertrag mit Narām-Sîn von Akkade", Zeitschrift für Assyriologie und Vorderasiatische Archäologie, vol. 58, no. Jahresband, pp. 66-96, 1967
^ "Site officiel du musée du Louvre". cartelfr.louvre.fr.
^ Scheil, V, "Textes Élamites-Anzanites", MDP XI, 1911
^ Cameron, G.G., "History of Early Iran", Chicago/London: University of Chicago, 1936
^ Westenholz, Aage, Pascal Attinger, and Markus Wäfler, "The Old Akkadian Period: History and Culture", Mesopotamien. Annäherungen 3: Akkade-Zeit und Ur III-Zeit, pp. 17-117, 1999
^ Steinkeller, "The Birth of Elam in History", in J. Álvarez-Mon, G. P. Basello and Y. Wicks (eds), The Elamite World (Routledge Worlds), London: Routledge, pp. 177–202, 2018
^ Stolper 1987.
^ ^a ^b ^c Legrain 1922, pp. 10–22.

Bibliography

Cameron, G. (1936). History of Early Iran (Thesis). United States: University of Chicago Press. ISBN 9780608165332.
Daryaee, T. (2012). The Oxford Handbook of Iranian History. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780190208820.
Diakonoff, I. (1956). История Мидии От Древнейших Времен До Конца IV Века До Н.э. [The history of Media from ancient times to the end of the 4th century BCE] (in Russian). Moscow and Leningrad.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Edwards, I.; Gadd, C.; Hammond, N. (1970). "II". Early history of the Middle East. The Cambridge Ancient History. Vol. I (revised ed.). London; New York: CUP. ISBN 9780521070515.
Gershevitch, I. (1968). The Median and Achaemenian periods. The Cambridge History of Iran. Vol. 2. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521200912.
Hansen, D.; Ehrenberg, E. (2002). Leaving No Stones Unturned: Essays on the Ancient Near East and Egypt in Honor of Donald P. Hansen. Eisenbrauns. ISBN 9781575060552.
Hansman, J. (1985). "Anshan". Encyclopædia Iranica. 1. Vol. II. pp. 103–107.
Hayes, W.; Rowton, M.; Stubbings, F. (1964). "VII". Chronology. The Cambridge Ancient History. Vol. I (Revised ed.). Bureau of Military History: CUP (published 1961).
Hinz, W. (1972). Written at United Kingdom. The Lost World of Elam: Re-creation of a Vanished Civilization. Translated by Barnes, J. University of California: Sidgwick & Jackson. ISBN 9780283978630.
Jacobsen, T. (1939). Sumerian King List (2nd ed.). University of Chicago Oriental Institute. ISBN 9780226622736.
Kramer, S. (1963). The Sumerians: their history, culture, and character. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 9780226452388. LCCN 63011398.
Kriwaczek, P. (2010). Babylon: Mesopotamia and the Birth of Civilization. Atlantic Books. ISBN 9781429941068.
Legrain, L. (1922). Historical Fragments. Vol. XIII. United States: University of Pennsylvania Museum. ISBN 9780598776341.
Leick, G. (2001). Who's Who in the Ancient Near East. Who's Who series. Psychology Press. ISBN 9780415132312.
Liverani, M. (2013). The Ancient Near East: History, Society and Economy. Routledge. ISBN 9781134750849.
Majidzadeh, Y. (1991). تاريخ و تمدن ايلام [History and civilization of Elam] (in Persian). Iran: University of Tehran Press.
Majidzadeh, Y. (1997). تاريخ و تمدن بين النهرين [History and civilization of Mesopotamia] (in Persian). Vol. 1. Iran: University of Tehran Press. ISBN 9789640108413.
Scheil, V. (1931). "Dynasties Élamites d'Awan et de Simaš". Revue d'Assyriologie et d'archéologie orientale. 28 (1). Presses Universitaires de France: 1–46. ISSN 0373-6032. JSTOR 23283945.
Stolper, M. (1987). "AWAN". Encyclopædia Iranica. 2. Vol. III. pp. 113–114.
Vallat, F. (1998). "ELAM i. The history of Elam". Encyclopædia Iranica. 3. Vol. VIII. pp. 301–313.

[CHI26-1] Gershevitch, I. (1985). The Cambridge History of Iran. Cambridge University Press. p. 26. ISBN 978-0-521-20091-2.

[2] Frayne, Douglas, "Ibbi-Sin", Ur III Period (2112-2004 BC), Toronto: University of Toronto Press, pp. 361-392, 1997

[3] Laurito, Romina, and Mariapaola Pers, "Attestations of Canals in the Royal Sources from the Sumerian to the PaleoBabylonian Period", Egitto e Vicino Oriente, vol. 25, pp. 275–325, 2002

[Frayne1993-4] [1] Douglas R. Frayne, "Akkad", The Sargonic and Gutian Periods (2334–2113), University of Toronto Press, pp. 5-218, 1993 ISBN 0-8020-0593-4

[5] Scheil, V., "Dynasties Élamites d’Awan et de Simaš’, Revue d’Assyriologie et d’archéologie orientale,28(1), pp. 1–8, 46, 1931

[6] Gelb, I. J. and B. Kienast, "Die altakkadischen Königsinschriften des Dritten Jahrtausends v. Chr", (Freiburger altorientalische Studien, Bd. 7), Stuttgart: F. Steiner, 1990

[7] Sallaberger, W. and I. Schrakamp, "Part I: Philological Data for a Historical Chronology of Mesopotamia in the 3rd Millennium", in W. Sallaberger and I. Schrakamp (eds), ARCANE (Associated Regional Chronologies for the Ancient Near East and the Eastern Mediterranean)III: History and Philology, Turnhout: Brepols, pp. 1–136, 2015

[8] Glassner, J.-J., "Les dynasties d’Awan et de Shimashki", Nouvelles assyriologiques brèves et utilitaires, 34, 1996

[9] Steinkeller, "New Light on Šimaški and Its Rulers", Zeitschrift fürAssyriologie, 97, pp. 215–32, 2007

[LNS233-10] [2]Pittman, Holly, "The “Jeweler’s” Seal from Susa and Art of Awan", Leaving No Stones Unturned: Essays on the Ancient Near East and Egypt in Honor of Donald P. Hansen, edited by Erica Ehrenberg, University Park, USA: Penn State University Press, pp. 211-236, 2002

[11] Hinz, Walther, "Elams Vertrag mit Narām-Sîn von Akkade", Zeitschrift für Assyriologie und Vorderasiatische Archäologie, vol. 58, no. Jahresband, pp. 66-96, 1967

[Louvre-12] "Site officiel du musée du Louvre". cartelfr.louvre.fr.

[13] Scheil, V, "Textes Élamites-Anzanites", MDP XI, 1911

[14] Cameron, G.G., "History of Early Iran", Chicago/London: University of Chicago, 1936

[15] Westenholz, Aage, Pascal Attinger, and Markus Wäfler, "The Old Akkadian Period: History and Culture", Mesopotamien. Annäherungen 3: Akkade-Zeit und Ur III-Zeit, pp. 17-117, 1999

[16] Steinkeller, "The Birth of Elam in History", in J. Álvarez-Mon, G. P. Basello and Y. Wicks (eds), The Elamite World (Routledge Worlds), London: Routledge, pp. 177–202, 2018

[FOOTNOTEStolper1987-17] Stolper 1987.

[FOOTNOTELegrain1922[httpsbooksgooglecombooksidoX1DAAAAYAAJpgPA13_10–22]-18] Legrain 1922, pp. 10–22.

[19] Rulers with names in italics are considered fictional.

[20] Hallo, W.; Simpson, W. (1971). The Ancient Near East. New York: Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich. pp. 48–49.

[21] "Rulers of Mesopotamia". cdli.ox.ac.uk. University of Oxford, CNRS.

[22] Thomas, Ariane; Potts, Timothy (2020). Mesopotamia: Civilization Begins. Getty Publications. p. 14. ISBN 978-1-60606-649-2.

[23] Roux, Georges (1992). Ancient Iraq. Penguin Books Limited. pp. 532–534 (Chronological Tables). ISBN 978-0-14-193825-7.

[SKL-24] Per Sumerian King List

[25] Unger, Merrill F. (2014). Israel and the Aramaeans of Damascus: A Study in Archaeological Illumination of Bible History. Wipf and Stock Publishers. p. 5. ISBN 978-1-62564-606-4.

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