View source for Isin

{{Short description|Ancient city in Mesopotamia}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Infobox ancient site
| name = Isin
|alternate_name = Ishan al-Bahriyat
| map_type = Iraq
| map_alt = 
| map_size = 
| relief = yes
| image= {{none}}
| caption=  
| coordinates = {{coord|31|53|06|N|45|16|07|E|display=inline,title}}
| location = [[Al-Qādisiyyah Governorate]], [[Iraq]]
| region = [[Mesopotamia]]
| type = Settlement
| epochs = Early Dynastic, Isin-Larsa, Old Babylonian, Kassite, Neo-Babylonian
| cultures = 
| occupants =  
| excavations = 1924, 1926, 1973-1989
| archaeologists = Stephen Herbert Langdon, Raymond P. Dougherty, Barthel Hrouda
| condition = 
}}

'''Isin''' ({{Langx|sux|{{cuneiform|𒉌𒋛𒅔𒆠}}|I<sub>3</sub>-si-in<sup>ki</sup>}},<ref>ETCSL. ''[http://etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk/section2/c211.htm Sumerian King List] .'' Accessed 19 Dec 2010.</ref> modern [[Arabic language|Arabic]]: {{lang|ar|إيشان بحريات}} '''Ishan al-Bahriyat''') is an [[archaeological site]] in [[Al-Qādisiyyah Governorate]], [[Iraq]] which was the location of the [[Ancient Near East]] city of Isin, occupied from the late 4th millennium [[Uruk period]] up until at least the late 1st millennium BC [[Neo-Babylonian]] period. It lies about {{convert|40|km|abbr=on}} southeast of the modern city of [[Al Diwaniyah]].

The [[tutelary deity]] of Isin, dating back to at least the [[Early Dynastic Period (Mesopotamia)|Early Dynastic period]], was the healing goddess [[Gula (goddess)|Gula]] with a major temple (, E-gal-ma) sited there as well as smaller installations for the related gods of [[Ninisina]] and [[Ninlil|Sud]].<ref>Tsouparopoulou, Christina, "The Healing Goddess, Her Dogs and Physicians in Late Third Millennium BC Mesopotamia", Zeitschrift für Assyriologie und vorderasiatische Archäologie, vol. 110, no. 1, pp. 14-24, 2020</ref><ref>"Excavations in Iraq 1975", Iraq, vol. 38, no. 1, pp. 69-70, 1976</ref>

==Archaeology==
[[File:Iraqi Looters in the Archaeological site of Isin 1.jpg|thumb|Looters at the site of Isin]]
Isin is located approximately {{convert|20|mi}} south of the ancient city of [[Nippur]]. The site covers an area of about 150 hectares with a maximum height of about 10 meters.

By 1922 the site had been suggested as that of Isin.<ref>Langdon, S., "The Location of Isin", The Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, no. 3, pp. 430–31, 1922</ref> Ishan al-Bahriyat was visited by [[Stephen Herbert Langdon]] for a day to conduct a sounding, while he was excavating at [[Kish (Sumer)|Kish]] in 1924. He found inscribed bricks of [[Ishme-Dagan]] and [[Enlil-bani]].<ref>Stephen Langdon, "Excavations at Kish I (1923–1924)", 1924</ref> Two years later Raymond P. Dougherty, on behalf of the American Schools of Oriental Research, conducted a two-day survey of the site finding inscribed bricks of [[Bur-Suen|Bur-Sin]] and Neo-Babylonian ruler [[Nebuchadnezzar II]].<ref>[https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/pdf/10.2307/1354958] Dougherty, Raymond P., "An Archæological Survey in Southern Babylonia I", Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research, no. 23,  pp. 15–28, 1926</ref><ref>Dougherty, Raymond P., "An Archæological Survey in Southern Babylonia (Continued)", Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research, no. 25, pp. 5–13, 1927</ref><ref>Dougherty, Raymond P., "Searching for Ancient Remains in Lower ’Irâq: Report of an Archaeological Survey Made in Southern Babylonia during the First Quarter of 1926", The Annual of the American Schools of Oriental Research, vol. 7, pp. 1–93, 1925</ref>

[[File:Papiermuseum Basel 2008 (1).jpg|thumb|'''Left:''' Cuneiform clay tablet. Old Babylonian, 1900-1700 BC<br>'''Right:''' Sumerian cuneiform "foundation stone". This clay cone was embedded in a wall, and contains the deed of foundation of the city walls of Isin (Tell Bahriyat) by king [[Ishme-Dagan]] of Isin (1953-1935 BC)]]
Modern archaeological work at Isin was accomplished in 11 seasons between 1973 and 1989 by a team of German archaeologists led by Barthel Hrouda on behalf of the Munich  Institute for Near Eastern Archaeology. Hundreds of cuneiform tablets from the Old Babylonian period, in buildings abandoned after being destroyed by fire, were recovered.<ref>"Excavations in Iraq 1973-74", Iraq, vol. 37, no. 1, pp. 57-58, 1975</ref><ref>"Excavations in Iraq 1985-86", Iraq, vol. 49, pp. 239-240, 1987</ref><ref>"Excavations in Iraq 1987-88", Iraq, vol. 51, pp. 256, 1989</ref><ref>"Excavations in Iraq 1989–1990", Iraq, vol. 53, pp. 175-176, 1991</ref> However, as was the case at many sites in Iraq, research was interrupted by the [[Gulf War]] (1990–1991) and the [[Iraq War]] (2003 to 2011). Since the end of excavations, extensive looting is reported to have resumed at the site. Even when the German team began their work, the site had already been heavily looted.<ref>Otto, A./B. Einwag, A. Al-Hussainy/J. Jawdat, Ch. Fink/H. Maaß, "Destruction and looting of archaeological sites between Fāra/Šuruppak and Išān Bahrīyāt/Isin. Damage assessment during the Fara regional survey project FARSUP", Sumer 64, pp. 35-48, 2018</ref> A significant find, in the [[Ninurta]] shrine of the Gula temple, was an alabaster mace head of the Akkadian Empire ruler [[Manishtushu]] inscribed "Man-istusu, king of the  world, dedicated (this mace) to the goddess Ninisina". An inscription of Takil-ilissu, ruler of [[Malgium]] was also found.<ref name="Frayne" >[https://archive.org/details/sargonic-and-gutian-periods-2334-2113-bc] Douglas R. Frayne, "Akkad", The Sargonic and Gutian Periods (2334–2113), University of Toronto Press, pp. 5-218, 1993 {{ISBN|0-8020-0593-4}}</ref> Early find included a Jemdet Nasr stamp seal and a small stone lion figurine of the Uruk period.<ref>"Excavations in Iraq 1983-84", Iraq, vol. 47, pp. 221, 1985</ref>

The primary focus of the excavations was the four meter wide wall enclosed [[Gula (goddess)|Gula]] temple complex. The complex showed construction through at least the Isin I,  Kassite, and Neo-Babylonian periods with 3rd millennium BC finds suggested its earlier existence. Finds included 30 dog burials, copper pendants inscribed with dog images, and clay dog figurines, one with a prayer to Gula. An inscribed brick of [[Adad-apla-iddina]], 8th ruler of the 2nd dynasty of Isin,  dedicated to the healing goddess [[Ninisina|Nin-ezena]] was also found. On another section of the main mound 3rd millennium BC buildings provided "gold jewellery, bronze weapons, cylinder seals, and a few cuneiform tablets of which two date back to the Early Dynastic period", a clay nail of Isme-Dagan referring to construction of the bad-gal "Great Wall" city wall of Isin and an inscribed brick of [[Ur-du-kuga]].<ref>"Excavations in Iraq 1977-78", Iraq, vol. 41, no. 2, pp. 150, 1979</ref> In the Kassite layer an Early Dynastic III statue, 16.5&nbsp;cm in height, of a kneeling man wearing only a triple belt.<ref>"Excavations in Iraq 1972-73", Iraq, vol. 35, no. 2, pp. 192, 1973</ref> Just to the south of the temple complex two Early Dynastic I period buildings were found.<ref>Dunham, Sally, Review of "Isin-Išān-Baḥrīyāt, IV: Die Ergebnisse der Ausgrabungen 1986–1989 by B. Hrouda", Journal of the American Oriental Society, vol. 116, no. 1, pp. 131–33, 1996</ref>

==History==
[[File:Hymn Iddin-Dagan Louvre AO8864.jpg|thumb|A praise poem to Iddin-Dagān from the site, currently at [[Musée du Louvre]]]]
The site of Isin was occupied at least as early as the [[Ubaid period]] based on pottery shards. Significant occupation began in the [[Early Dynastic Period (Mesopotamia)|Early Dynastic period]] in early to middle 3rd millennium BC. Isin is known to have been occupied during the [[Akkadian Empire]].<ref>Foster., Benjamin R., "Archives and Record-keeping in Sargonic Mesopotamia", Zeitschrift für Assyriologie und Vorderasiatische Archäologie , vol. 72, no. 1, pp. 1-27, 1982</ref> An intensive building program began at Isin during the [[Ur III]] empire in the late 3rd millennium BC. With the fall of Ur, an [[Amorite]] dynasty took power in the city, during the [[Isin-Larsa period]]. The city then fell to [[Babylon]] and suffered a period of abandonment. Activity resumed under the [[Kassites]], followed by a period of local control. Isin was occupied to various degrees until the Neo-Babylonian period.<ref>Kaniuth, Kai, "Isin in the Kassite Period", Volume 2 Karduniaš. Babylonia under the Kassites 2, edited by Alexa Bartelmus and Katja Sternitzke, Berlin, Boston: De Gruyter, pp. 492-507, 2017</ref>

With the final decline of the Ur III empire at the end of the third millennium BC, a power vacuum was left that other city-states scrambled to fill. [[Ishbi-Erra]], said to be an Amorite, from [[Mari, Syria|Mari]], and an Ur III official under its final ruler [[Ibbi-Sin]], gained rulership of Isin and began the [[First Dynasty of Isin]]. The [[Elamites]] had attacked Isin and Ur, capturing Ur.<ref>Michalowski, Piotr, "The Royal Letters in Their Historical Setting 3: Ur, Isin, Kazallu, and the Final Decades of the Ur III State (Letters 21–24)", The Correspondence of the Kings of Ur: An Epistolary History of an Ancient Mesopotamian Kingdom, University Park, USA: Penn State University Press, pp. 170-215, 2011</ref> One of Ishbi-Erra's acts was to expel the Elamites from Ur and the region, his year name being "Year (Iszbi-Irra the king) brought out of Ur, with his strong weapon, the Elamite who was dwelling in its midst".<ref name="autogenerated13">Vaughn E. Crawford, "An Ishbi-Irra Date Formula", Journal of Cuneiform Studies, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 13-19, 1948</ref> Although the [[Sumerian King List]] gives a 33-year reign for Ishbi-Erra only one royal inscription has been found.
{{blockquote|"For the god Enlil, lord of the foreign lands, his lord, Isbi-Err[a], mighty king, lord of <his> land, fashioned a great lyre for him,  which ... the heart. He dedicated it [for his own] life. The name of this lyre is 'Isbi-Erra trusts in the god Enlil'."<ref>Douglas Frayne, "ISIN", Old Babylonian Period (2003-1595 B.C.): Early Periods, Volume 4, Toronto: University of Toronto Press, pp. 5-106, 1990</ref>
}}

The Isin I dynasty lasted over two centuries. Its most powerful period was early on. With the rise of [[Larsa]] and a number of smaller Amorite city-states, the influence of Isin slowly declined. A notable ruler was Ishme-Dagan for whom a number of hymns were written, in a style thought to be imitative of [[Shulgi]], the ruler of Ur III.<ref>Frayne, D. R, "New light on the reign of Išme-Dagan", ZA 88, pp. 6-44, 1998</ref>

The exact events surrounding Isin's disintegration as a kingdom are mostly unknown, but some evidence can be pieced together. Documents indicate that access to water sources presented a huge problem for Isin. Isin also endured an internal coup of a sort when [[Gungunum]] the royally appointed governor of [[Larsa]] and [[Lagash]] province, seized the city of Ur. Ur had been the main center of the Gulf trade; thus this move economically devastated Isin. Additionally, Gungunum's two successors [[Abisare]] and [[Sumuel]] ({{Circa|1905 BC}} and 1894 BC) both sought to cut Isin off from its canals by rerouting them into Larsa. At some point, Nippur was also lost. Isin would never recover. Around 1860 BC, an outsider named Enlil-bani seized the throne of Isin, ending the hereditary dynasty established by Ishbi-Erra over 150 years earlier.
<ref name="autogenerated54"/>

Although politically and economically weak, Isin maintained its independence from Larsa for at least another forty years, ultimately succumbing to Larsa's ruler [[Rim-Sin I]].

After the [[First Dynasty of Babylon]] rose to power in the early 2nd millennium and captured Larsa, much significant construction occurred at Isin. This ended with a destruction dated to around the 27th year of the reign of [[Samsu-iluna]], son of [[Hammurabi]], based on tablets found there.

Later, the [[Kassites]] who took over in Babylon after its sack in 1531 BC, resumed building at Isin. Activity was primarily at the Gula temple and it appears that in that period Isin was only a cult center. The final significant stage of activity occurred during the Second Dynasty of Isin at the end of the 2nd millennium, most notably by king [[Adad-apla-iddina]]. Isin remained occupied at least as late as the second decade of the reign of the Persian ruler [[Darius I]] (c 507 BC), then in the control of the region.<ref>Bloch, Yigal, "An Edomite in Isin", Individuals and Institutions in the Ancient Near East: A Tribute to Ran Zadok, edited by Uri Gabbay and Shai Gordin, Berlin, Boston: De Gruyter, pp. 229-241, 2021</ref>

Of the at least 256 ruler year names about 75% have been found. Most have the standard format, aside from Bur-Sin who numbered his years. These year names combined with new tablet joins show that there were two additional rulers, Sumu-abum and Ikūn-pī-Išta, slotting in between Erra-imittī and Enlil-bān. The reign of Sumu-abum lasted less than a year.<ref>de Boer, Rients, "Studies on the Old Babylonian Kings of Isin and Their Dynasties with an Updated List of Isin Year Names", Zeitschrift für Assyriologie und Vorderasiatische Archäologie, vol. 111, no. 1, pp. 5-27, 2021</ref><ref>[https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1074&context=books]Sigrist, Marcel, "Isin year names", Andrews University Press, 1988</ref>

==Culture and literature==
[[File:Cylinder seal of Bur-Sin.jpg|thumb|Cylinder seal of [[Bur-Suen]].]]
The city lay on the Isinnitum Canal, part of a set of waterways that connected the cities of Mesopotamia.<ref>Jacobsen, Thorkild., "The Waters of Ur", Iraq, vol. 22, pp. 174–85, 1960</ref> The patron deity of Isin was [[Nintinugga|Nintinuga]] (Gula) goddess of healing, and a temple to her was built there. The Isin king Enlil-bani reported building a temple to Gula named E-ni-dub-bi, a temple for Sud named E-dim-gal-an-na, a temple E-ur-gi-ra to [[Ninisina]], as well as a temple for the god Ninbgal.<ref name="autogenerated54">William W. Hallo, "The Last Years of the Kings of ISIN", Journal of Near Eastern Studies, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 54-72, 1959</ref><ref>A. Livingstone, "The Isin "Dog House" Revisited", Journal of Cuneiform Studies, vol. 40, no. 1, pp. 54-60, 1988</ref>

[[Ishbi-Erra]] continued many of the cultic practices that had flourished in the preceding [[Third Dynasty of Ur|Ur III]] period. He continued acting out the [[Hieros gamos|sacred marriage]] ritual each year. During this ritual, the king played the part of the mortal [[Dumuzid the Shepherd|Dumuzi]], and he had sex with a priestess who represented the goddess of love and war, [[Inanna]] (also known as [[Ishtar]]). This was thought to strengthen the king's relationship to the gods, which would then bring stability and prosperity on the entire country.

The Isin kings continued also the practice of appointing their daughters official priestesses of the [[Sin (mythology)|moon god]] of Ur.

The literature of the period also continued in the line of the Ur III traditions when the Isin dynasty was first begun. For example, the royal hymn, a genre started in the preceding millennium, was continued. Many royal hymns written for the Isin rulers mirrored the themes, structure, and language of the Ur ones. Sometimes the hymns were written in the first person of a king's voice; other times, they were pleas of ordinary citizens meant for the ears of a king (sometimes an already dead one).

It was during this period that the [[Sumerian King List]] attained its final form, though it used many much earlier sources. The very compilation of the List seems to lead up to the Isin Dynasty itself, which would give it much legitimacy in the minds of the people because the dynasty would then be linked to earlier (albeit sometimes legendary) kings.<ref>M. B. Rowton, "The Date of the Sumerian King List", Journal of Near Eastern Studies, vol. 19, no. 2, pp. 156-162, 1960</ref>
==List of rulers==
The ''[[Sumerian King List]] (SKL)'' gives a list of the rulers of only one dynasty of Isin. The [[first Sealand dynasty|first Sealand]], [[Kassite dynasty|Kassite]], and [[Isin II|second Isin]] dynasties are known from the ''[[Babylonian King List]] (BKL)''. The following list should not be considered complete:
{|class="wikitable"border="1"style="width:100%;text-align:center"
|-
!width="1%"|#
!width="24.75%"|Portrait or inscription
!width="24.75%"|Ruler
!width="24.75%"|{{abbr|Approx.|approximately}} date and length of reign
!width="24.75%"|Comments, notes, and references for mentions
|-
|colspan="5"align="center"style="background-color:palegoldenrod"|'''[[Ur III period]] ({{circa|2119|2004 BC|lk=yes}})'''
|-
!colspan="5"|[[Dynasty of Isin|First dynasty of Isin / Isin I dynasty]] ({{circa|2018|1792 BC}})
|-
|1st
|[[file:Cylinder seal and modern impression Presentation scene,ca. 2000–1750 B.C. Isin-Larsa.jpg|120px]]
|[[Ishbi-Erra]]<br>𒀭𒅖𒁉𒀴𒊏
|{{reign|c. 2018|c. 1985|era=BC}}<br>([[Middle chronology|MC]])<br>
<small>{{reign|c. 1953|c. 1921|era=BC}}<br>([[Short chronology|SC]])<br>(32 or 33 years)</small>
|
*''[[Tempore|temp.]]'' of [[Ibbi-Suen]]
*Said on the ''SKL'' to have held the title of, ''"[[lugal|King]]"'' of not just Akkad; but, to have held the ''"[[Hegemony|Kingship]]"'' over ''all'' of Sumer
*An [[Amorite]] from [[Mari, Syria|Mari]]
|-
!width="1%"|#
!width="24.75%"|Portrait or inscription
!width="24.75%"|Ruler
!width="24.75%"|{{abbr|Approx.|approximately}} date and length of reign
!width="24.75%"|Comments, notes, and references for mentions
|-
|colspan="5"align="center"style="background-color:palegoldenrod"|'''[[Isin-Larsa period]] ({{circa|2004|1787 BC}})'''
|-
|colspan="5"align="left"|{{quotation|''"Then [[Ur#List of rulers|Ur]] was defeated. The very foundation of Sumer was torn out. The [[Throne|kingship]] was taken to Isin."''|''[[Sumerian King List]] (SKL)''}}
|-
|2nd
|[[file:Cylinder seal, ca. 1822–1763 B.C. Isin-Larsa.jpg|120px]]
|[[Shu-Ilishu]]<br>𒋗𒉌𒉌𒋗
|{{reign|c. 1985|c. 1975|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br>
<small>{{reign|c. 1920|c. 1911|era=BC}}<br>(SC)<br>(10, 15, or 20 years)</small>
|
*Son of Ishbi-Erra
*''temp.'' of [[Emisum]]
*Held the title of, ''"[[King of Sumer and Akkad]]"''
|-
|3rd
|[[file:Hymn Iddin-Dagan Louvre AO8864.jpg|120px]]
|[[Iddin-Dagan]]<br>𒀭𒄿𒁷𒀭𒁕𒃶
|{{reign|c. 1975|c. 1954|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br>
<small>{{reign|c. 1910|c. 1890|era=BC}}<br>(SC)<br>(18, 21, or 25 years)</small>
|
*Son of Shu-Ilishu
*''temp.'' of [[Samium]]
*Held the title of, ''"King of Sumer and Akkad"''
|-
|4th
|[[file:Stamped brick with the name of Ishme-Dagan, king of Isin, Isin-Larsa Period, from Ur, currently housed in the British Museum.jpg|120px]]
|[[Ishme-Dagan]]<br>𒀭𒅖𒈨𒀭𒁕𒃶
|{{reign|c. 1954|c. 1935|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br>
<small>{{reign|c. 1889|c. 1871|era=BC}}<br>(SC)<br>(11, 18, 19, or 20 years)</small>
|
*Son of Iddin-Dagan
*''temp.'' of [[Zabaia]]
*Held the title of, ''"King of Sumer and Akkad"''
|-
|5th
|[[file:Steele - Code of Lipit-Ishtar.jpg|120px]]
|[[Lipit-Ishtar]]<br>𒇷𒁉𒀉𒁹𒁯
|{{reign|c. 1935|c. 1924|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br>
<small>{{reign|c. 1870|c. 1860|era=BC}}<br>(SC)<br>(11 years)</small>
|
*''temp.'' of [[Gungunum]]
*Said on the ''SKL'' to have held the title of, ''"King"'' of not just Akkad; but, to have held the ''"Kingship"'' over ''all'' of Sumer
*Held the title of, ''"King of Sumer and Akkad"''
|-
|6th
|[[File:Sumerische Königsliste.JPG|120px]]
|[[Ur-Ninurta]]<br>𒀭𒌨𒀭𒊩𒌆𒅁
|{{reign|c. 1923|c. 1896|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br>
<small>{{reign|c. 1859|c. 1832|era=BC}}<br>(SC)<br>(28 years)</small>
|
*''temp.'' of [[Abisare]]
*Said on the ''SKL'' to have held the title of, ''"King"'' of not just Akkad; but, to have held the ''"Kingship"'' over ''all'' of Sumer
*Held the title of, ''"King of Sumer and Akkad"''
|-
|7th
|[[file:Cylinder seal of Bur-Sin.jpg|120px]]
|[[Bur-Suen]]<br>𒀭𒁓𒀭𒂗𒍪
|{{reign|c. 1895|c. 1874|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br>
<small>{{reign|c. 1831|c. 1811|era=BC}}<br>(SC)<br>(21 or 22 years)</small>
|
*Son of Ur-Ninurta
*''temp.'' of [[Sumuel]]
*Held the title of, ''"King of Sumer and Akkad"''
|-
|8th
|
|[[Lipit-Enlil]]<br>𒀭𒇷𒁉𒀉𒀭𒂗𒆤
|{{reign|c. 1873|c. 1868|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br>
<small>{{reign|c. 1810|c. 1806|era=BC}}<br>(SC)<br>(5 years)</small>
|
*Son of Bur-Suen
*''temp.'' of [[Puzur-Ashur II]]
*Held the title of, ''"King of Sumer and Akkad"''
|-
|9th
|
|[[Erra-imitti]]<br>𒀭𒀴𒊏𒄿𒈪𒋾
|{{reign|c. 1868|c. 1861|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br>
<small>{{reign|c. 1805|c. 1799|era=BC}}<br>(SC)<br>(7 or 8 years)</small>
|
*''temp.'' of [[Nur-Adad]]
*Said on the ''SKL'' to have held the title of, ''"King"'' of not just Akkad; but, to have held the ''"Kingship"'' over ''all'' of Sumer
*Held the title of, ''"King of Sumer and Akkad"''
|-
|10th
|
|[[Ikūn-pî-Ištar]]
|{{reign|c. 1861|c. 1860|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br>
<small>{{reign|c. 1799|c. 1798|era=BC}}<br>(SC)<br>(6 months or 1 year)</small>
|
*''temp.'' of [[Sîn-kāšid]]
|-
|11th
|
|[[Enlil-bani]]<br>𒀭𒂗𒆤𒁀𒉌
|{{reign|c. 1860|c. 1836|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br>
<small>{{reign|c. 1798|c. 1775|era=BC}}<br>(SC)<br>(24 years)</small>
|
*''temp.'' of [[Naram-Sin of Assyria|Naram-Sin]]
*Said on the ''SKL'' to have held the title of, ''"King"'' of not just Akkad; but, to have held the ''"Kingship"'' over ''all'' of Sumer
*Held the title of, ''"King of Sumer and Akkad"''
|-
|12th
|
|[[Zambiya]]<br>𒀭𒍝𒄠𒁉𒅀
|{{reign|c. 1836|c. 1833|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br>
<small>{{reign|c. 1774|c. 1772|era=BC}}<br>(SC)<br>(3 years)</small>
|
*''temp.'' of [[Sin-Iqisham]]
*Said on the ''SKL'' to have held the title of, ''"King"'' of not just Akkad; but, to have held the ''"Kingship"'' over ''all'' of Sumer
*Held the title of, ''"King of Sumer and Akkad"''
|-
|13th
|
|[[Iter-pisha]]<br>𒀭𒄿𒋼𒅕𒅗𒊭
|{{reign|c. 1833|c. 1829|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br>
<small>{{reign|c. 1771|c. 1768|era=BC}}<br>(SC)<br>(3 or 4 years)</small>
|
*''temp.'' of Sin-eribam
*Said on the ''SKL'' to have held the title of, ''"King"'' of not just Akkad; but, to have held the ''"Kingship"'' over ''all'' of Sumer
*Held the title of, ''"King of Sumer and Akkad"''
|-
|14th
|
|[[Ur-du-kuga]]<br>𒀭𒌨𒇯𒆬𒂵
|{{reign|c. 1829|c. 1825|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br>
<small>{{reign|c. 1767|c. 1764|era=BC}}<br>(SC)<br>(4 years)</small>
|
*''temp.'' of [[Warad-Sin]]
*Said on the ''SKL'' to have held the title of, ''"King"'' of not just Akkad; but, to have held the ''"Kingship"'' over ''all'' of Sumer
*Held the title of, ''"King of Sumer and Akkad"''
|-
|15th
|
|[[Suen-magir]]<br>𒀭𒂗𒍪𒈠𒄫
|{{reign|c. 1825|c. 1814|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br>
<small>{{reign|c. 1763|c. 1753|era=BC}}<br>(SC)<br>(11 years)</small>
|
*''temp.'' of [[Apil-Sin]]
*Said on the ''SKL'' to have held the title of, ''"King"'' of not just Akkad; but, to have held the ''"Kingship"'' over ''all'' of Sumer
*Held the title of, ''"King of Sumer and Akkad"''
|-
|16th
|[[file:Image from page 25 of "Ancient seals of the Near East" (1940).jpg|120px]]
|[[Damiq-ilishu]]<br>𒁕𒈪𒅅𒉌𒉌𒋗
|{{reign|c. 1814|c. 1792|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br>
<small>{{reign|c. 1752|c. 1730|era=BC}}<br>(SC)<br>(23 years)</small>
|
*Son of Suen-magir
*''temp.'' of [[Shamshi-Adad I]]
*Held the title of, ''"King of Sumer and Akkad"''
|-
|colspan="5"align="left"|{{quotation|''"16 kings; they ruled for 226 years and 6 months. A total of 39 kings ruled for 14,409 years, 3 months and 3½ days, 4 times in [[Kish (Sumer)#List of rulers|Kish]]. A total of 22 kings ruled for 2,610 years, 6 months, and 15 days, 5 times in [[Uruk#List of rulers|Uruk]]. A total of 12 kings ruled for 396 years, 3 times in [[Ur#List of rulers|Ur]]. A total of 3 kings ruled for 356 years, once in [[Awan (ancient city)#List of rulers|Awan]]. A total of 1 king ruled for 7 years, once in [[Hamazi#List of rulers|Hamazi]]. A total of 11 kings ruled for 197 years, once in [[Akkad (city)|Akkad]]. A total of 23 kings ruled for 125 years and 40 days, once in the army of [[Gutium]]. A total of 16 kings ruled for 226 years, once in Isin. There are 11 cities, cities in which the kingship was exercised. A total of 139 kings, who altogether ruled for 3,443 years."''|''SKL''}}
|-
!width="1%"|#
!width="24.75%"|Portrait or inscription
!width="24.75%"|Ruler
!width="24.75%"|{{abbr|Approx.|approximately}} date and length of reign
!width="24.75%"|Comments, notes, and references for mentions
|-
!colspan="5"|[[Larsa#Kings of Larsa|Dynasty of Larsa]] ({{circa|1792|1787 BC}})
|-
|
|[[File:Rim-Sin foundation figurine, 1822-1763 BC - Oriental Institute Museum, University of Chicago - DSC07168.JPG|120px]]
|[[Rim-Sîn I]]<br>𒀭𒊑𒅎𒀭𒂗𒍪
|{{reign|c. 1792|c. 1787|era=BC}}<br>(MC)
|
*Son of [[Kudur-Mabuk]]
*''temp.'' of [[Irdanene]]
*Held the title of, ''"King of Sumer and Akkad"''
|-
!width="1%"|#
!width="24.75%"|Portrait or inscription
!width="24.75%"|Ruler
!width="24.75%"|{{abbr|Approx.|approximately}} date and length of reign
!width="24.75%"|Comments, notes, and references for mentions
|-
|colspan="5"align="center"style="background-color:palegoldenrod"|'''[[Old Babylonian period]] ({{circa|1787|1475 BC}})'''
|-
!colspan="5"|[[Amorite dynasty|First dynasty of Babylon]] ({{circa|1787|1732 BC}})
|-
|
|[[File:F0182 Louvre Code Hammourabi Bas-relief Sb8 rwk.jpg|120px]]
|[[Hammurabi]]<br>𒄩𒄠𒈬𒊏𒁉
|{{reign|c. 1787|c. 1750|era=BC}}<br>(MC)
|
*{{born in|{{circa|1810 BC}}}}
*Held the title of, ''"[[King of the Four Corners]]"''
*{{died-in|{{c.|1750 BC}}}}
|-
|
|[[File:Record of the sale of land in the reign of Samsu-Iluna.jpg|120px]]
|[[Samsu-iluna]]<br>𒊓𒄠𒋢𒄿𒇻𒈾
|{{reign|c. 1750|c. 1732|era=BC}}<br>(MC)
|
*Son of Hammurabi
*''temp.'' of [[Siwe-Palar-Khuppak]]
*{{died-in|{{c.|1712 BC}}}}
|-
!width="1%"|#
!width="24.75%"|Portrait or inscription
!width="24.75%"|Ruler
!width="24.75%"|{{abbr|Approx.|approximately}} date and length of reign
!width="24.75%"|Comments, notes, and references for mentions
|-
!colspan="5"|[[First Sealand dynasty|First Sealand dynasty / Sealand I]] ({{circa|1732|1475 BC}})
|-
|
|
|Iliman
|{{reign|c. 1732|c. 1700|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br>
<small>{{reign|single=c. 1700|era=BC}}<br>(SC)<br>(60 years)</small>
|
*Relative of Damiq-ilishu (?)
*''temp.'' of [[Gandash]]
|-
|
|
|Ittili
|{{reign|c. 1700|c. 1683|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br><small>(56 years)</small>
|
*''temp.'' of [[Abi-Eshuh]]
|-
|
|
|Unknown
|{{reign|c. 1683|c. 1677|era=BC}}<br>(MC)
|
*''temp.'' of Agum I
|-
|
|
|Damqi-ilishu II<br>𒁕𒈪𒅅𒉌𒉌𒋗
|{{reign|c. 1677|c. 1642|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br><small>(26 years)</small>
|
*''temp.'' of [[Ammi-Ditana]]
|-
|
|
|Ishkibal
|{{reign|c. 1641|c. 1617|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br><small>(15 years)</small>
|
*''temp.'' of [[Sharma-Adad I]]
|-
|
|
|Shushushi
|{{reign|single=c. 1616|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br><small>(24 years)</small>
|
*Brother of Ishkibal.
*''temp.'' of [[Ammi-Saduqa]]
|-
|
|
|Gulkishar
|''Uncertain''<br>(MC)<br><small>(55 years)</small>
|
*''temp.'' of [[Samsu-Ditana]]
|-
|
|
|Gishen
|''Uncertain''<br>(MC)
|
*''temp.'' of [[Sharma-Adad II]]
|-
|
|
|Peshgaldaramesh
|{{reign|c. 1599|c. 1549|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br><small>(50 years)</small>
|
*Brother of Gulkishar
*''temp.'' of [[Shamshi-Adad III]]
|-
|
|
|Ayadaragalama<br>𒀀𒀀𒁰𒃴𒈠
|{{reign|c. 1548|c. 1520|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br><small>(28 years)</small>
|
*Brother of Peshgaldaramesh
*''temp.'' of [[Ashur-nirari I]]
*Held the title of, ''"[[King of the Universe]]"''
|-
|
|
|Ekurul
|{{reign|c. 1519|c. 1493|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br><small>(26 years)</small>
|
*''temp.'' of [[Puzur-Ashur III]]
|-
|
|
|Melamma
|{{reign|c. 1492|c. 1485|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br><small>(7 years)</small>
|
*''temp.'' of [[Enlil-nasir I]]
|-
|
|
|Eaga
|{{reign|c. 1484|c. 1475|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br>
<small>{{reign|single=c. 1460|era=BC}}<br>(SC)<br>(9 years)</small>
|
*''temp.'' of [[Ulamburiash]]
|-
!width="1%"|#
!width="24.75%"|Portrait or inscription
!width="24.75%"|Ruler
!width="24.75%"|{{abbr|Approx.|approximately}} date and length of reign
!width="24.75%"|Comments, notes, and references for mentions
|-
|colspan="5"align="center"style="background-color:palegoldenrod"|'''[[Middle Babylonian period]] ({{circa|1475|1000 BC}})'''
|-
!colspan="5"|[[Kassite dynasty]] ({{circa|1475|1155 BC}})
|-
|
|
|[[Agum III]]
|{{reign|single=c. 1475|era=BC}}<br>(MC)
|
*Son of [[Kashtiliash III]]
|-
|
|
|Kadashman-Sah
|{{reign|single=c. 1470|era=BC}}<br>(MC)
|
|-
|
|[[File:Part of front of Inanna temple of Kara Indasch from Uruk Vorderasiatisches Museum Berlin.jpg|120px]]
|[[Karaindash]]
|{{reign|single=c. 1415|era=BC}}<br>(MC)
|
*Held the title of, ''"King of Sumer and Akkad"''
|-
|
|
|[[Kadashman-Harbe I]]
|{{reign|single=c. 1410|era=BC}}<br>(MC)
|
*Son of Karaindash
|-
|
|[[File:Bead with cuneiform inscription of Kurigalzu I or II MET DP364276.jpg|120px]]
|[[Kurigalzu I]]
|{{reign|single=c. 1400|era=BC}}<br>(MC)
|
*Son of Kadashman-harbe I
|-
|
|[[File:Kassite - Cylinder Seal - Walters 42619.jpg|120px]]
|[[Kadashman-Enlil I]]<br>𒅗𒁕𒀸𒈠𒀭𒀭𒂗𒆤
|{{reign|c. 1374|c. 1360|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br><small>(14 years)</small>
|
*Son of Kurigalzu I (?)
|-
|
|[[File:Image from page 29 of "Ancient seals of the Near East" (1940).jpg|120px]]
|[[Burna-Buriash II]]<br>𒁓𒈾𒁍𒊑𒅀𒀸
|{{reign|c. 1360|c. 1333|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br><small>(27 years)</small>
|
*Son of Kadashman-Enlil I
*Held the title of, ''"King of Sumer and Akkad"''
|-
|
|
|Kara-hardash
|{{reign|single=c. 1333|era=BC}}<br>(MC)
|
*Son of Burna-Buriash II (?)
|-
|
|
|Nazi-Bugash
|{{reign|single=c. 1333|era=BC}}<br>(MC)
|
|-
|
|[[File:Cylinder seal of king Kurigalzu II Louvre Museum AOD 105.jpg|120px]]
|[[Kurigalzu II]]
|{{reign| c. 1333|c. 1308|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br><small>(25 years)</small>
|
*Son of Burna-Buriash II
*Held the title of, ''"King of Sumer and Akkad"''
|-
|
|[[File:Votive inscription Louvre AO7704.jpg|120px]]
|[[Nazi-Maruttash]]
|{{reign|c. 1308|c. 1282|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br><small>(26 years)</small>
|
*Son of Kurigalzu II
*Held the title of, ''"King of Sumer and Akkad"''
|-
|
|[[File:Amulet Kadashman-Turgu Louvre AO 4633.jpg|120px]]
|[[Kadashman-Turgu]]
|{{reign|c. 1282|c. 1264|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br><small>(18 years)</small>
|
*Son of Nazi-Maruttash
|-
|
|[[File:KBo 1 10.jpg|120px]]
|[[Kadashman-Enlil II]]
|{{reign|c. 1264|c. 1255|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br><small>(9 years)</small>
|
*Son of Kadashman-Turgu
|-
|
|
|[[Kudur-Enlil]]
|{{reign|c. 1255|c. 1246|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br><small>(9 years)</small>
|
*Son of Kadashman-Enlil II
|-
|
|[[File:Nabonidus cylinder sippar bm1.jpg|120px]]
|[[Shagarakti-Shuriash]]
|{{reign|c. 1246|c. 1233|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br><small>(13 years)</small>
|
*Son of Kudur-Enlil
|-
|
|[[File:A letter from Hattusili III to Kadasman-Enlil II, 13th century BC, from Hattusa, Istanbul Archaeological Museum.jpg|120px]]
|[[Kashtiliash IV]]
|{{reign|c. 1233|c. 1225|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br><small>(8 years)</small>
|
*Son of Shagarakti-Shuriash
|-
|
|
|[[Enlil-nadin-shumi]]
|{{reign|single=c. 1224|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br><small>(1 year and 6 months)</small>
|
|-
|
|
|[[Kadashman-Harbe II]]
|{{reign|single=c. 1223|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br><small>(1 year and 6 months)</small>
|
|-
|
|[[File:BM 90827.jpg|120px]]
|[[Adad-shuma-iddina]]
|{{reign|c. 1223|c. 1217|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br><small>(6 years)</small>
|
|-
|
|[[File:ABL 924.jpg|120px]]
|[[Adad-shuma-usur]]
|{{reign|c. 1217|c. 1187|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br><small>(30 years)</small>
|
*Son of Kashtiliash IV (?)
|-
|
|[[File:Kudurru Melishipak Louvre Sb23 n02.jpg|120px]]
|[[Meli-Shipak II]]
|{{reign|c. 1187|c. 1172|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br><small>(15 years)</small>
|
*Son of Adad-shuma-usur
|-
|
|[[File:Kudurru Louvre Sb31.jpg|120px]]
|[[Marduk-apla-iddina I]]
|{{reign|c. 1172|c. 1159|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br><small>(13 years)</small>
|
*Son of Meli-Shipak II
|-
|
|[[File:Unfinished kudurru h9101.jpg|120px]]
|[[Zababa-shuma-iddin]]
|{{reign|c. 1159|c. 1158|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br><small>(1 year)</small>
|
|-
|
|[[File:Enlil-nadin-ahe kudurru.jpg|120px]]
|[[Enlil-nadin-ahi]]
|{{reign|c. 1158|c. 1155|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br><small>(3 years)</small>
|
|-
!width="1%"|#
!width="24.75%"|Portrait or inscription
!width="24.75%"|Ruler
!width="24.75%"|{{abbr|Approx.|approximately}} date and length of reign
!width="24.75%"|Comments, notes, and references for mentions
|-
!colspan="5"|[[Isin II|Second dynasty of Isin / Isin II dynasty]] ({{circa|1153|1022 BC}})
|-
|
|
|[[Marduk-kabit-ahheshu]]
|{{reign|c. 1153|c. 1135|era=BC}}<br><small>(18 years)</small>
|
*''temp.'' of [[Ashur-dan I]]
|-
|
|[[file:BM 91015.jpg|120px]]
|[[Itti-Marduk-balatu (king)|Itti-Marduk-balatu]]
|{{reign|c. 1135|c. 1129|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br><small>(6 years)</small>
|
*Son of Marduk-kabit-ahheshu
*''temp.'' of [[Ninurta-tukulti-Ashur]]
|-
|
|
|[[Ninurta-nadin-shumi]]
|{{reign|c. 1129|c. 1122|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br><small>(7 years)</small>
|
*Relative of Itti-Marduk-balatu (?)
*''temp.'' of [[Ashur-resh-ishi I]]
|-
|
|[[file:Detail, Kudurru of Ritti-Marduk, from Sippar, Iraq, 1125-1104 BCE. British Museum.jpg|120px]]
|[[Nebuchadnezzar I]]
|{{reign|c. 1122|c. 1100|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br><small>(22 years)</small>
|
*Son of Ninurta-nadin-shumi
*''temp.'' of [[Tiglath-Pileser I]]
|-
|
|[[file:Kudurru of Gula-Eresh.jpg|120px]]
|[[Enlil-nadin-apli]]
|{{reign|c. 1100|c. 1096|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br><small>(4 years)</small>
|
*Son of Nebuchadnezzar I
|-
|
|[[file:Babylonian - Boundary Stone - Walters 2110.jpg|120px]]
|[[Marduk-nadin-ahhe]]
|{{reign|c. 1096|c. 1078|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br><small>(18 years)</small>
|
*Son of Ninurta-nadin-shumi
|-
|
|[[file:Marduk-shapik-zeri cylinder.jpg|120px]]
|[[Marduk-shapik-zeri]]
|{{reign|c. 1078|c. 1065|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br><small>(13 years)</small>
|
*Son of Marduk-nadin-ahhe
*''temp.'' of [[Asharid-apal-Ekur]]
|-
|
|
|[[Adad-apla-iddina]]
|{{reign|c. 1065|c. 1041|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br><small>(24 years)</small>
|
*''temp.'' of [[Ashur-bel-kala]]
|-
|
|[[file:Marduk-aḫḫē-erība kudurru.jpg|120px]]
|[[Marduk-ahhe-eriba]]
|{{reign|single=c. 1041|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br><small>(6 months)</small>
|
*''temp.'' of [[Ashurnasirpal I]]
|-
|
|
|[[Marduk-zer-X]]
|{{reign|c. 1041|c. 1029|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br><small>(12 years)</small>
|
|-
|
|[[file:Sale of Land to Pay a Ransom ca 1033 BC.jpg|120px]]
|[[Nabu-shum-libur]]
|{{reign|c. 1029|c. 1022|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br><small>(7 years)</small>
|
*''temp.'' of [[Shalmaneser II]]
|}

==See also==
{{Commons category|Isin}}
*[[Cities of the Ancient Near East]]
*[[List of Mesopotamian dynasties]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*Vaughn Emerson Crawford, "Sumerian economic texts from the first dynasty of Isin", Yale University Press, 1954
*Crisostomo, Jay, "Old Babylonian legal documents from Isin in the Hearst Museum of Anthropology, Berkeley", Revue d’assyriologie et d’archéologie orientale 112.1, pp.&nbsp;103–121, 2018
*Goetze, A., "Date formula of Iddin-Dagān of Isin", JCS 19, pp.&nbsp;56, 1965
*Hrouda, B. "Die Ausgrabungen in Isin 1973 Und 1974", Orientalia, vol. 45, pp.&nbsp;116–19, 1976
*Barthel Hrouda, "Isan Bahriyat I. D. Ergebnisse d. Ausgrabungen 1973–1974 (Veroffentlichungen der Kommission zur Erschliessung von Keilschrifttexten)", In Kommission bei der C.H. Beck, 1977 {{ISBN|3-7696-0074-6}}
*Barthel Hrouda, "Isin, Isan Bahriyat II: Die Ergebnisse der Ausgrabungen 1975–1978 (Veroffentlichungen der Kommission zur Erschliessung von Keilschrifttexten)", In Kommission bei der C.H. Beck, 1981 {{ISBN|3-7696-0082-7}}
*Barthel Hrouda, Isin, "Isan Bahriyat III: Die Ergebnisse der Ausgrabungen 1983–1984 (Veroffentlichungen der Kommission zur Erschliessung von Keilschrifttexten)", In Kommission bei C.H. Beck, 1987 {{ISBN|3-7696-0089-4}}
*Barthel Hrouda, "Isin, Isan Bahriyat IV: Die Ergebnisse der Ausgrabungen, 1986–1989 (Veroffentlichungen der Kommission zur Erschliessung von Keilschrifttexten)", In Kommission bei C.H. Beck, 1992 {{ISBN|3-7696-0100-9}}
*Kaniuth, Kai. "Isin in the Kassite Period", Volume 2 Karduniaš. Babylonia under the Kassites 2, edited by Alexa Bartelmus and Katja Sternitzke, Berlin, Boston: De Gruyter,  pp.&nbsp;492–507, 2017
*Lieberman, Stephen J., "The years of Damiqilishu, king of Isin", Revue d'Assyriologie et d'archéologie orientale 76.2, pp.&nbsp;97–117, 1982
*M. van de Mieroop, "Crafts in the Early Isin Period: A Study of the Isin Craft Archive from the Reigns of Isbi-Erra and Su-Illisu", Peeters Publishers, 1987 {{ISBN|90-6831-092-5}}
*[https://isac.uchicago.edu/sites/default/files/uploads/shared/docs/as15.pdf] Arno Poebel, "The Second Dynasty of Isin According to A New King-List Tablet ", Assyriological Studies 15, Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1955
*Sternitzke, Katja, "Babylon in the Second Millennium BCE: New Insights on the Transitions from Old Babylonian to Kassite and Isin II Periods", Babylonia under the Sealand and Kassite Dynasties, edited by Susanne Paulus and Tim Clayden, Berlin, Boston: De Gruyter, pp.&nbsp;125–145, 2020
*Wilcke, C., Edzard, D. O., Walker, C., Odzuck, S., & Sommerfeld, W., "Keilschrifttexte aus Isin-Išān Baḥrīyāt: Ergebnisse der Ausgrabungen der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft unter der Schirmherrschaft der Bayerischen Akademie der Wissenschaften", Bayerische Akademie d. Wissenschaften, 2018

==External links==
*[http://oi.uchicago.edu/gallery/asp_meso_isin/ Archaeological Site Photographs of Isin at Oriental Institute] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109220858/http://oi.uchicago.edu/gallery/asp_meso_isin/ |date=2013-11-09 }}
*[https://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/23/international/worldspecial/23LOOT.html?ex=1082088000&en=1ff65d5ad70bd599&ei=5070&pagewanted=1 Iraqi Looters Tearing Up Archaeological Sites] Edmund L. Andrews. [[The New York Times]], May 23, 2003.

{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Isin| ]]
[[Category:Populated places established in the 3rd millennium BC]]
[[Category:Populated places disestablished in the 6th century BC]]
[[Category:States and territories established in the 20th century BC]]
[[Category:States and territories disestablished in the 18th century BC]]
[[Category:1924 archaeological discoveries]]
[[Category:History of Al-Qādisiyyah Governorate]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites in Iraq]]
[[Category:Former populated places in Iraq]]
[[Category:Sumerian cities]]
[[Category:Isin-Larsa period]]
[[Category:City-states]]
[[Category:Former kingdoms]]