Damiq-ilišu | |
---|---|
King of Isin | |
Reign | c. 1752 – 1730 BC |
Predecessor | Sîn-māgir |
Successor |
Rīm-Sîn I Dynasty of Larsa |
House | 1st Dynasty of Isin |
Damiq-ilīšu, inscribed dda-mi-iq ì-lí-šu, c. 1752 – 1730 BC (short chronology) or c. 1816 – 1794 BC (middle chronology) was the 15th and final king of Isin. He succeeded his father Sîn-māgir and reigned for 23 years. Some variant king lists provide a shorter reign, but it is thought that these were under preparation during his rule. He was defeated first by Sîn-muballiṭ of Babylon (c. 1748 – 1729 BC) and then later by Rīm-Sîn I of Larsa, (c. 1758 – 1699 BC).
His standard inscription characterizes him as the "farmer who piles up the produce (of the land) in granaries." Four royal inscriptions are extant including cones celebrating the building of the wall of Isin, naming him as “Damiq-ilišu is the favorite of the god Ninurta” also recollected in a year-name and “suitable for the office of en priest befitting the goddess Inanna.” Construction of a storehouse e-me-sikil, “house with pure mes (rites?)”, for the god Mardu, son of the god An. A cone records the construction of a temple, the é-ki-tuš-bi-du10, “House – its residence is good,” possibly for the deity Nergal of Uṣarpara. There is also a palace inscription and a copy of a dedication to Nergal of Apiak on a votive lion sculpture.
An outline of the political events can be gleaned from an examination of the year names of the rival kingdoms. Rīm-Sîn’s year 14 (c. 1744 BC) records “Year the armies of Uruk, Isin, Babylon, Sutum, Rapiqum, and of Irdanene, the king of Uruk, were smitten with weapons.” This victory over a grand coalition seems to have awakened in Rīm-Sîn imperial ambitions. Damiq-ilišu’s year 13 (c. 1739 BC) records the “Year in which (Damiq-ilišu) built the great city wall of Isin (called) 'Damiq-ilišu-hegal’ (Damiq-ilišu is abundance)”. The holy city of Nippur seems to have been wrestled from the control of Larsa around 1749 BC by Damiq-ilīšu who held it until Rīm-Sîn reclaimed it around 1737 BC, the year he “destroyed Uruk,” based upon the dating of documents found there. Sin-muballit’s year 13 (c. 1735 BC) is called “Year the troops and the army of Larsa were smitten by weapons.” Rīm-Sîn’s year 25 (c. 1733 BC) is named “Year the righteous shepherd Rim-Sin with the powerful help of An, Enlil, and Enki seized the city of Damiq-ilišu, brought its inhabitants who had helped Isin as prisoners to Larsa, and established his triumph greater than before.” This setback seems to have crippled the tottering Isin state enabling Sîn-muballiṭ of Babylon to pillage the city in 1732 BC, during his year 16.