Post by inimgina on Sept 27, 2016 18:01:02 GMT -5
Isin (I3-si-inki) was an ancient Mesopotamian city. Its location corresponds with the modern archaeological site Ishan al-Bahriyat in the Al-Qādisiyyah Governorate of Iraq. The tell at the site is about 100 hectares in area and about 1.5 kilometers (0.93 miles) across with a maximum height of 8 meters (26 ft). Isin was located approximately 20 miles (32 km) south of Nippur. The Isinnitum Canal connected Isin to the set of waterways that connected the cities of ancient Mesopotamia.
The patron deity of Isin was Ninisina or Gula, the Sumerian goddess of healing and medicine. Ninisina was associated with dogs (which were associated with medicine in ancient Mesopotamia) and her temple at Isin was known as the é-u-gi7-ra, (Sumerian: "Dog Temple"). Ninisina was a daughter of An and the wife of Ninurta/Pabilsaga. Her children were Damu, Ninazu and Gunurra.Ninisina/Gula was identified as being synonymous with several other goddesses such as Bau and Ninkarrak. By the Old Babylonian Period, many goddesses are syncretised with Ninisina/Gula such as Baba, Gatumdug, Meme, Nin Ezen, Ninisinna, Nintinugga, and Nmdindu.
Isin was occupied as early as the Ubaid period however a history of Isin does not become clear until the Ur III period. Ur was sacked by the Elamites during the reign of Ibbi-Sin causing political instability in Mesopotamia. The power of the Ur state had become weakened under the rule of Ibbi-Sin. One of Ibbi-Sin's governmental officials, Ishbi-Erra, established himself as a sovereign ruler of Isin. Ishbi-Erra's name is Amorite but he was also know by the epithet “the man of Mari.”One of Ishbi-Erra's year names records his victory over Ibbi-Sin in battle. Ishbi-Erra returned to Ur and succeed in repulsing the Elamites from the Ur region. This gave the newly founded Isin dynasty control over important cities such as Ur, Uruk, and Nippur. Although Ishbi-Erra claimed to be the successor of the Third Dynasty of Ur his reign is considered the beginning of a new period in Mesopotamian history; The Isin/Larsa period.
Ishbi-Erra founded a line of Amorite rulers of whom the first five claimed authority over the city of Ur to the south. For over a century the dynasty at Isin flourished until Gungunum the royally appointed governor of Larsa and Lagash province rebelled and established an independent dynasty based out of Larsa. Next Gungunum conquered the city of Ur which had been the main center of the Gulf trade. The loss of control over Ur was economically devastating to Isin. Gungunum's two successors Abisare and Sumuel continued confrontations with Isin. At some point Isin lost control over Nippur. Around 1860 BCE, an outsider named Enlil-bani seized the throne of Isin thus ending the hereditary dynasty established by Ishbi-Erra over 150 years earlier. The first dynasty of Isin continued through the reigns of five more rulers before Isin was conquered by Rim-Sin I, ruler of Larsa.
Hundreds of years later Isin would return to power for a brief period at the end of the 2nd millennium during the Second Dynasty of Isin.
The patron deity of Isin was Ninisina or Gula, the Sumerian goddess of healing and medicine. Ninisina was associated with dogs (which were associated with medicine in ancient Mesopotamia) and her temple at Isin was known as the é-u-gi7-ra, (Sumerian: "Dog Temple"). Ninisina was a daughter of An and the wife of Ninurta/Pabilsaga. Her children were Damu, Ninazu and Gunurra.Ninisina/Gula was identified as being synonymous with several other goddesses such as Bau and Ninkarrak. By the Old Babylonian Period, many goddesses are syncretised with Ninisina/Gula such as Baba, Gatumdug, Meme, Nin Ezen, Ninisinna, Nintinugga, and Nmdindu.
Isin was occupied as early as the Ubaid period however a history of Isin does not become clear until the Ur III period. Ur was sacked by the Elamites during the reign of Ibbi-Sin causing political instability in Mesopotamia. The power of the Ur state had become weakened under the rule of Ibbi-Sin. One of Ibbi-Sin's governmental officials, Ishbi-Erra, established himself as a sovereign ruler of Isin. Ishbi-Erra's name is Amorite but he was also know by the epithet “the man of Mari.”One of Ishbi-Erra's year names records his victory over Ibbi-Sin in battle. Ishbi-Erra returned to Ur and succeed in repulsing the Elamites from the Ur region. This gave the newly founded Isin dynasty control over important cities such as Ur, Uruk, and Nippur. Although Ishbi-Erra claimed to be the successor of the Third Dynasty of Ur his reign is considered the beginning of a new period in Mesopotamian history; The Isin/Larsa period.
Ishbi-Erra founded a line of Amorite rulers of whom the first five claimed authority over the city of Ur to the south. For over a century the dynasty at Isin flourished until Gungunum the royally appointed governor of Larsa and Lagash province rebelled and established an independent dynasty based out of Larsa. Next Gungunum conquered the city of Ur which had been the main center of the Gulf trade. The loss of control over Ur was economically devastating to Isin. Gungunum's two successors Abisare and Sumuel continued confrontations with Isin. At some point Isin lost control over Nippur. Around 1860 BCE, an outsider named Enlil-bani seized the throne of Isin thus ending the hereditary dynasty established by Ishbi-Erra over 150 years earlier. The first dynasty of Isin continued through the reigns of five more rulers before Isin was conquered by Rim-Sin I, ruler of Larsa.
Hundreds of years later Isin would return to power for a brief period at the end of the 2nd millennium during the Second Dynasty of Isin.
