Letters from Nippur and Larak

Ṣillaya reports to the king that Nabû-ušallim, son of Merodach-Baladan Il, and Elamite forces have invaded Bit-Yakin (no. 68). The king of Elam has probably told the elders of Bit-Yakin to accept Nabû-ušallim as their leader. Despite fear of assassination and an alleged smear campaign, Ṣillaya requests a royal audience. This invasion during 680-675 B.C. was opposed by Nabû-ušallim's brother Naʾid-Marduk backed by Assyria (see no. 85). The invocation of Enlil (restored), Ninurta, and Nusku suggests the Nippur area as the source. On Ṣillaya's links with Nippur and the Sealand in other letters, see no. 3.

No. 69 lacks an epistolary introduction and quotes a speech by Ṣillaya addressed to the king.[[40]] Ṣillaya proposes killing Ihiru from Gambulu in Babylonia's interests and writing deceitfully, possibly in Ša-pi-Bel, to the ChaIdean magnates about Šamaš-ibni and his own plan to kill Nikkal-iddin and possibly take prisoners. On Šamaš-ibni, the leader of Bit-Dakkuri who was deported to Assyria in 678 B.C., see no. 56. On Nikkal-iddin, governor of Ur possibly in 680-673 B.C., see no. 85. According to an Assyrian letter, which has been dated to 679 B.C., Ṣillaya is in the service of a substitute king and is a trouble-maker in Babylonia who asks about Nikkal-iddin, Šamaš-ibni, and Naʾid-Marduk (SAA 10 2). Ṣillaya and Šamaš-ibni are linked in SAA 3 29.[[41]]

A governor of Nippur informs the king that due to illness he has sent representatives, including his brother Bel-usati, for a royal audience (no. 70).[[42]] Nippur is universally hated as Assyria's ally and is effectively under siege. Esarhaddon should instruct Ubaru the commandant of BabyIon to settle a water dispute with Ṣillaya in Nippur's favour, as decreed by the king's father. Ubaru's exact dates are uncertain but he is linked with Esarhaddon's restoration of Babylon and features as an authority opposed to Ṣillaya (see no. 14). On Ṣillaya's anti-Assyrian activities related to Nippur, see no. 3.

Naram-Sin, possibly a pseudonym, writes to the king about Sasiya and a governor of Bit-Zamani (no. 71). A Sasiya is linked with conspiracy against Esarhaddon but the identity of Sasiya in no. 71, the date, and the source are uncertain, although the Ninurta and Nusku blessing may indicate the Nippur area.[[43]] An unknown author accuses unknown addressees of disobeying the king and ordening a raid on the author's city when royal officials and booty were taken (no. 72). As instructed, the addressees have captured Šuma-iddin. The captive may be Nippur's treacherous governor attested in 675 B.C. but the name is very common.[[44]] Authors from Nippur protest to the king that, despite requesting a royal audience and speaking out in the Babylonian assembly, they are unhappy with their lot (no. 73).



40 On this format, cf. no. 158.

41 On SAA 3 29, cf. nos. 57 and 58.

42 Bel-usati may occur in CT 54 65:13, see PNA 1/II 337 s.v. Bēl-usāti 2.

43 On Sasiya, see nos. 92 and 131; Nissinen, SAAS 7 135-50, especially 140. The pair Ninurta and Nusku occur in no. 75:3. In letters from Nippur they are invoked with Enlil (e.g. nos. 70:3, 192:3, 194:3, 199:5, 201:2, and 202:3) and with Enlil and Mulliltu (e.g. no. 200:3).

44 On Šuma-iddin the governor of Nippur, see SAA 10 112 r.1ff; Nissinen, SAAS 7 138; Frame Babylonia 83-86.

Frances Reynolds

Frances Reynolds, 'Letters from Nippur and Larak', The Babylonian Correspondence of Esarhaddon and Letters to Assurbanipal and Sin-šarru-iškun from Northern and Central Babylonia, SAA 18. Original publication: Helsinki, Helsinki University Press, 2003; online contents: SAAo/SAA18 Project, a sub-project of MOCCI, 2020 [http://oracc.org/saao/saa18/esarhaddoncorrespondence/fromnippurandlarak/]

 
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