"تقرير عسكري حول عربستان (المنطقة رقم ١٣)." [ظ‎‎٧] (٣٦٦/١٩)

4
♦
B. C.
2225-1926.
1925-1185.
1190.
kingdom, never seriously aspired to the empire of the known
world, as did her rivals, for it appears that, albeit formidable in
war, she lacked the capacity to administer her conquests, and
that each country was allowed to retain its organisation and
ancient rulers, subject to the payment of a heavy tribute. The
whole period is still very obscure, but so far as can be gathered,
first of all Syria was lost, and gradually, one by one, the neigh
bouring states recovered their liberty. Then the dynasty of
Nisin, in its turn, conquered Elam.’
The first dynasty of Babylon. The greatest monarch of this
dynasty was Hammurabi, the law giver and conqueror, who
reigned from 2123-2081 B.C. The most important military event
of his reign w^as the defeat of Rimsin, the Elamite king of
Larsa, and the capture of his city in 2093 B.C. /
During this time little can be gleaned of the internal condi
tion of Elam, but there are traces of an independent kingdom
with a predominant Anzanite element. Chief of these sovereigns
are Khumban-Niimena and his son, the former working for the
consolidation of Elam and the latter for the re-organization
of the country and the repair of its ruined sanctuaries.
The Kassite Dynasty. During the rule of the Kassite dynasty
Assyria appeared as a rising power in the middle reaches of the
Tigris. During this period little is known of Elam, but towards
the end of the dynasty war was waged by Khurbatila, King of
Elam, against Kurigalzu, King of Babylon. The former, who
was invading Babylonia, was defeated and taken prisoner.
Susa, too, was apparently captured. Some generations later
Elam, under Kidin-Khutrutash, devastated and conquered
Babylonia and carried away many of its inhabitants.
Among the famous warrior kings of this period of Elam wsl&
Shutruk-Nakhunta, who not only conquered Babylonia, but
removed to Susa the choicest works of art from the cities he laid
w r aste.
At this time when the Kassite power w T aned Elam possessed
the greatest influence, and the dynasty at its close acknowledged
the overlordship of Elam.
Shutruk-Nakhunta w-as succeeded by Shilkhak-in-Shushinak,
a great administrator and builder. This was the golden age in
art and literature of Elam.