Sumu-Abum (also Su-abu) was an
Amorite
The Amorites (; sux, 𒈥𒌅, MAR.TU; Akkadian: 𒀀𒈬𒊒𒌝 or 𒋾𒀉𒉡𒌝/𒊎 ; he, אֱמוֹרִי, 'Ĕmōrī; grc, Ἀμορραῖοι) were an ancient Northwest Semitic-speaking people from the Levant who also occupied la ...
, and the first King of the
First Dynasty of Babylon (the ''Amorite Dynasty''). He reigned between 1830–1817 BC (
short chronology) or between 1897–1883 BC (
middle chronology
The chronology of the ancient Near East is a framework of dates for various events, rulers and dynasties. Historical inscriptions and texts customarily record events in terms of a succession of officials or rulers: "in the year X of king Y". Com ...
). He freed a small area of land previously ruled by the fellow Amorite city state of
Kazallu which included Babylon, then a minor administrative center in southern
Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia ''Mesopotamíā''; ar, بِلَاد ٱلرَّافِدَيْن or ; syc, ܐܪܡ ܢܗܪ̈ܝܢ, or , ) is a historical region of Western Asia situated within the Tigris–Euphrates river system, in the northern part of the ...
. Sumu-Abum (and the three Amorite kings succeeding him) makes no claim to be ''King of Babylon'', suggesting that the town was at this time still of little importance. He is known to have become king of
Kisurra
Kisurra (modern Tell Abu Hatab, Al-Qādisiyyah Governorate, Iraq) was an ancient Sumerian '' tell'' (hill city) situated on the west bank of the Euphrates, north of Shuruppak and due east of Kish.
History
Kisurra was established ca. 2700 BC, ...
.
Year names of Sumu-Abum of Babylon - CDLI
/ref>
References
19th-century BC Babylonian kings
19th-century BC rulers
First dynasty of Babylon
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