Īter-pīša, inscribed in
cuneiform
Cuneiform is a logo-syllabic script that was used to write several languages of the Ancient Middle East. The script was in active use from the early Bronze Age until the beginning of the Common Era. It is named for the characteristic wedge-sh ...
as ''i-te-er-pi/pi''
4''-ša'' and meaning "Her command is surpassing", ca. 1769–1767 BC (
short chronology) or ca. 1833–1831 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 ...
), was the 12th king of
Isin during the Old Babylonian period. The ''Sumerian King List''
[''Sumerian King List'', Ash. 1923.444, the "Weld-Blundell Prism."] tells us that "the divine Īter-pīša ruled for 4 years."
[d''i.te.er.pi4.ša mu 4 i.ak''.] The ''Ur-Isin King List''
[''Ur-Isin King List'' tablet MS 1686.] which was written in the 4th year of the reign of
Damiq-ilišu gives a reign of just 3 years. His relationships with his predecessor and successor are uncertain and his reign falls during a period of general decline in the fortunes of the dynasty.
Biography
He was a contemporary of
Warad-Sin
Warad-Sin (, ARAD- Dsuen) ruled the ancient Near East city-state of Larsa from 1770 BC to 1758 BC ( short chronology). There are indications that his father Kudur-Mabuk was co-regent or at very least the power behind the throne
The phrase "power ...
(ca. 1770 BC to 1758 BC) the king of
Larsa
Larsa ( Sumerian logogram: UD.UNUGKI, read ''Larsamki''), also referred to as Larancha/Laranchon (Gk. Λαραγχων) by Berossos and connected with the biblical Ellasar, was an important city-state of ancient Sumer, the center of the cult ...
, whose brother and successor,
Rim-Sin I would eventually come to overthrow the dynasty, ending the cities' bitter rivalry around 40 years later. He is only known from Kings lists and year-name date formulae in several contemporary legal and administrative texts. Two of his year-names refer to his provision of a copper Lilis for
Utu
Utu (dUD "Sun"), also known under the Akkadian name Shamash, ''šmš'', syc, ܫܡܫܐ ''šemša'', he, שֶׁמֶשׁ ''šemeš'', ar, شمس ''šams'', Ashurian Aramaic: 𐣴𐣬𐣴 ''š'meš(ā)'' was the ancient Mesopotamian sun god. ...
and
Inanna respectively, where Lilissu is a kettledrum used in temple rituals.
He is perhaps best known for the literary work generally known as the ''letter from Nabi-Enlil to Īter-pīša'' formerly designated ''letter from Īter-pīša to a deity'', when its contents were less well understood. It is extant in seven fragmentary manuscripts
[Tablets UM 55-21-329 +, 3N-T0901,048, 3N-T 919,455, CBS 7857, UM 55-21-323, and CBS 14041 + in the University of Pennsylvania Museum, and MS 2287 in the Schøyen Collection.] and seems to be a petition to the king from a subject who has fallen on hard times. It is a 24-line composition that had become a
belle letter used in scribal education during the subsequent Old Babylonian period.
Inscriptions
Notes
External links
* Īter-pīša year-names a
CDLI but note the tablet reference BM 85384 in year-name (b) is incorrect.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Iter-pisha
19th-century BC Sumerian kings
18th-century BC Sumerian kings
Dynasty of Isin