Kashtiliash III
| Kaštiliašu III | |
|---|---|
| King of Babylon | |
| Reign | c. 1500 BC |
| Predecessor | Burnaburiaš I |
| Successor | Agum III |
| House | Kassite |
Kaštiliašu III, phonetically inscribed in cuneiform as mKaš-til-ia-šu, was a possible Kassite king of Babylonia in the 15th century BC (Short Chronology). He is known only from the Assyrian Synchronistic King List,[i 1] a copy of a monumental inscription,[i 2] his genealogy, and references in the Chronicle of Early Kings.[i 3]
Sources
[edit]Evidence of Kaštiliašu's kingship is circumstantial. He may be the individual indicated on line 21[nb 1] of the Synchronistic King List[i 1][1] where he is placed opposite Assyrian king Aššur-nārāri I and is preceded by a lacuna and succeeded by a poorly preserved name not thought to be Ulam-Buriaš.[2] Two passages in the Chronicle of Early Kings mention Kaštiliašu: "Ulam-Buriaš, brother of Kaštiliašu, the Kassite" and "Agum, the son of Kaštiliašu".[i 3][3] Ulam-Buriaš conquered and ruled the Sealand—at the southern end of Babylonia—and perhaps ruled as king of Babylonia, while Agum III was king of Babylonia. Kaštiliašu has no royal title in those passages, a feature of this chronicle shared by others, such as Samsu-Ditana, who, despite lacking monarchical epithets, proved to be kings.[1]
A recently published copy of a monumental inscription[i 2] celebrates his excavation of the Sumundar Canal and confirms his genealogy as the son of Burnaburiaš I,[nb 2] and grandson of Agum II. It describes his ritual use of a silver spade and basket, which were subsequently displayed in the temple of Enlil, and his conscription of the people and land of Yamutbal for the excavation. Although he is designated as šakkanak Enlil, “governor of Enlil”, the title and subsequent elaborate curse formula against those who might later efface the inscription implies his regnal status.[4]
Inscriptions
[edit]Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b J. A. Brinkman (1976). Materials for the Study of Kassite History, Vol. I (MSKH I). Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago. pp. 12, 13.
- ^ Albert Kirk Grayson (1975). Assyrian and Babylonian chronicles. J. J. Augustin. p. 249.
- ^ Jona Lendering. "Chronicle of early kings (ABC)". Archived from the original on April 16, 2019. Retrieved July 30, 2011.
- ^ Kathleen Abraham and Uri Gabbay (2013). "Kaštiliašu and the Sumundar Canal: A New Middle Babylonian Royal Inscription". Zeitschrift für Assyriologie. 103 (2): 183–195.
