Sargon of Akkad

Clay tablet relating the birth of Sargon and his quarrel with king Ur-Zababa of Kish. Tablet from paleo-Babylonian period (beginning of the 2nd millennium BC). Now dated: Sargon of Akkad, reign about 2270 to 2215 BC. (Late 3rd millennium BC). From the Louvre Museum, Paris.

Stele of Naram-Sin, Sargon's grandson, celebrating his victory against the Lullubi from Zagros

Sargon was one of the first people in recorded history to create an empire, or multi-ethnic state. His empire included the land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, and part of what is present-day Turkey.

His capital was called Agade in the Akkadian language.

Sargon of Akkad may have been the same person as the first Sargon of Assyria (also known as Sharrukin or Sharru-kin). Sargon's empire would probably have included Assyria. He is listed in the Assyrian king list as the son of Ikunum and the founder of a dynasty. He became a prominent member of the royal court of Kish, ultimately overthrowing its king before embarking on the conquest of Mesopotamia.

The Empire

Sargon's vast empire is known to have extended from Elam to the Mediterranean Sea, including Mesopotamia, parts of modern-day Iran and Syria, and possibly parts of Anatolia and the Arabian peninsula. He ruled from a new capital, Akkad, which the Sumerian king list claims he built on the left bank of the Euphrates.^[1] He is sometimes regarded as the first person in recorded history to create a multiethnic, centrally ruled empire, although the Sumerians Lugal-anne-mundu and Lugal-zage-si also have a claim. His dynasty controlled Mesopotamia for around a century and a half.^[2]

Akkadian language

The Akkadian language was made the official language of international discourse.^[3] During Sargon's reign, Akkadian was standardized and adapted for use with the cuneiform script, which was previously used for the Sumerian language. A style of calligraphy developed in which text on clay tablets and cylinder seals was arranged amidst scenes of mythology and ritual.^[4]

References

↑ Kramer, S. Noah 1963. The Sumerians. Chicago. Akkad was probably located between Sippar and Kish.
↑ Van der Mieroop, Marc. 2006. A history of the Ancient Near East: ca. 3000–323 BC. Blackwell, Oxford.
↑ It remained so for several centuries; the Amarna letters of the 14th century BC were largely written in Akkadian.
↑ Van der Mieroop, Marc. 1999. Cuneiform texts and the writing of history, Routledge, London.

[1] Kramer, S. Noah 1963. The Sumerians. Chicago. Akkad was probably located between Sippar and Kish.

[2] Van der Mieroop, Marc. 2006. A history of the Ancient Near East: ca. 3000–323 BC. Blackwell, Oxford.

[3] It remained so for several centuries; the Amarna letters of the 14th century BC were largely written in Akkadian.

[4] Van der Mieroop, Marc. 1999. Cuneiform texts and the writing of history, Routledge, London.

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