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HOME :
Near Eastern Art :
Elamite Art : Elamite period stone artefact
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Elamite period stone artefact - CB.3013
£3,000.00
Location: Great Britain
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| Description |
Elam was an ancient kingdom of Asia, situated
north of the Persian Gulf and east of the Tigris
River, and corresponding approximately to the
present-day province of Khuzistan in Iran. The
capital of Elam and its most fabled city was
Susa, today the city of Shush. This powerful
empire has been overshadowed in history by
the rival kingdoms of Babylon and Assyria.
However, the Elamite Empire deserves to be
placed in a list of the world’s most important
and influential ancient cultures. Archaeological
signatures for the area exist as far back as the
sixth millennium B.C. The empire itself was
founded in around 3200 B.C., and it lasted – in
various guises – almost continuously until the
mid first millennium B.C.; much of its history is
also documented using the world’s earliest
deciphered alphabet, which makes it of
extraordinary value to historians and
archaeologists. The earliest phases are
somewhat unclear.
The most extensively researched portions of
the sequence start with the Old Elamite Period
(OEP), which began around 2700 B.C. and saw
the conquest of Elam by Enmebaragesi of
Kish. King lists indicate a temporary
domination of Sumer (Iraq) by later dynasties
within the OEP, although Elam was herself
briefly dominated by strong Sumerian rulers.
Struggles with the Akkadians and repeated
conquests in both directions characterized
much of the Avan Dynasty; diplomatic
relations between the Sumer and Elam
improved, but perhaps only because the
former’s power was waning. The Elamites
sacked Ur in 2004 BC, and led Ibbi Sin into
captivity. Later dynasties in the OEP saw
burgeoning power structures throughout the
Elamite Empire, leading to the rise of the
Anshanite dynasties around 1500 B.C. and the
arrival of the Middle Elamite Period (MEP).
Akkadian influence waned during this period,
and Elamite gained strength; Elamite influence
likewise burgeoned, capturing and sacking
cities and artworks from the Babylonians and
other neighbours. The power of the empire
waned dramatically towards the end of the
MEP with the inbred king Khutelutush-In-
Shushinak, who was the product of his father
and sister. Under his unsteady rule, the
Elamite Empire fell into obscurity for almost
three centuries, allowing their foes to reclaim
their territory and plunder. The rise of the Neo-
Elamite period is little understood, but in time
the empire regained its former strength.
- (CB.3013)
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