The Genealogy of Adad-nirari III, the Identity of the Ila-kabkabis of the Assyrian King List and the Status of the ‘Legitimisation’ Hypothesis

This paper argues that the two instances of the name Ilakabkabi in the Assyrian King List (AKL) refer to two separate people. The majority of scholars follow the 'legitimisation' hypothesis and consider the two attestations as references to the father of Šamši-Adad I. The argument follows...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Orientalia (Roma) 2007-01, Vol.76 (4), p.368-378
Main Author: Siddall, Luis Robert
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Ancient civilizations of the near east
ANIMADVERSIONES
Art and archaeology
Assyria
Attestations
Babylonia. Assyria. Urartu
Brothers
Genealogy
Kings
Kingship
Mesopotamia and Near East
Monarchy
Names
Redaction
Sons
Thrones
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Summary:This paper argues that the two instances of the name Ilakabkabi in the Assyrian King List (AKL) refer to two separate people. The majority of scholars follow the 'legitimisation' hypothesis and consider the two attestations as references to the father of Šamši-Adad I. The argument follows that by placing his father's name in an early section of the AKL, Šamši-Adad I attempted to legitimise his rule over Aššur. However, the evidence from Aššur and Mari does not support such a view. Further, the genealogy of the Neo-Assyrian king, Adad-nirari III, from Calah indicates that the Assyrian tradition did not consider the two instances of the name Ila-kabkabi in the AKL to refer to the same person. As a result of the proposed existence of two different people named Ila-kabkabi in the AKL, I argue that the foundation of the 'legitimisation' hypothesis is undermined.
ISSN:0030-5367