Nov 08, 2006

JACOB EUGIN MANNA'S DICTIONARY

PART I  (Section - 2)

Written by Henry Bedros Kipha

09-06-2006
THE ARAMEAN KINGSHIP
 

THE MASSIVE ARAMAEAN AND CHALDEAN PRESENCE IN IRAQ

The Arameans and the Chaldeans were present everywhere in Iraq. From the Assyrian writings, we can learn that there were strong ties between the Sutaeans, the Ahklame, and the Arameans. During certain periods of time, the Arameans were called Ahklame, and at times, they were called Arameans. In certain writings they were even called Ahklame- Arameans, 6).

The Sutaean tribes began to immigrate to Babylonia and Amurru (Syria) during the 17th century B.C. These tribes made a living by plundering both towns and villages. This was a common way of life in those days. In the 15th century, tribes of Ahklame appeared on the banks of the Euphrates.

They then march ed towards the east in search of more fertile lands. This resulted in violent clashes between them and the Babylonians. The ancient Assyrian tribes tell us in their writings about their many "Victories" over the Aramean tribes.

This later became known in history as "The Aramean invasions". For within a few years, the Arameans succeeded in establishing several kingdoms in Northern Mesopotamia and J Syria, especially at the bend of the Euphrates. 7).

The Assyrians king, Tiglath Pileser I(1114-1O76B.C.) wrote that he crossed the river Euphrates on fourteen different occasions during the period when he pursued the Arameans "from the town of Palmyra (in the country of the Amorites) and the town of Anata (in the country of Suhi) as far as the town of Refiqu, 8).

The Babylonians could not defend themselves against these innumerable waves of attacks, 9).

By Aramean and Chaldean tribes. It is opined that an Aramaean succeeded in ascending the throne in Babylonia, 10).

From the Babylonian writings we can learn that during both the 8th and 7th century the relation between the Babylonians and the Aramaean tribes took the form of a coalition against the Assyrians instead of the relation of animosity that prevailed during both the 10th and 9th century B.C. From the Assyrian writings it is clear that the Assyrian kings met with an aggressive resistance from the Aramaean and Chaldean tribes. In these Assyrian documents we can today read about the "Aramaean presence" in Babylonia, Here under are itemized 36 Aramaean names pertaining to tribes, communities, and towns which were documented by the Assyrian king Tiglath-Pileser III (745-724 BC).12)


  1- It'u

  2-Rubu

  3-Hamaranu

  4-Luahuatu

  5-Hatal

  6-Rublu

  7-Hiranu

  8-Rafiqu

  9-Rabilu

10-Nasiru

11-Gulus

12-Ka-()

14-Rhiqu

15-Rummulutu

16-Adile

17-Kifre

18-Ubudu

19-Gurunu
   

20-Hudatu

21-Hinderu

22-Donanu

23-Pamunu

24-Nilqu

25-Rade

26-Da-()

27-Ubulu

28-Karamu

29-Amlatu

30-Ru’a

31-Qabi’

32-Li’tau

33-Marusu

34-Amatu

35-Hagaranu

36-Puqudu



All these tribes ramified into l8-Ubudu today's mid-Iraq. Tigath pileser mentions' 'that he vanquished all the 19-Gurunu Arameans who were present on the banks of the Euphrates, the Tigris and the Surapu and as far as the river Uknu, 13) .

The tribes differed in strength and impOliance. This e.g. Gambulu, Hinderu and Puqudu were more populous than the others. King Sargon mentions in his writings that the tribe Gambulu had 44 fortified towns, 14).

We notice that these Aramaean tribes had abandoned their nomadic life and had begun to build towns and villages, especially on the banks of the rivers.

These towns remained in the hands of the Arameans for several centuries. A good example of such a town is Rafiqu on the Euprates. It functioned as an Aramaean base from the end of the 11 the century B.C. until the time of the Ch al dean kings. The lands to the east of the river Tigris began in time of the Chaldean kings. The lands to the east of the river Tigris began in time to be known as the country of the Arameans, 15).

As early as the 7th century B.C. this name probably replaced all the other old names that had existed for the areas in MidIraq. ThemostknownChaldean tribes are Bet Dakuri and Bet Yakin.

These tribes gathered together in Chaldaea south of Babylonia, especially on the banks of Euphrates. They became known by the name of Chaldeans as they settled down in Chaldaea, 16).

The Chaldeans began to take over the government of Babylonia as the previous government began to crumble. This enabled Chaldean kings to govern for short periods of time. The Assyrians felt the danger from these Chaldean -Aramaean tribes and launched several attacks on them.

The Chaldean Aramaean tribes had to pay huge tributes, and many of the children of the Chaldean Aramaean kings and Elders were taken as hostages. The Assyrians even tried to divide the tribes in order to gain bettercontrol overthemin this way, but their strategy failed for these tribes rebelled against the cruel Assyrian rule 17).

In 612 B.C. the Chaldo-Arameans together with the Medes succeeded in destroying the Assyrian Empire. In this article, we have mentioned some of the Chaldean and Aramaean tribes but there were, of course, also other Aramaean and Chaldean tribes. The specialists in the field of Oriental history as sure us that the number of the Arameans and the Chaldeans widely surpassed that of the local population. This opinion was expressed in a study made by the historian Zadok, 18).

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