Eshnunna (Tell Asmar)
𒀴𒂔 (Ešnunna) · Tell Asmar · Tell Asmar and Khafajah · Ishnun
Early Dynastic to Old Babylonian (Isin-Larsa contemporary)·Sumerian-Akkadian Eshnunna kingdom·🇮🇶 Diyala Governorate, Iraq
About
About Eshnunna (Tell Asmar)
Akkadian-Old Babylonian city-state of Eshnunna (c.3000–1760 BCE) controlling Diyala basin between Sumer and Elam, famous for the Laws of Eshnunna (c.1930 BCE, ~60 laws predating Hammurapi by two centuries) discovered on two tablets, and the hoard of 12 Early Dynastic temple statues (worshipper figures with huge inlaid eyes, c.2900 BCE) in Abu Temple square — icon of Sumerian votive art at Oriental Institute, Chicago. Frankfort-Lloyd 1930–36 Diyala excavations (Asmar-Khafajah-Agreb). Hammurapi annexed c.1762 BCE.
Why it mattersLaws of Eshnunna precursor to Hammurapi; ED statues; Diyala cultural bridge.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Statue caches — hidden before war?
- 02Legal diff beween LB and Larsan codes
Theories
- 01Diyala as Akkadian-Elam osmotic frontier
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.3000–1930 BCE; Abu Temple Square c.2900 BCE
- Period
- Early Dynastic to Old Babylonian (Isin-Larsa contemporary)
- Culture
- Sumerian-Akkadian Eshnunna kingdom
- Builders
- Kings Urguedinna, Ipiq-Adad II
- Purpose
- Trans-Diyala toll kingdom and Abu temple cult
- Abandoned
- c.1762 BCE (Hammurapi conquest)
- Rediscovered
- 1930 Chicago Oriental Institute (Frankfort)
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.2900 BCE
Abu Temple statues buried
c.1930 BCE
Laws of Eshnunna promulgated
On the ground
Structures & features
33.7960° N · 44.7680° E · 35 m · 3 mapped features
Square Temple of Abu (Statue hoard)
templeED temple with 12 statues hoard
33.7962° N · 44.7682° EPalace of the Rulers (Ipiq-Adad)
palaceRoyal palace with Laws tablets archive
33.7958° N · 44.7678° ELaws of Eshnunna tablet findspot
archive2 tablets of 60 laws
33.7960° N · 44.7680° E