Tell Asmar (Eshnunna) — Palace of the Rulers and Shu-Sin Ziggurat Terrace
Asmar · Eshnunna · Tell Asmar · Ishnun
Early Dynastic to Old Babylonian (3000–1760 BCE), Isin-Larsa Eshnunna·Sumerian–Akkadian (Eshnunna Dynasts)·🇮🇶 Diyala Governorate, Iraq
About
About Tell Asmar (Eshnunna) — Palace of the Rulers and Shu-Sin Ziggurat Terrace
Capital of powerful Eshnunna kingdom (2100–1760 BCE) ruling Diyala and parts of Elam trade. Central tell holds Palace of the Rulers (45x38 m courtyard palace) and 32x30 m Shu-Sin (Ur III) ziggurat-platform of baked brick with triple stair, later overlain by Northern Palace. Famed statue hoard (12 alabaster figures, now Louvre/Chicago) in Abu Temple; cuneiform archive including Laws of Eshnunna predating Hammurabi. Controlled tin route from Elam; sacked by Hammurabi year 31.
Why it mattersEshnunna laws and statues type-site; informs Ur III–Old Babylonian transition and northern Babylonian ziggurat form outside Sumer.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Eshnunna's northern empire extent at peak under Ibal-pi-el II
Theories
- 01Palace-ziggurat paired as sacral kingship model copied at Shaduppum
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.3000–1760 BCE, ziggurat 2037–2029 BCE (Shu-Sin of Ur), Palace c.1950 BCE (Bilalama)
- Period
- Early Dynastic to Old Babylonian (3000–1760 BCE), Isin-Larsa Eshnunna
- Culture
- Sumerian–Akkadian (Eshnunna Dynasts)
- Builders
- Ur III and Eshnunna kings (Shu-Sin, Ipiq-Adad II)
- Purpose
- City-state royal citadel terrace and administrative palace governing Diyala trade corridor
- Excavation
- Excavated
c.3000–1760 BCE, ziggurat 2037–2029 BCE (Shu-Sin of Ur), Palace c.1950 BCE (Bilalama)
Initial construction
c. 1017 CE
Rediscovery
On the ground
Structures & features
33.7860° N · 44.7650° E · 40 m · 2 mapped features
Shu-Sin ziggurat platform
ziggurat32x30 m baked-brick stair terrace with triple stair apex
33.7860° N · 44.7650° EPalace of the Rulers
palaceCourtyard palace 45x38 m with throne room south of Abu Temple
33.7855° N · 44.7658° E