Aplahanda

Attestations

He was first known from a cylinder seal translated by Rene Dussaud in 1929. The seal was found at the base of the mound of Ugarit before excavations began.

At least 6 seals naming Aplahanda have been published. They are skilfully produced, and show mostly Babylonian influence, although some Syrian and Egyptian motifs are also present.

He is also found mentioned in the Mari tablets, reigning at the same time as Yasmah-Addu and Zimri-Lim, by whom he is addressed as a brother. His name was suggested to be Amorite by I. J. Gelb and the hypothesis of a Semitic origin was supported by Wilfred G. Lambert.

At Acemhöyük (Anatolia), the Sarıkaya Palace yielded two bullea mentions Aplahanda.

Reign

He was allied with Shamshi-Adad (1809/1808–1776/1775 BC) in a war against Sumu-Epuh of Aleppo (Yamhad) that was unsuccessful. He was contemporary with king Hammurabi of Babylon (1792–1750 BC).

Death

He is known to have died in 1766 based on a letter of Ishtaran-Nasir. Aplahanda was succeeded by his son, Yatar-Ami, who ruled for only two years.

His daughter called Matrunna is also known; she had a non-Semitic, possibly Hurrian name. His other son was Yahdul-Lim.

References

References

1. Hamblin, W.J.. (2006). "Warfare in Ancient Near East". Taylor & Francis.
2. Virolleaud, Charles. (1929). "Les Inscriptions Cunéiformes de Ras Shamra". Oxford University Press.
3. Collon, D.. (1999). "Languages and Cultures in Contact: At the Crossroads of Civilizations in the Syro-Mesopotamian Realm; Proceedings of the 42th RAI (Orientalia Lovaniensia Analecta 96". Peeters.
4. Gelb, I.J.. (1980). "Computer-aided Analysis of Amorite". The Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago.
5. (2016). "Integrated Tree-Ring-Radiocarbon High-Resolution Timeframe to Resolve Earlier Second Millennium BCE Mesopotamian Chronology". PLOS ONE.
6. Klengel, Horst. (1992). "Syria, 3000 to 300 B.C.: a handbook of political history". Akademie Verlag.