Hassum

Hassum (also given as Khashshum, Ḫaššum, Hassu, Hassuwa or Hazuwan) was a Hurrian city-state,^[1] located in southern Turkey most probably on the Euphrates river north of Carchemish.^[2]

The exact location of the city has not been conclusively determined. Suggested sites include Tilbeshar,^[3] Oylum Höyük, Ain Dara, and Tilmen Höyük.^[4]

History

Early Bronze

The city was a vassal to Ebla, it was mentioned in the Tablets of Ebla as Hazuwan, and was governed by its own king.^[5] It came under the influence of Mari for a short period of time in the 24th century BC,^[6] before Irkab-Damu of Ebla regained influence over the area,^[7] the city survived the Akkadians conquests in 2240 BC and flourished as a trade center in the first half of the 2nd millennia BC.^[8]

Middle Bronze

In the beginning of 18th century BC, Hassum allied with Yamhad against Yahdun-Lim of Mari,^[9] it later helped Yamhad against a kingdom in Zalmakum (a marshy region between the Euphrates and lower Balikh),^[10] but then shifted alliance to Shamshi-Adad I of Assyria after he annexed Mari. The city sent him 1,000 troops to attack Sumu-Epuh of Yamhad.^[11][12] Later, Yarim-Lim I of Yamhad brought Hassum under his hegemony and the city remained subjugated to Yamhad until the Hittite conquest.^[13]

Hittite Conquest

In the course of his war against Yamhad, Hattusili I of the Hittites, having destroyed Alalakh and Urshu, headed toward Hassum in his sixth year (around 1644 BC, middle chronology). Yarim-Lim III of Yamhad sent his army under General Zukrassi, leader of the heavy-armed troops, accompanied by General Zaludis the commander of the Manda troops. They united with the army of Hashshum,^[14] then the battle of Atalur mountain ensued (Atalur is located north of Aleppo not very far from the Amanus, it can be identified with the Kurd-Dagh Mountains).^[15][16] Hattusili destroyed his enemies and moved on to burn and loot Hassum. The citizens rallied their forces three times against the Hittites,^[17] but Hattusili sacked the city and seized the statues of the god Teshub, his wife Hebat and a pair of silver bulls that were the bulls of Teshub,^[18] and carried them to Hattusa,^[19] where they were kept in the temple of Arinna.^[20] The king of Hassum was captured and humiliated, he was harnessed to one of the wagons used to transport the loot of his city and taken to the Hittite capital.^[21]

Late Bronze

A century later, Hittite king Telipinu (fl. c. 1500 BC) mentions Hassum as his chief enemy and his destruction of the city.^[2][22][23]

See also

• Hurrians
• Yamhad
• History of the Hittites