# Sukkalmah dynasty

History of Greater Iran :
Pre-IslamicBCE / BC
Prehistory Kura–Araxes culture c. 3400 – c. 2000 Helmand culture/Jiroft culture 3300-2200 Proto-Elamite civilization 3200–2800 Elamite dynasties 2800–550 Lullubi/Zamua 3100-675 Marhaši 2550-2020 Bactria–Margiana Complex 2400–1700 Gutian Dynasty 2141-2050 Avestan period c. 1500 BCE – 500 BCE Kingdom of Mannai 10th–7th century Neo-Assyrian Empire 911–609 Urartu 860–590 Median Empire 728–550 Scythian Kingdom 652–625 Achaemenid Empire 550–330 Ancient kingdom of Armenia 331 BCE – 428 CE Seleucid Empire 330–150 Caucasian Iberia c. 302 BCE – 580 CE Greco-Bactrian Kingdom 250–125 Parthian Empire 248 BCE–224 CE Caucasian Albania 2nd century BCE – 8th century CE Roman Empire 27 BCE – 330 CE CE / AD
Kushan Empire 30–275 Sasanian Empire 224–651 Afrighid dynasty 305–995 Hephthalite Empire 425–557 Kabul Shahi kingdom 565–879 Dabuyid dynasty 642–760 Bagratid Armenia 880s – 1045 Alania 8th/9th century – 1238 / 9 Kingdom of Georgia 1008–1490 :
Islamic Rashidun Caliphate 637–651 Umayyad Caliphate 661–750 Abbasid Caliphate 750–1258 Shirvanshah 799–1607 Tahirid dynasty 821–873 Dulafid dynasty 840–897 Zaydis of Tabaristan 864–928 Saffarid dynasty 861–1003 Samanid Empire 819–999 Sajid dynasty 889/90–929 Ziyarid dynasty 928–1043 Buyid dynasty 934–1055 Sallarid dynasty 941–1062 Ghaznavid Empire 975–1187 Ghurid dynasty pre-879 – 1215 Seljuk Empire 1037–1194 Khwarazmian dynasty 1077–1231 Sultanate of Rum 1077–1307 Salghurids 1148–1282 Ilkhanate 1256–1353 Kart dynasty 1231–1389 Ottoman Empire 1299–1923 Muzaffarid dynasty 1314–1393 Chupanid dynasty 1337–1357 Jalairid Sultanate 1339–1432 Timurid Empire 1370–1507 Qara Qoyunlu Turcomans 1407–1468 Aq Qoyunlu Turcomans 1378–1508 Safavid Empire 1501–1722 Mughal Empire 1526–1857 Hotak dynasty 1722–1729 Afsharid Iran 1736–1750 Zand dynasty 1750–1794 Durrani Empire 1794–1826 Qajar Iran 1794–1925 :
vte :
The Sukkalmah (c. 1900 – c. 1500 BC) or Epartid dynasty (named after the title sukkalmah used by many of the dynasty's rulers; as well as, the eponymous founder Ebarat II/Eparti II), was an early dynasty of West Asia in the ancient region of Elam, to the southeast of Babylonia. It corresponds to the third Paleo-Elamite period (dated to c. 1880 – c. 1450 BC). The Sukkalmah dynasty followed the Shimashki dynasty (c. 2200 – c. 1900 BC). The title of Sukkalmah means "Grand Regent" and was used by some (but not all) Elamite rulers. Numerous cuneiform documents and inscriptions remain from this period, particularly from the area of Susa, making the Sukkalmah period one of the best documented in Elamite history.

## History
### Etymology of the title "Sukkalmah"

Sukkalmah was a Sumerian title first attested in the Pre-Sargonic texts from Girsu, where it seems to have had the meaning of "prime minister" or "grand vizier." The title was well-attested under the powerful Ur III state, where it remained associated with Girsu and nearby Lagash. The Sukkalmahs of Lagash held effective control over the entire ma-da or buffer zone to the north and east of the Ur III core territory, and thus held authority over Susa. The Sukkalmah Arad-Nanna held the title of shagina or military governor of Pashime on the southern coast of Iran, indicating that the influence of the Neo-Sumerian Sukkalmahs could extend quite deep into Elamite territory. The later adoption of the title Sukkalmah by the Elamites probably reflects the considerable political influence that the Neo-Sumerian Sukkalmahs had on Susiana and Elam, and may have also been favored due to similarity between the Sumerian sukkal and the Elamite title sunkir or sukkir meaning "king".

### Isin-Larsa period (c. 2025 – c. 1894 BC)

The founder of the dynasty was a ruler named Shilhaha, who described himself as "the chosen son of Ebarat", who may have been the same as King Ebarti mentioned as the 9th King of the Shimashki Dynasty. Ebarat appears as the founder of the dynasty according to building inscriptions, but later kings rather seem to refer to Shilhaha in their filiation claims.
The names of Ebarat and Shilhaha, the founding members of the Sukkalmah Dynasty, have been found on the Gunagi silver vessels, inscribed in the Linear Elamite script. The Gunagi vessels were discovered relatively recently, in 2004. French archaeologist François Desset identified repetitive sign sequences in the beginning of the Gunagi inscriptions, and guessed they were names of Kings, in a manner somewhat similar to Grotefend's decipherment of Old Persian cuneiform in 1802–1815. Using the small set of letters identified in 1905–1912, the number of symbols in each sequence taken as syllables, and in one instance the repetition of a symbol, Desset was able to identify the only two contemporary historical rulers that matched these conditions: Shilhaha and Ebarat, the two earliest kings of the Sukkalmah Dynasty. Another set of signs matched the well-known God of the period: Napirisha:
* E-b-r-t, Ebarat II, founder of the Sukkalmah Dynasty.
* Shi-l-ha-ha, Shilhaha, second king of the Sukkalmah Dynasty.
* Na-pi-r-ri-sha, God Napirisha.

### Old Babylonian period (c. 1894 – c. 1595 BC)

The dynasty was roughly contemporary with the Old Assyrian period, and the Old Babylonian period in Mesopotamia. During this time, Susa was under Elamite control, but Akkadian-speaking Mesopotamian states such as Larsa and Isin continually tried to retake the city. Notable Sukkalmah dynasty rulers in Elam during this time include Suruhduh/Siruk-tuh/Sirukdukh (c. 1850), who entered into various military coalitions to contain the power of the south Mesopotamian states. Siruk-tuh was the king of Elam when Hammurabi first ruled, he and later kings of the Elamite dynasty were referred to as "great king" and "father" by kings in Syria and Mesopotamia and were the only kings that the Mesopotamian Kings considered to be higher in status than themselves.
Siwe-Palar-Khuppak, who for some time was the most powerful person in the area, respectfully addressed as "Father" by Mesopotamian kings such as Zimrilim of Mari, Shamshi-Adad I of Assyria, and even Hammurabi of Babylon. During his reign alone, Elam interfered extensively with Mesopotamian politics, allowing messengers and envoys to travel far west to Emar and Qatna in Syria. His messenger reached Emar and sent his three servants to King Amut-piʾel II of Qatna (1772-1762 BC), and the king of Qatna also sent two messengers to Elam. Around 1760 BC, Hammurabi drove out the Elamites, overthrew Rim-Sin of Larsa, and established a Babylonian Empire in Mesopotamia. Thus, Siwe-Palar-Khuppak instead turned his army eastward conquering parts of Iran.
The Elamite rulers had become increasingly involved in Mesopotamian politics during the Sukkalmah dynasty. In fact, Rim-Sin of Larsa himself was of Elamite descent, notwithstanding his Akkadian name. Kudur-Nahhunte, who plundered the temples of southern Mesopotamia. But Elamite influence in southern Mesopotamia did not last. Little is known about the later part of this dynasty, since sources again become sparse with the Kassite rule of Babylon (from c. 1595).

## List of rulers

The following list should not be considered complete:
| # | Name | Succession | Title | Approx. dates | Notes |
| Isin-Larsa period (c. 2025 – c. 1894 BC) |||||||
| Shimashki dynasty (c. 2220 – c. 1792 BC) |||||||
| 9th | Ebarat II 𒂊𒁀𒊏𒀜 E-b-r-t | Eponymous founder of the Epartid dynasty | Sukkalmah King of Anshan and Susa King of Shimashki | Uncertain, m. c. 1973 BC to Matum-Niatum | temp. of: Shu-Ilishu Iddin-Dagan Shilhaha |
| 8th | Tan-Ruhuratir II | Son of Indattu II (?) | King of Shimashki | Uncertain, fl. c. 2028 – c. 1950 BC | temp. of: Shu-Ilishu Iddin-Dagan Bilalama |
| 10th | Indattu II 𒀭𒄿𒁕𒁺 | Son of Tan-Ruhurater I (?) | King of Shimashki | reigned c. 1945 – c. 1925 BC | temp. of: Iddin-Dagan Bilalama Gungunum |
| 11th | Idattunapir | Unclear succession | King of Shimashki | Uncertain, fl. c. 1928 – c. 1880 BC | temp. of: Sumuabum |
| 12th | Idattutemti | Unclear succession | King of Shimashki | Uncertain, fl. c. 1928 – c. 1792 BC | |
| "Twelve kings of Shimashki."— Susanian Dynastic List |||||||
| Epartid dynasty (c. 1980 – c. 1830 BC) |||||||
| 2nd | Shilhaha 𒂊𒁀𒊏𒀜 Shi-l-ha-ha | Son of Ebarat III | Sukkalmah King of Anshan and Susa | Uncertain, fl. c. 1980 – c. 1635 BC | temp. of: Ebarat II Attakhushu |
| 3rd | Kuk-Nashur I | Son of Shilhaha | Sukkalmah | Uncertain, fl. c. 1980 – c. 1635 BC | |
| Sukkalmah dynasty (c. 1980 – c. 1450 BC) |||||||
| 4th | Palar-Ishshan | Unclear succession | Sukkalmah | Uncertain, fl. c. 1980 – c. 1545 BC | |
| 5th | Kuk-Sanit | Son of Palar-Ishshan (?) | | Uncertain, fl. c. 1980 – c. 1545 BC | |
| 6th | Lankuku | Father of Kuk-Kirwash | | Uncertain, fl. c. 1980 – c. 1520 BC | |
| 7th | Kuk-Kirwash | Nephew of Palar-Ishshan (?) | Sukkalmah Sukkal of Elam and Shimashki and Susa | Uncertain, fl. c. 1980 – c. 1520 BC | |
| 8th | Tem-Sanit | Son of Kuk-Kirwash | | Uncertain, fl. c. 1928 – c. 1505 BC | |
| 9th | Kuk-Nahhunte | Son of Kuk-Kirwash | | Uncertain, fl. c. 1928 – c. 1505 BC | |
| Old Babylonian period (c. 1894 – c. 1450 BC) |||||||
| 10th | Attakhushu | Son of Kuk-Nashur I (?) | Sukkal and Ippir of Susa Shepherd of the people of Susa Shepherd of Inshushinak | Uncertain, d. c. 1894 BC | temp. of: Ebarat II Shilhaha Gungunum |
| 11th | Tetep-Mada | Son of Kuk-Nashur I (?) | Shepherd of the people of Susa | Uncertain, fl. c. 1894 – c. 1790 BC | temp. of: Sumuabum |
| 12th | Shirukduh | Descendant of Shilhaha (?) | Sukkalmah | Uncertain, fl. c. 1792 – c. 1763 BC | temp. of: Shamshi-Adad I |
| 13th | Shimut-Wartash I | Son of Shirukduh | | Uncertain, fl. c. 1790 – c. 1763 BC | temp. of: Shamshi-Adad I |
| 14th | Siwe-Palar-Khuppak | Son of Shirukduh | Sukkalmah Sukkal of Susa Prince of Elam | Uncertain, reigned c. 1778 – c. 1745 BC | temp. of: Hammurabi Zimri-Lim Shamshi-Adad I |
| 15th | Kuduzulush I | Son of Shirukduh | Sukkalmah Sukkal of Susa | Uncertain, fl. c. 1765 – c. 1730 BC | temp. of: Siwe-Palar-Khuppak Hammurabi Zimri-Lim |
| 16th | Kutir-Nahhunte I | Son of Kuduzulush I | Sukkalmah | Uncertain, fl. c. 1730 – c. 1700 BC | |
| 17th | Lila-Irtash | Son of Kuduzulush I | | Uncertain, fl. c. 1710 – c. 1698 BC | |
| 18th | Temti-Agun I | Son of Kutir-Nahhunte I | Sukkalmah Sukkal of Susa | r. c. 1698 – c. 1690 BC | |
| 19th | Atta-Merra-Halki | Son of Kuk-Nashur I (?) | Sukkalmah | Uncertain, fl. c. 1710 – c. 1570 BC | |
| 20th | Tata II | Brother of Atta-Merra-Halki | Sukkal | Uncertain, fl. c. 1710 – c. 1580 BC | |
| 21st | Kutir-Shilhaha I | Son of Temti-Agun I | Sukkalmah Sukkal | Uncertain, fl. c. 1650 – c. 1625 BC | temp. of: Ammisaduqa |
| 22nd | Kuk-Nashur II | Son of Kuk-Nahhunte (?) | Sukkalmah | Uncertain, fl. c. 1790 – c. 1625 BC | temp. of: Ammisaduqa |
| 23rd | Kuk-Nashur III | Son of Kutir-Shilhaha I | Sukkal of Elam Sukkal of Susa | Uncertain, fl. c. 1646 – c. 1625 BC | temp. of: Ammisaduqa |
| 24th | Temti-Raptash | Son of Kutir-Shilhaha I | | Uncertain, fl. c. 1625 – c. 1605 BC | |
| 25th | Shirtuh | Son of Kuk-Nashur III | King of Susa | Uncertain, fl. c. 1605 – c. 1600 BC | |
| 26th | Shimut-Wartash II | Son of Kuk-Nashur III | | Uncertain, fl. c. 1605 – c. 1595 BC | |
| 27th | Kuduzulush II | Son of Shimut-Wartash II | Sukkalmah King of Susa | Uncertain, fl. c. 1605 – c. 1590 BC | |
| 28th | Tan-Uli | Descendant of Shilhaha (?) | Sukkalmah Sukkal | Uncertain, fl. c. 1690 – c. 1600 BC | |
| 29th | Temti-Halki | Son of Tan-Uli | Sukkalmah Sukkal of Elam and Simashki and Susa | Uncertain, fl. c. 1710 – c. 1650 BC | |
| 30th | Kutik-Matlat | Son of Tan-Uli | | Uncertain, fl. c. 1710 – c. 1500 BC | |
| 31st | Kuk-Nashur IV | Son of Tan-Uli | Sukkalmah | Uncertain, fl. c. 1710 – c. 1698 BC | |
| 32nd | Kutir-Nahhunte II | Son of Kuduzulush I (?) | | Uncertain, fl. c. 1710 – c. 1450 BC | |

## Gallery

* The Susanian Dynastic List—a regnal list dated to c. 1800 – c. 1600 BC and provenanced at Susa. Its current location is the Louvre Museum, Sb 17729. It names twelve kings for Awan and another twelve for Shimashki. The eponymous ruler Eparti II is the 9th named king on this list.
* Seal impression of King Ebarat (𒂊𒁀𒊏𒀜), founder of the Sukkalmah Dynasty, also called "Epartid Dynasty" after him. He uses the title of king (𒈗 Šàr, pronounced Shar) in the inscription. Louvre Museum, reference Sb 6225. King Ebarat appears enthroned. The inscription reads "Ebarat the King. Kuk Kalla, son of Kuk-Sharum, servant of Shilhaha"
* Sculpture of a lion as a fountain head, Susa, Sukkalmah period.
* Sealed tablet with a serpent god, Susa circa 17th century BCE. Inscription: "Tan-Uli, sukkalmah, sukkal from Susa and Shimashki, son of the sister of Shilhaha".
* Men with daggers, Sukkalmah dynasty, 1940-1600 BCE, Susa, Louvre Museum Sb 1394.
* Sukkalmah Anshan cylinder, Louvre Museum, reference Sb 1515. Ruler enthroned, with his queen standing behind in a flouced garment, under overhanging vines.
* Seal of Adaia attendant to Nin-Shubur, Sukkalmah dynasty, 1940-1600 BCE, Susa, Louvre Museum Sb 1418.
* Cylinder seal mentioning Shilhaha, ca. 20th century B.C. Old Elamite
* Cylinder seal, ca. 19th–18th century B.C. Elamite
* Reception seal, Sukkalmah dynasty, 1940-1600 BCE, Susa, Louvre Museum Sb 1440