Niqmaddu II was the second ruler and king of Ugarit, an ancient Syrian city-state in northwestern Syria (c. 1350–1315 BC) and succeeding his father, Ammittamru I.[1][2] He was a vassal ruler of Suppiluliuma I of Hatti.
Early Life
editNiqmaddu II (Akkadian: 𒃻𒈠𒀭𒅎 Níqmâdâd, "vengeance of Hadad"[3]) took his name from the earlier Amorite ruler Niqmaddu, meaning "Addu has vindicated" to strengthen the supposed Amorite origins of his Ugaritic dynasty.[4]
Reign
editThough the exact date of his accession to the throne of Ugarit is unknown, he might be a contemporary of both Akhenaten and Tutankhamun[5] the Hittite ruler Shuppiluliuma I, and was a vassal of the latter.[4] He had good relations with Egypt, and conceded to the Amorites in a dispute over the Shiyannu region early in his reign.[1] He commissioned the Baal cycle about the god Haddu/Ba'al, and had a son, Niqmepa.[4]
Hittite vassalage
editIn the Hittite Archives there are four letters from the time of Suppiluliuma regarding Ugarit.
- CTH 45[6] Letter of Šuppiluliuma I to Niqmaddu II of Ugarit
- CTH 46 Treaty of Šuppiluliuma I with Niqmaddu II of Ugarit
- CTH 47 Decree of Šuppiluliuma I setting the tribute of Ugarit (.I Akkadian, .II Hittite)
- CTH 48 Inventory of the tribute of Ugarit to Šuppiluliuma I
In EA 49 (EA = El Amarna), Niqmaddu II apparently requested an Egyptian physician and two palace attendants from "Cush", the Egyptian envoy to Ugarit.[5]
He is identified in Syrian on an alabaster vase along with a woman in Egyptian court dress,[7] however, the name of the woman in the vase, if ever indicated, is not preserved[5] and is mentioned in the Baal cycle as King nqmd.[4] He was succeeded briefly by Ar-Halba.
References
edit.svg){kind=small}
- ^ a b Kuhrt, Amélie (1997). The ancient Near East, c. 3000-330 BC. Vol. 1. Routledge. p. 306. ISBN 0-415-16763-9.
- ^ Feldman, Marian H. (2006). Diplomacy by design: luxury arts and an "international style" in the ancient Near East, 1400-1200 BCE. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 0-226-24044-4.
- ^ Hess, Richard S. (1993). Amarna Personal Names. Eisenbrauns. p. 119. ISBN 0931464714.
- ^ a b c d Smith, Mark S. (1994). The Ugaritic Baal cycle. Vol. 55. BRILL. ISBN 90-04-09995-6.
- ^ a b c Watson, Wilfred (1999). Handbook of Ugaritic Studies. BRILL. p. 624. ISBN 9789004109889.
- ^ Altman, A. (1983). Rs 17.132. A Letter Sent by Šuppiluliuma I King of Hatti to Niqmaddu II, King of Ugarit and its Historical and Juridical Significance
- ^ Feldman, Marian H. (2002). "Ambiguous Identities: The -Marriage- Vase of Niqmaddu II and the Elusive Egyptian Princess". Journal of Mediterranean Archaeology. 15 (1). Equinox Publishing Ltd. doi:10.1558/jmea.v15i1.75. ISSN 1743-1700. Archived from the original on 10 July 2011.
  | This Syria biography article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
 | This ancient Near East biographical article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |