Niqmi-Epuh

Niqmi-Epuh, also given as Niqmepa (reigned c. 1700 BC – c. 1675 BC - Middle chronology ) was the king of Yamhad (Halab) succeeding his father Yarim-Lim II

Niqmi-Epuh
Great King of Yamhad
Reignc. 1700 BC – c. 1675 BC. Middle chronology
PredecessorYarim-Lim II
SuccessorIrkabtum

Reign
Legal case from Niqmi-Epuh to the king of Alalakh concerning the legacy of two houses

Little of Aleppo has been excavated by archaeologists, knowledge about Niqmi-Epuh comes from tablets discovered at Alalakh.[1] His existence is confirmed by a number of tablets with his seal on their envelope[2]

Yarim-Lim king of Alalakh, uncle of Yarim-Lim II and vassal of Yamhad died during Niqmi-Epuh's reign and was succeeded by his son Ammitakum,[3] who started to assert Alalakh's semi-independence.[4]

The tablets mention Niqmi-Epuh's votive status which he dedicated to Hadad and placed it in that deity's Temple.[5] Tablet AlT*11 informs of his return from Nishin, a place not known before, but certainly inside the territory of Yamhad because the tablet seems to refer to travel and not a military campaign.[6]

Niqmi-Epuh's most celebrated deed was his conquest of the town Arazik, near Charchemish,[7] the fall of this city was important to the extent of being suitable for dating several legal cases.[8]

Niqmi-Epuh Seal

The seal of Niqmi-Epuh includes his name written in cuneiform inscription. The king is depicted wearing a crown, facing two goddesses, one in Syrian dress, while and the other is wearing Babylonian dress.[9]

Death and succession

Niqmi-Epuh died ca. 1675 BC. He seems to have a number of sons, including Irkabtum who succeeded him immediately, prince Abba-El,[10] and possibly Yarim-Lim III.[11] Hammurabi III the last king before the Hittites conquest might have been his son too.[12]

King Niqmi-Epuh of Yamhad (Halab)
 Died: 1675 BC
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Yarim-Lim II		 Great King of Yamhad
1700 – 1675 BC		 Succeeded by
Irkabtum

References

Citations
  1. prof : Ahmad Arhim Hebbo. History of Ancient Levant (part 1) Syria.
  2. Douglas Frayne. Old Babylonian Period (2003-1595 BC). p. 792.
  3. Horst Klengel. Syria, 3000 to 300 B.C. p. 62.
  4. THOMAS, D. WINTON. Archaeology and Old Testament study: jubilee volume of the Society for Old Testament Study, 1917-1967. p. 121.
  5. Direction Générale des Antiquités et des Musées., 1999. Annales archéologiques Arabes Syriennes, Volume 43. p. 174.
  6. Horst Klengel. Syria, 3000 to 300 B.C. p. 62.
  7. Akadémiai Kiadó, 1984. Acta Antiqua Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae, Volume 30. p. 12.
  8. James Bennett Pritchard,Daniel E. Fleming. The Ancient Near East: An Anthology of Texts and Pictures. p. 197.
  9. Dominique Collon. Ancient Near Eastern Art. p. 96.
  10. Michael C. Astour. Hittite history and absolute chronology of the Bronze Age. p. 18.
  11. wilfred van soldt. Akkadica, Volumes 111-120. p. 105.
  12. Douglas Frayne. Old Babylonian Period (2003-1595 BC). p. 794.
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