Article

Historical and Historiographical Notes on the PazarcIk Stela

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Abstract

The texts of the Pazarcik Stela contain some controversial grammatical features concerning verbs used to describe actions of the characters. Because of these features the subjects of the actions look sometimes ambiguous. The present article discusses two of these grammatical features and offer alternative interpretations based both on analogies with similar texts and on historical considerations. (1) The subject of the verb usebiruni in Obv. line 10 can be interpreted as the third person plural form of S-stem of eberu plus ventive, and the subject can be identified as Atarsumki and eight kings who caused Adad-nerari III and Semiramis to cross the Euphrates. (2) illikuni in Rev. line 5 has been widely taken as the third person singular form of alaku plus subjunctive marker ani, and its subject has been identified as Samsi-ilu. Based on this identification, some scholars have suggested that Samsi-ilu's self-confidence is reflected in the text, who credits to himself the deeds described in the text. However, the verb can alternatively be interpreted as the third person plural form plus ventive, and analogy with other texts suggests that the subject can be identified as both Shalmaneser IV and Samsi-ilu. These alternative interpretations should be taken into account, when discussing the history of Neo-Assyria as well as the relationship between the Assyrian kings and their high officials at the time of Adad-nerari III and Shalmaneser IV.

How to Cite:

Hasegawa, S., Altaweel, M., Hamza, H. & Hashem, M., (2010) “Historical and Historiographical Notes on the PazarcIk Stela”, Akkadica 131(1), 1–9. doi: https://doi.org/10.21825/akkadica.99599

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