Sykes' History of Persia - Heritage Institute

ELAM AND BABYLON 8i
the Hammurabi dynasty. Under the leadership of Gandash
or Gaddash, the Kassites established themselves as the
so-called Third Dynasty of the Babylonian King -lists.
The earlier of these Kassite Kings were contemporaneous
with the later rulers of the *' Second Dynasty," who continued
to hold the southern part of Babylonia. But
Ea-gamil, the last in this line of southern monarchs, was
not content with holding the district at the head of the
Persian Gulf, but invaded Elam itself. He was signally
defeated by Ullam-Buriash, the son of Burna-Burariash,
and henceforth the Kassites, who had continued to main-
tain their connection with Western Elam, enjoyed undis-
puted rule throughout the whole of Babylonia.-^
Contemporary Elamite Dynasties.— Little can be gleaned
about the internal condition of Elam during the period of
the First Dynasty after Hammurabi and his son Samsu-
iluna, who finally succeeded in defeating the son of the
Elamite Kudur-Mabug. But there are traces of an independent
kingdom with a predominant Anzanite element. -^
Chief of these sovereigns are Khumban-numena and his
son. The father evidently spent his life working for the
consolidation of Elam. The son occupied himself in the
Ireorganization of the country and the repair of its ruined
sanctuaries, and it is thanks to these pious labours that
numerous bricks bearing his name have been discovered.
The Kassite Dynasty of Babylon., circa 1 700-1 130 b.c.—
iWe now return to the Kassite dynasty which had its ^
prigin among the mountains of the Zagros
to the north
:)f Elam, and which ruled Babylonia for close on six
:enturies. The Kassites are now believed to have been
in Aryan tribe having as their chief god Suryash, the
Sun.^ They apparently formed the advance-guard of the
nvading tribes referred to in Chapter VIII. As might be
upposed, the influence of the great capital soon asserted
tself and the successors of the first conquerors became
Babylonian in outlook, being assimilated by the superior
ivilization of their subjects.
^ On the inter-relation of the first three Babylonian dynasties and the successive
terference of the Hittites and Elam with Babylonian affairs 'vide King, Studies in
astern History^ ii. chaps, iv.-vi. pp. 76 ff.
^ Suryash is the same word as the Indian Surya and the Greek Helios.
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