Terqa

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Terqa ( Sirqa, Tell Asara ) is the ancient name of a Bronze Age settlement mound near the modern city of Al - Asharah the Middle Euphrates in Syria, south of Diyala estuary on the right bank, midway between Deir ez- Zor and Abu Kemal. Terqa was an important stopover for trade along the Euphrates and the Khabur.

The tell was in the territory of the tribe of Asara, who settled on both sides of the river that Tell is named after them, and was also known as Tell the Asara. The Tell has been partially washed away by the river Euphrates.

History

Terqa was founded around 3000 BC, there are no previous findings from the urban area. Bucellati suspected the previous settlement in Qrayra on the other bank of the Euphrates. Terqa was initially under the reign of Mari, but survived the capture of the capital by I. Hammurabi of Babylon. In his 27th year of reign (1723 according to the middle chronology ) defeated Samsu - iluna king Jadi - Abu from Terqa. It is unknown whether this led to a permanent presence on the middle Euphrates. Documents from Terqa also confirmed by the reign of Ammi - ṣaduqa and Samsu - ditana of Babylon (1626-1595 after the middle chronology ) of the city. Documents from the time of Samsu - ditana use the names of Marduk in the oath. A Kassite rule over Terqa is considered but can not be safely occupied. Then Terqa was probably the capital of the country Hana. There are occupied following kings of Hana as ruler of Terqa:

• Iddin Kaka
• Isar -Lim, son of iddin Kaka
• Iggid -Lim
• Isih - Dagan
• Hammurabi I.
• Ammurapi II

Your chronological position is unclear.

The supremacy of the Mittani kings Parattarna and Šauštatar ( Sausadat ) is occupied with found here documents. The Mitanni governor was apparently a certain QIS Addu. Finally, the city belonged from the 13th century to the Assyrian Empire.

Structures

Terqa had an important Dagan temple E -ki -si -ga. He is known among others from a clay tablet of Samsi - Adad I, which was found in Terqa. King Isih - Dagan Dagan has theophoric as part of their name. King Isar -Lim, son of iddin - Kaka, is called " favorite of God Šamaš and God Dagan.

Ruler

Under the reign of Mari governors were used in Terqa. As such Kibri - Dagan is occupied by numerous letters to the king Zimri- Lim of Mari.

Excavations

First excavations in Terqa led Ernst Herzfeld in 1910 by. 1923 François dug Thureau - Dangin and Édouard Dhorme a week here, they themselves refer to this as " improvised ". Further excavations took place under the direction of Giorgio Buccellati from the University of Los Angeles.

Since 1996, the excavations in Terqa are under the direction of French epigraphist O. Rouault, Professor of Oriental Archaeology at the University of Lyon II The following areas have been studied:

• Area C: texts from the reign of Kaštiliašu