Dissertation

Amorites in the early Old Babylonian Period

This thesis explores several aspects of these Early Old Babylonian Amorites.

Author: Rients de Boer
Date: 28 May 2014
Links: Leiden University Repository

The Amorites are known throughout the history of the Ancient Near East: they occur in texts from the Ur III empire (2100–2000 bc), but also in the Bible. In the Old Babylonian period (2000–1600 bc), several dynasties of Amorite kings ruled all over the Middle East. They came to power in the early Old Babylonian period (ca. 2000–1800 bc).

This thesis explores several aspects of these Early Old Babylonian Amorites. A philological and bibliographical chapter shows the state of research up until now. The role that ‘Amorites’ had in texts from the period is explored, as well as the matter of Amorite ethnicity and their distribution among the local population. The main part of this thesis is in the last chapters where the role of the Amorites and Amorite rulers in the early Old Babylonian period is reappraised

Promotor: W.H. van Soldt, Co-Promotor: J.G. Dercksen