Zambīia | |
King of Isin | |
Reign: | c. 1774 BC – 1772 BC |
Predecessor: | Enlil-bāni |
Successor: | Iter-piša |
Royal House: | 1st Dynasty of Isin |
Zambīia, dza-am-bi-ia, c. 1774 – 1772 BC (short chronology) or c. 1836 – 1834 BC (middle chronology), was the 11th king of the 1st Dynasty of Isin. He is best known for his defeat at the hands of Sin-iqišam, king of Larsa.
According to the Sumerian King List,[1] Zambīia reigned for 3 years.[2] He was a contemporary of Sin-iqišam king of Larsa, whose fifth and final year-name celebrates his victory over Zambīia: “year the army of (the land of) Elam (and Zambīia (the king of Isin),) was/were defeated by arms,” suggesting a confederation between Isin and Elam against Larsa. The city of Nippur was hotly contested between the city-states. If Zambīia survived this battle, he may have possibly gone on to be contemporary with Sin-iqišam’s successors, Ṣilli-Adad and Warad-Sin.[3]
A single inscription is known for this king, on cone fragments,[4] which reads:
A votive dedication to the goddess Nanše on behalf of Zambīia was copied from an inscription on a bronze buck.[5]