Clar 2360 Reading Quiz Week 42 King Naram-Sin Deified Himsel

Clar 2360 Reading Quiz Week 42 1king Naram Sin Deified Himself Duri

CLAR 2360 Reading quiz week 4.2 1 King Naram-Sin deified himself during his lifetime - True - False Naram-Sin’s victory stele was found at - Niniveh - Agade - Susa The victory stele records Naram Sin’s victory over - The Elamites - The Lullubi tribes - The Sumerian cities of Ur and Uruk The background on the victory stele - Is empty - Shows a landscape - Is architectural Akkadian monuments were still standing in Mesopotamia a millennium after their creation - True - False We know much about the Akkadian empire through later sources. These are generally: - Accurate - Embellished - Primary sources Sargon kept a standing army - True - False Naram-Sin tried to differentiate himself from his predecessors by stressing new and unusual accomplishments such as - Conquest of territories never subjugated by Mesopotamians before - New types of constructions - Discovery of new routes - Discovery of new technologies The curse of Agade, a propagandistic text, is written in Akkadian - True - False In the curse of Agade, the implicit line is that a god has to accept/approve a king’s proposal to build a temple - True - False The Cuthean Legend warns about - Fighting with nomads - Fighting invaders - Not leaving revenge to the Gods - Disregarding divine will Overall, the Akkadian kings were admired by later kings - True - False

Paper For Above instruction

The narrative of Naram-Sin, the third ruler of the Akkadian Empire, marks a profound turning point in Mesopotamian history and heralds the rise of divine kingship. His self-deification during his lifetime exemplifies the divine status attributed to Mesopotamian monarchs, initiated as a means to legitimize their rule and reinforce their divine authority. This practice, though controversial, was rooted in the Mesopotamian worldview that viewed kingship as inherently linked to divine will and favor. The victory stele of Naram-Sin, discovered at Susa, vividly records his military triumph over the Lullubi tribes, a testament to his military prowess and divine sanction. The stele’s monumental scale and vivid imagery—depicting Naram-Sin ascending over vanquished enemies—emphasize his divine authority and political power. Unlike earlier Sumerian practices, Akkadian monuments such as this stele remained standing for centuries, exemplifying the durability and ideological power of state-sponsored art. These monuments served as political propaganda, portraying the king not merely as a mortal ruler but as a divine agent chosen by gods to maintain cosmic order. Our understanding of the Akkadian Empire is primarily through later sources, which often embellish the historical narrative to emphasize their ideological messages. Primary sources, including inscriptions and artifacts like the victory stele, provide direct insights into Akkadian perceptions of kingship and divine authority. Sargon of Akkad, Naram-Sin’s predecessor, maintained a standing army, which was crucial for consolidating and expanding power across Mesopotamia, reflecting a shift toward professional military forces aimed at securing territorial ambitions. In asserting his supremacy, Naram-Sin introduced new achievements including conquest of previously unsubjugated territories, new architectural styles, and possibly new trade routes, signaling a period of rapid expansion and cultural innovation. The "Curse of Agade," a propagandistic inscription in Akkadian, reflects the divine endorsement necessary for legitimate kingship, implying that divine approval was crucial for the successful construction of temples and the stability of the empire. The text underscores that divine will was paramount, and any failure in divine favor could lead to chaos, as exemplified by the fall of Agade. The legend of Cuthean warns against neglecting divine will, emphasizing the importance of maintaining divine favor through proper rituals and respect for divine powers. Overall, the Akkadian kings were revered and admired in later traditions, often being depicted in later Assyrian and Babylonian texts as exemplary rulers who upheld divine order and justice, although their reputation was sometimes mythologized or exaggerated.

References

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