Text of Law in Akkadian by King Niqmaddu, 14th century BC, with dynastic seal. Ras Shamra (ancient Ugarit). Louvre Museum.
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A duck container made from hippopotamus tusk, 13th century BC.
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Niqmaddu II (Akkadian: 𒃻𒈠𒀭𒅎 Níqmâdâd, "vengeance of Hadad"[1]) was the second ruler and king of Ugarit, an ancient Syrian citystate in northwestern Syria, reigning c. 1350–1315 BC (or possibly c. 1380–1346 BC) and succeeding his less known father, Ammittamru I.[2][3] He took his name from the earlier Amorite ruler Niqmaddu, meaning "Addu has vindicated" to strengthen the supposed Amorite origins of his Ugaritic dynasty.[4]

Though the exact date of his accession to the throne of Ugarit is unknown, he might be a contemporary of both Akhenaten and Tutankhamun[5] the Hittite ruler Shuppiluliuma I, and was a vassal of the latter.[4] He had good relations with Egypt, and conceded to the Amorites in a dispute over the Shiyannu region early in his reign.[2] He commissioned the Baal cycle about the god Haddu/Ba'al, and had a son, Niqmepa.[4]

In EA 49 (EA = El Amarna), Niqmaddu II apparently requested an Egyptian physician and two palace attendants from "Cush", the Egyptian envoy to Ugarit.[5]

He is identified in Syrian on an alabaster vase along with a woman in Egyptian court dress,[6] however, the name of the woman in the vase, if ever indicated, is not preserved[5] and is mentioned in the Baal cycle as King nqmd.[4] He was succeeded briefly by Ar-Halba.

References

  1. ^ Hess, Richard S. (1993). Amarna Personal Names. Eisenbrauns. p. 119. ISBN 0931464714.
  2. ^ a b Kuhrt, Amélie (1997). The ancient Near East, c. 3000-330 BC. Vol. 1. Routledge. p. 306. ISBN 0-415-16763-9.
  3. ^ Feldman, Marian H. (2006). Diplomacy by design: luxury arts and an "international style" in the ancient Near East, 1400-1200 BCE. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 0-226-24044-4.
  4. ^ a b c d Smith, Mark S. (1994). The Ugaritic Baal cycle. Vol. 55. BRILL. ISBN 90-04-09995-6.
  5. ^ a b c Watson, Wilfred (1999). Handbook of Ugaritic Studies. BRILL. p. 624. ISBN 9789004109889.
  6. ^ Feldman, Marian H. (2002). "Ambiguous Identities: The -Marriage- Vase of Niqmaddu II and the Elusive Egyptian Princess". Journal of Mediterranean Archaeology. Equinox Publishing Ltd. 15 (1). doi:10.1558/jmea.v15i1.75. ISSN 1743-1700. Archived from the original on 10 July 2011.
Preceded byAmmittamru I King of Ugarit Succeeded byAr-Halba


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