Kassites
The Kassites were an ancient civilization that emerged from the Zagros Mountains and played a significant role in Mesopotamian history around 1595 BCE, following the decline of the Old Babylonian Empire due to Hittite invasions. They settled in central and southern Mesopotamia, where they adopted much of Babylonian culture while also contributing some words to the region's languages, including a few identified as Indo-European loanwords. Although their early history is not well-documented, the Kassite kings maintained correspondence with notable Egyptian pharaohs, such as Amenhotep III and Akhenaton, which illustrates their diplomatic relationships and cultural exchanges. The Kassite dynasty is known for its significant architectural achievements, including the construction of a new capital at Dur Kurigalzu and its impressive ziggurat, one of the tallest of its time. Despite their influence, the Kassite dynasty came to an end in 1160 BCE due to a devastating raid by the Elamites. This civilization offers a fascinating glimpse into the complexities of ancient Mesopotamian politics and culture, as well as the interplay between different empires in the region.
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Kassites
Date: c. 1595-1160 b.c.e.
Locale: Central and southern Mesopotamia, present-day Iraq
Kassites
The Kassites, who were originally from the Zagros Mountains in the east, took advantage of the power vacuum left by the Hittite raid of 1595 b.c.e., which ended the First Dynasty of Babylon, or the Old Babylonian Empire. They occupied central and southern Mesopotamia and adopted Babylonian culture. A few of their words have been identified as Indo-European loanwords.
Although a list of thirty-six Kassite kings exists, the first two centuries of the Kassites’ history is obscure. Most informative is the Assyrian Synchronous History, which is quite anti-Kassite in its bias. Especially illuminating are the Akkadian letters found at Amarna in Egypt in 1897, which include letters between the Kassite kings and the pharaohs Amenhotep III and Akhenaton (Amenhotep IV). These describe the exchange of gifts and the sending of brides to the Egyptian court. Seals belonging to the Kassite king Burnaburiash II (c. 1360-c.1333 b.c.e.) have been discovered in Thebes in Greece.
The eighteenth Kassite king, Kurigalzu I (c. 1400-c. 1375 b.c.e.), built a new capital at Dur Kurigalzu (Aqar-Quf) which now boasts the tallest standing ziggurat, some 170 feet (52 meters) high. The Kassite Dynasty was destroyed by an Elamite raid in 1160 b.c.e.
Bibliography
Moran, W. L. The Amarna Letters. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1992.
Saggs, H. W. F. The Greatness That Was Babylon. New York: New American Library, 1968.