Statue of Idrimi

myminifactory

This statue depicts King Idrimi of Alalakh, who ruled in the 15th century BC. Alalakh was an ancient city-state located in modern Turkey, within the territory of Aleppo, now situated in Syria. Renowned archaeologist Sir Leonard Woolley unearthed the statue in a temple during his excavations in 1939. It had been buried in a pit following Alalakh's destruction around 1200 BC. The front bears an intricate account of Idrimi's life and accomplishments, including the political setbacks that prompted him to flee Aleppo and the circumstances surrounding his triumphant return. This inscription is one of the most significant cuneiform texts ever discovered. The text is written in Akkadian language using cuneiform script, drawing upon a literary tradition popularized in the Levant, seen later in the Bible, where a heroic younger brother returns victorious after seven years in the wilderness. The inscription reveals that Idrimi fled Aleppo following a grave offense. Lines 18 and 19 on the right arm contain one of the earliest references to the land of Canaan (ma-at ki-in-a-nim) - a region frequently mentioned in the Bible. During his exile in Canaan, Idrimi led other refugees from Aleppo who recognized him as their leader. After seven years in Canaan, Idrimi built a fleet and returned triumphantly to Alalakh. He served as vassal to the King of Mittani, another regional power, and conquered seven Hittite towns. Three lines are inscribed on the edge of the right cheek and run down the side of the beard, deviating from the rest of the inscription. These lines appear to originate directly from Idrimi's own mouth. They suggest that all who read this text will learn from Idrimi's achievements, paying homage to his memory forever: "For 30 years, I have ruled. Having inscribed my accomplishments on my statue, let him (who cares to) examine them thoroughly, and (thus) let (all of them) constantly honor me."