ARAMAEANS
The
most prominent among the many groups of peoples which gained importance
in ancient Syria during the dark age period of the eleventh to
ninth centuries BC were the Semitic Aramaeans. They were probably
semi-nomadic pastoralists in northern Syria and northern Mesopotamia
for a long time before 1200 BC. Naram-Sin of Akkad mentioned Aram
as a place name, although where this was is a matter of debate.
A people or place of Aram was mentioned by Mari around 1900 BC,
and Ugarit in about 1300 BC.
Once
states began to collapse at the end of the thirteenth century
BC, the highly mobile and competitive Aramaeans took advantage
of the confusion to raid and migrate throughout the region and
eventually acquire political power in many cities. They maintained
their tribal organisation and were subdivided into groups which
were identified as belonging to the 'house of...'. In Akkadian
this was 'Bit' plus the name of a person who was considered to
be a tribal ancestor. Some of the states they founded were referred
to in the first millennium by this designation, such as Bit-Adini.
In
northern Syria, Aramaeans took control of many cities, including
some that were inhabited by people who maintained Hittite cultural
and political traditions. In such places some kings had Luwian
names, others Aramaic. Other cities were completely Aramaean and
became the core of states such as Aram Damascus. By the ninth
century BC, Aramaeans politically dominated the whole of ancient
Syria. They also filtered down into Babylonia and Assyria, just
as similar waves of migrant peoples had done for millennia. In
the former state, while the few remaining cities were primarily
Akkadian, the Aramaeans dominated the countryside. In Assyria
they made political inroads into the cities, either taking on
Akkadian names, or maintaining two names, one in each language.
c.1200
- 900s BC :
With
political chaos engulfing Anatolia, Syria, and the Levant coast,
and Assyria weakening, there is nothing to stop Aramaean tribes
from migrating southwards and eastwards. Over the course of the
twelfth to ninth centuries they mount attacks which destroy cities
such as Qatna, and Qattara, and take control in many established
cities, including Alep (Lukhuti), Aram-Nahara'im, Ebla, Hamath,
Pattin, and Yadiya. They also found (or re-found) cities of their
own, including, Aram-Bet-Rehob, Aram Damascus, Aram-Ma'akah, Aram-Sovah,
Bit-Adini, Bit Agusi, Bit-Bahiani, Bit-Gabari, Geshur, Osroene,
and Zobah, many of which became significant minor states.
1000s
BC :
Aramaeans
start to raid into northern Mesopotamia and south into Babylonia.
One of their earliest kingdoms is Bit-Bahiani. The Assyrian king,
Tiglath-Pileser I, has already been campaigning aggressively against
them in an attempt to prevent them settling.
![Tell Halaf](Halaf_Site01_full.jpg)
The
modern site of Tell Halaf was, during its existence, later known
as Guzana and it also became the capital of the Aramaean kingdom
of Bit-Bahiani, despite Assyrian attempts to prevent Aramaeans
from settling in Mesopotamia and southern Syria
A
ruler of the Philistine city of Gath named Achish, who is probably
the grandson of Achish, is mentioned in connection with two servants
of Shimei who flee to him. Shimei goes to Gath in pursuit of them,
in breach of King Solomon's orders, and is subsequently put to
death by Solomon. Achish is said to be the son of Maacah, but
this could instead mean that he is from a place called Maacah.
There exists a small Aramaean kingdom of this name in northern
Jordan, around the town of Abel Beth Maacah. This and Geshur are
situated between Gilead and Mount Hermon, bordering the kingdom
of Og in Bashan in the Old Testament. Maacah becomes an Israelite
city following its conquest by King David, possibly as late as
the 960s BC, around the time at which Achish is king in Gath.
890s
BC :
A king of Carchemish at this time bears an Aramaic name.
800s
BC :
Occupying territories along the Tigris, Aramaean groups start
to settle in Babylonia's countryside, taking control of it. Among
the most important groups are the Gambulians and the Puqudians.
They are joined there by a separate peoples, the Chaldaeans.
700s
BC :
Most
Aramaean states are subjugated by the Assyrians, and their regional
power is ended. They have developed a new method of writing since
their acquisition of the skill, on parchment, leather, or papyrus,
and have seen it achieve success. Now, around the middle of this
century, their language, Aramaic, supplants ancient Assyrian,
although in a heavily Akkadian-influenced manner. Aramaic is made
the second official language of the Assyrian empire, and the language
survives into the modern day.
Source
:
https://www.historyfiles.co.uk/
KingListsMiddEast/SyriaAramaeans.htm