14 Facts About Yamhad

Yamhad was an ancient Semitic kingdom centered on Halab, Syria.

Yamhad's population was predominately Amorite, and had a typical Bronze Age Syrian culture.

Yamhad was inhabited by a substantial Hurrian population that settled in the kingdom, adding the influence of their culture.

Yamhad controlled a wide trading network, being a gateway between the eastern Iranian plateau and the Aegean region in the west.

Name Yamhad was likely an Amorite tribal name and is used synonymously with Halab when referring to the kingdom.

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Sumu-Epuh consolidated the kingdom and faced Yahdun-Lim of Mari who had a dynastic alliance with Yamhad to oppose Assyria, but eventually campaigned in the north threatening the kingdom.

Yarim-Lim then sent his army with Zimri-Lim, to restore his ancestors throne as an ally-vassal to Yamhad, cementing the relationship through a dynastic marriage between the new Mariote king and Shibtu, the daughter of Yarim-Lim.

Yamhad was able to force Charchemish into submission, and sent troops to aid Hammurabi of Babylon against Larsa and Elam.

In spite of this regression, the king of Yamhad remained the strongest king of the Syrian states, as he was referred to as a Great King by the Hittites, the diplomatic equal of the Hittite king.

Hattusili's campaigns considerably weakened Yamhad, causing it to decline in status: the monarch ceased to be styled a Great King.

People of Yamhad were Amorites and spoke the Amorite language, and apart from a few Mesopotamian, Egyptian and Aegean influences, Yamhad belonged mainly to middle Bronze Age Syrian culture.

Yamhad had a distinctive Syrian iconography, which is clear in the seals of the kings that gave prominence to the Syrian gods.

Markets of Yamhad became a source of copper, which was imported from the mountains and Cyprus.

People of Yamhad practiced the Amorite religion, and mainly worshiped the Northwest Semitic deities.