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Late Hittite Emar
About the Lecturer: Murray Adamthwaite graduated with a Ph.D. from the University of Melbourne in 1997 for a thesis on texts from the site Tell Meskéné on the Western Euphrates, whose ancient name was Emar. He also holds a Master of Arts degree from Macquarie University in NSW (1990), and a theology degree from Reformed Theological College (1980). He lectured at Tahlee Bible College for eight years during the 1980s, and since then has done lecturing at various venues in the Melbourne area, including the University of Melbourne, and Council of Adult Education. His M.A. and Ph.D. degrees included field archaeology in Israel (2 seasons) and Syria (1 season).
Emar
Although this town (modern name Tell Meskéné-Qadimé) was an important trading centre from very early times, the texts come from the late Hittite period (thirteenth century B.C.), and reveal a site ruled on one hand by a monarchic dynasty of recent origin, but where much of the real power lay with the local elders and traditional clans, which further indicates how the town was traditionally ruled.
 The Thesis falls into three parts:
Part A explores the chronological span of the texts, and attempts a relative chronology within the framework of known thirteenth century history. Several texts mention the names of known kings of Karkemish, and there are also possible links with Ugarit on the coast. In a sub-corpus from a trading family there is one text which is dated to the reign of the late Kassite king of Babylon, Melišihu, conventionally 1187 B.C. It is argued that while this text is approximately co-terminus with Emar's demise, other considerations demand that the destruction, and Melišihu with it, must be redated to the late thirteenth century, at least forty years earlier. This entails a revision of late Kassite Babylon.
Part B examines the role of the Hittite power in the life of Emar. Specifically, did an ilku-system (a kind of system of feudal dues) operate at Emar in similar fashion to that at Ugarit? Then there are the "famine texts", i.e. a sizeable sub-corpus which cite "year of distress/war/distress and war". These texts often relate the sale of children to slave-dealers in order to gain some relief from hunger. Other texts attest the sale of property during a "year of distress", but surprisingly, not at "fire-sale" prices.
Part C looks at Emar's role in the Hittite defence cordon along the Euphrates against the growing Assyrian threat, and the possible origins of Emar's monarchy when it had no previous history of kingship. One important text relates a coup d'état during the reign of one of the six kings in which a socially depressed group, the hupšu, was involved. A chapter is devoted to such issues as what their agenda might have been, and whether the coup had any lasting effect. The final chapter looks at the possible role which the emerging Aramaeans may have had in Emar's fall, although the texts attest several attacks by the Hurrians and a mysterious group called the Tarwu. Any or all of these could have been responsible, but the Assyrians can be ruled out.
Late Hittite Emar is published by Peeters in Louvain, Belguim
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