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Author(s): J. F. Hansman
Source: Journal of Near Eastern Studies, Vol. 37, No. 4 (Oct., 1978), pp. 331-336
Published by: The University of Chicago Press
Stable URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/544047
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THE QUESTION OF ARATTA
J. F. HANSMAN, London
IN a footnote to an article dealing with other matters and published in 1972, the
present writer noted that when considered with the evidence of recent archaeolog
excavations, references to the land of Aratta preserved in Sumerian texts suggest that
chief town of ancient Aratta may have been located at Shahr-i Sokhta.1 This is an exten
sive archaeological site located in Iranian Sistan, east of the salt desert called Dasht-i Lu
and near the western border of Afghanistan.
In a more recent paper, henceforth to be referred to as the second article, anoth
writer concludes that Aratta must be located in Kerman province.2 This is a district of
modern Iran which lies to the west of Iranian Sistan. The author of the second article
also suggests that the as yet undiscovered site of Aratta should be sought somewhere in
the partly upland country which extends west to east between the present city of Kerman
and the town of Shahdad.3 He notes that at the western edge of the Dasht-i Lut, in the
vicinity of Shahdad, archaeologists have excavated important grave-goods dating from
the first half of the third millennium B.C. This is the period reflected in two Sumerian
tales which mention Aratta.
331
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332 JOURNAL OF NEAR EASTERN STUDIES
Reference is also made to the seven mountains crossed en route to Aratta in a second
Sumerian tale which is sometimes entitled "Lugalbanda and Enmerkar." In this, the
hero Lugalbanda, in liege to Enmerkar, travels to Aratta to seek help from the goddess
Inanna against the Semitic Martu people who are menacing Uruk.7 The journey from
Uruk to Aratta, beginning with the leave-taking of Lugalbanda, is recounted as follows:8
The subsequent lines deal with the reception of Lugalbanda by Inanna in Ara
From the above passage we learn that Lugalbanda traveled from the foo
mountains, across the seven mountains of Anshan, down to the plain and so
By comparison, therefore, we may with some reason suggest that the seven mou
crossed by the emissary of Enmerkar en route to Aratta, as attested in the pass
the first tale quoted above, are the same seven mountains of Anshan crossed
banda en route to Aratta. It will be remembered that in the passage from the fi
the mountain-land of Anshan is also mentioned, and in the second tale it is afte
the seven mountains of Anshan that Lugalbanda reaches the plain. In this connec
textual evidence would not seem to indicate, as the author of the second article
that after the mountains of Anshan were traversed, it was necessary to cross a
seven mountains before reaching Aratta.
6 Majidzadeh, "Land of Aratta," p. 107. 8 Ibid., pp. 120 and 122 (transliteration), 121 and
6 Cohen, Enmerkar, pp. 79 (transliteration) and
123 (translation).
120 (translation).
7 C. Wilcke, Das Lugalbandaepos (Wiesbaden,
1969).
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THE QUESTION OF ARATTA 333
In considering the above question we may note the following passage from the fir
Enmerkar tale:' 0
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334 JOURNAL OF NEAR EASTERN STUDIES
11 Ibid., pp. 65 (transliteration); 112 (translation). (p. 183) that the Arattii were a people of the Panjab is
12 Ibid., pp. 66 (transliteration); 113 (translation). not supported by textual evidence.
13 Lapis is also found in the Pamirs and near Lake 15 On Arochosia see W. Tarn, The Greeks in Bactria
Baikal in Siberia. On the various locations see F. and India (Cambridge, 1938), pp. 94-95.
Rutley, Elements of Mineralogy (London, 1948), 16pp.
C. Lamberg-Karlovsky and M. Tosi, East and
380-81. See also Iraq 30 (1968): 21-29. West 23/1 (1973): 26.
14 W. Schoff, ed., The Periplus of the Erythraean 17 Ibid., pp. 26 and 57.
Sea (New York, 1912). The suggestion by Scholl 18 Majidzadeh, "Land of Aratta," p. 112.
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THE QUESTION OF ARATTA 335
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336 JOURNAL OF NEAR EASTERN STUDIES
To sum up the present view: we have noted that texts relating to Aratta indicate th
the place where the Lord of Aratta resided is to be sought on a plain beyond the moun
tains of Anshan and at a place where the local population would have direct access to t
source of lapis lazuli in northeastern Afghanistan. A site in the land of Aratta propose
be that visited by the emissary of Enmerkar would also need to show evidence that lap
was worked there at that period. The present writer suggests that the site of Sha
Sokhta accords with each of these requirements. It is not, however, an exigent ma
that Shahr-i Sokhta should be the Arattian town known to Enmerkar and his ag
Other archaeological remains may be located in that or in adjoining regions which
call for further consideration of this proposal. But until or unless such sites are broug
to notice, Shahr-i Sokhta would seem to remain a reasonable candidate.
22 Majidzadeh, "Land of Aratta," p. 111. 23 See Iran 10 (1972): 118, n. 97.
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