Hamath
/ Hamah

Hamath was the northernmost city in the mountainous region of the Levant, in
the border territory between that and ancient Syria,
and was the fortress that protected the rest of the Levant from northern
invaders.
Located on the River Orontes, it still exists as the city of Hama in modern western
Syria, to
the north of Damascus. The ancient city was probably one of many which arose in the region at
the start of the second millennium BC. It very quickly became heavily
influenced by
Hittite
culture, and remained under their influence for the first 800 years or so of
its existence. During the dark age from 1200 BC it was settled by
Aramaeans
who founded a state. The first two rulers were apparently allied to King
David of

Israel, and the two kingdoms maintained friendly relations for hundreds
of years afterwards.

18th cent BC

The city becomes heavily influenced by the
Hittites.

c.1200 - 1000 BC

Following the political collapse of this period which sees the end of the

Hittites,
the region is heavily settled by Aramaeans, and Hamath is no exception.
Initially the southernmost of the neo-Hittite states, the
city becomes the centre of a small Aramaean kingdom. At first it may also control the
newly created city of Bit Adini.

fl c.1010 - 990 BC

c.1005 BC

One of the city's allies in this period is

Israel under King David, and this friendship remains in place for
centuries.

fl c. 990 - 960 BC

c.900 BC

Bit Adini may achieve
independence at this time, if indeed it had at all previously been controlled by Hamath.

fl 860s BC

c.850s BC

The political situation of the land of
Lukhuti, on
Hamath's northern border, is not
clear. By the reign of Shalmaneser III (859-824 BC) it probably forms the
northern province of Hamath, and perhaps does so as early as 870 BC, before
which it is in the possession of
Pattin.

An inscription of Zakir, king of Hamath in the ninth century BC

fl 850s - c.847 BC

Member of the
Samarian alliance.
(Son of Paritas.)

853 BC

Irhuleni
is a member of an alliance of states which also includes
Ammon,
Arvad,
Byblos,
Damas,
Edom,
Egypt,
Kedar, and
Samaria. Together
they fight Shalmaneser III of
Assyria at the
Battle of Qarqar which consists of the largest known number of combatants in
a single battle to date, and is the first historical mention of the Arabs from
the southern deserts. Despite claims to the contrary, the Assyrians are defeated,
since they do not press on to their nearest target, Hamath, and do not resume
their attacks on Hamath and Damas for about six years.

c.847 BC

The
city is conquered by
Assyria
and local governors or vassal kings are placed in control of the state.
Uratamis is only attested by inscriptions on five stones which form part of
a fortress in Hamath, perhaps the citadel itself.

c.847 - ? BC

Son. Otherwise
unattested. Vassal?

fl 830 BC

Vassal king?

Ben-Hadad III of Damas
leads a coalition of states against Zakir, and
Luash to the north of Damas,
but is defeated by the latter.

fl 765 BC

Vassal king?

fl 740s - 730s BC

Became an Assyrian vassal king, or 'governor'.

c.740? - 737 BC

The region faces a rebellion of some magnitude. Hamath, nearby
Sam'al, and many others,
are attacked by Yadiya
under Azriyau of Yaudi, possibly with support from
Urartu. Azriyau's
coalition is defeated by Tiglath-Pileser III. In 738 BC, Hamath becomes a
confirmed vassal of Assyria at the same time as the territories to the
north, Lukhuti and
Pattin,
fall.

? - 720 BC

Assyrian governor.
Israelite
or Israelite-inspired name.

720 BC

With the change of dynasty in
Assyria,
Yahu-Bindi takes the opportunity to declare himself king of Hamath and lead
a rebellion.

720 - 719 BC

King of Hamath.

719 BC

The rebellion is quickly suppressed, and large numbers of the city's population
are deported to Samaria,
which has recently been conquered by
Assyria,
where they become part of the later Samaritan people. The city itself is
destroyed and Hamath is now a province of Assyria.

554/553 BC

Occupied Hamath is the target of an attack by Nabonidus of

Babylonia.

539 - 332 BC

The city falls under the control of the

Persian empire.

332 BC

The city becomes part of the

Greek empire, and Hamath is later officially renamed Epiphania, probably
in honour of

Seleucid king Antiochus Epiphanes. The inhabitants take no notice and
continue to use the old name.