"Curse" in the Royal Elamite Inscriptions

This paper studies “curse” and "cursing" in the royal Elamite inscriptions. In general, curses put forth a condition ignoring which would invoke an outside power, usually of a deity, to mete out punishment to any malefactor. Thus, this research examines "curse" and "cursing" concerning two specific subjects: first, the preservation of royal "names", and second the use of a curse to uplift the position of Huteluduš-Inšušinak, a Middle Elamite king in the late twelfth century BC.It makes clear that “curse” was mainly used to preserve the “name” of kings and queens. The “name” not only identifies a person, but in a more general sense it also conveys “offspring” and “continuity”. This study shows how the king asks the gods to preserve his name as well as his descendants. Indeed, a “curse” would assure the sovereigns that his name, memory and the royal line would survive all possible damages and threats, and thrive in the future.Huteluduš-Inšušinak suffered a series of devastating attacks commanded by Nebuchadnezzar. Other historical documents point out that the Elamite power was on the wane during the reign of the Elamite king. Nonetheless, he issued a curse that invoked one god and two historical figures, instead of invoking a group of deities.