The women referred to in Assyrian inscriptions as âQueen of the Arabsâ have been a passing footnote in Neo-Assyrian history â until now. Her
"In the royal inscriptions of the Neo-Assyrian king Tiglath-Pileser III (744-727 BCE) is a detailed passage describing the defeat of a foreign ruler. It reads just like every other description of an Assyrian king defeating an enemy: a description of how desolate the land is, a short phrase saying the enemy was destroyed, a detailed explanation of the aftermath of the battle, and finally the foreign ruler surrendering and sending gifts to their new ruler. What sets this passage apart is the gender of the ruler: Samsi is not a king, but has the title ťarrat aribÄŤÂ â âQueen of the Arabsâ.Â
Samsi was not the only woman with this title in the royal inscriptions â in total, five women are called âQueen of the Arabsâ. One was imposed as ruler of the Arabs by the Assyrian king, and two more were queens of cities along the Persian Gulf in the Arabian Peninsula. These women are described as sending tribute to Assyria, leading armies, and in one instance there is a suggestion that they had a prominent religious role in their community.Â
The institution of âwoman kingsâ lasted over 200 years. It was clearly an important element of Northwestern Arabian society in the first millennium. Sadly, with very little written evidence from the Arabians during this time, we can only rely on the Assyrian narrative. Samsi and the other âwomen kingsâ may have been part of a much older institution, and there are likely many other women whose names have been lost over time. Thankfully the little information recorded by the Assyrian scribes that we have about these women has ensured their legacy has not been forgotten, and Samsi can serve as a reminder of the power these ancient women held."
