About Untash-Napirisha
Lived 1400 BC – 1300 BC. Untash-Napirisha was a monarch.
Untash-Napirisha was king of Elam (in present-day southwest Iran) during the Middle Elamite period, circa 1300 BCE. He was the son of the previous Elamite king, Humban-Numena and of a daughter (or granddaughter) of Kurigalzu. Although construction in this religious city complex abruptly ended after Untash-Napirisha's death, the site was not abandoned, but continued to be occupied until it was destroyed by the Assyrian king Ashurbanipal in 640 BC.
Untash-Napirirsha also left numerous building inscriptions for more than 50 temples and buildings, either built or renovated during his reign, in Chogha Zanbil, Susa, Choga Gotvand and other places.
He dedicated a statue of the god Immiriya in Chogha Zanbil to his father-in-law, the Babylonian Burnaburiash. A later Elamite letter from Berlin (Pergamon Museum VAT17020) mentions that he was married to “the daughter of Burna-buriash (a Babylonian king) and they had a son (and the future Elamite king) Kidin-hudurdish (Hutran)". If this was the Babylonian king Burna-Buriash II, then the reign of Untash-Napirisha could be dated ca. 1340–1300 BC. However, some scholars consider a different model for the synchronism between the Kassite dynasty in Babylon and the Elamite kings, and suggest that the mentioned Burna-buriash was a later prince, and that the reign of Untash-Napirisha could be dated c. 1275–1240 BC; see, for example The Berlin Letter, Middle Elamite Chronology and Sutruk-Nahhunte I's Genealogy.
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Important facts
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Untash-Napirisha's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Untash-Napirisha?
king of Elam
When was Untash-Napirisha born?
Untash-Napirisha was born in 1400 BC.
When did Untash-Napirisha die?
Untash-Napirisha died in 1300 BC.
What was Untash-Napirisha's occupation?
Untash-Napirisha was a monarch.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Untash-Napirisha. https://biography.guide/untash-napirisha/
MLA: "Untash-Napirisha." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/untash-napirisha/.
Chicago: "Untash-Napirisha." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/untash-napirisha/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-21 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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