This is the second installment onsome of the less-well known Bronze- age-period armies that are worthy of our wargames consideration. We did a little more on documenting our sources with this article, but remember the intent is an introduction for wargamers, and not an attempt to write a thesis and get a PhD! (So in other words, while all constructive criticisms are appreciated, please be gentle!)

Location and the Land

For as long as we have found written records, the civilizations of the Mesopotamian delta were all periodically at war with the people of Elam, who proved to be a worth adversary (note 1). Specifically we have detailed records of conflicts, from Sumer under Sargon, Akkadia and Babylon (note 2). The territory of Elam was the far plains beyond the Tigris, into the foothills to the East of the Tigris river, and the Zagros mountain range to the East of that. Elam was originally known as Numma (note 3). The Elamite capital was originally located at Anshan, and later seems to have moved to Susa (note 4) Not unlike the Nile, the plains to the East of the Tigris were nourished by the annual flood of the waters, which is also fed by a number of smaller rivers that flow from the Zagros mountains, including the Iqnu, and the Idide rivers, off to the East of Babylon, so Elam was blessed with a deep layer of fertile soil. The weather is temperate, although the plains around Susa become a furnace during the summer, and people build cellars where they can find some relief from the terrible heat (note 5). Beyond these plains lie the Zagros mountains, which yield copper, lead, silver, tin, basalt, and iron, as well as stone, and timber. The foothills of the mountains also afford good pasturage for horses. This area is today called Khuzistan, a mountainous area in South West Iran (note 6).

Three Races Making Up the Elamites

There were apparently three rather distinct races who all called themselves Elamites --- the fertile plains were inhabited by dark- haired, white-skinned people who looked very similar to the Babylonians, probably a Semitic influx from the West (note 7); the mountains produced some remarkably tall men with browner skin (note 8); and from the plateaus beyond the mountains came the black-skinned aboriginal men (who nevertheless were reported to look quite unlike those from Southern Egypt). Regardless of which mix of the Elamites they faced, the Akkadians and the Sumerians regarded them with great suspicion, calling them brutal, humorless, grasping, and volatile. Although the Babylonians would ally with them for several wars against the Sumerians and Assyrians, Babylonians never seemed to have thought well of Elamites (as a people), either. For all that, the Elamites were reported as being brave in battle to the point of rashness.