Kurigalzu

Kurigalzu is a throne name used by two Kassite kings of Babylonia, Kurigalzu I and Kurigalzu II. The Kassite dynasty ruled Babylonia after the collapse of the Old Babylonian Empire, roughly from the 16th to the 13th centuries BCE. The name appears in Babylonian king lists and inscriptions from the period, indicating a distinct line of rulers who shared this titulary.

Kurigalzu I reigned in the 14th century BCE and is best known for founding or expanding the city of Dur-Kurigalzu, located to the north of Babylon. The site served as a ceremonial and administrative center and preserves remains of major construction projects, including a ziggurat and palace complex. Inscriptions from his reign indicate extensive building activity, economic activity, and diplomatic contacts with neighboring powers, including Egypt and Assyria, reflecting the international connections of Kassite rule.

Kurigalzu II followed in the later Kassite period, dated by many chronologies to the late 14th into the early 13th century BCE. He continued royal construction and administration within the kingdom and is known from king lists and inscriptions that record religious dedications, building activities, and diplomatic exchanges. These sources illustrate the ongoing stability and cultural flourishing of Babylonia during his time, as part of the broader Kassite royal program.

Dur-Kurigalzu remains a key archaeological legacy associated with Kurigalzu I, while the two rulers together highlight the Kassite era’s architectural and political reach in ancient Mesopotamia.