ABSTRACT
Elam appears for the first time in inscriptions dated to the reign of Shamshi-Adad V. With Tiglath-pileser III began a new phase of Elamite-Assyrian relations that lasted until Sennacherib's invasions of Elam in 694—689. Assyrian kings expanding their territory eastwards invaded Babylonia and occupied the Elamite-Babylonian buffer zone. The most important confrontation between Elam and Assyria took place between 694 and 689. Elamite involvement in anti-Assyrian activities at Babylon are first mentioned in relation to a conspiracy of a minor scale orchestrated by Nabu-ahhe-iddin, who sent gifts to obtain Elamite military support. Relations between Assyria and Elam started changing in 676. In this year Bel-iqisa of the Gambulu tribe submitted to Assyria. Assyrian kings expanding their control over eastern territories inevitably clashed with Elamite interests. The Assyrian letters, above all, enable one to reconstruct the background to military conflicts and diplomatic tensions that preceded, accompanied and followed the royal campaigns.
