According to Cuneiform Documents Historical Process of Antakya and Amik Plain from Patina Kingdom to Unqi Kingdom

Abstract

Patina has been used to define the Antakya and its near environment that encloses the Amik plain today in the Neo-Assyrian tablets from the beginning of the BC I. to BC 745. In the same documents, the capital of the city has been defined as Kunulua/Kullania and generally recorded with Amanos Mountains. Patina was called as Unqi in the Neo-Assyrian documents from BC 745 to BC 738 upon Arami to seize the power. Unqi Kingdom was completely seized by the Assyrian Empire in BC 738. The importance of Patina/Unqi Kingdom for Assyrian Empire is to connect the Mesopotamia to Anatolia through land route and provide access to Mediterranean with seaway and is kind of a junction. In addition to this strategic importance, geographic diversity and rich raw material resources make the Patina/ Unqi an important representative of the ancient period trade and cultural diversity that had developed dependently. Neo-Assyrian kings recorded their expeditions to this important center and the wars and exodus that they initiated in their annuals and stela inscriptions. These records provide the most reliable evidences to set light on the history and geography of the Patina/Unqi Country in the beginning of the BC I.