kingdom · Anatolia and the Levant

Aram-Damascus

1000 BCE – 732 BCE (approx.) · capital Damascus

Aram-Damascus, the strongest Aramaean kingdom, which led Syria against Assyria and dominated Israel under King Hazael.

Origins

After the Late Bronze Age, Aramaean groups took over the Damascus oasis, once Egyptian Upi. The Bible credits Rezon, a fugitive officer of Aram-Zobah, with founding the kingdom in the 10th century BCE, and under Ben-Hadad I it became the leading power of southern Syria.

Rule and society

Its kings ruled from Damascus over the oasis and the Hauran, controlling caravan routes from Arabia. Hadadezer led the coalition with Hamath and the Kingdom of Israel against Shalmaneser III at Qarqar in 853 BCE. The usurper Hazael then conquered much of Israel and destroyed Gath; the Tel Dan stele probably records his victories.

Decline and legacy

King Rezin allied with Israel against Judah, whose king appealed to Tiglath-Pileser III of the Assyrian Empire. The Assyrians took Damascus in 732 BCE, killed Rezin and made Aram an Assyrian province.

Lineage

Aram-Zobah 1050 BCE – 950 BCEAram-Maacah 1000 BCE – 900 BCEGeshur 1000 BCE – 900 BCEAram-Damascus

Connections (2)

  • Gath was conquered by Aram-Damascus830 BCE
  • Aram-Damascus was conquered by Assyrian Empire732 BCE

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Cite this page
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Aram-Damascus. In The Epoch Institute States Register. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/aram-damascus
MLA
“Aram-Damascus.” The Epoch Institute States Register, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/aram-damascus. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Aram-Damascus.” The Epoch Institute States Register. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/aram-damascus.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Aram-Damascus’, The Epoch Institute States Register. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/state/aram-damascus (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random state ↻