User:SomeGuyWhoRandomlyEdits/First dynasty of Ur

First dynasty of Ur 𒉆𒈗 𒋀𒀕𒆠 Ur I
Dynasty
Country	Sumer
Current region	Mesopotamia
Place of origin	Ur
Founded	c. 2600 BCE (c. 2600 BCE)
Founder	A-Imdugud (reign: c. 2600 BCE)
Final ruler	Elulu
Final head	Balulu
Titles	List Lugal (c. 2500 BCE)
Dissolution	c. 2112 BCE (c. 2112 BCE)
Deposition	c. 2350 BCE (c. 2350 BCE)

The first dynasty of Ur (abbreviated Ur I) was a dynasty of rulers from the city of Ur who reign: c. 2600 – c. 2112 BCE. Ur I is (primarily) part of the Early Dynastic III period (c. 2600 – c. 2350 BCE) of ancient Mesopotamia. It was preceded by the first dynasty of Uruk on the Sumerian King List (SKL). Only four (out of a total of up to twelve) of the rulers from the first dynasty of Ur are mentioned on the SKL. Likewise on the SKL: the first dynasty of Ur was succeeded by an Elamite dynasty from Awan.

Rule

The first dynasty may have been preceded by one other dynasty of Ur unnamed on the SKL which had extensive influence over the area of Sumer, and apparently led a union of south Mesopotamian polities.

Governors

Main article: Ensi (Sumerian)

Further information: Governor

A-Imdugud (r. c. 2600 BCE) is the earliest archaeologically recorded ruler from Ur said to have held the Sumerian title for governor.

Kings

Main article: Lugal

Further information: King

Ur-Pabilsag is the earliest archaeologically recorded ruler from Ur said to have held the Sumerian title for king. He was preceded by his father (A-Imdugud).

Great kings

Main article: King of the Universe

Further information: Great king

Ur-Pabilsag may have succeeded by his son Meskalamdug (who r. c. 2600 – c. 2550 BCE as a king). Mesannepada (r. c. 2500 BCE) is the first king of Ur listed on the SKL. Two other rulers earlier than Mesannepada are known from other sources, namely Puabi (probably r. c. 2550 BCE with the Sumerian title for queen) and Akalamdug (r. c. 2600 – c. 2550, c. 2550 – c. 2500 BCE as king). It would seem that both Akalamdug and Mesannepada may have been sons of Meskalamdug, according to an inscription found on a bead in Mari, and Meskalamdug may have been the true founder of the first dynasty.

Mesilim (r. c. 2550 – c. 2500 BCE) may have enjoyed suzerainty over Ur and Adab. He is also mentioned in some of the earliest monuments as arbitrating a border dispute between Lagash and Umma. Mesilim's placement before, during, or after the reign of Mesannepada in Ur is uncertain, owing to the lack of other synchronous names in the inscriptions, and his absence from the SKL. Some have suggested that Mesilim and Mesannepada were in fact one and the same; however, others have disputed this theory. Both Mesilim and Mesannepada also seem to have subjected Kish, thereafter assuming the title king of Kish for themselves. The title king of Kish would be used by many kings of the preeminent dynasties for some time afterward.

High kings

Main article: Sumerian king list

Further information: High king

List of rulers

#	Depiction or inscription	Ruler	Approximated date and length of reign	Succession and death details	Notes and references
Denotes a ruler described with the Sumero-Akkadian equivalent for the title of king   Denotes a ruler described with the Sumero-Akkadian equivalent for the title of high king   Denotes a ruler described with the Sumero-Akkadian equivalent for the title of great king   Denotes a ruler described with the Sumero-Akkadian equivalent for the title of emperor   Denotes a ruler described with the Sumero-Akkadian equivalent for the title of king-emperor   Denotes a ruler described with the Sumero-Akkadian equivalent for the title of governor   Denotes a ruler described with the Sumero-Akkadian equivalent for the title of God-Emperor
Early Dynastic IIIa period (c. 2600 – c. 2500 BCE)
First dynasty of Ur (r. c. 2700 – c. 2112 BCE)
?		A-Imdugud	r. c. 2600 BCE	Unclear succession
?		Mesilim	r. c. 2550 BCE	Unclear succession
?		Ur-Pabilsag	r. c. 2550 BCE	He may have been the son of A-Imdugud He may have died c. 2550 BCE
?		Puabi	r. c. 2550 BCE	Unclear succession
2nd		Meskiagnun I	Uncertain (36 years)	He may have been the son of Mesannepada
Early Dynastic IIIb period (c. 2500 – c. 2350 BCE)
First dynasty of Ur (r. c. 2700 – c. 2112 BCE)
?		Akalamdug	r. c. 2500 BCE	He may have been the father or son of Meskalamdug
?		Meskalamdug	r. c. 2500 BCE	He may have been the father or son of Akalamdug
First dynasty of Lagash (r. c. 2600 – c. 2260 BCE)
?		Eannatum	r. c. 2455 BCE (690 years)	Son of Urnanshe or Akurgal
First dynasty of Ur (r. c. 2700 – c. 2112 BCE)
1st		Mesannepada	Uncertain (80 years)	He may have been the son of Meskalamdug
?		A'annepada	Uncertain	Son of Mesannepada
Second dynasty of Uruk (r. c. 2550 – c. 2154 BCE)
?		Lugalkinishedudu	r. c. 2400 BCE (120 years)	Unclear succession
?		Lugal-kisalsi	Uncertain	Son of Lugalkinishedudu
First dynasty of Ur (r. c. 2700 – c. 2112 BCE)
3rd		Elulu	Uncertain (25 years)	Unclear succession
4th		Balulu	Uncertain (36 years)	Unclear succession
Proto-Imperial period (c. 2350 – c. 2334 BCE)
Second dynasty of Uruk (r. c. 2550 – c. 2154 BCE)
?		Enshakushanna	r. c. 2350 BCE (60 years)	He may have been the son of Elulu
First dynasty of Umma (r. c. 2900 – c. 2154 BCE)
?		Lugalzagesi	r. c. 2340 – c. 2316 BCE (25 or 34 years)	Son of Ukush
Akkadian period (c. 2334 – c. 2154 BCE)
Sargonic dynasty (r. c. 2334 – c. 2154 BCE)
?		Sargon	r. c. 2334 – c. 2279 BCE (37, 40, 50, 54, 55, or 56 years)	Son of La'ibum
First dynasty of Ur (r. c. 2700 – c. 2112 BCE)
?	Lunanna		Uncertain	Unclear succession
Sargonic dynasty (r. c. 2334 – c. 2154 BCE)
?		Rimush	r. c. 2278 – c. 2270 BCE (7, 9, or 15 years)	Son of Sargon
?		Manishtushu	r. c. 2269 – c. 2255 BCE (7 or 15 years)	Son of Sargon
?		Naram-Suen	r. c. 2254 – c. 2218 BCE (36 or 56 years)	Son of Manishtushu

International trade

Main articles: Indus-Mesopotamia relations and Egypt-Mesopotamia relations

The Ur I dynasty had enormous wealth as shown by the lavishness of its tombs. This was probably due to the fact that Ur acted as the main harbour for trade with India, which put her in a strategic position to import and trade vast quantities of gold, carnelian or lapis lazuli. In comparison, the burials of the kings of Kish were much less lavish. High-prowed Summerian ships may have traveled as far as Meluhha, thought to be the Indus region, for trade.

Imports

Main article: Imports to Ur

Royal cemetery at Ur

Main article: Royal Cemetery at Ur

The Royal Cemetery at Ur held the tombs of several rulers of the first dynasty of Ur. The tombs are particularly lavish, and testify to the wealth of the first dynasty. One of the most famous tombs is that of Puabi. The artifacts found in the royal tombs of the dynasty show that foreign trade was particularly active during this period, with many materials coming from foreign lands, such as carnelian likely coming from the Indus or Iran, lapis Lazuli from the Badakhshan area of Afghanistan, silver from Turkey, copper from Oman, and gold from several locations such as Egypt, Nubia, Turkey or Iran. Carnelian beads from the Indus were found in Ur tombs dating to 2600-2450, in an example of Indus-Mesopotamia relations. In particular, carnelian beads with an etched design in white were probably imported from the Indus Valley, and made according to a technique developed by the Harappans. These materials were used into the manufacture of beautiful objects in the workshops of Ur.

Genealogy

A-Imdugud

Ur-Pabilsag

Akalamdug

Puabi

Meskalamdug

Ninbanda

Mesannepada

A'annepada

Gallery

• 
  The Lyres of Ur from the Royal Cemetery at Ur. Currently located in the British Museum.
• 
  The Ram in a Thicket from the Royal Cemetery at Ur. Currently located in the British Museum.
• 
  The Standard of Ur from the Royal Cemetery at Ur. Currently located in the British Museum.
• 
  Reconstructed Sumerian headgear necklaces found in the tomb of Puabi from the Royal Cemetery at Ur. Currently located in the British Museum.
• 
  Scepter from tomb PG 1236.
• 
  Weapons from tomb PG 789.
• 
  Copper alloy axe.
• 
  Silver model of a boat from tomb PG 789.

References

Sources

Bibliography

External links