| King of Sumer and Akkad (Sumerian: 𒈗𒆠𒂗𒄀𒆠𒌵 lugal-ki-en-gi-ki-uri) [1] | |
|---|---|
 A typical depiction of a Sumerian King | |
| Details | |
| First monarch | Unknown |
| Last monarch | Ibbi-Sin |
| Formation | Before c. 3400 BC |
| Abolition |
|
| Residence | Varies by era |
| Appointer | Divine right |
In ancient Sumer and Akkad there were three terms most commonly applied to rulers: en, ensik, and Lugal. Lugal, literally translated to "big man", encompasses a more secular and military kingship, whereas en represents a priestly figure. Not entirely different from en and lugal, an ensik was a governor of a specific city, operating under the authority of a lugal or en that controlled multiple polities.[2] However, some maintain that they were simply three different regional titles for rulers.[3][4]
Ancient Sumerian Historical Documents
editFew records of ancient Sumerian kings have survived to present, the most famous of these being the Sumerian King List (SKL). Several different manuscripts of the SKL have been discovered since the first fragment was translated in 1906 by Hermann Hilprecht [5], the oldest of which derives from the Neo-Sumerian Period[6] Apart from the SKL, numerous old Babylonian chronicles and Assyrian chronicles attempt to trace the history of notable temples or kingship through time. In the Esagila Chronicle (Weidner Chronicle) the author concerns himself with the supply of fish offerings to the Esagil, recording this history as far back as the Early Dynastic Period (Mesopotamia). The chronicle notes multiple early kings and their relationship with the shrine; some have called it the "first Mesopotamian textbook on the idea of history".[7] More akin to the SKL, the Dynastic Chronicle, discovered in the library of Ashurbanipal, traces the history of the earliest Mesopotamian dynasties from creation.[8]
Uruk to Early Dynastic I Periods
editThe following list of rulers may be incomplete. Since the Sumerian King List can not be used as a source for the reconstruction of Sumerian history, it only includes archaeologically verifiable kings from contemporary inscriptions or chronicles of later Babylonian and Assyrian chronicles.[9]
First Dynasty of Kish
edit| Ruler | Date | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Etana | 
|
Middle Uruk Period (c.3800-3400 BC) | Retrieves the plant of birth with the help of an eagle in order to produce an heir. He was murdered by an unknown assailer.[10] |
| Balih | Middle Uruk Period | The son of Etana | |
| Enmebaragesi | 
|
Early Dynastic I (c.2900–2700 BC) | Captures Dumuzid King of Uruk and Gilgamesh is installed as a vassal-king[11] |
| Aga of Kish |  |
Early Dynastic I | He lays seige to Uruk, but is defeated by Gilgamesh[12] |
First Dynasty of Uruk
edit| Ruler | Date | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mesh-ki-ang-gasher | Middle Uruk Period | Reigned before the reign of Ur-Nanshe of Lagash.[13] | ||
| Enmerkar |  |
Late Uruk Period (c.3400–3200 BC) | His name was inscribed on a votive statue offered by his official "Shibum".[14] | |
| Lugalbanda |  |
Late Uruk Period | His name is inscribed on a jar (as Hanusum) sent to Mari by Mesannepada of Ur.[15][16] The name was read by Pettinato as Anubu.[17][18] | |
| Dumuzid the Fisherman | Jemdet Nasr Period (c.3100–2900 BC) | He was attested in Enna-Dagan's letter as conquering many lands.[19] | ||
| Gilgamesh | 
|
Early Dynastic I | ||
| Ur-Nungal | Early Dynastic I |
King of Umma
edit| Ruler | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Akka’in’anakak | Early Dynastic I[20] |
- ^ Maeda 1981, p. 4.
- ^ Crawford, Harriet (2013). The Sumerian World. New York: Routledge. p. 283.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
glassner1was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Michalowski, Piotr (2008), Brisch, N. (ed.), "The Mortal Kings of Ur: A Short Century of Divine Rule in Ancient Mesopotamia" (PDF), Religion and Power: Divine Kingship in the Ancient World and Beyond, Chicago: The Oriental Institute: 33
- ^ Jacobsen, Thorkild (1939). The Sumerian King List (PDF). Chicago: The University of Chicago Press. p. 1. ISBN 0226622738.
- ^ Steinkeller, Piotr (2003). "An Ur III Manuscript of the Sumerian King List". Orientalia Biblica et Christiana. Literatur, Politik und Recht in Mesopotamien: 267–268 – via Academia.
- ^ Arnold, Bill (1994). "The Weidner Chronicle and the Idea of History in Israel and Mesopotamia". Faith, Tradition, and History: Old Testament Historiography in its Near eastern Context: 130–131 – via Academia.
- ^ Waerzeggers, Caroline (October 2012). "The Babylonian Chronicles: Classification and Provenance". Journal of Near Eastern Studies. 71: 289 – via JSTOR.
- ^ Marchesi, Gianni (2010). "THE SUMERIAN KING LIST AND THE EARLY HISTORY OF MESOPOTAMIA". In Liverani, M. (ed.). ana turri gimilli. Rome: DIPARTIMENTO DI SCIENZE STORICHE ARCHEOLOGICHE E ANTROPOLOGICHE DELL’ANTICHITÀ SEZIONE VICINO ORIENTE. p. 238.
- ^ Wilson, J.V. Kinnier (1974). "Further Contributions to the Legend of Etana". Journal of Near Eastern Studies. 33 – via JSTOR.
- ^ Klein, Jacob. HE BROCKMON COLLECTION DUPLICATE OF THE SUMERIAN KINGLIST (BT 14). Bar-Ilan University. pp. 78–79.
- ^ "Gilgamesh and Aga: translation". Electronic Corpus of Sumerian Literature.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Haldar 1971, p. 16.
- ^ Cooper 1986, p. 87.
- ^ Liverani 2013, p. 117.
- ^ Astour 2002, p. 58.
- ^ Astour 2002, p. 57.
- ^ Frayne 2008, p. 299.
- ^ Liverani 2013, p. 119.
- ^ Marchesi, Gianni (2015). "Toward a Chronology of Early Dynastic Rulers in Mesopotamia". ARCANE III: History and Philology. Brepols Publishers. p. 149.