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Unit 2

The Sumerian King List

Prof. Stephen Hagin K Symbolic Connections in WL K 12th edition K Kennesaw State University
This list records the lineages of Sumerian rulers, both historic and prehistoric, and is divided into the various kingdoms in Mesopotamia. Capital cities changed frequently in this region between the third and first millennia, most likely the result of invasions and legal annexations that tend to occur when kingdoms change hands. Notice the lengths of these kings reigns. Most of the years listed on this tablet are in dispute, many because they exceed any reasonable life span by a mortal human. The first king, for example, reigned for 28,800 years. Given the fact that most people dont even live for 28,880 days, we must assume that the numbers have been exaggerated to promote the greatness of the ruler. Many of these impossible numbers are actually variations of precessional numbers (multiples or fractions of 72) or values deemed important to Sumerian numerology, such as 60 (the sacred number of Anu, the god with the highest value). Also notice that each dynasty tends to have its unique range of numbers to denote the length of the rulers reigns. Often, these numbers differ when compared to other tablets discovered in the region. You will see these alternate numbers in parentheses throughout the list. Often, these numbers reflect a more realistic length of reign. Look for patterns and changes as you read the kings from one section to the next. Make observations and draw some conclusions about the credibility of this information. The listing is interrupted twice to announce two major demarcations: the Great Flood and the destruction of Sumer. An antediluvian king is one who reigned before the Great Flood. All mythologies contain stories of destructive floods, but the ones in the Near East were hauntingly similar. The Mesopotamians believed that kingship was granted from the heavens, so the earliest kings were nearly equated with the gods themselves. One way to make sure that these early leaders received their due respect was to exaggerate their years in power. Notice the lengths of the reigns of the first three kings: 28,800, 36,000, and 43,200 years. Why are these years to impossibly large? Keep in mind that a person would have to live until about age 79 in order to live 28,800 DAYS, so we know their numbers are exaggerated. Even further, a person would have to reign for over 118 years if we were to convert 43,200 years into days. Some will claim that people really did live longer back then because there was no pollution or disease, yet there is proof to the contrary. We will soon read many stories about the ongoing suffering of the people, usually in the forms of fertility problems, disease, poverty, etc. They drank polluted water, never wore sunscreen, and drank lots of beer. Most children never saw adulthood, as evidenced by the high ratio of childrens bones found in excavated graves. When you read this list, look for the names of other characters or leaders that appear in the stories (and titles) throughout this coursepacket. Notice that Dumuzi is listed as the fifth king, reigning for 36,000 years. However, the kingdom crumbled (or fell) after his death, so now we know what happened to the city after he was taken to the underworld. You will see Etana listed, and we see evidence of his son and the many generations that followed, filling in the broken text at the end of the Etana story. Notice that these mortal kings only reigned for hundreds (or thousands) of years, not tens of thousands. Notice further that the lengths of rule become realistic after Gilgamesh, who was considered to be the greatest hero in this culture. We will read his story at the end of Unit 2.

The Sumerian king List

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Keep an eye on the language used to recall the downfall of the dynasties: the demise of the kingdoms changes from fell to defeated, suggesting that armies and invasions were involved. By the next page the word destroyed is used instead, which sounds a lot worse. We also see the one and only female king, serving for 100 years even. I suspect that she really didnt exist. Her son becomes king too, but only after a hundred years in between (the Akshak Dynasty, which takes on the word abolished for the first time in this document). I wonder if this dynasty fell out of political favor and perhaps was simply erased from the records, or maybe the female ruler (Kug-Bau) was inserted simply to legitimize the rules of the later serving sons. Another interesting twist involves the Agade and Gutium Dynasties. Agade is often another name for Akkad, the capital city of Akkadia. In an Akkadian myth, The Cursing of Agade, we are told that the city had been blessed by Inanna, but then she had inexplicably left. The real culprits responsible for the citys devastation are the Gutians, a tribe from the Zagros Mountains in Iran, who occupied the Mesopotamian cities between 2193 and 2133 BCE. The Gutians had no agriculture of their own, and likely raided Akkadia for its food and wealth (Enlil chased them off the mountain). This may account for the association of the mountains and the underworld (kur), as evil forces often descended from the mountains of Iran. When Agade fell to these invaders, anarchy ensued. This lasted from collapse of the Akkadian Empire to the rise of the Ur III Dynasty. The fields and fisheries were left unattended, and lawlessness reigned on the streets. Notice that the length of the monarchs reigns dwindles to a scant few years each. What we learn from this document is that history is written by the winners, and the winners recall their own power and values when interpreting their versions of the facts. The same propagandizing occurs today in every government in the world.

Antediluvian Kings in Eridu

After the kingship descended from heaven, the kingship was in Eridu. In Eridu, Alulim became king; he ruled for 28,800 years. Alalgar ruled for 36,000 years.

Then Eridu fell and the kingship was taken to Bad-tibira.

2 kings; they ruled for 64,800 years.

Antediluvian Kings in Bad-tibira

In Bad-tibira, En-men-lu-ana ruled for 43,200 years. En-men-gal-ana ruled for 28,800 years. Dumuzi, the shepherd, ruled for 36,000 years.

Then Bad-tibira fell and the kingship was taken to Larag.

3 kings; they ruled for 108,000 years.

Antediluvian Kings in Larag

In Larag, En-sipad-zid-ana ruled for 28,800 years.

Then Larag fell and the kingship was taken to Zimbir.

1 king; he ruled for 28,800 years.

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Antediluvian Kings in Zimbir

In Zimbir, En-men-dur-ana became king; he ruled for 21,000 years.

Then Zimbir fell and the kingship was taken to Shuruppag.

1 king; he ruled for 21,000 years.

Antediluvian Kings in Shuruppag

In Shuruppag, Ubara-Tutu became king; he ruled for 18,600 years.

1 king; he ruled for 18,600 years. In 5 cities 8 kings; they ruled for 241,200 years. Then the flood swept over.

Kish Dynasty
After the flood had swept over, and the kingship had descended from heaven, the kingship was in Kish. In Kish, Gushur became king; he ruled for 1,200 years. Kullassina-bel ruled for 960 (or 900) years. Nangishlishma ruled for 670 years. En-tarah-ana ruled for 420 years, 3 months, and 3 1/2 days. Babum [] ruled for 300 years. Puannum ruled for 840 (or 240) years. Kalibum ruled for 960 (or 900) years. Kalumum ruled for 840 (or 900)years. Zuqaqip ruled for 900 (or 600 years. Atab (or A-ba) ruled for 600 years. Mashda, the son of Atab, ruled for 840 (or 720) years. Arwium, the son of Mashda, ruled for 720 years. Etana, the shepherd, who ascended to heaven and consolidated all the foreign countries, became king; he ruled for 1,500 (or 635) years. Balih, the son of Etana, ruled for 400 (or 410) years. En-me-nuna ruled for 660 (or 621) years. Melem-Kish, the son of En-me-nuna, ruled for 900 (or 1,560) years. Barsal-nuna, the son of En-me-nuna, ruled for 1,200 years. Zamug, the son of Barsal-nuna, ruled for 140 years. Tizqar, the son of Zamug, ruled for 305 (or 1,620) years. Ilku ruled for 900 years. Iltasadum ruled for 1,200 years. En-me-barage-si, who made the land of Elam submit, became king; he ruled for 900 years. Aga, the son of En-me-barage-si, ruled for 625 (or 1,525) years.

Then Kish was defeated and the kingship was taken to E-ana [Uruk].

23 kings; they ruled for 24,510 years, 3 months, and 3 1/2 days.

Uruk Dynasty
In E-ana, Mesh-ki-ag-gasher, the son of Utu, became lord and king; he ruled for 324 (or 325) years. Mesh-ki-ag-gasher entered the sea and disappeared. Enmerkar, the son of Mesh-ki-ag-gasher, the king of Uruk, who built Uruk, became king; he ruled for 420 (or 900, or 745, or 5) years.

The Sumerian king List

Lugalbanda, the shepherd, ruled for 1,200 years. Dumuzid, the fisherman, whose city was Kuara, ruled for 100 (or 110) years. He captured Enme-barage-si single-handed. Gilgamesh, whose father was a phantom, the lord of Kulaba, ruled for 126 years. Ur-Nungal, the son of Gilgamesh, ruled for 30 years. Udul-kalama, the son of Ur-Nunga, ruled for 15 years. La-bashum ruled for 9 years. En-nun-tarah-ana ruled for 8 years. Mesh-he, the smith, ruled for 36 years. Melem-ana (or Til-kug) ruled for 6 (or 900) years. Lugal-kitun ruled for 36 (or 420) years.

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Then Uruk was defeated and the kingship was taken to Ur.

12 kings; they ruled for 2,310 (or 3,588) years.

Ur Dynasty
In Ur, Mesh-Ane-pada became king; he ruled for 80 years. Mesh-ki-ag-Nanna (or Mesh-ki-ag-nuna), the son of Mesh-Ane-pada, became king; he ruled for 36 (or 30) years. Elulu ruled for 25 (or 36) years.

Then Ur was defeated and the kingship was taken to Awan.

4 kings; they ruled for 171 years.

Awan Dynasty
In Awan, [] became king; he ruled for [] years. [] ruled for [] years. [] ruled for 36 years.

Then Awan was defeated and the kingship was taken to Kish.

3 kings; they ruled for 356 years.

Kish II Dynasty
In Kish, Susuda, the fuller, became king; he ruled for 201 years. Dadasig ruled for 81 years. Mamagal, the boatman, ruled for 360 (or 420) years. Kalbum, the son of Mamagal, ruled for 195 (or 132) years. Tuge ruled for 360 years. Men-nuna, the son of Tuge, ruled for 180 (or 290) years. Lugalgu ruled for 360 (or 420) years.

Then Kish was defeated and the kingship was taken to Hamazi.

8 kings; they ruled for 3,195 (or 3,792) years.

Hamazi Dynasty
In Hamazi, Hadanish became king; he ruled for 360 years.

Then Hamazi was defeated and the kingship was returned a second time to Uruk.

1 king; he ruled for 360 years.

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Uruk II Dynasty
In Uruk, En-shag-kush-ana became king; he ruled for 60 years. Lugal-ure (or Lugal-kinishe-dudu) ruled for 120 years. Argandea ruled for 7 years.

Then Uruk was destroyed and the kingship was taken to Ur.

3 kings; they ruled for 187 years.

Ur II Dynasty
In Ur, Nanni became king; he ruled for 120 (or 54) years. Mesh-ki-ag-Nanna, the son of Nanni, ruled for 48 years. [] the son of [Mesh-ki-ag-Nanna], ruled for 2 years.

Then Ur was destroyed and the kingship was taken to Adab.

3 kings; they ruled for 582 (or 578) years (or 2 kings; they ruled for 120+ years).

Adab Dynasty
In Adab, Lugal-Ane-mundu became king; he ruled for 90 years.

Then Adab was destroyed and the kingship was taken to Mari.

1 king; he ruled for 90 years.

Mari Dynasty
In Mari, Anbu became king; he ruled for 30 (or 90) years. Anba, the son of Anbu, ruled for 17 (or 7) years. Bazi, the leatherworker, ruled for 30 years. Zizi, the fuller, ruled for 20 years. Limer, the gudug priest, ruled for 30 years. Sharrum-iter ruled for 9 (or 7) years.

Then Mari was destroyed and the kingship was taken to Kish.

6 kings; they ruled for 136 (or 184) years.

Kish III Dynasty

In Kish, Kug-Bau, the woman tavern-keeper, who made firm the foundations of Kish, became king; she ruled for 100 years.

Then Kish was destroyed and the kingship was taken to Akshak.

1 king; she ruled for 100 years.

Akshak Dynasty
In Akshak, Unzi became king; he ruled for 30 years. Undalulu ruled for 6 (or 12) years. Urur ruled for 6 years. Puzur-Nirah ruled for 20 (or 24) years. Shu-Suen, the son of Ishu-Il, ruled for 7 (or 24) years.

Then the reign of Akshak was abolished and the kingship was taken to Kish.

6 kings; they ruled for 99 (or 116) years (or 5 kings; they ruled for 87 years).

The Sumerian king List

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Kish IV Dynasty
In Kish, Puzur-Suen, the son of Kug-Bau, became king; he ruled for 25 years. Ur-Zababa, the son of Puzur-Suen, ruled for 400 (or 6, or 4) years. Zimudar ruled for 30 (or 30+) years. Usi-watar, the son of Zimudar, ruled for 7 (or 6) years. Eshtar-muti ruled for 11 (or 17) years. Ishme-Shamash ruled for 11 years. Shu-ilishu ruled for 15 years. Nanniya, the jeweller, ruled for 7 (or 3) years.

131 are the years of the dynasty of Kug-Bau.

Then the reign of Kish was abolished and the kingship was returned a third time to Uruk.

7 kings; they ruled for 491 (or 485) years (or 8 kings; they ruled for 586 years.

Uruk III Dynasty

In Uruk, Lugal-zage-si became king; he ruled for 25 (or 34) years.

Then Uruk was abolished and the kingship was taken to Agade.

1 king; he ruled for 25 (or 34 years).

Agade Dynasty
In Agade, Sargon, whose father was a gardener, the cupbearer of Ur-Zababa, became king, the king of Agade, who built Agade; he ruled for 56 (or 55, or 54) years. Rimush, the son of Sargon, ruled for 9 (or 7 or 15 years). Man-ishtishu, the older brother of Rimush, the son of Sargon, ruled for 15 (or 7) years. Naram-Suen, the son of Man-ishtishu, ruled for 56 years. Shar-kali-sharri, the son of Naram-Suen, ruled for 25 (or 24) years. Irgigi was king, Imi was king, Nanum was king, Ilulu was king, and the 4 of them ruled for only 3 years. Dudu ruled for 21 years. Shu-Durul, the son of Dudu, ruled for 15 (or 18) years.

157 are the years of the dynasty of Sargon. Then who was the king? Who was not the king? Who indeed was the king?

Then the reign of Agade was abolished and the kingship was taken to Uruk.

11 kings; they ruled for 181 years (or 12 kings; they ruled for 197 years, or 9 kings; they ruled for 161 (or 177)) years.

Uruk IV Dynasty
In Uruk, Ur-nigin became king; he ruled for 7 (or 3, or 15, or 30) years. Ur-gigir, the son of Ur-nigin, ruled for 6 (or 7, or 15) years. Kuda ruled for 6 years. Puzur-ili ruled for 5 (or 20) years. Ur-Utu, the son of Ur-gigir, ruled for 6 (or 25) years. Lugal-melem, the son of Ur-gigir, ruled for 7 years.

Then the reign of Uruk was abolished and the kingship was taken to the army of Gutium.

5 kings; they ruled for 30 (or 43, or 26) years (or 3 kings; they ruled for 47 years).

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Gutium Dynasty
In the army of Gutium, at first no king was famous; they were their own kings and ruled thus for 3 years (or they had no king; they ruled themselves for 5 years). Then Inkishush [] ruled for 6 (or 7) years. Zarlagab ruled for 6 years. Shulme (or Yarlagash) ruled for 6 years. Silulumesh (or Silulu) ruled for 6 (or 7) years. Inimabakesh ruled for 5 (or Duga ruled for 6) years. Igeshaush ruled for 6 (or Ilu-an ruled for 3) years. Yarlagab ruled for 15 (or 5) years. Ibate ruled for 3 years. Yarla (or Yarlangab) ruled for 3 years. Kurum ruled for 1 (or 3) years. Apilkin ruled for 3 years. La-erabum ruled for 2 years. Irarum ruled for 2 years. Ibranum ruled for 1 year. Hablum ruled for 2 years. Puzur-Suen, the son of Hablum, ruled for 7 years. Yarlaganda ruled for 7 years. [] ruled for 7 years. Tirigan ruled for 40 days.

Then the army of Gutium was destroyed and the kingship was taken to Uruk.

21 kings; they ruled for 124 years and 40 days (or 25 years).

Uruk V Dynasty
In Uruk, Utu-hegal became king; he ruled for 427 years, [] days (or 26 years, 2 months, and 15 days, or 7 years, 6 months, and 15 days, or 7 years, 6 months, and 5 days).

Then Uruk was defeated and the kingship was taken to Ur.

1 king; he ruled for 427 years, [] days (or 7 years, 6 months, and 15 days (or 7 years, 6 months, and 5 days).

Ur III Dynasty
In Ur, Ur-Namma became king; he ruled for 18 years. Shulgi, the son of Ur-Namma, ruled for 46 (or 48, or 58) years. Amar-Suena, the son of Shulgi, ruled for 9 (or 25) years. Shu-Suen, the son of Amar-Suena, ruled for 9 (or 7, or 20, or 16) years. Ibbi-Suen, the son of Su-Suen, ruled for 24 (or 25, or 15, or 23) years.

Then the reign of Ur was abolished.

4 kings; they ruled for 108 years (or 5 kings; they ruled for 117 (or 120, or 123) years). The very foundation of Sumer was torn out. The kingship was taken to Isin.

Isin Dynasty
In Isin, Ishbi-Erra became king; he ruled for 33 (or 32) years. Shu-ilishu, the son of Ishbi-Erra, ruled for 20 (or 10, or 15) years.

The Sumerian king List

Iddin-Dagan, the son of Shu-ilishu, ruled for 21 (or 25) years. Ishme-Dagan, the son of Iddin-Dagan, ruled for 20 (or 18) years. Lipit-Eshtar, the son of Ishme-Dagan (or Iddin-Dagan), ruled for 11 years. Ur-Ninurta, the son of Ishkur may he have years of abundance, a good reign, and a sweet life ruled for 28 years. Bur-Suen, the son of Ur-Ninurta, ruled for 21 years. Lipit-Enlil, the son of Bur-Suen, ruled for 5 years. Erra-imitti ruled for 8 (or 7) years. [] ruled for [] 6 months. Enlil-bani ruled for 24 years. Zambiya ruled for 3 years. Iter-pisha ruled for 4 years. Ur-du-kuga ruled for 4 years. Suen-magir ruled for 11 years. Damiq-ilicu, the son of Suen-magir, ruled for 23 years.

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14 kings; they ruled for 203 years (or 225 years and 6 months).

Summary
A total of 39 kings ruled for 14,409 years, 3 months, and 3 1/2 days, 4 times in Kish. A total of 22 kings ruled for 2,610 years, 6 months, and 15 days, 5 times in Uruk. A total of 12 kings ruled for 396 years, 3 times in Ur. A total of 3 kings ruled for 356 years, once in Awan. A total of 1 king ruled for 420 years, once in Hamazi. [16 lines missing] A total of 12 kings ruled for 197 years, once in Agade. A total of 21 (or 23) kings ruled for 125 years and 40 days (or 99 years), once in the army of Gutium. A total of 11 (or 16) kings ruled for 159 (or 226) years, once in Isin. There are 11 cities, cities in which the kingship was exercised. A total of 134 (or 139) kings, who altogether ruled for 28,876+ (or 3,443+) years.

Questions for The Sumerian King List

1. Throughout the middle of the list, what common trait do you see amongst of the last kings in their dynasties? 2. During the Kish III Dynasty, Kug-Bau is listed as the first and only female ruler, reigning for 100 years. Puzur-Suen, the son of Kug-Bau, continues his reign at Kish IV, but is interrupted by five Akshak rulers, spanning between 69-116 years. How can you account for this discrepancy? 3. In the last section (Isin Dynasty), the entry for Ur-Ninurta includes an interesting comment: may he have years of abundance, a good reign, and a sweet life ruled for 28 years. Why would a forward-looking statement be included on a listing of a dead king?

Source:
http://etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk/cgi-bin/etcsl.cgi?text=t.2.1.1&charenc=j#