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Ancient Mesopotamia
Euphrates Tigris
Cities / Empires
Sumer: Uruk ' Ur ' Eridu
Kish ' Lagash ' Nippur
Akkadian Empire: Akkad
Babylon ' Isin ' Susa
Assyria: Assur Nineveh
Dur-Sharrukin Nimrud
Babylonia Chaldea
Elam Amorites
Hurrians Mitanni
Kassites Urartu
Chronology
Kings of Sumer
Kings of Assyria
Kings of Babylon
Language
Aramaic
Sumerian Akkadian
Elamite Hurrian
Mythology
Enma Elish
Gilgamesh Marduk

The Sumerian king list is an ancient text in the Sumerian language listing kings of Sumer from Sumerian and foreign dynasties. The later Babylonian king list and Assyrian king list were similar.

Description

The list records the location of the "official" kingship and the rulers, with the lengths of their rule. The kingship was believed to be handed down by the gods, and could be passed from one city to another by military conquest. The list mentions only one female ruler: Kug-Baba, the tavern-keeper, who alone accounts for the third dynasty of Kish.

The list peculiarly blends from antediluvian, mythological kings with exceptionally long reigns, into more plausibly historical dynasties. It cannot be ruled out that most of the earliest names in the list correspond to historical rulers who later became legendary figures.

The first name on the list whose existence has been authenticated through recent archaeological discoveries, is that of Enmebaragesi of Kish, whose name is also mentioned in the Gilgamesh epics. This has led some to suggest that Gilgamesh himself was a historical king of Uruk, who ruled sometime around 2600 BC in the First Dynasty of Uruk. Additionally, Dumuzi is one of the spellings of the name of the god of nature, Tammuz, whose usual epithet was the fisherman or the shepherd.

Conspicuously absent from this list are the priest-rulers of Lagash, who are known directly from inscriptions from ca. the 25th century BC. Another early ruler in the list who is clearly historical is Lugal-Zage-Si of Uruk of the 23rd century BC, who conquered Lagash, and who was in turn conquered by Sargon of Akkad.

The list is central, for lack of a more accurate source, to the chronology of the 3rd millennium BC. However, the presence in the list of dynasties which plausibly reigned simultaneously, but in different cities, makes it impossible to trust the addition of the figures to produce a strict chronology. Taking this into account, many regnal dates have been revised in recent years, and are generally placed much later nowadays than the regnal dates given in older publications, sometimes by an entire millennium. Some have proposed re-reading the units given in more realistic numbers, such as taking the figures, given in sars (units of 3600) for the antediluvians, as instead being either decades or simply years. Uncertainty, especially as to the duration of the Gutian period, also makes dates for events predating the Third dynasty of Ur (ca. 21st century BC) with any accuracy practically impossible (see also Shulgi, Ur-Nammu).

Some of the earliest known inscriptions containing the list date from the early 3rd millennium BC; for example, the Weld-Blundell Prism is dated to 2170 BC. The later Babylonian and Assyrian king lists that were based on it still preserved the earliest portions of the list well into the 3rd century BC, when Berossus popularised the list in the Hellenic world. Over the large period of time involved, the names inevitably became corrupted, and Berossus' Greek version of the list, ironically one of the earliest to be known to modern academics, exhibits particularly odd transcriptions of the names.

The list

Early Dynastic I

Ante-diluvian kings, legendary, or earlier than ca. the 26th century BC. Their rules are measured in sars - periods of 3600 years - the next unit up after 60 in Sumerian counting (3600 = 60x60), and in ners - units of 600.

"After the kingship descended from heaven, the kingship was in Eridu(g). In Eridu(g), Alulim became king; he ruled for 28800 years."

• Alulim of Eridu(g): 8 sars (28800 years)
• Alalgar of Eridug: 10 sars (36000 years)
• En-Men-Lu-Ana of Bad-Tibira: 12 sars (43200 years)
• En-Men-Ana ^{1, 2}
• En-Men-Gal-Ana of Bad-Tibira: 8 sars (28800 years)
• Dumuzi of Bad-Tibira, the shepherd: 10 sars (36000 years)
• En-Sipad-Zid-Ana of Larag: 8 sars (28800 years)
• En-Men-Dur-Ana of Zimbir: 5 sars and 5 ners (21000 years)
• Ubara-Tutu of Shuruppag: 5 sars and 1 ner (18600 years)
• Zin-Suddu ¹

1:These two names are present on slightly over half of the versions of the sumerian king lists, but not on others.

2:In the place of En-Men-Ana in some versions of the list is the name Kichu-Ana

Early Dynastic II

ca. 26th century BC. Many rulers known from contemporary inscriptions are not found in the King Lists.

"After the flood had swept over, and the kingship had descended from heaven, the kingship was in Kish."

First Dynasty of Kish

• Jushur of Kish: 1200 years
• Kullassina-bel of Kish: 960 years
• Nangishlishma of Kish: 670 years
• En-Tarah-Ana of Kish: 420 years
• Babum of Kish: 300 years
• Puannum of Kish: 840 years
• Kalibum of Kish: 960 years
• Kalumum of Kish: 840 years
• Zuqaqip of Kish: 900 years
• Atab of Kish: 600 years
• Mashda of Kish: 840 years
• Arwium of Kish: 720 years
• Etana of Kish, the shepherd, who ascended to heaven and consolidated all the foreign countries: 1500 years
• Balih of Kish: 400 years
• En-Me-Nuna of Kish: 660 years
• Melem-Kish of Kish: 900 years
• Barsal-Nuna of Kish: 1200 years
• Zamug of Kish: 140 years
• Tizqar of Kish: 305 years
• Ilku of Kish: 900 years
• Iltasadum of Kish: 1200 years
• En-Men-Barage-Si of Kish, who conquered Elam: 900 years (this is the earliest ruler in the list who is confirmed independently from epigraphical evidence)
• Aga of Kish: 625 years

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

First Dynasty of Uruk

• Mesh-ki-ang-gasher of E-ana, son of Utu: 324 years.

Mesh-ki-ang-gasher went into the Sea and disappeared.

• Enmerkar, who built Unug: 420 years
• Lugalbanda of Unug, the shepherd: 1200 years
• Dumuzid of Unug, the fisherman: 100 years. Captured En-Men-Barage-Si of Kish.
• Gilgamesh, whose father was a "phantom", lord of Kulaba: 126 years.
• Ur-Nungal of Unug: 30 years
• Udul-Kalama of Unug: 15 years
• La-Ba'shum of Unug: 9 years
• En-Nun-Tarah-Ana of Unug: 8 years
• Mesh-He of Unug: 36 years
• Melem-Ana of Unug: 6 years
• Lugal-Kitun of Unug: 36 years

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

First dynasty of Ur

ca. 25th century BC

• Mesh-Ane-Pada of Urim: 80 years
• Mesh-Ki-Ang-Nanna of Urim: 36 years
• Elulu of Urim: 25 years
• Balulu of Urim: 36 years

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

Early Dynastic III

[The 1st Dynasty of Lagash is not mentioned in the King List, though it is well known from inscriptions.]

Awan

• Three kings of Awan, ruling for a total of 356 years.

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

Second Dynasty Kish

• Susuda of Kish: 201 years
• Dadasig of Kish: 81 years
• Mamagal of Kish, the boatman: 360 years
• Kalbum of Kish: 195 years
• Tuge of Kish: 360 years
• Men-Nuna of Kish: 180 years
• Enbi-Ishtar of Kish: 290 years
• Lugalngu of Kish: 360 years

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

Hamazi

• Hadanish of Hamazi: 360 years

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

Second Dynasty of Uruk

• En-Shakansha-Ana of Unug: 60 years
• Lugal-Ure (or Lugal-Kinishe-Dudu) of Unug: 120 years
• Argandea of Unug: 7 years

Then Unug was defeated and the kingship was taken to Urim.

Second Dynasty of Ur

• Nani of Urim: 120 years
• Mesh-Ki-Ang-Nanna of Urim: 48 years
• ? of Urim: 2 years

Then Urim was defeated and the kingship was taken to Adab.

Adab

• Lugal-Anne-Mundu of Adab: 90 years

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

Mari

• Anbu of Mari: 30 years
• Anba of Mari: 17 years
• Bazi of Mari: 30 years
• Zizi of Mari: 20 years
• Limer of Mari, the gudu priest: 30 years
• Sharrum-Iter of Mari: 9 years

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

Third Dynasty of Kish

• Kug-Baba of Kish, the woman tavern-keeper, who made firm the foundations of Kish: 100 years

(the only woman in the King Lists)

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

Akshak

• Unzi of Akshak: 30 years
• Undalulu of Akshak: 6 years
• Urur of Akshak: 6 years
• Puzur-Nirah of Akshak: 20 years
• Ishu-Il of Akshak: 24 years
• Shu-Sin of Akshak: 7 years

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

Fourth Dynasty of Kish

• Puzur-Sin of Kish: 25 years
• Ur-Zababa of Kish: 400 (6?) years
• Zimudar of Kish: 30 years
• Ussi-Watar of Kish: 7 years
• Eshtar-Muti of Kish: 11 years
• Ishme-Shamash of Kish: 11 years
• Shu-Ilishu of Kish: 15 years
• Nanniya of Kish, the jeweller: 7 years.

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

Third Dynasty of Uruk

• Lugal-Zage-Si of Unug: 25 years

:(2259 BC–2235 BC short chronology) defeated Lagash.

Akkad

• Sargon, whose father was a gardener, the cupbearer of Ur-Zababa, the king (first emperor) of Agade, who built Agade: 40 years

:(ca. 2235 BC short chronology)

• Rimush, younger son of Sargon: 9 years
• Man-Ishtishu, older son of Sargon: 15 years
• Naram-Sin, son of Man-Ishtishu: 56 years
• Shar-Kali-Sharri, son of Naram-Sin: 25 years

Then who was king? Who was the king?

• Irgigi, Imi, Nanum, Ilulu: four of them ruled for only 3 years
• Dudu: 21 years
• Shu-Durul, son of Dudu: 15 years

Then Agade was defeated and the kingship was taken to Unug.

Fourth Dynasty of Uruk

(Possibly rulers of lower Mesopotamia contemporary with the dynasty of Akkad)

• Ur-Ningin of Unug: 7 years
• Ur-Gigir of Unug: 6 years
• Kuda of Unug: 6 years
• Puzur-Ili of Unug: 5 years
• Ur-Utu (or Lugal-Melem) of Unug: 25 years

Unug was defeated and the kingship was taken to the army of Gutium.

Gutian period

''In the army of Gutium, at first no king was famous; they were their own kings and ruled thus for 3 years

• Inkishush of Gutium: 6 years
• Zarlagab of Gutium: 6 years
• Shulme (or Yarlagash) of Gutium: 6 years
• Silulumesh (or Silulu) of Gutium: 6 years
• Inimabakesh (or Duga) of Gutium: 5 years
• Igeshaush (or Ilu-An) of Gutium: 6 years
• Yarlagab of Gutium: 3 years
• Ibate of Gutium: 3 years
• Yarla of Gutium: 3 years
• Kurum of Gutium: 1 year
• Apil-Kin of Gutium: 3 years
• La-Erabum of Gutium: 2 years
• Irarum of Gutium: 2 years
• Ibranum of Gutium: 1 year
• Hablum of Gutium: 2 years
• Puzur-Sin of Gutium: 7 years
• Yarlaganda of Gutium: 7 years
• ? of Gutium: 7 years
• Tiriga of Gutium: 40 days

Uruk

• Utu-hegal of Unug: conflicting dates (427 years / 26 years / 7 years)

:drives out the Gutians

Third dynasty of Ur

"Sumerian Renaissance"

• Ur-Nammu of Urim: 18 years

:ruled ca. 2065 BC–2047 BC short chronology.

• Shulgi: 46 years

:ruled ca. 2047 BC–1999 BC short chronology.

• Amar-Sina of Urim: 9 years
• Shu-Sin of Urim: 9 years
• Ibbi-Sin of Urim: 24 years

Then Urim was defeated. The very foundation of Sumer was torn out (?). The kingship was taken to Isin.

Dynasty of Isin

Independent Amorite states in lower Mesopotamia. The dynasty ends at ca. 1730 BC short chronology.

• Ishbi-Erra of Isin: 33 years
• Shu-ilishu of Isin: 20 years
• Iddin-Dagan of Isin: 20 years
• Ishme-Dagan of Isin: 20 years
• Lipit-Eshtar of Isin 11 years
• Ur-Ninurta of Isin (the son of Ishkur, may he have years of abundance, a good reign, and a sweet life): 28 years
• Bur-Sin of Isin: 5 years
• Lipit-Enlil of Isin: 5 years
• Erra-Imitti of Isin: 8 years
• Enlil-Bani of Isin: 24 years (the king's gardener, to celebrate the New Year was named 'king for a day' then sacrificed, the king died during the celebration. Enlil-Bani remained on the throne.)
• Zambiya of Isin: 3 years
• Iter-Pisha of Isin: 4 years
• Ur-Dul-Kuga of Isin: 4 years
• Suen-magir of Isin: 11 years
• Damiq-ilicu of Isin: 23 years

There are 11 cities in which the kingship was exercised. A total of 134 kings, who altogether ruled for 28876 + X years.

See also

• History of Sumer
• Kings of Assyria
• Chronology of the Ancient Orient

External links and references

• List of a wide selection of variant copies of the antediluvian part of the list
• The Sumerian king list: translation, as of July 28, 2002
• Another translation
• Vincente, Claudine-Adrienne, "The Tall Leilan Recension of the Sumerian King List", Zeitschrift für Assyriologie 50 (1995), 234–270
• Black, J.A., Cunningham, G., Fluckiger-Hawker, E, Robson, E., and Zólyomi, G., The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature (http://www-etcsl.orient.ox.ac.uk/), Oxford 1998.
• The Sumerians and the Akkadians from The Encyclopedia of World History Sixth Edition, Peter N. Stearns (general editor), 2001 The Houghton Mifflin Company, at Bartleby.com.

Akshak Assyrian king list Deluge (mythology) Dudu (king) Elulu Enshakushanna Entemena Igigi Isin Mesannepada

Meskalamdug Nanum Regnal year Sargon of Akkad Shar-Kali-Sharri Shu-turul Sumer Ur-Nanshe Uruk More results