Sumerian king list

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. 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 ante-diluvian, probably mythological kings with impossibly long reigns, into clearly historical dynasties. It cannot be ruled out that even the earliest names in the list correspond to historical rulers who later became mythological 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, and not just a legendary one.

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, for the chronology of the 3rd millennium BC. However, in addition to the sometimes unrealistic durations of reigns, the numbers cannot simply be added because the dynasties presented to have reigned in succession, with the kingship passing from city to city, more likely reigned simultaneously, with each dynasty ruling its own city. For this reason, Common Era dates of early rulers given in older publications are often given as considerably more recent today. Uncertainty especially as to the duration of the Gutian period also makes dates for events predating the Third dynasty of Ur (21st century BC) with any accuracy nearly impossible (see also Shulgi, Ur-Nammu).

Early Dynastic I

Ante-diluvian kings, legendary, or earlier than ca. the 26th century BC.

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

Alulim of Eridug: 28800 years
Alalgar of Eridug: 36000 years

En-Men-Lu-Ana of Bad-Tibira: 43200 years
En-Men-Gal-Ana of Bad-Tibira: 28800 years
Dumuzid of Bad-Tibira, the shepherd: 36000 years

En-Sipad-Zid-Ana of Larag: 28800 years

En-Men-Dur-Ana of Zimbir: 21000 years

Ubara-Tutu of Shuruppag: 18600 years

Early Dynastic II

Mythological kings, or kings of ca. the 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
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-Me-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 Unug 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 well known from inscriptions, though not mentioned in the King List.

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
? 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-Ane-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 Akshak7 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: 56 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 yaers
Puzur-Sin of Gutium: 7 years
Yarlaganda of Gutium: 7 years
? of Gutium: 7 years
Tiriga of Gutium: 40 days

Uruk

Utu-hengal 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
Zambiya of Isin: 3 years
Iter-Pisha of Isin: 4 years
Ur-Dul-Kuga of Isin: 4 years
Sin-Magir of Isin: 23 years

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

External links and references

The Sumerian king list: translation, as of July 28, 2002 (http://www-etcsl.orient.ox.ac.uk/section2/tr211.htm)
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 antediluvian patriarchs and the Sumerian King List (http://www.answersingenesis.org/home/area/magazines/tj/docs/v12n3_sumerian.asp) by Raúl Erlando López
The Encyclopedia of World History (http://www.bartleby.com/67/84.html) (bartleby.com)ca:Llista de reis sumeris

de:Sumerische Königsliste es:Lista de reyes sumerios nl:Lijst van koningen van Sumer pt:Lista de reis da Suméria sv:Sumeriska kungalistan

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Categories: Sumer