Near East Kingdoms

Lagash / Sirpurla (City State) (Sumer)

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The city states of Sumer formed one of the first great civilisations in human history (see feature link). This Near Eastern civilisation emerged a little way ahead of that of Africa's ancient Egypt, and up to a millennium before that of the Indus Valley culture. It developed out of the end of the Pottery Neolithic across the Fertile Crescent, a period which had seen Neolithic Farmer practices spread far and wide across the Near East and beyond.

As irrigation improved so the more southerly reaches of the Euphrates could at last be occupied by humans and their animals. Southern Mesopotamia (modern Iraq and the western edge of Iran) was subjected to permanent settlement, initially in the form of pastoralists but soon as farmers too. Cultures around the edges of this progression included the Hassuna and Samarra which began this settlement process, and perhaps elements of the Hissar culture in the Iranian highlands were also involved.

By the late fourth millennium BC, Sumer was divided into approximately a dozen city states which were independent of one another and which used local canals and boundary stones to mark their borders. Many early historical events in the region are found only in the Sumerian king list, which notates the rulers of the city states (and see feature link), but archaeology has also uncovered a wealth of detail.

The city of Lagash (or Lagaš, modern Tell al-Hiba) was also known as Sirpurla by the Sumerians. It was located to the north-west of the confluence of the Euphrates and Tigris, a short way to the north of Urukag and Nina. To the east was Girsu, the state's religious centre.

Home to the E-Ninnu temple - the shrine of Nin-girsu (Ningirsu, or Ninib, or Ninurta), the patron god of Lagash - the city was one of the oldest cities in Sumer. As the leading temple for the city, Ningirsu's foundation was larger than that of his divine wife, Bau. In turn, hers was larger than those of their sons, Shulshagana and Igalima.

Increasing sophistication meant the rise of individual patriarchal households, the accumulation of capital in the form of productive land and specialised craft production, and the increasing secularisation of political power in Sumer. This gradually led to the rise of individual city leaders. Such leaders arrived on the scene in the 'Early Dynastic' period, when cities were becoming much more competitive in terms of resources.

The priest-rulers (Sumerian patesis) of Lagash are suspiciously absent from the Sumerian king list, even though the 'First Dynasty' leader, Eannatum, built a short-lived empire out of Sumerian city states. However, they are instead known from inscriptions on several important monuments from around the twenty-fifth century BC onwards. Lagash became one of the main players in Sumerian politics, alongside Ur and Uruk.

Kingship, or its priestly equivalent, was seen as a divine gift which was passed down from ruler to ruler through the will of the gods. Generally each city had its own ruler, although some were satellites to larger cities and had no real autonomy. Only later did the concept of empire emerge to remove or minimise local rule under a more powerful empire-builder.

(Information by Peter Kessler, with additional information by Edward Dawson, from Mesopotamia: The Invention of the City, Gwendolyn Leick (Penguin Books, 2001), from Encyclopaedia Britannica (Eleventh Edition, Cambridge (England), 1910), from The Sumerians: Their History, Culture, and Character, Samuel Noah Kramer ('List 1' of Sumerian rulers, University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 1963), from First Farmers: The Origins of Agricultural Societies, Peter Bellwood (Second Ed, Wiley-Blackwell, 2022), from Historical Atlas of the Ancient World, 4,000,000 to 500 BC, John Heywood (Barnes & Noble, 2000), from The Ancient Near East, c.3000-330 BC, Amélie Kuhrt (Routledge, 2000, Vol I & II), from Cultural Atlas of Mesopotamia and the Ancient Near East, Michael Road (Facts on File, 2000), from Mesopotamia: Assyrians, Sumerians, Babylonians, Enrico Ascalone (Dictionaries of Civilizations 1, University of California Press, 2007), from The Archaeology of Mesopotamia, S Lloyd (Revised Ed, London, 1984), from Early Mesopotamia: Society and Economy at the Dawn of History, J N Postgate (Routledge, 1994), from The First Empires, J N Postgate (Oxford 1977), from History of the Ancient Near East c.3000-323 BC, Marc van der Mieroop (Blackwell Publishing, 2004, 2007), from Ancient History: A Theory About Ancient Times, L C Gerts (List 4 of Sumerian rulers, Chapter 12: The Sumerian king list, 2002), from Mesopotamia, Chris Scarre (Ed, Past Worlds - The Times Atlas of Archaeology, Guild Publishing, London 1989), from The Age of the God-Kings, Kit van Tulleken (Ed, Time Life Books, Amsterdam 1987), from History & Philology, Walther Sallaberger & Ingo Schrakamp (Eds, Arcane III, Brepols, 2015), and from External Links: Ancient Worlds, and The Sumerian Kings List, J A Black, G Cunningham, E Fluckiger-Hawker, E Robson, & G Zólyomi ('List 2' of Sumerian rulers, available via the Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature, Oxford, 1998), and Ancient History, Anthony Michael Love ('List 3' of Sumerian rulers at Sarissa.org), and Evolution of Sumerian kingship (Ancient World Magazine), and City of Culture 2600 BC - Early Mesopotamian History and Archaeology at Abu Salabikh, John Nicholas Postgate (Archaeopress Archaeology, 2024, and available via Archaeopress).)

c.2550 BC

Mesilim of Kish is famous for drawing the border between Umma and Lagash, a clearly contentious point between these two cities. His decision, which enacts the will of the god Enlil and which is accepted by both parties, appears to favour Lagash over Umma.

Mesalim sets up a stele to mark the border and builds a temple to Ningirsu in Lagash. That border is an area of fields which are known as Gu'edena, or 'the edge of the plain', perhaps showing that all agricultural land is important at this time, even on the periphery.

c.2530 BC

Governed at the time of Mesalim. Same as below?

c.2510 BC

Ensi. Last of the traditional priest-kings.

c.2494 BC

As the last of the traditional priest-kings of Lagash and Girsu is replaced by Ur-Nanshe, the city becomes a major player in Sumer politics, and the 'First Dynasty' of Lagash is founded with the throwing off of Ur's domination.

This figurine of a woman was dated by archaeologists at about 2500 BC, having been uncovered in the ancient Sumerian city of Lagash

First Dynasty (Lagash) (Sumer)
c.2494 - 2342 BC

While not on the king list, one extremely fragmentary supplement listing the First Dynasty has been found in Sumerian, and is known as the Royal Chronicle of Lagash. According to this, by around two hundred years after the deluge, mankind was having difficulty growing food for himself, being dependent solely on rainwater; it further relates that techniques of irrigation and the cultivation of barley were then imparted by the gods.

Only a few names can be made out on the following list of rulers, but it seems that Eannatum of Lagash conquered Ur's First Dynasty, beginning the Early Dynasty III Period in Sumer.

c.2494 - 2465 BC

Son of Gunidu. Dynasty founder. Ruled for 1,080 years (RCL List).

Succeeding the ruling high priest, Ur-Nanshe (or Ur-Nanše) is the founder of an independent dynasty which reigns at Lagash and Girsu for over a century. He is the son of an apparent commoner, Gunidu, son of Gurmu.

As king he likes to commemorate his constructions, having himself portrayed in one relief as a simple bricklayer, carrying a brick basket in front of his family. He builds many temples, and also receives a tribute of wood from Dilmun.

Ur-Nanshe and his successors are engaged in contests with the Elamites to the east and the kings of 'Kengi' and Kish to the north. The city's intermittent wars with Akshak during this century probably also start at this point while the territorial dispute with Umma rumbles on.

It is Ur-Nanshe who captures that city's ensi, Pabilgagaltuku, but that act only allows in a successor ensi who later becomes lugal (king) there to the detriment of Lagash.

c.2464 - 2455 BC

Son. Possibly killed by Ensi Ush of Umma.

c.2455 BC

Ush is the ruler of Umma, twenty-nine kilometres away from Lagash. He holds the title ensi, or governor. This title is not unusual for a Sumerian king as he will see himself as being the city's governor on behalf of its god, in this case Shara.

Although the records come from his principal rival, Lagash, he is accused of acting arrogantly when he rips up the stele of Mesalim to claim the fields of Gu'edena.

c.2455 - 2425 BC

Son. Founded the first empire. 'He who subjects the lands.'

c.2440s BC

Eannatum annexes virtually all of 'Post-Diluvian' Sumer, including Kish, Nippur, Umma, Uruk (briefly), Ur, and Larsa. In addition, he extends his realm to parts of Elam and along the Persian Gulf, apparently using terror as a matter of policy.

In time, Urur of Akshak leads a northern coalition against him but that is destroyed, with Akshak, along with Mari, recognising Lagash's supremacy. Only after Eannatum's reign, and a century later, is Lagash eclipsed by Umma under Lugalzaggesi, never again to be a great power.

c.2430 BC

Lugalure of Uruk helps Eannatum to defeat his arch-rivals at Umma after the latter launch an attack on Lagash. Umma is reduced to a tributary state with the defeat of its ruler, Enakalle.

As a way of resolving the ongoing conflict there, Eannatum extends the channel of the Inun-canal into the Gu'edena, dividing the fields in two and giving one side of the division to Umma. At the canal he inscribes the stele of the vultures to mark the event, and he also restores the stele of Mesalim.

The stele of the vultures describes the violent treatment which is meted out to his enemies while he claims the coveted (and quite possibly worshipped) title, 'king of Kish'. At the boundary-line of Ningirsu (patron god of Lagash), Eannatum built shrines ('sanctuaries') for Enlil, Ninhursag, Ningirsu, and Utu.

The conflict continues, however, and is recorded in detail. Through harvesting (presumably on Gu-edena), 'the men of Umma had eaten one storehouse-full of the grain of Nina [goddess of oracles], the grain of Ningirsu', so Eannatum penalises them. They have to purchase '144,000 gur, a great storehouse full [of grain, as repayment]'. The taking of this grain is not to be repeated in the future.

c.2425 - 2405 BC

Brother. High priest.

c.2425 BC

Urlumma of Umma drains the boundary canals of Ningirsu and of Nina, and destroys the protective shrines and the steles. Described as being 'as puffed up as the mountains', he crosses the boundary canal of Ningirsu, forcing Enannatum to offer battle at Ugigga, in the fields near Girsu.

Urlumma is utterly defeated by the king's nephew, Entemena, and flees, only to be killed at Umma. Then Enannatum establishes a vassal ruler at Umma in the form of the priest Ili, head of the temple of Zabalam and priest of Ininni of Esh in Girsu.

c.2405 - 2375 BC

Son. King. Last great ensi of Lagash.

c.2400 BC

As the new vassal ruler of Umma, Ili proves to be unfaithful to Lagash, instead continuing Urlumma's aggressive work against Lagash and its satellite city of Girsu. He drains the boundary canal of Ningirsu as far as the Tigris and close to the boundary of Girsu. The water is diverted to his advantage, and he takes a full storehouse of Lagash's grain.

Entemena has to declare renewed hostilities as the gods Enlil and Ninhursag do not permit such actions. Entemena fully restores the canal, but unspecified continued hostilities continue between the two city states until Umma is conquered by Sargon I as he builds his Akkadian empire.

This terracotta foundation peg of Entemena of Lagash is dated between 2404-2375 BC, and mentions a treaty with the king of Uruk

c.2375 - 2365 BC

Son.

c.2365 - 2359 BC

Usurper and oppressor. Either a priest or was installed by them.

c.2359 - 2352 BC

Another oppressor. Helped to the throne by the priesthood.

c.2352 - 2342 BC

Usurper. Dated to c.2700 BC in older chronologies.

c.2342 BC

Urukagina (Uruinimgina or Uru-inim-gina) destroys much of the old bureaucracy, ending the influence of the priests. He creates a near-idyllic state, but in the process weakens Lagash to the point that it cannot (or will not) defend itself from its mortal enemies in Umma.

Lugalzaggesi of Umma sacks Lagash and burns all of its holy temples, with the support of the priestly elite of Nippur. Urukagina flees to the town of Girsu, which does not seem to have fallen to Umma, and subsequently disappears from history.

c.2330 - 2193 BC

Lagash loses its independence to Sargon I's Akkadian empire (which also serves to end the internecine war between it and Umma). Akkadian controls in the south appear to be pretty loose though.

The priest-kings become Akkadian vassals until the empire is crippled by the Gutians, when the priest-kings regain their independence to form the 'Second Dynasty' of Lagash.

Second Dynasty (Lagash) (Sumer)
c.2193 - 2023 BC

After the conquest of Lagash by Agade around 2330 BC, local governors (with the title ensi) remained in place to oversee the city's activities for their overlord. It took until the Gutian invasion of central Mesopotamia around 2193 BC before freedom could be gained. The Akkadian empire was crippled by the invasion and many cities in the south took the opportunity to restore their independence, or at least assumed independence in all but name.

The priest kings of Lagash were restored under former ensi, Puzer-Mama, who founded the city's 'Second Dynasty'. Under him and his successors Lagash apparently prospered, being far enough south of the Gutian base near Agade to enjoy a higher level of freedom than before.

fl c.2260 BC

c.2254? BC

Lagash plays a part in Uruk's revolt against the Akkadian empire.

Foundation figures of Gudea, who was an energetic builder of temples. The peg figurines were placed in the foundations to commemorate the ruler's piety

fl c.2250 BC

fl c.2230 BC

fl c.2200 BC

Ensi. Vassal of the Akkadian empire.

fl c.2190s BC

Ensi. Vassal of the Akkadian empire. Became king.

c.2193 BC

Sumer is overwhelmed by an invasion of Gutians. They set up base near Agade and rule as overlords from there. Assumed to be around the same time, an opportunistic Puzer-Mama declares Lagash to be independent and himself to be king, the founder of the 'Second Dynasty' of rulers in the city.

Details for these kings - who retain the title of ensi (governor) - are extremely lacking and even the running order is open to interpretation and amendment, especially for the earliest names. Indeed, perhaps one of the first convincing reconstructions for the rulers of the dynasty, one which can explain all known details, has only emerged in the twenty-first century AD.

Ensi (governor).

Ensi (governor).

Ensi (governor).

Ensi (governor).

Ensi (governor).

Mentioned in festival contributions, but uncertain.

Ensi (governor).

fl c.2064 BC

Son.

c.2164 - 2144 BC

(On some lists Ur-Bau founds a third dynasty in Lagash).

c.2144 - 2124 BC

Son-in-law.

Gudea rises to local prominence during an apparent climate-induced collapse in the region, promoting artistic development and continuing the Akkadian kings' claims to divinity from his capital at Girsu. The figurine (below) of Gudea is, however, an interesting one.

It is beardless, while the name itself appears to contain the root 'gut-' which also forms the name of the Gutians - possibly coincidentally or perhaps in tribute. Who would be beardless, though? Mesopotamians all seem to be bearded in this period.

Any potential Indo-European involvement in the Gutians would likely also be bearded. An Egyptian would probably be bearded (but not always). Could Gudea have had an Egyptian parent? Or, dare it be said, is Gudea a woman?

A figurine of Gudea of Lagash, who came to prominence in southern Mesopotamia, for the most part outside of direct Gutian rule but still subject to its influence

However, Sumer is still subject to Gutian rule. After Gudea, the city of Lagash appears to lose its importance and almost completely fades from historical view.

c.2124 - 2119 BC

Son. Last vassal of the Gutians. Sometimes Ur-Ningursu II

c.2119 - 2117 BC

Brother.

c.2120 BC

Having claimed the kingship (or high kingship) of Sumer through his military success, Utuhegal of Uruk becomes something of a hero figure to his fellow Sumerians. He also appears to govern for a time from Lagash.

c.2117 BC

Left no inscriptions.

c.2117 - 2113 BC

Possible vassal of Uruk.

c.2113 BC

Utuhengal of Uruk appears to be a rare native Sumerian ruler following the Akkadian empire period and the Gutian phase in southern Mesopotamia. His eventual death is due to an accident while investigating a dam, after which he is succeeded by his son-in-law, Ur-Nammu of Ur.

c.2113 - 2110 BC

Son-in-law. Also ruled Umma.

Nammahani co-operates fully with the Gutians before their final expulsion and possibly in their attempts to re-invade. He is considered a traitor to Sumer and he is eventually killed by Ur-Nammu of Ur. The final four kings are all vassals of Ur.

c.2090 - 2080 BC

(On some lists Ur-Ninsuna founds a fourth dynasty in Lagash).

c.2080 - 2070 BC

Ensi (governor).

c. 2070 - 2050 BC

Ensi (governor).

c.2050 - 2023 BC

Ensi (governor).

c.2023 BC

Ir-Nanna declares independence from a steadily declining Ur. The king may continue to rule for some years afterwards but there are no records to show it. It seems likely that Lagash falls to Isin when that city assumes control of most of central Sumer.

Lagash (Amorite City State) (Southern Mesopotamia)

The Amorites had been inhabitants of Sumer for some centuries, and rose to fill the gap left by the end of Sumerian civilisation.

c.2004 BC

When the Elamites conquer Ur, they also take control of much of Sumer for a short period.

c.1998 BC

Lagash falls under the control of Isin when the latter captures Ur.

c.1920? BC

Gungunum, Isin's governor of the province of Lagash, seizes Ur. This move cuts Isin's vital trade route, economically crippling the city. Lagash now comes under the control of Ur's new independent rulers, while dominance of the city of Zabalam passes from Isin to Larsa.

c.300 - 250 BC

The remains of the E-Ninnu temple are razed to the ground and a fortress is built upon its ruins. Amid traces of the earlier temple built by Gudea, with bricks still bearing their cuneiform inscriptions, some newer bricks bear an inscription in Aramaic and Greek of a certain Hadad-nadin-akhe, ruler of a small, late Babylonian kingdom. This is within territory that had been part of the Seleucid empire since 305 BC. The date is corroborated by Greek coins at the site mentioning the kings of Characene (a district situated on the east bank of the Tigris, not very far from the junction with the Euphrates).

fl c.275 BC

A king of Characene.