Position in chronology
E-anatum 01 (RIME 1.09.03.01 (Vulture Stele) composite)
Translation · reference
High confidence(o i 21) ... payed its interest-bearing loan, but took its barley rental. The king of Lagaš .... (o ii 23) Because of ..., the leader of Umma acted belligerently against it and defied Lagaš. Aya-kurgal, king of Lagaš, child of Ur-Nanše, .... (o iii 18) ... and he too defied Lagaš because of its own property. (o iii 23) The ... lion of Ĝirnun's innermost part, Ninĝirsu, let his voice out ...: "Umma ... my forage, my own property in the field of Gu-edena ... Lagaš .... Ninĝirsu, Enlil's warrior ....". (o iv 9) ... Ninĝirsu begot E-ana-tum. ... took delight in him. Inana took him with her, and…
Source: Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Royal Inscriptions (ETCSRI), University of Vienna, edited by Gábor Zólyomi et al. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/etcsri/Q001056/
Why it matters
Transliteration
Scholarly note
Sumerian royal inscription, published in the Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Royal Inscriptions (ETCSRI) by Gábor Zólyomi and collaborators. Translation reproduced from the ETCSRI edition. ORACC text Q001056.
Attribution
Image: .
Translation excerpted from Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Royal Inscriptions (ETCSRI), University of Vienna, edited by Gábor Zólyomi et al. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/etcsri/Q001056/.
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The earliest historical document in human history. Before this, we have lists, accounts, and dedications. Here, for the first time, a ruler tells us what happened — with names, places, and consequences.
The oldest surviving law code in human history. The principle that the state — not the wronged family — defines and enforces justice begins here.
Not the first law code, but the most complete and the most famous. Inscribed on a black diorite stele over two meters tall, displayed in a public place — law made visible, law made monumental.