2112 – 2004 BCE
Ur III · Neo-Sumerian
A bureaucratic golden age, the Code of Ur-Nammu.
After the Akkadian collapse, the Third Dynasty of Ur restores Sumerian as the prestige language and builds an empire of paperwork. Tens of thousands of administrative tablets survive from this single century — more than from any other. Ur-Nammu's law code, predating Hammurabi by three centuries, also dates to here.
Primary sources
Tablets from this period
29267 tablets dated to Ur III · Neo-Sumerian — showing 24 below; browse all 29267.
RTC 263
3 talents 11 minas of premium wool, weighed out. Deficit: 29 minas. (Account of) Lu-Dumuzi. 3 talents 34 minas, [weigh]ed out. ... ... [...] ... wool of sheep [...] Ur-abba, governor. Year: Ur-Namma, the king, set the roads in order from the lower land to the upper land.
EconomyWriting & Literature
Code of Ur-Nammu
The oldest surviving law code in human history. The principle that the state — not the wronged family — defines and enforces justice begins here.
LawE-IGI.NIM-pa'e 1
(1) For Diĝir-mah, E-iginim-pa-e, ruler of Adab, ..., builder of the E-mah.
Law
E-IGI.NIM-pa'e 2
Commemorates E-iginim-pa'e of Adab's construction of the E-mah temple for the goddess Diĝir-mah, attesting royal building piety and the foundation-peg ritual at one of Sumer's lesser-documented city-states.
LawErridu-pizir 1
(colophon 1, 1) The inscription on its socle. (colophon 2, 1) The inscription .... This statue ....
LawErridu-pizir 3
(colophon 1, 1) The inscription on its socle. (colophon 2, 1) The inscription on his shoulder. (colophon 3, 1) Tablet with 3 inscriptions (from) the statues of Erridu-pizir.
LawGan-kug-sig 1 / CDLI Seals 001443 (CDLI Seals 001443 (physical))
(1) Gan-kunsig, erešdiĝir priestess of Pabilsaĝ.
LawGeme-Bau 1 (Prima del'alfabeto 06)
(1) To Šul-šagana, her personal god, Geme-Bau, erešdiĝir priestess of Bau, dedicated this for her life.
LawGiša-kidu 1
(1) When Šara became glorious, and Barag-irnun, spouse of Ĝiša-kidug, king of Umma, child of Ur-Luma, king of Umma, descendant of En-akale, king of Umma, daughter-in-law of Il, king of Umma, built a holy dais for Šara of the E-mah, then she presented Šara with this (object) for the E-mah for her well-being.
LawHala-Adda 1
(1) Dada, the governor of Šuruppag, (and) Hala-adda, the governor of Šuruppag, his child, strenghtened the gate of Sud with walls.
LawHala-Bau 1001
(1) To Šul-šagana, the beloved child of Ninĝirsu, her master, Ḫala-bau, the spouse of Lugal-irida, dedicated this (mace) for her well-being.
LawHammu-rapi 14 (Akkadian)
(1) For Utu, lord of heaven and earth, his master. (3) Hammu-rapi, who was appointed by An, who makes himself heard by Enlil, the favourite of Utu, the beloved shepherd of Marduk, the powerful king, king of Babylon, king of Sumer and Akkad, king of the four quarters, the king who renovated all the sanctuaries of the great gods, when Utu gave him the rule over Sumer and Akkad and entrusted their nose-rope into his hands, then for Utu, the lord who supports him, he built the E-babbar, his beloved temple in Larsam, (Utu’s) city of lordship.
LawHammu-rapi 16
(1) For Inana of Zabala, the lady whose fearsome radiance covers heaven and earth, his lady. (5) Hammu-rapi, who was appointed by An, who makes himself heard by Enlil, the favourite of Utu, the shepherd who makes Marduk's heart happy, the prince beloved by Inana, the powerful king, king of Babylon, king of Sumer and Akkad, king of the four quarters, the king who renovated all the sanctuaries of the great gods, when Inana, who makes the omens favourable for him, gave him the rule over Sumer and Akkad and entrusted their nose-rope into his hands, then for his beloved Inana, he built the E-zi-kalama, her beloved temple in Zabala, her city of ladyship.
LawHammu-rapi 2004
(1) Utu, the great lord of heaven and earth! Keep your obedient prince, Hammu-rapi, alive!
LawHammu-rapi 23add
(1) Aya, lady of the Ebabbar! Keep your obedient prince, Hammu-rapi, alive!
LawIdattu 1
(1) For Idattu, grandchild of Ebarat, child of Kindattu, Utu's shepherd, Inana's beloved, king of Anšan, king of the Šimaškians and Elam, Kiten-rakittapi, the grand vizier of Elam and chancellor, his servant, fashioned this (bowl).
LawKuda 1
(1) To Ningal, the divine lady of Urim, Kuda, the temple administrator of Inan, devotee of Utu, ....
LawKuda 1001 / CDLI Seals 001426 (CDLI Seals 001426 (physical))
(1) Nineša, en-priestess of Meš-saĝĝa-Unuga, child of Lugal-sila.
LawLagaš II Unidentified 1002
(1) ... Bau, the kind woman, the šhild of An, the lady of Iri-kug, ....
LawLagaš II Unidentified 1003
(1) ... Inana, lady of the E-ana ....
LawLagaš II Unidentified 1004
(1) ... the proteštive spirit of Tarsirsir, Bau, his lady, ....
LawLagaš II Unidentified 1005
(1) ... Meslamta-ea, his master, ....
LawLagaš II Unidentified 1006
(1) Nanše, the mighty lady....
LawLagaš II Unidentified 1007
(1) ... Ninegala, his lady ....
Law