Chapter 03 · 2334 – 2154 BCE

Akkadian Empire

Sargon brings rival city-states under imperial rule.

Illustration: A temple priestess and scribes working in an Akkadian-period courtyard
A temple courtyard at Ur, around 2300 BCE.

~2130 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses

Gudea 085

“(1') He mixed the clay in a pure place, and made the (first) brick in an undefiled place. He purified the foundation by carrying around fire, and anointed the foundation pegs with oil of princely fragrance.”

Source: Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Royal Inscriptions (ETCSRI), University of Vienna, edited by Gábor Zólyomi et al. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/etcsri/Q001517/

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~2130 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses

Gudea 086

One of the Gudea corpus inscriptions commemorating construction of the E-ninnu temple at Lagaš: a witness to the Sumerian ruler's self-presentation as pious builder rather than military conqueror.

“(1') ..., the builder Ninĝirsu's E-ninnu, ....”

Source: Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Royal Inscriptions (ETCSRI), University of Vienna, edited by Gábor Zólyomi et al. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/etcsri/Q001518/

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~2130 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses

Gudea 087

“(1') ..., the builder Ninĝirsu's E-ninnu-anzud-babbar, ....”

Source: Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Royal Inscriptions (ETCSRI), University of Vienna, edited by Gábor Zólyomi et al. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/etcsri/Q001519/

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~2130 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses

Gudea 088

“(1') ..., Gudea, ruler of Lagaš, ... the temple ....”

Source: Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Royal Inscriptions (ETCSRI), University of Vienna, edited by Gábor Zólyomi et al. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/etcsri/Q001520/

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~2130 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses

Gudea 089

“(1) To Bau, his lady, Lugal-durĝar, the merchant, dedicated this (vessel) for the well-being of Gudea, ruler of Lagaš.”

Source: Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Royal Inscriptions (ETCSRI), University of Vienna, edited by Gábor Zólyomi et al. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/etcsri/Q001521/

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~2130 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses

Gudea 090

“(1) To Bau, the kind woman, her lady, Ninala, (Gudea's) spouse, dedicated this (bowl) for the well-being of Gudea, ruler of Lagaš, and for her own well-being.”

Source: Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Royal Inscriptions (ETCSRI), University of Vienna, edited by Gábor Zólyomi et al. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/etcsri/Q001522/

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~2130 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses

Gudea 091

“(1) To Ĝeštinana, the lady of Saĝub, Zikalama, the stone-cutter, dedicated this (stand) for the well-being of Gudea, ruler of Lagaš.”

Source: Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Royal Inscriptions (ETCSRI), University of Vienna, edited by Gábor Zólyomi et al. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/etcsri/Q001523/

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~2130 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses

Gudea 093

“(1) For Ig-alima, her/his master, ... (this object) for the well-being of Gudea, ruler of Lagaš ....”

Source: Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Royal Inscriptions (ETCSRI), University of Vienna, edited by Gábor Zólyomi et al. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/etcsri/Q001525/

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