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 094

“(back 1) To Ninegala, her lady, ... (this object) for the well-being of Gudea, ruler of Lagaš. (base 1') She fashioned (her statue) and brought it before her in the temple. The name of this statue is "Ninegala (is) my lady!".”

Source: Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Royal Inscriptions (ETCSRI), University of Vienna, edited by Gábor Zólyomi et al. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/etcsri/Q001526/

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

Gudea 095

“(1) To Ninmar, her/his lady, ... (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/Q001527/

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

Gudea 096

“(1) To ...., her/his lady, ... (this object) for the well-being of Gudea, ....”

Source: Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Royal Inscriptions (ETCSRI), University of Vienna, edited by Gábor Zólyomi et al. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/etcsri/Q001528/

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

Gudea 097

“(1) ..., 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/Q001529/

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

Gudea 098

“(1) To Ig-alima, her master, Ninala, the spouse of Gudea, ruler of Lagaš, dedicated this (mace).”

Source: Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Royal Inscriptions (ETCSRI), University of Vienna, edited by Gábor Zólyomi et al. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/etcsri/Q001530/

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

Gudea 099

“(i 1) To ..., her lady, Ninala, child of Ur-Bau, ruler of Lagaš, dedicated this (female statuette) for the well-being of Gudea, ruler of Lagaš, her spouse, and for her own well-being. The name of this statue is "My lady called me, (and) I built it on the appointed day."”

Source: Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Royal Inscriptions (ETCSRI), University of Vienna, edited by Gábor Zólyomi et al. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/etcsri/Q001531/

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

Gudea 100

“(1) Gudea, ruler of Lagaš: Lugal-agrigzid, the scribe, (is) his child.”

Source: Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Royal Inscriptions (ETCSRI), University of Vienna, edited by Gábor Zólyomi et al. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/etcsri/Q001532/

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

Gudea 101add

Records Gudea of Lagaš's construction of the E-ninnu temple for Ninĝirsu and the erection of a commemorative stela — evidence of the votive building programs through which Lagašite rulers articulated divine patronage.

“(1) For Ninĝirsu, the powerful warrior of Enlil, his master, Gudea, ruler of Lagaš, built his E-ninnu-anzud-babbar, (and) set up a stela before it.”

Source: Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Royal Inscriptions (ETCSRI), University of Vienna, edited by Gábor Zólyomi et al. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/etcsri/Q003228/

Read the full tablet entry