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 Statue O

“(1) Gudea, ruler of Lagaš, who built the temple of Ninĝišzida and the temple of Ĝeštin-ana. (i 1) For Ĝeštin-ana, the lady who grew with him, the beloved spouse of Ninĝišzida, his lady, Gudea, ruler of Lagaš, built her temple in Ĝirsu. He fashioned his statue, named it for her sake "Ĝeštin-ana looked at him with favour", and brought it before her into 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/Q001553/

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

Gudea Statue P

“(i 1) When Ninĝirsu, the powerful warrior of Enlil, had established a dwelling in the city and established fields and canals on the agricultural land for Ninĝišzida, child of Ninazu, the beloved of the gods, (and when) for Ninĝirsu, his master, Gudea, ruler of Lagaš, the just person who is loved by his personal god, had built his E-ninnu-anzud-babbar and the E-ĝidru, his temple of seven niches, then for Nanše, the mighty lady, his lady, he built her E-sirara, the mountain rising from among the houses, for the great gods of Lagaš he built their temples, (and) for Ninĝišzida, his personal god,…”

Source: Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Royal Inscriptions (ETCSRI), University of Vienna, edited by Gábor Zólyomi et al. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/etcsri/Q001554/

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

Gudea Statue Q

“(i 1) For Ninĝišzida, his personal god, Gudea, ruler of Lagaš, the builder of Ninĝirsu's E-ninnu, fashioned his own statue, named it for his sake "(Gudea) made the temple worthy of (Ninĝišzida)", and brought it before him into 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/Q001555/

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

Gudea Statue R

“(i 1) After having built Ninĝirsu's E-ninnu, Gudea, ruler of Lagaš, Ninĝirsu's true shepherd of reliable words, who (always) perfoms the rituals of the gods correctly, exempted Namḫani, the chief lamentation singer of the E-munus-gisa. from anyone entering his house (with claims for) for silver, bronze, corvée labour, (or) whatever property he has. In that year (Gudea) assigned an area of 6 bur ... field to him. (iii 2) .... He set it up for her in the E-munus-gisa on the appointed day. The name of this statue is "Gudea gave it to me."”

Source: Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Royal Inscriptions (ETCSRI), University of Vienna, edited by Gábor Zólyomi et al. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/etcsri/Q001556/

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

Gudea "Statue S"

“(ii 1) ... from the temple of the personal god .... May ..., Nanše, the lady of boundarieṣ Ninĝirsu, the king of weaponṣ Ĝatumdug, the mother of Lagaš, Ig-alima, the beloved šhild of Ninĝirsu, ..., and seat another man on his throne! May they put an end to his lineage! May they make his name disappear!”

Source: Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Royal Inscriptions (ETCSRI), University of Vienna, edited by Gábor Zólyomi et al. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/etcsri/Q001557/

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

Gudea "Statue T"

“(i 1) For Nisaba, lady of wisdom, ... lady .... (ii 1') ..., the boat-tower of Enlil, fashioned his own statue, (and) set it up in the temple before her for his 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/Q001558/

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

Gudea Statue U

“(3) ... of Lagaš, who built the E-sirara, the temple of Nanše. (i 1') For ..., his lady, Gudea, ruler of Lagaš, .... ... built his beloved divine audience chamber from fragrant cedarwood .... (iii 1') ...”

Source: Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Royal Inscriptions (ETCSRI), University of Vienna, edited by Gábor Zólyomi et al. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/etcsri/Q001559/

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

Gudea Statue W

“(i 1) ... Gudea, ruler of Lagaš, made an eternal thing appear: he built his 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/Q001561/

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