Chapter 03 · 2334 – 2154 BCE
Akkadian Empire
Sargon brings rival city-states under imperial rule.
~2130 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses
Pirig-me 1
“(1) For Ninĝirsu, the powerful warrior of Enlil, Piriĝ-me, ruler of Lagaš, child of Ur-Ninĝirsu, ruler of Lagaš, chosen by Nanše in the heart, whose name was proclaimed by Ninĝirsu, the child born by Ninsumun, constructed a weir on the Ursaĝ-ani canal.”
Source: Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Royal Inscriptions (ETCSRI), University of Vienna, edited by Gábor Zólyomi et al. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/etcsri/Q000881/
Read the full tablet entry~2130 BCE · Reconstructed composite — see ORACC entry for manuscript witnesses
Pirig-me 2add
“(1) To Ninmarki, his lady, Piriĝ-me, his child, dedicated this (human-faced bison) for the well-being of Ur-Ninĝirsu, ruler of Lagaš, and for his own well-being. (11) The name of this (object) is "The starving is the beloved of her heart".”
Source: Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Royal Inscriptions (ETCSRI), University of Vienna, edited by Gábor Zólyomi et al. https://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/etcsri/Q008911/
Read the full tablet entry~2130 BCE · BM 088308 — British Museum, London, UK
RIME 3/1.01.07.037, ex. add1245
In plain English
Gudea, ruler of Lagash, declares that he honored the mighty warrior-god Ningirsu, son of Enlil, by making everything fitting and splendid for him. He built the god's temple, the Eninnu — known as the 'White Thunderbird' — and restored it to its proper place.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“For Ningirsu, mighty warrior of Enlil, Gudea, ruler of Lagash, made the fitting things resplendent for him. His Eninnu, the White Anzu (temple), he built for him, he restored it for him (to its place).”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · high confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2130 BCE · WCMA 20.1.32 — Williams College Museum of Art, Williamstown, Massachusetts, USA
RIME 3/1.01.07.037, ex. add1287
In plain English
This inscription honors Ningirsu, Enlil's mighty warrior. Gudea, ruler of Lagash, made everything about the temple as splendid and fitting as it should be. He built Ningirsu's temple, the Eninnu — known as the White Thunderbird — and restored it, setting it back in its proper place.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“For Ningirsu, mighty warrior of Enlil, Gudea, ruler of Lagash, made (what is) fitting resplendent (for him); his Eninnu, the White Thunderbird, he built for him, (and) restored it for him to its place.”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · high confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2130 BCE · MU 4128 — Museum of Ancient Cultures, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
RIME 3/1.01.07.037, ex. add1338
In plain English
This inscription honors Ningirsu, Enlil's mighty warrior-god. Gudea, the ruler of Lagash, made everything fitting and splendid for him. He built the god's temple, the Eninnu — known for its emblem, the great White Anzu bird — and restored it properly to its place.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“For Ningirsu, the mighty warrior of Enlil, Gudea, ruler of Lagash, made fitting things resplendent for him. His Eninnu, (adorned with) the White Anzu, he built for him; he restored it to its place for him.”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · high confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2130 BCE · TUL LH 25 — Tsurumi University Library, Yokohama, Japan
RIME 3/1.01.07.037, ex. add1487
In plain English
This inscription honors Ningirsu, Enlil's mighty warrior-son. Gudea, the ruler of Lagash, carried out for him everything that was fitting and made it splendid. He built the Eninnu — Ningirsu's temple, marked by the White Thunderbird — for the god, and set it back in its proper place, restored.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“For Ningirsu, mighty warrior of Enlil, Gudea, ruler of Lagash, made resplendent what is fitting for him. His Eninnu, the White Anzud (Thunderbird), he built for him, he restored it for him (returned it to its place).”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · high confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2130 BCE · KWUL 02 — Kobe Women's University Library, Kobe, Japan
RIME 3/1.01.07.037, ex. add1488
In plain English
This inscription honors Ningirsu, the mighty warrior-god who serves Enlil. It records that Gudea, ruler of the city of Lagash, carried out a fitting and glorious deed: he built the Eninnu temple — the House of the White Anzu-bird, Ningirsu's sacred emblem — and restored it, setting it back in its proper place for the god.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“For Ningirsu, mighty warrior of Enlil, Gudea, ruler of Lagash, made the fitting thing resplendent (for him). The Eninnu, his (temple of the) White Anzu, he built for him; he restored it for him to its place.”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · high confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2130 BCE · MUL 22000-11412-1bis — Meiji University Library, Tokyo, Japan
RIME 3/1.01.07.040, ex. add06
In plain English
This inscription honors Ningirsu, Enlil's mighty warrior-god. Gudea, ruler of Lagash, made everything fitting and splendid in his honor, and built for him the temple called Eninnu, 'the White Thunderbird' (or 'White Anzu').
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“For Ningirsu, mighty warrior of Enlil, Gudea, ruler of Lagash, made fitting things resplendent for him; his Eninnu, the White Thunderbird (Anzu), he built for him.”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · high confidence
Read the full tablet entry