Mesilim

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Notable Sumerians History of Sumer • Mythology • King list
Pre-dynastic kings:	Alulim • Dumuzid, the Shepherd • En-men-dur-ana
1st Dynasty of Kish:	Etana • En-me-barage-si • Aga of Kish
1st Dynasty of Uruk:	Enmerkar • Lugalbanda • Gilgamesh
1st Dynasty of Ur:	Meskalamdug • Mesh-Ane-pada • Puabi • Mesilim of Kish
2nd Dynasty of Uruk:	En-shag-kush-ana
1st Dynasty of Lagash:	Ur-Nanshe • Eannatum • Entemena • Urukagina
Dynasty of Adab:	Lugal-Ane-mundu
3rd Dynasty of Kish:	Kug-Bau
3rd Dynasty of Uruk:	Lugal-zage-si
Dynasty of Akkad:	Sargon • En-hedu-ana • Man-ishtishu • Naram-Suen of Akkad • Shar-kali-sharri • Dudu of Akkad • Shu-Durul
2nd Dynasty of Lagash:	Puzer-Mama • Gudea
5th Dynasty of Uruk:	Utu-hengal
3rd dynasty of Ur:	Ur-Namma • Shulgi • Amar-Suena • Shu-Suen • Ibbi-Suen

Mesilim (c. 2500 BC) was ensi (king) of the Sumerian city-state Kish.

He is one of the first persons in history whose name is recorded in archaeological documents. He was a monarch in the 3rd Dynasty of Kish, reigned in the "Early Dynastic III" period (ca. 2500-2330 BC). Mesilim acted as mediator in a conflict between Lagash and Umma regarding the rights to use a irrigation canal situated on the border between the two city states. After asking the opinion of the god Satarana, Mesilim established a new border between Lagash and Umma and erected a pillar to mark it, on which he wrote his final decision. The conflict was not solved, though, because the king of Umma, Ush, destroyed the pillar in an act of defiance.