Sumerian King List

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The Sumerian King List is an ancient text in the Sumerian language that lists kings of Sumer from Sumerian and foreign dynasties. It records the location of "official" kingship, along with the rulers and the lengths of their rule. Kingship was believed to have been handed down by the gods, and could be passed from one city to another, reflecting perceived hegemony in the region.^[1] Throughout its Bronze Age existence, the document evolved into a political tool. Its final and single attested version, dating to the Middle Bronze Age, aimed to legitimize Isin's claims to hegemony when Isin was vying for dominance with Larsa and other neighboring city-states in southern Mesopotamia.^[1]

Composition

The list blends earlier, probably mythical kings with implausibly long reigns, with later, more plausibly historical dynasties. Although it cannot be ruled out that the earlier names in the list correspond to historic rulers who later became legendary figures, some Assyriologists view the pre-dynastic kings as a later fictional addition.^[2][1] Only one ruler on this list is known to be female: Kug-Bau "the (female) tavern-keeper", who alone accounts for the Third Dynasty of Kish.

The earliest name on the list whose existence has been authenticated through recent archaeological discoveries is that of En-me-barage-si of Kish (ca. 2600 BC). The fact that his name is also mentioned in the Epic of Gilgamesh has led to speculation that Gilgamesh himself might be historical.

Three dynasties are notably not included in this list: the Larsa dynasty, which vied for power with the (included) Isin dynasty during the Isin-Larsa period; and the two dynasties of Lagash, from before and after the Akkadian Empire, when Lagash exerted considerable influence in the region. Lagash in particular is known directly from archeological artifacts beginning ca. 2500 BC.

For lack of a more accurate source, the list is central to the chronology of the 3rd millennium BC. However, the fact that a number of the dynasties in the list probably reigned simultaneously in different cities makes it difficult to produce a strict chronology.^[1]

The earliest known inscriptions containing the list, such as the Weld-Blundell Prism,^[3][4] date from the early 2nd millennium BC.^[1] The later Babylonian and Assyrian king lists that were based on it still preserved the earliest portions of the list well into the 3rd century BC, when Berossus popularised the list in the Hellenic world.

The list

The spelling follows the Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature^[5] Early dates are approximate, and based on available archaeological context; for most early kings we have no information other than the King List itself. Beginning with the Lugal-zage-si and the Third Dynasty of Uruk (which was defeated by the well-documented Sargon of Akkad) we have a better idea of how given rulers fit into the chronology of the ancient Near East. The short (or low) chronology is used here.

Early Bronze Age I

It is unknown whether any of these Pre-dynastic rulers were historical. They may or may not correspond to the Jemdet Nasr period (in the Early Bronze Age), which ended by 2900 BC, immediately preceding the dynasts.^[6][7] These reigns were measured in sars — periods of 3600 years, the next unit up after 60 in Sumerian counting (3600 = 60x60) — and in ners — periods of 600 years.

Ruler	Epithet	Length of reign	Approx. dates	Comments
Pre-dynastic kings			30th cen. BC, or earlier
"After the kingship descended from heaven, the kingship was in Eridug. In Eridug, Alulim became king; he ruled for 28800 years."
Alulim		8 sars (28800 years)
Alalngar		10 sars (36000 years)
"Then Eridug fell and the kingship was taken to Bad-tibira."
En-men-lu-ana		12 sars (43200 years)
En-men-gal-ana		8 sars (28800 years)
Dumuzid, the Shepherd	"the shepherd"	10 sars (36000 years)
"Then Bad-tibira fell and the kingship was taken to Larag."
En-sipad-zid-ana		8 sars (28800 years)
"Then Larag fell and the kingship was taken to Zimbir."
En-men-dur-ana		5 sars and 5 ners (21000 years)
"Then Zimbir fell and the kingship was taken to Shuruppag."
Ubara-Tutu		5 sars and 1 ner (18600 years)
"Then the flood swept over." Excavations in Iraq have revealed evidence of localized flooding at Shuruppak (modern Tell Fara, Iraq) and various other Sumerian cities. A layer of riverine sediments, radiocarbon dated to ca. 2900 BCE, interrupts the continuity of settlement, extending as far north as the city of Kish. Polychrome pottery from the Jemdet Nasr period (3000-2900 BCE) was discovered immediately below the Shuruppak flood stratum.[8]

Early Bronze Age II

Early Dynastic I and II periods

First Dynasty of Kish

Ruler	Epithet	Length of reign	Approx. dates	Comments
First Dynasty of Kish			after ca. 2900 BC
"After the flood had swept over, and the kingship had descended from heaven, the kingship was in Kish."
Ngushur		1200 years
Kullassina-bel		960 years
Nangishlishma		670 years
En-tarah-ana		420 years
Babum		300 years
Puannum		840 years
Kalibum		960 years
Kalumum		840 years
Zuqaqip		900 years
Atab (or A-ba)		600 years
Mashda	"the son of Atab"	840 years
Arwium	"the son of Mashda"	720 years
Etana	"the shepherd, who ascended to heaven and consolidated all the foreign countries"	1500 years
Balih	"the son of Etana"	400 years
En-me-nuna		660 years
Melem-Kish	"the son of En-me-nuna"	900 years
Barsal-nuna	("the son of En-me-nuna")*	1200 years
Zamug	"the son of Barsal-nuna"	140 years
Tizqar	"the son of Zamug"	305 years
Ilku		900 years
Iltasadum		1200 years
En-me-barage-si	"who made the land of Elam submit"	900 years	ca. 2600 BC	the earliest ruler on the List confirmed independently from epigraphical evidence
Aga of Kish	"the son of En-me-barage-si"	625 years	ca. 2600 BC	contemporary with Gilgamesh of Uruk, according to the Epic of Gilgamesh [1]
"Then Kish was defeated and the kingship was taken to E-ana."

First Dynasty of Uruk

Ruler	Epithet	Length of reign	Approx. dates	Comments
First Dynasty of Uruk			ca. 27th – 26th century BC
Mesh-ki-ang-gasher of E-ana	"the son of Utu"	324 years
"Mesh-ki-ang-gasher entered the sea and disappeared."
Enmerkar	"the son of Mesh-ki-ang-gasher, the king of Unug, who built Unug (Uruk)"	420 years
Lugalbanda	"the shepherd"	1200 years
Dumuzid (Dumuzi)	"the fisherman whose city was Kuara." ("He captured En-me-barage-si single-handed.")*	100 years	ca. 2600 BC
Gilgamesh	"whose father was a phantom (?), the lord of Kulaba"	126 years	ca. 2600 BC	contemporary with Aga of Kish, according to the Epic of Gilgamesh [2]
Ur-Nungal	"the son of Gilgamesh"	30 years
Udul-kalama	"the son of Ur-Nungal"	15 years
La-ba'shum		9 years
En-nun-tarah-ana		8 years
Mesh-he	"the smith"	36 years
Melem-ana		6 years
Lugal-kitun		36 years
"Then Unug was defeated and the kingship was taken to Urim (Ur)."

Early Bronze Age III

Early Dynastic IIIa period

First dynasty of Ur

Ruler	Epithet	Length of reign	Approx. dates	Comments
First Dynasty of Ur			ca. 26th century BC
Mesh-Ane-pada		80 years
Mesh-ki-ang-Nanna	"the son of Mesh-Ane-pada"	36 years
Elulu		25 years
Balulu		36 years
"Then Urim was defeated and the kingship was taken to Awan."

Dynasty of Awan

Ruler	Epithet	Length of reign	Approx. dates	Comments
Dynasty of Awan			ca. 26th century BC
Three kings of Awan		356 years
"Then Awan was defeated and the kingship was taken to Kish."

Second Dynasty of Kish

Ruler	Epithet	Length of reign	Approx. dates	Comments
Second Dynasty of Kish			ca. 26th century BC
Susuda	"the fuller"	201 years
Dadasig		81 years
Mamagal	"the boatman"	360 years
Kalbum	"the son of Mamagal"	195 years
Tuge		360 years
Men-nuna	"the son of Tuge"	180 years
(Enbi-Ishtar)		290 years
Lugalngu		360 years
"Then Kish was defeated and the kingship was taken to Hamazi."

Early Dynastic IIIb period

(ca. 2500 – ca. 2271 BC)

The First Dynasty of Lagash (also ca. 2500 – ca. 2271 BC) is not mentioned in the King List, though it is well known from inscriptions

Dynasty of Hamazi

Ruler	Epithet	Length of reign	Approx. dates	Comments
Dynasty of Hamazi			ca. 2500 BC
Hadanish		360 years
"Then Hamazi was defeated and the kingship was taken to Unug (Uruk)."

Second Dynasty of Uruk

Ruler	Epithet	Length of reign	Approx. dates	Comments
Second Dynasty of Uruk			ca. 25th century BC
En-shag-kush-ana		60 years		said to have conquered parts of Sumer; then Eannatum of Lagash claims to have taken over Sumer, Kish, and all Mesopotamia. Kug-Bau of Kish is said to have gained independence from Lagash, and his Uruk, after Entemena's death.
Lugal-kinishe-dudu or Lugal-ure		120 years		contemporary with Entemena of Lagash
Argandea		7 years
"Then Unug was defeated and the kingship was taken to Urim (Ur)."

Second Dynasty of Ur

Ruler	Epithet	Length of reign	Approx. dates	Comments
Second Dynasty of Ur			ca. 25th century BC
Nanni		120 years
Mesh-ki-ang-Nanna II	"the son of Nanni"	48 years
(?)		2 years
"Then Urim was defeated and the kingship was taken to Adab."

Dynasty of Adab

Ruler	Epithet	Length of reign	Approx. dates	Comments
Dynasty of Adab			ca. 25th century BC
Lugal-Ane-mundu		90 years		said to have conquered all Mesopotamia from the Persian Gulf to the Zagros Mountains and Elam
"Then Adab was defeated and the kingship was taken to Mari."

Dynasty of Mari

Ruler	Epithet	Length of reign	Approx. dates	Comments
Dynasty of Mari			ca. 25th century BC
Anbu		30 years
Anba	"the son of Anbu"	17 years
Bazi	"the leatherworker"	30 years
Zizi of Mari	"the fuller"	20 years
Limer	"the 'gudug' priest"	30 years
Sharrum-iter		9 years
"Then Mari was defeated and the kingship was taken to Kish."

Third Dynasty of Kish

Ruler	Epithet	Length of reign	Approx. dates	Comments
Third Dynasty of Kish			ca. 25th century BC
Kug-Bau (Kubaba)	"the woman tavern-keeper, who made firm the foundations of Kish"	100 years		the only known woman in the King List; said to have gained independence from En-anna-tum I of Lagash and En-shag-kush-ana of Uruk; contemporary with Puzur-Nirah of Akshak, according to the later Chronicle of the É-sagila
"Then Kish was defeated and the kingship was taken to Akshak."

Dynasty of Akshak

Ruler	Epithet	Length of reign	Approx. dates	Comments
Dynasty of Akshak			ca. 25th – 24th century BC
Unzi		30 years
Undalulu		6 years
Urur		6 years
Puzur-Nirah		20 years		contemporary with Kug-Bau of Kish, according to the later Chronicle of É-sagila
Ishu-Il		24 years
Shu-Suen of Akshak	"the son of Ishu-Il"	7 years
"Then Akshak was defeated and the kingship was taken to Kish."

Fourth Dynasty of Kish

Ruler	Epithet	Length of reign	Approx. dates	Comments
Fourth Dynasty of Kish			ca. 24th – 23rd century BC
Puzur-Suen	"the son of Kug-Bau"	25 years
Ur-Zababa	"the son of Puzur-Suen"	400 (6?) years	ca. 2300 BC	according to the King List, Sargon of Akkad was his cup-bearer
Zimudar		30 years
Usi-watar	"the son of Zimudar"	7 years
Eshtar-muti		11 years
Ishme-Shamash		11 years
(Shu-ilishu)*		(15 years)*
Nanniya	"the jeweller"	7 years
"Then Kish was defeated and the kingship was taken to Unug (Uruk)."

Third Dynasty of Uruk

Ruler	Epithet	Length of reign	Approx. dates	Comments
Lugal-zage-si		25 years	ca. 2296 – 2271 BC (short)	said to have defeated Urukagina of Lagash, as well as Kish and other Sumerian cities, creating a unified kingdom; he in turn was overthrown by Sargon of Akkad
"Then Unug was defeated and the kingship was taken to Agade (Akkad)"

Akkadian Empire

Dynasty of Akkad

Ruler	Epithet	Length of reign	Approx. dates	Comments
Sargon of Akkad	"whose father was a gardener, the cupbearer of Ur-Zababa, became king, the king of Agade, who built Agade"	40 years	ca. 2270 – 2215 BC (short)	defeated Lugal-zage-si of Uruk, took over Sumer, and created the Akkadian Empire
Rimush of Akkad	"the son of Sargon"	9 years	ca. 2214 – 2206 BC (short)
Man-ishtishu	"the older brother of Rimush, the son of Sargon"	15 years	ca. 2205 – 2191 BC (short)
Naram-Suen of Akkad	"the son of Man-ishtishu"	56 years	ca. 2190 – 2154 BC (short)
Shar-kali-sharri	"the son of Naram-Suen"	25 years	ca. 2153 – 2129 BC (short)
"Then who was king? Who was the king?"
Irgigi Imi Nanum Ilulu	"and the 4 of them ruled for only 3 years"		ca. 2128 – 2125 BC (short)
Dudu of Akkad		21 years	ca. 2125 – 2104 BC (short)
Shu-Durul	"the son of Dudu"	15 years	ca. 2104 – 2083 BC (short)	Akkad falls to the Gutians
"Then Agade was defeated and the kingship was taken to Unug (Uruk)."

Fourth Dynasty of Uruk

(Possibly rulers of lower Mesopotamia contemporary with the Dynasty of Akkad)

Ruler	Epithet	Length of reign	Approx. dates	Comments
Fourth Dynasty of Uruk			ca. 2091? – 2061? BC (short)
Ur-ningin		7 years
Ur-gigir	"the son of Ur-ningin"	6 years
Kuda		6 years
Puzur-ili		5 years
Ur-Utu (or Lugal-melem)	("the son of Ur-gigir")*	25 years
"Unug was defeated and the kingship was taken to the army of Gutium."

Early Bronze Age IV

Gutian period

The 2nd Dynasty of Lagash (before ca. 2093 – 2046 BC (short)) is not mentioned in the King List, though it is well known from inscriptions.

Gutian Rule

Ruler	Epithet	Length of reign	Approx. dates	Comments
Gutian Rule			ca. 2147 – 2050 BC (short)
"In the army of Gutium, at first no king was famous; they were their own kings and ruled thus for 3 years."
Inkishush		6 years
Zarlagab		6 years
Shulme (or Yarlagash)		6 years
Silulumesh (or Silulu)		6 years
Inimabakesh (or Duga)		5 years
Igeshaush (or Ilu-An)		6 years
Yarlagab		3 years
Ibate of Gutium		3 years
Yarla (or Yarlangab)		3 years
Kurum		1 year
Apilkin		3 years
La-erabum		2 years		mace head inscription
Irarum		2 years
Ibranum		1 year
Hablum		2 years
Puzur-Suen	"the son of Hablum"	7 years
Yarlaganda		7 years		foundation inscription at Umma
(?)		7 years		Si-um or Si-u? — foundation inscription at Umma
Tirigan		40 days		defeated by Utu-hengal of Uruk
"Then the army of Gutium was defeated and the kingship taken to Unug (Uruk)."

Fifth Dynasty of Uruk

Ruler	Epithet	Length of reign	Approx. dates	Comments
Utu-hengal		conflicting dates (427 years / 26 years / 7 years)	ca. 2055 – 2048 BC (short)	defeats Tirigan and the Gutians, appoints Ur-Namma governor of Ur
"Then Unug was defeated and the kingship was taken to Urim (Ur)."

Ur III period

"Sumerian Renaissance"

(ca. 2047 – 1940 BC (short))

Third Dynasty of Ur

Ruler	Epithet	Length of reign	Approx. dates	Comments
Ur-Namma (Ur-Nammu)		18 years	ca. 2047 – 2030 BC (short)	defeats Nammahani of Lagash; contemporary of Utu-hengal of Uruk
Shulgi	"the son of Ur-Namma"	46 years	ca. 2029 – 1982 BC (short)	possible lunar/solar eclipse 2005 BC
Amar-Suena	"the son of Shulgi"	9 years	ca. 1981 – 1973 BC (short)
Shu-Suen	"the son of Amar-Suena"	9 years	ca. 1972 – 1964 BC (short)
Ibbi-Suen	"the son of Shu-Suen"	24 years	ca. 1963 – 1940 BC (short)
"Then Urim was defeated. The very foundation of Sumer was torn out. The kingship was taken to Isin."

Middle Bronze Age I

Isin-Larsa period

Independent Amorite states in lower Mesopotamia.

The Dynasty of Larsa (ca. 1961 – 1674 BC (short)) from this period is not mentioned in the King List.

Dynasty of Isin

Ruler	Epithet	Length of reign	Approx. dates	Comments
Dynasty of Isin			ca. 1953 – 1730 BC (short)
Ishbi-Erra		33 years		contemporary of Ibbi-Suen of Ur
Shu-ilishu	"the son of Ishbi-Erra"	20 years
Iddin-Dagan	"the son of Shu-ilishu"	20 years
Ishme-Dagan	"the son of Iddin-Dagan"	20 years
Lipit-Eshtar	"the son of Ishme-Dagan (or Iddin-Dagan)"	11 years		contemporary of Gungunum of Larsa
Ur-Ninurta	("the son of Ishkur, may he have years of abundance, a good reign, and a sweet life")*	28 years		Contemporary of Abisare of Larsa
Bur-Suen	"the son of Ur-Ninurta"	5 years
Lipit-Enlil	"the son of Bur-Suen"	5 years
Erra-imitti		8 years
Enlil-bani		24 years		contemporary of Sumu-la-El of Babylon. During his reign, the king's gardener, to celebrate the New Year was named 'king for a day' then sacrificed, the "king" died during the celebration; Enlil-Bani remained on the throne.
Zambiya		3 years		contemporary of Sin-Iqisham of Larsa
Iter-pisha		4 years
Ur-du-kuga		4 years
Suen-magir		11 years
(Damiq-ilishu)*	("the son of Suen-magir")*	(23 years)*

* These epithets or names are not included in all versions of the king list.

See also

• History of Sumer
• Kings of Assyria
• Chronology of the Ancient Near East
• Palermo stone

Notes

References

• Black, J.A., Cunningham, G., Flückiger-Hawker, E., Robson, E., Taylor, J., and Zólyomi, G. (1998) Translation of the Sumerian King List (alternate site), The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature (http://www-etcsl.orient.ox.ac.uk/), Oxford.
• Vincente, Claudine-Adrienne, "The Tall Leilan Recension of the Sumerian King List", Zeitschrift für Assyriologie 50 (1995), 234–270

Timeline of the Ancient Near East