Shulgi

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Shulgi
𒀭𒂄𒄀
  • 3rd Dynasty of Ur
FatherUr-Nammu
MotherWatartum
King Shulgi foundation tablet
(c. 2094–2046 BC)
𒀭 𒐏𒋰𒁀
𒎏𒀀𒉌
𒂄𒄀
𒍑𒆗𒂵
𒈗 𒋀𒀊𒆠𒈠
𒈗𒆠𒂗
𒄀𒆠𒌵𒆤
𒂍𒀀𒉌
𒈬𒈾𒆕
DNimintabba.............. "For Nimintabba"
NIN-a-ni..................... "his Lady,"
SHUL-GI.................... "Shulgi"
NITAH KALAG ga...... "the mighty man"
LUGAL........................"King"
URIM KI ma............... "of Ur"
LUGAL ki en............... "King of Sumer"
gi ki URI ke................. "and Akkad,"
E a ni.......................... "her Temple"
mu na DU................... "he built"[4]
Foundation tablet of king Shulgi (c. 2094–2047 BC), for the Temple of Nimintabba in Ur. ME 118560 British Museum.[2][3] Inscription "For his Lady Nimintabba, Shulgi the mighty man, King of Ur and King of Sumer and Akkad, has built her Temple":[4] The traditional orientation is vertical, but modern transcription is based on the rotated script.

Shulgi (𒀭𒂄𒄀

Great Ziggurat of Ur, begun by his father Ur-Nammu. On his inscriptions, he took the titles "King of Ur", "King of Sumer and Akkad" and "King of the four corners of the universe". He used the symbol for divinity (𒀭) before his name, marking his apotheosis, from the 23rd year of his reign.[8]

Life and reign

Shulgi was the son of Ur-Nammu king of Ur and his queen consort Watartum. Year-names are known for all 48 years of his reign, providing a fairly complete contemporary view of the highlights of his career.[9]

Shulgi is best known for his extensive revision of the scribal school's curriculum. Although it is unclear how much he actually wrote, there are numerous praise poems written by and directed towards this ruler. He proclaimed himself a god in his 23rd regnal year,[10] and was recognized as such by the whole of Sumer and Akkad.[11]

Some early chronicles castigate Shulgi for his impiety: The Weidner Chronicle (ABC 19)[12] states that "he did not perform his rites to the letter, he defiled his purification rituals". CM 48[13] charges him with improper tampering with the rites, composing "untruthful stelae, insolent writings" on them. The Chronicle of Early Kings (ABC 20)[14] accuses him of "criminal tendencies, and the property of Esagila and Babylon he took away as booty."

Name

Early uncertainties about the reading of cuneiform led to the readings "Shulgi" and "Dungi" being common transliterations before the end of the 19th century. However, over the course of the 20th century, the scholarly consensus gravitated away from dun towards shul as the correct pronunciation of the 𒂄 sign. The spelling of Shulgi's name by scribes with the

deification during his reign, a status and spelling previously claimed by his Akkadian predecessor Naram-Sin.[8]

Personal glorification

Text of the "Self-praise of Shulgi (Shulgi D)".

Shulgi also boasted about his ability to maintain high speeds while running long distances. He claimed in his 7th regnal year to have run from Nippur to Ur, a distance of not less than 100 miles.[15] Kramer refers to Shulgi as "The first long distance running champion."[16]

Shulgi wrote a long royal hymn to glorify himself and his actions, in which he refers to himself as "the king of the four-quarters, the pastor of the black-headed people".[17]

Shulgi claimed that he spoke Elamite as well as he spoke Sumerian.[8]

Some scholars note how he self identified as a "mathematical god" and considers the state he ruled over as the "first mathematical state", citing his praise poems that emphasize his abilities in subtraction, addition calculation and accounting.[18]

Armed conflicts

While

mountain tribe) and Lulubum nine times between the 26th and 45th years of his reign.[19] In his 30th year, his daughter was married to the governor of Anshan; in his 34th year, he was already levying a punitive campaign against the place. He also destroyed Kimaš and Ḫurti (cities to the east of Ur, somewhere in Elam) in the 45th year of his reign.[20][19] Ultimately, Shulgi was never able to rule any of these distant peoples; at one point, in his 37th year, he was obliged to build a large wall in an attempt to keep them out.[15]

Susa

King Shulgi carnelian bead
(c. 2094–2047 BCE)
Harappan style, provenance unknown. Bearing a cuneiform commemorative inscription of Shulgi, dedicating the bead to the goddess Ninlil: "To Ninlil, his Lady, Shulgi, mighty man, king of Ur, king of the lands of Sumer and Akkad, dedicated (this bead) for his (own) life". British Museum, BM 129493[21][22][23][24] This type of carnelian bead was probably imported from India.[25]

Shulgi is known to have made dedications at

etched carnelian bead, now located in the Louvre Museum (Sb 6627) and inscribed with a dedication by Shulgi was also found in Susa, the inscription reading: "Ningal, his mother, Shulgi, god of his land, King of Ur, King of the four world quarters, for his life dedicated (this)".[30][31][32]

The Ur III dynasty had held control over Susa since the demise of

Bashime.[33]

  • Votive tablet of Shulgi, excavated in Susa: "For the goddess Ninhursag of Susa, his Lady, Shulgi, the great man, King of Ur, King of Sumer and Akkad, built her temple ". Louvre Museum, Sb 2884.[34][35]
    Votive tablet of Shulgi, excavated in Susa: "For the goddess
    Louvre Museum, Sb 2884.[34][35]
  • Foundation nail dedicated by Shulgi to the Elamite god Inshushinak, found in Susa. Louvre Museum
    Foundation nail dedicated by Shulgi to the
    Louvre Museum
  • Carnelian bead with dedicatory inscription by Shulgi, found in Susa. Louvre Museum, Sb 6627
    Carnelian bead with dedicatory inscription by Shulgi, found in Susa. Louvre Museum, Sb 6627

Modernization

Shulgi apparently led a major modernization of the Third Dynasty of Ur.[8] He improved communications, reorganized the army, reformed the writing system and weight and measures, unified the tax system, and created a strong bureaucracy.[8] He also promulgated the law code known as the Code of Ur-Nammu after his father.[8]

Year names

Old Babylonian copy (ca. 1900-1600 BC) of an Akkadian original.[36] Museum of the Ancient Orient
, Istanbul.

There are extensive remains for the year names of Shulgi, which have been entirely reconstructed from year 1 to year 48. Some of the most important are:[37]

1. Year : Šulgi is king
2. Year: The foundations of the temple of Ningubalag were laid
6. Year: The king straightened out the Nippur road
7. Year: The king made a round trip between Ur and Nippur (in one day)
10. Year: The royal mountain-house (the palace) was built
18. Year: Liwirmittašu, the daughter of the king, was elevated to the queenship of

Marhashi

21c. Year: Der was destroyed
24. Year: Karahar was destroyed
25. Year: Simurrum was destroyed
27. Year after: "Šulgi the strong man, the king of the four corners of the universe, destroyed Simurrum for the second time"
27b. Year: "Harszi was destroyed"
30. Year: The governor of
Anšan
took the king's daughter into marriage
31. Year: Karhar was destroyed for the second time
32. Year: Simurrum was destroyed for the third time
34. Year: Anshan was destroyed
37. Year: The wall of the land was built
42. Year: The king destroyed Šašrum
44. Year: Simurrum and
Lullubum
were destroyed for the ninth time
45. Year: Šulgi, the strong man, the king of Ur, the king of the four-quarters, smashed the heads of Urbilum, Simurrum, Lullubum and Karhar in a single campaign
46. Year: Šulgi, the strong man, the king of Ur, the king of the four-quarters, destroyed Kimaš, Hurti and their territories in a single day

— Main year names of Shulgi[38]

Marriages

Shulgi was a contemporary of the Shakkanakku rulers of Mari, particularly Apil-kin and Iddi-ilum.[39][40] An inscription mentions that Taram-Uram, the daughter of Apil-kin, became the "daughter-in-law" of Ur-Nammu, and therefore the Queen of king Shulgi.[41][42] In the inscription, she called herself "daughter-in-law of Ur-Nammu", and "daughter of Apil-kin, Lugal ("King") of Mari", suggesting for Apil-kin a position as a supreme ruler, and pointing to a marital alliance between Mari and Ur.[43][44]

Nin-kalla was a queen at the end of the king's reign. Many texts show that she was running the palace in Nippur.[45] Another important royal woman, but not a queen, was Ea-niša. She appears in many texts and had an influential position at the royal court, perhaps as concubine.[46] A similar status had Shulgi-simti who is known from a high number of texts presenting evidence for her economic power. Another important woman was Geme-Ninlilla who appears in texts at the end of the king's reign. Other, less well known royal women are Šuqurtum and Simat-Ea.

Shulgi is known to have had five sons, Amar-dDa-mu, Lu-dNanna, Lugal-a-zi-da, Ur-dSuen, Amar-Sin as well as one daughter, Peš-tur-tur.[47][48] The name of another daughter, Šāt-Kukuti, is known from a cuneiform tablet.[49]

Artifacts and inscriptions

  • Lugal Urimkima/ Lugal Kiengi Kiuri 𒈗𒋀𒀊𒆠𒈠𒈗𒆠𒂗𒄀𒆠𒌵, "King of Ur, King of Sumer and Akkad, on a votive tablet of Shulgi. The final ke4 𒆤 is the composite of -k (genitive case) and -e (ergative case).[50]
    Lugal Urimkima/ Lugal Kiengi Kiuri 𒈗𒋀𒀊𒆠𒈠𒈗𒆠𒂗𒄀𒆠𒌵, "King of Ur, King of Sumer and Akkad, on a votive tablet of Shulgi. The final ke4 𒆤 is the composite of -k (genitive case) and -e (ergative case).[50]
  • Shulgi completed the great Ziggurat of Ur
    Shulgi completed the great Ziggurat of Ur
  • Earrings inscribed in the name of Shulgi.[51]
    Earrings inscribed in the name of Shulgi.[51]
  • Seal of Shulgi, with Gilgamesh fighting a winged monster: "To Shulgi, son of the king, Ur-dumuzi the scribe, his servant".[52]
    Seal of Shulgi, with Gilgamesh fighting a winged monster: "To Shulgi, son of the king, Ur-dumuzi the scribe, his servant".[52]
  • Seal of Shulgi, with worshipper and seated deity: "Shulgi, the mighty hero, King of Ur, king of the four regions, Ur-(Pasag?) the scribe, thy servant".[52]
    Seal of Shulgi, with worshipper and seated deity: "Shulgi, the mighty hero, King of Ur, king of the four regions, Ur-(Pasag?) the scribe, thy servant".[52]
  • Mace head in the name of Shulgi (inscription upside down). British Museum.
    Mace head in the name of Shulgi (inscription upside down). British Museum.
  • Duck-shaped official weight of 2 mina, reign of Shulgi, from Ur, Iraq. British Museum.
    Duck-shaped official weight of 2 mina, reign of Shulgi, from Ur, Iraq. British Museum.
  • A tablet from the period of Shulgi, mentioning the "Meluhha" village in Sumer. British Museum, BM 17751.[53] "Meluhha" (𒈨𒈛𒄩𒆠) actually appears on the beginning of the other side (column II, 1) in the sentence "The granary of the village of Meluhha".[54][53]
    A tablet from the period of Shulgi, mentioning the "Meluhha" village in Sumer. British Museum, BM 17751.[53] "Meluhha" (𒈨𒈛𒄩𒆠) actually appears on the beginning of the other side (column II, 1) in the sentence "The granary of the village of Meluhha".[54][53]
  • Weight of +1⁄2 mina (actual weight 248 gr.) dedicated by King Shulgi and bearing the emblem of the crescent moon: it was used in the temple of the Moon-God at Ur. Diorite, beginning of the 21st century BC (Ur III). Louvre Museum, Department of Oriental Antiquities, Richelieu, first floor, room 2, case 6
    Weight of +1⁄2 mina (actual weight 248 gr.) dedicated by King Shulgi and bearing the emblem of the crescent moon: it was used in the temple of the Moon-God at Ur. Diorite, beginning of the 21st century BC (Ur III). Louvre Museum, Department of Oriental Antiquities, Richelieu, first floor, room 2, case 6
  • Tablet of Shulgi, glorifies the king and his victories on the Lullubi people and mentions the modern-city of Erbil and the modern-district of Sulaymaniyah, Sulaymaniyah Museum, Iraq
    Tablet of Shulgi, glorifies the king and his victories on the Lullubi people and mentions the modern-city of Erbil and the modern-district of Sulaymaniyah, Sulaymaniyah Museum, Iraq

See also

References

  1. ^ Full transcription: "CDLI-Archival View". cdli.ucla.edu.
  2. ^ "Nimintabba tablet". British Museum.
  3. ISBN 978-3-11-041300-7
    .
  4. ^ a b "(For the goddess) Nimintabba, his lady, Shulgi, mighty man, king of Ur, king of Sumer and Akkad, her house, built." in Expedition. University Museum of the University of Pennsylvania. 1986. p. 30.
  5. ISBN 9780195076189
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  6. ^ "Shulgi | king of Ur". Encyclopedia Britannica.
  7. ^ "Ur III Empire – Oxford Reference". Oxfordreference.com.
  8. ^
    ISBN 9780521564960
    .
  9. ^ "T6K2.htm". Cdli.ucla.edu. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  10. ^ Van De Mieroop, Marc. (2005). A History of the Ancient Near East ca. 3000–323 BC, Oxford: Blackwell Publishing, p. 76
  11. ISBN 0-393-00292-6
    .
  12. ^ "The Weidner Chronicle (ABC 19)". Archived from the original on 28 February 2006.
  13. ^ "The kings of Ur (CM 48)". Archived from the original on 10 May 2006.
  14. ^ "Chronicle of early kings (ABC 20)". Archived from the original on 28 February 2006.
  15. ^ a b Hamblin, William J. Warfare in the Ancient Near East to 1600 BC. New York: Routledge, 2006.
  16. ^ See his History Begins at Sumer, Chapter 31, "Shulgi of Ur: The First Long-Distance Champion".
  17. ISBN 978-1-134-75084-9
    .
  18. ^ "Red Traces, Part 11: The social origins of early mathematics". counterfire.
  19. ^
    ISBN 978-0-226-45238-8
    .
  20. ^ Ghobadizadeh, Hamzeh and Sallaberger, Walther, "Šulgi in the Kuhdasht Plain: Bricks from a Battle Monument at the Crossroads of Western Pish-e Kuh and the Localisation of Kimaš and Ḫurti", Zeitschrift für Assyriologie und vorderasiatische Archäologie, vol. 113, no. 1, pp. 3-33, 2023
  21. ^ (RIME 3/2, p. 161-162)
  22. ^ "DINGIR.NIN.LILA / NIN-A-NI / DINGIR.SHUL.GI / NITA-KALAG.GA / LUGAL URI/ .KI-MA / LUGAL.KI.EN / GI KI-URI3.KI / NAM.TI.LA NI.SHE3/ A MU.NA.RU." Inscription Translation: "To Ninlil, his lady, Shulgi, mighty man, King of Ur, King of Sumer and Akkad, has dedicated (this stone) for the sake of his life." "cylinder seal / bead". British Museum.
  23. ^ "CDLI-Archival View". cdli.ucla.edu.
  24. ISBN 978-0-521-56496-0
    .
  25. ISBN 978-1-58839-043-1
    .
  26. ISBN 978-0-521-56496-0
    .
  27. ^ "CDLI-Found Texts Louvre Museum Sb 2881". cdli.ucla.edu.
  28. ^ "Votive Foundation Nails". dla.library.upenn.edu.
  29. ISBN 978-0-521-56496-0
    .
  30. ISBN 9780521564960
    .
  31. ^ "Site officiel du musée du Louvre". cartelfr.louvre.fr.
  32. ^ "Shulgi perle (color image)". Louvre Museum.
  33. ^
    ISBN 978-1-4051-8988-0
    .
  34. ^ "Site officiel du musée du Louvre". cartelfr.louvre.fr.
  35. ^ "BnF – L'Aventure des écritures". classes.bnf.fr.
  36. ^ a b "Šulgi Year Names (Ist Ni 00394)". cdli.ox.ac.uk.
  37. ISBN 978-1-134-52062-6
    .
  38. ^ "Šulgi Year Names". cdli.ox.ac.uk.
  39. ISBN 978-1-62564-606-4
    .
  40. ISBN 978-1-883053-67-3
    .
  41. ISBN 978-1-5015-0522-5
    .
  42. ISBN 978-0-19-090303-9
    .
  43. ISBN 9789068317275
    .
  44. JSTOR 23295098
    .
  45. ^ T. M. Sharlach: An Ox of One's Own, Royal Wives and Religion at the Court of the Third Dynasty of Ur, Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston 2017, ISBN 978-1-5015-1447-0, 102-115
  46. ^ T. M. Sharlach: An Ox of One's Own, Royal Wives and Religion at the Court of the Third Dynasty of Ur, Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston 2017, ISBN 978-1-5015-1447-0, 140-157
  47. ^ Changyu Liu, "Prosopography of individuals delivering animals to Puzriš-Dagan in Ur III Mesopotamia", Akkadica 142/2, 2021, pp. 113-142
  48. ^ [1]Changyu Liu, "Prosopographical Statistics Appendix of the article 'Prosopography of individuals delivering animals to Puzriš-Dagan in Ur III Mesopotamia'", Cuneiform Digital Library Preprints, 24.0, 1 April 2022
  49. ^ Ali, Basil Bashar, and Khalid Salim Ismael, "Šāt-kukuti The Daughter of King Šulgi in a New Text from the Iraqi Museum", Athar Alrafedain 8.2, pp. 266-280, 2023
  50. ISBN 978-90-474-0340-1
    .
  51. ^ "CDLI-Archival View". cdli.ucla.edu.
  52. ^ a b Ward, William Hayes (1910). The seal cylinders of western Asia. Washington : Carnegie Inst. p. 27.
  53. ^ a b Simo Parpola, Asko Parpola and Robert H. Brunswig, Jr "The Meluḫḫa Village: Evidence of Acculturation of Harappan Traders in Late Third Millennium Mesopotamia?" in Journal of the Economic and Social History of the Orient Vol. 20, No. 2, 1977, p. 136-137
  54. ^ "Collections Online British Museum". britishmuseum.org.

External links

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Regnal titles
Preceded by King of Ur, Sumer and Akkad
ca. 21st century BCE 		Succeeded by
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