Sumer
Early Civilization and The List of Kings
Sumer was one of the first civilisations to appear in the Fertile Crescent. The reason was not because the
fertile crescent was so fertile, it was because it was not fertile at all. The Sumerian people had a lack of
food, and so they needed somebody to disperse the food equally among everybody. This person became
a leader, and eventually a king. Kingship, according to the Sumerians, had descended from heaven. The
king-god of the Sumerians, Marduk, had created life and sent Kingship as well.
The List of Kings was a list written by the Sumerians, and is possibly the oldest record existing. It has
written Sumerian kings, and the time they ruled. These, though, can seem outrageous, as with the first
entry: "After kingship had descended from heaven... Alulim reigned 28,000 years as king." If this is true,
then either that means Alulim is a demigod or he just reigned a really long time. Most likely, it is the latter.
Most of the kings on the list are written in this fashion.
In Sumer, the most differing groups of people were the shepherds and the farmers. The first four kings of
Sumer were farmers, but the fifth was a shepherd named Dumuzi. The Goddess Inanna was ordered to
marry Dumuzi, but she objects, stating,
The shepherd! I will not marry the shepherd!
His clothes are coarse; his wool is rough.
I will marry the farmer.
The farmer grows flax for my clothes.
The farmer grows barley for my table.
Dumuzi persists and, after a lot of arguing as to who's family is better, wins by offering her fresh milk with
cream. It is very important that a shepherd became a King, as the farmers were having trouble in the recent
years, and they needed to work together with the shepherds.
Sumer was one of the first civilisations to appear in the Fertile Crescent. The reason was not because the
fertile crescent was so fertile, it was because it was not fertile at all. The Sumerian people had a lack of
food, and so they needed somebody to disperse the food equally among everybody. This person became
a leader, and eventually a king. Kingship, according to the Sumerians, had descended from heaven. The
king-god of the Sumerians, Marduk, had created life and sent Kingship as well.
The List of Kings was a list written by the Sumerians, and is possibly the oldest record existing. It has
written Sumerian kings, and the time they ruled. These, though, can seem outrageous, as with the first
entry: "After kingship had descended from heaven... Alulim reigned 28,000 years as king." If this is true,
then either that means Alulim is a demigod or he just reigned a really long time. Most likely, it is the latter.
Most of the kings on the list are written in this fashion.
In Sumer, the most differing groups of people were the shepherds and the farmers. The first four kings of
Sumer were farmers, but the fifth was a shepherd named Dumuzi. The Goddess Inanna was ordered to
marry Dumuzi, but she objects, stating,
The shepherd! I will not marry the shepherd!
His clothes are coarse; his wool is rough.
I will marry the farmer.
The farmer grows flax for my clothes.
The farmer grows barley for my table.
Dumuzi persists and, after a lot of arguing as to who's family is better, wins by offering her fresh milk with
cream. It is very important that a shepherd became a King, as the farmers were having trouble in the recent
years, and they needed to work together with the shepherds.
The Great Flood
After the first kings, the list tells us 'Then the flood swept over the earth.' This is elaborated more in the
Sumerian flood story.
Segment A
approx. 36 lines missing
1-10. …… sets up ……. "I will …… the perishing of my mankind; for Nintur, I will stop the annihilation of my
creatures, and I will return the people from their dwelling grounds. Let them build many cities so that I can
refresh myself in their shade. Let them lay the bricks of many cities in pure places, let them establish
places of divination in pure places, and when the fire-quenching …… is arranged, the divine rites and
exalted powers are perfected and the earth is irrigated, I will establish well-being there."
10-14. After An, Enlil, Enki and Ninḫursaĝa had fashioned the black-headed people, they also made
animals multiply everywhere, and made herds of four-legged animals exist on the plains, as is befitting.
Approx. 32 lines missing
Segment B
1-3.
3 lines fragmentary
4-5. "I will oversee their labour. Let …… the builder of the Land, dig a solid foundation."
6-18. After the …… of kingship had descended from heaven, after the exalted crown and throne of kingship
had descended from heaven, the divine rites and the exalted powers were perfected, the bricks of the cities
were laid in holy places, their names were announced and the …… were distributed. The first of the cities,
Eridug, was given to Nudimmud the leader. The second, Bad-tibira, was given to the Mistress. The third,
Larag, was given to Pabilsaĝ. The fourth, Zimbir, was given to the hero Utu. The fifth, Šuruppag, was given
to Sud. And after the names of these cities had been announced and the …… had been distributed, the
river ……, …… was watered, and with the cleansing of the small canals …… were established.
Approx. 34 lines missing
Segment C
1-27. ……seat in heaven. …… flood. …… mankind. So he made ……. Then Nintur ……. Holy Inanna made
a lament for its people. Enki took counsel with himself. An, Enlil, Enki and Ninḫursaĝa made all the gods
of heaven and earth take an oath by invoking An and Enlil. In those days Zi-ud-sura the king, the gudug
priest, ……. He fashioned ……. The humble, committed, reverent ……. Day by day, standing constantly at
……. Something that was not a dream appeared, conversation ……, …… taking an oath by invoking
heaven and earth. In the Ki-ur, the gods …… a wall. Zi-ud-sura, standing at its side, heard: "Side-wall
standing at my left side, ……. Side-wall, I will speak words to you; take heed of my words, pay attention to
my instructions. A flood will sweep over the …… in all the ……. A decision that the seed of mankind is to be
destroyed has been made. The verdict, the word of the divine assembly, cannot be revoked. The order
announced by An and Enlil cannot be overturned. Their kingship, their term has been cut off; their heart
should be rested about this. Now ……. What ……."
approx. 38 lines missing
Segment D
1-11. All the windstorms and gales arose together, and the flood swept over the ……. After the flood had
swept over the land, and waves and windstorms had rocked the huge boat for seven days and seven
nights, Utu the sun god came out, illuminating heaven and earth. Zi-ud-sura could drill an opening in the
huge boat and the hero Utu entered the huge boat with his rays. Zi-ud-sura the king prostrated himself
before Utu. The king sacrificed oxen and offered innumerable sheep.
12-17.
Six lines fragmentary
approx. 33 lines missing
Segment E
1-2. "They have made you swear by heaven and earth, ……. An and Enlil have made you swear by heaven
and earth, ……."
3-11. More and more animals disembarked onto the earth. Zi-ud-sura the king prostrated himself before
An and Enlil. An and Enlil treated Zi-ud-sura kindly ……, they granted him life like a god, they brought down
to him eternal life. At that time, because of preserving the animals and the seed of mankind, they settled Zi-
ud-sura the king in an overseas country, in the land Dilmun, where the sun rises.
12. "You ……."
approx. 39 lines missing
Having a flood story tells us either there was a big flood in Sumer, or that they were always afraid of one
happening, or possibly both.
Many stories are individual to cultures, but a great flood story seems to occur in nearly all the cultures in
the world at the time. The story is different in each, but most of them have a similar story, though they all
seem impossible anyways.
In Sumer, there is a 'Noah-figure", who is named Ziudsura, or Utnapishtim in some versions. Enlil, the
king of the gods, became exasperated because the roar of the men on the earth kept him from getting any
sleep. He convinced the other gods that they should wipe out mankind. The God Ea, who had sworn to
protect man, visits Ziudsura in a dream, and tells him that a flood is going to occur. And then,
the gods of the abyss rose up
the dams of the waters beneath were thrown down
the seven judges of hell lit the land with their torches
daylight became night
the land was smashed as a cup
water poured over the people as the tides of battle.
Ziudsura escaped in a boat with his family, a few animals, and as many others as he could save.
Another version of the story, the "Poem of Atrahasis", is Babylonian. Atrahasis means something like
'Super Wiseman'. Atrahasis, who is the wisest king on the earth, is warned of the flood and he builds an
ark. He knows though that he can only save a few people, and invites his subjects to a great banquet. They
thank him, but he just paces back and forth in grief.
So they ate from his abundance
and drank their fill
but he did nothing but come in, and go out,
come in, and go out,
never seated,
so sickened and desperate was he.
The most familiar version is of course the version in Genesis. Geologists searched for evidence of a flood,
and commonly found them. A possible theory as to how a flood could have occurred is that after the Ice
Age, large chunks of ice remained in the North Pole. As the temperature warmed up, the ice melted, and
water rose up over the land.
In the Sumerian flood story, an 'Eden' like paradise is lost with the flood. This place as described as a
place where
the lion does not kill,
the wolf does not seize the lamb,
the wild dog, devourer of kids, is unknown
he whose eyes hurt does not say: "My eyes hurt."
He whose head aches does not say: "My head aches."
After the first kings, the list tells us 'Then the flood swept over the earth.' This is elaborated more in the
Sumerian flood story.
Segment A
approx. 36 lines missing
1-10. …… sets up ……. "I will …… the perishing of my mankind; for Nintur, I will stop the annihilation of my
creatures, and I will return the people from their dwelling grounds. Let them build many cities so that I can
refresh myself in their shade. Let them lay the bricks of many cities in pure places, let them establish
places of divination in pure places, and when the fire-quenching …… is arranged, the divine rites and
exalted powers are perfected and the earth is irrigated, I will establish well-being there."
10-14. After An, Enlil, Enki and Ninḫursaĝa had fashioned the black-headed people, they also made
animals multiply everywhere, and made herds of four-legged animals exist on the plains, as is befitting.
Approx. 32 lines missing
Segment B
1-3.
3 lines fragmentary
4-5. "I will oversee their labour. Let …… the builder of the Land, dig a solid foundation."
6-18. After the …… of kingship had descended from heaven, after the exalted crown and throne of kingship
had descended from heaven, the divine rites and the exalted powers were perfected, the bricks of the cities
were laid in holy places, their names were announced and the …… were distributed. The first of the cities,
Eridug, was given to Nudimmud the leader. The second, Bad-tibira, was given to the Mistress. The third,
Larag, was given to Pabilsaĝ. The fourth, Zimbir, was given to the hero Utu. The fifth, Šuruppag, was given
to Sud. And after the names of these cities had been announced and the …… had been distributed, the
river ……, …… was watered, and with the cleansing of the small canals …… were established.
Approx. 34 lines missing
Segment C
1-27. ……seat in heaven. …… flood. …… mankind. So he made ……. Then Nintur ……. Holy Inanna made
a lament for its people. Enki took counsel with himself. An, Enlil, Enki and Ninḫursaĝa made all the gods
of heaven and earth take an oath by invoking An and Enlil. In those days Zi-ud-sura the king, the gudug
priest, ……. He fashioned ……. The humble, committed, reverent ……. Day by day, standing constantly at
……. Something that was not a dream appeared, conversation ……, …… taking an oath by invoking
heaven and earth. In the Ki-ur, the gods …… a wall. Zi-ud-sura, standing at its side, heard: "Side-wall
standing at my left side, ……. Side-wall, I will speak words to you; take heed of my words, pay attention to
my instructions. A flood will sweep over the …… in all the ……. A decision that the seed of mankind is to be
destroyed has been made. The verdict, the word of the divine assembly, cannot be revoked. The order
announced by An and Enlil cannot be overturned. Their kingship, their term has been cut off; their heart
should be rested about this. Now ……. What ……."
approx. 38 lines missing
Segment D
1-11. All the windstorms and gales arose together, and the flood swept over the ……. After the flood had
swept over the land, and waves and windstorms had rocked the huge boat for seven days and seven
nights, Utu the sun god came out, illuminating heaven and earth. Zi-ud-sura could drill an opening in the
huge boat and the hero Utu entered the huge boat with his rays. Zi-ud-sura the king prostrated himself
before Utu. The king sacrificed oxen and offered innumerable sheep.
12-17.
Six lines fragmentary
approx. 33 lines missing
Segment E
1-2. "They have made you swear by heaven and earth, ……. An and Enlil have made you swear by heaven
and earth, ……."
3-11. More and more animals disembarked onto the earth. Zi-ud-sura the king prostrated himself before
An and Enlil. An and Enlil treated Zi-ud-sura kindly ……, they granted him life like a god, they brought down
to him eternal life. At that time, because of preserving the animals and the seed of mankind, they settled Zi-
ud-sura the king in an overseas country, in the land Dilmun, where the sun rises.
12. "You ……."
approx. 39 lines missing
Having a flood story tells us either there was a big flood in Sumer, or that they were always afraid of one
happening, or possibly both.
Many stories are individual to cultures, but a great flood story seems to occur in nearly all the cultures in
the world at the time. The story is different in each, but most of them have a similar story, though they all
seem impossible anyways.
In Sumer, there is a 'Noah-figure", who is named Ziudsura, or Utnapishtim in some versions. Enlil, the
king of the gods, became exasperated because the roar of the men on the earth kept him from getting any
sleep. He convinced the other gods that they should wipe out mankind. The God Ea, who had sworn to
protect man, visits Ziudsura in a dream, and tells him that a flood is going to occur. And then,
the gods of the abyss rose up
the dams of the waters beneath were thrown down
the seven judges of hell lit the land with their torches
daylight became night
the land was smashed as a cup
water poured over the people as the tides of battle.
Ziudsura escaped in a boat with his family, a few animals, and as many others as he could save.
Another version of the story, the "Poem of Atrahasis", is Babylonian. Atrahasis means something like
'Super Wiseman'. Atrahasis, who is the wisest king on the earth, is warned of the flood and he builds an
ark. He knows though that he can only save a few people, and invites his subjects to a great banquet. They
thank him, but he just paces back and forth in grief.
So they ate from his abundance
and drank their fill
but he did nothing but come in, and go out,
come in, and go out,
never seated,
so sickened and desperate was he.
The most familiar version is of course the version in Genesis. Geologists searched for evidence of a flood,
and commonly found them. A possible theory as to how a flood could have occurred is that after the Ice
Age, large chunks of ice remained in the North Pole. As the temperature warmed up, the ice melted, and
water rose up over the land.
In the Sumerian flood story, an 'Eden' like paradise is lost with the flood. This place as described as a
place where
the lion does not kill,
the wolf does not seize the lamb,
the wild dog, devourer of kids, is unknown
he whose eyes hurt does not say: "My eyes hurt."
He whose head aches does not say: "My head aches."
Hereditary Rule
After the flood, kingship resumed as normal in Sumer. A new section is in the list, called "The First Dynasty
of Kish". Thirteen kings down the list is Etana.
Etana, he who ascended into heaven,
He who made firm all the lands,
He reigned 1,560 years as king.
And Balih, the son of Etana,
He reigned 400 years.
Almost without mention, kingship has become hereditary. This passage also states that he 'ascended into
heaven' and 'made firm all the lands'. This is not very descriptive, so we have to turn to a story written much
later.
About ten generations after the flood, hereditary rule began. Atab is the first king who becomes succeeded
by his son, and his grandson.
The next king, Etana, is faced with a difficulty.
I have honoured the gods and respected the spirits of the dead,
The dream-interpreters have made full use of my incense,
The gods have made full use of my lambs at the slaughter...
Remove my shame and provide me with a son!
The gods pitied Etana, and told him to ride upon an eagle's back and go to heaven. There he will find the
plant of birth, and the secret to fathering a son. The tablet broke off here, and the rest of the story is lost.
Obviously, though, the king list tells us that he "ascended into heaven" and Balih is "the son of Etana", so
he must have succeeded.
After the flood, kingship resumed as normal in Sumer. A new section is in the list, called "The First Dynasty
of Kish". Thirteen kings down the list is Etana.
Etana, he who ascended into heaven,
He who made firm all the lands,
He reigned 1,560 years as king.
And Balih, the son of Etana,
He reigned 400 years.
Almost without mention, kingship has become hereditary. This passage also states that he 'ascended into
heaven' and 'made firm all the lands'. This is not very descriptive, so we have to turn to a story written much
later.
About ten generations after the flood, hereditary rule began. Atab is the first king who becomes succeeded
by his son, and his grandson.
The next king, Etana, is faced with a difficulty.
I have honoured the gods and respected the spirits of the dead,
The dream-interpreters have made full use of my incense,
The gods have made full use of my lambs at the slaughter...
Remove my shame and provide me with a son!
The gods pitied Etana, and told him to ride upon an eagle's back and go to heaven. There he will find the
plant of birth, and the secret to fathering a son. The tablet broke off here, and the rest of the story is lost.
Obviously, though, the king list tells us that he "ascended into heaven" and Balih is "the son of Etana", so
he must have succeeded.
Click to Enlarge
Sumerian writing
Sumerian writing
Click to Enlarge
Sumerian Votive
figures
Sumerian Votive
figures
| Click to Enlarge Map of Sumer |
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