Etana

For the singer, see Etana (musician).
Etana
𒂊𒋫𒈾
Fragment of the Epic of Etana, Akkadian, c. 1895-1595 BC
King of the First dynasty of Kish
Reign(probably fictional)
PredecessorArwium
SuccessorBalih
IssueBalih
The Myth of Etana. Seal impression of the Akkadian Empire period.

Etana (𒂊𒋫𒈾, E.TA.NA) was the thirteenth king of the first dynasty of Kish, according to the Sumerian King List. He is listed as the successor of Arwium, the son of Mashda, as king of Kish. The list also calls Etana "the shepherd, who ascended to heaven and consolidated all the foreign countries", and states that he ruled 1,560 years (some copies read 635) before being succeeded by his son Balih, said to have ruled 400 years. The kings on the early part of the SKL are usually not considered historical, except when they are mentioned in contemporary Early Dynastic documents. Etana is one of them.[1]

  1. ^ Marchesi, Gianni (2010). "The Sumerian King List and the Early History of Mesopotamia". M. G. Biga - M. Liverani (Eds.), ana turri gimilli: Studi dedicati al Padre Werner R. Mayer, S. J., da amici e allievi (Vicino Oriente - Quaderno 5; Roma): 231–248.