Ur-Nanshe

This article is about the king of Lagash. For the Mariote singer with the same name, see Ornina.
Ur-Nanshe
𒌨𒀭𒀏
King of Lagash
Ur-Nanshe, seated, wearing flounced skirt. The text to the right of his head reads "Ur-Nanshe" (𒌨𒀭𒀏, UR-NAN). The text in front of him reads "Boats from the land of Dilmun carried the wood" (𒈣𒆳𒋫𒄘𒄑𒈬-𒅅, ma2 dilmun kur-ta gu2 giš mu-gal2).[1][2][3] Limestone, Early Dynastic III (2550–2500 BC). Found in Telloh (ancient city of Girsu). Louvre Museum.
Reignc. 2550  BC – 2500  BC
PredecessorLugal-sha-engur
SuccessorAkurgal
SpouseAbda?[4] Menbara-abzu[5]
IssueAkurgal, Lugal-ezem, Anekura, Mukur...ta, Anunpa, Menusu, Adatur[6]
Dynasty1st Dynasty of Lagash
FatherGunidu

Ur-Nanshe (Sumerian: 𒌨𒀭𒀏, UR-NANŠE) also Ur-Nina, was the first king of the First Dynasty of Lagash (approx. 2500 BCE) in the Sumerian Early Dynastic Period III. He is known through inscriptions to have commissioned many building projects, including canals and temples, in the state of Lagash,[7] and defending Lagash from its rival state Umma.[8] He was probably not from royal lineage, being the son of Gunidu (𒄖𒉌𒁺) who was recorded without an accompanying royal title.[8][9] He was the father of Akurgal, who succeeded him, and grandfather of Eannatum.[9] Eannatum expanded the kingdom of Lagash by defeating Umma as illustrated in the Stele of the Vultures and continued the building and renovation of Ur-Nanshe's original buildings.[10]

He ascended after Lugalshaengur (lugal-ša-engur), who was the ensi, or high priest of Lagash, and is only known from the macehead inscription of Mesilim.[11]

  1. ^ Louvre Pouysségur, Patrick , ed. "Perforated Relief of King Ur-Nanshe." Louvre Museum. Louvre Museum. Web. 13 Mar 2013.
  2. ^ Transliteration: "CDLI-Found Texts". cdli.ucla.edu.
  3. ^ Similar text: "CDLI-Found Texts". cdli.ucla.edu.
  4. ^ "CDLI-Found Texts". cdli.ucla.edu.
  5. ^ "CDLI-Found Texts". cdli.ucla.edu.
  6. ^ "CDLI-Found Texts". cdli.ucla.edu.
  7. ^ Louvre Pouysségur, Patrick , ed. "Perforated Relief of King Ur-Nanshe." Louvre Museum. Louvre Museum. Web. 13 Mar 2013.
  8. ^ a b CDLI Wiki University of Oxford, 14 Jan 2010. Web. 13 Mar 2013.
  9. ^ a b Van De Mieroop, Marc (2004). A History of the Ancient Near East: Ca. 3000-323 BC. Wiley. pp. 50–51. ISBN 9780631225522.
  10. ^ Hansen, Donald "Royal Building Activity at Sumerian Lagash in the Early Dynastic Period." Biblical Archaeologist. 55.4 (1992): 206-11. Print.
  11. ^ "CDLI-Found Texts". cdli.ucla.edu.