Shulgi
| Ancient Mesopotamia |
|---|
 |
| Euphrates · Tigris |
| Cities / Empires |
| Sumer: Uruk · Ur · Eridu |
| Kish · Lagash · Nippur |
| Akkadian Empire: Akkad |
| Babylon · Isin · Susa |
| Assyria: Assur · Nineveh |
| Dur-Sharrukin · Nimrud |
| Babylonia · Chaldea |
| Elam · Amorites |
| Hurrians · Mitanni |
| Kassites · Urartu |
| Chronology |
| Kings of Sumer |
| Kings of Assyria |
| Kings of Babylon |
| Language |
| Aramaic |
| Sumerian · Akkadian |
| Elamite · Hurrian |
| Mythology |
| Enûma Elish |
| Gilgamesh · Marduk |
Shulgi of Urim is the second king of the "Sumerian Renaissance". He reigned for 48 years, dated to 2047 BC–1999 BC short chronology (also tentatively dated to 2161 BC–2113 BC on the basis of a solar eclipse). Shulgi was the son of Ur-Nammu king of Ur; according to one later text (CM 48), by a daughter of the former king Utu-hegal of Uruk.
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 after his 20th regnal year[1]. Other early chronicles castigate him for his impiety: the Weidner Chronicle (ABC 19) states that but "he did not perform his rites to the letter, he defiled his purification rituals"; CM 48 charges him with improper tampering with the rites, composing "untruthful stelae, insolent writings" on them; and the Chronicle of Early Kings (ABC 20) accuses him of "criminal tendencies, and the property of Esagila and Babylon he took away as booty."
Shulgi also boasted about his ability to maintain high speeds while running long distances. For example, he claimed he once ran from Nippur to Ur, a distance of not less than 100 miles.[2] Samuel Noah Kramer speaks of him as "The first long distance runner champion".
Shortly after his father's death, Shulgi engaged in series of punitive wars against the Gutians to avenge his father's death. He also developed a period of expansionism later in his career until, ultimately finding himself unable to conquer highlander raiders and some others, he as a consequence built a large wall in an attempt to keep them out.[2]
Shulgi spent a great deal of time and resources in expanding, maintaining, and generally improving roads. He built rest houses along roads, so that the traveler could find a place where he could rest and drink fresh water or spend a night. For this last feat Kramer calls him the builder of the first inn.
See also
References
- ^ Van De Mieroop, Marc. (2005) A History of the Ancient Near East ca. 3000-323 BC, Oxford: Blackwell Publishing, p. 76
- ^ a b Hamblin, William J. Warfare in the Ancient Near East to 1600 BC. New York: Routledge, 2006.
| History of
Sumer: Notable Rulers of Sumer |
|
|---|---|
| Legendary Kings: | Alulim Dumuzid Ziusudra |
| First Dynasty of Kish: | Etana Enmebaragesi |
| First Dynasty of Uruk: | Enmerkar Lugalbanda Gilgamesh |
| First Dynasty of Ur: | Meskalamdug Mesannepada Puabi |
| Dynasty of Adab: | Lugal-Anne-Mundu |
| Third Dynasty of Kish: | Kubaba |
| Second Dynasty of Uruk: | Enshakushanna |
| First Dynasty of Lagash: | Ur-Nanshe Eannatum En-anna-tum I Entemena Urukagina |
| Third Dynasty of Uruk: | Lugal-Zage-Si |
| Dynasty of Akkad: | Sargon Enheduanna Manishtushu Naram-Sin Shar-Kali-Sharri Dudu Shu-turul |
| Second Dynasty of Lagash: | Puzer-Mama Gudea |
| Fifth Dynasty of Uruk: | Utu-hegal |
| Third Dynasty of Ur: | Ur-Nammu Shulgi Amar-Sin Shu-Sin Ibbi-Sin |
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