The Sumerian King List

Ryan Moorhen
Feb 3, 2015
7 min read

Sumerian King List

The Sumerian King List is an ancient manuscript originally recorded in the Sumerian language, listing kings of Sumer (ancient southern Iraq) from Sumerian and neighboring dynasties, their supposed reign lengths, and the locations of “official” kingship. Kingship was believed to have been handed down by the gods, and could be transferred from one city to another, reflecting perceived hegemony in the region. Throughout its Bronze Age existence, the document evolved into a political tool. Its final and single attested version, dating to the Middle Bronze Age, aimed to legitimize Isin’s claims to hegemony when Isin was vying for dominance with Larsa and other neighboring city-states in southern Mesopotamia.

The Weld-Blundell Prism – The Sumerian kings list artifact, displaying all four sides.

Composition

The list blends prehistorical, presumably mythical predynastic rulers enjoying implausibly lengthy reigns with later, more plausibly historical dynasties. Although the primal kings are historically unattested, this does not preclude their possible correspondence with historical rulers who were later mythicized. Some Assyriologists view the predynastic kings as a later fictional addition. Only one ruler listed is known to be female: Kug-Bau “the (female) tavern-keeper”, who alone accounts for the Third Dynasty of Kish. The earliest listed ruler whose historicity has been archaeologically verified is Enmebaragesi of Kish, ca. 2600 BC. Reference to him and his successor, Aga of Kish in the Epic of Gilgamesh has led to speculation that Gilgamesh himself may have been a historical king of Uruk. Three dynasties are absent from the list: the Larsa dynasty, which vied for power with the (included) Isin dynasty during the Isin-Larsa period; and the two dynasties of Lagash, which respectively preceded and ensued the Akkadian Empire, when Lagash exercised considerable influence in the region. Lagash in particular is known directly from archaeological artifacts dating from ca. 2500 BC. The list is important to the chronology of the 3rd millennium BC. However, the fact that many of the dynasties listed reigned simultaneously from varying localities makes it difficult to reproduce a strict linear chronology.

Sources

The following extant ancient sources contain the Sumerian King List, or fragments:

Apkullu-list (W.20030,7)
Babyloniaca (Berossus)
Dynastic Chronicle (ABC 18) including copies, K 11261+ and K 12054
Kish Tablet (Scheil dynastic tablet)
UCBC 9-1819 (“California Tablet”)
WB 62
WB 444 (Weld-Blundell Prism)

The last two sources (WB) are a part of the “Weld-Blundell collection”, donated by Herbert Weld Blundell to the Ashmolean Museum. WB 62 is a small clay tablet, inscribed only on the obverse, unearthed from Larsa. It is the oldest dated source (c. 2000 BC) containing the list. WB 444 in contrast is a unique inscribed vertical prism, dated c. 1817 BC, although some scholars prefer c. 1827 BC. The Kish Tablet or Scheil dynastic tablet is an early 2nd millennium BC tablet which came into possession of Jean-Vincent Scheil; it only contains king list entries for four Sumerian cities. UCBC 9-1819 is a clay tablet housed in the collection of the Museum of Anthropology at the University of California. The tablet was inscribed during the reign of the Babylonian King Samsu-iluna, or slightly earlier, with a minimum date of 1712 BC. The Dynastic Chronicle (ABC 18) is a Babylonian king list written on six columns, beginning with entries for the antideluvian Sumerian rulers. K 11261+ is one of the copies of this chronicle, consisting of three joined Neo-Assyrian fragments discovered at the Library of Ashurbanipal. K 12054 is another of the Neo-Assyrian fragments from Uruk (c. 640 BC) but contains a variant form of the antediluvians on the list. The later Babylonian and Assyrian king lists, preserved the earliest portions of the list well into the 3rd century BC, when Berossus’ popularized fragments of the list in the Hellenic world. In 1960, the Apkullu-list (Tablet No. W.20030, 7) or “Uruk List of Kings and Sages” (ULKS) was discovered by German archaeologists at an ancient temple at Uruk. The list, dating to c. 165 BC, contains a series of kings, equivalent to the Sumerian antediluvians called “Apkullu”.

The list

Early dates are approximate, and are based on available archaeological data; for most pre-Akkadian rulers listed, this king list is itself the lone source of information. Beginning with Lugal-zage-si and the Third Dynasty of Uruk (which was defeated by Sargon of Akkad), a better understanding of how subsequent rulers fit into the chronology of the ancient Near East can be deduced. The short chronology is used here.

Antediluvian rulers

None of the following predynastic “antediluvian” rulers has been verified as historical via archaeological excavations, epigraphical inscriptions, or otherwise. It is possible that they correspond to the Early Bronze Age Jemdet Nasr period culture which ended approximately 2900 BC, immediately preceding the dynastys, if they were not purely mythological inventions.

The antediluvian reigns were measured in Sumerian numerical units known as (units of 3600), (units of 600), and (units of 60).

Ruler	Epithet	Length of reignApprox. dates	Comments
Alulim		8 sars (28,800 years)Between 35th and 30th c. BC
Alalngar		10 sars (36,000 years)
En-men-lu-ana		12 sars (43,200 years)
En-men-gal-ana		8 sars (28,800 years)
Dumuzid, the Shepherd	10 sars (36,000 years)
En-sipad-zid-ana		8 sars (28,800 years)
En-men-dur-ana		5 sars and 5 ners (21,000 years)
Ubara-Tutu		5 sars and 1 ner (18,600 years)
Excavations in Iraq have revealed evidence of localized flooding at Shuruppak (modern Tell Fara, Iraq) and various other Sumerian cities. A layer of riverine sediments, radiocarbon dated to ca. 2900 BC, interrupts the continuity of settlement, extending as far north as the city of Kish. Polychrome pottery from the Jemdet Nasr period (3000-2900 BC) was discovered immediately below the Shuruppak flood stratum.

First Dynasty of Kish

Early Bronze Age II Early Dynastic I and II periods

Ruler	Epithet	Length of reignApprox. dates	Comments
Jushur		1200 yearshistoricity uncertain	names before Etana do not appear in any other known source, and their existence is archaeologically unverified
Kullassina-bel		960 years
Nangishlishma		670 years
En-tarah-ana		420 years
Babum		300 years
Puannum		840 years
Kalibum		960 years
Kalumum		840 years
Zuqaqip		900 years
(or		600 years
Mashda	840 years
Arwium	720 years
Etana	1500 years
Balih	400 years
En-me-nuna		660 years
Melem-Kish	900 years
Barsal-nuna	(	1200 years
Zamug	140 years
Tizqar	305 years
Ilku		900 years
Iltasadum		1200 years
En-me-barage-si	900 yearsca. 2600 BC	the earliest ruler on the List confirmed independently from epigraphical evidence
Aga of Kish	625 yearsca. 2600 BC	contemporary with

First Dynasty of Uruk

Ruler	Epithet	Length of reignApprox. dates	Comments
of	324 yearsca. 27th
Enmerkar	420 years
Lugalbanda	1200 years
(Dumuzi)	(	100 yearsca. 2600 BC
Gilgamesh	126 yearsca. 2600 BC	contemporary with
Ur-Nungal	30 years
Udul-kalama	15 years
La-ba’shum		9 years
En-nun-tarah-ana		8 years
Mesh-he	36 years
Melem-ana		6 years
Lugal-kitun		36 years

First Dynasty of Ur

Early Bronze Age III Early Dynastic IIIa period

Ruler	Epithet	Length of reignApprox. dates	Comments
Mesh-Ane-pada		80 yearsca. 26th century BC
Mesh-ki-ang-Nuna	36 years
Elulu		25 years
Balulu		36 years

Dynasty of Awan

Ruler	Epithet	Length of reignApprox. dates	Comments
Three kings of Awan		356 yearsca. 26th century BC

Second Dynasty of Kish

Ruler	Epithet	Length of reignApprox. dates	Comments
Susuda	201 yearsca. 26th century BC
Dadasig		81 years
Mamagal	360 years
Kalbum	195 years
Tuge		360 years
Men-nuna	180 years
(Enbi-Ishtar)		290 years
Lugalngu		360 years

The First Dynasty of Lagash (ca. 2500 – ca. 2271 BC) is not mentioned in the King List, though it is well known from inscriptions.

Dynasty of Hamazi

Early Dynastic IIIb period (ca. 2500 – ca. 2271 BC)

Ruler	Epithet	Length of reignApprox. dates	Comments
Hadanish		360 yearsca. 2500 BC

Second Dynasty of Uruk

Ruler	Epithet	Length of reignApprox. dates	Comments
En-shag-kush-ana		60 yearsca. 25th century BC	said to have conquered parts of Sumer; then
Lugal-kinishe-dudu or Lugal-ure		120 years	contemporary with
Argandea		7 years

Second Dynasty of Ur

Ruler	Epithet	Length of reignApprox. dates	Comments
Nanni		120 yearsca. 25th century BC
Mesh-ki-ang-Nanna II	48 years
(?)		2 years

Dynasty of Adab

Ruler	Epithet	Length of reignApprox. dates	Comments
Lugal-Ane-mundu		90 yearsca. 25th century BC	said to have conquered all

Dynasty of Mari

Ruler	Epithet	Length of reignApprox. dates	Comments
Anbu		30 yearsca. 25th century BC
Anba	17 years
Bazi	30 years
Zizi of Mari	20 years
Limer	30 years
Sharrum-iter		9 years

Third Dynasty of Kish

Ruler	Epithet	Length of reignApprox. dates	Comments
(Kubaba)	100 yearsca. 25th century BC	the only known woman in the King List; said to have gained independence from

Dynasty of Akshak

Ruler	Epithet	Length of reignApprox. dates	Comments
Unzi		30 yearsca. 25th – 24th century BC
Undalulu		6 years
Urur		6 years
Puzur-Nirah		20 years	contemporary with
Ishu-Il		24 years
Shu-Suen of Akshak	7 years

Fourth Dynasty of Kish

Ruler	Epithet	Length of reignApprox. dates	Comments
Puzur-Suen	25 yearsca. 24th – 23rd century BC
Ur-Zababa	400 (6?) yearsca. 2300 BC	according to the king list,
Zimudar		30 years
Usi-watar	7 years
Eshtar-muti		11 years
Ishme-Shamash		11 years
(Shu-ilishu)*		(15 years)*
Nanniya	7 yearsca. 2303-2296 BC (short)

Third Dynasty of Uruk

Ruler	Epithet	Length of reignApprox. dates	Comments
Lugal-zage-si		25 yearsca. 2296-2271 BC (	said to have defeated

Dynasty of Akkad

Akkadian Empire

Ruler	Epithet	Length of reignApprox. dates	Comments
Sargon of Akkad	40 yearsca. 2270-2215 BC (	defeated
Rimush of Akkad	9 yearsca. 2214-2206 BC (
Man-ishtishu	15 yearsca. 2205-2191 BC (
Naram-Sin of Akkad	56 yearsca. 2190-2154 BC (
Shar-kali-sharri	25 yearsca. 2153-2129 BC (
Irgigi Imi Nanum Ilulu	3 yearsca. 2128-2125 BC (
Dudu of Akkad		21 yearsca. 2125-2104 BC (
Shu-Durul	15 yearsca. 2104-2083 BC (	Akkad falls to the

Fourth Dynasty of Uruk

(Possibly rulers of lower Mesopotamia contemporary with the Dynasty of Akkad)

Ruler	Epithet	Length of reignApprox. dates	Comments
Ur-ningin		7 yearsca. 2091? – 2061? BC (
Ur-gigir	6 years
Kuda		6 years
Puzur-ili		5 years
Ur-Utu (or Lugal-melem)	(	25 years

The 2nd Dynasty of Lagash (before ca. 2093-2046 BC (short)) is not mentioned in the King List, though it is well known from inscriptions.

Gutian rule

Early Bronze Age IV Gutian period

Ruler	Epithet	Length of reignApprox. dates	Comments
Inkishush		6 yearsca. 2147-2050 BC (
Zarlagab		6 years
(or Yarlagash)		6 years
(or Silulu)		6 years
Inimabakesh (or Duga)		5 years
Igeshaush (or Ilu-An)		6 years
Yarlagab		3 years
Ibate of Gutium		3 years
(or Yarlangab)		3 years
Kurum		1 year
Apilkin		3 years
La-erabum		2 years	mace head inscription
Irarum		2 years
Ibranum		1 year
Hablum		2 years
Puzur-Suen	7 years
Yarlaganda		7 years	foundation inscription at
(?)		7 years	Si-um or Si-u? – foundation inscription at
Tirigan		40 days	defeated by

Fifth Dynasty of Uruk

Ruler	Epithet	Length of reignApprox. dates	Comments
Utu-hengal		conflicting dates (427 years / 26 years / 7 years)ca. 2055-2048 BC (	defeats

Third Dynasty of Ur

Ur III period “Sumerian Renaissance“ (ca. 2047 – 1940 BC (short))

Ruler	Epithet	Length of reignApprox. dates	Comments
(Ur-Nammu)		18 yearsca. 2047-2030 BC (	defeats Nammahani of
Shulgi	46 yearsca. 2029-1982 BC (	possible lunar/solar eclipse 2005 BC
Amar-Suena	9 yearsca. 1981-1973 BC (
Shu-Suen	9 yearsca. 1972-1964 BC (
Ibbi-Suen	24 yearsca. 1963-1940 BC (

Independent Amorite states in lower Mesopotamia.

The Dynasty of Larsa (ca. 1961-1674 BC (short)) from this period is not mentioned in the King List.

Dynasty of Isin

Middle Bronze Age I Isin–Larsa period

Ruler	Epithet	Length of reignApprox. dates	Comments
Ishbi-Erra		33 yearsca. 1953-1730 BC (	contemporary of
Shu-Ilishu	20 years
Iddin-Dagan	20 years
Ishme-Dagan	20 years
Lipit-Eshtar	11 years	contemporary of
Ur-Ninurta	(	28 years	Contemporary of
Bur-Suen	21 years
Lipit-Enlil	5 years
Erra-imitti		8 years	He appointed his gardener, Enlil-Bani, substitute king and then suddenly died.
Enlil-bani		24 years	contemporary of
Zambiya		3 years	contemporary of
Iter-pisha		4 years
Ur-du-kuga		4 years
Suen-magir		11 years
(	(	(23 years)*

* These epithets or names are not included in all versions of the king list.