Tuesday, August 11, 2026 · 天火 · tianmu.org

Other Early Dynastic Royal Inscriptions — The Kings of Kish, Ur, Uruk, and Umma

✦ ─── ⟐ ─── ✦

The Kings of Kish, Ur, Uruk, and Umma

In the Early Dynastic period of Sumer (roughly 2900 to 2334 BCE), no single king ruled the land: a scatter of independent city-states each had its own line of rulers, and each ruler who could afford it had his name cut into a bowl, a mace head, a votive bead, or a temple foundation and dedicated it to a god. This library already publishes the best-documented of those lines on its own, the rulers of Lagaš from Ur-Nanše to URU-KA-gina; this volume gathers what is left of the Early Dynastic corpus once Lagaš is set aside — the kings of Kish, of Ur, of Uruk, and of Umma, a further handful of one- or two-text rulers from smaller cities, and a large body of dedications whose author's name did not survive at all.

Kish supplies some of the earliest named kings in the corpus, among them Me-silim and EN.ME-barage-si, both known to later Sumerian tradition as well as from their own dedications. Ur supplies the rulers associated with its Royal Cemetery, Mes-Ane-pada, A-Ane-pada, and Mes-KALAM-du, whose names survive chiefly on beads, bowls, and cylinder seals rather than lengthy inscriptions. Uruk supplies En-šakuš-Ana, Lugal-kigine-dudu, Lugal-KISAL-si, and Lugal-zage-si, the last of whom began as ruler of Umma before extending his rule over Uruk and, by his own inscriptions' account, much of Sumer; his one surviving text from his Umma years is kept with his later Uruk texts here rather than split across two places. Umma supplies Ur-LUM-ma and Giša-kidu, rulers remembered chiefly for their border dispute with Lagaš over the Gu'edena, the conflict commemorated on Lagaš's side by the Stele of the Vultures. Nearly all of these objects carry the barest of dedication formulas — a ruler's name and title, a god's name, a verb of building or giving — rather than narrative; length is not what makes this material worth having complete.

The translations below are ETCSRI's own, reproduced verbatim from the project's HTML reading editions; nothing here has been rephrased, improved, or supplied by this library. One text, Giša-kidu 2, has no published English translation at all yet and is marked as such rather than guessed at; a few others are translated only in part, and the untranslated stretch is noted in place. A large share of the volume, ninety-eight of its 172 texts, carries no ruler's name at all in ETCSRI's own catalogue — anonymous bowls, vessels, statues, and cones from Adab, Nippur, Ur, Uruk, Lagaš, and elsewhere, genuinely Early Dynastic royal dedications whose dedicator's name simply did not survive on the object or was never legible to begin with. Rather than guess at attribution, this edition keeps them together in their own part at the end, honestly unassigned.

Contents

Part I. Kish

EN.ME-barage-si, Utuk/Uhub, Me-silim, and Lugal-namnir-sum — seven texts.

EN.ME-barage-si 1

Vessel; alabaster; Tutub. RIME 1.07.22.0001; ETCSRI Q001241.

En-me-barage-si,....

EN.ME-barage-si 2

Vessel; alabaster; provenience unknown. RIME 1.07.22.0002; ETCSRI Q001242.

En-me-barage-si, king of Kiš.

Utuk/Uhub 1

Vessel; stone; Nippur. RIME 1.07.42.0001; ETCSRI Q001243.

For Zababa, Uhub, ruler of Kiš,....

Me-silim 1

Mace head; stone; Girsu (modern Tello). RIME 1.08.01.0001; ETCSRI Q001244.

Me-silim, king of Kiš, builder of Ninĝirsu's temple, diplayed this (mace) for Ninĝirsu. (At that time) Lugal-šag-engur was the ruler of Lagaš.

Me-silim 2

Bowl; stone; Adab. RIME 1.08.01.0002; ETCSRI Q001245.

Me-silim, king of Kiš, performed the burgi ritual in the E-kiri. (At that time) Nin-kisale-si was the ruler of Adab.

Me-silim 3

Vase; chlorite; Adab. RIME 1.08.01.0003; ETCSRI Q001246.

Me-silim, king of Kiš, the beloved child of Ninhursaĝa,....

Lugal-namnir-sum 1

Sword sleeve; bronze; Girsu (modern Tello). RIME 1.08.02.0001; ETCSRI Q001251.

Lugal-namnir-šuma, king of Kiš.

Part II. Ur

A-Anzu, Gan-kug-sig, Mes-KALAM-du, A-KALAM-du, Mes-Ane-pada, A-Ane-pada, and Elili — eighteen texts. The four Mes-KALAM-du items include one labeled in the source catalogue "the prince" rather than king; both designations are kept as the catalogue gives them.

A-Anzu 1 / CDLI Seals 001446

Seal (not impression); shell; Ur. RIME 1.13.01.0001; ETCSRI Q003658.

Aya-anzud.

Gan-kug-sig 1 / CDLI Seals 001443

Seal (not impression); lapis lazuli; Ur. RIME 1.13.02.1001.0001; ETCSRI Q003660.

Gan-kunsig, erešdiĝir priestess of Pabilsaĝ.

Mes-KALAM-du 1 / CDLI Seals 001439

Seal (not impression); shell; Ur. RIME 1.13.03.0001; ETCSRI Q003661.

Meš-kalam-dug, the king.

Mes-KALAM-du 2

Spear head; metal; Ur. RIME 1.13.03.0002; ETCSRI Q003662.

To Suen, Meš-kalam-dug,....

Mes-KALAM-du 3 / CDLI Seals 001441

Seal (not impression); lapis lazuli; Ur. RIME 1.13.03.0003; ETCSRI Q003663.

Pu-abum, the queen.

A-KALAM-du 1 / CDLI Seals 001440

Seal (not impression); lapis lazuli; Ur. RIME 1.13.04.0001; ETCSRI Q003664.

Aya-kalam-dug, king of Urim: Aya-šusikil-Ana is his spouse.

Mes-Ane-pada 1

Bead; lapis lazuli; Mari. RIME 1.13.05.0001; ETCSRI Q001329.

To An, his master, Meš-Ane-pada, king of Urim, child of Meš-kalam-dug, king of Kiš, dedicated this (bead).

Mes-Ane-pada 2 / CDLI Seals 006519

Sealing (with seal impression); clay; Ur. RIME 1.13.05.0002; ETCSRI Q003665.

Meš-Ane-pada, king of Kiš, spouse of the nugig priestess.

Mes-Ane-pada 3 / CDLI Seals 001442

Seal (not impression); lapis lazuli; Ur. RIME 1.13.05.0003; ETCSRI Q003666.

Nintur, the queen, the spouse of Meš-Ane-pada.

Mes-Ane-pada 4

Bowl; copper; Ur. RIME 1.13.05.0004; ETCSRI Q003667.

Nintur, the queen.

A-Ane-pada 1

Bead; gold; Tell al-Ubaid. RIME 1.13.06.0001; ETCSRI Q001330.

Aya-Ane-pada, king of Urim.

A-Ane-pada 2

Bowl; calcite; Ur. RIME 1.13.06.0002; ETCSRI Q001335.

For..., Aya-Ane-pada, king of Urim,....

A-Ane-pada 3

Tablet, bull figurine; marble, copper; Tell al-Ubaid. RIME 1.13.06.0003; ETCSRI Q001331.

For Ninhursaĝa: Aya-Ane-pada, king of Urim, child of Meš-Ane-pada, king of Urim, built a temple for Ninhursaĝa.

A-Ane-pada 4

Bowl; diorite; Tell al-Ubaid. RIME 1.13.06.0004; ETCSRI Q001332.

... when he built..., he šarried a holy šhariot to.... Inim-zid and Nanna-ursag dedišated this (bowl) for the well-being of Aya-Ane-pada.

A-Ane-pada 6

Tablet; clay; Ur. RIME 1.13.06.0006; ETCSRI Q001334.

To Ninazu, Luduga dedicated this for the well-being of Aya-Ane-pada.

A-Ane-pada 7add

Cone; bronze; Ur. RIME 1.13.06.0007add; ETCSRI Q004866.

The dwelling AB.IGI.BUR, the sanctuary, the mountain of snakes, where? Inana..., the Abzu (whose) god no crown (i.e., ruler) would disobey, its owner, the god of Aya-ane-pada, Enki, the father who created him, made his (= Aya-ane-pada’s) lordship apparent.

He (= Aya-ane-pada) (then) established the AB.IGI.BUR for him (= Enki), called its name for him, and fashioned his crown for him.

Mes-KALAM-du (the prince) 1

Vessel, lamp; gold, copper; Ur. RIME 1.13.07.0001; ETCSRI Q001328.

Meš-kalam-dug.

Elili 1

Cone; clay; provenience unknown. RIME 1.13.09.0001; ETCSRI Q001337.

For Enki, king of Eridug, Elili, king of Urim, built his Abzu.

Part III. Uruk

Lugal-kigine-dudu, Lugal-KISAL-si, Ur-zage, En-šakuš-Ana, and Lugal-zage-si — nineteen texts, including Lugal-zage-si's single earlier inscription as ruler of Umma (RIME 1.12.07.0001), kept here with his Uruk texts rather than separated by his change of seat.

Lugal-zage-si 1

Tablet; calcite; provenience unknown. RIME 1.12.07.0001; ETCSRI Q003657.

For Dumuzid, king of E. Lugal-zage-si, ruler of Umma, lumah priest of Nisaba, child of Bubu, ruler of Umma, lumah priest of Nisaba, built his temple for Dumuzid, king of E, for his well-being. He drove in its foundation pegs, and put its divine powers in good order.

He built the temple of Lisi. He built the temple of Nisaba. He built the E-ĝidru of Umma. He built the E-ĝidru of Ki'an.

Lugal-kigine-dudu 1

Vessel; stone; Nippur. RIME 1.14.14.0001; ETCSRI Q001368.

After he had blessed Lugal-kiĝeneš-dudu, Enlil, the king of all lands, combined the title of en and the title of king for him: he ruled then as en in Unug, while he ruled as king in Urim. In his great happiness Lugal-kiĝeneš-dudu dedicated this (vessel) for his well-being to Enlil, his beloved master.

Lugal-kigine-dudu 2

Vessel; stone; Nippur. RIME 1.14.14.0002; ETCSRI Q001370.

For An, king of all lands, and Inana, lady of the E-ana, Lugal-kiĝeneš-dudu, king of Kiš. After Inana combined the title of en and the title of king for Lugal-kiĝeneš-dudu, he ruled as en in Unug, while he ruled as king in Urim. When Inana blessed Lugal-kiĝeneš-dudu, Lugal-kiĝeneš-dudu dedicated this (vessel) to Inana, his lady for his (own) well-being.

Lugal-kigine-dudu 3a

Block, door socket; stone, diorite; Nippur. RIME 1.14.14.0003a; ETCSRI Q001367.

To Enlil, Lugal-kiĝeneš-dudu dedicated this.

Lugal-kigine-dudu 3b

Disk; limestone; Nippur. RIME 1.14.14.0003b; ETCSRI Q003668.

To Enlil, Lugal-kiĝeneš-dudu dedicated this (disk).

Lugal-kigine-dudu 5

Uncertain; stone; Nippur. RIME 1.14.14.0005; ETCSRI Q001372.

..., the scribe, Lugal-kiĝeneš-dudu....

Lugal-kigine-dudu 6

Vessel; calcite; Ur. RIME 1.14.14.0006; ETCSRI Q001369.

To Nanna, Anuzu, the merchant, dedicated this (vessel) for the well-being of Lugal-kiĝeneš-dudu, king of Kiš, for the well-being of Ninbanda, and for the well-being of Lugal-kisale-si.

Lugal-kigine-dudu 7add

Vessel; stone; Nippur. RIME 1.14.14.0007add; ETCSRI Q003909.

For/to Enlil, Lugal-kiĝeneš-dudu....

Lugal-KISAL-si 1

Vessel; stone; Nippur. RIME 1.14.15.0001; ETCSRI Q001374.

To Enlil, the king of all lands, his master, Lugal-kisale-si, king of Unug, king of Urim, firstborn child of Lugal-kiĝeneš-dudu, king of Unug, king of Urim, dedicated this (vessel) for his well-being.

Lugal-KISAL-si 2

Cone; limestone; Uruk. RIME 1.14.15.0002; ETCSRI Q003669.

For Namma, the spouse of An, Lugal-kisale-si, king of Unug, king of Urim, built the temple of Namma.

Lugal-KISAL-si 3

Bowl; calcite or aragonite; provenience unknown. RIME 1.14.15.0003; ETCSRI Q001376.

To..., Me-girimta, child born to Lugal-kisale-si, spouse of Muni-hursaĝ, dedicated this (bowl).

Ur-zage 1

Vase; stone; Nippur. RIME 1.14.16.0001; ETCSRI Q001250.

To Enlil, the king of all lands, and Ninlil, lady of heaven and earth, the grain-fed cow, (the source of) his butter, the spouse of Enlil, Ur-zag-e, king of Kiš, king of....

En-šakuš-Ana 1

Vessel; stone; Nippur. RIME 1.14.17.0001; ETCSRI Q001362.

To Enlil, king of all lands. When the gods commanded him, En-šakuš-ana, lord of Sumer, king of the Land, conquered Kiš, and captured Enbi-Eštar, king of Kiš. The leader of Akšak and the leader Kiš... the city that he also did conquer.... He returned... under their control, (but) he dedicated their statues, their precious metal and lapis lazuli, their timber and goods for Nibru to Enlil.

En-šakuš-Ana 2

Vessel; stone; Nippur. RIME 1.14.17.0002; ETCSRI Q001363.

It was the goods of conquered Kiš that En-šakuš-Ana dedicated to Enlil.

En-šakuš-Ana 3

Tablet; stone; provenience unknown. RIME 1.14.17.0003; ETCSRI Q001366.

For..., En-šakuš-Ana, en of Sumer, king of the Land, child of Elili, built his temple.

En-šakuš-Ana 4

Tablet; limestone; provenience unknown. RIME 1.14.17.0004; ETCSRI Q001365.

For..., Šuna-mugi, the grand vizier, built his temple for the well-being of En-šakuš-Ana, for his (own) well-being, and for the well-being of his spouse and child.

En-šakuš-Ana 5add

Vessel; stone; Nippur. RIME 1.14.17.0005add; ETCSRI Q004864.

... šaptured Enbi-Eštar, king of Kiš.... their statueṣ their prešious metal and lapis lazuli.....

Lugal-zage-si 1

Bowl; stone; Nippur. RIME 1.14.20.0001; ETCSRI Q001379.

To Enlil, king of all lands. When to Lugal-zage-si, king of Uruk, king of the Land, išib priest of An, lumah priest of Nisaba, child of Bubu, ruler of Umma, lumah priest of Nisaba, the one looked upon favourably by An, king of all lands, chief governor of Enlil, the one given wisdom by Enki, nominee of Utu, chancellor of Suen, general of Utu, provider of Inana, the child born by Nisaba, nourished on rich milk by Ninhursaĝa, the man of Meš-saĝĝa-Unuga, the servant reared by Ningirim, the lady of Uruk, chief steward of the gods, Enlil, the king of all lands, gave the rule over the Land, made the Land obedient to him, placed all the lands at his feet, made them submit to him from east to west, then he made the roads passable for him from the Lower Sea along the Tigris and the Euphrates to the Upper Sea.

As Enlil made him a man without opponent from east to west, all the lands lay down contentedly thanks to him, the Land made merry thanks to him, and the sovereigns of Sumer and the rulers of all lands bowed down before the territory of Uruk towards the princely divine powers because of him. At that time, while Uruk passed the days in joy, Ur raised his head high like a bull; while Larsam, Utu’s beloved city, made merry, Umma, Shara’s beloved city, lifted its great horns; while the territory of Zabala cried out like a ewe reunited with (its) lamb, Kian raised its neck high.

At the morning and evening meals, Lugal-zages-si, king of Uruk, king of the Land, provided lavish food offerings and libated sweet water for Enlil, his master, in Nippur (saying): ‘May Enlil, the king of all lands, by all means pray to An, his beloved father on my behalf, so that he may extend my life, the lands may lie down contentedly thanks to me, the people may spread wide as the grass thanks to me, the udders of heaven may be ready (to be milked) thanks to me, and the people experience prosperity thanks to me! May they not revoke the good fate determined to me, so that I remain the foremost shepherd forever!’ He dedicated this (vase) to Enlil, his beloved master, for his well-being.

[Part of this inscription is transliterated but not yet translated by ETCSRI; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Lugal-zage-si 2

Plaque; limestone; Uruk. RIME 1.14.20.0002; ETCSRI Q001381.

..., king of Unug, provider of Inana, the man of Meš-saĝĝa-Unuga, the child born by Nisaba,...,... by Inana, given wisdom by Enki, the servant reared by Ningirim,....

Part IV. Umma

Pa-bilga, Aka, Ur-LUM-ma, Il, Giša-kidu, and Bara-sagnudi — eight texts.

Pa-bilga … 1

Statuette; alabaster; provenience unknown. RIME 1.12.01.0001; ETCSRI Q001321.

For Enlil, Pabilga-gi, king of Umma.

Aka 1

Bead; lapis lazuli; provenience unknown. RIME 1.12.02.0001; ETCSRI Q001322.

Ak-Aštar, king of Umma.

Ur-LUM-ma 1

Tablet; lapis lazuli; provenience unknown. RIME 1.12.04.0001; ETCSRI Q001323.

For Enkigal, Ur-Luma, king of Umma, child of En-akale, king of Umma, built his temple.

Ur-LUM-ma 2

Tablet; silver; Umm al-Aqarib. RIME 1.12.04.0002; ETCSRI Q003656.

For Nagarpae, Ur-Luma, king of Umma, child of En-akale, king of Umma, built his temple.

Il 1

Tablet; alabaster; provenience unknown. RIME 1.12.05.0001; ETCSRI Q001324.

For Uttu, Il, king of Umma, child of E-anda-mua, descendant of En-akale, king of Umma, built his temple.

Giša-kidu 1

Plaque; gold; provenience unknown. RIME 1.12.06.0001; ETCSRI Q001325.

When Šara became glorious, and Barag-irnun, spouse of Ĝiša-kidug, king of Umma, child of Ur-Luma, king of Umma, descendant of En-akale, king of Umma, daughter-in-law of Il, king of Umma, built a holy dais for Šara of the E-mah, then she presented Šara with this (object) for the E-mah for her well-being.

Giša-kidu 2

Vase, tablet, cone; clay, stone, limestone; provenience unknown. RIME 1.12.06.0002; ETCSRI Q001380.

[This inscription — 85 transliterated lines — has no published English translation in ETCSRI yet; the project is an ongoing scholarly corpus, and no translation is invented here to fill the gap.]

Bara-sagnudi 1

Statuette; clay; Umma. RIME 1.12.08add.0001; ETCSRI Q004106.

For Šara, Barag-sagnudi, king of Umma, set up this (statue).

Part V. Smaller City-Lords — Adab, E'edin, Mari, and Nippur

One or two surviving texts apiece from rulers of Adab (Me-ba-LAK551, Bara-heNIdu, Lugalda-lu, E-IGI.NIM-pa'e, Mes-kigala, E-pa-e), E'edin (Aga-ak), Mari (An(u)bu), and Nippur (Nammah, Ur-Enlil, Abzu-kidu) — seventeen texts in all.

Me-ba-LAK551 1

Vase, bowl; clay; Adab. RIME 1.01.02.0001; ETCSRI Q001198.

E-kiri, Medurba, king of Adab.

Bara-heNIdu 1

Bowl; alabaster; Adab. RIME 1.01.03.0001; ETCSRI Q001214.

E-kiri, Baragane-dug,....

Bara-heNIdu 2001

Statue; stone; Adab. RIME 1.01.03.2001; ETCSRI Q001199.

To Ninšubur, Ur-akkila, the city elder, dedicated this (statuette) for the well-being of Baragane-dug, ruler of Adab.

Lugalda-lu 1

Statue; stone; Adab. RIME 1.01.04.0001; ETCSRI Q001203.

E-kiri, Lugalda-lu, king of Adab.

E-IGI.NIM-pa'e 1

Ram figurine; stone; Adab. RIME 1.01.07.0001; ETCSRI Q001202.

For Diĝir-mah, E-iginim-pa-e, ruler of Adab,..., builder of the E-mah.

E-IGI.NIM-pa'e 2

Plate, cone; bronze; Adab. RIME 1.01.07.0002; ETCSRI Q001201.

For Diĝir-mah, E-iginim-pa-e, ruler of Adab, built the E-mah. At its base, he drove in foundation pegs.

Mes-kigala 2001

Statue; alabaster; Adab. RIME 1.01.09.2001; ETCSRI Q003637.

To Ninšubur, the envoy of An, for the well-being of Meš-kigala, governor of....

Mes-kigala 2002add

Vessel; stone; Adab. RIME 1.01.09.2002add; ETCSRI Q004105.

To Barag-Enlile-ĝara, the king of Adab, E-zišagŋala, overseer of the soldiers, dedicated this (vase) for the well-being of Meš-kigala, governor of Adab.

Meš-kigala, governor of Adab, the builder of Iškur's temple,....

E-pa-e 1

Statue; stone; provenience unknown. RIME 1.01.10add.0001; ETCSRI Q004244.

The temple builder of Ninegala, E-pa-e, king of Adab.

Aga-ak 1

Statue; limestone; E'edin. RIME 1.05.01.0001; ETCSRI Q001183.

Tun-ak, ruler of....

An(u)bu 2

Mace head; stone; Ur. RIME 1.10.01.0002; ETCSRI Q001351.

To Utu, Anbu, king of....

An(u)bu 3

Cup; stone; Ur. RIME 1.10.01.0003; ETCSRI Q001350.

To Asum, Nin-meta-bare, child of Anbu, dedicated this (bowl).

Nammah 1

Bowl; gypsum; Nippur. RIME 1.11.01.0001; ETCSRI Q001255.

To RU-kalama, Pa-UN, spouse of Nammah, ruler of Nibru, dedicated this (bowl).

Ur-Enlil 1

Bowl; limestone; Nippur. RIME 1.11.02.0001; ETCSRI Q001257.

To Ninlil, Aba-Enlil, child of Lugal-niĝbarag-dug, the merchant,... (this bowl) for the well-being of Ur-Enlil, ruler of Nibru, (and) for the well-being of his spouse and child.

Ur-Enlil 2

Bowl; limestone; Nippur. RIME 1.11.02.0002; ETCSRI Q001258.

To Enlil, Ur-Enlil, ruler of Nibru,... as votive offering....

Abzu-kidu 1

Bowl; stone; Nippur. RIME 1.11.03.0001; ETCSRI Q001253.

To Inana, A-kalam, spouse of Abzu-kidug, ruler of Nibru, dedicated this (bowl).

Abzu-kidu 2

Bowl; stone; Nippur. RIME 1.11.03.0002; ETCSRI Q001254.

To...,..., child of Amar-Iškur, spouse of Abzu-kidug, dedicated this (bowl).

Part VI. Rulers of Unrecorded Seat

Five named rulers — Nigir-eša-tum, Arad-Dumuzida, Ur-ešlila, Geme-Bau, and Tulili — each known from a single object whose findspot, and so whose city, ETCSRI's own catalogue records as unknown.

Arad-Dumuzida 1

Bowl; bronze; provenience unknown. RIME 1.15.08add.0001; ETCSRI Q004250.

To Inana, lady of the E-ana, his lady, Arad-Dumuzida, temple administrator of Inana, dedicated this (bowl) for his life.

Nigir-eša-tum 1

Mace head; limestone; provenience unknown. RIME 1.15.09add.0001; ETCSRI Q004245.

To Gilgameš, Niĝir-eša-tum dedicated this (mace).

Ur-ešlila 1

Object type unrecorded; material unrecorded; provenience unknown. ETCSRI Q004247.

To Ninšubur, Ur-akkila, the barber, dedicated this (stone tablet) for his own well-being. His spouse is Gan-Utu. His children are Gan-šubur, Me-kikugta, Ursaĝ-Utu, Inim-Utu-zid,...,...,..., Nin-izuzu.

Geme-Bau 1

Mace head; stone; provenience unknown. ETCSRI Q004249.

To Šul-šagana, her personal god, Geme-Bau, erešdiĝir priestess of Bau, dedicated this for her life.

Tulili 1

Bowl; stone; provenience unknown. ETCSRI Q004251.

To Inana, Tulili, child of...,....

Part VII. Unattributed Dedications

Ninety-eight objects whose dedicator's name is not recorded in ETCSRI's own catalogue at all, from Adab, Ešnunna, Lagaš, Nippur, Sippar, Šuruppak, Tutub, Ur, and Uruk, plus findspot-unknown pieces. Grouped here honestly rather than guessed into a false attribution.

Unnamed Rulers of Lagaš 3

Bowl; alabaster; Girsu (modern Tello). RIME 1.09.10.0003; ETCSRI Q003655.

..., ruler of Lagaš,....

Unnamed Rulers of Lagaš 4add

Stone; black stone; Girsu (modern Tello). RIME 1.09.10.0004add; ETCSRI Q004868.

..., beloved of Šul-šagana, supported by Ig-alima, who submits to the orders of Nindara, whose name was proclaimed by Hendursaĝ, the child born to...,....

Anonymous Nippur 29

Bowl; alabaster; Nippur. RIME 1.15.05add.0001; ETCSRI Q001284.

To Inana, Ak-Enlila, the chief merchant, child of..., dedicated this (vessel).

Anonymous unclear 1

Mace head; stone; Umm al-Jir. RIME 1.15.07add.0001; ETCSRI Q004872.

..., king of Kiš.

Anonymous Nippur 65add

Vase; alabaster; Nippur. RIME 1.15.42add.0001; ETCSRI Q004246.

..., the chief governor of Enlil.

Anonymous Lagaš 31add

Bowl; alabaster; Girsu (modern Tello). RIME 1.15.43add.0001; ETCSRI Q004248.

(This bowl) is the property of Lama.

Anonymous Lagaš 01

Bowl; stone; Girsu (modern Tello). ETCSRI Q001173.

..., he displayed his booty for Bau.

Anonymous Lagaš 02

Bowl; stone; Girsu (modern Tello). ETCSRI Q001174.

For Bau, the kind woman, Luma-mešni, scribe of the granary supervisor,... for his well-being.

Anonymous Lagaš 04

Vessel; stone; Girsu (modern Tello). ETCSRI Q001176.

... dedišated this (vessel) for... to Ninĝirsu.

Anonymous Lagaš 05

Pebble; stone; Girsu (modern Tello). ETCSRI Q001177.

..., ruler of Lagaš,....

Anonymous Lagaš 06

Pebble; stone; Girsu (modern Tello). ETCSRI Q001178.

... Lugal-mudakuš fashioned... for Lugal-Uruba.....

Anonymous Lagaš 07

Anthropomorphic statue; stone; Girsu (modern Tello). ETCSRI Q001179.

To Ninĝirsu, Dudu, the scribe, and Aya-anzud dedicated this (statue).

Anonymous Lagaš 10

Cone; clay; Girsu (modern Tello). ETCSRI Q001181.

For..., he plowed the fields of the Gu-edena.... guru....

Anonymous Lagaš 13

Bowl; stone; Lagash. ETCSRI Q001184.

To Ninĝirsu of the Bagara, Udbikura, the envoy, dedicated this (bowl).

Anonymous Lagaš 14

Vessel; stone; Lagash. ETCSRI Q001185.

To Ninĝirsu of the Bagara,... dedicated this (bowl).

Anonymous Lagaš 15

Mace head; clay; Lagash. ETCSRI Q001186.

To Ninĝirsu of the Bagara,... the stone-cutter, child of Ama-abzu-si, the stone-cutter, dedicated this (mace).

Anonymous Lagaš 16

Bowl; stone; Lagash. ETCSRI Q001187.

To Ninĝirsu of the Bagara,....

Anonymous Lagaš 17

Block; stone; Lagash. ETCSRI Q001188.

To Inana of the Ebgal,....

Anonymous Lagaš 18

Mace head; stone; Lagash. ETCSRI Q001189.

....

Anonymous Lagaš 19

Cone; clay; Lagash. ETCSRI Q001190.

... king of Lagaš....... gold....

Anonymous Lagaš 20

Cylinder; clay; Lagash. ETCSRI Q001191.

Lugal-uma, child of...,....

Anonymous Lagaš 24

Uncertain; stone; Lagash. ETCSRI Q001192.

....

Anonymous Lagaš 25

Uncertain; stone; Lagash. ETCSRI Q001193.

... Enki........ Nanše....

Anonymous Lagaš 26

Anthropomorphic statue; stone; Lagash. ETCSRI Q001194.

..., whose name was proclaimed by Enlil, chosen by Nanše in the heart, who makes the foreign lands submit to Ninĝirsu,..., (when Ninĝirsu) placed all lands in his hand, and placed the rebellious lands at his feet,....

Anonymous Lagaš 28

Vessel; alabaster; Girsu (modern Tello). ETCSRI Q001195.

For Bau.

Anonymous Adab 07

Bowl; alabaster; Adab. ETCSRI Q001212.

E-kiri, Ama-ana-ak, spouse of Inim-Utu-zid.

Anonymous Adab 08

Vase; lava; Adab. ETCSRI Q001213.

Diĝir-mah.

Anonymous Adab 13

Vase; diorite; Adab. ETCSRI Q001218.

E-kiri, Šubur.

Anonymous Ešnuna 1

Statue; stone; Diyala. ETCSRI Q001223.

To...,... dedicated this (object) for his own well-being and for the well-being of his spouse and children.

Anonymous Ešnuna 2

Statue; stone; Ešnunna. ETCSRI Q001224.

To Abu, Lugal-kisale-si, child of Ardu, dedicated this (vessel).

Anonymous Fara 4

Vessel; stone; Šuruppak. ETCSRI Q001228.

Nin-egida, Me-barag-abzu.

Anonymous Khafaje 11

Statue; stone; Tutub. ETCSRI Q001239.

Ur-Ninkilima, the overseer.

Anonymous Nippur 01

Plaque; clay; Nippur. ETCSRI Q001259.

For Inana of Eden, Ur-Enlil, the chief merchant, dedicated this (plaque).

Anonymous Nippur 02

Vase; steatite; Nippur. ETCSRI Q001260.

To... dedicated this (vase)... for the well-being of his spouse and child.

... Aya-barag-ana, his spouse, dedišated this (vase) as a votive offering.

[Part of this inscription is transliterated but not yet translated by ETCSRI; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Anonymous Nippur 04

Vessel; limestone; Nippur. ETCSRI Q001262.

For Nintinuga, Nin-ennu dedicated this (vessel) as votive offering.

Anonymous Nippur 05

Vessel; limestone; Nippur. ETCSRI Q001263.

For Nintinuga, Puzur-Mama, the merchant,....

Anonymous Nippur 06

Vessel; limestone; Nippur. ETCSRI Q001264.

To Ninlil, Enlila, child of Adda, dedicated this (vessel) as votive offering for the well-being of his spouse and child.

Anonymous Nippur 07

Vessel; limestone; Nippur. ETCSRI Q001265.

... dedišated this (vessel) as votive offering for the well-being of Saĝ-diĝir-tuku, and for the well-being of Lugal-ennu.

Anonymous Nippur 08

Vessel; limestone; Nippur. ETCSRI Q001266.

To Ninlil, E-ĝissubi, the field surveyor, dedicated this (vessel) for the well-being of his spouse and child.

Anonymous Nippur 09

Vessel; stone; Nippur. ETCSRI Q001267.

..., the child of Lugal-aĝi, dedicated this (vessel) for the well-being of his spouse and child.

[Part of this inscription is transliterated but not yet translated by ETCSRI; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Anonymous Nippur 10

Vessel; stone; Nippur. ETCSRI Q001268.

To Inana, Me-niĝarta, the spouse of..., dedicated this (vessel) for her well-being.

Anonymous Nippur 11

Bowl; stone; Nippur. ETCSRI Q001269.

To Inana, Urur, the land recorder, child of..., and..., his spouse, dedicated this (vessel).

Anonymous Nippur 12

Bowl; stone; Nippur. ETCSRI Q001270.

To Inana, Gan-Utu, the spouse of Pa-a-nukuš, the..., dedicated this (vessel).

Anonymous Nippur 13

Bowl; alabaster; Nippur. ETCSRI Q001271.

To Inana, Munustur....

Anonymous Nippur 14

Bowl; alabaster; Nippur. ETCSRI Q001272.

To Inana, Gan-ezen, the spouse of..., child of Gunidu, dedicated this (vessel).

Anonymous Nippur 16

Bowl; stone; Nippur. ETCSRI Q001274.

To Inana,....

Anonymous Nippur 17

Vessel; clay; Nippur. ETCSRI Q001275.

To Inana.

Anonymous Nippur 21

Bowl; stone; Nippur. ETCSRI Q001276.

To...,..., the midwife, dedicated this (plate).

Anonymous Nippur 22

Bowl; stone; Nippur. ETCSRI Q001277.

To Inana, Ur-Inana, the overseer.

Anonymous Nippur 23

Vessel; steatite; Nippur. ETCSRI Q001278.

To Inana, Papnun.

Anonymous Nippur 24

Bowl; limestone; Nippur. ETCSRI Q001279.

To Ninnisig, Luma, the chief stone-cutter, dedicated this (vessel/plaque).

Anonymous Nippur 25

Statue; stone; Nippur. ETCSRI Q001280.

Lugal-hursaĝ, the temple administrator of Enlil.

Anonymous Nippur 26

Statue; stone; Nippur. ETCSRI Q001281.

To Inana,..., the couriers ' overseer, dedicated this (statue).

Anonymous Nippur 27

Bowl; alabaster; Nippur. ETCSRI Q001282.

To Inana, Gan-Enlila, the spouse of Utum, dedicated this (vessel).

Anonymous Nippur 28

Bowl; stone; Nippur. ETCSRI Q001283.

To Inana,...,..., dedicated this (vessel).

Anonymous Nippur 30

Statue; stone; Nippur. ETCSRI Q001285.

Ur-Dumuzida,....

Anonymous Nippur 31

Statue; stone; Nippur. ETCSRI Q001286.

Munus-kigal.

Anonymous Nippur 32

Bowl; stone; Nippur. ETCSRI Q001287.

To Inana, Barag-ene, the spouse of Mašda, (and) Amar-ezida dedicated this (stone plate).

Anonymous Nippur 34

Peg with head of a bull; diorite; Nippur. ETCSRI Q001288.

Andabsi, the chief....

Anonymous Nippur 35

Bowl; stone; Nippur. ETCSRI Q001289.

To Inana, the singular woman.

Anonymous Nippur 36

Statue; stone; Nippur. ETCSRI Q001290.

Šeškina, the overseer.

Anonymous Nippur 37

Statue; stone; Nippur. ETCSRI Q001291.

Idilum, the temple administrator of Enlil.

Anonymous Nippur 38

Bowl; stone; Nippur. ETCSRI Q001292.

To Inana, Munus-šume, child of Ur-šubur, dedicated this (vessel).

Anonymous Nippur 39

Bowl; stone; Nippur. ETCSRI Q001293.

Di-abgal, the herdsman, dedicated (this) bowl to Inana.

Anonymous Nippur 40

Bowl; stone; Nippur. ETCSRI Q001294.

... child of....

Anonymous Nippur 41

Bowl; alabaster; Nippur. ETCSRI Q001295.

To Inana, Inimani-zid,..., and Inana-ursaĝ dedicated this (vessel).

Anonymous Nippur 42

Bowl; alabaster; Nippur. ETCSRI Q001296.

To Inana, Ama-azu, spouse of Lugal-urin, the scribe, dedicated this (bowl).

Anonymous Nippur 43

Vessel; stone; Nippur. ETCSRI Q001297.

To Inana,..., the smith, dedicated this (bowl).

Anonymous Nippur 44

Vessel; stone; Nippur. ETCSRI Q001298.

Lugal-urin dedicated this (vessel) to Inana.

Anonymous Nippur 45

Vessel; stone; Nippur. ETCSRI Q001299.

Alim-šu.

Anonymous Nippur 46

Vessel; stone; Nippur. ETCSRI Q001300.

To Inana, Ilum-alsu, the temple administrator, and Aka, his spouse, dedicated this (vessel).

Anonymous Nippur 47

Vessel; stone; Nippur. ETCSRI Q001301.

To Inana, Sumu, spouse of Enlil's temple administrator, dedicated this.

Anonymous Nippur 49

Bowl; stone; Nippur. ETCSRI Q001303.

... steward....

Anonymous Nippur 50

Bowl; stone; Nippur. ETCSRI Q001304.

... for the well-being of his spouse and children.

Anonymous Nippur 53

Vessel; stone; Nippur. ETCSRI Q001306.

...,... dedicated this as votive offering for the well-being of....

Anonymous Nippur 54

Vessel; alabaster; Nippur. ETCSRI Q001307.

..., Šagkuge-pada, child of the ruler, dedicated this (vessel) as votive offering.

Anonymous Nippur 57

Vessel; alabaster; Nippur. ETCSRI Q001310.

To Ninlil, Ĝirini, spouse of Lugal-lu,....

Anonymous Nippur 60

Vessel; alabaster; Nippur. ETCSRI Q001313.

... for his own well-being and for the well-being of his spouse and children.

Anonymous Sippar 3

Statue; stone; Sippar. ETCSRI Q001320.

To..., Men,..., dedicated this (statuette)..., and for the well-being of his spouse and children.

Anonymous Ur 02

Vessel; limestone; Ur. ETCSRI Q001340.

Aya-ulgal.

Anonymous Ur 03

Vessel; copper; Ur. ETCSRI Q001341.

For Nanna.

Anonymous Ur 06

Vessel; stone; Ur. ETCSRI Q001344.

....

Anonymous Ur 07

Anthropomorphic statue; limestone; Tell al-Ubaid. ETCSRI Q001345.

E-kur, the granary supervisor of Unug, fashioned (the statue of) Damgalnuna, he built her a temple.

Anonymous Ur 08

Anthropomorphic statue; trachyte; Tell al-Ubaid. ETCSRI Q001346.

....

Anonymous Ur 09

Bowl; alabaster; Tell al-Ubaid. ETCSRI Q001347.

....

Anonymous Ur 11

Bowl; alabaster; Tell al-Ubaid. ETCSRI Q001349.

....

Anonymous Ur 16

Vessel; limestone; Ur. ETCSRI Q001354.

To Ama-ĝeštin, Ninam, spouse of..., dedicated this (vessel) for her (own) well-being, and for the well-being of her spouse and child.

[Part of this inscription is transliterated but not yet translated by ETCSRI; nothing is invented here to fill the gap.]

Anonymous Ur 17

Plaque; limestone; Ur. ETCSRI Q001355.

He made it exceed...., he made it exceed the temple of his father.

Anonymous Ur 19

Bowl; alabaster; Ur. ETCSRI Q001357.

To Lisi,....

Anonymous Ur 21

Mace head; stone; Ur. ETCSRI Q001359.

To Nanna,... for the well-being of....

Anonymous Ur 22

Vessel; stone; Ur. ETCSRI Q001360.

...,... dedicated this (vessel)... for the well-being of his spouse and child.

Anonymous Ur 23

Vessel; alabaster; Ur. ETCSRI Q001361.

..., whose name was proclaimed by Suen, child of....

Anonymous Uruk 1

Anthropomorphic statue; limestone; Uruk. ETCSRI Q001383.

After Ninimma filled (Aya-diĝirĝu) with awe by addressing him, Aya-diĝirĝu, father of Aka, the temple administrator of Utu, and Kumtuše, mother of Aya-diĝirĝu, dedicated (this statue) to Ninšubur.

Anonymous 06 (FAOS 05/2, Anonym 06)

Male statuette; stone; provenience unknown. ETCSRI Q001388.

To Ninšubur of Bad, Enzid, the shepherd, and Amar-kikug, child of Enzid, dedicated this (statuette).

Anonymous Uruk 2

Vessel; stone; Nippur. ETCSRI Q004166.

...,..., king of Unug, king of Urim, dedicated this (vessel) for his well-being.

Anonymous Lagaš 27

Vessel; stone; Girsu (modern Tello). ETCSRI Q004167.

For Bau,....

Anonymous 10 (FAOS 05/2, Anonym 10)

Statuette; stone; provenience unknown. ETCSRI Q004173.

To Lugal-ega, Ursaĝ-Utu, child of Lugal-pada, the gusur, fashioned this (statuette).

Unattributed 04

Statue; stone; provenience unknown. ETCSRI Q008910.

The name of... is “May it pray to my lady on my behalf!”.

Colophon

Source and license. This edition reproduces the English translations of the Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Royal Inscriptions (ETCSRI), an Oracc project directed by Gábor Zólyomi at Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest (http://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/etcsri/), fetched 2026-08-07. The Oracc site states its content is "released under a CC-BY-SA 3.0 license"; the project's own machine-readable data files carry the further statement "This data is released under the CC0 license" (https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/). Both statements are recorded here; this edition credits ETCSRI and Gábor Zólyomi regardless of which license term governs a given file, per academic courtesy and per the Good Work Library's own attribution practice.

What this edition is. The English text above is ETCSRI's own published translation of every Early Dynastic royal inscription in its corpus attributed to Kish, Ur, Uruk, Umma, or a dozen smaller city-states, together with every Early Dynastic dedication left unattributed in its own catalogue, outside the separately published dynasty of Lagaš from Ur-Nanše to URU-KA-gina (172 compositions), reproduced complete and verbatim from the project's HTML reading editions and reformatted from an interlinear word-by-word display into continuous reading prose. No word has been altered, paraphrased, or supplied by this library. Ellipses, question marks, and bracketed uncertainties are the source edition's own markers for damaged or doubtful text; where a text has no published translation yet, that gap is noted in place rather than filled. Untranslated single-word oddities native to the source data are reproduced exactly as ETCSRI's markup has them rather than silently corrected, since this is a source-text intake rather than a Good Works Translation.

Composite identification. The standard scholarly editions of this material are the RIME volumes (The Royal Inscriptions of Mesopotamia, Early Periods, University of Toronto Press); each text above carries its RIME number where assigned and its ETCSRI composite ID (Q-number), under which the full transliteration, morphological analysis, exemplar list, and any Hungarian translation can be found at ETCSRI's own site.

Prepared for the Good Work Library by the New Tianmu Anglican Church with AI-assisted research, transcription, and editorial work.

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