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

The Akkadian Empire and the Gutian Interlude — Royal Inscriptions

✦ ─── ⟐ ─── ✦

Royal Inscriptions

Around 2334 BCE Sargon of Agade, previously cupbearer to the king of Kish, built the first Mesopotamian territorial empire, defeating Lugal-zagesi of Umma and Unug (Uruk) and bringing the old Sumerian city-states under one crown for the first time. Sargon's own inscriptions, copied and recopied by later Nippur scribes, boast of conquering Unug, Ur, Ninmarki's temple, and Umma, and of washing his weapons in the sea at the empire's far edge. His descendants held the throne in turn: his sons Rimuš and Man-ištušu, then his grandson Naram-Suen, who took the unprecedented step of calling himself a god and "king of the four quarters," and finally Naram-Suen's son Šar-kali-šarri, under whom the empire began to fray. Standard middle chronology places the Sargonic period, together with the Gutian interlude that followed, at roughly 2334–2112 BCE; the dynasty's collapse opened a disputed interval in which Gutian mountain rulers, remembered in later tradition as a plague sent by the gods, held some measure of power over parts of Babylonia; only a handful of Gutian inscriptions survive at all, and this volume carries the two attributed to the Gutian ruler Erridu-pizir. Utu-hegal of Uruk, whose own inscriptions close this book, is credited with ending Gutian rule and restoring kingship to Sumer before Ur-Namma's Third Dynasty of Ur (companion volumes on this same shelf) took the throne.

Around and beneath these named kings, this volume also gathers some two dozen short inscriptions from local rulers and governors scattered across the same period and the same cities — Adab, Nippur, Isin, the otherwise unattested toponym Šarrakum, Šuruppak, Umma, Lagaš, Uruk, Ur, and Kish — men such as Lu-Utu and Namahni at Umma, Lugal-ušumgal and Puzur-Mama at Lagaš, or Ur-nigina, Ur-gigira, and Kuda at Uruk. Most are known from a single object apiece: a clay cone recording a canal or a wall, a stone bowl dedicated to a temple, a cylinder seal cut with an owner's titles. The objects that carry these texts are almost all workaday royal media of the age — clay tablets (chiefly later scribal copies of the great kings' inscriptions kept at Nippur), foundation cones, bricks, door sockets, and inscribed seals, alongside a smaller number of stone vessels, statues, and steles. Nearly every text here is a short building or dedication formula rather than sustained narrative; the one clear exception is Utu-hegal 4, "The victory of Utu-hegal" (Q000376), a genuinely long historical composition describing his campaign against the Gutian king Tirigan, which runs many times longer than any other entry in this book.

These are Sumerian-language texts, and the Sargonic kings did not write only in Sumerian: several of Sargon's own inscriptions, and others of Rimuš's and Šar-kali-šarri's, survive in parallel Akkadian versions catalogued separately by ETCSRI, since the Akkadian court used both languages of its subject population side by side. This edition, like the rest of this shelf, carries only the Sumerian-language half of that bilingual royal tradition, in the Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Royal Inscriptions' own published English. It is a companion to this library's existing "The Cylinders of Gudea — The Building of Ninĝirsu's Temple" and "Gudea — Statues and Shorter Inscriptions," and none of its texts duplicate those volumes' Lagaš II material. No translation gap was found anywhere in this book's sixty-four texts; where ETCSRI's own translation work is in fact incomplete for a text, that is disclosed in place rather than filled in.

Contents

Sargon

Sargon 01 (Sumerian)

Tablet; clay; Nippur. RIME 2.01.01.0001; ETCSRI Q000834.

Šarrukin, king of Agade, commissioner of Inana, king of the world, išib priest of An, king of the Land, chief governor of Enlil, conquered the city of Unug and demolished its city-walls. He fought with the leader of Unug and defeated him. He fought with Lugal-zagesi, king of Unug, captured him, and took him to the gate of Enlil in a neck stock. Šarrukin, king of Agade, fought with the leader of Urim and defeated him. He conquered his city and demolished its city-walls. He conquered the temple of Ninmarki, and demolished its walls. From Lagaš until the sea he conquered all lands, all of them, and washed his weapons in the sea. He fought with the leader of Umma and defeated him. He conquered his city and demolished its city-walls. Enlil made Šarrukin, king of the Land, a man without opponent, and gave him (all the people) from the Upper sea to the Lower sea. From the Lower sea the citizen of Agade exercized rulership. Mari and Elam stood (in obedience) before Šarrukin, king of the Land. Šarrukin, king of the Land, restored Kiš, and the city provided him with.... Whoever obliterates this inscription, may Utu uproot him and destroy his lineage!

The inscription on its socle.

Sargon 02

Tablet; clay; Nippur. RIME 2.01.01.0002; ETCSRI Q001397.

The inscription on its socle. It was written in front of Lugalzagesi.

Sargon 03

Tablet; clay; Nippur. RIME 2.01.01.0003; ETCSRI Q001398.

The inscription on the statue. Its socle is not inscribed.

Sargon 06

Tablet; clay; Nippur. RIME 2.01.01.0006; ETCSRI Q001399.

The inscription was written on the socle.

The inscription on the shoulder of Lugalzagesi.

Sargon 07

Tablet; clay; Nippur. RIME 2.01.01.0007; ETCSRI Q001400.

The inscription on the statue.....

Sargon 11 (Sumerian)

Tablet; clay; Nippur. RIME 2.01.01.0011; ETCSRI Q001403.

Šarrukin, king of the world, was victorious in 34 battles. He demolished all city walls as far as the shore of the sea. He moored the ships of Meluhha, Magan, and Dilmun at the quay of Agade. In Tuttul, Šarrukin, the king, prostrated himself before Dagan and prayed to him. (Dagan then) gave him the Upper land, (including) Mari, Yarmuti, and Ebla, as far as the cedar forests and the mountains of precious metal. In the presence of Šarrukin, the king whom Enlil made a man without opponent, 13 (units) of troops eat daily. Whoever obliterates this inscription, may An obliterate his name, may Enlil put an end to his lineage, may Inana cut his... short!

The inscription on its socle.

Sargon 11 (Akkadian)

Tablet; clay; Nippur. RIME 2.01.01.0011; ETCSRI Q001404.

The inscription on the statue. Its socle is not inscribed.

Sargon 12

Tablet; clay; Nippur. RIME 2.01.01.0012; ETCSRI Q001405.

The inscription on the statue.

Sargon 13

Tablet; clay; Nippur. RIME 2.01.01.0013; ETCSRI Q001406.

The inscription on its socle.

Sargon 15

Tablet; clay; Nippur. RIME 2.01.01.0015; ETCSRI Q001407.

The inscription on the statue.

Sargon 16

Disk, tablet; alabaster, clay; Ur. RIME 2.01.01.0016; ETCSRI Q000835.

Enheduana, the zirru - priestess, Nanna's spouse, child of Šarrukin, king of the world, erected an altar in the temple of Inana-ZAZA in Urim. She named it “The altar is An's table”.

Sargon 2001

Bowl; alabaster; provenience unknown. RIME 2.01.01.2001; ETCSRI Q001408.

..., the estate adminstrator of Tašlultum, Šarrukin's spouse,... for the well-being....

Sargon 2003 / CDLI Seals 001436

Seal (not impression); lapis lazuli; Ur. RIME 2.01.01.2003; ETCSRI Q001409.

En-hedu-ana, child of Šarrukin: Ilum-palil is her hairdresser.

Sargon 2004 / CDLI Seals 001437

Seal (not impression); granite or diorite; Ur. RIME 2.01.01.2004; ETCSRI Q001410.

Adda, steward of En-hedu-ana.

Sargon 2005 / CDLI Seals 012025

Seal (not impression); stone; Ur. RIME 2.01.01.2005; ETCSRI Q001411.

En-hedu-ana, child of Šarrukin:... is her servant.

Sargon 2006add

Tablet; clay; Zabala. RIME 2.01.01.2006add; ETCSRI Q004875.

To Šara of the E-mah, Egal-isi, the temple administrator of Zabalam, dedicated this (object) for the well-being of Šarrukin, king of Agade.

Sargon 2007add

Tablet; clay; Zabala. RIME 2.01.01.2007add; ETCSRI Q004876.

To Šara of the Abzu-banda, Egal-isi, the temple administrator of Zabalam, dedicated this (object) for the well-being of Šarrukin, king of Agade.

Rimuš

Rimuš 03

Tablet; clay; Nippur. RIME 2.01.02.0003; ETCSRI Q001415.

The inscription was written at his left side.

Rimuš 18 (Sumerian)

Tablet; clay; Nippur. RIME 2.01.02.0018; ETCSRI Q000842.

Rimuš, king of the world: Since the dawn of time no one had ever fashioned a tin statue for Enlil, (but now) Rimuš, king of the world fashioned a tin statue of himself and set it up before Enlil. He counted himself among the gods. Whoever obliterates this inscription, may Enlil and Utu uproot him and destroy his lineage!

Inscription of a šahum cauldron.

Inscription... of Rimuš.

Rimuš 2001

Anthropomorphic statue; diorite; provenience unknown. RIME 2.01.02.2001; ETCSRI Q001421.

To...,...,... of Šuruppak, chosen by Sud in the heart, whose name was proclaimed by Nin-ĝidru,... for the well-being of his king, Rimuš, king of the world.

Man-ištušu

Man-ištušu 1

Anthropomorphic statue, stele, tablet; stone (various types), clay; Babylonia. RIME 2.01.03.0001; ETCSRI Q000844.

The inscription on its socle.

The inscription on its socle.

Naram-Suen

Naram-Suen 14

Brick; clay; provenience unknown. RIME 2.01.04.0014; ETCSRI Q001423.

... installed it in the temple of Enlil. At that time Su’āš-takal, the estate administrator of the king was its leader; Irina-badbi was the temple administrator of Enlil.

Naram-Suen 34

Door socket; limestone; Ur. RIME 2.01.04.0034; ETCSRI Q001424.

En-men-ana.

Naram-Suen 2001

Circular slab; yellowish marble; Nippur. RIME 2.01.04.2001; ETCSRI Q001426.

Narām-Suen, king of Agade, king of the four quarters: Irina-badbi, temple administrator of Enlil, is your servant.

Naram-Suen 2018

Plaque, seal (not impression); stone (various types); Ur. RIME 2.01.04.2018; ETCSRI Q001427.

To Ningublaga of Asug-ĝišdua, Išṭup-ilum, his estate administrator dedicated this (plaque) for the well-being of Naram-Suen, the god of Akkad, and for the well-being of En-men-ana.

Naram-Suen 2019 / CDLI Seals 001417

Seal (not impression); green marble; Ur. RIME 2.01.04.2019; ETCSRI Q001428.

En-men-ana: Ursi, the doorkeeper, is her servant.

Naram-Suen 2020 / CDLI Seals 005992

Seal (not impression); stone; Girsu (modern Tello). RIME 2.01.04.2020; ETCSRI Q001429.

Naram-Suen, the god of Akkad, En-men-ana, the en - priestess of Nanna, his child:..., the scribe, is her slave.

Šar-kali-šarri

Šar-kali-šarri 4 (Sumerian)

Tablet; clay; Nippur. RIME 2.01.05.0004; ETCSRI Q001431.

Enlil spoke: He gave all... to Šar-kali-šarri, the powerful king, cup-bearer of Enlil, king of Akkad, king of Enlil's people. After he had arrived at the source of the Tigris and the Euphrates, he himself dedicated this (object) to Enlil in Nibru.

The number of its (lines) is six.

Erridu-pizir and the Gutian Interlude

Erridu-pizir is one of the very few Gutian rulers with any surviving inscription.

Erridu-pizir 1

Tablet; clay; Nippur. RIME 2.02.01.0001; ETCSRI Q001433.

The inscription on its socle.

The inscription.... This statue....

Erridu-pizir 3

Tablet; clay; Nippur. RIME 2.02.01.0003; ETCSRI Q001435.

The inscription on its socle.

The inscription on his shoulder.

Tablet with 3 inscriptions (from) the statues of Erridu-pizir.

Utu-hegal of Uruk

Credited with ending Gutian rule over Sumer.

Utu-hegal 1

Cone; clay; Lagash. RIME 2.13.06.0001; ETCSRI Q000876.

The leader of Urim laid claim to the border territory of Lagaš, (but) Utu-heĝal, king of the four quarters, returned it under the authority of Nanše, the mighty lady, the lady of boundaries.

Utu-hegal 2

Cone; clay; provenience unknown. RIME 2.13.06.0002; ETCSRI Q001454.

Utu-heĝal, king of the four quarters, returned the border territory of Ninĝirsu, Enlil's powerful warrior, under (Ninĝirsu's) authority.

Utu-hegal 3

Cone; clay; Lagash. RIME 2.13.06.0003; ETCSRI Q000877.

The leader of Urim laid claim to the border territory of Lagaš, (but) Utu-heĝal, king of the four quarters, returned it under the authority of Ninĝirsu, Enlil's powerful warrior.

Utu-hegal 4 (The victory of Utu-hegal)

Tablet; clay; Nippur. RIME 2.13.06.0004; ETCSRI Q000376.

Enlil, the king of all lands, entrusted Utu-heĝal, the powerful man, king of Unug, the king of the four quarters, the king whose orders cannot be countermanded, with wiping out the name of Gutium, the fanged snake of the mountains, who acted with violence against the gods, who carried off the rule over Sumer to a foreign land for himself, who filled Sumer with wickedness, who took away spouses from the married and took away children from parents, who made wickedness and violence normal in the Land. He went to his lady, Inana, and prayed to her: “My lady, lioness in the battle, who butts the foreign lands, Enlil has entrusted me with bringing back the kingship of Sumer. May you be my help!” The enemy troops established themselves everywhere. Tirigan, the king of Gutium,.... Nobody came out of his city to face him; he had (his troops) occupied both parts of the Tigris. In the south, in Sumer, he blocked (the water) from the fields, in the uplands he closed off the roads. Because of him the grass grew high on the highways of the land. But the king, given strength by Enlil, chosen by Inana in the heart, Utu-heĝal, the powerful man, came out from Unug to face him and set up camp at the temple of Iškur. He addressed a speech to the citizens of his city: “Enlil has given Gutium to me, my lady Inana will be my help. Dumu-zid-ama-ušumgal-ana has declared ‘It is a matter for me!’ and appointed Gilgameš, son of Ninsumun to me as (his) commissioner!” The citizens of Unug and Kulaba rejoiced and followed him with one accord. He lined up his élite troops. After departing from the temple of Iškur, on the fourth day he set up camp in Kabsu on the Iturungal channel. On the fifth day he set up camp at the shrine at Ilī-tappê. He captured Ur-Ninazu and Nabi-Enlil, generals of Tirigan, who returned as envoys to Sumer, and put them in handcuffs. After departing from the shrine at Ilī-tappê, on the sixth day he set up camp at Karkara. He went to Iškur and prayed to him: “O Iškur, Enlil has provided me with weapons, may you be my help!” In the middle of that night, …… he... and above Adab he went to the rising Utu and prayed to him: “O Utu, Enlil has given Gutium to me, may you be my help!” He laid a trap there behind the Gutians, and led troops against them. Utu-heĝal, the powerful man, defeated them. Then, deserting the generals, Tirigan, king of Gutium, ran away alone on foot. He thought himself safe in Dabrum, where he fled to save his life; but since the leader of Dabrum knew that Utu-heĝal was a king given strength by Enlil, he did not let Tirigan go, and an envoy of Utu-heĝal arrested Tirigan together with his wife and child in Dabrum. He put handcuffs and a blindfold on him. Before Utu, Utu-heĝal made him lie at his feet and placed his foot on his neck. He made Gutium, the fanged snake of the mountains drink from the crevices, he …, he … and he … boatman. He brought back the kingship of Sumer.

Utu-hegal 5

Tablet; clay; Nippur. RIME 2.13.06.0005; ETCSRI Q001455.

... Inana... Utu-heĝal, the powerful man, king of Unug, king of the four quarterṣ....

Utu-hegal 6

Bowl; bronze; provenience unknown. RIME 2.13.06.0006; ETCSRI Q001456.

Whoever erases the inscription of Utu-heĝal, the powerful man, king of Unug, king of the four quarters, and writes his own name there — or make someone else do it on account of this curse —, or destroys this (bowl), may his reign be cut short, may his lineage come to an end! May An, the king of the gods, and Inana, lady of Unug, curse his...!

Utu-hegal 2001

Stele; diorite; Ur. RIME 2.13.06.2001; ETCSRI Q001457.

To Ningal, the beloved spouse of Suen, his lady, Ur-Namma, military governor of Urim, house-born slave of the E-kiš-nu-ĝal, his brother... for the well-being of Utu-heĝal, the powerful man, king of Unug, king of four quarters.

Utu-hegal 2002

Stele; limestone; Ur. RIME 2.13.06.2002; ETCSRI Q001458.

To Nanna, king of the Anuna gods, his master,... for the life of Utu-heĝal, the powerful man, king of Unug, king of the four quarters.

Minor Rulers and Governors of the Akkadian Age

Local ensis and lesser rulers attested at Adab, Nippur, Isin, Šarrakum, Šuruppak, Umma, Lagaš, Uruk, Ur, and Kish, mostly by a single short inscription each.

Lugal-ayamu 2001

Cone; clay; Adab. RIME 1.14.21add.0001; ETCSRI Q004253.

At the time when Lugal-ayaĝu, the temple administrator of Iškur, ruled in Adab, Damgalnuna chose Ur-Imma in her holy heart and told him “Build my temple for me!”, and after Ur-Imma had gone to Damgalnuna to tell her of his intentions, Ur-Imma, the powerful house-born slave of Damgalnuna, the powerful servant of Imma, the powerful descendant of Lugal-niĝbarag-dug’s clan, excavated (her temple's) 6 kuš and 1 zapah deep foundation pit. He assigned a nueša priest, a cupbearer, male and female servants to the temple. Because of these, Damgalnuna decided a good fate for Ur-Imma, and (when) he requested from her the well-being of his mother, the well-being of his spouse and child, and the well-being his brothers, (then) Damgalnuna stood by him in this.

Uruna-badbi 2001

Vase; gray calcite stalagmite; Nippur. RIME 2.06.01.2001; ETCSRI Q001436.

To Ninlil, Ur-saga, the... scribe of Enlil’s temple, dedicated this (vase) as a votive offering for the life of Irina-badbi, the temple administrator of Enlil, for the well-being of Ama-abzi, and for the well being of his spouse and child.

Lugal-nizu 1

Brick; clay; Nippur. RIME 2.06.02.0001; ETCSRI Q000871.

Lugal-niĝzu, governor of Nibru, temple administrator of Enlil.

Nammah-abzu 2001

Cup; alabaster; Nippur. RIME 2.06.03.2001; ETCSRI Q005280.

To Ninegal, Igi-Enlilše, (Nammah-abzu's) slave, dedicated this (cup) for the well-being of Nammah-abzu, governor of Nibru.

Nammah-abzu 2002 / CDLI Seals 003761

Tag; clay; Nippur. RIME 2.06.03.2002; ETCSRI Q001438.

Nammah-abzu, governor of Nibru: Unil, child of Nitazid, the steward, is your servant.

Lu-dingirana 2001 / CDLI Seals 001431

Seal (not impression); limestone; provenience unknown. RIME 2.07.01.2001; ETCSRI Q001439.

Lu-diĝirana, temple administrator of Isin: Lu-diĝira, the scribe, is his servant.

Šaratigubisin 1add

Uncertain; stone; provenience unknown. RIME 2.08.01.0001add; ETCSRI Q004254.

Šarati-gubisin, child of the king, temple administrator of Keš.

Šaratigubisin 2001

Plaque; limestone; Umma. RIME 2.08.01.2001; ETCSRI Q001440.

To Ningublaga, the king who crushes the evil-doers, Nigdu-pae, the scribe, the archivist of Irisaĝrig, child of Ur-kiri, the scribe, dedicated this (object) for the well-being of Šarati-gubisin, his king, for his well-being and for the well-being of his spouse and child.

Lugal-giš 2003 / CDLI Seals 001434

Seal (not impression); greenstone schist; provenience unknown. RIME 2.09.02.2003; ETCSRI Q001442.

Lugalĝeš, governor of Adab: Namtare, the scribe, the temple administrator of Enki, is his servant.

Ur-TUR 1 / CDLI Seals 001435

Seal (not impression); lapis lazuli; Adab. RIME 2.09.03.0001; ETCSRI Q001443.

Ur-tur, governor of Adab.

Hala-Adda 1

Cone; clay; Šuruppak. RIME 2.10.01.0001; ETCSRI Q001444.

Dada, the governor of Šuruppag, (and) Hala-adda, the governor of Šuruppag, his child, strenghtened the gate of Sud with walls.

Šuruš-kin

Tenon; bituminous substance; Umma. RIME 2.11.05.0001; ETCSRI Q001445.

Šuruš-kīn, governer of Umma.

Lu-Utu 1

Cone; clay; Umma. RIME 2.11.06.0001; ETCSRI Q000872.

For Ninhursaĝa, the mother of the gods, Lu-Utu, governor of Umma, built a temple on her beloved square for his well-being. He made its foundation unblemished. He drove in its foundation pegs, and within it he put its divine powers in good order.

Lu-Utu 2

Cone; clay; Umma. RIME 2.11.06.0002; ETCSRI Q000873.

For Ereškigal, lady of the place where the sun sets, Lu-Utu, governor of Umma, child of Ninisina, built a temple at the place where Utu rises, the place where the fates are determined for his (own) well-being. He laid out a canal at its edge. He made its name resplendent.

Lu-Utu 03add

Cone; clay; Umma. RIME 2.11.06.0003add; ETCSRI Q005285.

For Ninhursaĝa, the mother of the gods, Lu-Utu, governor of Umma, built a temple on her beloved square for his well-being.

Namahni 1

Cylindrical object; clay; Umma. RIME 2.11.12.0001; ETCSRI Q001446.

For Ninura, the mother of Umma, Nammahni, the governor of Umma built and restored her E-ula. At that time Yarlagan was the king of Gutium.

Lugal-ana-tuma 1

Tablet; marble; Umma. RIME 2.11.13.0001; ETCSRI Q001447.

Thirty-five years after Umma had been divided up, Lugal-ana-tum, governor of Umma, built the E-gidru in Umma. He drove in its foundation pegs, and within it he put its divine powers in good order. At that time Si’um was the king of Gutium.

Lugal-ušumgal 2001 / CDLI Seals 004033

Seal (not impression); clay (original: stone); Girsu (modern Tello). RIME 2.12.04.2001; ETCSRI Q000874.

Sipad-ane, the chief policeman, the servant of Lugal-ušumgal, governor of Lagaš.

Puzur-Mama 2001 / CDLI Seals 001425

Seal (not impression); haematite; provenience unknown. RIME 2.12.05.2001; ETCSRI Q001448.

Šarru-ilī, child of Puzur-Mama, the governor.

Ur-nigina 1

Cone; clay; Ur. RIME 2.13.01.0001; ETCSRI Q001449.

Ur-gigira, military governor of Dumuzid, child of Ur-niĝin, the powerful man, king of Unug, and Ama-lagar, his mother, built for Ninšešeĝara, his lady, the E-šešeĝara, her beloved temple, in Patibira.

Ur-gigira 2001

Mace head; onyx; Uruk. RIME 2.13.02.2001; ETCSRI Q001450.

To..., Lugal-ana-tum, išib priest of An, dedicated this (mace) for the well-being of Ur-gigira, the powerful man, king of Unug.

Kuda 1

Bowl; dark green steatite; provenience unknown. RIME 2.13.03.0001; ETCSRI Q001451.

To Ningal, the divine lady of Urim, Kuda, the temple administrator of Inan, devotee of Utu,....

Kuda 1001 / CDLI Seals 001426

Seal; agate; provenience unknown. RIME 2.13.03.1001; ETCSRI Q001452.

Nineša, en - priestess of Meš-saĝĝa-Unuga, child of Lugal-sila.

Ur-Utu 2001 / CDLI Seals 001427

Object type unrecorded; shell; provenience unknown. RIME 2.13.05.2001; ETCSRI Q001453.

Baza, the shepherd, the servant of Ur-Utu.

Lu-saga 1

Cone; clay; Ur. RIME 2.15.01.0001; ETCSRI Q000879.

For Nanna, his master, Lu-saga, ruler of Urim, declared his boundary, and erected an altar.

Nabi-Suen 2001 / CDLI Seals 006341

Seal (not impression); marble; provenience unknown. ETCSRI Q005030.

Nabi-Suen, governor of Kiš: Šu-ilišu, the steward, is your servant.

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 Old Akkadian (Sargonic) and Gutian-period Sumerian royal inscription in ETCSRI's corpus attributed to Sargon, Rimuš, Man-ištušu, Naram-Suen, Šar-kali-šarri, the Gutian ruler Erridu-pizir, Utu-hegal of Uruk, and the period's minor local rulers and governors (64 texts), 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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