The Kings of Isin, Larsa, Uruk, and Babylon — Royal Inscriptions

Royal Inscriptions of the Post-Ur III Successor Dynasties, from ETCSRI

When the Third Dynasty of Ur collapsed under Elamite attack around 2004 BCE, no single house held Sumer and Akkad again for two and a half centuries. Isin claimed the succession first: its founder, Išbi-Erra, had governed for Ur before striking out on his own, and his line, Šu-ilišu, Iddin-Dagan, Išme-Dagan, Lipit-Eštar, Ur-Ninurta, Bur-Sin, Erra-imitti, Enlil-bani, Zambiya, Ur-dukuga, Sin-magir, and Damiq-ilišu, held Nippur and the old Ur III heartland into the Old Babylonian period. Larsa rose as its rival, strongest here under Gungunum, Abi-sare, Sumu-El, Warad-Sin, and Rim-Sin I; Uruk kept a separate line of its own under Sin-kašid and Anam. This volume gathers ETCSRI's published English translations of the surviving royal inscriptions of all four seats, from roughly 2017 BCE down to Hammu-rapi of Babylon, who absorbed each of them in turn in the eighteenth century BCE.

As with the rest of this corpus, most of these are short, formulaic texts: building and dedication notices stamped on bricks and clay cones, cut into door sockets and stone vessels, or engraved on cylinder and stamp seals naming a king's officials as his servants. A few pieces stand apart from that pattern. Lipit-Eštar's own law code is included among his inscriptions, one of the oldest Mesopotamian law collections to survive in substantial form, predating Hammu-rapi's far more famous code by well over a century. Hammu-rapi's own texts here include a short prayer to the goddess Aya for his life alongside his building notices. One further inscription belongs to none of these four seats at all: an offering bowl naming Idattu, a king of Anšan and the Šimaškians in Elam. It is gathered at the close of this volume under its own honest heading rather than folded into a dynasty it does not belong to.

ETCSRI's own catalogue holds far more entries for this period than have reached transliteration and translation. The project lists roughly 252 catalogued Early Old Babylonian objects and 41 more from the wider Old Babylonian period, a modest total next to the 729 of the Ur III period or the 449 of the Early Dynastic, and thinner still once individual rulers are counted: Larsa's Nur-Adad and Sin-iddinam, among others attested in the historical record, have left no text yet transliterated in this project. This volume carries the 94 compositions ETCSRI currently makes available in English for these dynasties, not a complete record of everything these kings once had inscribed. Where a catalogued text is transliterated but still lacks a published translation, or has only a partial one, that gap is marked in place rather than filled.

Part I. The Kings of Isin — Išbi-Erra to Damiq-ilišu — thirteen rulers, sixty-four texts, Išbi-Erra through Damiq-ilišu
Part II. The Kings of Larsa — Gungunum to Rim-Sin I — five rulers, nineteen texts, Gungunum through Rim-Sin I
Part III. The Kings of Uruk — Sin-kašid and Anam — two rulers, six texts
Part IV. Hammu-rapi of Babylon — four texts closing out the corpus chronologically
Part V. Outside the Four Seats — Idattu, King of Anšan and the Šimaškians — one text, a king of Anšan and Elam, not part of the four dynasties above

Part I. The Kings of Isin — Išbi-Erra to Damiq-ilišu

Išbi-Erra 1

Tablet; clay; Nippur. RIME 4.01.01.0001; ETCSRI Q001920.

For Enlil, king of all land, his master, Išbi-Erra, the powerful king, the king of his land, fashioned a lofty balaĝ - drum, which... the heart, and dedicated it to him for his well-being. The name of this balaĝ - drum is “Išbi-Erra puts (his) trust in Enlil.”

Šu-ilišu 1

Pivot; stone; Ur. RIME 4.01.02.0001; ETCSRI Q001934.

When Šu-ilišu, the powerful man, king of Urim, brought home (the statue of) Nanna from Anšan to Urim, then for Nanna, the most outstanding among the Anuna gods, his master, he built the Dublamah, his place of rendering judgement. He installed for him a decorated two-wing door, and dedicated it to him for his well-being. Whoever gives order to perform a misdeed against this (door), transfers it to a storehouse, or makes another man raise his hand against it on account of this curse, may Nanna, my master, and Ningal, my lady, curse him!

Šu-ilišu 3

Cone; clay; Isin. RIME 4.01.02.0003; ETCSRI Q001936.

Because of his great love for Ninisina, Šu-ilišu, the powerful king, king of Sumer and Akkad, built a great city wall whose fearsome radiance silences everyone in order to make the scattered people of the south and highlands secure in their dwellings around Isin. The name of this city wall is “Šu-ilišu is the beloved of Eštar.”

Šu-ilišu 4 / CDLI Seals 013691

Sealing (with seal impression); clay; Ešnunna. RIME 4.01.02.0004; ETCSRI Q001937.

Šu-ilišu, the powerful king, king of Urim, the beloved of Enlil and Ninisina.

Šu-ilišu 2001 / CDLI Seals 012211

Seal (not impression); stone; Nippur. RIME 4.01.02.2001; ETCSRI Q001938.

Šu-ilišu, the powerful king, king of his land:..., the scribe, the child of Lu-balasaga.

Šu-ilišu 2002 / CDLI Seals 012212

Seal (not impression); stone; Nippur. RIME 4.01.02.2002; ETCSRI Q001939.

Šu-ilišu, the powerful man, king of his land: Šara-mutum, the scribe, son of Ur-Šulpae.

Šu-ilišu 2003 / CDLI Seals 012026

Seal (not impression); stone; Nippur. RIME 4.01.02.2003; ETCSRI Q001940.

..., child of..., servant of Šu-ilišu.

Iddin-Dagan 1

Statue; stone; provenience unknown. RIME 4.01.03.0001; ETCSRI Q001941.

To Ninisina, his lady, Iddin-Dagan, the powerful king, king of Isin, king of Sumer and Akkad, dedicated this (statue) for his well-being. Whoever... order to perform a misdeed..., may Ninisina, my lady, and Damu, may master, curse him!

Iddin-Dagan 3

Tablet; clay; Nippur. RIME 4.01.03.0003; ETCSRI Q001943.

For Ninlil, the lady of the gods, Iddin-Dagan, the powerful king, fashioned a composite copper statue, set it up before her, and dedicated it to her for his well-being. Whoever gives order to perform a misdeed against this (statue),... my handiwork, erases this inscription and writes his own name there, or makes another man raise his hand against it on account of this curse, may Nanna, my master, Ninlil, my lady, and Dagan, my personal god, curse him!

Iddin-Dagan 2001

Seal (not impression); stone; Ur. RIME 4.01.03.2001; ETCSRI Q001944.

Iddin-Dagan, the powerful man,...:..., child of..., the scribe, is your servant.

Išme-Dagan 01

Brick; clay; Ur. RIME 4.01.04.0001; ETCSRI Q001945.

Išme-Dagan, provider of Nibru, steadfast supporter of Urim, tireless servant of Eridug, en priest of Unug, king of Isin, king of Sumer and Akkad, the beloved spouse of Inana.

Išme-Dagan 02

Brick; clay; Ur. RIME 4.01.04.0002; ETCSRI Q001946.

Išme-Dagan, provider of Nibru, steadfast supporter of Urim, tireless servant of Eridug, en priest of Unug, powerful king, king of Isin, king of Sumer and Akkad, the beloved spouse of Inana.

Išme-Dagan 03

Brick; clay; Ur. RIME 4.01.04.0003; ETCSRI Q001947.

En-ana-tuma, zirru priestess, en priestess of Nanna in Urim, child of Išme-Dagan, king of Sumer and Akkad.

Išme-Dagan 04

Brick; clay; Ur. RIME 4.01.04.0004; ETCSRI Q001948.

En-ana-tuma, the beloved en priestess of Nanna in Urim, en priestess of Nanna in Urim, child of Išme-Dagan, king of Sumer and Akkad.

Išme-Dagan 05

Cone; clay; Isin. RIME 4.01.04.0005; ETCSRI Q001949.

When Išme-Dagan, the powerful man, king of Isin, king of the four quarters, cancelled the taxes on Nibru, Enlil's beloved city, and exempted its men from military service, then he built the great wall of Isin. The name of this wall is: "With Enlil Išme-Dagan is strong ".

Išme-Dagan 07

Brick; clay; Nippur. RIME 4.01.04.0007; ETCSRI Q001951.

When Enlil appointed Ninurta, his powerful warrior, as commissioner to Išme-Dagan, king of Sumer and Akkad, then (Išme-Dagan) fashioned the šita weapon, the fifty-headed mace for (Ninurta), and displayed his beloved weapon on (a platform of) fired bricks for him.

Išme-Dagan 10

Stele; diorite; Nippur. RIME 4.01.04.0010; ETCSRI Q001952.

... Išme-Dagan....

Išme-Dagan 11

Cone; clay; provenience unknown. RIME 4.01.04.0011; ETCSRI Q001953.

Išme-Dagan, provider of Nibru, steadfast supporter of Urim, tireless servant of Eridug, en priest of Unug, king of Isin, king of Sumer and Akkad, the beloved spouse of Inana, built the great wall of Dūrum, his city of military governorship as crown prince.

Išme-Dagan 12

Vase; cacite; Ur. RIME 4.01.04.0012; ETCSRI Q001954.

To Nanna, the firstborn child of Enlil, his master, Išme-Dagan, provider of Nibru, steadfast supporter of Urim, tireless servant of Eridug, en priest of Unug, king of Isin, king of Sumer and Akkad, the beloved spouse of Inana, dedicated this (vase) for his well-being.

Išme-Dagan 14

Seal (not impression); stone; Ur. RIME 4.01.04.0014; ETCSRI Q001956.

A-aba, the child of En-ana-tuma, en priestess of Nanna.

Išme-Dagan 2001

Bowl; stone; Ur. RIME 4.01.04.2001; ETCSRI Q001958.

To...,..., child of..., his servant, dedicated this (bowl) for the well-being of Išme-Dagan, the powerful king, king of Urim.

Išme-Dagan 2002add

Mace head; stone; provenience unknown. RIME 4.01.04.2001add; ETCSRI Q005031.

To Nergal of Aldak, his master, Warad-Erra, gudug priest of Nergal, son of Adalal, the gudug priest, his servant, dedicated this (mace) for the well-being of Išme-Dagan, the powerful king, king of Isin, king of Sumer and Akkad.

Lipit-Eštar 01

Brick; clay; Ur. RIME 4.01.05.0001; ETCSRI Q001959.

Lipit-Eštar, the humble shepherd of Nibru, the true farmer of Urim, ceaseless provider of Eridug, the en priest suitable for Unug, king of Isin, king of Sumer and Akkad, the favourite of Inana, the king who established justice in Sumer and Akkad.

Lipit-Eštar 02

Cone; clay; Isin. RIME 4.01.05.0002; ETCSRI Q001960.

When I, Lipit-Eštar, the humble shepherd of Nibru, the true farmer of Urim, ceaseless provider of Eridug, the en priest suitable for Unug, king of Isin, king of Sumer and Akkad, the favourite of Inana, established justice in Sumer and Akkad, then I built the E-mete-namlugala, my great residence.

Lipit-Eštar 04

Cone; clay; Isin. RIME 4.01.05.0004; ETCSRI Q001961.

Lipit-Eštar 05

Cone; clay; Ur. RIME 4.01.05.0005; ETCSRI Q001962.

Lipit-Eštar 07

Cone; clay; provenience unknown. RIME 4.01.05.0007; ETCSRI Q001964.

For Inana of Mur, her Inana, Lamassatum, (Lipit-Estar's) mother built the E-maruru, her beloved storehouse in Isin for the well-being of Lipit-Eštar, the shepherd who heeds the gods, king of Sumer and Akkad, spouse of Inana, and also for her (own) well-being.

Lipit-Eštar 08

Eyestone; chalcedony and agate; provenience unknown. RIME 4.01.05.0008; ETCSRI Q001965.

When I, Lipit-Eštar, the king of Sumer and Akkad, established justice in Sumer and Akkad, then I dedicated this (eye-stone) for Ninlil, lady of the gods, the Inana who created me, my mother who bore me, for my well-being.

Lipit-Eštar 09add

Cone; clay; Isin. RIME 4.01.05.0009add; ETCSRI Q004104.

Laws of Lipit-Eštar

Tablet; clay; provenience unknown. RIME E.01.05.0010add; ETCSRI Q000613.

When the great An, father of the gods, and Enlil, king of all lands, who decides the fates, looked joyfully with a radiant smile at Ninisina, An’s child, because of the authority of the humble lady, and gave a propitious reign and the kingship of Sumer and Akkad to Isin, the border territory founded by An; at the time, when An and Enlil chose Lipit-Eštar, the observant shepherd, whose name was proclaimed by Nunamnir, as the prince of the Land to establish justice in the Land, to eliminate complaints from (the people’s) mouth, to push back wickedness and violence with weapons, and to make Sumer and Akkad feel content; at that time, because I, Lipit-Eštar, the humble shepherd of Nibru, the true farmer of Urim, ceaseless provider of Eridug, the en priest suitable for Unug, king of Isin, king of Sumer and Akkad, the favourite of Inana, established justice in Sumer and Akkad by Enlil’s command,

Lipit-Eštar 10add

Cone; clay; Isin. RIME 4.01.05.0010add; ETCSRI Q004103.

Lipit-Eštar 2001 / CDLI Seals 012213

Seal (not impression); stone; Ur. RIME 4.01.05.2001; ETCSRI Q001967.

Lipit-Eštar, the powerful king, king of Urim: Aya-duga, gudug - abzu priest of Nanna, šita - eša priest, child of Duga-zida, is your servant.

Lipit-Eštar 2002

Seal (not impression); stone; Ur. RIME 4.01.05.2002; ETCSRI Q001968.

Lipit-Eštar, the powerful king, king of his land: Iddin-Dagan-waqar, the ešabda official, child of Nanna-isag, is your servant.

Lipit-Eštar 2003 / CDLI Seals 012214

Seal (not impression); stone; Ur. RIME 4.01.05.2003; ETCSRI Q001969.

Lipit-Eštar, the powerful king, king of Urim:..., the scribe, child of Lu-Inana, is your servant.

Lipit-Eštar 2004 / CDLI Seals 012216

Seal (not impression); stone; Ur. RIME 4.01.05.2004; ETCSRI Q001970.

Lipit-Eštar, the powerful king,....

Ur-Ninurta 1

Brick; clay; Nippur. RIME 4.01.06.0001; ETCSRI Q001971.

Ur-Ninurta, the shepherd, who provides Nibru with everything, the herdsman of Urim, the išib priest of Eridug with pure hands, the favourite en priest of Unug, king of Isin, king of Sumer and Akkad, the spouse chosen by Inana.

Bur-Sin 1

Brick; clay; Isin. RIME 4.01.07.0001; ETCSRI Q001973.

Bur-Suen, the shepherd who makes Nibru utterly content, the powerful farmer of Urim, the restorer of Eridug’s divine design, the en priest suitable for the divine powers of Unug, king of Isin, king of Sumer and Akkad, the spouse who befits Inana's holy lap.

Bur-Sin 2

Statuette; agate; provenience unknown. RIME 4.01.07.0002; ETCSRI Q001974.

For Inana, his lady, Bur-Suen, the powerful king, king of Sumer and Akkad, fashioned this (statuette), and dedicated it to her for his well-being.

Bur-Sin 2002 / CDLI Seals 012217

Seal (not impression); stone; Nippur. RIME 4.01.07.2002; ETCSRI Q001977.

Bur-Suen, the powerful king, king of Sumer and Akkad: Abbaĝu, the scribe, child of Lu-Utu, is your servant.

Bur-Sin 2003 / CDLI Seals 001562

Seal (not impression); steatite; Ur. RIME 4.01.07.2003; ETCSRI Q001978.

Warad-Šamaš, child of Ziyatum, is the servant of Bur-Suen.

Bur-Sin 2004 / CDLI Seals 012051

Seal (not impression); stone; Ur. RIME 4.01.07.2004; ETCSRI Q001979.

..., child of Damu-rabi, is the servant of Bur-Suen.

Bur-Sin 2005 / CDLI Seals 005549

Seal (not impression); jasper; provenience unknown. RIME 4.01.07.2005; ETCSRI Q001980.

Bur-Suen, the powerful king, king of Sumer and Akkad: Lu-Enlila, the scribe, child of Lugal-ezen, is your servant.

Bur-Sin 2006 / CDLI Seals 002155

Seal (not impression); haematite; Ur. RIME 4.01.07.2006; ETCSRI Q001981.

Ilum-ahu,..., is the servant of Bur-Suen.

Erra-imitti 2001 / CDLI Seals 002519

Seal (not impression); haematite; provenience unknown. RIME 4.01.09.2001; ETCSRI Q001982.

Iliška-uṭul, the scribe, child of Suen-ennam, is the servant of Erra-imitti.

Enlil-bani 01

Brick; clay; Isin. RIME 4.01.10.0001; ETCSRI Q001983.

Enlil-bani, the shepherd, who makes everything abundant for Nibru, the farmer of Urim’s plentiful barley, who purifies all divine powers of Eridug, the favourite en - priest of Unug, king of Isin, king of Sumer and Akkad, the spouse chosen in the heart by Inana.

Enlil-bani 02

Cone; clay; Isin. RIME 4.01.10.0002; ETCSRI Q001984.

Enlil-bani, the shepherd, who makes everything abundant for Nibru, the powerful king, king of Isin, king of Sumer and Akkad, the spouse chosen in the heart by Inana, the beloved of Enlil and Ninisina, built the great city wall of Isin. The name of this city wall is “Enlil-bani is a firm foundation.

Enlil-bani 03

Cone; clay; Isin. RIME 4.01.10.0003; ETCSRI Q001985.

Enlil-bani 04

Cone; clay; Isin. RIME 4.01.10.0004; ETCSRI Q001986.

For Ninisina, his lady, Enlil-bani, the shepherd, who makes everything abundant for Nibru, the farmer of Urim’s plentiful barley, who purifies all divine powers of Eridug, the beloved en - priest of Unug, the powerful king, king of Isin, king of Sumer and Akkad, the spouse choosen in the heart by Inana, built the E-urĝira.

Enlil-bani 05

Cone; clay; Isin. RIME 4.01.10.0005; ETCSRI Q001987.

For Ninibgal, the compassionate lady, who loves votive offerings, who listens to prayers and supplications, her shining mother, Enlil-bani, the shepherd, who makes everything abundant for Nibru, the farmer of Urim’s plentiful barley, who purifies all divine powers of Eridug, the beloved en - priest of Unug, the powerful king, king of Isin, king of Sumer and Akkad, the spouse choosen in the heart by Inana, built her beloved temple.

Enlil-bani 06

Cone; clay; Isin. RIME 4.01.10.0006; ETCSRI Q001988.

For Nintinuga, lady of the living and the dead, his lady, Enlil-bani, the powerful king, king of Isin, king of Sumer and Akkad, the beloved of Enlil and Ninisina, built the E-nidubu, his beloved temple.

Enlil-bani 07

Cone; clay; Isin. RIME 4.01.10.0007; ETCSRI Q001989.

For Sud, his lady, Enlil-bani, the powerful king, king of Isin, built the E-dimgal-ana, her beloved temple.

Enlil-bani 08

Tablet; clay; Nippur. RIME 4.01.10.0008; ETCSRI Q001990.

For Enlil, king of all lands, his master, Enlil-bani, the powerful king, king of Isin, king of Sumer and Akkad, the beloved of Enlil and Ninisina,....

Enlil-bani 09

Unknown; clay; provenience unknown. RIME 4.01.10.0009; ETCSRI Q001991.

When I, Enlil-bani, the shepherd, who makes everything abundant for Nibru, the farmer of Urim’s plentiful barley, the en priest suitable for Unug, ceaseless provider of Eridug, the spouse chosen in the heart by Inana, established justice in Sumer and Akkad, then I built the eight palaces of the kings.

Enlil-bani 10

Brick; clay; Isin. RIME 4.01.10.0010; ETCSRI Q001992.

The palace of Enlil-bāni.

Enlil-bani 12add

Cone; clay; Isin. RIME 4.01.10.0012add; ETCSRI Q009693.

For Annunītum of Agade, his lady, Enlil-bani, the shepherd, who makes everything abundant for Nibru, the powerful king, king of Isin, king of Sumer and Akkad, the spouse chosen in the heart by Inana, built the Ulmaš, her beloved temple in Isin.

Enlil-bani 1001

Tablet; clay; Nippur. RIME 4.01.10.1001; ETCSRI Q001994.

[This inscription — 13 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.]

Zambiya 2add

Cone; clay; Isin. RIME 4.01.11.0002add; ETCSRI Q006341.

For Ninisina, his lady, Zambiya, the powerful king, king of Isin, king of Sumer and Akkad, built the pure E-niĝar for her joyful festival.

Ur-dukuga 2

Brick; clay; Isin. RIME 4.01.13.0002; ETCSRI Q001997.

Urdu-kuga, the shepherd, who provides Nibru with everything, the great farmer of An and Enlil, the provider of the E-kur,....

Ur-dukuga 3

Cone; clay; Isin. RIME 4.01.13.0003; ETCSRI Q001998.

For Lulal of Du-eden, his master, Urdu-kuga, the shepherd, who provides Nibru with everything,..., the spouse looked upon favourably by Inana, built his beloved temple.

Sin-magir 3

Brick; clay; Isin. RIME 4.01.14.0003; ETCSRI Q002001.

The palace of Sin-magir.

Sin-magir 2001 / CDLI Seals 002462

Seal (not impression); stone; provenience unknown. RIME 4.01.14.2001; ETCSRI Q002002.

Iddin-damu, the chief builder, child of Iaya, is the servant of Enki and Sin-magir.

Sin-magir 2002 / CDLI Seals 002551 and 009452

Seal (not impression); haematite; provenience unknown. RIME 4.01.14.2002; ETCSRI Q002003.

Imgur-Sin, the temple administrator, child of Sin-iddinam, is the servant of Sin-magir.

Sin-magir 2003 / CDLI Seals 012218

Seal (not impression); stone; provenience unknown. RIME 4.01.14.2003; ETCSRI Q002004.

Ana-damu-taklaku, child of Adata, is the servant of Sin-magir.

Damiq-ilišu 2001

Recumbent lion; stone; provenience unknown. RIME 4.01.15.2001; ETCSRI Q002009.

To Nergal of Apiak, the respected lord, the powerful lion, his master, Warad-Nanna, the royal scribe, child of Piqqum, his servant, dedicated this (lion statue) for the well being Damiq-ilišu, king of Sumer and Akkad.

Part II. The Kings of Larsa — Gungunum to Rim-Sin I

Gungunum 1

Cone; clay; Ur. RIME 4.02.05.0001; ETCSRI Q002014.

For Dagan, the lord of the great gods, her personal god, En-ana-tuma, the beloved en priestess of Nanna in Urim, child of Išme-Dagan, king of Sumer and Akkad, built the E-eš-medaĝala, her holy storehouse, and dedicated it to him for the well-being of Gungunum, the powerful man, king of Urim and for her (own) well-being.

Gungunum 2

Cone; clay; Ur. RIME 4.02.05.0002; ETCSRI Q002015.

For Utu, the offspring of Nanna, the heir of the E-kišnuĝal, who was born by Ningal, his master, En-ana-tuma, the zirru priestess, the en priestess of Nanna in Urim, child of Išme-Dagan, king of Sumer and Akkad, built his E-hili, built his holy storehouse, and dedicated it to him for the well-being of Gungunum, the powerful man, king of Urim, and for her (own) well-being.

Gungunum 3

Brick; clay; Larsa. RIME 4.02.05.0003; ETCSRI Q002016.

Gungunum, king of Larsa, king of Sumer and Akkad, the powerful heir of Samium, fashioned both the bricks and the walls of the great wall of Larsa, its name is “Utu is the vanquisher of the rebellious lands”, in a single year.

Gungunum 4

Tablet; clay; provenience unknown. RIME 4.02.05.0004; ETCSRI Q002017.

Gungunum, king of Larsam, king of Sumer and Akkad.

Gungunum 5add

Cone; clay; provenience unknown. RIME 4.02.05.0005add; ETCSRI Q004449.

When An and Enlil granted the rule over Sumer and Akkad and the leadership of the Amorite lands fully to Utu in Larsam, then Gungunum, powerful man, king of Larsam, farmer of Urim, avenger of the E-babbar, king of Sumer and Akkad, powerful heir of Samium, built the great city wall of Larsa, its name is “Utu is the vanquisher of the rebellious lands”.

By my surpassing expertise I did drain the swamps of my city. I did make its bricks and complete the great city wall in a single year. I did make the Euphrates flow right through the middle of my city. In those days, during my reign, the market prices were set (like this): 1 shekel (of silver) was worth of 3 gur of barley, 10 mana of wool, or 15 sila of oil. My work forces did thus their work indeed in abundance. Being a steadfast king, I did complete this task.

Abi-sare 3add

Cone; clay; provenience unknown. RIME 4.02.06.0003add; ETCSRI Q005032.

For Nanna, his master, Abi-sare, the powerful man, king of Urim, built and restored the city wall of Iškun-Suen.

Abi-sare 2005 / CDLI Seals 012800

Seal (not impression); stone; provenience unknown. RIME 4.02.06.2005; ETCSRI Q002028.

..., the scribe, child of Lu-Ninšubur, the temple administrator of Ningal, is the slave of Abi-sare.

Abi-sare 2006 / CDLI Seals 012801

Seal (not impression); stone; provenience unknown. RIME 4.02.06.2006; ETCSRI Q002029.

Lugal-šuba, the scribe, child of Ur-dukuga, the slave of Abi-sare.

Sumu-El 1

Cone; clay; Ur. RIME 4.02.07.0001; ETCSRI Q002032.

For Inana, his lady, Sumu-El, the powerful man, king of Urim, king of Sumer and Akkad, built her holy storehouse in Urim.

Sumu-El 2

Cone; clay; Ur. RIME 4.02.07.0002; ETCSRI Q002033.

For Nanaya, the lady with perfect allure, Sumu-El, the powerful man, king of Urim, king of Sumer and Akkad, built her E-ituda, temple that fills her heart with joy in Urim.

Sumu-El 2002

Vase; calcite; Ur. RIME 4.02.07.2002; ETCSRI Q002035.

To Ningal, his lady,... for the well-being of Sumu-El, the powerful man, king of Urim....

Sumu-El 2003 / CDLI Seals 012803

Seal (not impression); stone; provenience unknown. RIME 4.02.07.2003; ETCSRI Q002036.

Sumu-El, the powerful man, king of Urim, king of Sumer and Akkad: Lu-Ninšubur, the scribe, child of Kudanum, is your servant.

Sumu-El 2007 / CDLI Seals 012045

Seal (not impression); stone; Ur. RIME 4.02.07.2007; ETCSRI Q002040.

Kug-Lugalbanda, šita - eša priest of Ningal, child of Nasilim, servant of Sumu-el.

Warad-Sin 11

Tablet; stone; Zabala. RIME 4.02.13.0011; ETCSRI Q002115.

For Inana of Zabalam, my lady, for my well-being, and for the well-being of Kudur-mabuk, the father who begot me, (I), Warad-Sin, king of Larsam, built her holy high temple, a residence of warriors, I raised it as high as a mountain. May she be as delighted with me because of my deeds as to grant me a life of long days as a reward!

Warad-Sin 30

Eyestone; stone; provenience unknown. RIME 4.02.13.0030; ETCSRI Q002134.

To Nanna, his lord, Warad-Sin, governor of Utu, child of Kudur-mabuk, father of the Amorite lands, dedicated this (eye-stone).

Warad-Sin 31

Seal (not impression); stone; provenience unknown. RIME 4.02.13.0031; ETCSRI Q002135.

Warad-Sin, king of Larsam, child of Kudur-mabuk.

Warad-Sin 32

Seal (not impression); stone; Ur. RIME 4.02.13.0032; ETCSRI Q002136.

En-ane-du, en priestess of Nanna in Urim, child of Kudur-mabuk, sibling of Warad-Sin, king of Larsam.

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

Warad-Sin 33

Seal (not impression); stone; Ur. RIME 4.02.13.0033; ETCSRI Q002137.

Rim-Sin, child of Warad-Sin, king of Larsam.

Rim-Sin I 2001

Dish; limestone; provenience unknown. RIME 4.02.14.2001; ETCSRI Q002166.

Iltani, daughter of Ilum-bani, presented (this) dish for the well-being of Rim-Sin, king of Larsam (and) for her own well-being to Inana of Zabalam.

Part III. The Kings of Uruk — Sin-kašid and Anam

Sin-kašid 02

Brick, tablet; clay; Uruk. RIME 4.04.01.0002; ETCSRI Q002239.

Sin-kašid, the powerful man, king of Unug, king of Amnanum, built his royal palace.

Sin-kašid 03

Tablet, cone; clay; Uruk. RIME 4.04.01.0003; ETCSRI Q002240.

Sin-kašid, the powerful man, king of Unug, king of Amnanum, provider of the E-ana, built his royal palace.

Sin-kašid 04

Tablet, cone; clay; Uruk. RIME 4.04.01.0004; ETCSRI Q002241.

When Sin-kašid, the powerful man, king of Unug, king of Amnanum, provider of the E-ana, built the E-ana, then he (also) built his royal palace.

Sin-kašid 05

Cone; clay; Uruk. RIME 4.04.01.0005; ETCSRI Q002242.

When Sin-kašid, the powerful man, king of Unug, king of Amnanum, provider of the E-ana, built the E-ana, then he (also) built his new palace, the E-kituš-šag-hula.

Anam 1

Tablet; limestone; provenience unknown. RIME 4.04.06.0001; ETCSRI Q002257.

For Inana, the great lady of the E-ana, his lady, Anam, the true shepherd of Unug, the favourite of An and Inana, the beloved child of Inana, built the outer courtyard of the en - priest’s E-ĝipar, the dwelling that fills her heart with joy.

Anam 3

Door socket; stone; Uruk. RIME 4.04.06.0003; ETCSRI Q002259.

For An, the king of the gods, his master, for Inana, the great lady of the E-ana, his lady, when he renovated and restored their old temple, Anam, the true shepherd of Unug, the beloved child of Inana, installed a door anointed with oil.

Part IV. Hammu-rapi of Babylon

Hammu-rapi 14 (Akkadian)

Tablet; limestone; Larsa. RIME 4.03.06.0014; ETCSRI Q002190.

For Utu, lord of heaven and earth, his master. Hammu-rapi, who was appointed by An, who makes himself heard by Enlil, the favourite of Utu, the beloved shepherd of Marduk, the powerful king, king of Babylon, king of Sumer and Akkad, king of the four quarters, the king who renovated all the sanctuaries of the great gods, when Utu gave him the rule over Sumer and Akkad and entrusted their nose-rope into his hands, then for Utu, the lord who supports him, he built the E-babbar, his beloved temple in Larsam, (Utu’s) city of lordship.

Hammu-rapi 16

Tablet; clay; Zabala. RIME 4.03.06.0016; ETCSRI Q002192.

For Inana of Zabala, the lady whose fearsome radiance covers heaven and earth, his lady. Hammu-rapi, who was appointed by An, who makes himself heard by Enlil, the favourite of Utu, the shepherd who makes Marduk's heart happy, the prince beloved by Inana, the powerful king, king of Babylon, king of Sumer and Akkad, king of the four quarters, the king who renovated all the sanctuaries of the great gods, when Inana, who makes the omens favourable for him, gave him the rule over Sumer and Akkad and entrusted their nose-rope into his hands, then for his beloved Inana, he built the E-zi-kalama, her beloved temple in Zabala, her city of ladyship.

Hammu-rapi 23add

Object type unrecorded; material unrecorded; Sippar. RIME 4.03.06.0023add; ETCSRI Q007321.

Aya, lady of the Ebabbar! Keep your obedient prince, Hammu-rapi, alive!

Hammu-rapi 2004

Eyestone; agate; provenience unknown. RIME 4.03.06.2004; ETCSRI Q002199.

Utu, the great lord of heaven and earth! Keep your obedient prince, Hammu-rapi, alive!

Part V. Outside the Four Seats — Idattu, King of Anšan and the Šimaškians

One inscription in this volume belongs to none of the seats above: an offering bowl naming Idattu, king of Anšan, king of the Šimaškians and Elam, dedicated by his grand vizier Kiten-rakittapi. It is not an Isin, Larsa, Uruk, or Babylonian text; it is placed here, honestly labeled, rather than folded into a dynasty it does not belong to.

Idattu 1

Bowl; bronze; provenience unknown. ETCSRI Q004276.

For Idattu, grandchild of Ebarat, child of Kindattu, Utu's shepherd, Inana's beloved, king of Anšan, king of the Šimaškians and Elam, Kiten-rakittapi, the grand vizier of Elam and chancellor, his servant, fashioned this (bowl).

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 ETCSRI text currently translated for the kings of Isin, Larsa, Uruk, and Babylon in this period bracket, plus one inscription belonging to a ruler outside those four seats (94 compositions in all), 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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