Editing Alulim (section)

==Reign==
[[File:Initial paragraph about rule of Alulim in Eridu for 28800 years (photograph, transcription and translation).jpg|thumb|[[Weld-Blundell Prism]], initial paragraph about rule of Alulim and [[Alalngar]] in [[Eridu]] for 64,800 years]]
Alulim is regarded as a fictional figure by [[Assyriologists]].{{sfn|Steinkeller|2017|p=61}} References to him are largely limited to lists of legendary ancient rulers.{{sfn|Peterson|2018|p=40}} He was traditionally considered the first Mesopotamian king,{{sfn|Kvanvig|2011|p=96}} and his reign was placed before the mythical [[great flood]].{{sfn|Kvanvig|2011|p=418}} All known sources listing primordial kings consistently state that he lived in [[Eridu]], unless no mention of any cities is made.{{sfn|Kvanvig|2011|p=96}} This tradition reflected the perception of Eridu as a city of particular symbolic importance.{{sfn|Steinkeller|2017|p=64}} His reign was described as supernaturally long.{{sfn|Bachvarova|2012|p=101}} Its duration was regarded as [[proverbial]], as indicated by a letter of the astrologer Ašarēdu to an unspecified Babylonian king, in which he wished him to be blessed by the gods of [[Babylon]] with "years of Alulu".{{sfn|George|Taniguchi|Geller|2010|p=133}} According to the ''[[Sumerian King List]]'', Alulim retained his position for 28,800 years before he was succeeded by [[Alalngar]], who in turn reigned for 36,000 years.{{sfn|Katz|2003|p=118}} However, the contents of the ''Sumerian King List'' are assumed to not reflect historical reality, and cannot be used to reconstruct early Mesopotamian chronology.{{sfn|Marchesi|2010|p=238}} There is no evidence that the figure of Alulim was incorporated into it from a preexisting older source.{{sfn|Steinkeller|2017|p=61}} A different tradition about the length of his reign is preserved in the ''Ballad of Early Rulers'', which states that he ruled for 36,000 years.{{sfn|Katz|2003|p=118}} According to [[Irving Finkel]], other similar texts give further variant figures, such as 36,200 years (tablet BM 40565) or 67,200 years (tablet WB 62).{{sfn|Finkel|1980|p=71}}