Editing Lagash (section)

===First dynasty of Lagash (c. 2520 – c. 2260 BC)===
[[File:Relief Ur-Nanshe Louvre AO2344.jpg|thumb|[[Relief]] of [[Ur-Nanshe]]. At the top he creates the foundation for a shrine, at the bottom he presides over the dedication ([[Louvre]]).]]
[[File:Vase Entemena Louvre AO2674.jpg|thumb|[[Entemena]]'s [[cuneiform|inscribe]]d silver vase, c. 2400 BC ([[Louvre]])]]
The dynasties of Lagash are not found on the ''[[Sumerian King List]]'' (SKL) despite being a power in the Early Dynastic period and a major city in the centuries that followed. One tablet, from the later Old Babylonian period and known as ''The Rulers of Lagash'', was described by its translator as "rather fanciful" and is generally considered to be a satirical parody of the SKL. The thirty listed rulers, in the style of the SKL, having improbable reigns, include seven known rulers from the 1st Dynasty of Lagash, including [[Ur-Nanshe]], "Ane-tum", [[Enentarzi|En-entar-zid]], [[Ur-Ningirsu]], [[Ur-Baba|Ur-Bau]], and [[Gudea]].<ref>Sollberger, Edmond. “The Rulers of Lagaš.” Journal of Cuneiform Studies, vol. 21, pp. 279–91, 1967</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The rulers of Lagaš|url=http://etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk/cgi-bin/etcsl.cgi?text=t.2.1.2 |orig-date=1998 |date=June 1, 2003 |access-date=2021-07-26|website=[[Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature]]}}</ref>

Little is known of the first two rulers of Lagash. [[En-hegal]] is believed to be the first ruler of Lagash. A tablet with his name describes a business transaction, in which a possible King En-hegal buys land.<ref>Barton, George A., "[https://archive.org/download/publications09pennuoft/publications09pennuoft.pdf Sumerian Business and Administrative Documents]", Philadelphia University, 1915</ref> Both his status and date are disputed.<ref name="Enhegal CDLI Wiki">{{Cite web|title=Enhegal |url=https://cdli.ox.ac.uk/wiki/doku.php?id=enhegal|access-date=2020-12-22|website=CDLI Wiki |date= January 14, 2010 }}</ref> He was followed by [[Lugalshaengur]] about whom also little is known.<ref>Maeda, Tohru, "[https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/orient1960/17/0/17_0_1/_pdf King of Kish" in Pre-Sargonic Sumer]", Orient 17, pp. 1-17, 1981</ref> [[Mesilim]], who called himself King of Kish though it is uncertain which city he was from, named Lugalshaengur as an "ensi" of Lagash on a mace head.<ref name="Frayne">Frayne, Douglas R., "Royal Inscriptions of Mesopotamia: Early Periods", RIME 1.08, 2007</ref>

====Ur-Nanshe====
While many details like the length of reign are not known for the next ruler, [[Ur-Nanshe]], a number of his inscriptions have been found, most at Lagash with one stele at Ur, which along with [[Umma]], he claimed to have conquered in battle.<ref>Romano, Licia, "Urnanshe’s Family and the Evolution of Its Inside Relationships as Shown by Images", La famille dans le Proche-Orient ancien: réalités, symbolismes et images: Proceedings of the 55e Rencontre Assyriologique Internationale, Paris, edited by Lionel Marti, University Park, USA: Penn State University Press, pp. 183-192, 2014</ref> Almost all deal with the construction of temples, one details how he "built the wester[n] channel at the side of Sa[la]/ channel at the side of S[al] (against) the Amorites". He is described as the "son of Gu-NI.DU" (occasionally as "son of Gur:SAR"), and his inscriptions list a number of sons and daughters.<ref>Jacobsen, Thorkild, "Ur-Nanshe’s Diorite Plaque", Orientalia, vol. 54, no. 1/2, pp. 65–72, 1985</ref> Several inscription say "He [had the ships of Dil]mun sub[mit] [timber] (to Lagaš) as tribute." His son [[Akurgal]] ruled briefly after him.<ref>Douglas Frayne, "Lagas", in Presargonic Period: Early Periods, Volume 1 (2700-2350 BC), RIM The Royal Inscriptions of Mesopotamia Volume 1, Toronto: University of Toronto Press, pp. 77-293, 2008 ISBN 9780802035868</ref>

====Eannatum====
The next ruler, [[Eannatum]] (earlier referred to as "Eannadu"), son of Akurgal and grandson of Ur-Nanshe, turned Lagash into a major power extending throughout large areas of Mesopotamia and to the east as well. In an inscription found at ancient [[Adab (city)|Adab]]:
{{blockquote|text="Eannatum, ruler of Lagash, granted strength by Enlil, nourished with special milk by Ninhursag, nominated by Ningirsu, chosen in her heart by Nanshe, son of Akurgal ruler of Lagash, defeated mountainous Elam, defeated [[Urua]], defeated Umma, defeated Ur. At that time, he built a well of fired bricks for Ningirsu in his (Ningirsu’s) broad courtyard. His personal god is [[Shul-utula|Shulultul]]. Then, Ningirsu loved Eannatum."<ref>Wilson, Karen, "[https://isac.uchicago.edu/sites/default/files/uploads/shared/docs/oip138.pdf Bismaya: Recovering the Lost City of Adab]", Oriental Institute Publications 138, Chicago, Ill, Univ. of Chicago Press, 2012 ISBN 9781885923639</ref>
}}

[[File:P1130735 Louvre stèle des Vautours rwk.JPG|thumb|[[Eannatum]], King of Lagash, riding a war chariot (detail of the [[Stele of the Vultures]]). His name "Eannatum" (𒂍𒀭𒈾𒁺) is written vertically in two columns in front of his head. [[Louvre Museum]].]]
Another inscription detail his destruction of "Kiš,  Akšak, and Mari at a place  named Antasur". He also claimed to have taken the city of [[Akshak]] and killed its king, Zuzu.<ref>Curchin, Leonard, "Eannatum and the Kings of Adab", Revue d’Assyriologie et d’archéologie Orientale, vol. 71, no. 1, pp. 93–95, 1977</ref> Eannatum took the city of Uru'az on the [[Persian Gulf]], and exacted tribute as far as [[Mari, Syria|Mari]]; however, many of the realms he conquered were often in revolt.<ref>{{Cite book|chapter-url=https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781315658032-11/birth-elam-history-piotr-steinkeller|chapter=The birth of Elam in history|date=2018-01-29|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-315-65803-2|language=en|doi=10.4324/9781315658032-11|title=The Elamite World |last1=Steinkeller |first1=Piotr |pages=177–202 }}</ref> During his reign, temples and palaces were repaired or erected at Lagash and elsewhere and canals and reservoirs were excavated.<ref>Vukosavović, Filip, "On Some Early Dynastic Lagaš Temples", Die Welt Des Orients, vol. 44, no. 1, pp. 126–30, 2014</ref> During his reign, [[Dilmun]] was a major trading partner.<ref>Foster, Benjamin R. and Foster, Karen Polinger, "Early City-States", Civilizations of Ancient Iraq, Princeton: Princeton University Press,  pp. 35-50, 2009</ref>

A long running border dispute, dating back at least to the time of Lugalshaengur, existed between the city-states of Umma and Lagash.<ref>Hritz, C., "[https://oi.uchicago.edu/sites/oi.uchicago.edu/files/uploads/shared/docs/Publications/SAOC/saoc71.pdf The Umma-Lagash Border Conflict: A View from Above]" in Altaweel, M. and Hritz, C. (eds.), From Sherds to Landscapes: Studies on the Ancient Near East in Honor of McGuire Gibson. Chicago: The Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago, pp. 109–32, 2021</ref> In the time of Umma ruler Enakalle a formal border was established, mediated by Mesilim, “king of Kish”. Eannatum restored the border, including the boundary markers of [[Mesilim]].

{{blockquote|text="Eanatum, ruler of Lagash, uncle of Enmetena ruler of Lagash, demarcated the border with Enakalle, ruler of Umma. He extended the [boundary-]channel from the Nun-channel to Guʾedena, leaving a 215-nindan [= 1,290 meters] [strip] of Ningirsu’s land under Umma’s control, establishing a no-man’s land there. He  inscribed [and  erected] monuments at that [boundary-]channel, and restored the monument of Mesilim, but did not cross into the plain of Umma. 
"<ref>Jerrold S. Cooper, "Reconstructing History from Ancient Inscriptions:The Lagash-Umma Border Conflict", Sources from the Ancient Near East 2/1; Malibu, CA: Undena, 1983</ref>
}}

[[File:This cuneiform text gives the city of Umma's account of its long-running border dispute with Lagash. Circa 2350 BCE. From Umma, Iraq. The British Museum, London.jpg|thumb|Vase of King [[Gishakidu]], king of Umma, and son of [[Ur-Lumma]], giving the city of Umma's account of its long-running border dispute with Lagash. The vase redefines the frontier by recording the locations of stelae to the god [[Shara (god)|Shara]], as well as the distances between them. Circa 2350 BC. From Umma, Iraq. Ref. 140889, [[British Museum]], London.<ref>{{cite news |title=Vase of Lugalzagezi |url=https://research.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=368267&page=5&partId=1&searchText=lugalzagesi |work=British Museum }}{{dead link|date=April 2024}}</ref>]]
In c. 2450 BC, Lagash and the neighboring city of [[Umma]] fell out with each other after a border dispute over the Guʾedena, a fertile area lying between them. As described in [[Stele of the Vultures]], of which only a portion has been found (7 fragments), the current king of Lagash, [[Eannatum]], inspired by the patron god of his city, [[Ningirsu]], set out with his army to defeat the nearby city.<ref>Winter, Irene J., "After the Battle Is Over: The ‘Stele of the Vultures’ and the Beginning of Historical Narrative in the Art of the Ancient Near East", Studies in the History of Art, vol. 16, pp. 11–32, 1985</ref> According to the Stele's engravings, when the two sides met each other in the field, Eannatum dismounted from his chariot and proceeded to direct his men on foot. After lowering their spears, the Lagash army advanced upon the army from Umma in a dense [[Phalanx formation|phalanx]].<ref>Alster, Bendt., "Images and Text on the ‘Stele of the Vultures.’", Archiv Für Orientforschung, vol. 50, pp. 1–10, 2003</ref> After a brief clash, Eannatum and his army had gained victory over the army of Umma.  This battle is one of the earliest depicted organised battles known to scholars and historians.<ref name=Battle>{{cite book|last=Grant|first=R.G.|title=Battle|year=2005|publisher=Dorling Kindersley Limited|location=London|isbn=978-1-74033-593-5}}</ref>

Eannatum was succeeded by his brother, [[En-anna-tum I]]. Given the many inscriptions his reign is assumed to be of some length. Most of them detailed the usual temple construction. On long tablet described the continued conflict with Umma:
{{blockquote|text="For the god Hendursag, chief herald of the Abzu En-anatum, [ru]ler of [Laga]š ...  When the god Enlil(?)], for the god [Nin]g[ir]s[u], took [Gu'edena] from the hands of Gisa (Umma) and filled En-anatum’s hands with it, Ur-LUM-ma, ruler of Gisa (Umma), [h]i[red] [(mercenaries from) the foreign lands] and transgressed the boun[da]ry-channel of the god Ningirsu (and said): ... En-anatum crushed Ur-LUM-ma, ruler of Gisa (Umma) as far as E-kisura (“Boundary) Channel”) of the god Ninœirsu. He pursued him into the ... of (the town) LUM-ma-girnunta. (En-anatum) gagged (Ur-LUM-ma) (against future land claims)"<ref name="Frayne" />
}}

The conflict from the Umma side of things from its ruler [[Ur-Lumma]]:
{{blockquote|text="Urlumma, ruler of Umma, diverted water into the boundary-channel of Ningirsu and the boundary-channel of Nan-she. He set fire to their monuments and smashed them, and destroyed the established chapels of the gods that were built on the boundary-levee called Namnunda-kigara. He recruited foreigners and transgressed the boundary-ditch of Ningirsu."<ref>Cooper, Jerrold S., "Sumerian and Akkadian Royal Inscriptions, I. Presargonic Inscriptions", The  American  Oriental  Society  Translation  Series  1, New Haven: American Oriental Society, 1986</ref>
}}

====Entemena====
The next ruler, [[Entemena]] increased the power of Lagash during his rule. A number of inscriptions from his reign are known.<ref>Nies, James B., "A Net Cylinder of Entemena", Journal of the American Oriental Society, vol. 36, pp. 137–39, 1916</ref><ref>Barton, George A., "A New Inscription of Entemena", Journal of the American Oriental Society, vol. 51, no. 3, pp. 262–65, 1931</ref> He was a contemporary of Lugalkinishedudu of Uruk.<ref>Gadd, C. J., "Entemena : A New Incident", Revue d’Assyriologie et d’archéologie Orientale, vol. 27, no. 3, pp. 125–26, 1930</ref>

Entemena was succeeded by his brother Enannatum II, with only one known inscription  where he "restored for the god Ningirsu his brewery".<ref name="Frayne" /> He was followed by two more minor rulers, Enentarzi (only one inscription from his 5 year reign, which mentions his daughter Gem[e]-Baba), and Lugalanda (several inscriptions, one mentions his wife Bara-namtara) the son of Enentarzi. The last ruler of Lagash, [[Urukagina]], was known for his judicial, social, and economic reforms, and his may well be the first legal code known to have existed.<ref>A. Deimel, "Die Reformtexte Urukaginas", Or. 2, 1920</ref><ref>Foxvog, Daniel A., "A New Lagaš Text Bearing on Uruinimgina’s Reforms", Journal of Cuneiform Studies, vol. 46, pp. 11–15, 1994</ref> He was defeated by Lugalzagesi, beginning when Lugalzagesi was ruler of Umma and culminating as ruler of Uruk, bringing an end to the First Dynasty of Lagash.<ref>Lambert, Maurice, "La guerre entre Urukagina et Lugalzagesi", Rivista Degli Studi Orientali, vol. 41, no. 1, pp. 29–66, 1966</ref> About 1800 [[cuneiform]] tablets from the reigns of the last three rulers of Lagash, of an administrative nature, have been found, mostly.<ref>Stephens, Ferris J., "Notes on Some Economic Texts of the Time of Urukagina", Revue d’Assyriologie et d’archéologie Orientale, vol. 49, no. 3, 1955, pp. 129–36</ref><ref>Joachim Marzahn, "Altsumerische Verwaltungstexteaus Girsu/Lagaš. Vorderasiatische Schriftdenkmälerder Staatlichen Museen zu Berlin, Neue Folge Heft IX (Heft XXV), Berlin, Akademie-Verlag, 1991</ref><ref>Barton, George A., "The Babylonian Calendar in the Reigns of Lugalanda and Urkagina", Journal of the American Oriental Society, vol. 31, no. 3, pp. 251–71, 1911</ref> The tablets are mostly from the "woman’s quarter" also known as the temple of the goddess [[Bau (goddess)|Babu]]. It was under the control of the Queen.<ref>Schrakamp, Ingo, "[https://refubium.fu-berlin.de/bitstream/handle/fub188/23835/bsa_053_07.pdf?sequence=1 Irrigation in 3rd millennium southern Mesopotamia: cuneiform evidence from the Early Dynastic IIIB City-State of Lagash (2475–2315 BC)]", in Water Management in Ancient Civilizations, pp. 117-195, 2018</ref>
<gallery widths="200" heights="200" perrow="4">
File:The cuneiform text states that Enannatum I reminds the gods of his prolific temple achievements in Lagash. Circa 2400 BCE. From Girsu, Iraq. The British Museum, London.jpg|The cuneiform text states that Enannatum I reminds the gods of his prolific temple achievements in Lagash. Circa 2400 BC. From Girsu, Iraq. The British Museum, London
File:Lagash in cuneiform.jpg|The name "Lagash" ({{Script/Cuneiform|𒉢𒁓𒆷}}) in vertical cuneiform of the time of [[Ur-Nanshe]].
File:Eagle of Lagash.jpg|The [[Anzû]], symbol of Lagash, in a [[Master of Animals]] motif, at the time of [[Entemena]].
File:Stele of the vultures (war).jpg|The armies of Lagash led by [[Eannatum]] in their conflict against Umma.
File:Stele of the vultures (lancers).jpg|Lancers of the army of Lagash against Umma
</gallery>