Editing Gudea

{{Short description|Sumerian king of Lagash (died c. 2124 BC)}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name         = Gudea<br>{{nobold|{{cuneiform|𒅗𒌤𒀀}}}}
| image        = Gudea of Lagash Girsu.jpg
| image_size   = 250
| caption      = [[Diorite]] statue of Gudea, prince of Lagash, dedicated to the god Ningishzida, [[Louvre Museum]]
| death_date   = c. 2124 BC
| spouse       = Ninalla
| issue        = [[Ur-Ningirsu II]]
| reign        = c. 2144 – c. 2124 BC
| father       = 
| predecessor  = [[Ur-Baba]]
| successor    = [[Ur-Ningirsu II]]
| succession   = [[List of kings of Lagash|King of Lagash]]
}}
{{Location map
| Near East
| width      = 260px
| float      = right
| border     = 
| caption    = Location of [[Lagash]]
| alt        = 
| relief     = yes
| AlternativeMap = 
| overlay_image = 
| label      = [[Lagash]]
| label_size = 
| position   = 
| background = 
| mark       = 
| marksize   = 
| link       = 
| lat_deg    = 31.411389
| lon_deg    = 46.407222
}}
'''Gudea''' ([[Sumerian language|Sumerian]]: {{script|Xsux|𒅗𒌤𒀀}}, ''Gu<sub>3</sub>-de<sub>2</sub>-a''; died {{Circa}} 2124 BC) was a [[Sumer|Sumerian]] ruler (''[[Ensí|ensi]]'') of the state of [[Lagash]] in Southern [[Mesopotamia]], who ruled {{Circa|2080}}–2060 BC ([[short chronology]]) or 2144–2124 BC ([[middle chronology]]). He probably did not come from the city, but had married Ninalla, [[Princess|daughter]] of the ruler [[Ur-Baba]] (2164–2144 BC) of Lagash, thus gaining entrance to the royal house of Lagash. He was succeeded by his son [[Ur-Ningirsu|Ur-Ningirsu II]]. Gudea ruled at a time when the center of [[Sumer]] was still ruled by the [[Gutian dynasty]], and when the Akkadian king [[Ishtup-Ilum]] ruled to the north in [[Mari, Syria|Mari]].<ref name="MLD227">{{cite book |last1=Durand |first1=M.L. |title=Supplément au Dictionnaire de la Bible: TELL HARIRI/MARI: TEXTES |page=227 |date=2008|url=http://pix.archibab.fr/4Dcgi/11710M2807.pdf}}</ref> Under Gudea, Lagash had a golden age, and seemed to enjoy a high level of independence from the [[Gutians]], a [[language isolate]] speaking people who had arrived from regions to the northeast of Mesopotamia.<ref name="MCC">{{cite book |last1=Corporation |first1=Marshall Cavendish |title=Ancient Egypt and the Near East: An Illustrated History |date=2010 |publisher=Marshall Cavendish |isbn=978-0-7614-7934-5 |pages=54–56 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3-kshvab3k4C&pg=PA54 |language=en}}</ref>

==Inscriptions==
[[File:Gudea dedication tablet (name and title).jpg|thumb|left|''Gudea [[Ensi (Sumerian)|Ensi]] [[Lagash]]ki'', "Gudea, Governor of Lagash", in an inscription]]
[[File:Cylinder seal of Gudea.jpg|thumb|Cylinder seal of Gudea. It reads "Gudea, Ensi of Lagash; Lugal-me, scribe, thy servant".<ref>{{cite book |last1=Ward |first1=W. H. |title=The seal cylinders of western Asia |date=1910 |publisher=Рипол Классик |isbn=9785878502252 |pages=23–24 Note 13, Seal N.38 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IxoSAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA23 |language=en}}</ref>]]
Gudea chose the title of ''énsi'' (town-king or governor), not the more exalted {{Lang|sux|[[lugal]]}} ([[Akkadian language|Akkadian]] ''šarrum''). Gudea did not style himself "god of Lagash" as he was not deified during his own lifetime, this title must have been given to him posthumously{{sfnp|Edzard|1997| p=26}} as in accordance with Mesopotamian traditions for all rulers except Naram-Sin of Akkad and some of the Ur III kings.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Brisch |first1=Nicole |title=Of Gods and Kings: Divine Kingship in Ancient Mesopotamia |journal=Religion Compass |date=2013 |volume=7 |issue=2 |pages=37–46 |doi=10.1111/rec3.12031}}</ref>

The 20 years of his reign are all known by name; the main military exploit seems to have occurred in his Year 6, called the "Year when [[Anshan (Persia)|Anshan]] was smitten with weapons".<ref>[http://cdli.ucla.edu/tools/yearnames/HTML/T4K2.htm Year-names for Gudea], [https://cdli.ucla.edu/ Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative].</ref>

Although Gudea claimed to have conquered [[Elam]] and Anshan, most of his inscriptions emphasize the building of [[irrigation]] channels and [[temple]]s, and the creation of precious gifts to the gods.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Steinkeller |first1=Piotr |title=Puzur-Inˇsuˇsinak at Susa: A Pivotal Episode of Early Elamite History Reconsidered |page=299 |url=https://www.academia.edu/35603952 |language=en}}</ref>

Materials for his buildings and statues were brought from all parts of western [[Asia]]: [[Cedrus|cedar]] wood from the [[Amanus]] mountains, quarried stones from [[Lebanon]], [[copper]] from northern [[Arabia]], [[gold]] and precious stones from the desert between [[Canaan]] and [[Egypt]], [[diorite]] from [[Magan (civilization)|Magan]] (Oman), and [[timber]] from [[Dilmun]] (Bahrain).<ref>{{cite book |last1=Thomason |first1=Allison Karmel |title=Luxury and Legitimation: Royal Collecting in Ancient Mesopotamia |date=2017 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-351-92113-8 |page=87 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W2NBDgAAQBAJ&pg=PT87 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Moorey |first1=Peter Roger Stuart |title=Ancient Mesopotamian Materials and Industries: The Archaeological Evidence |date=1999 |publisher=Eisenbrauns |isbn=978-1-57506-042-2 |page=245 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=P_Ixuott4doC&pg=PA245 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Thapar |first1=Romila |title=A Possible Identification of Meluḫḫa, Dilmun and Makan |journal=Journal of the Economic and Social History of the Orient |date=1975 |volume=18 |issue=1 |pages=1–42 |doi=10.2307/3632219 |jstor=3632219 |issn=0022-4995}}</ref>

==Statues of Gudea==
{{main|Statues of Gudea}}
[[File:0 Gudéa, prince de l'État de Lagash - AO 29155 (1).JPG|thumb|left|upright|Statue of Gudea, [[Louvre-Lens]]]]
[[File:Head of Gudea.jpg|thumb|Sculpture of the head of Sumerian ruler Gudea, {{Circa|2150 BC}}, [[National Archaeological Museum (Madrid)|National Archaeological Museum]]]]

==Religion==
[[File:Foundation figurines representing gods. Copper alloy. Reign of Gudea, c. 2150 BCE. From the temple of Ningirsu at Girsu, Iraq. The British Museum, London.jpg|thumb|Foundation figurines of gods in copper alloy, reign of Gudea, {{Circa|2150 BCE}}, from the temple of Ningirsu at [[Girsu]] (British Museum, London)]]
[[File:Gudea being led by Ningishzida into the presence of a deity who is seated on a throne.jpg|thumb|Votive stele of Gudea, ruler of Lagash, to the temple of Ningirsu: Gudea being led by [[Ningishzida]] into the presence of a deity who is seated on a throne. From Girsu, Iraq. 2144-2124 BCE. Ancient Orient Museum, Istanbul]]
[[File:Sacred basin, a gift from Gudea to the temple of Ningirsu. From Girsu, Iraq. 2144-2122 BCE. Ancient Orient Museum, Istanbul.jpg|thumb|Sacred basin, a gift from Gudea to the temple of Ningirsu. From Girsu, Iraq. 2144-2122 BCE. Ancient Orient Museum, Istanbul]]
[[File:Diorite mortar, an offering from Gudea to Enlil. From Nippur, Iraq. 2144-2124 BCE. Ancient Orient Museum, Istanbul.jpg|thumb|Diorite mortar, an offering from Gudea to Enlil. From Nippur, Iraq. 2144-2124 BCE. Ancient Orient Museum, Istanbul]]

The inscription on a statue of Gudea as architect of the [[E-ninnu|House of Ningirsu]],{{sfnp|Edzard|1997| pp=31–38}} warns the reader of doom if the words are altered, but there is a startling difference between the warnings of Sargon or his line and the warnings of Gudea. The one is length; Gudea's curse lasts nearly a quarter of the inscription's considerable length,{{sfnp|Edzard|1997| pp=36–38}} and another is creativity. The gods will not merely reduce the offender's progeny to ash and destroy his foundations, no, they will, "let him sit down in the dust instead of on the seat they set up for him". He will be "slaughtered like a [[bull]]… seized like an [[aurochs]] by his fierce horn".{{sfnp|Edzard|1997| p=38}}

Lagash under Gudea had extensive commercial communications with distant realms. According to his own records, Gudea brought cedars from the Amanus and Lebanon mountains in [[Syria]], diorite from eastern Arabia, copper and gold from central and southern Arabia and from [[Sinai Peninsula|Sinai]], while his armies were engaged in battles in Elam on the east.<ref name="SCHO">{{cite web |title=MS 2814 - The Schoyen Collection |url=https://www.schoyencollection.com/history-collection-introduction/sumerian-history-collection/cuneiform-indus-valley-ms-2814 |website=www.schoyencollection.com |language=en-gb}}</ref>

==International relations==
[[File:Moyen_Orient_3mil_aC.svg|thumb|upright=1.3|Location of foreign lands for the Mesopotamians, including Meluhha]]
{{main|Indus-Mesopotamia relations}}
In an inscription, Gudea referred to the [[Meluhha]]ns who came to Sumer to sell gold dust, [[carnelian]] etc...<ref name="SCHO"/> In another inscription, he mentioned his victory over the territories of [[Magan (civilization)|Magan]], [[Meluhha]], [[Elam]] and [[Amurru kingdom|Amurru]].<ref name="SCHO"/>

In the [[Gudea cylinders]], Gudea mentions that "I will spread in the world respect for my Temple, under my name the whole universe will gather in it, and Magan and Meluhha will come down from their mountains to attend" (cylinder A, IX).<ref>"J'étendrai sur le monde le respect de mon temple, sous mon nom l'univers depuis l'horizon s'y rassemblera, et [même les pays lointains] Magan et Meluhha, sortant de leurs montagnes, y descendront" (cylindre A, IX)" in {{cite web |title=Louvre Museum |url=https://www.louvre.fr/oeuvre-notices/cylindres-de-gudea |access-date=2020-04-01 |archive-date=2013-09-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130916014251/https://www.louvre.fr/oeuvre-notices/cylindres-de-gudea |url-status=dead }}</ref> In cylinder B, XIV, he mentions his procurement of "blocks of [[lapis lazuli]] and bright [[carnelian]] from Meluhha."<ref>{{cite book |last1=Moorey |first1=Peter Roger Stuart |title=Ancient Mesopotamian Materials and Industries: The Archaeological Evidence |date=1999 |publisher=Eisenbrauns |isbn=978-1-57506-042-2 |page=87 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=P_Ixuott4doC&pg=PA87 |language=en}}</ref>

The first known reference to [[History of Goa#The advent of Sumerians 2200 BC|Goa]] in India possibly appears as ''Gubi'' in the records of Gudea.<ref name="TRDS">{{cite book |last1=Souza |first1=Teotonio R. De |author-link=Teotónio de Souza |title=Goa Through the Ages: An economic history |date=1990 |publisher=Concept Publishing Company |isbn=978-81-7022-259-0 |page=2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dwYDPnEjTb4C&pg=PA2 |language=en}}</ref> At the time, Sumerians had established [[Indus-Mesopotamia relations|trade contacts with India]].<ref name="TRDS"/>

==Important artifacts==
<gallery widths="200px" heights="200px" perrow="4">
File:Girsu Gudea libation vase.jpg|The "Libation vase of Gudea" with the dragon [[Mušḫuššu]], dedicated to Ningishzida (21st century BC [[short chronology]]). The [[caduceus]] (right) is interpreted as depicting god [[Ningishzida]]. Inscription; "To the god Ningiszida, his god, Gudea, Ensi (governor) of Lagash, for the prolongation of his life, has dedicated this"
Image:GUDEA GOV OF LAGASH - bust.JPG|Head of Gudea in polished diorite, reign of Gudea ([[Museum of Fine Arts, Boston|Boston Museum of Fine Arts]])
File:Girsu Lion Macehead.jpg|Lion macehead of Gudea, Girsu.<ref>{{cite book|last1=de Sarzec|first1=Ernest|title=Découvertes en Chaldée|publisher=L. Heuzey|page=229|url=http://1886.u-bordeaux-montaigne.fr/items/viewer/76267#page/n235/mode/1up|access-date=2020-03-16|archive-date=2021-03-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210307194455/http://1886.u-bordeaux-montaigne.fr/items/viewer/76267#page/n235/mode/1up|url-status=dead}}</ref>
File:Gudea dedication tablet to Ningirsu.jpg|Gudea dedication tablet to God [[Ningirsu]]: "For Ningirsu, [[Enlil]]'s mighty warrior, his Master, Gudea, ensi of Lagash"
File:Gudea tablet Vorderasiatisches Museum Berlin.jpg|Gudea tablet: "For [[Hendursaga]], his master, Gudea, ruler of Lagash, built his house."<ref>D. O. Edzard, ''The Royal inscriptions of Mesopotamia, Early periods, vol. 3/1, Gudea and His Dynasty'', Toronto, 1997, p. 117-118</ref> Vorderasiatisches Museum, Berlin
Foundation Nail of Gudea, about 2100 BC, Neo-Sumerian, Iraq, probably Lagash, copper alloy - Cleveland Museum of Art - DSC08176.JPG|Foundation nail of Gudea, Cleveland Museum of Art
File:Cylindres de Gudea - Musée du Louvre Antiquités orientales AO MNB 1511 ; MNB 1512.jpg|The [[Gudea cylinders]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Louvre Museum|url=https://www.louvre.fr/oeuvre-notices/cylindres-de-gudea|access-date=2020-04-01|archive-date=2013-09-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130916014251/https://www.louvre.fr/oeuvre-notices/cylindres-de-gudea|url-status=dead}}</ref>
File:GudeaName.jpg|Name and title "Gudea, ensi of Lagash" on [[Statues of Gudea|Statue A of Gudea]].
File:Clou de fondation du temple de ningirsu.jpg|Foundation nail for the temple of Ningirsu in Lagash. Reign of Gudea.
File:Circular clay brick stamped with a cuneiform text mentioning the name of Gudea, ruler of Lagash. From Girsu, Iraq. Vorderasiatisches Museum.jpg|Mudbrick stamped with a cuneiform text mentioning the name of Gudea, ruler of Lagash. From Girsu, Iraq, {{Circa|2115 BCE}}. Vorderasiatisches Museum, Berlin
File:Seal of Gudea, led by Ningishzida.jpg|Seal of Gudea, led by [[Ningishzida]].
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Sources==
{{refbegin|2}}
* {{cite book |last=Edzard |first=Dietz Otto |author-link=Dietz Otto Edzard |year=1997 |title=Gudea and His Dynasty |publisher=University of Toronto Press |isbn=9780802041876 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0guVA19YUVoC&pg=PA36 }}
* {{cite web|last=Black |first=J.A. |author2=Cunningham, G. |author3=Dahl, Jacob L. |author4=Fluckiger-Hawker, E. |author5=Robson, E. |author-link5=Eleanor Robson |author6=Zólyomi, G. |year=1998 |title=The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature  |publisher=University of Oxford |url=http://etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk/ }}
* {{cite book |author=Frayne, Douglas R. |year=1993 |title=Sargonic and Gutian Periods |publisher=University of Toronto Press}}
* F. Johansen, "Statues of Gudea, ancient and modern". ''Mesopotamia'' 6, 1978.
* A. Parrot, ''Tello, vingt campagnes des fouilles (1877-1933)''. (Paris 1948).
* N.K. Sandars, "Introduction" page 16, ''The Epic of Gilgamesh'', Penguin, 1972.
* H. Steible, "Versuch einer Chronologie der Statuen des Gudea von Lagas". ''Mitteilungen der Deutschen Orient-Gesellschaft'' 126 (1994), 81–104.
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
{{Wikiquote}}
* [http://sumerianshakespeare.com/44701.html The true face of Gudea. A realistic statue of Gudea shows us how he may have looked in real life.]
{{S-start}}
{{s-reg}}
{{Succession box
| before = [[Ur-Baba]]
| title = [[List of kings of Lagash|King of Lagash]]
| years = c. 2144 – c. 2124 BC
| after = [[Ur-Ningirsu]]
}}
{{s-end}}
{{Rulers of Sumer}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:22nd-century BC Sumerian kings]]
[[Category:Kings of Lagash]]
[[Category:3rd-millennium BC births]]
[[Category:22nd-century BC deaths]]