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Royal titulary of Amar-Suena, third king of Ur III: attests the formula 'king of the four quarters' that legitimised Sumerian rulers as universal sovereigns under Enlil's divine mandate.
Writing & LiteratureReligion & Myth14 gur, 2 ban2, 2 sila3 of barley, royal measure — deficit of barley loaded onto the boat — from Bazi; sealed by Ningirsu-isa; it is to be repaid. Month: 'Mušudu.' Year: Kimaš was destroyed. (Seal legend:) Ningirsu-isa, son of Adda(?), boatman.
EconomyLawTo Ur-Šulpa'e speak: Silver, 2 shekels, of Ur-silaluh, which is present in (his) possession — from it, 1 shekel, to Lu-duga, let it be given. Its silver, [...] [...] let him not neglect (it)/let him not disregard it. Ur-Suen, son of Ur-Utu.
Daily LifeEconomy1. Ibni-Iškur 2. — u3-na-a-du11 ("speak to him!" / letter-formula: "has been told") 3. [......]-dub-ba (broken; possibly "tablet-" related) 4. [...]-[x]-Gilgamesh (broken; contains the divine/heroic name Gilgamesh) 5. [...]-[x]-Erra (broken; contains the name/element Erra) 6. [......]-x (broken, illegible) 7. x x-za (broken, illegible) 8. 1 KA-x-x-um (a personal name, largely broken) 9. 1 Dingir-sudan (personal name) 10. x-ru-x (broken; "ru" tentatively "given/deposited") 11. son of Bak-x-gi4
Daily LifeEconomyTuram-ili — speak to him! 2 gur barley, from the sealed storehouse (e2-kišib-ba), to Lu-Turam let it be given. Before Puzur-x, the chief steward, the storehouse was opened. Let their sealed document be impressed (sealed).
Daily LifeEconomyTo Šu-damu — speak! The field, ...... [broken] ...... field ...... [broken] ...... [broken] ...... [broken] There is no remaining ...... that has been set/placed (there). To Zuma, the merchant, (and) Lu-Šalim, let it be given. Let the matter not be reneged upon (let the word not be turned back).
Daily LifeEconomyTo Suen-našir — speak! 2 gur 1 barig of bitumen, removed from the boat, 2 barig(?) ... to the house, [...] ... ... ... [...]-...-... [...] ... ... [...] n mirza-vessels(?) [...] ... fir-wood(?) ... ... hand (it) over! / give (it)!
Daily LifeEconomy1 sheep — [regular offering] of Inanna of Zabala. 1 sheep — regular offering of Šara of Umma. From Ili-bilani, booked out (disbursed). Month: "Great Festival" (ezem-maḫ). Year: "the land of Zabšali was destroyed." [Seal:] Šu-Kabta, physician(?), son of Naram-ili. Iškur-illat, scribe, son of Abiya, is your servant.
EconomyReligion & Myth6 sar of brick clay (im sig4), from Nisaba-andul(-ta), Pušk-in [received/borrowed it]. Per day, 6 [units] each, malt [......] malt [......] year: [......] before [......], before ...-[......], before Šu-[......], before Iškur-bani. They are its witnesses.
Law2 gug-bread(loaves), 2 sila each; 12 bread(loaves), 1/2 sila each; its bread: 1 ban2; 3 sila of nig-idea (oil-poured food); 2 oil-bread(loaves) — for the eshesh-festival of the House-of-the-15th-Day; [from the king]; via Ur-Šulgi, the cupbearer; booked out (as expenditure). Month: Kirsiak. Year: 'the en-priest(ess) of Eridu was installed.'
EconomyReligion & Myth9 gur 4 barig barley, royal measure, from Lu-Ninšubur, in the name of Lu-DU, he received (it) as its loan. Month: “Festival of carrying barley” (ezem-še-illa). Year: “the throne … [broken] … AN … was …” (year name, broken).
EconomyLaw5 (gur), šuku-allotment, field A-uri; foreman: Ur-Geštinanka. 5 (gur): Ur-Ištaran. The barley of the field — its case is to be investigated. [...] šuku-allotment, from Ur-Geštinanka and Ur-Ištaran: barley of the Ki-sumun field, leased (plow-)land of Abba-kalla, the foreman. Regarding the barley rations — its case is to be investigated.
EconomyLaw1 lamb — (for) Utu: delivery of the governor of Gudua (Cutha). 1 lamb — (for) Enlil, 1 lamb — (for) Ninlil: delivery of the zabar-dab official. 1 lamb — (for) Nusku, 1 lamb — (for) Ninurta: delivery of Lugal-melam; the zabar-dab official was the responsible official (maškim). 2 sheep — (for) Dada the scribe; ARAD-mu was the responsible official (maškim). Expenditure, on the 10th day. Month: 'Festival of Šulgi.' Year: 'Kimaš and Hurti were destroyed.'
EconomyReligion & MythFor Nanna, the impetuous calf of An, the first-born son of Enlil, his lord — Ur-Namma, the mighty man, king of Ur, built his E-temen-ni-guru.
Writing & LiteratureReligion & MythUr-Namma, king of Ur, king of Sumer and Akkad, the one who built the temple of Enlil. (second exemplar, identical text:) Ur-Namma, king of Ur, king of Sumer and Akkad, the one who built the temple of Enlil.
Writing & LiteratureReligion & MythFor Enlil, king of all the lands, his master, Ur-Namma, king of Ur, king of Sumer and Akkad, built his temple for him, (and) dug for him the En-erin-nun canal, his canal of food offerings.
Writing & LiteratureReligion & MythFor Ningirsu, the mighty warrior, his lord — Šulgi, the mighty man, king of Ur, king of Sumer and Akkad, built his (Ningirsu's) temple.
Writing & LiteratureReligion & Myth[(Amar-Suena, called by name by Enlil in Nippur, supporter of)] the temple [of Enlil], mighty king, king of Ur, king of the four quarters — for Enki, his beloved king, his beloved Abzu [he built].
Writing & LiteratureReligion & MythŠu-Suen, beloved of Enlil, the king whom Enlil chose as the beloved of his heart, mighty king, king of Ur, king of the four quarters, his beloved god — Habaluge, governor of Adab, his servant, built for him his beloved temple.
Writing & LiteratureReligion & MythA window into the world's first total state. The Ur III administration tracked every animal, every worker, every shekel — for a population in the millions. The level of paperwork was not exceeded until the modern era.
EconomyDaily Life(1) Amar-Suena, whose name was proclaimed by Enlil in Nibru, the steadfast supporter of Enlil's temple, the powerful man, king of Urim, king of the four quarters.
Writing & LiteratureReligion & Myth(1) For Enlil, the king of all lands, his master, Amar-Suena, whose name was proclaimed by Enlil in Nibru, the steadfast supporter of Enlil's temple, the powerful man, king of Urim, king of the four quarters, built the Kura-igi-ĝ̃al, the ziggurat temple, his beloved temple.
Religion & MythWriting & Literature(1) Amar-Suena, the powerful king.
Writing & LiteratureReligion & Myth(i 1) For Enlil, the king of all lands, his master, Amar-Suena, whose name was proclaimed by Enlil in Nibru, the steadfast supporter of Enlil's temple, the powerful man, king of Urim, king of the four quarters, installed this (door socket) at Enlil's pure foundation pit, at the place that fills Amar-Suena's heart with joy.
Writing & LiteratureReligion & Myth(1) For Enlil, the king of all lands, his beloved master, Amar-Suena, nominated by Enlil in Nibru, the steadfast supporter of Enlil's temple, the powerful king, king of Urim, king of the four quarters, built the temple in which syrup, ghee, and wine never cease in (Enlil's) place of offering.
Religion & MythWriting & Literature(o 1') ... whose name was prošlaimed by ..., the steadfast supporter of Enlilś temple, the powerful ..., king of Urim, king of the four quarterṣ built the E-temen-ni-guru, his beloved temple, in Urim.
Writing & LiteratureReligion & Myth(1) For Ningal, his lady, Amar-Suena, the powerful man, king of Urim, king of the four quarters, built the Ĝipar-kug, her beloved temple. He dedicated it to her for his well-being.
Religion & MythWriting & Literature(1) Since the dawn of time no temple has been built for the Dubla-maḫ except for an offering-place, where a reed hut was erected, (but now) for Nanna, his beloved master, Amar-Suena, the beloved of Nanna, whose name was proclaimed by Enlil in Nibru, the steadfast supporter of Enlil's temple, the powerful man, king of Urim, king of the four quarters, built a temple for the Dubla-maḫ, the building marvelled at by the Land, his place of rendering judgements, his net, the one from which no enemy of Amar-Suena may escape. He made it shining, decorated it with gold, silver, and lapis lazuli. In…
Writing & LiteratureReligion & Myth(1) Amar-Suena, whose name was proclaimed by Enlil in Nibru, the steadfast supporter of Enlil's temple, the powerful king, king of Urim, king of the four quarters, erected the statue (with the name) "It is him whose name was proclaimed by Suen who is the beloved of Urim". (1) Copy of a baked brick from the excavated debris of Urim, the work of Amar-Suena, king of Urim, that Sîn-balāssu-iqbi, military governor of Urim, found while looking for the ground-plan of the E-kiš-nu-ĝal. Nabû-šuma-iddin, son of Iddin-Papsukkal, the lamentation-priest of Sîn, read and copied it for viewing. (14) Whoever…
Writing & LiteratureReligion & Myth(1) For Inana, the lady of battle, his beloved spouse, Amar-Suena, whose name was proclaimed by Enlil in Nibru, the steadfast supporter of Enlil's temple, the powerful king, king of Urim, king of the four quarters, fashioned her bronze ... of the E-ĝipar. He dedicated it to her for his well-being.
Religion & MythWriting & Literature(1) For Inana, lady of the evening, her lady, Amar-Suena, the powerful man, king of Urim, king of the four quarters, built her temple.
Writing & LiteratureReligion & Myth(1) En-maḫ-gal-ana, the en priestess of Nanna.
Writing & LiteratureReligion & Myth(o 1) To Nungal, lady of the prisons, the life-giving lady, his lady, Puzur-ilī, the chief administrator of the E-ugti, dedicated this (stone tablet) for the well-being of Amar-Suena, whose name was proclaimed by Enlil in Nibru, the steadfast supporter of Enlil's temple, the powerful man, king of Urim, king of the four quarters.
Religion & MythWriting & Literature(i 1) Amar-Suena, the powerful king, king of Urim, king of the four quarters: Aya-kala, the governor of Umma, is your servant.
Law(i 1) Amar-Suena, the powerful man, king of Urim, king of the four quarters: Aya-kala, the governor of Umma, is your servant.
Law(i 1) Amar-Suena, the powerful man, king of Urim, king of the four quarters: Aya-kala, the governor of Umma, is your servant.
Law(i 1) Amar-Suena, the powerful man, king of Urim, king of the four quarters: Nanna-maba, the scribe, child of Unapšen, is your servant.
Writing & LiteratureReligion & Myth(i 1) Amar-Suena, the powerful man, king of Urim, king of the four quarters: Naram-ili, overseer of the doorkeepers, is your servant.
Law(1) Amar-Suena, the powerful man, king of Urim, king of the four quarters, presented (this seal) to Nawir-ilum, the shepherd, his servant.
Writing & LiteratureReligion & Myth(i 1) Amar-Suena, the powerful king, king of Urim, king of the four quarters: Ur-Lisi, the governor of Umma, is your servant.
Law(i 1) Amar-Suena, the powerful king, king of Urim, king of the four quarters: Lugal-ituda, the scribe, child of Ur-Dumuzida, is your servant.
Law(i 1) Amar-Suena, the powerful king, king of Urim, king of the four quarters: ..., the governor of Umma, is your servant.
Law(i 1) Amar-Suena, the powerful man, king of Urim: ..., the scribe, is your servant.
Law(i 1) Amar-Suena, whose name was proclaimed by Enlil in Nibru, the steadfast supporter of Enlil's temple, the powerful man, king of Urim, king of the four quarters, presented this (seal) to Šu-Kabta, his son-in-law.
LawRecords Habaluke, governor of Adab, dedicating a temple to Šu-Suen: evidence that provincial governors constructed cult buildings in the ruling king's name, binding local religious patronage to Ur III royal ideology.
Writing & LiteratureReligion & MythDedicatory inscription naming Šulgi as 'king of Sumer and Akkad': one of the textual anchors for dating his building programme at the Ninĝirsu temple and tracking the titulature of Ur III kingship.
Writing & LiteratureReligion & MythDedicates a dam to the goddess Ninḫursaĝa, attesting Šulgi's hydraulic patronage and the theological framing of Ur III infrastructure as divine service.
Writing & LiteratureReligion & MythRoyal titulary linking Ur-Namma to the Ekur at Nippur, attesting his bid to legitimise Ur III kingship through patronage of Enlil's cult — the theological cornerstone of Sumerian royal authority.
Writing & LiteratureReligion & MythUr-Namma's dedication of a temple to Enlil and excavation of the Id-en-eren-nun canal attests the intertwining of hydraulic infrastructure and divine patronage at the height of Ur III state-building.
Writing & LiteratureReligion & Myth(1) After he roared over Susa, Adamšah, and the land of Awan like a storm, made them submit in a single day, and captured their lords, Ibbi-Suen, the protective god of his land, the powerful king, king of Urim, king of the four quarters, fashioned for Nanna, who spreads radiance over his people, the most luminous lord among the gods, his master, an artfully wrought golden šagan bowl, whose decoration with bisons and snakes, and with the awe-inspiring dark raincloud1 attracts never-ending admiration, so that the mouth-opening ritual (carried out) with it at the place of the treasure chest durin…
Writing & LiteratureReligion & Myth