User:SomeGuyWhoRandomlyEdits/First dynasty of Uruk

First dynasty of Uruk
Uruk I
First dynasty of Uruk; Uruk I
Dynasty
	Dingir
Parent family	Annunaki
Country	Sumer
Current region	Mesopotamia
Place of origin	Uruk
Founded	c. 2775 BCE
Founder	Meshkiangasher (reign: c. 2775 BCE)
Final ruler	Ur-Nungal
Final head	Lugal-kitun
Historic seat	Eanna
Titles	List En (c. 2775 BCE) ; Lugal (c. 2670 BCE);
Estate(s)	Eanna
Dissolution	2500 BCE
Deposition	2600 BCE

The rulers from the first dynasty of Uruk are generally said to have reign: c. 2900 – c. 2700, c. 2750 – c. 2550; however, by the time of the Uruk period (c. 4000 – c. 3100 BCE), the volume of trade goods transported along the canals and rivers from within the Tigris–Euphrates river system facilitated the rise of a large, stratified, temple-centered city (Uruk with a population of upward 50,000 citizens) where a theocratic, centralized administration was most likely headed by a priest-king (en)—assisted by councils of elders (including both men and women). The Sumerian King List (SKL) includes the early dynasties of several prominent cities from this period. The first set of names on the SKL is of rulers said to have reigned before a major flood occurred. These early names may include fictional figures from Sumerian religion and literature such as: Meshkiangasher, Enmerkar, Lugalbanda, and Dumuzid. The first dynasty of Uruk was preceded by the first dynasty of Kish on the SKL.

Meshkiangasher (r. c. 2775 BCE) is listed on the SKL as the first king of Eanna. He was followed by his son Enmerkar (r. c. 2750, c. 2730 BCE). Enmerkar and the Lord of Aratta relates that Enmerkar constructed Eanna (which also served as Uruk's religious precinct after merging with Kulaba). Based off of information gathered from the poem, Enmerkar is credited with the invention of writing; thus, his reign may mark the very beginning of recorded history during Uruk V—III. Despite his and his father's proclaimed divine descent, neither Enmerkar nor his father were posthumously deified as their successors Lugalbanda, Dumuzid, and Gilgamesh were. The aforementioned three are also known from fragmentary legends. The most famous ruler of this dynasty is Gilgamesh, hero of the Epic of Gilgamesh (where he is called Lugalbanda's son).

Titles[edit]

In Eanna, Meshkiangasher, the son of Utu, became lord and king; he ruled for 324 (or 325) years. Meshkiangasher entered the sea and disappeared. Enmerkar, the son of Meshkiangasher, the king of Uruk, under whom Uruk was built, became king; he ruled for 420 (or 900) years. 745 are the years of the dynasty of Meshkiangasher. Lugalbanda, the shepherd, ruled for 1,200 years. Dumuzid, the fisherman whose city was Kuara, ruled for 100 (or 110) years. He captured Enmebaragesi single-handed. Gilgamesh, whose father was a phantom, the lord of Kulaba, ruled for 126 years. Ur-Nungal, the son of Gilgamesh, ruled for 30 years. Udul-kalama, the son of Ur-Nungal, ruled for 15 years. La-ba'shum ruled for 9 years. En-nun-tarah-ana ruled for 8 years. Mesh-he, the smith, ruled for 36 years. Melem-ana ruled for 6 (or 900) years. Lugal-kitun ruled for 36 (or 420) years. 12 kings; they ruled for 2,310 (or 3,588) years. Then Uruk was defeated and the kingship was taken to Ur.
— Sumerian King List