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This page is about the king of Lagash. For the Mariote singer with the same name, see Ornina.
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Ur-Nanshe
π’Œ¨π’€­π’€
King of Lagash
Ur-Nanshe.jpg
Ur-Nanshe, seated, wearing flounced skirt. The text to the right of his head reads "Ur-Nanshe" (π’Œ¨π’€­π’€, UR-NAN). The text in front of him reads "Boats from the land of Dilmun carried the wood" (π’ˆ£Dilmun (early Sumerian pictograph, horizontal).jpgπ’†³π’‹«π’„˜π’„‘π’ˆ¬-π’……, ma2 dilmun kur-ta gu2 giΕ‘ mu-gal2). Limestone, Early Dynastic III (2550–2500 BC). Found in Telloh (ancient city of Girsu). Louvre Museum.
Reign c. 2550 Β BC – 2500 Β BC
Predecessor Lugal-sha-engur
Successor Akurgal
Spouse Abda? Menbara-abzu
Issue Akurgal, Lugal-ezem, Anekura, Mukur...ta, Anunpa, Menusu, Adatur
Dynasty 1st Dynasty of Lagash
Father Gunidu

Ur-Nanshe (Sumerian: π’Œ¨π’€­π’€, UR-NANΕ E) also Ur-Nina, was the first king of the First Dynasty of Lagash (approx. 2500 BCE) in the Sumerian Early Dynastic Period III. He is known through inscriptions to have commissioned many buildings projects, including canals and temples, in the state of Lagash, and defending Lagash from its rival state Umma. He was probably not from royal lineage, being the son of Gunidu (π’„–π’‰Œπ’Ί) who was recorded without an accompanying royal title. He was the father of Akurgal, who succeeded him, and grandfather of Eanatum. Eanatum expanded the kingdom of Lagash by defeating Umma as illustrated in the Stele of the Vultures and continue building and renovation of Ur-Nanshe's original buildings.

He ascended after Lugalshaengur (lugal-Ε‘a-engur), who was the ensi, or high priest of Lagash, and is only known from the macehead inscription of Mesilim.

Temples

According to the Perforated Relief of King Ur-Nanshe, temples attributed to Ur-Nanshe include Ningirsu's temple in Girsu, Nanshe's temple in Nina, and Apsubanda. He is known to have originally built the Ibgal of Inanna, because of Eanatum's honorary inscriptions left after temple renovation. The Ibgal of Inanna is located in modern-day al-Hiba (ancient city of Lagash). An oval wall surrounds the main mud brick temple and it is located on the southwest edge of the city. This placement within the city is different because temples were usually centrally positioned in ancient Sumer.

Inscriptions

Ur-Nanshe has left behind many inscriptions and plates that depict him, his family, and court.

The Perforated Relief

Relief Ur-Nanshe Louvre AO2344
Votive relief of Ur-Nanshe, king of Lagash, with his sons and dignitaries. Limestone, Early Dynastic III (2550–2500 BC). Found in Telloh (ancient city of Girsu). Louvre Museum
Lagash is located in Near East
Lagash
Lagash
Location in Near East

The Perforated Relief of King Ur-Nanshe is on display at the Louvre. The king is portrayed as a builder of temples and canals, thus a preserver of order perceived to be bestowed upon them by the gods. It is a perforated limestone slab that was probably part of a wall as a votive decoration and is inscribed in Sumerian:

π’Œ¨π’€­π’€ / π’ˆ— / 𒉒𒁓𒆷 / π’Œ‰π’„–π’‰Œπ’Ί / π’Œ‰π’„₯π’Š¬ / π’‚π’€­π’Š©π’Œ†π’„ˆπ’‹’ π’ˆ¬π’†• / π’ͺπ’€Šπ’Œ‰π’• π’ˆ¬π’†• / 𒂍𒀭𒀏 π’ˆ¬π’†•

Ur-Nanshe / lugal / Lagash / dumu Gunidu / dumu Gurmu/ e2 Ningirsu mu-du3 / abzu-banda3da mu-du3 / e2 Dnanshe mu-du3

β€œUr-Nanshe, king of Lagash, son of Gunidu, son of Gurmu, built the temple of Ningirsu, built Apsubanda, built the temple of Nanshe.”
β€”Dedication inscription of Ur-Nanshe (top left corner)

The carved illustration is in two registers, top and bottom, both depicting Ur-Nanshe in different roles as king. In the top register he is dressed in a kaunakes (tufted wool skirt), carrying a basket of bricks on his head while surrounded by other Lagash elite, his wife, and seven of his sons (though it is possible female figure is instead the king's daughter). Inscriptions on their respective garments identify each person. On the bottom register, Ur-Nanshe is at a banquet, which is to celebrate the building of the temple. He is seated on a throne wearing the same outfit as the top register surrounded by other court members. In both registers Ur-Nanshe is shown using hierarchical proportion in which he is considerably larger than everyone surrounding him.

A part of the inscriptions, in front of the seated king, reads: β€œBoats from the (distant) land of Dilmun carried the wood (for him)”. This is the oldest known written record of Dilmun and importation of goods into Mesopotamia.

  • Ur-Nanshe relief (B&W)

    The relief at time of discovery

  • Ur-Nanshe

    Ur-Nanshe on the relief. He is also depicted wearing a basket for the construction of a temple.

  • Ur-Nanshe perforated relief The ships of Dilmun, from the foreign lands, brought him wood as a tribute

    Inscription in front of Ur-Nanshe: "The ships of Dilmun, from the foreign lands, brought him wood as a tribute" (π’ˆ£Dilmun (early Sumerian pictograph, horizontal).jpgπ’†³π’‹«π’„˜π’„‘π’ˆ¬-π’……, ma2 dilmun kur-ta gu2 giΕ‘ mu-gal2).

  • Akurgal as son of Ur-Nanshe, on the votive relief of Ur-Nanshe

    Ur-Nanshe's son Akurgal (𒀀𒆳𒃲) on the relief.

  • Detail, wall or door votive plaque. The largest figure on left (with a basket on his head is Ur-Nanshe, ruler of Lagash). Cuneiform text. Early Dynastic period, 2550-2500 BCE. From Girsu, Iraq. Ancient Orient Museum, Istanbul, Turkey

    Perforated relief of Ur-Nanshe at the Ancient Orient Museum, Istanbul, Turkey. Very similar to the Louvre's plaque. From Girsu, Iraq

Door socket

Ur-Nanshe door socket
Ur-Nanshe door socket with inscription: "Ur-Nanshe, King of Lagash, son of Gunidu, the son of Gurmu..." and a list of the temples he built. Louvre Museum.

An inscribed door socket from Ur-Nanshe is also known, now in the Louvre Museum. The full inscription of the door socket has been translated as:

"Ur-Nanshe, the king of Lagash, the son of Gunidu, the son of Gurmu, built the house of Ningirsu; built the house of Nanshe; built the house of Gatumdug; built the harem; built the house of Ninmar. The ships of Dilmun brought him wood as a tribute from foreign lands. He built the Ibgal; built the Kinir; built the scepter (?)-house."

β€”Inscription on the perforated relief of Ur-Nanshe.
  • Door socket of Ur-Nanshe

    The door socket of Ur-Nanshe at time of discovery.

  • Ships from Dilmun brought wood tribute from foreign lands

    "The ships of Dilmun, from the foreign lands, brought him (Ur-Nanshe) wood as a tribute (?)" (π’ˆ£Dilmun (early Sumerian pictograph, horizontal).jpgπ’†³π’‹«π’„˜π’„‘π’ˆ¬-π’……, ma2 dilmun kur-ta gu2 giΕ‘ mu-gal2). Door socket of Ur-Nanshe.

The Plaque of Ur Nanshe

Limestone votive relief of Ur-Nanshe, King of Lagash, Girsu, Early Dynastic Period III, c. 2550-2500 BC
Plaque of Ur-Nanshe, King of Lagash, with his sons and a cup bearer. Louvre Museum.

The Plaque of Ur Nanshe is a limestone plaque currently located at the Louvre Museum that honors Ur Nanshe. The figures displayed are the king and his court standing rigid and wide eyed, paying homage to the god Nanshe. They are dressed in kaunakes with their hands clasped together over their chest. Hierarchical scale of the king and the use of cuneiform on the figures to identify them are employed as in the Perforated Relief.

π’Œ¨π’€­π’€ / π’ˆ— / 𒉒𒁓𒆷 / π’Œ‰π’„–π’‰Œπ’Ί / π’‚π’€­π’Š©π’Œ†π’„ˆπ’‹’ / π’ˆ¬π’†•

Ur-Nanshe / lugal / Lagash / dumu Gunidu / E-Ningirsu / mudu

"Ur-Nanshe, king of Lagash, son of Gunidu, built the temple of Ningirsu"
β€”Inscription on the plaque of Ur-Nanshe. Louvre Museum.
  • Plaque of Ur-Nanshe

    Plaque of Ur-Nanshe at time of discovery

  • Ur-Nanshe King of Lagash in the limestone votive relief of Ur-Nanshe

    Ur-Nanshe himself

  • Akurgal as a child in the limestone votive relief of Ur-Nanshe

    Akurgal (𒀀𒆳𒃲) as a child in the limestone votive relief of Ur-Nanshe

Additional inscriptions

Ur-Nanshe inscription
"Ur-Nanshe"
π’Œ¨π’€­π’€
King of
π’ˆ—
"Lagash"
𒉒𒁓𒆷
Fragmentary stele bearing from right to left the inscription "Ur-Nanshe/ King of/ Lagash/ son of Gunidu/ to Ningirsu..." (Louvre)

There are many other inscriptions found by or mentioning Ur-Nanshe. Some of them include a listing of rulers of Lagash and a Hymn to Nashe.

Excerpt from Ruler of Lagash:

β€œUr-NanΕ‘e, the son of ......, who built the E-Sirara, her temple of happiness and Niĝin, her beloved city, acted for 1080 years. Ane-tum, the son of Ur-NanΕ‘e”

Excerpt from A Hymn to Nashe:

β€œThere is perfection in the presence of the lady. LagaΕ‘ thrives in abundance in the presence of NanΕ‘e. She chose the Ε‘ennu in her holy heart and seated Ur-NanΕ‘e, the beloved lord of LagaΕ‘, on the throne. She gave the lofty scepter to the shepherd.”

  • Tablet of Ur-Nanshe

    Tablet of Ur-Nanshe (Urn 24): "Ur-Nanshe, King of Lagash, son of Gunidu, the son of Gurmu, built the house of Nanshe, fashioned (the statue of) Nanshe (...) Boats from the land of Dilmun carried the wood".

  • Boats from the land of Dilmun carried the wood

    "The ships of Dilmun, from the foreign lands, brought him (Ur-Nanshe) wood as a tribute (?)" (π’ˆ£Dilmun (early Sumerian pictograph, horizontal).jpgπ’†³π’‹«π’„˜π’„‘π’ˆ¬-π’……, ma2 dilmun kur-ta gu2 giΕ‘ mu-gal2). Tablet of Ur-Nanshe (Urn 24).

  • Fragmentary votive inscription-AO 3866-IMG 9163-gradient

    Inscription in the name of Ur-Nanshe, an incantation to the reed and to Enki, before the foundation of the Girsu sanctuary for god Ningirsu.

  • Goddess Shul-utul, foundation peg, 'Ur-Nanshe, King of Lagash, son of Gunidu, built the shrine Girsu', probably Girsu, Tell Telloh, Iraq, mid 3rd millenium BC - Harvard Semitic Museum - Cambridge, MA - DSC06074

    Goddess Shul-utul, foundation peg, with inscription "Ur-Nanshe, King of Lagash, son of Gunidu, built the shrine Girsu", probably Girsu, Tell Telloh, Iraq, mid 3rd millennium BCE. Harvard Semitic Museum, Cambridge, MA

  • Akurgal king of Lagash son of Ur-Nanshe on the Stele of the Vultures

    "Akurgal king of Lagash, son of Ur-Nanshe" (𒀀𒆳𒃲 π’ˆ— 𒉒𒁓𒆷𒆠 π’Œ‰ π’Œ¨π’€­π’€) on the Stele of the Vultures.

  • Relief Im-dugud Louvre AO2783

    Votive relief of Ur-Nanshe, king of Lagash, representing the bird-god AnzΓ» (or Im-dugud) as a lion-headed eagle. Alabaster, Early Dynastic III (2550–2500 BC). Found in Telloh, ancient city of Girsu.

  • Temple foundation figurine of Ur-Nanshe

    Temple foundation figurine in the name of Ur-Nanshe. Inscription "Ur-Nanshe, King of Lagash, has built the shrine of Girsu". British Museum, BM 96565.

  • Stele or obelisk of Ur-Nanshe with goddess Nisaba, ruler of Lagash, from Lagash, Iraq, 26th century BCE. Iraq Museum

    Stele of Ur-Nanshe with goddess Nisaba, ruler of Lagash, from Lagash, Iraq, 26th century BCE. Iraq Museum

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Ur-Nanshe para niΓ±os

  • History of Sumer
  • Chronology of the ancient Near East
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