Akurgal (, "Descendant of the Great Mountain" in Sumerian; ) was the second king ( Ensi) of the first dynasty of

Lagash Lagash (; cuneiform: LAGAŠKI; Sumerian language, Sumerian: ''Lagaš'') was an ancient city-state located northwest of the junction of the Euphrates and Tigris rivers and east of Uruk, about east of the modern town of Al-Shatrah, Iraq. Lagash ( ...

. His relatively short reign took place in the first part of the 25th century BCE, during the period of the archaic dynasties. He succeeded his father, Ur-Nanshe, founder of the dynasty, and was replaced by his son

Eannatum Eannatum ( ; ) was a Sumerian ''Ensi (Sumerian), Ensi'' (ruler or king) of Lagash. He established one of the first verifiable empires in history, subduing Elam and destroying the city of Susa, and extending his domain over the rest of Sumer and Akk ...

. Very little is known about his reign: only six inscriptions mention it. One of them reports that he built the Antasura of

Ningirsu Ninĝirsu was a Mesopotamia, Mesopotamian god regarded as the tutelary deity of the city of Girsu, Ĝirsu, and as the chief god of the local pantheon of the state of Lagash. He shares many aspects with the god Ninurta. Ninĝirsu was identified as ...

. During his reign, a border conflict pitted

against

Umma Umma () in modern Dhi Qar Province in Iraq, was an ancient city in Sumer. There is some scholarly debate about the Sumerian and Akkadian names for this site. Traditionally, Umma was identified with Tell Jokha. More recently it has been sugges ...

, These borders between Umma and Lagash had been fixed in ancient times by Mesilim, king ( lugal) of

Kish Kish may refer to: Businesses and organisations * KISH, a radio station in Guam * Kish Air, an Iranian airline * Korean International School in Hanoi, Vietnam People * Kish (surname), including a list of people with the name * Kish, a former ...

, who had drawn the borders between the two states in accordance with the oracle of Ishtaran, invoked as intercessor between the two cities. Akurgal is mentioned fragmentally in an inscription on the

Stele of the Vultures The Stele of the Vultures is a monument from the Early Dynastic Period (Mesopotamia), Early Dynastic IIIb period (2600–2350 BC) in Mesopotamia celebrating a victory of the city-state of Lagash over its neighbour Umma. It shows various battle and ...

, describing the conflict of Akurgal with Lagash, possibly with Ush, king of Umma: "Because of ��the man of Umma spoke arrogantly with him and defied Lagash. Akurgal, king of Lagash, son of Urnanshe ��. In all likelihood Akurgal lost part of the territory of Lagash to the ruler of Umma. He had two sons, who both became important rulers of Lagash after him,

and Enannatum I, and successfully repelled Umma's encroachment. Inlay Akurgal Louvre AO11249.jpg, Shell inlay in the name of Akurgal (on the skirt, vertically), found in Girsu.

Louvre Museum The Louvre ( ), or the Louvre Museum ( ), is a national art museum in Paris, France, and one of the most famous museums in the world. It is located on the Rive Droite, Right Bank of the Seine in the city's 1st arrondissement of Paris, 1st arron ...

File:Akurgal as a child in the limestone votive relief of Ur-Nanshe.jpg, Akurgal as a child in the limestone votive relief of Ur-Nanshe File:Akurgal with transcription.jpg, The name "Akurgal" File:Tablet of Enannatum son of Akurgal.jpg, Tablet mentioning Akurgal, as father of Enannatum I: "Enannatum, '' ensi'' of Lagash, son of Akurgal, ''ensi'' of Lagash...." File:Tablet of Enannatum I.jpg, Tablet mentioning Akurgal, as father of Enannatum I: "Enannatum, '' ensi'' of Lagash, son of Akurgal, ''ensi'' of Lagash...." File:Akurgal king of Lagash son of Ur-Nanshe on the Stele of the Vultures.jpg, "Akurgal king of Lagash, son of Ur-Nanshe" () on the

References

{{Rulers of Sumer Kings of Lagash 25th-century BC Sumerian kings 3rd-millennium BC births 25th-century BC deaths