Bara-irnun ( ''bara-ir-nun'';
) was a queen consort of the
Sumer
Sumer () is the earliest known civilization, located in the historical region of southern Mesopotamia (now south-central Iraq), emerging during the Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age, early Bronze Ages between the sixth and fifth millennium BC. ...
ian city-state of
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 ...
as wife of king
Gishakidu
Gishakidu ( ''giš-ša3-ki-du10'' ;) was king of the Sumerian city-state of Umma and husband of queen Bara-irnun. He was the son of Il, and his reign lasted at least 4 years. He is particularly known from a gold votive plate by his queen, in whi ...
. She is particularly known from a gold votive plate in which she describes her genealogy in great detail.
The inscription on the plate reads:
The original royal line of Umma consisted in the filiation of
Enakalle
Enakalle or Enakalli (; ) was the king of Umma, a Sumerian city-state, during the Early Dynastic III period (2600–2350 BC). His reign lasted at least 8 years.
Enakalle in the cone of Entemena
His predecessor Ush, ruler of Umma, attacked nearb ...
(possibly son of
Ush) and his own son
Ur-Lumma
''Ur-Lumma'' (, ; ) was a ruler of the Sumerian city-state of Umma. His father was King Enakalle, who had been vanquished by Eannatum of Lagash. Ur-Lumma claimed the title of "King" ('' Lugal''). His reign lasted at least 12 years.
Ur-Lumma ag ...
.
When Ur-Lumma died, presumably without a son but certainly with a daughter named Bara-irnum, the throne was handed over to
Il, son of Eanandu (who had no regnal title) and grandson (or nephew) of Enakalle.
King Il was then succeeded by his own son
Gishakidu
Gishakidu ( ''giš-ša3-ki-du10'' ;) was king of the Sumerian city-state of Umma and husband of queen Bara-irnun. He was the son of Il, and his reign lasted at least 4 years. He is particularly known from a gold votive plate by his queen, in whi ...
.
Bara-irnum married her cousin Gishakidu, thus re-uniting both strands of the royal family by a marital alliance.
The plaque is the first known mention of
Shara, tutelary god of
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 ...
.
Enakalle
Enakalle or Enakalli (; ) was the king of Umma, a Sumerian city-state, during the Early Dynastic III period (2600–2350 BC). His reign lasted at least 8 years.
Enakalle in the cone of Entemena
His predecessor Ush, ruler of Umma, attacked nearb ...
, grandfather of Bara-irnum, on the plate of queen Bara-irnun.
Gishakidu (name).jpg, King Gishakidu
Gishakidu ( ''giš-ša3-ki-du10'' ;) was king of the Sumerian city-state of Umma and husband of queen Bara-irnun. He was the son of Il, and his reign lasted at least 4 years. He is particularly known from a gold votive plate by his queen, in whi ...
, husband of Bara-irnum
Il Lugal (name).jpg, "King Il" (, '' Il lugal
( Sumerian: ) is the Sumerian term for "king, ruler". Literally, the term means "big man." In Sumerian, ''lú'' " 𒇽" is "man" and ''gal'' " 𒃲" is "great", or "big."
It was one of several Sumerian titles that a ruler of a city-state could ...
''), father-in-law of Bara-irnum
Ur-Lumma on the plate of Bara-irnun.jpg, King Ur-Lumma
''Ur-Lumma'' (, ; ) was a ruler of the Sumerian city-state of Umma. His father was King Enakalle, who had been vanquished by Eannatum of Lagash. Ur-Lumma claimed the title of "King" ('' Lugal''). His reign lasted at least 12 years.
Ur-Lumma ag ...
, father of Bara-irnum
References
{{Early Rulers of Mesopotamia
24th-century BC women
Ancient queens consort
Sumerian people
Umma
3rd-millennium BC births
3rd-millennium BC deaths