Gudea

Gudea ( Sumerian: , ''Gu₃-de₂-a''; died 2124 BC) was a Sumerian ruler ('' ensi'') of the state of Lagash in Southern Mesopotamia, who ruled –2060 BC ( short chronology) or 2144–2124 BC ( middle chronology). He probably did not come from the city, but had married Ninalla, daughter of the ruler Ur-Baba (2164–2144 BC) of Lagash, thus gaining entrance to the royal house of Lagash. He was succeeded by his son Ur-Ningirsu II. Gudea ruled at a time when the center of Sumer was still ruled by the Gutian dynasty, and when the Akkadian king Ishtup-Ilum ruled to the north in Mari. Under Gudea, Lagash had a golden age, and seemed to enjoy a high level of independence from the Gutians, a language isolate speaking people who had arrived from regions to the northeast of Mesopotamia.

Inscriptions

Gudea chose the title of ''énsi'' (town-king or governor), not the more exalted ( Akkadian ''šarrum''). Gudea did not style himself "god of Lagash" as he was not deified during his own lifetime, this title must have been given to him posthumously as in accordance with Mesopotamian traditions for all rulers except Naram-Sin of Akkad and some of the Ur III kings.

The 20 years of his reign are all known by name; the main military exploit seems to have occurred in his Year 6, called the "Year when Anshan was smitten with weapons".

Although Gudea claimed to have conquered Elam and Anshan, most of his inscriptions emphasize the building of irrigation channels and temples, and the creation of precious gifts to the gods.

Materials for his buildings and statues were brought from all parts of western Asia: cedar wood from the Amanus mountains, quarried stones from Lebanon, copper from northern Arabia, gold and precious stones from the desert between Canaan and Egypt, diorite from Magan (Oman), and timber from Dilmun (Bahrain).

Statues of Gudea

Religion

The inscription on a statue of Gudea as architect of the House of Ningirsu, warns the reader of doom if the words are altered, but there is a startling difference between the warnings of Sargon or his line and the warnings of Gudea. The one is length; Gudea's curse lasts nearly a quarter of the inscription's considerable length, and another is creativity. The gods will not merely reduce the offender's progeny to ash and destroy his foundations, no, they will, "let him sit down in the dust instead of on the seat they set up for him". He will be "slaughtered like a bull… seized like an aurochs by his fierce horn".

Lagash under Gudea had extensive commercial communications with distant realms. According to his own records, Gudea brought cedars from the Amanus and Lebanon mountains in Syria, diorite from eastern Arabia, copper and gold from central and southern Arabia and from Sinai, while his armies were engaged in battles in Elam on the east.

International relations

In an inscription, Gudea referred to the Meluhhans who came to Sumer to sell gold dust, carnelian etc... In another inscription, he mentioned his victory over the territories of Magan, Meluhha, Elam and Amurru.

In the Gudea cylinders, Gudea mentions that "I will spread in the world respect for my Temple, under my name the whole universe will gather in it, and Magan and Meluhha will come down from their mountains to attend" (cylinder A, IX). In cylinder B, XIV, he mentions his procurement of "blocks of lapis lazuli and bright carnelian from Meluhha."

The first known reference to Goa in India possibly appears as ''Gubi'' in the records of Gudea. At the time, Sumerians had established trade contacts with India.

Important artifacts

File:Girsu Gudea libation vase.jpg, The "Libation vase of Gudea" with the dragon Mušḫuššu, dedicated to Ningishzida (21st century BC short chronology). The caduceus (right) is interpreted as depicting god Ningishzida. Inscription; "To the god Ningiszida, his god, Gudea, Ensi (governor) of Lagash, for the prolongation of his life, has dedicated this"
Image:GUDEA GOV OF LAGASH - bust.JPG, Head of Gudea in polished diorite, reign of Gudea (Boston Museum of Fine Arts)
File:Girsu Lion Macehead.jpg, Lion macehead of Gudea, Girsu.
File:Gudea dedication tablet to Ningirsu.jpg, Gudea dedication tablet to God Ningirsu: "For Ningirsu, Enlil's mighty warrior, his Master, Gudea, ensi of Lagash"
File:Gudea tablet Vorderasiatisches Museum Berlin.jpg, Gudea tablet: "For Hendursaga, his master, Gudea, ruler of Lagash, built his house." Vorderasiatisches Museum, Berlin
Foundation Nail of Gudea, about 2100 BC, Neo-Sumerian, Iraq, probably Lagash, copper alloy - Cleveland Museum of Art - DSC08176.JPG, Foundation nail of Gudea, Cleveland Museum of Art
File:Cylindres de Gudea - Musée du Louvre Antiquités orientales AO MNB 1511 ; MNB 1512.jpg, The Gudea cylinders.
File:GudeaName.jpg, Name and title "Gudea, ensi of Lagash" on Statue A of Gudea.
File:Clou de fondation du temple de ningirsu.jpg, Foundation nail for the temple of Ningirsu in Lagash. Reign of Gudea.
File:Circular clay brick stamped with a cuneiform text mentioning the name of Gudea, ruler of Lagash. From Girsu, Iraq. Vorderasiatisches Museum.jpg, Mudbrick stamped with a cuneiform text mentioning the name of Gudea, ruler of Lagash. From Girsu, Iraq, . Vorderasiatisches Museum, Berlin
File:Seal of Gudea, led by Ningishzida.jpg, Seal of Gudea, led by Ningishzida.

References

Sources

*
*
*
* F. Johansen, "Statues of Gudea, ancient and modern". ''Mesopotamia'' 6, 1978.
* A. Parrot, ''Tello, vingt campagnes des fouilles (1877-1933)''. (Paris 1948).
* N.K. Sandars, "Introduction" page 16, ''The Epic of Gilgamesh'', Penguin, 1972.
* H. Steible, "Versuch einer Chronologie der Statuen des Gudea von Lagas". ''Mitteilungen der Deutschen Orient-Gesellschaft'' 126 (1994), 81–104.

External links

The true face of Gudea. A realistic statue of Gudea shows us how he may have looked in real life.

{{Authority control

22nd-century BC Sumerian kings
Kings of Lagash
3rd-millennium BC births
22nd-century BC deaths