Shul-utul (, )
or Shul-utula was the personal god of the rulers of the Mesopotamian
Ur-Nanshe 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 name means "youngling shepherd" in
Sumerian.
Despite his role as the personal deity of kings, Shul-utul was not regarded as a deity associated with ruling, and it is possible his role was instead connected to personal luck. It is also possible that, similar to
Ninshubur, he was envisioned as capable of mediating with higher ranked gods on behalf of humans under his protection. One document states that he helped kings with building temples in
Girsu. He is mentioned in inscriptions in association with rulers such as
Entemena and
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 ...
.
Shut-utul is mostly attested in association with temples of other deities. Seven foundation figurines from the Ibgal temple, which dedicated to Inanna, are assumed to be depictions of Shul-utul. He was also worshiped in Emah (Sumerian: "exalted house"), a shrine of
Nanshe located in Girsu.
The only certain attestation of Shul-utul from the
Ur III period is the personal name Ur-Shul-utul. None are known from later periods.
References
Bibliography
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Shul-Utula
Mesopotamian gods
Tutelary deities
Lagash