The Sumerian King List

1-39

After the kingship descended from heaven, the kingship was in Eridug. 

In Eridug, Alulim became king; he ruled for 28800 years. 

Alaljar ruled for 36000 years. 2 kings; they ruled for 64800 years. 

Then Eridug fell and the kingship was taken to Bad-tibira. 

In Bad-tibira, En-men-lu-ana ruled for 43200 years. 

En-men-gal-ana ruled for 28800 years. 

Dumuzid, the shepherd, ruled for 36000 years. 

3 kings; they ruled for 108000 years. 

Then Bad-tibira fell (?) and the kingship was taken to Larag. 

In Larag, En-sipad-zid-ana ruled for 28800 years. 1 king; he ruled for 28800 years. 

Then Larag fell (?) and the kingship was taken to Zimbir. In Zimbir, En-men-dur-ana became king; he ruled for 21000 years. 

1 king; he ruled for 21000 years. 

Then Zimbir fell (?) and the kingship was taken to Curuppag. 

In Curuppag, Ubara-Tutu became king; he ruled for 18600 years. 

1 king; he ruled for 18600 years. In 5 cities 8 kings; they ruled for 241200 years. 

Then the flood swept over.

40-94

After the flood had swept over, and the kingship had descended from heaven, the kingship was in Kic. 

In Kic, Jucur became king; he ruled for 1200 years. 

Kullassina-bel ruled for 960 (ms. P2+L2 has instead: 900) years. 

Nanjiclicma ruled for (ms. P2+L2 has:) 670 (?) years. En-tarah-ana ruled for (ms. P2+L2 has:) 420 years ......, 3 months, and 3 1/2 days. Babum ...... ruled for (ms. P2+L2 has:) 300 years. 

Puannum ruled for 840 (ms. P2+L2 has instead: 240) years. 

Kalibum ruled for 960 (ms. P2+L2 has instead: 900) years. 

Kalumum ruled for 840 (mss. P3+BT14, Su1 have instead: 900) years. 

Zuqaqip ruled for 900 (ms. Su1 has instead: 600) years. 

(In mss. P2+L2, P3+BT14, P5, the 10th and 11th rulers of the dynasty precede the 8th and 9th.) Atab (mss. P2+L2, P3+BT14, P5 have instead: Aba) ruled for 600 years. 

Macda, the son of Atab, ruled for 840 (ms. Su1 has instead: 720) years. 

Arwium, the son of Macda, ruled for 720 years. 

Etana, the shepherd, who ascended to heaven and consolidated all the foreign countries, became king; he ruled for 1500 (ms. P2+L2 has instead: 635) years. 

Balih, the son of Etana, ruled for 400 (mss. P2+L2, Su1 have instead: 410) years. 

En-me-nuna ruled for 660 (ms. P2+L2 has instead: 621) years. 

Melem-Kic, the son of En-me-nuna, ruled for 900 years. (ms. P3+BT14 adds:) 1560 are the years of the dynasty of En-me-nuna . Barsal-nuna, the son of En-me-nuna, (mss. P5, P3+BT14 have instead: Barsal-nuna) ruled for 1200 years. Zamug, the son of Barsal-nuna, ruled for 140 years. 

Tizqar, the son of Zamug, ruled for 305 years. (ms. P3+BT14 adds:) 1620 + X ....... Ilku ruled for 900 years. 

Iltasadum ruled for 1200 years. En-men-barage-si, who made the land of Elam submit, became king; he ruled for 900 years. 

Aga, the son of En-men-barage-si, ruled for 625 years. (ms. P3+BT14 adds:) 1525 are the years of the dynasty of En-men-barage-si. 

23 kings; they ruled for 24510 years, 3 months, and 3 1/2 days. 

Then Kic was defeated and the kingship was taken to E-ana.

95-133

In E-ana, Mec-ki-aj-gacer, the son of Utu, became lord and king; he ruled for 324 (ms P2+L2 has instead: 325) years.

Mec-ki-aj-gacer entered the sea and disappeared.

Enmerkar, the son of Mec-ki-aj-gacer, the king of Unug, who built Unug (mss L1+N1, P2+L2 have instead: under whom Unug was built), became king; he ruled for 420 (ms TL has instead: 900 + X) years.

(ms P3+BT14 adds:) 745 are the years of the dynasty of Mec-ki-aj-gacer.

(ms TL adds instead: ; he ruled for 5 + X years.) Lugalbanda, the shepherd, ruled for 1200 years.

Dumuzid, the fisherman, whose city was Kuara, ruled for 100 (ms TL has instead: 110) years.

(ms P3+BT14 adds:) He captured En-me-barage-si single-handed.

Gilgamec, whose father was a phantom (?), the lord of Kulaba, ruled for 126 years.

Ur-Nungal, the son of Gilgamec, ruled for 30 years.

Udul-kalama, the son of Ur-Nungal (ms Su1 has instead: Ur-lugal), ruled for 15 years.

La-ba'cum ruled for 9 years.

En-nun-tarah-ana ruled for 8 years.

Mec-he, the smith, ruled for 36 years.

Melem-ana (ms Su2 has instead: Til-kug (?) .

) ruled for 6 (ms Su2 has instead: 900) years.

Lugal-kitun (?) ruled for 36 (ms Su2 has instead: 420) years.

12 kings; they ruled for 2310 (ms Su2 has instead: 3588) years.

Then Unug was defeated and the kingship was taken to Urim.

134-147

In Urim, Mec-Ane-pada became king; he ruled for 80 years.

 Mec-ki-aj-Nanna (ms P2+L2 has instead: Mec-ki-aj-nuna), the son of Mec-Ane-pada, became king; he ruled for 36 (ms P2+L2 has instead: 30) years.

 Elulu ruled for (mss L1+N1, P2+L2, P3+BT14 have:) 25 years.

 Balulu ruled for (mss L1+N1, P2+L2, P3+BT14 have:) 36 years.

 (mss L1+N1, P2+L2 have:) 4 kings; they ruled for (mss L1+N1, P2+L2, P3+BT14 have:) 171 years.

 Then Urim was defeated and the kingship was taken to Awan.

148-159

In Awan, .

became king; he ruled for .

years.

 .

ruled for .

years.

 .

ruled for 36 years.

3 kings; they ruled for 356 years.

Then Awan was defeated and the kingship was taken to Kic.

160-178

In Kic, Susuda, the fuller, became king; he ruled for 201 + X years.

Dadasig ruled for (ms vD has:) 81 years.

Mamagal, the boatman, ruled for 360 (ms L1+N1 has instead: 420) years.

Kalbum, the son of Mamagal (ms WB has instead: Magalgal), ruled for 195 (ms L1+N1 has instead: 132) years.

Tuge (?) ruled for 360 years.

Men-nuna, (ms L1+N1 adds:) the son of Tuge (?), ruled for 180 years.

(in mss L1+N1, TL, the 7th and 8th rulers of the dynasty are in reverse order) .

ruled for 290 years.

Lugalju ruled for 360 (ms L1+N1 has instead: 420) years.

8 kings; they ruled for 3195 (ms L1+N1 has instead: 3792) years.

Then Kic was defeated and the kingship was taken to Hamazi.

179-185

In Hamazi, Hadanic became king; he ruled for 360 years.

1 king; he ruled for 360 years.

Then Hamazi was defeated and the kingship was taken (ms P3+BT14 has instead: was returned a second time) to Unug.

(In mss IB, L1+N1, TL, the 2nd dynasty of Unug of ll.

185-191 is preceded by the 2nd dynasty of Urim of ll.

192-203.)

186-192

In Unug, En-cakanca-ana became king; he ruled for 60 years.

Lugal-ure (ms P3+BT14 has instead: Lugal-kinice-dudu (?)) ruled for 120 years.

Argandea ruled for 7 years.

(ms L1+N1 has:) 3 kings; they ruled for (ms L1+N1 has:) 187 years.

Then Unug was defeated (ms TL has instead: destroyed) and the kingship was taken to Urim.

193-204

In Urim, Nani became king; he ruled for (ms vD has:) 120 + X (ms IB has instead: 54 + X) years.

Mec-ki-aj-Nanna, the son of Nani, ruled for (ms vD has:) 48 years.

.

, the son (?) of .

, ruled for (ms IB has:) 2 years.

(ms IB has:) 3 kings; they ruled for (ms IB has:) 582 (ms TL has instead: 578) years.

(ms vD has instead: 2 kings; they ruled for 120 + X years.

) Then Urim was defeated (ms TL has instead: destroyed) and the kingship was taken to Adab.

205-210

In Adab, Lugal-Ane-mundu became king; he ruled for (mss L1+N1, TL have:) 90 years.

(mss L1+N1, TL have:) 1 king; he ruled for (mss L1+N1, TL have:) 90 years.

Then Adab was defeated (ms TL has instead: destroyed) and the kingship was taken to Mari.

211-223

In Mari, Anbu (?) became king; he ruled for 30 (ms TL has instead: 90) years.

Anba (?), the son of Anbu (?), ruled for 17 (ms TL has instead: 7) years.

Bazi, the leatherworker, ruled for 30 years.

Zizi, the fuller, ruled for 20 years.

Limer, the gudu priest, ruled for 30 years.

Carrum-iter ruled for 9 (ms TL has instead: 7) years.

6 kings; they ruled for 136 (ms TL has instead: 184) years.

Then Mari was defeated (ms TL has instead: destroyed) and the kingship was taken to Kic.

224-231

In Kic, Kug-Bau, the woman tavern-keeper, who made firm the foundations of Kic, became king; she ruled for 100 years.

1 king; she ruled for 100 years.

Then Kic was defeated (ms TL has instead: destroyed) and the kingship was taken to Akcak.

232-243

In Akcak, Unzi became king; he ruled for 30 years.

Undalulu ruled for 6 (mss L1+N1, S have instead: 12) years.

Urur ruled for (ms IB has instead: was king (?) for) 6 years.

Puzur-Nirah ruled for (mss IB, L1+N1, S, Su1 have:) 20 years.

Icu-Il ruled for (mss IB, L1+N1, S, Su1 have:) 24 years.

Cu-Suen, the son of Icu-Il, ruled for (mss IB, L1+N1, S, TL have:) 7 (ms Su1 has instead: 24) years.

(mss S, Su1, TL have:) 6 kings; they ruled for (mss L1+N1, S, TL have:) 99 (ms Su1 has instead: 116) years (ms IB has instead: 5 kings; they ruled for (ms IB has:) 87 years).

Then Akcak was defeated (ms S has instead: Then the reign of Akcak was abolished) and the kingship was taken to Kic.

(mss IB, S, Su1, Su3+Su4 list the 3rd and 4th dynasty of Kic of ll.

 224-231 and ll.

 244-258, respectively, as one dynasty)

244-258

In Kic, Puzur-Suen, the son of Kug-Bau, became king; he ruled for 25 years.

Ur-Zababa, the son of Puzur-Suen, ruled for 400 (mss P3+BT14, S have instead: 6) (ms IB has instead: 4 + X) years.

(ms P3+BT14 adds:) 131 are the years of the dynasty of Kug-Bau.

Zimudar (ms TL has instead: Ziju-iake) ruled for 30 (ms IB has instead: 30 + X) years.

Uß³i-watar, the son of Zimudar (ms TL has instead: Ziju-iake), ruled for 7 (ms S has instead: 6) years.

Ectar-muti ruled for 11 (ms Su1 has instead: 17 (?)) years.

Icme-Camac ruled for 11 years.

(ms Su1 adds:) Cu-ilicu ruled for 15 years.

Nanniya, the jeweller, (ms Su1 has instead: Zimudar) (ms IB has instead:) ruled for 7 (ms S has instead: 3) years.

7 kings; they ruled for 491 (ms Su1 has instead: 485) years (ms S has instead: 8 kings; they ruled for (ms S has:) 586 years).

Then Kic was defeated (ms S has instead: Then the reign of Kic was abolished) and the kingship was taken (ms P3+BT14 has instead: was returned a third time) to Unug.

(ms IB omits the 3rd dynasty of Unug of ll.

258-263)

259-265

In Unug, Lugal-zage-si became king; he ruled for 25 (ms P3+BT14 has instead: 34) years.

1 king; he ruled for 25 (ms P3+BT14 has instead: 34) years.

Then Unug was defeated (ms S has instead: Then the reign of Unug was abolished) and the kingship was taken to Agade.

266-296

In Agade, Sargon, whose father was a gardener, the cupbearer of Ur-Zababa, became king, the king of Agade, who built Agade (ms L1+N1 has instead: under whom Agade was built); he ruled for 56 (ms L1+N1 has instead: 55) (ms TL has instead: 54) years.

Rimuc, the son of Sargon, ruled for 9 (ms IB has instead: 7) (ms L1+N1 has instead: 15) years.

Man-icticcu, the older brother of Rimuc, the son of Sargon, ruled for 15 (ms L1+N1 has instead: 7) years.

Naram-Suen, the son of Man-icticcu, ruled for (mss L1+N1, P3+BT14 have:) 56 years.

Car-kali-carri, the son of Naram-Suen, ruled for (ms L1+N1, Su+Su4 have:) 25 (ms P3+BT14 has instead: 24) years.

(ms P3+BT14 adds:) 157 are the years of the dynasty of Sargon.

Then who was king? Who was the king? (ms Su3+Su4 has instead: who was king? Who indeed was king?) Irgigi was king, Imi was king, Nanûm was king (in mss L1+N1, Su3+Su4, Imi and Nanûm are in reverse order) , Ilulu was king, and the (mss P3+BT14, S have:) 4 of them ruled for only (mss P3+BT14, S have:) 3 years.

Dudu ruled for 21 years.

Cu-Durul, the son of Dudu, ruled for 15 (ms IB has instead: 18) years.

11 kings; they ruled for 181 years (ms S has instead: 12 kings; they ruled for (ms S has:) 197 years) (mss Su1, Su3+Su4, which omit Dudu and Cu-Durul, have instead: 9 kings; they ruled for (ms Su1 has:) 161 (ms Su3+Su4 has instead: 177) years.

Then Agade was defeated (ms S has instead: Then the reign of Agade was abolished) and the kingship was taken to Unug.

297-307

In Unug, Ur-nijin became king; he ruled for 7 (mss IB, S have instead: 3) (ms Su1 has instead: 15) (ms Su3+Su4 has instead: 30) years.

Ur-gigir, the son of Ur-nijin, ruled for 6 (ms IB has instead: 7) (ms Su1 has instead: 15) (ms Su3+Su4 has instead: 7) years.

Kuda ruled for 6 years.

Puzur-ili ruled for 5 (ms IB has instead: 20) years.

Ur-Utu ruled for 6 (ms Su3+Su4 has instead: Ur-Utu), the son of Ur-gigir, ruled for 25 (ms Su1 has instead: Lugal-melem, the son of Ur-gigir, ruled for 7) years.

5 kings; they ruled for 30 (ms IB has instead: 43) (mss PÝ+Ha, S have instead: 26) years (ms Su3+Su4, which omits Kuda and Puzur-ili, has instead: 3 kings; they ruled for (ms Su3+Su4 has:) 47 years).

Unug was defeated (ms S has instead: Then the reign of Unug was abolished) and the kingship was taken to the army (ms Su3+Su4 has instead: land) of Gutium.

308-334

In the army (ms Su3+Su4 has instead: land) of Gutium, at first no king was famous; they were their own kings and ruled thus for 3 years (ms L1+N1 has instead: they had no king; they ruled themselves for 5 years).

Then Inkicuc (ms Su3+Su4 has instead: .

) ruled for 6 (ms L1+Ni1 has instead: 7) years.

Zarlagab ruled for 6 years.

Culme (ms L1+N1 has instead: Yarlagac) ruled for 6 years.

Silulumec (ms Mi has instead: Silulu) ruled for 6 (ms G has instead: 7) years.

Inimabakec ruled for 5 (ms Mi has instead: Duga ruled for 6) years.

Igecauc ruled for 6 (ms Mi has instead: Ilu-an (?) ruled for 3) years.

Yarlagab ruled for 15 (ms Mi has instead: 5) years.

Ibate ruled for 3 years.

Yarla (ms L1+N1 has instead: Yarlangab (?)) ruled for 3 years.

Kurum (ms L1+N1 has instead: .

) ruled for 1 (ms Mi has instead: 3) years.

Apil-kin ruled for 3 years.

La-erabum (?) ruled for 2 years.

Irarum ruled for 2 years.

Ibranum ruled for 1 year.

Hablum ruled for 2 years.

Puzur-Suen, the son of Hablum, ruled for 7 years.

Yarlaganda ruled for 7 years.

ruled for 7 years.

Tiriga (?) ruled for 40 days.

21 kings; they ruled for (ms L1+N1 has:) 124 years and 40 days (ms Su3+Su4 has instead: 25 years).

Then the army of Gutium was defeated (ms TL has instead: destroyed) and the kingship was taken to Unug.

335-340

In Unug, Utu-hejal became king; he ruled for 427 years, .

days (ms IB has instead: 26 years, 2 + X months, and 15 days) (ms J has instead: 7 years, 6 months, and 15 days) (ms TL has instead: 7 years, 6 months, and 5 days).

1 king; he ruled for 427 years, .

days (ms J has instead: 7 years, 6 months, and 15 days) (ms TL has instead: 7 years, 6 months, and 5 days).

Then Unug was defeated and the kingship was taken to Urim.

341-354

In Urim, Ur-Namma became king; he ruled for 18 years.

Culgi, the son of Ur-Namma, ruled for 46 (mss Su3+Su4, TL have instead: 48) (ms P5 has instead: 58) years.

Amar-Suena, the son of Culgi, ruled for 9 (ms Su3+Su4 has instead: 25) years.

Cu-Suen, the son of Amar-Suena, ruled for 9 (ms P5 has instead: 7) (ms Su1 has instead: 20 + X) (ms Su3+Su4 has instead: 16) years.

Ibbi-Suen, the son of Cu-Suen, ruled for 24 (mss P5, Su1 have instead: 25) (ms Su3+Su4 has instead: 15) (ms TL has instead: 23 (?)) years.

4 kings; they ruled for 108 years (mss J, P5, Su1, Su3+Su4 have instead: 5 kings; they ruled for (ms P5 has:) 117 (ms Su1 has instead: 120 + X) (ms Su3+Su4 has instead: 123) years).

Then Urim was defeated (ms P5 has instead: Then the reign of Urim was abolished).

(ms Su3+Su4 adds:) The very foundation of Sumer was torn out (?).

The kingship was taken to Isin.

355-377

In Isin, Icbi-Erra became king; he ruled for 33 (ms P5 has instead: 32) years.

Cu-ilicu, the son of Icbi-Erra, ruled for 20 (ms P5 has instead: 10) (ms Su1 has instead: 15) years.

Iddin-Dagan, the son of Cu-ilicu, ruled for 21 (ms Su1 has instead: 25) years.

Icme-Dagan, the son of Iddin-Dagan, ruled for (mss P2, P5 have:) 20 (ms Mi has instead: 18) years.

Lipit-Ectar, the son of Icme-Dagan (ms P2 has instead: Iddin-Dagan), ruled for (mss L1+N1, P2, P5 have:) 11 years.

Ur-Ninurta (mss L1+N1, P2 add:) , the son of Ickur -- may he have years of abundance, a good reign, and a sweet life -- ruled for (ms P5 has:) 28 years.

Bur-Suen, the son of Ur-Ninurta, ruled for 21 years.

Lipit-Enlil, the son of Bur-Suen, ruled for 5 years.

Erra-imitti ruled for 8 (mss P5, TL have instead: 7) years.

(ms P5 adds:) .

ruled for .

6 months.

Enlil-bani ruled for 24 years.

Zambiya ruled for 3 years.

Iter-pica ruled for 4 years.

Ur-dul-kuga ruled for 4 years.

Suen-magir ruled for 11 years.

(ms P5 adds:) Damiq-ilicu, the son of Suen-magir, ruled for 23 years.

14 kings; they ruled for 203 years (ms P5 has instead: 225 years and 6 months).

(Mss P2+L2, L1+N1 and P4+Ha conclude with a summary of the post-diluvian dynasties; the translation of ll.

378-431 uses numerical data from each mss but follows the wording of P2+L2 and L1+N1)

378-431A total of 39 kings ruled for 14409 + X years, 3 months and 3 1/2 days, 4 times in Kic.

A total of 22 kings ruled for 2610 + X years, 6 months and 15 days, 5 times in Unug.

A total of 12 kings ruled for 396 years, 3 times in Urim.

A total of 3 kings ruled for 356 years, once in Awan.

A total of 1 king ruled for 420 years, once in Hamazi.

16 lines missing

A total of 12 (?) kings ruled for 197 (?) years, once in Agade.

A total of 21 (ms P4+Ha has instead: 23) kings ruled for 125 years and 40 days (ms P4+Ha has instead: 99 years), once in the army of Gutium.

A total of 11 (ms P4+Ha has instead: 16) kings ruled for 159 (ms P4+Ha has instead: 226) years, once in Isin.

There are 11 cities, cities in which the kingship was exercised.

A total of 134 (ms P4+Ha has instead: 139) kings, who altogether ruled for 28876 + X (ms P4+Ha has instead: 3443 + X) years.

21.

References:

Black, J.A., Cunningham, G., Fluckiger-Hawker, E, Robson, E., and Zólyomi, G., The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature (http://www-etcsl.orient.ox.ac.uk/), Oxford 1998- . ETCSL: about the project (ox.ac.uk)

For a full list of Translated Sumerian Cuneiform Tablets go to:

ETCSLhomepage (ox.ac.uk)