log in

The Sumerian King List

Isin version

[There are a number of versions of The Sumerian King List which do not always agree with each other. This version is based on an inscription on a block of stone found at the site of an ancient city in Sumer named Isin. It is an update of earlier Sumerian king lists to add Isins kings to Sumers royal roster.

This list was inscribed during the reign of Damiqilishu of Isin (1816-1794 BC). It presumed to be a list of kings from the beginning of historywhen kingship was first handed down from Heaven. As the inscription was done only a few years before Hammurabi of Babylon captured the land in the first half of the 18th century BC and added it as a province to his new empire called Babylonia, it is virtually a complete list of the kings of the land once called Sumer.

The Sumerian King List is a mixture of fact and fantasy, including many historical kings confirmed by archaeology, but omitting others, and listing contemporaneous dynasties as if they followed each other. The list below is paragraphed and in modern style for ease of reading.]

Kingship in Eridu

When kingship was first handed down from Heaven, the city of Eridu was chosen as the seat of kingship. In Eridu, Alulim ruled for 28,800 years as king and Alalgar ruled for 36,000 years. The two kings ruled a total of 64,800 years and then kingship was removed to Bad-tibira.

Kingship in Bad-tibira

In Bad-tibira, Enmenluanna ruled 43,200 years, Enmengalanna ruled 28,800 years and Dumuzi, the shepherd, ruled 36,000 years. The three kings ruled a total of 108,000 years and then kingship was removed to Larak.

Kingship in Larak

In Larak, Ensipazianna ruled 28,800 years before kingship was removed to Sippar.

Kingship in Sippar

In Sippar, Enmeduranna ruled 21,000 years and then Sippar was abandoned and its kingship removed to Shuruppak.

Kingship in Shuruppak

In Shuruppak, Ubartutu ruled 18,600 years and then The Flood came.

The Flood

Eight kings in five cities ruled 241,200 years before The Flood swept over the land.

Kingship in Kish

After The Flood, kingship was handed down from Heaven a second time, this time to the city of Kish which became the seat of kingship. In Kish, Gaur ruled 1,200 years; Gulla-Nidaba-annapad ruled 960 years; Palakinatim ruled 900 years; Nangishkushma ruled 670 years, 3 months and 3 days; Bahina ruled 300 years; Buanum ruled 840 years; Kalibum ruled 960 years; Galumum ruled 840 years; Zukakip ruled 900 years; Atab ruled 600 years; Mashda, the son of Atab, ruled 840 years; Arurim, the son of Mashda, ruled 720 years; Etana, the shepherd who ascended to Heaven and made firm all the lands, ruled 1,560 years; Balih, the son of Etana, ruled 400 years; Enmenunna ruled 660 years; Melam-Kish, the son of Enmenunna, ruled 900 years; Barsalnunna, the son of Enmenunna, ruled 1,200 years; Meszamug, the son of Barsalnunna, ruled 140 years; Tizkar, the son of Meszamug, ruled 305 years; Ilku ruled 900 years; Iltasadum ruled 1,200 years; Enmebaraggesi, the king who smote the Land of Elam, ruled 900 years; Agga, the son of Enmebaraggesi, ruled 625 years. All told, twenty-three kings ruled a total of 24,510 years, 3 months and 3 days before Kish was defeated in battle and its kingship carried off to Eanna.

Kingship in Eanna (Eanna was later part of the city of Uruk)

After kingship was brought to Eanna, Meskiaggasher, the son of the Sun God, Utu (Shamash), ruled as both lord and king for 324 years during which time he entered the sea and climbed the mountains; Enmerkar, the son of Meskiaggasher, the king of Uruk who had founded Uruk, ruled for 420 years; Lugalbanda, the shepherd, ruled for 1,200 years; Dumuzi, the fisherman who came from the city of Kuara, ruled 100 years; Gilgamesh, whose father was a nomad (?), ruled 126 years; Urnungal, son of Gilgamesh, ruled 30 years; Udulkalamma, the son of Urnungal, ruled 15 years; Labasher ruled 9 years; Ennundaranna ruled 8 years; Meshede, the smith, ruled 36 years; Melamanna ruled 6 years and Lugalkidul ruled 36 years. All told, twelve kings ruled a total of 2,310 years in Eanna before Uruk was defeated in battle and its kingship carried off to Ur.

Kingship in Ur

After kingship was brought to Ur, Mesannepadda ruled for 80 years; Meskiagnunna, the son of Mesannepadda, ruled 36 years; Elulu ruled 25 years and Balulu ruled 36 years.All told, four kings ruled a total of 177 years before Ur was defeated in battle and its kingship carried off to Awan.

Kingship in Awan

After kingship was brought to Awan, .. (text destroyed) .. All told, three kings ruled a total of 356 years before Awan was defeated in battle and its kingship carried off to Kish.

Kingship in Kish (Second Dynasty)

After kingship was brought back to Kish, .. ruled (more than) 201 years; Dadasig ruled 81 years; Mamagal ruled 420 years; Kalbum, the son of Mamagal, ruled 132 years; Tuge ruled 360 years; Mennumna ruled 180 years; Lugalmu ruled 420 years and Ibbi-Ea ruled 290 (?) years. All told, eight kings ruled a total of 3,195 before Kish was defeated in battle and its kingship carried off to Hamazi.

Kingship in Hamazi

After kingship was brought to Hamazi, Hadanish ruled 360 years before Hamazi was defeated and its kingship carried off to Uruk.

Kingship in Uruk (Includes Eanna)

After kingship was brought to Uruk, Enshakanshanna ruled 60 years; Lugalure ruled 120 years and Argandea ruled 7 years. All told, three kings ruled a total of 187 years before Uruk was defeated and its kingship carried off to Ur.

Kingship in Ur (Second Dynasty)

After kingship was brought back to Ur, Nani ruled .. , Meshkiagnanna, son of Nani, ruled . (text destroyed) .. All told, four kings ruled a total of 116 (?) years before Ur was defeated and its kingship carried off to Adab.

Kingship in Adab

After kingship was brought to Adab, Lugalannemundu ruled 90 years before Adab was defeated and its kingship carried off to Mari.

Kingship in Mari

After kingship was brought to Mari, Ilshu ruled 30 years; .. , the son of Ilshu, ruled 17 years; Bazi, the leatherworker, ruled 30 years; Zizi, the fuller, ruled 20 years; Limer, the gudu priest, ruled 30 years and Sharrumiter ruled 9 years. All told, six kings ruled a total of 136 years before Mari was defeated and its kingship carried off to Kish.

Kingship in Kish (Third Dynasty

After kingship was brought back to Kish again, Ku-Bau, the innkeeper, she who made firm the foundations of Kish, ruled for 100 years as king before Kish was defeated and its kingship carried off to Akshak.

Kingship in Akshak

After kingship was brought to Akshak, Unzi ruled 30 years; Undalulu ruled 12 years; Urur ruled 6 years; Puzur-Nirah ruled 20 years; Ishu-Il ruled 24 years and Shu-Sin, son of Ishu-Il, ruled 7 years. All told, six kings ruled for a total of 99 years before Akshak was defeated and its kingship carried off to Kish.

Kingship in Kish (Fourth Dynasty)

After kingship was brought back to Kish, Puzur-Sin, son of Ku-Bau, ruled 25 years; Ur-Zababa, son of Puzur-Sin, ruled 400 years; Simudarra ruled 30 years; Usiwatar, son of Simudarra, ruled 7 years; Ishtar-muti ruled 11 years; Ishme-Shamash ruled 11 years and Nannia, the stoneworker, ruled 7 years. All told, seven kings ruled 491 years before Kish was defeated and its kingship carried off to Uruk.

Kingship in Uruk (Second Dynasty)

After kingship was brought back to Uruk, Lugalzaggesi ruled for 25 years before Uruk was defeated and its kingship carried off to Agade.

Kingship in Agade

After kingship was brought to Agade, Sargon, whose father (?) was a gardener, the cupbearer of Ur-Zababa, founded Agade and ruled for 56 years as its king; Rimush, the son of Sargon, ruled 9 years; Manishtushu, a son of Sargon and the older brother of Rimush, ruled 15 years; Naram-Sin, son of Manishtushu, ruled 56 years and Sharkalisharri, son of Naram-Sin ruled 25 years. Then, who was king? Who was not king? Igigi, Nanum, Imi and Elulu, the four of them were kings but ruled for a total of only 3 years. Dudu took control and ruled for 21 years and Shudurul, son of Dudu, ruled 15 years. All told, eleven kings ruled a total of 197 years before Agade was defeated and its kingship carried off to Uruk.

Kingship In Uruk (Third Dynasty)

After kingship was brought back to Uruk, Urnigin ruled 7 years; Urgigir, son of Urnigin, ruled 6 years; Kudda ruled 6 years; Puzur-ili ruled 5 years and Ur-Utu ruled 6 years. All told, five kings ruled a total of 30 years before Uruk was smitten by the Gutium Hordes and its kingship carried off by them.

The Gutium Hordes

After the Gutium Hordes seized kingship, everyone was his own king for 3 years; then Imta ruled 3 years; Inkishush ruled 6 years; Sarlagab ruled 6 years; Shulme ruled 6 years; Elulumesh ruled 6 years; Inimbakesh ruled 5 years; Igeshaush ruled 6 years; Iarlagab ruled 15 years; Ibate ruled 3 years; Iarla ruled 3 years; Kurum ruled 1 year; Apilkin ruled 3 years; Laerabum ruled 2 years; Irarum ruled 2 years; Ibranum ruled 1 year; Hablum ruled 2 years; Puzur-Sin, the son of Hablum, ruled 7 years; Iarlaganda ruled 7 years; .. ruled 7 years and Tiriga (?) ruled 40 days. All told, twenty-one kings ruled 91 years and 40 days before the Gutium Hordes were defeated and kingship carried back to Uruk.

Kingship in Uruk (Fourth Dynasty)

After kingship was brought back to Uruk, Utuhegal ruled 7 years, 6 months and 15 days before Uruk was defeated and its kingship carried off to Ur.

Kingship in Ur (Third Dynasty)

After kingship was brought back to Ur, Ur-Nammu ruled 18 years; Shulgi, son of Ur-Nammu, ruled 48 years; Amar-Sin, son of Shulgi, ruled 9 years; Shu-Sin, son of Amar-Sin (an error for son of Shulgi), ruled 9 years and Ibbi-Sin, son of Shu-Sin, ruled 24 years. All told, five kings ruled for a total of 108 years before Ur was defeated and its kingship carried off to Isin.

Kingship in Isin

After kingship was brought to Isin, Ishbi-Erra ruled 33 years; Shuilishu, son of Ishbi-Erra, ruled 10 years; Idin-Dagan, son of Shuilishu, ruled 21 years; Ishme-Dagan, son of Idin-Dagan, ruled 20 years; Lipit-Ishtar, son of Ishme-Dagan, ruled 11 years; Ur-Ninurta ruled 28 years; Bur-Sin, son of Ur-Ninurta, ruled 21 years; Lipit-Enlil, son of Bur-Sin, ruled 5 years; Erraimitti ruled 8 years; Enlil-bani ruled 24 years; Zambia ruled 3 years; Iterpisha ruled 4 years; Urdukuga ruled 4 years and Sinmagir ruled 11 yearsall told, fourteen kings who ruled a total of 203 years.

Log in or create an account