According to theSumerian King List, the final ruler of the First Dynasty ofUrukLugal-kitun was overthrown byMesannepada ofUr. There were then four kings in the First Dynasty of Ur:Mesannepada, Mes-kiagnuna, Elulu, and Balulu.[3] Two other kings earlier than Mes-Anepada are known from other sources, namelyMes-kalam-du and A-Kalam-du.[3] It would seem that Mes-Anepada was the son of Mes-kalam-du, according to the inscription found on a bead inMari, and Mes-kalam-du was the founder of the dynasty.[3] A probable QueenPuabi is also known from her lavish tomb at theRoyal Cemetery at Ur. The First Dynasty of Ur had extensive influence over the area ofSumer, and apparently led a union of south Mesopotamian polities.[3][4]
Funeral procession at theRoyal Cemetery of Ur (items and positions inPG 789), circa 2600 BCE (reconstitution).
The artifacts found in the royal tombs of the dynasty show that foreign trade was particularly active during this period, with many materials coming from foreign lands, such asCarnelian likely coming from theIndus orIran,Lapis Lazuli from theBadakhshan area ofAfghanistan, silver fromTurkey, copper fromOman, and gold from several locations such asEgypt,Nubia,Turkey orIran.[8] Carnelian beads from the Indus were found inUr tombs dating to 2600-2450, in an example ofIndus-Mesopotamia relations.[9] In particular, carnelian beads with an etched design in white were probably imported from the Indus Valley, and made according to a technique developed by theHarappans.[7] These materials were used into the manufacture of beautiful objects in the workshops of Ur.[8]
The Ur I dynasty had enormous wealth as shown by the lavishness of its tombs. This was probably due to the fact that Ur acted as the main harbour for trade withIndia, which put her in a strategic position to import and trade vast quantities of gold, carnelian or lapis lazuli.[4] In comparison, the burials of the kings ofKish were much less lavish.[4] High-prowed Sumerian ships may have traveled as far asMeluhha, thought to be theIndus region, for trade.[4]
According to theSumerian King List, the First Dynasty of Ur was finally defeated, and power went to theElamiteAwan dynasty.[10] The Sumerian kingEannatum (c.2500–2400 BCE) ofLagash, then came to dominate the whole region, and established one of the first verifiable empires in history.[11]
Known from theSKL,Tummal Chronicle, and an inscribed seal bearing the title of,"King of Kish" (found in tomb PG 1232/1237 located in the Royal Cemetery at Ur)
"...Uruk with weapons was struck down, the kingship to Ur was carried off. In UrMesannepada was king, 80 years he ruled;Mesh-ki-ang-Nanna, son ofMesannepada, was king, 36 years he ruled;Elulu, 25 years he ruled; Balulu, 36 years he ruled; 4 kings, the years: 171(?) they ruled. Ur with weapons was struck down; the kingship toAwan was carried off.
The Royal Cemetery of Ur held the tombs of several rulers of the First Dynasty of Ur.[3] The tombs are particularly lavish, and testify to the wealth of the First Dynasty of Ur.[4] One of the most famous tombs is that of QueenPuabi.[4]
A gold dagger and a dagger with a gold-plated handle, Ur excavations (1900).
Reconstructed Sumerian headgear necklaces found in the tomb ofPuabi, housed at the British Museum
Queen's Lyre, one of theLyres of Ur, Ur Royal Cemetery.
Cylinder seal of QueenPuabi, found in her tomb. Inscription 𒅤𒀀𒉿 𒊩𒌆Pu-A-Bi-Nin "Queen Puabi".[18][19][20] The last word "𒊩𒌆" can either be pronouncedNin “lady”, orEresh “queen”.[21]
^"The Sumerians, a non-Semitic people who perhaps came from the east" inCurtis, Adrian (2009).Oxford Bible Atlas. Oxford University Press. p. 16.ISBN9780191623325.. Mention ofGen 11:2 "And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there." (English Standard Version)
^abBritish Museum notice: "Gold and carnelians beads. The two beads etched with patterns in white were probably imported from the Indus Valley. They were made by a technique developed by the Harappan civilization"Photograph of the necklace in question
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
_(14581033499).jpg)
![Cylinder seal of Queen Puabi, found in her tomb. Inscription 𒅤𒀀𒉿 𒊩𒌆Pu-A-Bi-Nin "Queen Puabi".[18][19][20] The last word "𒊩𒌆" can either be pronounced Nin “lady”, or Eresh “queen”.[21]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aFlickr_-_Nic%2527s_events_-_British_Museum_with_Cory_and_Mary%2c_6_Sep_2007_-_185.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
_Colorized_per_source.jpg)
%2c_Hamadan_mint.jpg)
