TheSumerian poemGilgamesh and Aga records the Kishite siege ofUruk after itslordGilgamesh refused to submit to Aga, ending in Aga's defeat and consequently the fall of Kish's hegemony.[8]
The name of Aga isSumeriana and a relatively rarely attested personal name inEarly Dynastic times, making his identification in royal texts spottable.[9] His name appears in theStele of Ushumgal, as thegal-ukkin ("Great Assembly official").b
AK (𒀝) was likely an Early Dynastic spelling ofAkka, (the past particle of the Sumerian verb "to make").[10] The name in question is to be interpreted as a Sumerian genitival phrase,Akka probably means "Made by [a god]" (ak + Divine Name.ak).[11]
Gem of unknown provenance mentioning Ak(𒀝), an alternate naming for Aga. The gem has four columns of text on its faces, and reads "ForInanna, Aga King ofUmma" (𒀭𒈹𒀝𒈗𒄑𒆵𒆠,dinanna aklugalummaki).[12][13][14]
Aga is attested in two compositions of an historiographical nature, theSumerian King List and theTummal Inscription, both as the son ofEnmebaragesi, who has been verified through archaeological inscriptions; these sources may confirm Aga and Gilgamesh's existence.[15][16] Aga's name appears in theStele of Ushumgal and the Gem of King Aga, both showing influence overUmma.[1]
Enmebaragesi, the king in this very city (Nippur), built the House ofEnlil, Agga the son of Enmebaragesi, made the Tummal pre-eminent.
According to theSumerian King List (ETCSL2.1.1), Kish had the hegemony ofSumer where he reigned 625 years, succeeding his father Enmebaragesi to the throne, finally ending in defeat by Uruk.[6]
The use of the royal titleKing of Kish expressing a claim of national rulership owes its prestige to the fact that Kish once did rule the entire nation.[18] His reign probably coveredUmma, and consequentlyZabala, which was a dependent of it in theEarly Dynastic Period; this can be supported on his appearance in theGem of King Aga, where he is mentioned as the king of Umma.[1] There is some scant evidence to suggest that like the laterUr III kings, the rulers ofED Kish sought to ingratiate themselves to the authorities inNippur, possibly to legitimize a claim for leadership over the land of Sumer or at least part of it.[1] Archeological evidence from Kish shows a city flourishing inED II with its political influence extending beyond the territory, however inED III the city declined rapidly.[19]
There are wells to be finished. There are wells in the land to be finished. There are shallow wells in the land to be completed. There are deep wells and hoisting ropes to be completed.
— Aga commanding Uruk to work for the irrigation of Kish.
Gilgamesh repeats the message before the "city fathers" (ab-ba-iri) to suggest defiance of Aga, but the elders refuse. Gilgamesh, goes on to incite rebellion among theguruš (able-bodied men) who would have to do the labor. They refer to Aga as the "son of the king", which suggests he was still young and immature.[23] Theguruš accept Gilgamesh's call to revolt and declare himlugal (king).c
After ten days, Aga lays siege to the walls of Uruk, whose citizens are now confused and intimidated. Gilgamesh asks for a volunteer to stand before Aga; his royal guardBirhurtura offers himself. On leaving the city gates, he is captured and brought before Aga, who interrogates and tortures him. Aga asks an Uruk soldier leaning over the wall if Birhurtura is his king. Birhurtura denies this, replying that when the true king appears, he will beat capture Aga and beat his army to dust. The infuriated Aga redoubles his torture.
Then Gilgamesh leans over the wall. Aga withstands his divine radiance, but it terrifies the Kishite army.Enkidu and theguruš take advantage of their confusion to cut through them and capture Aga in the middle of his army. Gilgamesh addresses Aga as his superior, remembering how Aga saved his life and gave him refuge; Aga withdraws his demand and begs his favor to be returned. Gilgamesh, in the sight of his godUtu, sets Aga free to return to Kish.[24]
TheShulgi Hymn O (ETCSL2.1.1) of theUr III rulerShulgi (c. 2094 BC – 2047 BC) praises Gilgamesh for defeatingEnmebaragesi of Kish rather than his son. While such an encounter is quite conceivable,d the assumption of two different wars is difficult to uphold because Gilgamesh emerges as victorious in both; his first victory would have left Kish already defeated, pre-empting the second victory.[25] If Gilgamesh had won a previous war against Kish, he would not have spoken with Aga of past military cooperation and indebtedness for saving his life.
Another theory is that for literary considerations, the founding hegemon Enmebaragesi would be a more impressive opponent than his son. Enmebaragesi was merely inserted to replace Aga, and the different versions of the hymn constitute to a single literary work.[26]
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Kuhrt, Amélie (1999).The Ancient Near East, C. 3000-330 BC, Volume 1 (First ed.). New York: Routledge.ISBN0-415-01353-4.
Keetman, Jan (2012). "Akka von Kiš und die Arbeitsverweigerer".Babel und Bibel:Annual of Ancient Near Eastern, Old Testament, and Semitic Studies.VI.
Selz, G (2003). "Who is who? Aka, King of Giš(š)a: on the historicity of a king and his possible identity with Aka, King of Kiš".Old Orient and Old Testament (274).
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