Ur-Nanshe (, ; ) also Ur-Nina, was the first king of the First Dynasty of Lagash in the Sumerian Early Dynastic Period III. He is known through inscriptions to have commissioned many building projects, including canals and temples, in the state of Lagash, and defending Lagash from its rival state Umma. He was probably not from royal lineage, being the son of Gunidu () who was recorded without an accompanying royal title. He was the father of Akurgal, who succeeded him, and grandfather of Eannatum.

He ascended after Lugalshaengur (lugal-ša-engur), who was the ensi, or high priest of Lagash, and is only known from the macehead inscription of Mesilim.

Temples

According to the Perforated Relief of King Ur-Nanshe, temples attributed to Ur-Nanshe include Ningirsu's temple in Girsu, Nanshe's temple in Nina, and Apsubanda. Louvre Museum.]]

The Perforated Relief of King Ur-Nanshe is on display at the Louvre. The king is portrayed as a builder of temples and canals, thus a preserver of order perceived to be bestowed upon them by the gods.

The carved illustration is in two registers, top and bottom, both depicting Ur-Nanshe in different roles as king. In the top register he is dressed in a kaunakes (tufted wool skirt), carrying a basket of bricks on his head while surrounded by other Lagash elite, his wife, and four of his sons). Inscriptions on their respective garments identify each person. On the bottom register, Ur-Nanshe is at a banquet, which is to celebrate the building of the temple. He is seated on a throne wearing the same outfit as the top register, with two officials either side of him, along with three more of his sons. In both registers Ur-Nanshe is shown using hierarchical proportion in which he is considerably larger than everyone surrounding him.

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Door socket

thumb|Ur-Nanshe door socket with inscription: "Ur-Nanshe, King of Lagash, son of Gunidu, the son of Gurmu..." and a list of the temples he built. [[Louvre Museum.]]

An inscribed door socket from Ur-Nanshe is also known, now in the Louvre Museum. The full inscription of the door socket has been translated as:

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File:Door socket of Ur-Nanshe.jpg|The door socket of Ur-Nanshe at the time of discovery

File:Ships from Dilmun brought wood tribute from foreign lands.jpg|"The ships of Dilmun, from the foreign lands, brought him (Ur-Nanshe) wood as a tribute (?)" (𒈣20px𒆳𒋫𒄘𒄑𒈬-𒅅, ma<sub>2</sub> dilmun kur-ta gu<sub>2</sub> giš mu-gal<sub>2</sub>). Door socket of Ur-Nanshe.

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The Plaque of Ur Nanshe

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The Plaque of Ur Nanshe is a limestone plaque currently located at the Louvre Museum that honors Ur Nanshe. The figures displayed are the king and his court standing rigid and wide eyed, paying homage to the god Nanshe. They are dressed in kaunakes with their hands clasped together over their chest. Hierarchical scale of the king and the use of cuneiform on the figures to identify them are employed as in the Perforated Relief.

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Plaque of Ur-Nanshe.jpg|Plaque of Ur-Nanshe at time of discovery

Ur-Nanshe King of Lagash in the limestone votive relief of Ur-Nanshe.jpg|Ur-Nanshe himself

File:Akurgal as a child in the limestone votive relief of Ur-Nanshe.jpg|Akurgal () as a child in the limestone votive relief of Ur-Nanshe

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Additional inscriptions

There are many other inscriptions found by or mentioning Ur-Nanshe. Some of them include a listing of rulers of Lagash and a hymn to Nanshe.

Excerpt from A Hymn to Nanshe:

“There is perfection in the presence of the lady. Lagaš thrives in abundance in the presence of Nanše. She chose the šennu in her holy heart and seated Ur-Nanše, the beloved lord of Lagaš, on the throne. She gave the lofty scepter to the shepherd.”

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File:Tablet of Ur-Nanshe.jpg|Tablet of Ur-Nanshe (Urn 24): "Ur-Nanshe, King of Lagash, son of Gunidu, the son of Gurmu, built the house of Nanshe, fashioned (the statue of) Nanshe (...) Boats from the land of Dilmun carried the wood".

File:Boats from the land of Dilmun carried the wood.jpg|"The ships of Dilmun, from the foreign lands, brought him (Ur-Nanshe) wood as a tribute (?)" (𒈣20px𒆳𒋫𒄘𒄑𒈬-𒅅, ma<sub>2</sub> dilmun kur-ta gu<sub>2</sub> giš mu-gal<sub>2</sub>). Tablet of Ur-Nanshe (Urn 24).

File:Goddess Shul-utul, foundation peg, 'Ur-Nanshe, King of Lagash, son of Gunidu, built the shrine Girsu', probably Girsu, Tell Telloh, Iraq, mid 3rd millenium BC - Harvard Semitic Museum - Cambridge, MA - DSC06074.jpg|Goddess Shul-utul, foundation peg, with inscription "Ur-Nanshe, King of Lagash, son of Gunidu, built the shrine Girsu", probably Girsu, Tell Telloh, Iraq, mid 3rd millennium BCE. Harvard Semitic Museum, Cambridge, MA

File:Akurgal king of Lagash son of Ur-Nanshe on the Stele of the Vultures.jpg|"Akurgal king of Lagash, son of Ur-Nanshe" (<small></small>) on the Stele of the Vultures

File:Relief Im-dugud Louvre AO2783.jpg|Votive relief of Ur-Nanshe, king of Lagash, representing the bird-god Anzû (or Im-dugud) as a lion-headed eagle. Alabaster, Early Dynastic III (2550–2500 BC). Found in Telloh, ancient city of Girsu.Now in the Louvre.

Temple foundation figurine of Ur-Nanshe.jpg|Temple foundation figurine in the name of Ur-Nanshe. Inscription "Ur-Nanshe, King of Lagash, has built the shrine of Girsu". British Museum, BM 96565.

File:Stele or obelisk of Ur-Nanshe with goddess Nisaba, ruler of Lagash, from Lagash, Iraq, 26th century BCE. Iraq Museum.jpg|Stele of Ur-Nanshe with goddess Nisaba, ruler of Lagash, from Lagash, Iraq, 26th century BCE. Iraq Museum.

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See also

  • History of Sumer
  • Chronology of the ancient Near East

References