Lugal-kisalsi, also Lugaltarsi (𒈗𒆦𒋛, lugal-kisal-si, also 𒈗𒋻𒋛, lugal-tar-si, lugal-sila-si)[4] was a King of Uruk and Ur who lived towards the end of the 25th century BCE, succeeding his father Lugal-kinishe-dudu, according to contemporary inscriptions,[5] although he does not appear in the Sumerian King List (but his father does in some versions).[6][7] In one of his inscriptions, he appears as "Lugalkisalsi, the first-born son of Lugalkigenedudu, king of Uruk and Ur".[8]
He had a son named Lubarasi, and a grandson named Silim-Utu.[9] Numerous inscriptions in his name are known.[10]
Inscriptions
Lugal-kisalsi is known from several inscriptions.[11] Lugal-kisalsi was also called "King of Kish" in some of his inscriptions:
𒀭𒈗𒆳𒆳𒊏 / 𒀭𒈹 / 𒊩𒌆𒀭𒈹𒊏 / 𒈗𒋻𒋛 / 𒈗𒆧𒆠 / 𒂦𒆦 / 𒈬𒈾𒆕
an lugal kur-kur-ra / {d}inanna / nin AN MUSZ3-ra / lugal-sila-si / lugal kisz / bad3 kisal / mu-na-du3
"For An, king of all the lands, and for Inanna, queen of ..., Lugaltarsi, king of Kish, built the wall of the courtyard."
— Inscription of Lugal-kisalsi.[12]
A vase fragment with the name "Lugal-kisal-(si)": {d}en-lil / lugal kur-kur-ra / lugal-kisal-si / [dumu]-sag# (𒀭𒂗𒆤 / 𒈗𒆳𒆳𒊏 / 𒈗𒆦𒋛 / 𒌉𒊕) "For Enlil, king of all the lands, by Lugalkisalsi, the first-born son [of Lugalkigenedudu, king of Uruk and Ur]".[13][14]
Votive tablet of Lugal-kisalsi, recording that he built the courtyard wall of a temple complex for the gods An and Inanna. British Museum, BM 91013.[15]
Statuary
Lugal-kisalsi is known for a foundation peg with effigy and inscription, and several similar statuettes, although without inscriptions. The foundation peg reads:
"For Namma, the wife of An, Lugalkisalsi, king of Uruk and king of Ur, the temple of Namma he built."
— Inscription of Lugal-kisalsi on his foundation peg.[3][16]
A statue in the Louvre Museum is in the name of the grandson of Lugal-kisalsi, bearing the inscription: "Satam, son of Lu-Bara, son of Lugal-kisal-si, king of Uruk, attendant of Girim-sim, prince of Uruk."[17]
Lugal-kisalsi foundation peg (close-up). Inscription: "For (goddess) Namma, wife of (the god) An, Lugalkisalsi, King of Uruk, King of Ur, erected this temple of Namma".[3]
Male bust, perhaps Lugal-kisal-si, king of Uruk. Limestone, Early Dynastic III. From Adab (Bismaya).
Statue of Satam, grandson of Lugal-kisal-si. Louvre Museum
^ a b cArt of the First Cities: The Third Millennium B.C. from the Mediterranean to the Indus. Metropolitan Museum of Art. 2003. pp. 64–65. ISBN 978-1-58839-043-1.
^"Sumerian Dictionary". oracc.iaas.upenn.edu.
^"Q001374". cdli.ucla.edu.
^Hayes, William (1950). Chronology. Cambridge Ancient History. p. 51.
^"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." in "The Sumerian king list: translation". etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk.
^Jacobsen, Thorkild (2008). Toward the Image of Tammuz and Other Essays on Mesopotamian History and Culture. Wipf and Stock Publishers. p. 388. ISBN 978-1-55635-952-1.
^MAEDA, TOHRU (1981). "KING OF KISH" IN PRE-SARGONIC SUMER. Orient: The Reports of the Society for Near Eastern Studies in Japan, Volume 17. p. 8.
^With photograph and drawing of the object "CDLI-Archival View". cdli.ucla.edu.
^For a complete fragment: "CDLI-Archival View". cdli.ucla.edu.
^"Foundation-stone". British Museum.
^"Inscription of Lugal-kisalsi".
^"Satam, le fils de Lu-Bara, fils de Lugal-kisal-si, roi d'Uruk, serviteur de Girim-si, le prince d'Uruk." in "Site officiel du musée du Louvre". cartelfr.louvre.fr.