Gudea (
Sumerian: 𒅗𒌤𒀀, Gu3-de2-a) was a ruler (ensi) of the state of
Lagash in Southern
Mesopotamia, who ruled
c. 2080–2060 BC (
short chronology) or 2144–2124 BC (
middle chronology). He probably did not come from the city, but had married Ninalla,
daughter of the ruler
Ur-Baba (2164–2144 BC) of Lagash, thus gaining entrance to the royal house of Lagash. He was succeeded by his son
Ur-Ningirsu. Gudea ruled at a time when the center of
Sumer was ruled by the
Gutian dynasty, and when
Ishtup-Ilum ruled to the north in
Mari.[1] Under Gudea, Lagash had a golden age, and seemed to enjoy a high level of independence from the
Gutians.[2]
Inscriptions
Gudea chose the title of énsi (town-king or governor), not the more exalted lugal (
Akkadianšarrum). Gudea did not style himself "god of Lagash" as he was not deified during his own lifetime, this title must have been given to him posthumously[4] as in accordance with Mesopotamian traditions for all rulers except Naram-Sin of Akkad and some of the Ur III kings.[5]
The 20 years of his reign are all known by name; the main military exploit seems to have occurred in his Year 6, called the "Year when
Anshan was smitten with weapons".[6]
Although Gudea claimed to have conquered
Elam and Anshan, most of his inscriptions emphasize the building of
irrigation channels and
temples, and the creation of precious gifts to the gods.[7]
The inscription on a statue of Gudea as architect of the
House of Ningirsu,[11] warns the reader of doom if the words are altered, but there is a startling difference between the warnings of Sargon or his line and the warnings of Gudea. The one is length; Gudea's curse lasts nearly a quarter of the inscription's considerable length,[12] and another is creativity. The gods will not merely reduce the offender's progeny to ash and destroy his foundations, no, they will, "let him sit down in the dust instead of on the seat they set up for him". He will be "slaughtered like a
bull… seized like an
aurochs by his fierce horn".[13]
Lagash under Gudea had extensive commercial communications with distant realms. According to his own records, Gudea brought cedars from the Amanus and Lebanon mountains in
Syria, diorite from eastern Arabia, copper and gold from central and southern Arabia and from
Sinai, while his armies were engaged in battles in Elam on the east.[14]
In an inscription, Gudea referred to the
Meluhhans who came to Sumer to sell gold dust,
carnelian etc...[14] In another inscription, he mentioned his victory over the territories of
Magan,
Meluhha,
Elam and
Amurru.[14]
In the
Gudea cylinders, Gudea mentions that "I will spread in the world respect for my Temple, under my name the whole universe will gather in it, and Magan and Meluhha will come down from their mountains to attend" (cylinder A, IX).[15] In cylinder B, XIV, he mentions his procurement of "blocks of
lapis lazuli and bright
carnelian from Meluhha."[16]
The first known reference to
Goa in India possibly appears as Gubi in the records of Gudea.[17] At the time, Sumerians had established
trade contacts with India.[17]
Important artifacts
The "Libation vase of Gudea" with the dragon
Mušḫuššu, dedicated to Ningishzida (21st century BC
short chronology). The
caduceus (right) is interpreted as depicting god
Ningishzida. Inscription; "To the god Ningiszida, his god, Gudea, Ensi (governor) of Lagash, for the prolongation of his life, has dedicated this"
^Thapar, Romila (1975). "A Possible Identification of Meluḫḫa, Dilmun and Makan". Journal of the Economic and Social History of the Orient. 18 (1): 1–42.
doi:
10.2307/3632219.
ISSN0022-4995.
JSTOR3632219.
^"J'étendrai sur le monde le respect de mon temple, sous mon nom l'univers depuis l'horizon s'y rassemblera, et [même les pays lointains] Magan et Meluhha, sortant de leurs montagnes, y descendront" (cylindre A, IX)" in
"Louvre Museum".
Gudea (
Sumerian: 𒅗𒌤𒀀, Gu3-de2-a) was a ruler (ensi) of the state of
Lagash in Southern
Mesopotamia, who ruled
c. 2080–2060 BC (
short chronology) or 2144–2124 BC (
middle chronology). He probably did not come from the city, but had married Ninalla,
daughter of the ruler
Ur-Baba (2164–2144 BC) of Lagash, thus gaining entrance to the royal house of Lagash. He was succeeded by his son
Ur-Ningirsu. Gudea ruled at a time when the center of
Sumer was ruled by the
Gutian dynasty, and when
Ishtup-Ilum ruled to the north in
Mari.[1] Under Gudea, Lagash had a golden age, and seemed to enjoy a high level of independence from the
Gutians.[2]
Inscriptions
Gudea chose the title of énsi (town-king or governor), not the more exalted lugal (
Akkadianšarrum). Gudea did not style himself "god of Lagash" as he was not deified during his own lifetime, this title must have been given to him posthumously[4] as in accordance with Mesopotamian traditions for all rulers except Naram-Sin of Akkad and some of the Ur III kings.[5]
The 20 years of his reign are all known by name; the main military exploit seems to have occurred in his Year 6, called the "Year when
Anshan was smitten with weapons".[6]
Although Gudea claimed to have conquered
Elam and Anshan, most of his inscriptions emphasize the building of
irrigation channels and
temples, and the creation of precious gifts to the gods.[7]
The inscription on a statue of Gudea as architect of the
House of Ningirsu,[11] warns the reader of doom if the words are altered, but there is a startling difference between the warnings of Sargon or his line and the warnings of Gudea. The one is length; Gudea's curse lasts nearly a quarter of the inscription's considerable length,[12] and another is creativity. The gods will not merely reduce the offender's progeny to ash and destroy his foundations, no, they will, "let him sit down in the dust instead of on the seat they set up for him". He will be "slaughtered like a
bull… seized like an
aurochs by his fierce horn".[13]
Lagash under Gudea had extensive commercial communications with distant realms. According to his own records, Gudea brought cedars from the Amanus and Lebanon mountains in
Syria, diorite from eastern Arabia, copper and gold from central and southern Arabia and from
Sinai, while his armies were engaged in battles in Elam on the east.[14]
In an inscription, Gudea referred to the
Meluhhans who came to Sumer to sell gold dust,
carnelian etc...[14] In another inscription, he mentioned his victory over the territories of
Magan,
Meluhha,
Elam and
Amurru.[14]
In the
Gudea cylinders, Gudea mentions that "I will spread in the world respect for my Temple, under my name the whole universe will gather in it, and Magan and Meluhha will come down from their mountains to attend" (cylinder A, IX).[15] In cylinder B, XIV, he mentions his procurement of "blocks of
lapis lazuli and bright
carnelian from Meluhha."[16]
The first known reference to
Goa in India possibly appears as Gubi in the records of Gudea.[17] At the time, Sumerians had established
trade contacts with India.[17]
Important artifacts
The "Libation vase of Gudea" with the dragon
Mušḫuššu, dedicated to Ningishzida (21st century BC
short chronology). The
caduceus (right) is interpreted as depicting god
Ningishzida. Inscription; "To the god Ningiszida, his god, Gudea, Ensi (governor) of Lagash, for the prolongation of his life, has dedicated this"
^Thapar, Romila (1975). "A Possible Identification of Meluḫḫa, Dilmun and Makan". Journal of the Economic and Social History of the Orient. 18 (1): 1–42.
doi:
10.2307/3632219.
ISSN0022-4995.
JSTOR3632219.
^"J'étendrai sur le monde le respect de mon temple, sous mon nom l'univers depuis l'horizon s'y rassemblera, et [même les pays lointains] Magan et Meluhha, sortant de leurs montagnes, y descendront" (cylindre A, IX)" in
"Louvre Museum".