Before Baghdad: Cities of Ancient Mesopotamia MW 10-11am, Peabody Museum 59D 9. The Early Dynastic Period 2900-2350 BCE Collapse of the Uruk system, ca. 3100 BC • Hostile local peoples? • Hostile pastoral groups? • Social/political unrest in the core? • Other colonists? Jemdet Nasr period, 3100-2900 BC The Sumerian King List 1-39After the kingship descended from heaven, the kingship was in Eridu. In Eridu, Alulim became king; he ruled for 28800 years. Alaljar ruled for 36000 years. 2 kings; they ruled for 64800 years. Then Eridu fell and the kingship was taken to Bad-tibira. In Bad-tibira, En-men-lu-ana ruled for 43200 years. En-men-gal-ana ruled for 28800 years. Dumuzid, the shepherd, ruled for 36000 years. 3 kings; they ruled for 108000 years. Then Bad-tibira fell (?) and the kingship was taken to Larak. In Larak, En-sipad-zid- ana ruled for 28800 years. 1 king; he ruled for 28800 years. Then Larak fell (?) and the kingship was taken to Zimbir. In Zimbir, En-men-dur-ana became king; he ruled for 21000 years. 1 king; he ruled for 21000 years. Then Zimbir fell (?) and the kingship was taken to Šuruppak. In Šuruppak, Ubara- Tutu became king; he ruled for 18600 years. 1 king; he ruled for 18600 years. In 5 cities 8 kings; they ruled for 241200 years. Then the flood swept over. Weld-Blundell Prism (Larsa, ca. 1817 BC) Regions of Southern Mesopotamia in the 3rd Millennium BC Early Dynastic City-States Cities of the Gods • Enlil at Nippur (Ekur) • Inanna/Ishtar at Uruk (Eanna) • Enki at Eridu • Utu/Shamash at Sippar and Larsa • Nanna/Sin at Ur Enki, God of Subterranean Waters Nippur City of the god Enlil University of Chicago, Oriental Institute Inana Temple, level VIIA Kish Kish Palace P Palace A Al Hiba Ancient Lagash Plano-convex bricks Plaque of Ur-Nanshe, Ruler of Lagash, ca. 2500 BC Tello (Girsu) “Vulture Stele” of Eannatum of Lagash, ca. 2400 BC “Vulture Stele” of Eanatum of Lagash, ca. 2400 BC “Vulture Stele” of Eanatum of Lagash, ca. 2400 BC Iconography related to the god Ningirsu Anzu-bird, lion-headed eagle Silver vase of Entemena [Enmetena] of Lagash found at Tello (Girsu) Sir Leonard Woolley Excavations at Ur in the 1920’s Excavations at Ur “King’s Grave” Meskalamdug Pu-Abi “Death Pit” Meskalamdug Burial of Meskalamdug .