Shulgi
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Shulgi 𒀭𒂄𒄀 |
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![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/10/Cylinder_seal_of_Shulgi.jpg/320px-Cylinder_seal_of_Shulgi.jpg)
Cylinder seal of Shulgi. The inscription reads "To Nuska, supreme minister of Enlil, his king, for the life of Shulgi, strong hero, King of Ur, King of Sumer and Akkad, Ur-Nanibgal, governor of Nippur, son of Lugal-engardug, governor of Nippur, dedicated this." Louvre Museum. |
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Reign | c. 2094 BC – 2046 BC |
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Predecessor | Ur-Nammu |
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Successor | Amar-Sin |
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Issue | Amar-Sin, Liwir-Mitashu |
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Dynasty | 3rd Dynasty of Ur |
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Father | Ur-Nammu |
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Mother | Watartum |
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Shulgi (𒀭𒂄𒄀 dšul-gi, formerly read as Dungi) of Ur was the second king of the Third Dynasty of Ur. He reigned for 48 years, from c. 2094 – c. 2046 BC (Middle Chronology) or possibly c. 2030 – 1982 BC (Short Chronology). His accomplishments include the completion of construction of the Great Ziggurat of Ur, begun by his father Ur-Nammu. On his inscriptions, he took the titles "King of Ur", "King of Sumer and Akkad" and "King of the four corners of the universe". He used the symbol for divinity (𒀭) before his name, marking his apotheosis, from the 23rd year of his reign.
Life and reign
Shulgi was the son of Ur-Nammu king of Ur and his queen consort Watartum. Year-names are known for all 48 years of his reign, providing a fairly complete contemporary view of the highlights of his career.
Shulgi is best known for his extensive revision of the scribal school's curriculum. Although it is unclear how much he actually wrote, there are numerous praise poems written by and directed towards this ruler. He proclaimed himself a god in his 23rd regnal year, and was recognized as such by the whole of Sumer and Akkad.
Some early chronicles castigate Shulgi for his impiety: The Weidner Chronicle (ABC 19) states that "he did not perform his rites to the letter, he defiled his purification rituals". CM 48 charges him with improper tampering with the rites, composing "untruthful stelae, insolent writings" on them. The Chronicle of Early Kings (ABC 20) accuses him of "criminal tendencies, and the property of Esagila and Babylon he took away as booty."
Name
Early uncertainties about the reading of cuneiform led to the readings "Shulgi" and "Dungi" being common transliterations before the end of the 19th century. However, over the course of the 20th century, the scholarly consensus gravitated away from dun towards shul as the correct pronunciation of the 𒂄 sign. The spelling of Shulgi's name by scribes with the diĝir determinative reflects his deification during his reign, a status and spelling previously claimed by his Akkadian predecessor Naram-Sin.
Personal glorification
![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/51/Self-praise_of_Shulgi_%28Shulgi_D%29.jpg/320px-Self-praise_of_Shulgi_%28Shulgi_D%29.jpg)
Text of the "
Self-praise of Shulgi (Shulgi D)".
Shulgi also boasted about his ability to maintain high speeds while running long distances. He claimed in his 7th regnal year to have run from Nippur to Ur, a distance of not less than 100 miles. Kramer refers to Shulgi as "The first long distance running champion."
Shulgi wrote a long royal hymn to glorify himself and his actions, in which he refers to himself as "the king of the four-quarters, the pastor of the black-headed people".
Shulgi claimed that he spoke Elamite as well as he spoke Sumerian.
Some scholars note how he self identified as a "mathematical god" and considers the state he ruled over as the "first mathematical state", citing his praise poems that emphasize his abilities in subtraction, addition calculation and accounting.
Armed conflicts
While Der had been one of the cities whose temple affairs Shulgi had directed in the first part of his reign, in his 20th year he claimed that the gods had decided that it now be destroyed, apparently as some punishment. The inscriptions state that he "put its field accounts in order" with the pick-axe. His 18th year-name was Year Liwir-mitashu, the king's daughter, was elevated to the ladyship in Marhashi, referring to a country east of Elam and her dynastic marriage to its king, Libanukshabash. Following this, Shulgi engaged in a period of expansionism at the expense of highlanders such as the Lullubi, and destroyed Simurrum (another mountain tribe) and Lulubum nine times between the 26th and 45th years of his reign. In his 30th year, his daughter was married to the governor of Anshan; in his 34th year, he was already levying a punitive campaign against the place. He also destroyed Kimaš and Ḫurti (cities to the east of Ur, somewhere in Elam) in the 45th year of his reign. Ultimately, Shulgi was never able to rule any of these distant peoples; at one point, in his 37th year, he was obliged to build a large wall in an attempt to keep them out.
Susa
Shulgi is known to have made dedications at Susa, as foundation nails with his name, dedicated to god Inshushinak have been found there. One of the votive foundation nails reads: "The god 'Lord of Susa,' his king, Shulgi, the mighty male, king of Ur, king of Sumer and Akkad, the..., his beloved temple, built.". An etched carnelian bead, now located in the Louvre Museum (Sb 6627) and inscribed with a dedication by Shulgi was also found in Susa, the inscription reading: "Ningal, his mother, Shulgi, god of his land, King of Ur, King of the four world quarters, for his life dedicated (this)".
The Ur III dynasty had held control over Susa since the demise of Puzur-Inshushinak, and they built numerous buildings and temples there. This control was continued by Shulgi as shown by his numerous dedications in the city-state. He also engaged in marital alliances, by marrying his daughters to rulers of eastern territories, such as Anšan, Marhashi and Bashime.
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Votive tablet of Shulgi, excavated in Susa: "For the goddess Ninhursag of Susa, his Lady, Shulgi, the great man, King of Ur, King of Sumer and Akkad, built her temple ". Louvre Museum, Sb 2884.
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Foundation nail dedicated by Shulgi to the Elamite god Inshushinak, found in Susa. Louvre Museum
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Carnelian bead with dedicatory inscription by Shulgi, found in Susa. Louvre Museum, Sb 6627
Modernization
Shulgi apparently led a major modernization of the Third Dynasty of Ur. He improved communications, reorganized the army, reformed the writing system and weight and measures, unified the tax system, and created a strong bureaucracy. He also promulgated the law code known as the Code of Ur-Nammu after his father.
Year names
![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/da/Terracotta_tablet_listing_the_year_formulae_of_king_Shulgi._Ur_III_period._From_Iraq._Ancient_Orient_Museum%2C_Istanbul.jpg/220px-Terracotta_tablet_listing_the_year_formulae_of_king_Shulgi._Ur_III_period._From_Iraq._Ancient_Orient_Museum%2C_Istanbul.jpg)
One of the terracotta tablets listing the Year names of Shulgi, from year 6 (𒈬𒄊𒂗𒆤𒆠: "The year the road from
Nippur ") to year 21a in this view, the other year names being inscribed on the back. A fragment is missing in this tablet (at the top), corresponding to the first five-year names and the last seven-year names of Shulgi.
This is an
Old Babylonian copy (ca. 1900-1600 BC) of an
Akkadian original.
Museum of the Ancient Orient, Istanbul.
There are extensive remains for the year names of Shulgi, which have been entirely reconstructed from year 1 to year 48. Some of the most important are:
1. Year : Šulgi is king
2. Year: The foundations of the temple of Ningubalag were laid
6. Year: The king straightened out the Nippur road
7. Year: The king made a round trip between Ur and Nippur (in one day)
10. Year: The royal mountain-house (the palace) was built
18. Year: Liwirmittašu, the daughter of the king, was elevated to the queenship of Marhashi
21c. Year: Der was destroyed
24. Year: Karahar was destroyed
25. Year: Simurrum was destroyed
27. Year after: "Šulgi the strong man, the king of the four corners of the universe, destroyed Simurrum for the second time"
27b. Year: "Harszi was destroyed"
30. Year: The governor of Anšan took the king's daughter into marriage
31. Year: Karhar was destroyed for the second time
32. Year: Simurrum was destroyed for the third time
34. Year: Anshan was destroyed
37. Year: The wall of the land was built
42. Year: The king destroyed Šašrum
44. Year: Simurrum and Lullubum were destroyed for the ninth time
45. Year: Šulgi, the strong man, the king of Ur, the king of the four-quarters, smashed the heads of Urbilum, Simurrum, Lullubum and Karhar in a single campaign
46. Year: Šulgi, the strong man, the king of Ur, the king of the four-quarters, destroyed Kimaš, Hurti and their territories in a single day
— Main year names of Shulgi
Marriages
Shulgi was a contemporary of the Shakkanakku rulers of Mari, particularly Apil-kin and Iddi-ilum. An inscription mentions that Taram-Uram, the daughter of Apil-kin, became the "daughter-in-law" of Ur-Nammu, and therefore the Queen of king Shulgi. In the inscription, she called herself "daughter-in-law of Ur-Nammu", and "daughter of Apil-kin, Lugal ("King") of Mari", suggesting for Apil-kin a position as a supreme ruler, and pointing to a marital alliance between Mari and Ur.
Nin-kalla was a queen at the end of the king's reign. Many texts show that she was running the palace in Nippur.
Another important royal woman, but not a queen, was Ea-niša. She appears in many texts and had an influential position at the royal court, perhaps as concubine. A similar status had Shulgi-simti who is known from a high number of texts presenting evidence for her economic power. Another important woman was Geme-Ninlilla who appears in texts at the end of the king's reign. Other, less well known royal women are Šuqurtum and Simat-Ea.
Shulgi is known to have had five sons, Amar-dDa-mu, Lu-dNanna, Lugal-a-zi-da, Ur-dSuen, Amar-Sin as well as one daughter, Peš-tur-tur. The name of another daughter, Šāt-Kukuti, is known from a cuneiform tablet. A daughter, Taram-Šulgi was married to the ruler of Pašime, Šudda-bani.
Artifacts and inscriptions
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Lugal Urimkima/ Lugal Kiengi Kiuri 𒈗𒋀𒀊𒆠𒈠𒈗𒆠𒂗𒄀𒆠𒌵, "King of Ur, King of Sumer and Akkad, on a votive tablet of Shulgi. The final ke4 𒆤 is the composite of -k (genitive case) and -e (ergative case).
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Shulgi completed the great Ziggurat of Ur
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Earrings inscribed in the name of Shulgi.
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Seal of Shulgi, with Gilgamesh fighting a winged monster: "To Shulgi, son of the king, Ur-dumuzi the scribe, his servant".
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Seal of Shulgi, with worshipper and seated deity: "Shulgi, the mighty hero, King of Ur, king of the four regions, Ur-(Pasag?) the scribe, thy servant".
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Mace head in the name of Shulgi (inscription upside down). British Museum.
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Duck-shaped official weight of 2 mina, reign of Shulgi, from Ur, Iraq. British Museum.
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A tablet from the period of Shulgi, mentioning the "Meluhha" village in Sumer. British Museum, BM 17751. "Meluhha" (𒈨𒈛𒄩𒆠) actually appears on the beginning of the other side (column II, 1) in the sentence "The granary of the village of Meluhha".
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Weight of +1⁄2 mina (actual weight 248 gr.) dedicated by King Shulgi and bearing the emblem of the crescent moon: it was used in the temple of the Moon-God at Ur. Diorite, beginning of the 21st century BC (Ur III). Louvre Museum, Department of Oriental Antiquities, Richelieu, first floor, room 2, case 6
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Tablet of Shulgi, glorifies the king and his victories on the Lullubi people and mentions the modern-city of Erbil and the modern-district of Sulaymaniyah, Sulaymaniyah Museum, Iraq
See also
References
- ^ Full transcription: "CDLI-Archival View". cdli.ucla.edu.
- ^ "Nimintabba tablet". British Museum.
- ^ Enderwitz, Susanne; Sauer, Rebecca (2015). Communication and Materiality: Written and Unwritten Communication in Pre-Modern Societies. Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG. p. 28. ISBN 978-3-11-041300-7.
- ^ a b "(For the goddess) Nimintabba, his lady, Shulgi, mighty man, king of Ur, king of Sumer and Akkad, her house, built." in Expedition. University Museum of the University of Pennsylvania. 1986. p. 30.
- ^ The Oxford companion to archaeology. 1. Ache-Hoho. Oxford University Press. 2012. p. 458. ISBN 9780195076189.
- ^ "Shulgi | king of Ur". Encyclopedia Britannica.
- ^ "Ur III Empire – Oxford Reference". Oxfordreference.com.
- ^ a b c d e f Potts, D. T. (1999). The Archaeology of Elam. Cambridge University Press. p. 132. ISBN 9780521564960.
- ^ "T6K2.htm". Cdli.ucla.edu. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
- ^ Van De Mieroop, Marc. (2005). A History of the Ancient Near East ca. 3000–323 BC, Oxford: Blackwell Publishing, p. 76
- ^ Woolley, C. Leonard. The Sumerians. New York: W. W. Norton. pp. 132. ISBN 0-393-00292-6.
- ^ "The Weidner Chronicle (ABC 19)". Archived from the original on 28 February 2006.
- ^ "The kings of Ur (CM 48)". Archived from the original on 10 May 2006.
- ^ "Chronicle of early kings (ABC 20)". Archived from the original on 28 February 2006.
- ^ a b Hamblin, William J. Warfare in the Ancient Near East to 1600 BC. New York: Routledge, 2006.
- ^ See his History Begins at Sumer, Chapter 31, "Shulgi of Ur: The First Long-Distance Champion".
- ^ "I am the king of the four-quarters, I am a shepherd, the pastor of the "black-headed people"" in Liverani, Mario (2013). The Ancient Near East: History, Society and Economy. Routledge. p. 167. ISBN 978-1-134-75084-9.
- ^ "Red Traces, Part 11: The social origins of early mathematics". counterfire.
- ^ a b Samuel Noah Kramer (17 September 2010). The Sumerians: Their History, Culture, and Character. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 978-0-226-45238-8.
- ^ Ghobadizadeh, Hamzeh and Sallaberger, Walther, "Šulgi in the Kuhdasht Plain: Bricks from a Battle Monument at the Crossroads of Western Pish-e Kuh and the Localisation of Kimaš and Ḫurti", Zeitschrift für Assyriologie und vorderasiatische Archäologie, vol. 113, no. 1, pp. 3-33, 2023
- ^ (RIME 3/2, p. 161-162)
- ^ "DINGIR.NIN.LILA / NIN-A-NI / DINGIR.SHUL.GI / NITA-KALAG.GA / LUGAL URI/ .KI-MA / LUGAL.KI.EN / GI KI-URI3.KI / NAM.TI.LA NI.SHE3/ A MU.NA.RU." Inscription Translation: "To Ninlil, his lady, Shulgi, mighty man, King of Ur, King of Sumer and Akkad, has dedicated (this stone) for the sake of his life." "cylinder seal / bead". British Museum.
- ^ "CDLI-Archival View". cdli.ucla.edu.
- ^ Sb 6627 Potts, Daniel T. (1999). The Archaeology of Elam: Formation and Transformation of an Ancient Iranian State. Cambridge University Press. p. xiv. ISBN 978-0-521-56496-0.
- ^ Art of the First Cities: The Third Millennium B.C. from the Mediterranean to the Indus. Metropolitan Museum of Art. 2003. p. 243. ISBN 978-1-58839-043-1.
- ^ Potts, Professor Daniel T. (1999). The Archaeology of Elam: Formation and Transformation of an Ancient Iranian State. Cambridge University Press. p. xiv. ISBN 978-0-521-56496-0.
- ^ "CDLI-Found Texts Louvre Museum Sb 2881". cdli.ucla.edu.
- ^ "Votive Foundation Nails". dla.library.upenn.edu.
- ^ Potts, Daniel T. (1999). The Archaeology of Elam: Formation and Transformation of an Ancient Iranian State. Cambridge University Press. p. 133, Plate 5.1. ISBN 978-0-521-56496-0.
- ^ Potts, D.T (29 July 1999). The Archaeology of Elam. p. 134, Plate 5.2 Sb 6627. ISBN 9780521564960.
- ^ "Site officiel du musée du Louvre". cartelfr.louvre.fr.
- ^ "Shulgi perle (color image)". Louvre Museum.
- ^ a b Potts, Daniel T. (2012). A Companion to the Archaeology of the Ancient Near East. John Wiley & Sons. p. 746. ISBN 978-1-4051-8988-0.
- ^ "Site officiel du musée du Louvre". cartelfr.louvre.fr.
- ^ "BnF – L'Aventure des écritures". classes.bnf.fr.
- ^ a b "Šulgi Year Names (Ist Ni 00394)". cdli.ox.ac.uk.
- ^ Hamblin, William J. (2006). Warfare in the Ancient Near East to 1600 BC: Holy Warriors at the Dawn of History. Routledge. p. 121. ISBN 978-1-134-52062-6.
- ^ "Šulgi Year Names". cdli.ox.ac.uk.
- ^ https://cdli-gh.github.io/year-names/HTML/T6K2.htm Complete list of Šulgi Year Names]
- ^ Unger, Merrill F. (2014). Israel and the Aramaeans of Damascus: A Study in Archaeological Illumination of Bible History. Wipf and Stock Publishers. p. 5. ISBN 978-1-62564-606-4.
- ^ Abusch, I. Tzvi; Noyes, Carol (2001). Proceedings of the XLV Rencontre Assyriologique Internationale: historiography in the cuneiform world. CDL Press. p. 60. ISBN 978-1-883053-67-3.
- ^ a b Sharlach, T. M. (2017). An Ox of One's Own: Royal Wives and Religion at the Court of the Third Dynasty of Ur. Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG. p. 207. ISBN 978-1-5015-0522-5.
- ^ Eppihimer, Melissa (2019). Exemplars of Kingship: Art, Tradition, and the Legacy of the Akkadians. Oxford University Press. p. 121. ISBN 978-0-19-090303-9.
- ^ Lipiński, Edward (1995). Immigration and Emigration Within the Ancient Near East. Peeters Publishers. p. 187. ISBN 9789068317275.
- ^ CIVIL, Michel (1962). "Un nouveau synchronisme Mari-III e dynastie d'Ur". Revue d'Assyriologie et d'archéologie orientale. 56 (4): 213. ISSN 0373-6032. JSTOR 23295098.
- ^ T. M. Sharlach: An Ox of One's Own, Royal Wives and Religion at the Court of the Third Dynasty of Ur, Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston 2017, ISBN 978-1-5015-1447-0, 102-115
- ^ T. M. Sharlach: An Ox of One's Own, Royal Wives and Religion at the Court of the Third Dynasty of Ur, Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston 2017, ISBN 978-1-5015-1447-0, 140-157
- ^ Changyu Liu, "Prosopography of individuals delivering animals to Puzriš-Dagan in Ur III Mesopotamia", Akkadica 142/2, 2021, pp. 113-142
- ^ Changyu Liu, "Prosopographical Statistics Appendix of the article 'Prosopography of individuals delivering
animals to Puzriš-Dagan in Ur III Mesopotamia'", Cuneiform Digital Library Preprints, 24.0, 1 April 2022
- ^ Ali, Basil Bashar, and Khalid Salim Ismael, "Šāt-kukuti The Daughter of King Šulgi in a New Text from the Iraqi Museum", Athar Alrafedain 8.2, pp. 266-280, 2023
- ^ Edzard, Dietz Otto (2003). Sumerian Grammar. BRILL. p. 36. ISBN 978-90-474-0340-1.
- ^ "CDLI-Archival View". cdli.ucla.edu.
- ^ a b Ward, William Hayes (1910). The seal cylinders of western Asia. Washington : Carnegie Inst. p. 27.
- ^ a b Simo Parpola, Asko Parpola and Robert H. Brunswig, Jr "The Meluḫḫa Village: Evidence of Acculturation of Harappan Traders in Late Third Millennium Mesopotamia?" in Journal of the Economic and Social History of the Orient Vol. 20, No. 2, 1977, p. 136-137
- ^ "Collections Online British Museum". britishmuseum.org.
External links
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Rulers of the Ancient Near East |
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Territories/ dates
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Egypt |
Canaan |
Ebla |
Mari |
Kish/ Assur |
Akshak/ Akkad |
Uruk |
Adab |
Umma
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Lagash |
Ur |
Elam
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4000–3200 BCE
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Naqada I Naqada II
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Egypt-Mesopotamia relations
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Pre-Dynastic period (4000–2900 BCE)
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Susa I
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Uruk period (4000–3100 BCE)
![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/41/White_Temple_ziggurat_in_Uruk.jpg/100px-White_Temple_ziggurat_in_Uruk.jpg) (Anu Ziggurat, 4000 BCE)
![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bc/Rolzegel.JPG/100px-Rolzegel.JPG) (Anonymous "King-priests")
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Susa II
![Susa II Priest-King with bow and arrows](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/38/Susa_II_King-Priest_with_bow_and_arrow.jpg/35px-Susa_II_King-Priest_with_bow_and_arrow.jpg) (Uruk influence or control)
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3200–3100 BCE
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Proto-Dynastic period (Naqada III) Early or legendary kings:
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Upper Egypt Finger Snail Fish Pen-Abu Animal Stork Canide Bull Scorpion I Shendjw Iry-Hor Ka Scorpion II Narmer / Menes
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Lower Egypt Hedju Hor Ny-Hor Hsekiu Khayu Tiu Thesh Neheb Wazner Nat-Hor Mekh Double Falcon Wash
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3100–2900 BCE
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Early Dynastic Period First Dynasty of Egypt Narmer Palette Narmer Menes Neithhotep♀ (regent) Hor-Aha Djer Djet Merneith♀ (regent) Den Anedjib Semerkhet Qa'a Sneferka Horus Bird
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Canaanites
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Jemdet Nasr period (3100–2900 BCE)
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Proto-Elamite period (Susa III) (3100–2700 BCE)
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2900 BCE
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Second Dynasty of Egypt
Hotepsekhemwy Nebra/Raneb Nynetjer Ba Nubnefer Horus Sa Weneg-Nebty Wadjenes Senedj Seth-Peribsen Sekhemib-Perenmaat Neferkara I Neferkasokar Hudjefa I Khasekhemwy
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Early Dynastic Period I (2900–2700 BCE)
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First Eblaite Kingdom
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First kingdom of Mari
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Kish I dynasty Jushur, Kullassina-bel Nangishlishma, En-tarah-ana Babum, Puannum, Kalibum
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2800 BCE
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Kalumum Zuqaqip Atab Mashda Arwium Etana Balih En-me-nuna Melem-Kish Barsal-nuna
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Uruk I dynasty Mesh-ki-ang-gasher
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Enmerkar ("conqueror of Aratta")
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2700 BCE
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Early Dynastic Period II (2700–2600 BCE)
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Zamug, Tizqar, Ilku Iltasadum
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Lugalbanda Dumuzid, the Fisherman
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Enmebaragesi ("made the land of Elam submit")
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Aga of Kish ![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/38/Blank_space.png/5px-Blank_space.png)
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Gilgamesh![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/38/Blank_space.png/10px-Blank_space.png)
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Old Elamite period (2700–1500 BCE)
Indus-Mesopotamia relations
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2600 BCE
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Third Dynasty of Egypt
Djoser
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Early Dynastic Period III (2600–2340 BCE)
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Sagisu Abur-lim Agur-lim Ibbi-Damu Baba-Damu
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Kish II dynasty (5 kings) Uhub Mesilim
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Ur-Nungal Udulkalama Labashum
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Lagash En-hegal Lugal- shaengur
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Ur A-Imdugud Ur-Pabilsag![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/38/Blank_space.png/5px-Blank_space.png) ![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/39/Ur-Palbisag.jpg/30px-Ur-Palbisag.jpg) Meskalamdug (Queen Puabi) Akalamdug
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Enun-dara-anna Mes-he Melamanna Lugal-kitun
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Adab Nin-kisalsi Me-durba Lugal-dalu
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2575 BCE
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Old Kingdom of Egypt Fourth Dynasty of Egypt Snefru Khufu
![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e3/Kheops-Pyramid.jpg/50px-Kheops-Pyramid.jpg) Djedefre Khafre Bikheris Menkaure Shepseskaf Thamphthis
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Ur I dynasty Mesannepada "King of Ur and Kish", victorious over Uruk
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2500 BCE
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Phoenicia (2500-539 BCE)
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Second kingdom of Mari
Ikun-Shamash Iku-Shamagan
![Iku-Shamagan](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/ba/Iku-Shamagan_-_Mari_-_Temple_of_Ninni-Zaza_%28retouched%29.jpg/30px-Iku-Shamagan_-_Mari_-_Temple_of_Ninni-Zaza_%28retouched%29.jpg)
Ansud Sa'umu Ishtup-Ishar Ikun-Mari Iblul-Il Nizi
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Kish III dynasty Ku-Baba♀
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Akshak dynasty Unzi Undalulu
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Uruk II dynasty Ensha- kushanna
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Mug-si
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Umma I dynasty
Pabilgagaltuku
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Lagash I dynasty
Ur-Nanshe
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Akurgal
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A'annepada Meskiagnun Elulu Balulu
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Awan dynasty Peli Tata Ukkutahesh Hishur
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2450 BCE
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Fifth Dynasty of Egypt
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Enar-Damu Ishar-Malik
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Ush Enakalle
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Elamite invasions (3 kings)
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Shushun- tarana Napilhush
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2425 BCE
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Kun-Damu
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Eannatum![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/38/Blank_space.png/5px-Blank_space.png) ![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fc/P1130735_Louvre_st%C3%A8le_des_Vautours_rwk.JPG/30px-P1130735_Louvre_st%C3%A8le_des_Vautours_rwk.JPG) (King of Lagash, Sumer, Akkad, conqueror of Elam)
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2400 BCE
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Adub-Damu Igrish-Halam Irkab-Damu
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Kish IV dynasty Puzur-Suen Ur-Zababa
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Urur
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Lugal-kinishe-dudu Lugal-kisalsi
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E-iginimpa'e Meskigal
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Ur-Lumma Il Gishakidu (Queen Bara-irnun)
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Enannatum Entemena Enannatum II Enentarzi
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Ur II dynasty Nanni Mesh-ki-ang-Nanna II
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Kiku-siwe-tempti
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2380 BCE
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Sixth Dynasty of Egypt Teti Userkare Pepi I Merenre Nemtyemsaf I Pepi II Merenre Nemtyemsaf II Netjerkare Siptah
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Adab dynasty Lugalannemundu "King of the four quarters of the world"
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2370 BCE
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Isar-Damu
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Enna-Dagan Ikun-Ishar Ishqi-Mari
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Invasion by Mari Anbu, Anba, Bazi, Zizi of Mari, Limer, Sharrum-iter
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Ukush
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Lugalanda Urukagina
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Luh-ishan
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2350 BCE
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Puzur-Nirah Ishu-Il Shu-Sin
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Uruk III dynasty Lugalzagesi (Governor of Umma, King of all Sumer)
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2340 BCE
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Akkadian Period (2340–2150 BCE)
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Akkadian Empire
Sargon of Akkad Rimush Manishtushu
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Akkadian Governors: Eshpum Ilshu-rabi Epirmupi Ili-ishmani
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2250 BCE
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Naram-Sin![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/38/Blank_space.png/5px-Blank_space.png)
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Lugal-ushumgal (vassal of the Akkadians)
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2200 BCE
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First Intermediate Period Seventh Dynasty of Egypt Eighth Dynasty of Egypt Menkare Neferkare II Neferkare Neby Djedkare Shemai Neferkare Khendu Merenhor Neferkamin Nikare Neferkare Tereru Neferkahor Neferkare Pepiseneb Neferkamin Anu Qakare Ibi Neferkaure Neferkauhor Neferirkare
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Second Eblaite Kingdom
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Third kingdom of Mari (Shakkanakku dynasty)
Ididish Shu-Dagan Ishma-Dagan (Vassals of the Akkadians)
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Shar-Kali-Sharri
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Igigi, Imi, Nanum, Ilulu (3 years) Dudu Shu-turul
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Uruk IV dynasty Ur-nigin Ur-gigir
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Lagash II dynasty Puzer-Mama Ur-Ningirsu I Pirig-me Lu-Baba Lu-gula Ka-ku
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Hishep-Ratep Helu Khita Puzur-Inshushinak
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2150 BCE
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Ninth Dynasty of Egypt Meryibre Khety Neferkare VII Nebkaure Khety Setut
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Ur III period (2150–2000 BCE)
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Nûr-Mêr Ishtup-Ilum
![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/Ishtup-Ilum_statue_%28head%29.jpg/25px-Ishtup-Ilum_statue_%28head%29.jpg) Ishgum-Addu Apil-kin
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Gutian dynasty (21 kings)
La-erabum Si'um
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Kuda (Uruk) Puzur-ili Ur-Utu
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Umma II dynasty Lugalannatum (vassal of the Gutians)
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Ur-Baba Gudea![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/23/Gudea_of_Lagash_Girsu.jpg/30px-Gudea_of_Lagash_Girsu.jpg) Ur-Ningirsu Ur-gar Nam-mahani
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Tirigan
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2125 BCE
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Tenth Dynasty of Egypt Meryhathor Neferkare VIII Wahkare Khety Merykare
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Uruk V dynasty Utu-hengal
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2100 BCE
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(Vassals of UR III)
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Iddi-ilum Ili-Ishar Tura-Dagan Puzur-Ishtar (Vassals of Ur III)
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Ur III dynasty "Kings of Ur, Sumer and Akkad"![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/38/Blank_space.png/5px-Blank_space.png) ![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/King_Ur-Nammu.jpg/35px-King_Ur-Nammu.jpg) Ur-Nammu Shulgi Amar-Sin Shu-Sin
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2025-1763 BCE
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Amorite invasions
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Ibbi-Sin
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Elamite invasions Kindattu (Shimashki Dynasty)
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Middle Kingdom of Egypt Eleventh Dynasty of Egypt Mentuhotep I Intef I Intef II Intef III Mentuhotep II Mentuhotep III Mentuhotep IV
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Third Eblaite Kingdom (Amorites) Ibbit-Lim
![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a7/Ibbit-Lim.png/30px-Ibbit-Lim.png) Immeya Indilimma
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(Amorite Shakkanakkus) Hitial-Erra Hanun-Dagan (...)
Lim Dynasty of Mari (Amorites) Yaggid-Lim Yahdun-Lim Yasmah-Adad Zimri-Lim (Queen Shibtu)
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Old Assyria Puzur-Ashur I Shalim-ahum Ilu-shuma Erishum I Ikunum Sargon I Puzur-Ashur II Naram-Sin Erishum II
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Isin-Larsa period (Amorites)
Dynasty of Isin: Ishbi-Erra Shu-Ilishu Iddin-Dagan Ishme-Dagan Lipit-Eshtar Ur-Ninurta Bur-Suen Lipit-Enlil Erra-imitti Enlil-bani Zambiya Iter-pisha Ur-du-kuga Suen-magir Damiq-ilishu Dynasty of Larsa: Naplanum Emisum Samium Zabaia Gungunum Abisare Sumuel Nur-Adad Sin-Iddinam Sin-Eribam Sin-Iqisham Silli-Adad Warad-Sin Rim-Sin I (...) Rim-Sin II Uruk VI dynasty: Alila-hadum Sumu-binasa Naram-Sin of Uruk Sîn-kāšid Sîn-iribam Sîn-gāmil Ilum-gamil Anam of Uruk Irdanene Rim-Anum Nabi-ilišu
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Sukkalmah dynasty
Siwe-Palar-Khuppak
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Twelfth Dynasty of Egypt Amenemhat I Senusret I Amenemhat II Senusret II Senusret III Amenemhat III Amenemhat IV Sobekneferu♀
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1800–1595 BCE
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Thirteenth Dynasty of Egypt Fourteenth Dynasty of Egypt
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Abraham (Biblical) Kings of Byblos Kings of Tyre Kings of Sidon
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Yamhad (Yamhad dynasty) (Amorites)
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Old Assyria
(Shamshi-Adad dynasty 1808–1736 BCE) (Amorites) Shamshi-Adad I Ishme-Dagan I Mut-Ashkur Rimush Asinum Ashur-dugul Ashur-apla-idi Nasir-Sin Sin-namir Ipqi-Ishtar Adad-salulu Adasi
(Non-dynastic usurpers 1735–1701 BCE)
Puzur-Sin Ashur-dugul Ashur-apla-idi Nasir-Sin Sin-namir Ipqi-Ishtar Adad-salulu Adasi
(Adaside dynasty 1700–722 BCE) Bel-bani Libaya Sharma-Adad I Iptar-Sin Bazaya Lullaya Shu-Ninua Sharma-Adad II Erishum III Shamshi-Adad II Ishme-Dagan II Shamshi-Adad III Ashur-nirari I Puzur-Ashur III Enlil-nasir I Nur-ili Ashur-shaduni Ashur-rabi I Ashur-nadin-ahhe I Enlil-Nasir II Ashur-nirari II Ashur-bel-nisheshu Ashur-rim-nisheshu Ashur-nadin-ahhe II
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First Babylonian dynasty ("Old Babylonian Period") (Amorites) Sumu-abum Sumu-la-El Sin-muballitSabium Apil-Sin Sin-muballit Hammurabi Samsu-iluna Abi-eshuh Ammi-ditana Ammi-saduqa Samsu-Ditana
Early Kassite rulers
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Second Babylonian dynasty ("Sealand Dynasty") Ilum-ma-ili Itti-ili-nibi Damqi-ilishu Ishkibal Shushushi Gulkishar mDIŠ+U-EN Peshgaldaramesh Ayadaragalama Akurduana Melamkurkurra Ea-gamil
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Second Intermediate Period Sixteenth Dynasty
Abydos Dynasty
Seventeenth Dynasty
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Fifteenth Dynasty of Egypt ("Hyksos")
Pharaoh Ahmose I slaying a Hyksos Semqen 'Aper-'Anati Sakir-Har Khyan Apepi Khamudi
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Mitanni (1600–1260 BCE) Kirta Shuttarna I Parshatatar
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1531–1155 BCE
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TutankhamunNew Kingdom of Egypt Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt Ahmose I Amenhotep I
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Third Babylonian dynasty (Kassites) Agum-Kakrime Burnaburiash I Kashtiliash III Ulamburiash Agum III Karaindash Kadashman-harbe I Kurigalzu I Kadashman-Enlil I Burnaburiash II Kara-hardash Nazi-Bugash Kurigalzu II Nazi-Maruttash Kadashman-Turgu Kadashman-Enlil II Kudur-Enlil Shagarakti-Shuriash Kashtiliashu IV Enlil-nadin-shumi Kadashman-Harbe II Adad-shuma-iddina Adad-shuma-usur Meli-Shipak II Marduk-apla-iddina I Zababa-shuma-iddin Enlil-nadin-ahi
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Middle Elamite period
(1500–1100 BCE) Kidinuid dynasty Igehalkid dynasty Untash-Napirisha
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Thutmose I Thutmose II Hatshepsut♀ Thutmose III
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Amenhotep II Thutmose IV Amenhotep III Akhenaten Smenkhkare Neferneferuaten♀ Tutankhamun Ay Horemheb
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Hittite Empire
Ugarit
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Nineteenth Dynasty of Egypt Ramesses I Seti I Ramesses II Merneptah Amenmesses Seti II Siptah Twosret♀
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Elamite Empire Shutrukid dynasty Shutruk-Nakhunte
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1155–1025 BCE
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Twentieth Dynasty of Egypt
Setnakhte Ramesses III Ramesses IV Ramesses V Ramesses VI Ramesses VII Ramesses VIII Ramesses IX Ramesses X Ramesses XI
Third Intermediate Period
Twenty-first Dynasty of Egypt Smendes Amenemnisu Psusennes I Amenemope Osorkon the Elder Siamun Psusennes II
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Phoenicia Kings of Byblos Kings of Tyre Kings of Sidon
Kingdom of Israel Saul Ish-bosheth David Solomon
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Syro-Hittite states
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Middle Assyria Eriba-Adad I Ashur-uballit I Enlil-nirari Arik-den-ili Adad-nirari I Shalmaneser I Tukulti-Ninurta I Ashur-nadin-apli Ashur-nirari III Enlil-kudurri-usur Ninurta-apal-Ekur Ashur-dan I Ninurta-tukulti-Ashur Mutakkil-Nusku Ashur-resh-ishi I Tiglath-Pileser I Asharid-apal-Ekur Ashur-bel-kala Eriba-Adad II Shamshi-Adad IV Ashurnasirpal I Shalmaneser II Ashur-nirari IV Ashur-rabi II Ashur-resh-ishi II Tiglath-Pileser II Ashur-dan II
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Fourth Babylonian dynasty ("Second Dynasty of Isin") Marduk-kabit-ahheshu Itti-Marduk-balatu Ninurta-nadin-shumi Nebuchadnezzar I Enlil-nadin-apli Marduk-nadin-ahhe Marduk-shapik-zeri Adad-apla-iddina Marduk-ahhe-eriba Marduk-zer-X Nabu-shum-libur
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Neo-Elamite period (1100–540 BCE)
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1025–934 BCE
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Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth Babylonian dynasties ("Period of Chaos") Simbar-shipak Ea-mukin-zeri Kashshu-nadin-ahi Eulmash-shakin-shumi Ninurta-kudurri-usur I Shirikti-shuqamuna Mar-biti-apla-usur Nabû-mukin-apli
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911–745 BCE
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Twenty-second Dynasty of Egypt Shoshenq I Osorkon I Shoshenq II Takelot I Osorkon II Shoshenq III Shoshenq IV Pami Shoshenq V Pedubast II Osorkon IV
Twenty-third Dynasty of Egypt Harsiese A Takelot II Pedubast I Shoshenq VI Osorkon III Takelot III Rudamun Menkheperre Ini
Twenty-fourth Dynasty of Egypt Tefnakht Bakenranef
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Kingdom of Samaria
Kingdom of Judah
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Neo-Assyrian Empire Adad-nirari II Tukulti-Ninurta II Ashurnasirpal II Shalmaneser III Shamshi-Adad V Shammuramat♀ (regent) Adad-nirari III Shalmaneser IV Ashur-Dan III Ashur-nirari V
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Ninth Babylonian Dynasty Ninurta-kudurri-usur II Mar-biti-ahhe-iddina Shamash-mudammiq Nabu-shuma-ukin I Nabu-apla-iddina Marduk-zakir-shumi I Marduk-balassu-iqbi Baba-aha-iddina (five kings) Ninurta-apla-X Marduk-bel-zeri Marduk-apla-usur Eriba-Marduk Nabu-shuma-ishkun Nabonassar Nabu-nadin-zeri Nabu-shuma-ukin II Nabu-mukin-zeri
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Humban-Tahrid dynasty
Urtak Teumman Ummanigash Tammaritu I Indabibi Humban-haltash III
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745–609 BCE
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Twenty-fifth Dynasty of Egypt
Taharqa("Black Pharaohs") Piye Shebitku Shabaka Taharqa Tanutamun
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Neo-Assyrian Empire
(Sargonid dynasty) Tiglath-Pileser† Shalmaneser† Marduk-apla-iddina II Sargon† Sennacherib† Marduk-zakir-shumi II Marduk-apla-iddina II Bel-ibni Ashur-nadin-shumi† Nergal-ushezib Mushezib-Marduk Esarhaddon† Ashurbanipal Ashur-etil-ilani Sinsharishkun Sin-shumu-lishir Ashur-uballit II
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Assyrian conquest of Egypt
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Assyrian conquest of Elam
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626–539 BCE
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Late Period Twenty-sixth Dynasty of Egypt Necho I Psamtik I Necho II Psamtik II Wahibre Ahmose II Psamtik III
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Neo-Babylonian Empire Nabopolassar Nebuchadnezzar II Amel-Marduk Neriglissar Labashi-Marduk Nabonidus
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Median Empire Deioces Phraortes Madyes Cyaxares Astyages
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539–331 BCE
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Twenty-seventh Dynasty of Egypt (First Achaemenid conquest of Egypt)
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Kings of Byblos Kings of Tyre Kings of Sidon
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Achaemenid Empire Cyrus Cambyses Darius I Xerxes Artaxerxes I Darius II Artaxerxes II Artaxerxes III Artaxerxes IV Darius III
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Twenty-eighth Dynasty of Egypt Twenty-ninth Dynasty of Egypt Thirtieth Dynasty of Egypt
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Thirty-first Dynasty of Egypt
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331–141 BCE
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Argead dynasty and Ptolemaic Egypt Ptolemy I Soter Ptolemy Keraunos Ptolemy II Philadelphus Arsinoe II♀ Ptolemy III Euergetes Berenice II Euergetis♀ Ptolemy IV Philopator Arsinoe III Philopator♀ Ptolemy V Epiphanes Cleopatra I Syra♀ Ptolemy VI Philometor Ptolemy VII Neos Philopator Cleopatra II Philometor Soter♀ Ptolemy VIII Physcon Cleopatra III♀ Ptolemy IX Lathyros Cleopatra IV♀ Ptolemy X Alexander Berenice III♀ Ptolemy XI Alexander Ptolemy XII Auletes Cleopatra V♀ Cleopatra VI Tryphaena♀ Berenice IV Epiphanea♀ Ptolemy XIII Ptolemy XIV Cleopatra VII Philopator♀ Ptolemy XV Caesarion Arsinoe IV♀
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Hellenistic Period
Seleukos I Nikator Tetradrachm from BabylonArgead dynasty: Alexander III Philip III Alexander IV Antigonid dynasty: Antigonus I Seleucid Empire: Seleucus I Antiochus I Antiochus II Seleucus II Seleucus III Antiochus III Seleucus IV Antiochus IV Antiochus V Demetrius I Alexander III Demetrius II Antiochus VI Dionysus Diodotus Tryphon Antiochus VII Sidetes
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141–30 BCE
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Kingdom of Judea Simon Thassi John Hyrcanus Aristobulus I Alexander Jannaeus Salome Alexandra♀ Hyrcanus II Aristobulus II Antigonus II Mattathias
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Alexander II Zabinas Seleucus V Philometor Antiochus VIII Grypus Antiochus IX Cyzicenus Seleucus VI Epiphanes Antiochus X Eusebes Antiochus XI Epiphanes Demetrius III Eucaerus Philip I Philadelphus Antiochus XII Dionysus Antiochus XIII Asiaticus Philip II Philoromaeus
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Parthian Empire Mithridates I Phraates Hyspaosines Artabanus Mithridates II Gotarzes Mithridates III Orodes I Sinatruces Phraates III Mithridates IV Orodes II Phraates IV Tiridates II Musa Phraates V Orodes III Vonones I Artabanus II Tiridates III Artabanus II Vardanes I Gotarzes II Meherdates Vonones II Vologases I Vardanes II Pacorus II Vologases II Artabanus III Osroes I
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30 BCE–116 CE
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Roman Empire
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(Roman conquest of Egypt) Province of Egypt
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Judea
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Syria
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116–117 CE
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Province of Mesopotamia under Trajan
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Parthamaspates of Parthia
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117–224 CE
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Syria Palaestina
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Province of Mesopotamia
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Sinatruces II Mithridates V Vologases IV Osroes II Vologases V Vologases VI Artabanus IV
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224–270 CE
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Sasanian Empire Province of Asoristan
Coin of Ardashir I, Hamadan mint.Ardashir I Shapur I Hormizd I Bahram I Bahram II Bahram III Narseh Hormizd II Adur Narseh Shapur II Ardashir II Shapur III Bahram IV Yazdegerd I Shapur IV Khosrow Bahram V Yazdegerd II Hormizd III Peroz I Balash Kavad I Jamasp Kavad I Khosrow I Hormizd IV Khosrow II Bahram VI Chobin Vistahm
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270–273 CE
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Palmyrene Empire Vaballathus Zenobia♀ Antiochus
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273–395 CE
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Roman Empire
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Province of Egypt
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Syria Palaestina
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Syria
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Province of Mesopotamia
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395–618 CE
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Byzantine Empire
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Byzantine Egypt
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Palaestina Prima, Palaestina Secunda
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Byzantine Syria
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Byzantine Mesopotamia
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618–628 CE
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(Sasanian conquest of Egypt) Province of Egypt Shahrbaraz Sahralanyozan Shahrbaraz
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Sasanian Empire Province of Asoristan Khosrow II Kavad II
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628–641 CE
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Byzantine Empire
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Ardashir III Shahrbaraz Khosrow III Boran♀ Shapur-i Shahrvaraz Azarmidokht♀ Farrukh Hormizd Hormizd VI Khosrow IV Boran Yazdegerd III Peroz III Narsieh
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Byzantine Egypt
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Palaestina Prima, Palaestina Secunda
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Byzantine Syria
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Byzantine Mesopotamia
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639–651 CE
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Muslim conquest of Egypt
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Muslim conquest of the Levant
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Muslim conquest of Mesopotamia and Persia
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Chronology of the Neolithic period
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Rulers of Ancient Central Asia
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- ^ Rulers with names in italics are considered fictional.
- ^ Hallo, W.; Simpson, W. (1971). The Ancient Near East. New York: Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich. pp. 48–49.
- ^ "Rulers of Mesopotamia". cdli.ox.ac.uk. University of Oxford, CNRS.
- ^ Thomas, Ariane; Potts, Timothy (2020). Mesopotamia: Civilization Begins. Getty Publications. p. 14. ISBN 978-1-60606-649-2.
- ^ Roux, Georges (1992). Ancient Iraq. Penguin Books Limited. pp. 532–534 (Chronological Tables). ISBN 978-0-14-193825-7.
- ^ a b c Per Sumerian King List
- ^ Unger, Merrill F. (2014). Israel and the Aramaeans of Damascus: A Study in Archaeological Illumination of Bible History. Wipf and Stock Publishers. p. 5. ISBN 978-1-62564-606-4.
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