Tummal Inscription’ – Thirty-Two Lines Of Sumerian Document Popular In Babylonian Schools
A. Sutherland - AncientPages.com - The kings mentioned in the "Sumerian King List" are also attested in other important, historiographical sources.
The so-called "Tummal Inscription" (also known as "Tummal Chronicle") that dates back to early Old Babylonian period, is one of them.
It is a writing of ancient Sumer from the time of the ruler Ishbi-Erra, an important a high-ranking official of the last king of Sumer and Akkad and last king of the Ur III dynasty.
Ishbi-Erra established his authority over much of the region controlled by the Ur III dynasty before its collapse.
The "Tummal Inscription" – especially useful in the understanding of the archeology and history of Gilgamesh - lists the names of the rulers who constructed Enlil's temple in Nippur and Ninlil's temple Tummal.
Among them, there were such prominent personalities as: Enmebaragesi, king of Kish and his heir Agga, Mes-an-ni-pa-da and his son Meskiagnunna, kings of Ur and the famous Gilgamesh, and his son Urlugal, who rebuilt the sanctuary of the goddess Ninlil in Tummal, a sacred quarter in her city of Nippur.
See also
Sumerian King List – Ancient Record Of Kingship That Has Long Been Of Great Interest
Researchers have discovered several copies of the "Tummal Inscription", which indicates that the document was a popular document in the Babylonian schools.
Two of the copies were found by Samuel Noah Kramer (1897 – 1990), one of the world's leading Assyriologists and a world-renowned expert in Sumerian history and Sumerian language.
The "Tummal Inscription" credits king of Kish, Enmebaragesi with building of the first temple for Enlil in Nippur. Moreover, the document lists this particular king as its first builder and suggests that Enmebaragesi was recognized as the first king over the whole Sumer, with high ambitions for territorial expansion.
Both "Tummal Inscription" and the famous “Sumerian King List” underline the importance of Enmebaragesi (ca 27th-26th century BC, the end of the Early Dynastic II period in Sumer).
This historical data has also been confirmed by archaeological evidence in form of alabaster vessels covered with dedication inscriptions of Enmebaragesi. One of these important artifacts was unearthed during excavations of the Oval Temple in Khafaje or Khafajah (ancient Tutub), an archaeological site located about 7 miles (11 km) east of Baghdad, Iraq.
Today, researchers still focus on this ancient Sumerian dokument, which represents an expanded king-list based on the standard Old Babylonian copy-texts, which exist in numerous examples, from Ur and Nippur.
Written by – A. Sutherland AncientPages.com Staff Writer
Copyright © AncientPages.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or part without the express written permission of AncientPages.com
Expand for referencesReferences:
T. Bryce, The Routledge Handbook of the Peoples and Places of Ancient Western Asia
D. Katz, Gilgamesh and Akka
More From Ancient Pages
-
Priam’s Treasure – Authentic Trove From Homeric Troy Or Deception?
Artifacts | Jun 11, 2021
-
Mysterious Doorways In King Solomon’s Temple Leading To The Inner Shrine
Biblical Mysteries | Nov 30, 2017
-
Acta Diurna: World’s First Newspaper Appeared In 131 B.C
Ancient History Facts | Jun 10, 2019
-
Paititi: Legendary Lost Inca City Of Gold Built By The Inca Hero Inkarri
Featured Stories | Mar 16, 2016
-
Prehistoric Hi-Tech Nanospirals Barely Visible To The Naked Eye: Still Remain An Unsolved Mystery
Ancient Technology | Mar 4, 2014
-
Why The Legend Of Robin Hood Is More Complex Than Previously Thought And Possibly Wrong
Featured Stories | Jul 30, 2022
-
Frigg: Chief Norse Goddess Who Knew Secrets Of Humans’ Fates
Featured Stories | Dec 13, 2022
-
Lamanai, Belize: One Of The Largest And Oldest Maya Cities Dated To 1500 BC
Civilizations | Nov 2, 2018
-
10 Ancient Love Symbols
Ancient Symbols | Jan 5, 2016
-
Ancient Mystery Of The Leo Petroglyphs In Ohio Created By An Unknown Native American Culture
Featured Stories | Dec 21, 2020
-
Number 13: Coincidence Or Bad Luck – Are We Still Superstitious?
Featured Stories | Dec 9, 2020
-
Gigantic Karnak Temple Complex: Advanced Ancient Technology In Egypt
Civilizations | Apr 6, 2017
-
Has World’s Oldest Image Of Virgin Mary Been Discovered In Dura-Europos Church?
Archaeology | Mar 17, 2017
-
What Were The Most Important Medieval Marketplace Rules?
Ancient History Facts | Mar 25, 2024
-
Nefertum – God Of Lotus Blossom, Perfumes, Aromatherapy, Beauty In Egyptian Mythology
Egyptian Mythology | Apr 17, 2021
-
Evidence Of Carthaginian Presence In Northern Europe?
Featured Stories | Jun 18, 2022
-
Magnificent Hochdorf Chieftain’s Grave – Resting Place Of The Celtic Tutankhamun
Featured Stories | Aug 19, 2019
-
Inghirami Tomb – Spectacular Etruscan Burial With 53 Alabaster Urns In Ancient City Of Volterra, Italy
Featured Stories | Apr 19, 2021
-
King Henry VIII’s Walking Staff And Other Unusual Weapons
Artifacts | Nov 1, 2017
-
In Ancient Mesopotamia, Sex Among The Gods Shook Heaven And Earth
Featured Stories | Oct 8, 2022