Grammar - Sumerian has two grammatical genders: animate and inanimate. This is similar to our conception of the grammatical gender in Elamite (animate and inanimate), though they do not function in exactly the same way. Humans and gods are animate, while most other things are inanimate, though of course there are exceptions.
Reading: Foxvog Chapter 3, Hayes Lesson 3
Cuneiform Text: Ur-Nammu E3/2.1.1.4
Sumerian Normalized Text: Eannatum E1.9.3.8, E1.9.3.11
This text is a rather concise account of many of the battles and wars of King Eannatum, the ruler of Lagash who is most famous for the Vulture Stele. There are both building dedications as well as accounts of the defeat and destruction of other city-states included in this text. The second text includes an interesting formula at the end, warning against the destruction of the text - a theme that will of course become very common in Ancient Near Eastern royal inscriptions for the next few millennia. Eannatum is an important king of the pre-Sargonic period due to the large number of interesting royal inscriptions with narrative content from his reign, and also for his extensive list of accomplishments. He was, for at least a short time, able to bring a large swath of Mesopotamia under his control and assume the title, “King of Kish.” We will discuss the importance of the King of Kish in this period and its meaning in the future (and Akkadian parallels).
Vocabulary
|
tu |
To fashion, form |
|
ki |
Earth, land |
|
Nammu |
A goddess |
|
Nanna |
The Moon God |
|
Ur |
Man, warrior, dog |
|
Urim |
Ur |
|
bad |
Wall, fortification |
|
e |
House, temple |
|
lugal |
king |
|
gal |
great |
|
lu |
man |
|
ensi |
Ruler. governor |
|
en |
lord |