Out of the many incredible artifacts that have been recovered from sites in Iraq where flourishing Sumerian cities once stood, few have been more intriguing than the Sumerian King List. An ancient manuscript originally recorded in the Sumerian language, the Sumerian King List is a register of the kings of Sumer (ancient southern Iraq) from Sumerian and neighboring dynasties.
The list includes their names, supposed reign lengths, and the locations of “official” kingship. What makes the Sumerian King List so unique is the fact that it blends apparently mythical pre-dynastic rulers with historical rulers who are known to have existed in real life.
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The first fragment of this rare and unique text, a 4,000-year-old cuneiform tablet, was found in the early 1900s by German-American scholar Hermann Hilprecht at the site of ancient Nippur and his results were published in 1906. Since Hilprecht’s discovery, at least 18 other exemplars of the king’s list have been found, most of them dating from the second half of the Isin Dynasty (c. 2017 to 1794 BC).
No two of these documents are identical. However, there is enough common material in all versions of the Sumerian King List to make it clear that they are derived from a single, “ideal” account of Sumerian history.
The Weld-Blundell Prism. (Ashmolean Museum / CC BY-SA 4.0)
The Weld-Blundell Prism
Among all the examples of the Sumerian King List, the Weld-Blundell prism in the Ashmolean Museum cuneiform collection in Oxford represents the most extensive version, as well as the most complete copy of the Sumerian King List. The 8-inch-high (20.32 cm) prism contains four sides with two columns on each side.
It is believed that the Weld-Blundell prism originally had a wooden spindle going through its center so that it could be rotated and read on all four sides. It lists rulers from the antediluvian (“before the flood”) dynasties to the fourteenth ruler of the Isin Dynasty (ca. 1763 to 1753 BC).
The list is of immense value because it reflects very old traditions while at the same time providing an important chronological framework relating to the different periods of kingship in Sumeria. It even demonstrates remarkable parallels to accounts in Genesis.
The Ancient Civilization of Sumer
Sumer (sometimes called Sumeria), is the site of the earliest known civilization, located in the southernmost part of Mesopotamia between the Tigris and the Euphrates rivers, in the area that later became Babylonia and is now southern Iraq from around Baghdad to the Persian Gulf.
By the 3rd millennium BC, Sumer was the site of at least twelve separate city states, including Kish, Erech, Ur, Sippar, Akshak, Larak, Nippur, Adab, Umma, Lagash, Bad-tibira and Larsa. Each of these states comprised a walled city and its surrounding villages and land. Each city state worshiped its own deity, whose temple was the central structure of the city.
Political power originally belonged to the citizens, but, as rivalry between the various city states increased, each adopted the institution of kingship. The Sumerian King List records that eight kings reigned before a Great Flood. Afterwards, the list claims that various city-states and their dynasties of kings temporarily gained power over the others.
Sculptured vase depicting Gilgamesh wrestling two bulls from the Shara temple at Tell Agrab, Diyala Region, Iraq. Gilgamesh was included in the Sumerian King List. (Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin / CC BY-SA 4.0)
Sumer’s Mythical Past: Mythical Figures in the Sumerian King List
The Sumerian King List begins with the very origin of kingship, which is seen as a divine institution: “the kingship had descended from heaven.” The rulers in the earliest dynasties are represented as reigning fantastically long periods:
After the kingship descended from heaven, the kingship was in Eridug. In Eridug, Alulim became king; he ruled for 28800 years. Alaljar ruled for 36000 years. 2 kings; they ruled for 64800 years.
Some of the rulers mentioned in the early list, such as Etana, Lugal-banda and Gilgamesh, are mythical or legendary figures whose heroic feats are subjects of a series of Sumerian and Babylonian narrative compositions.
The early list names eight kings with a total of 241,200 years from the time when kingship “descended from heaven” to the time when “the Flood” swept over the land and once more “the kingship was lowered from heaven” after the Flood.
Interpretation of the Long Tenures of Early Kings
The amazingly long tenure of the early kings has provoked many attempts at interpretation. At one extreme is the complete dismissal of the astronomically large figures as “completely artificial” and the view that they are unworthy of serious consideration. At the other extreme, is the belief that the numbers have a basis in reality and that the early kings were indeed gods who were capable of living much longer than humans.
In between the two extremes is the hypothesis that the figures represent relative power, triumph or importance. For example, in ancient Egypt, the phrase “he died aged 110” referred to someone who lived life to the full and who offered an important contribution to society.
In the same way, the extremely reigns of the early kings may represent how incredibly important they were perceived as being in the eyes of the people. This doesn’t explain, however, why the periods of tenure later switched to realistic time periods.
Related to this perspective is the belief that although the early kings are historically unattested, this does not preclude their possible correspondence with historical rulers who were later mythicized. Some scholars, such as Harrison, have even sought to explain the figures through mathematical investigation and interpretation.
Painting of the Great Flood as told in Genesis. Augsburger Wunderzeichenbuch, Folio 1 (Genesis 7, 11-14). (Public domain)
The Sumerian King List and its Relation to Genesis
Some scholars (e.g. Bryant G. Wood, 2003) have drawn attention to the fact that there are remarkable similarities between the Sumerian King List and accounts in Genesis. For example, Genesis tells the story of ‘the great flood’ and Noah’s efforts to save all the species of animals on Earth from destruction. Likewise, in the Sumerian King List there is discussion of a great deluge, where the text states that “the flood swept over the earth.”
The Sumerian King List provides a list of eight kings (some versions have 10) who reigned for long periods of time before the flood, ranging from 18,600 to 43,200 years. This is similar to Genesis 5, where the generations from Creation to the Flood are recorded. Interestingly, between Adam and Noah there are eight generations, just as there are eight kings between the beginning of kingship and the flood in the Sumerian King List.
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After the flood, the King List records kings who ruled for much shorter periods of time. Thus, the Sumerian King List not only documents a great flood early in man’s history, but it also reflects the same pattern of decreasing longevity as found in the Bible - men had extremely long life spans before the flood and much shorter life spans following the flood.
The Sumerian King List truly is a perplexing mystery. Why would the Sumerians combine mythical rulers with actual historical rulers in one document? Why are there so many similarities with Genesis? Why were ancient kings described as ruling for thousands of years? These are just some of the questions that still remain unanswered after more than a century of research.
Top image: Weld-Blundell Prism, a clay cuneiform inscribed with the Sumerian Kings List. Source: Public domain
By Joanna Gillan
References
Geerts, L. C. No date. “The Sumerian King List” in Biblioteca Pleyades. Available at: https://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/sitchin/king_list.htm
Harrison, R. K. 1993. “Reinvestigating the Antediluvian Sumerian King List” in JETS 36/I. Available at: https://www.etsjets.org/files/JETS-PDFs/36/36-1/JETS_36-1_003-008_Harrison.pdf
Jacobsen, T. 1939. The Sumerian King List. The Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago. The University of Chicago Press. Available at: http://oi.uchicago.edu/pdf/as11.pdf
No name. No date. “The Sumerian King List (SKL)” in A Library of Knowledge of the Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative. Available at: https://cdli.ox.ac.uk/wiki/doku.php?id=the_sumerian_king_list_skl
No name. No date. “The Sumerian king list: translation” in The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature. Available at: https://etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk/section2/tr211.htm
Wood, B. G. 2003. “Great Discoveries in Biblical Archaeology: The Sumerian King List” in Bible and Space Journal. Available at: https://www.galaxie.com/article/bspade16-4-04
Comments
Solving the Sumerian Kings Years mystery
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Years ago, I solved this but the Biblical Archaeology Society and others had no interest, as anything that affirms Scripture or hurts pre-existing sales is undesired. I can prove from early Christian writers and from the Bible itself that the Hebrew Exodus happened circa 1551 B.C., after Jacob entered there 215 years earlier, some 215 years after Abram did. Thus 430 years after Abraham entered Keme or Egypt, the Exodus happened. The significance of this is that the cited Sumerian king list ends in 1720 B.C.
The Sumerian king list: translation
Citing only in part:
1-39 After the kingship descended from heaven, the kingship was in Eridug. In Eridug, Alulim became king; he ruled for 28800 years. Alaljar ruled for 36000 years. 2 kings; they ruled for 64800 years. Then Eridug 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 Larag. In Larag, En-sipad-zid-ana ruled for 28800 years. 1 king; he ruled for 28800 years. Then Larag 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 Curuppag. In Curuppag, 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.
Black, J.A., Cunningham, G., Fluckiger-Hawker, E, Robson, E., and Zólyomi, G., The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature (http://www-etcsl.orient.ox.ac.uk/), Oxford 1998- .
http://etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk/section2/tr211.htm
U le’u akannaka sattu gabbi - the scribe and the [engraved] record are there the entire year The Assyrian Dictionary (University of Chicago), p.157
http://oi.uchicago.edu/pdf/cad_tet.pdf
Sattisamma - year by year p.122
It seems that the proper word for "year", rather than a simple measure of time of an unknown factor, does not appear in the Akkadian chronology for it to be translated as "year" or such.
The word "year", not being a variant of sattu in the relevant texts below...are translated as to what appears to be an original intent of the scribe...an approximation of "days" is the logically correct translation...often in forms of one hundred as the measure of rounding up or down...based on reconstructing the corruption of the texts.
The chronology of the list of Sumerian kings is resolved by a better translation, reconstruction of corrupt texts to original intent, and a placing of that chronology upon the accuracy of the Biblical chronology.
1-39
After the kingship descended from heaven, 2348 B.C.
{after Noah’s ark}
the kingship was in Eridug.
The word for heaven, might easily be read as that which was first intended as waters from above...or, 'after that the [Noachian] flood receded". If this is the intent, there may have to be an adjustment to create a family (grandchildren and great grand-children) of Noah. This adjustment can be as little as 15 to as many as 50 years. All you need is a son of Shem intercoursing with two of his sisters or cousins for the clock to start ticking...if we were to take that approach. But the best we can do with the text, for now, is just a generalized reconstruction...until a better or comparative copy from antiquity surfaces.
In Eridug,
Alulim became king;
he ruled for 28800 {DAYS}. 78 years 10 months 2348 to 2269 B.C.
Alaljar ruled for 36000 {DAYS}. 98 years 6 months 2269 to 2171 B.C.
[some 22-30 years after 2269 B.C., the earth is divided]
2 kings; they ruled for 64800 {DAYS}. 177 years, 4 months -- ending 2171 B.C.
Then falling over to Eridug
Taking (into account) the kingship (in regard to) Bad-tibira.
In Bad-tibira, En-men-lu-ana ruled for 43200 {DAYS}. 118 years, 3 months 2348 to 2230 B.C.
En-men-gal-ana ruled for 28800 {DAYS}. 78 years 10 months -- 2230 to 2151 B.C.
Dumuzid, the shepherd, ruled for 36000 {DAYS}.
98 years, 6 months -- 2151 to 2053 B.C.
3 kings; they ruled for 108000 {DAYS}. 295 years, 7 months
Then falling over to Bad-tibira
Taking (into account) the kingship (in regard to) Larag.
In Larag, En-sipad-zid-ana ruled for 28800 {DAYS}. 78 years, 10 months -- 2053 to 1974 B.C.
1 king; he ruled for 28800 {DAYS}. 78 years, 10 months
Then falling over to Larag
Taking (into account) the kingship (in regard to) Zimbir.
In Zimbir, En-men-dur-ana became king; he ruled for 21000 {DAYS}. 57 years, 6 months -- 1974 to 1917 B.C.
1 king; he ruled for 21000 years. 57 years, 6 months
Then Zimbir fell (?) and the kingship was taken to Curuppag.
In Curuppag, Ubara-Tutu became king; he ruled for 18600 {DAYS} 50 years, 11 months -- 1917 to 1866 B.C.
1 king; he ruled for 18600 years. 50 years, 11 months
In 5 cities 8 kings; they ruled for 241200 {DAYS}. 660 years, 3 months
However, the actual length breaks down to something like 482 years of existence, with 364 years of some kind of regional domination...both having their point of reference as ending 1866 B.C.
There may have to be some adjustment in the dating and translation regarding Eridug. The alternate scenario would have usregard the first de facto ruler as in 2230 B.C. as the date immediately following the fall of Babel, while dating Babel to within a decade of the Biblical expectancy.
"Then the flood swept over."
That is, here in this instance, "wiping the slate clean."
It is an expression of resoftening the clay, so that it can be reused for writing...or telling us that a new accounting, or sub-history, or of those with lesser titles, is taking place.
Therefore, we are next prepared for sub-kings, district lords, or first administrators of their provinces during the period following that up to this point. The Sumerian structure had essentially disintegrated by 1866 B.C., according to this timeline of the Sumerians, which dating is verified against the Bible timeline. But, like the vice-regent duality lists known to Manetho, who counted second in commands as if they too were Pharoahs…so also does this Sumerian account offer confusion in the number of what are reckoned as their own leaders. The list appears to be composed in or very shortly following 1720 B.C.
1866 - 1799 B.C.
(40-94) After the [same] flood [as listed above] had swept over, and the kingship had descended from heaven, the kingship was in Kic. In Kic, Jucur became king; he ruled for 1200 {DAYS}. etc.
... 23 kings; they ruled for 24510 {Days} ...Then Kic was defeated and the kingship was taken to E-ana. -- 67 years,1 month
...
1799 - 1793 B.C. / The Hyksos now invading Egypt, by my reconstruction of the Exodus timeline, textually provable by Greek history preserved by Patristics, and the Bible.
(95-133) In E-ana, Mec-ki-aj-gacer, the son of Utu, became lord and king; he ruled for 324 {Days}. etc.
...12 kings; they ruled for 2310 {Days}. Then Unug was defeated and the kingship was taken to Urim. -- 6 years, 4 months
...
(378-431) A total of 39 kings ruled for 14409 {Days}...in Kic.
That is, 39 years, 5 months or 1793 - 1754 B.C. in Kic.
A total of 22 kings ruled for 2610 {days}... in Unug.-- 7 years, 2 months or 1793 to 1786 B.C. in Unug
...A total of 134 kings, who altogether ruled for 28876 {days}
-- That is, 79 years or 1799 to 1720 B.C.
By this above reconstruction, edited down, we can see that the Akkadian / Old Babylonian / Sumerian vacuum was present in 1866 B.C.
If the Akkadians are any rule of measure to the Hittite issue...of the debate that sometimes arises as to precisely when the Hitites had their zenith in ancient history...we can say that the likelihood of the zenith of the Hittites was between 1866 B.C., to a point beyond 1720 B.C. on just the Sumerian texts alone.
With the Akkadian collapse, the uniting of bands in the Hittites would have allowed the prospering and dominance from the Lebanese Mediterranean Sea to the Euphrates river for hundreds of years, while being beyond the permanent logistically supported presence of an Egyptian army seeking to subjugate the same region.
Eridug ...Eridu
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In reply to "Heaven" was Mars, Eridug is located in Mainland China. by CHEN, Lung Chuan (not verified)
Eridug ...Eridu
Ba Sou ... Barsoom .. the Cradle and first Planet of this Mankind
Eden ... Aden in Ioman now Jemen Yemen
Christ Chrisna also got a much older name ... Iodem
Avalon and Eden ... Adam and Eve
Kingship ..a ship of a king or a family of nobils or kinship bloodline?
"Heaven" was Mars, Eridug is located in Mainland China.
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(in English and Traditional Chinese)
"After the kingship descended from heaven, the kingship was in Eridug"
1. They came from Mars (Ba-sou).
他們來自火星 (巴蜀)。
2. Their origin was a huge and rich city located here (the symbol of their city is still there):
他們的起源地是一個龐大而且富裕的城市 (他們城市的符號還在)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZqZaGL3a3A
3. The symbol is an ancient Chinese character.
這個符號是一個古中文字。
The "Eridug" is a name of an old city still existing in Mainland China.
(E - ri together form a Chinese character; but dug keeps the pronunciation)
4. "The early list names eight kings with a total of 241,200 years from the time when kingship “descended from heaven” to the time when "the Flood" swept over the land and once more "the kingship was lowered from heaven" after the Flood.
If this statement is true, Gan Eden (The Eden / 伊甸園) was in current Mainland China. But the focus later moved from Mainland China to current Mid-East (after flood).
如果這個陳述是對的，伊甸園位於現在的中國大陸。但是後來焦點從中國大陸轉移到目前的中東地區 (大洪水之後)。
Pre-flood climate
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Nice article April. The Sumerian King List is interesting where it “seems” to link both ancient Sumerian history with the Bible (Genesis). I am in the camp that thinks the longer life spans were really longer life spans due to the pre-flood climate.
Sumerian King List
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I haven't read all the comments here so someone might have already pointed out that such lists involving long age spans also occur in ancient Indian literatures. In Indian thought ( as well as some other cultures, e,g, Native American), there are four distinct ages to a cycle of the universe: satya-yuga (people lived an average of 100,000 years), treta-yuga (an average lifespan of 10,000 years), dvarpara-yuga (1000 years) and the present kali-yuga (100 years). Each yuga or eon includes a 'sandhi' or conjunction/transition from one age to the next, which would account for the sudden decrease in longevity of life observed in Biblical/Sumerian accounts, e.g. the conjunction between our present age of kali and the prior dvarpara-yuga. Although I don't wish to comment in detail presently, the different lengths of these yugas are intertwined with specific measurement systems and astronomical configurations of the ancient Indian/Vedic culture (and probably those of other cultures at that time).
Further, Mount Sumeru is an important cosmological/geographical feature of Vedic culture and, as the ancient Sumerians were engaged in trade with the ancient Indians, it would not be surprising that the name 'Sumer' is derived from 'Mount Sumeru', the world mountain.