Bara-irnun ( ''bara-ir-nun'') was queen of the
Sumerian city-state of
Umma
Umma ( sux, ; in modern Dhi Qar Province in Iraq, formerly also called Gishban) was an ancient city in Sumer. There is some scholarly debate about the Sumerian and Akkadian names for this site. Traditionally, Umma was identified with Tell J ...
and wife of king
Gishakidu
Gishakidu ( ''giš-ša3-ki-du10'') was king of the Sumerian city-state of Umma and husband of queen Bara-irnun, circa 2400 BCE. He was the son of Il, king of Umma, and his reign lasted at least 4 years. He is particularly known from a gold votive ...
, circa 2400 BCE.
She is particularly known from a gold votive plate, in which she describes her genealogy in great detail.
The inscription on the plate reads:
The original royal line of Umma consisted in the filiation of
Enakalle (possibly son of
Ush) and his own son
Ur-Lumma
''Ur-Lumma'' ( sux, , ) was a ruler of the Sumerian city-state of Umma, circa 2400 BCE. His father was King Enakalle, who had been vanquished by Eannatum of Lagash. Ur-Lumma claimed the title of "King" (''Lugal''). His reign lasted at least 12 ...
.
When Ur-Lumma died, presumably without a son but certainly with a daughter named Bara-irnum, the throne was handed over to
Il, son of Eanandu (who had no regnal title) and grandson (or nephew) of Enakalle.
King Il was then succeeded by his own son
Gishakidu
Gishakidu ( ''giš-ša3-ki-du10'') was king of the Sumerian city-state of Umma and husband of queen Bara-irnun, circa 2400 BCE. He was the son of Il, king of Umma, and his reign lasted at least 4 years. He is particularly known from a gold votive ...
.
Bara-irnum married her cousin Gishakidu, thus re-uniting both strands of the royal family by a marital alliance.
The plaque is the first known mention of
Shara, tutelary god of
Umma
Umma ( sux, ; in modern Dhi Qar Province in Iraq, formerly also called Gishban) was an ancient city in Sumer. There is some scholarly debate about the Sumerian and Akkadian names for this site. Traditionally, Umma was identified with Tell J ...
.
Gishakidu
Gishakidu ( ''giš-ša3-ki-du10'') was king of the Sumerian city-state of Umma and husband of queen Bara-irnun, circa 2400 BCE. He was the son of Il, king of Umma, and his reign lasted at least 4 years. He is particularly known from a gold votive ...
, husband of Bara-irnum
Il Lugal (name).jpg, "King Il" (, '' Il lugal
Lugal ( Sumerian: ) is the Sumerian term for "king, ruler". Literally, the term means "big man." In Sumerian, ''lu'' "𒇽" is "man" and ''gal'' " 𒃲" is "great," or "big."
It was one of several Sumerian titles that a ruler of a city-state coul ...
''), father-in-law of Bara-irnum
Ur-Lumma on the plate of Bara-irnun.jpg, King Ur-Lumma
''Ur-Lumma'' ( sux, , ) was a ruler of the Sumerian city-state of Umma, circa 2400 BCE. His father was King Enakalle, who had been vanquished by Eannatum of Lagash. Ur-Lumma claimed the title of "King" (''Lugal''). His reign lasted at least 12 ...
, father of Bara-irnum
References
{{Early Rulers of Mesopotamia
24th-century BC women
Ancient queens consort
Sumerian people
Umma