Ur-Ningirsu ( Sumerian: , ''Ur-^D-nin-gir-su'') also Ur-Ningirsu II in contrast with the earlier

Ur-Ningirsu I Ur-Ningirsu I ( Sumerian: , ''Ur- D-nin-gir-su''), was a Sumerian ruler ('' ensi'') of the state of Lagash in Southern Mesopotamia who ruled c. 2200 BCE. He is much less known and documented than Ur-Ningirsu II, generally just called Ur-Ningirsu. ...

, was a Sumerian ruler ('' ensi'') of the state of

Lagash Lagash (cuneiform: LAGAŠKI; Sumerian: ''Lagaš''), was an ancient city state located northwest of the junction of the Euphrates and Tigris rivers and east of Uruk, about east of the modern town of Ash Shatrah, Iraq. Lagash (modern Al-Hiba) w ...

in Southern

Mesopotamia Mesopotamia ''Mesopotamíā''; ar, بِلَاد ٱلرَّافِدَيْن or ; syc, ܐܪܡ ܢܗܪ̈ܝܢ, or , ) is a historical region of Western Asia situated within the Tigris–Euphrates river system, in the northern part of the F ...

who ruled c. 2110 BC. He was the son of the previous ruler of Lagash named

Gudea Gudea ( Sumerian: , ''Gu3-de2-a'') was a ruler ('' ensi'') of the state of Lagash in Southern Mesopotamia, who ruled circa 2080–2060 BC ( short chronology) or 2144-2124 BC (middle chronology). He probably did not come from the city, but had marr ...

Statue of Ur-Ningirsu

A statue of Ur-Ningirsu, dedicated to

Ningishzida Ningishzida ( Sumerian: DNIN-G̃IŠ-ZID-DA, possible meaning "Lord f theGood Tree") was a Mesopotamian deity of vegetation, the underworld and sometimes war. He was commonly associated with snakes. Like Dumuzi, he was believed to spend a part ...

( Sumerian: '', ^DNin-ḡiš-zi-da''), is shared by

The Metropolitan Museum of Art The Metropolitan Museum of Art of New York City, colloquially "the Met", is the largest art museum in the Americas. Its permanent collection contains over two million works, divided among 17 curatorial departments. The main building at 1000 F ...

of New York, and the

Musée du Louvre The Louvre ( ), or the Louvre Museum ( ), is the world's most-visited museum, and an historic landmark in Paris, France. It is the home of some of the best-known works of art, including the ''Mona Lisa'' and the ''Venus de Milo''. A central l ...

, as they own separately the head and the body of the statue, respectively. The statue has an inscription in the back, which reads: Image:Ur-Ningirsu ruler of Lagash portrait circa 2110 BCE.jpg, Portrait of Ur-Ningirsu.

Louvre Museum The Louvre ( ), or the Louvre Museum ( ), is the world's most-visited museum, and an historic landmark in Paris, France. It is the home of some of the best-known works of art, including the ''Mona Lisa'' and the ''Venus de Milo''. A central l ...

. File:Ur-Ningursu statue Inscription Louvre Museum.jpg, Inscription on the back of the statue. File:Ur-Ningirsu Ensi Lagashki.jpg, ''Ur-Ningirsu Ensi Lagashki'', "Ur-Ningirsu, Governor of Lagash" on his statue File:Ur-Ningursu statue Tribute bearers (front) Louvre Museum.jpg, Tribute bearers (base of the statue). File:Ur-Ningursu statue Tribute bearers (right side) Louvre Museum.jpg, Tribute bearers (right side of the statue).

Other objects and inscriptions

Also found was a foundation cone describing Ur-Ningirsu's construction of several temples. Shell Ur-Ningirsu Louvre AO209.jpg, Inscribed shell bearing the name of Ur-Ningirsu.

. File:Kursarikku associated with the sun god Shamash Reign of Ur-Ningirsu of Lagash 2150-2100 BCE Serpentine.jpg, Kursarikku associated with the sun god

Shamash Utu (dUD "Sun"), also known under the Akkadian name Shamash, ''šmš'', syc, ܫܡܫܐ ''šemša'', he, שֶׁמֶשׁ ''šemeš'', ar, شمس ''šams'', Ashurian Aramaic: 𐣴𐣬𐣴 ''š'meš(ā)'' was the ancient Mesopotamian sun god. ...

. The inscription mentions goddess

Nanshe Nanshe ( sux, ) was a Mesopotamian goddess in various contexts associated with the sea, marshlands, the animals inhabiting these biomes, namely bird and fish, as well as divination, dream interpretation, justice, social welfare, and certain admin ...

and is dedicated to "Ur-Ningirsu, ensi of Lagash". Metropolitan Museum of Art 1996.353 File:Votive mace head dedicated by Ur-Ningirsu II to god Ningirsu, from Tell Telloh, Iraq, 2125 BCE. British Museum.jpg, Votive macehead in the name of Ur-Ningirsu (inscription upside down). British Museum, BM 86917. File:Ur-Ningirsu II Vorderasiatisches Museum, Berlin VA 8790.jpg, Another statue of Ur-Ningirsu, with the inscription ""For Ningišzida, his (personal) god, Ur-Ningirsu, ruler of Laagaš, son of Gudea, ruler of Lagaš... (''broken'')"

References

Sources

* * {{Rulers of Sumer 22nd-century BC Sumerian kings Kings of Lagash