Ush ( Uš, possibly read Ninta) was King or ''
ensi'' 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 ...
, a city-state in
Sumer, circa 2450 BCE.
Ush is mentioned in various inscriptions, such as the
Cone of Entemana as having violated the frontier with
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 ...
, a frontier which had been solemnly established by king
Mesilim
Mesilim ( sux, ), also spelled Mesalim (c. 2600 BC), was ''lugal'' (king) of the Sumerian city-state of Kish.
Though his name is missing from the ''Sumerian king list'', Mesilim is among the earliest historical figures recorded in archaeological ...
.
According to Enmetena's account, Ush is the one who invaded the territory of Lagash, and his invasion was then repelled, although the name of the ruler of Lagash who confronted him that time is not mentioned explicitly:
It is thought that Ush was severely defeated by
Eannatum
Eannatum ( sux, ) was a Sumerian '' Ensi'' (ruler or king) of Lagash circa 2500–2400 BCE. He established one of the first verifiable empires in history: he subdued Elam and destroyed the city of Susa as well as several other Iranian cities, ...
, king of Lagash.
The victory of Eannatum is mentioned in a fragmentary inscription on the stele, suggesting that after the loss of 3,600 soldiers on the field, Ush, king of Umma, was killed in a rebellion in his capital city 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 ...
:
File:Stele_of_Vultures_detail_03.jpg, Slain soldiers of the army of Ush, on the battlefield. Stele of the Vultures.
File:Stele_of_Vultures_detail_02.jpg, Soldiers of Enakalle being left to the vultures, after their defeat by Eannatum
Eannatum ( sux, ) was a Sumerian '' Ensi'' (ruler or king) of Lagash circa 2500–2400 BCE. He established one of the first verifiable empires in history: he subdued Elam and destroyed the city of Susa as well as several other Iranian cities, ...
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 ...
. Stele of the Vultures.
File:Stele of Vultures detail 01 reverse.jpg, Prisoners captured in nets. Stele of the Vultures.
File:Ush ensi Uma-ki.jpg,
Eannatum
Eannatum ( sux, ) was a Sumerian '' Ensi'' (ruler or king) of Lagash circa 2500–2400 BCE. He established one of the first verifiable empires in history: he subdued Elam and destroyed the city of Susa as well as several other Iranian cities, ...
, king of Lagash, later made a boundary treaty with
Enakalle, successor of Ush, settling the matter, as described in the
Cone of Entemana.
See also
*
List of Mesopotamian dynasties
The history of Mesopotamia extends from the Lower Paleolithic period until the establishment of the Caliphate in the late 7th century AD, after which the region came to be known as Iraq. This list covers dynasties and monarchs of Mesopotamia up ...
References
{{Rulers of Sumer
Kings of Umma
25th-century BC Sumerian kings
25th-century BC murdered monarchs