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Lugal-kinishe-dudu
Sumerian king, 25th century BC
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Foundation nail dedicated by Entemena, king of Lagash, to the god of Bad-Tibira, about the peace treaty concluded between Lagash and Uruk. Extract from the inscription: "Those were the days when Entemena, ruler of Lagash, and Lugal-kinishe-dudu, ruler of Uruk, concluded a treaty of fraternity". This text is the oldest diplomatic document known. Found in Telloh, ancient Girsu, ca. 2400 BC. Louvre Museum.[1]
Vase inscription of Lugal-kigine-dudu (𒈗𒆠𒁺𒉌𒌌𒌌, lugal-ki-gin-ne2-du₇-du₇), reconstruction of the text, and some fragments[3][4]
Lugal-kinishe-dudu (𒈗𒆠𒉌𒂠𒌌𒌌, lugal-ki-ni-še₃-du₇-du₇)[5] also Lugal-kiginne-dudu (𒈗𒆠𒁺𒉌𒌌𒌌, lugal-ki-gin-ne2-du₇-du₇; fl. c. 2400 BC),[6] was a King and (ensi) of Uruk and Ur who lived towards the end of the 25th century BC.[7] The Sumerian King List mentions Lugal-kinishe-dudu as the second king of the dynasty after En-shakansha-ana, attributing to him a fanciful reign of 120 years.[7][8]
The inscriptions of this sovereign which have been discovered show that he retained the power inherited from his predecessor, since he proclaimed himself king of Ur and Kish:[9]
"For An, king of all the lands, and for Inanna, mistress of Eanna. Lugalkiginnedudu, the king of Kish. When Inana gave to Lugalkiginnedudu en-ship in addition to kingship, she allowed him to exercise en-ship in Uruk, and she allowed him to exercise kingship in Ur."
The most remarkable document in which he is mentioned is a clay nail found in Girsu and commemorating the alliance which he concluded with Entemena of Lagash, the oldest known reference to a peace treaty between two kings:[7][13]
Cone of Entemena mentioning the alliance with Lugal-kinishe-dudu
1st line:
"For Inanna / and Lugal-emuš / Enmetena / ruler / of Lagaš, / the E-muš, their beloved temple, / built / and ordered (these) clay nails for them. / Enmetena, / who built the E-muš,"
2nd line:
"his personal god / is Šul-utul. / At that time, Enmetena, / ruler / of Lagaš, / and Lugal-kineš-dudu, / ruler / of Uruk, / established brotherhood."
— Alliance treaty between Entemana and Lugal-kinishe-dudu.[13]
He was followed by his son, Lugal-kisalsi, also read Lugaltarsi.[7]
^ abcdHayes, William (1950). Chronology. Cambridge Ancient History. p. 51.
^"In Unug, En-shakansha-ana became king; he ruled for 60 years. Lugal-ure (ms. P3+BT14 has instead: Lugal-kinishe-dudu (?)) ruled for 120 years. Argandea ruled for 7 years. (ms. L1+N1 has:) 3 kings; they ruled for (ms. L1+N1 has:) 187 years. Then Unug was defeated (ms. TL has instead: destroyed) and the kingship was taken to Urim." in "The Sumerian king list: translation". etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk.