Shuruppak

Shuruppak, Shuruppak, Shuruppak (also: Fara, Fara ) is a Sumerian city, which was inhabited from about 3400 BC ( Späturuk time). It is located geographically in the center of south Mesopotamia. In the Epic of Gilgamesh it is the city of the gods, in the Ziusudra announced the Flood.

Archaeology and History

The place is in terms of Tontafelfunde of great importance, even if the identification of rulers name so far could not be made. The cuneiform tablets can be seen that BC founded an association of cities with Uruk, Adab, Nippur, Lagash, Umma and Shuruppak as war coalition to 2900. In this context, the term Ki'engi already been used, which would later be used as a term for southern Babylonia or Sumer.

By 2004, about 500 were published almost 1,000 clay tablets. The localities were widely scattered. The research therefore is not agreed whether a decentralized economy was present or discovered by the Royal Palace and the City Hall, the economic decisions were made.

Economic activities

From the available contracts of sale and real estate records under the cuneiform finds could be determined that the purchase prices were paid in copper, silver and barley. The barley conversion rate used proves the function of basic food commodities as payment object. In the land sale contracts in addition to the buyer and seller were to up to 25 other people who were involved in the transfer of ownership. Striking is the fact that the seller usually belonged to a clan association. Only from the Akkadian period occurs only on a single vendor.

Kudurrus

The Kudurrus represented as a stone document collection documents several transactions and corresponded to the current land books. It shows a north -south divide: The sale of large estates is known only from the north. In the south, however, only very small plots ( gardens ) were sold. The ownership of land was the common property of large families, clans or temple shrines, some of which also issues a permit, similar to the long lease, to till the land.

Language and lists of gods

Is very early by the frequent appearance of Semitic writer name clearly noticeable Semitic- frühaltakkadischer influence perceptible.

Most lists of gods in the later eras build up to the pedigree of Shuruppak, which relies in turn on older templates. So far, only Enlil and Anu were identified as the highest gods. Numerous DIGIRNIN names are known, but could not be assigned unequivocally the sanctuaries and deities.

The occupied at this time goddess DIGIRNIN - imma, as DIGIRNIN - SIG7, shows striking similarities to later DINGIRNIN -imine (Lady of the Seven Deities ) and DINGIRNIN - Nammu ( mistress of everything). The phonetic form Nammu / Namma is taken from the later letters En mimma.