Lagash

Lagash (also Lagash Lagash ) was a Sumerian city in southern Mesopotamia. The modern name is Tell el- Hiba ( province of Dhi Qar, Iraq).

History

Lagash was settled BC since the 4th millennium. It gained its greatest importance in the second half of the 3rd millennium BC, Lagash was a city-state that dominated several surrounding towns.

The middle of the 3rd millennium BC was marked by constant conflicts with the neighboring city of Umma, which eventually led to the destruction of the city of Lagash by Lugalzagisi of Umma and Uruk.

After the decline of the empire of Akkad and a time of low importance Lagash rose under the Second Dynasty - especially under Gudea - the dominant power in Sumer on. Main place of Lagash was at this time but no longer the city of Lagash, but Girsu (now Telloh ), where the god was worshiped Ningirsu.

The territory of Lagash comprised approximately 160,000 ha, 17 major cities, eight regional capitals and many villages, of which about 40 are known by name. From inscriptions and temples can be deduced that probably Eridu, Ur, Nippur, Adab, Uruk and Badtibira the supremacy of Lagash recognized. Since this effect was less acquired by acts of war than by trading contracts, followed by a period of flowering. The infrastructure has been improved, built canals and drainage system, but also the arts benefited.

The hegemony of Lagash came to an end with the rise of III. Dynasty of Ur.

References

• Gebhard J. Selz: Altsumerische administrative texts from Lagash (Editor ) ( Freiburg Ancient Near Eastern Studies, Vol 15), Steiner, Stuttgart 1998 ISBN 3-515-05453-7
• Gebhard J. Selz: Investigations into the world of the gods of the old Sumerian city-state of Lagash, Samuel Noah Kramer Fund, 1995 ISBN 0-924171-00-6 Philadelphia