Shar-Kali-Sharri

Akkadian ruler (2217–2193 BC)

King of Akkad
King of Sumer

Impression of a cylinder seal of the time of Akkadian King Sharkalisharri, with central inscription:

𒀭𒊬𒂵𒉌 𒈗𒌷 𒁕𒈝 𒈗 𒀀𒂵𒉈𒆠 𒅁𒉌𒈗 𒁾𒊬 𒀵𒋢
^DShar-kali-sharri da-num lugal a-ga-de^ki ibe-šarrum dub-sar arad₂-su
"Divine Sharkalisharri, the mighty king of Agade, Ibni-Sharrum, the Scribe his servant".^[1]

Circa 2217-2193 BC. Louvre Museum.^[2]

King of the Akkadian EmpireReignc. 2217 BC – 2193 BCPredecessorNaram-SinSuccessorIgigi

SpouseTuta-sar-libbisDynastyDynasty of AkkadFatherNaram-Sin of Akkad

Shar-Kali-Sharri (𒀭𒊬𒂵𒉌 𒈗𒌷, ^DShar-ka-li-Sharri;^[3]) reigned c. 2217–2193 BC (middle chronology) as the ruler of the Akkadian Empire. In the early days of cuneiform scholarship the name was transcribed as "Shar-Gani-sharri".^[4] In the 1870s, Assyriologists thought Shar-Kali-Sharri was identical with the Sargon of Akkad, first ruler of the Akkadian Empire, but this identification was recognized as mistaken in the 1910s.^[5] His name was sometimes written with the leading Dingir sign demarking deification and sometimes without it. Clearly at some point he was deified and two of his designations marked his divine status, "heroic god of Akkade", and "god of the land of Warium".^[6] He was the son and successor of Naram-Sin who deified himself during his lifetime.^[7]

Biography

Shar-Kali-Sharri succeeded his father Naram-Sin in c. 2217 BC. According to the Sumerian King List his reign lasted 25 year which is closely matched by the year name from his rule.^[7] He completed the establishment of direct Akkadian rule, a process initiated by his predecessor.^[8] It is known, from the seal impressions of three of her majordomos (example - "Sar-kali-sarri, king of the subjects of the god Enlil. Tuta-sar-libbis, the queen: Iskun-Dagan, scr[ibe] and her major[d]omo, (is) [her] servant"), that the wife and queen of Shar-Kali-Shari was Tuta-sar-libbis.^[9]

Naram-Sin maintained control over the various city-states by the simple expedient of appointing some of his many sons as key provincial governors, and his daughters as high priestesses. Shar-Kali-Shari would have inherited this system on his ascension but is not known if he had any offspring or, for the most part, the nature of his provincial governors. It has been suggested that he was governor of Nippur before assuming the crown.^[10]^[11] This is supported by the fact that text show that he was crowned in Nippur, a process that included his sister Tudanapšum who had been named high priestess of Enlil at Nippur.^[12]^[13]

It was traditional for rulers in Mesopotamia to make an occasional "royal progress" visiting the major cultic sites. One such progress is known from the reign of his father Naram-Sin, fourth ruler of the Akkadian Empire. He was accompanied by three of his children, Bin-kali-šarrē, Tudanapšum, and crown prince Shar-Kali-Shari.^[14] It is known that Shar-Kali-Sharri made a royal journey to Sumer early in his reign which lasted at least six months. Cities known to have been included in the royal progress were Umma, Zabala, Isin, Girsu, and Nippur with many royal gifts dispensed and much feasting.^[15] In a show of military strength at least five sagina (generals) accompanied Shar-Kali-Shari.^[16]

It is known that the governor of Adab under Shar-Kali-Shar was Lugal-gis based on three clay sealings reading "[S]ar-kali-sam, god, hero of Agade: Lugal-gis, scribe and go[vernor] of Ad[ab, (is) his] servant." (noting that the Dingir followed the rulers name here). His successor as ensi of Adab under Shar-Kali-Shali was Ur-tur, known from tablets found there. Many Adab tablets dated to his reign remain unpublished in the Istanbul Museum.^[8] The governor of another city-state, Lagash is known. Lugal-ushumgal, was a governor (ensi) under Naram-Sin and that continued under Shar-Kali-Shari.^[17] Several inscriptions of Lugal-ushumgal are known, particularly seal impressions, which refer to him as governor of Lagash and at the time a vassal (𒀵, arad, "servant" or "slave") of Naram-Sin, as well as his successor Shar-kali-sharri.^[18] One of these seals proclaims:

𒊬𒂵𒉌 𒈗𒌷 𒁕𒈝 𒈗 𒀀𒂵𒉈𒆠 𒈗𒃲𒁔 𒑐𒋼𒋛 𒉢𒁓𒆷𒆠 𒀵𒋢
Shar-kali-sharri da-num lugal a-ga-de^ki lugal-ušumgal ensi lagash^ki arad₂-su

"Shar-kali-sharri, the mighty king of Agade, Lugalushumgal, ensi of Lagash, is thy servant."
— Seal of Lugalushumgal as vassal of Shar-Kali-Sharri.^[19]

Lugal-ushumgal was Governor of Lagash, a vassal of Naram-Sin and later of Shar-Kali-Sharri.^[20] His successor as governor Puzer-Mama declared himself ruler of Lagash, possibly on the death of Shar-Kali-Shari, and began the 2nd Dynasty of Lagash^[21]^[22]

One of the primary duties of the ruler of Mesopotamia was the maintenance of the Ekur temple of the chief god Enlil. Work on the temple, initiated by Naram-Sin, was completed by Shar-Kali-Shari.^[23] So important was this process that it was featured in seven of his year names, even naming the general appointed to lead the task, Puzur-Eshtar.^[24] Inscribed bricks of Shar-Kali-Shari were found during the excavation of Nippur:

"The god Enlil instructed (him). Sar-kali-sarri, the mighty, king of Agade, builder of Ekur, temple of the god Enlil at Nippur. As for the one who removes this inscription, may the gods Enlil, Samas, and Astar tear out his foundations and destroy his progeny."^[25]

In a tablet inscription (HS 195) he also marked, after visiting the source of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, the giving of a cult object to Enlil at Nippur.^[26]

"The god Enlil decreed (it to him) Sar-kali-sarri, mighty king,cup bearer of the god Enlil, king of Agade, king of the subjects of the god Enlil. (The god Enlil)... as fa as ... from ... gave to him in its entirety. After he reached the sources of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, he personally dedicated (this object) to the god Enlil in Nippur."^[25]

Shar-Kali-Shari also built new temples to Annunitum and to Ilaba (the tutelary deity deity of the Akkadian Empire) at Babylon, as reflected in a year name, with a further one to Ilaba at Zabala.^[27]

Based on his year names the reign of Shar-Kali-Shari was fairly peaceful with the usual scuffles with nomadic groups like the MAR.TU and the Gutians as well as the traditional butting of heads with the Elamites.^[28] The economic texts from that period also would indicate a reasonable degree of prosperity.^[29]^[30]^[31] Clearly the Gutians were growing in influence during his reign as at some point they made Adab their capital, though whether as a vassals of Akkad or not is unknown. That said, there was a historical tradition that the Akkadian Empire began to unravel during his rule. One much later Neo-Babylonian copy of an inscription (BM 38302) of Shar-Kali-Shari (which also marks the building of the temple of Ilaba in Zabala) indicated that he face a widespread revolt at one point which he overcame. This reflects the Great Revolt faced by his father Naram-Sin though it cannot be discounted that passage of millennia had blurred the history of one ruler with the other.

"Sar-kali-sam, the mighty, king of Agade, builder of the ... of the temple of the goddess Astar at Zabala. [W]hen the four quarters together revolted against him ... [fr]om beyond the Lower Sea as far as the Upper [S]ea, he smote the people and all the Mountain Lands for the god Enlil and brought their kings i[n] fette[rs] before the god Enlil. Sar-kali-sam, the mighty, by the ... authority of the god Enlil, sh[owed] mercy to no one in those battles. He reached ... the source of the Tigris River and ... the source of the Euphrates River and cut down cedar wood in the Amanus (Mountains) in order to ... the temple of the goddess Astar. As for the one who removes this inscription,may the gods Enlil, Samas, and Astar tear out his foundations and destroy his progeny. Colophon - According to the text of a stele of marhusa stone. That which was written (on) the stone, Nergal-sumi-ibni of the Issakku family wrote out quickly."^[25]

According to the Sumerian King List and later literary compositions, after Shar-Kali-Sharri's death in c. 2193 BC, the region fell into anarchy, with no king able to achieve dominance for long.^[32] The king list states:

"Then who was king? Who was not the king? Igigi, Imi, Nanum, Ilulu: four of them ruled for only 3 years."

The Akkadian Empire then resumed some semblance of order for a time with the 21 year reign of Dudu followed by the 15 year reign of Shu-turul.

Year names of Shar-Kali-Sharri

Lists of year names can be found for many rulers from the time of the Akkadian Empire, including Shar-Kali-Sharri.^[33] They shed light on the length of his reign and the main events:

Year the King of Agade sat (on his throne)

Year in which Shar-Kali-Sharri went down to Sumer ...

Year after Shar-Kali-Sharri went down to Sumer (and) [the crown] upon (his) head ...^[14]

Year in which Shar-Kali-Sharri appointed Puzur-Eshtar the shagina (general), to build the temple of Enlil

Year after the year Shar-Kali-Sharri appointed Puzur-Eshtar, the shagina, to build the temple of Enlil

In the year in which Shar-Kali-Sharri laid the foundations of the temple of Enlil in Nippur

Year the foundations of the temple of Enlil (in Nippur) were laid

Year following the year in which the foundations of the temple of Enlil in Nippur were laid

Year the king Shar-Kali-Sharri brought to the temple of Enlil …

In the year in which Shar-Kali-Sharri a vase of libation in gold (for the temple of Enlil and) cut down cedar timber for the temple of Enlil

In the year in which Shar-Kali-Sharri laid the foundations of the temples of the goddess Annunitum and of the Ilaba in Babylon and captured Sharlag(ab) the king of Gutium^[34]

In the year in which Shar-Kali-Sharri was victorious over MAR.TU in the Djebel Biszri^[35]

In the year in which Shar-Kali-Sharri brought the battle against Elam and Zahara in front of Akshak and … and was victorious

Year in which the yoke was imposed on Gutium

In the year in which Shar-Kali-Sharri …

In the year in which Shar-Kali-Sharri … Agade

In the year in which Enlil … … Shar-Kali-Sharri

In the year in which Enlil … Shar-Kali-Sharri …

Year Shar-Kali-Sharri the king of Agade...

In the year in which Shar-Kali-Sharri ...

— Regnal year names of Shar-Kali-Sharri^[36]^[37]

Inscriptions

Tablet in Akkadian language recording domestic animals, Bismaya, reign of Shar-kali-sharri, c. 2100 BC, clay - Oriental Institute Museum, University of Chicago
Seal of Shar-Kali-Sharri (previously attributed to Sargon), with seated deity.
Seal of Shar-Kali-Sharri (previously attributed to Sargon), with Gilgamesh fighting a lion.
Shar-Kali-Sharri seal (Louvre)
Brick Stamp of Shar-Kali-Sharri National Museum of Iraq.
Seal impression of Lugal-ushumgal as servant of Shar-Kali-Sharri: "Sharkalisharri, the mighty king of Agade, Lugalushumgal, ensi of Lagash, is thy servant."

References

^ Full transcription of Ibni-Sharrum seal "CDLI-Archival View". cdli.ucla.edu.
^ "Cylinder Seal of Ibni-Sharrum". Louvre Museum.
^ written šar-ka₃-li₂-šar-ri₂ 𒊬𒂵𒉌𒊬𒌷 in later manuscripts of the Sumerian King List, but šar-ka₃-li₂ LUGAL-ri₂ 𒊬𒂵𒉌 𒈗𒌷 in royal inscriptions even though the LUGAL ("king") sign did not have the phonetic value of šar in Sumerian (Laurence Austine Waddell, The Makers of Civilization 1968, p. 529)
^ King, L. "Shar-gani-sharri, King of Akkad." Proceedings of the Society of Biblical Archaeology 30 (1908): 238-242
^ D. D. Luckenbill, "Review of: The Civilization of Babylonia and Assyria by Morris Jastrow, Jr.", The American Journal of Semitic Languages and Literatures, Vol. 33, No. 3 (Apr., 1917), pp. 252-254, 1917
^ Steinkeller, Piotr, "The Divine Rulers of Akkade and Ur: Toward a Definition of the Deification of Kings in Babylonia", History, Texts and Art in Early Babylonia: Three Essays, Berlin, Boston: De Gruyter, pp. 107-157, 2017
^ ^a ^b Thureau-Dangin, F., "Encore la Dynastie d'Agadé", Revue d'Assyriologie 9, pp. 81–83, 1912
^ ^a ^b [1] M. Molina, "The palace of Adab during the Sargonic period", D. Wicke (ed.), Der Palast im antiken und islamischen Orient, Colloquien der Deutschen Orient-Gesellschaft 9, Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz, pp. 151-20, 2019
^ B. Buchanan and W.W. Hallo, "Early Near Eastern Seals in the Yale Babylonian Collection", New Haven and London, 1981
^ Gibson, McGuire, "Nippur: New Perspectives", Archaeology, vol. 30, no. 1, pp. 26–37, 1977
^ Michalowski, Piotr, "Tudanapšum, Naram-Sin and Nippur", Revue d’Assyriologie et d’archéologie Orientale, vol. 75, no. 2, pp. 173–76, 1981
^ Charvát, Petr, "A Tale of Twin Cities: Archaeology and the Sumerian King List", Tradition and Innovation in the Ancient Near East: Proceedings of the 57th Rencontre Assyriologique International at Rome, 4-8 July 2011, edited by Alfonso Archi, University Park, USA: Penn State University Press, pp. 75-80, 2015
^ Westenholz, Joan, "EN-Priestess: Pawn or Power Mogul?", Organization, Representation, and Symbols of Power in the Ancient Near East: Proceedings of the 54th Rencontre Assyriologique Internationale at Würzburg 20–25 Jul, edited by Gernot Wilhelm, University Park, USA: Penn State University Press, pp. 291-312, 2012
^ ^a ^b [2]Foster, Benjamin R., "Notes on Sargonic royal progress", Journal of the Ancient Near Eastern Society 12.1, pp. 29-42, 1980
^ Kraus, N. L., "When the King Came Down to Sumer: The Royal Sojourn of Sar-Kali-Sarre and the Court of Akkad", Iraq. Journal of the British Institute for the Study of Iraq, vol. 81, pp. 207–220, 2019
^ Foster, B. R., "Management and Administration in the Sargonic Period", in: M. Liverani (ed.) Akkad, the First World Empire: Structure, Ideology, Traditions HANES 5, Padova: Sargon srl., pp. 25–39, 1993
^ Amiet, Pierre, "L’art d’Agadé au Musée du Louvre", Paris: Éditions des Musées Nationaux, 1976
^ Seal of Lugal-ushumgal at CDLI (RT 165)
^ Seal of Lugalushumgal at CDLI (RT 162)
^ Felli, Candida, "Some notes on the Akkadian glyptic from Tell Brak", Excavations at Tell Brak 2, pp. 141-150, 2001
^ [3]Frayne, Douglas R., "Lagaš", Sargonic and Gutian Periods, Toronto, Buffalo, London. University of Toronto Press Incorporated, pp. 269-273, 1993 ISBN 0-8020-0593-4
^ Volk, Konrad, "Puzur-Mama und die Reise des Königs", pp. 22-29, 1992
^ Goetze, Albrecht, "Akkad Dynasty Inscriptions from Nippur", Journal of the American Oriental Society, vol. 88, no. 1, pp. 54–59, 1968
^ [4]"Donald E. McCown and Richard C. Haines, Nippur I, Temple of Enlil, Scribal Quarter, and Soundings: Excavations of the Joint Expedition to Nippur of the University Museum of Philadelphia and the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago", Oriental Institute Publication 78, 1967
^ ^a ^b ^c [5]Douglas R. Frayne, "Akkad", The Sargonic and Gutian Periods (2334–2113), University of Toronto Press, pp. 5-218, 1993 ISBN 0-8020-0593-4
^ Gelb, I. J., and B. Kienast, "Die altakkadischen Königsinschriften des dritten Jahrtausends v. Chr", Freiburger altorientalische Studien 7, Stuttgart: Franz Steiner, 1990
^ Lambert, Wilfred G., "Babylon: Origins", Babylon: Wissenskultur in Orient und Okzident, edited by Eva Cancik-Kirschbaum, Margarete van Ess and Joachim Marzahn, Berlin, Boston: De Gruyter, pp. 71-76, 2011
^ Thureau-Dangin, "Recherches sur Torigine de Tecriture cuneiformes", Ire partie: Lesformes archaiques et leurs equivalents modernes. Paris, 1898
^ Milano, Lucio, and Aage Westenholz, "The “Šuilišu Archive” and Other Sargonic Texts in Akkadian", CUSAS27, Bethesda MD: CDL Press, 2015
^ Markina, Ekaterina, "Akkadian of the Me-ság Archive", Babel und Bibel 6, edited by Leonid E. Kogan, N. Koslova, S. Loesov and S. Tishchenko, University Park, USA: Penn State University Press, pp. 169-188, 2012
^ Foster, Benjamin R., "New Light on the ‘Mu-Iti’ Texts", Orientalia, vol. 48, no. 2, pp. 153–62, 1979
^ Kraus, Nicholas, "The Weapon of Blood: Politics and Intrigue at the Decline of Akkad", Zeitschrift für Assyriologie und vorderasiatische Archäologie, vol. 108, no. 1, pp. 1-9, 2018
^ "Year Names". cdli.ox.ac.uk.
^ George, A. R., "House Most High. The temples of ancient Mesopotamia", Winona Lake, 1993 ISBN 0-931464-80-3
^ Kupper, J.-R., "Les nomades en Misopotamie au temps des rois de Mari", Bibliotheque de la FacultC de Philosophie et Lettres de l'Universite de Liege 142. Paris: Societ d'edition "Les Belles Lettres, 1957
^ "Year Names of Sharkalisharri [CDLI Wiki]". cdli.ox.ac.uk.
^ Goetze, A., "Akkad Dynasty Inscriptions from Nippur", Journal of the American Oriental Society 88, pp. 54-59, 1969

Foster, Benjamin R., "The age of Agade: inventing empire in ancient Mesopotamia", Routledge, 2015 ISBN 978-1138909717
D. R. Frayne, "Notes on a New Inscription of Shar-kali-sharri", Ann. Rev. RIM Proj. 2, pp. 23–27, 1984
Keetman, Jan, "Bilingualismus in Sumer zum Gebrauch des Akkadischen und Sumerischen in der Verwaltungspraxis des Reiches von Akkad unter Naram-Sujen und Sar-Kali-Sarri", Revue d’assyriologie et d’archéologie orientale, vol. 108, pp. 1–14, 2014
Mieroop, Marc Van De, "Sargon of Agade and his Successors in Anatolia", Studi Micenei ed Egeo-Anatolici 42, pp. 133-59, 2000
Pomponio, F., "Quello che accade (forse) dopo la morte di Šar-kali-šarrī", Akkade is King. A collection of papers by friends and colleagues presented to Aage Westenholz on the occasion of his 70th birthday 15th of May 2009, hrsg. v. Gojko Barjamovic (Uitgaven van het Nederlands Instituut voor het Nabije Oosten te Leiden 118), pp. 227-244, 2011
Visicato, Giuseppe, "The Career of Ur-Bagara as a Chronological Indicatior of the Documents of Girsu from Šarkališarri to Gudea", Opening the Tablet Box, Near Eastern Studies in Honor of Benjamin R. Foster, hrsg. v. Sarah C. Melville, Alice L. Slotsky (Culture and History of the Ancient Near East 42), pp. 435-452, 2010
Westenholz, Aage, "Assyriologists, Ancientand Modern, on Naramsin andSharkalisharri", In Assyriologica et Semitica: Festschrift für Joachim Oelsner anläßlich seines 65. Geburtstages am 18. Februar 1997, edited by Joachim Mar-zahn and Hans Neumann, Alter Orientund Altes Testament 252. Münster: Ugarit-Verlag, pp. 545–56, 2000

Regnal titles
Preceded by Naram-sin	King of Akkad King of Kish, Uruk, Lagash, and Umma Overlord of Elam ca. 2254–2218 BC (Middle)	Succeeded by Igigi

Rulers of the Ancient Near East

Territories/ dates ^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]^[5]	Egypt		Canaan	Ebla	Mari	Kish/ Assur	Akshak/ Akkad	Uruk	Adab	Umma	Lagash	Ur	Elam
4000–3200 BCE	Naqada I Naqada II		Egypt-Mesopotamia relations	Pre-Dynastic period (4000–2900 BCE)									Susa I
4000–3200 BCE	Naqada I Naqada II			Uruk period (4000–3100 BCE) (Anu Ziggurat, 4000 BCE) (Anonymous "King-priests")									Susa II (Uruk influence or control)
3200–3100 BCE	Proto-Dynastic period (Naqada III) Early or legendary kings:
3200–3100 BCE	Upper Egypt Finger Snail Fish Pen-Abu Animal Stork Canide Bull Scorpion I Shendjw Iry-Hor Ka Scorpion II Narmer / Menes	Lower Egypt Hedju Hor Ny-Hor Hsekiu Khayu Tiu Thesh Neheb Wazner Nat-Hor Mekh Double Falcon Wash
3100–2900 BCE	Early Dynastic Period First Dynasty of Egypt Narmer Palette Narmer Menes Neithhotep^♀ (regent) Hor-Aha Djer Djet Merneith^♀ (regent) Den Anedjib Semerkhet Qa'a Sneferka Horus Bird		Canaanites	Jemdet Nasr period (3100–2900 BCE)									Proto-Elamite period (Susa III) (3100–2700 BCE)
2900 BCE	Second Dynasty of Egypt Hotepsekhemwy Nebra/Raneb Nynetjer Ba Nubnefer Horus Sa Weneg-Nebty Wadjenes Senedj Seth-Peribsen Sekhemib-Perenmaat Neferkara I Neferkasokar Hudjefa I Khasekhemwy			Early Dynastic Period I (2900–2700 BCE)
2900 BCE				First Eblaite Kingdom	First kingdom of Mari	Kish I dynasty Jushur, Kullassina-bel Nangishlishma, En-tarah-ana Babum, Puannum, Kalibum
2800 BCE						Kalumum Zuqaqip Atab Mashda Arwium Etana Balih En-me-nuna Melem-Kish Barsal-nuna		Uruk I dynasty Mesh-ki-ang-gasher
2800 BCE								Enmerkar ("conqueror of Aratta")
2700 BCE				Early Dynastic Period II (2700–2600 BCE)
						Zamug, Tizqar, Ilku Iltasadum		Lugalbanda Dumuzid, the Fisherman
						Enmebaragesi ("made the land of Elam submit")^[6]
						Aga of Kish		Gilgamesh					Old Elamite period (2700–1500 BCE) Indus-Mesopotamia relations
2600 BCE	Third Dynasty of Egypt Djoser (First Egyptian pyramids) Sekhemkhet Sanakht Nebka Khaba Qahedjet Huni			Early Dynastic Period III (2600–2340 BCE)
				Sagisu Abur-lim Agur-lim Ibbi-Damu Baba-Damu		Kish II dynasty (5 kings) Uhub Mesilim		Ur-Nungal Udulkalama Labashum			Lagash En-hegal Lugal- shaengur	Ur A-Imdugud Ur-Pabilsag Meskalamdug (Queen Puabi) Akalamdug
						Kish II dynasty (5 kings) Uhub Mesilim		Enun-dara-anna Mes-he Melamanna Lugal-kitun	Adab Nin-kisalsi Me-durba Lugal-dalu		Lagash En-hegal Lugal- shaengur
2575 BCE	Old Kingdom of Egypt Fourth Dynasty of Egypt Snefru Khufu Djedefre Khafre Bikheris Menkaure Shepseskaf Thamphthis				Ur I dynasty Mesannepada "King of Ur and Kish", victorious over Uruk
2500 BCE			Phoenicia (2500-539 BCE)		Second kingdom of Mari Ikun-Shamash Iku-Shamagan Ansud Sa'umu Ishtup-Ishar Ikun-Mari Iblul-Il Nizi	Kish III dynasty Ku-Baba^♀	Akshak dynasty Unzi Undalulu	Uruk II dynasty Ensha- kushanna	Mug-si	Umma I dynasty Pabilgagaltuku	Lagash I dynasty Ur-Nanshe Akurgal	A'annepada Meskiagnun Elulu Balulu	Awan dynasty Peli Tata Ukkutahesh Hishur
2450 BCE	Fifth Dynasty of Egypt Userkaf Sahure Neferirkare Kakai Neferefre Shepseskare Nyuserre Ini Menkauhor Kaiu Djedkare Isesi Unas			Enar-Damu Ishar-Malik						Ush Enakalle		A'annepada Meskiagnun Elulu Balulu	Awan dynasty Peli Tata Ukkutahesh Hishur
2450 BCE				Enar-Damu Ishar-Malik						Ush Enakalle		Elamite invasions (3 kings)^[6]	Shushun- tarana Napilhush
2425 BCE				Kun-Damu		Eannatum (King of Lagash, Sumer, Akkad, conqueror of Elam)
2400 BCE				Adub-Damu Igrish-Halam Irkab-Damu		Kish IV dynasty Puzur-Suen Ur-Zababa	Urur	Lugal-kinishe-dudu Lugal-kisalsi	E-iginimpa'e Meskigal	Ur-Lumma Il Gishakidu (Queen Bara-irnun)	Enannatum Entemena Enannatum II Enentarzi	Ur II dynasty Nanni Mesh-ki-ang-Nanna II	Kiku-siwe-tempti
2380 BCE	Sixth Dynasty of Egypt Teti Userkare Pepi I Merenre Nemtyemsaf I Pepi II Merenre Nemtyemsaf II Netjerkare Siptah			Adab dynasty Lugalannemundu "King of the four quarters of the world"
2370 BCE				Isar-Damu	Enna-Dagan Ikun-Ishar Ishqi-Mari	Invasion by Mari Anbu, Anba, Bazi, Zizi of Mari, Limer, Sharrum-iter^[6]				Ukush	Lugalanda Urukagina		Luh-ishan
2350 BCE				Isar-Damu	Enna-Dagan Ikun-Ishar Ishqi-Mari		Puzur-Nirah Ishu-Il Shu-Sin	Uruk III dynasty Lugalzagesi (Governor of Umma, King of all Sumer)					Luh-ishan
2340 BCE					Akkadian Period (2340–2150 BCE)
2340 BCE				Akkadian Empire Sargon of Akkad Rimush Manishtushu									Akkadian Governors: Eshpum Ilshu-rabi Epirmupi Ili-ishmani
2250 BCE				Naram-Sin							Lugal-ushumgal (vassal of the Akkadians)
2200 BCE	First Intermediate Period Seventh Dynasty of Egypt Eighth Dynasty of Egypt Menkare Neferkare II Neferkare Neby Djedkare Shemai Neferkare Khendu Merenhor Neferkamin Nikare Neferkare Tereru Neferkahor Neferkare Pepiseneb Neferkamin Anu Qakare Ibi Neferkaure Neferkauhor Neferirkare			Second Eblaite Kingdom	Third kingdom of Mari (Shakkanakku dynasty) Ididish Shu-Dagan Ishma-Dagan (Vassals of the Akkadians)	Shar-Kali-Sharri					Lugal-ushumgal (vassal of the Akkadians)
2200 BCE						Igigi, Imi, Nanum, Ilulu (3 years) Dudu Shu-turul		Uruk IV dynasty Ur-nigin Ur-gigir			Lagash II dynasty Puzer-Mama Ur-Ningirsu I Pirig-me Lu-Baba Lu-gula Ka-ku		Hishep-Ratep Helu Khita Puzur-Inshushinak
2150 BCE	Ninth Dynasty of Egypt Meryibre Khety Neferkare VII Nebkaure Khety Setut				Ur III period (2150–2000 BCE)
					Nûr-Mêr Ishtup-Ilum Ishgum-Addu Apil-kin	Gutian dynasty (21 kings) La-erabum Si'um		Kuda (Uruk) Puzur-ili Ur-Utu		Umma II dynasty Lugalannatum (vassal of the Gutians)	Ur-Baba Gudea Ur-Ningirsu Ur-gar Nam-mahani
						Tirigan					Ur-Baba Gudea Ur-Ningirsu Ur-gar Nam-mahani
2125 BCE	Tenth Dynasty of Egypt Meryhathor Neferkare VIII Wahkare Khety Merykare					Uruk V dynasty Utu-hengal
2100 BCE				(Vassals of UR III)	Iddi-ilum Ili-Ishar Tura-Dagan Puzur-Ishtar (Vassals of Ur III)^[7]	Ur III dynasty "Kings of Ur, Sumer and Akkad" Ur-Nammu Shulgi Amar-Sin Shu-Sin
2025-1763 BCE				Amorite invasions							Ibbi-Sin	Elamite invasions Kindattu (Shimashki Dynasty)
	Middle Kingdom of Egypt Eleventh Dynasty of Egypt Mentuhotep I Intef I Intef II Intef III Mentuhotep II Mentuhotep III Mentuhotep IV
				Third Eblaite Kingdom (Amorites) Ibbit-Lim Immeya Indilimma	(Amorite Shakkanakkus) Hitial-Erra Hanun-Dagan (...) Lim Dynasty of Mari (Amorites) Yaggid-Lim Yahdun-Lim Yasmah-Adad Zimri-Lim (Queen Shibtu)	Old Assyria Puzur-Ashur I Shalim-ahum Ilu-shuma Erishum I Ikunum Sargon I Puzur-Ashur II Naram-Sin Erishum II	Isin-Larsa period (Amorites) Dynasty of Isin: Ishbi-Erra Shu-Ilishu Iddin-Dagan Ishme-Dagan Lipit-Eshtar Ur-Ninurta Bur-Suen Lipit-Enlil Erra-imitti Enlil-bani Zambiya Iter-pisha Ur-du-kuga Suen-magir Damiq-ilishu Dynasty of Larsa: Naplanum Emisum Samium Zabaia Gungunum Abisare Sumuel Nur-Adad Sin-Iddinam Sin-Eribam Sin-Iqisham Silli-Adad Warad-Sin Rim-Sin I (...) Rim-Sin II Uruk VI dynasty: Alila-hadum Sumu-binasa Naram-Sin of Uruk Sîn-kāšid Sîn-iribam Sîn-gāmil Ilum-gamil Anam of Uruk Irdanene Rim-Anum Nabi-ilišu						Sukkalmah dynasty Siwe-Palar-Khuppak
	Twelfth Dynasty of Egypt Amenemhat I Senusret I Amenemhat II Senusret II Senusret III Amenemhat III Amenemhat IV Sobekneferu^♀
1800–1595 BCE	Thirteenth Dynasty of Egypt Fourteenth Dynasty of Egypt		Abraham (Biblical) Kings of Byblos Kings of Tyre Kings of Sidon	Yamhad (Yamhad dynasty) (Amorites)	Old Assyria (Shamshi-Adad dynasty 1808–1736 BCE) (Amorites) Shamshi-Adad I Ishme-Dagan I Mut-Ashkur Rimush Asinum Ashur-dugul Ashur-apla-idi Nasir-Sin Sin-namir Ipqi-Ishtar Adad-salulu Adasi (Non-dynastic usurpers 1735–1701 BCE) Puzur-Sin Ashur-dugul Ashur-apla-idi Nasir-Sin Sin-namir Ipqi-Ishtar Adad-salulu Adasi (Adaside dynasty 1700–722 BCE) Bel-bani Libaya Sharma-Adad I Iptar-Sin Bazaya Lullaya Shu-Ninua Sharma-Adad II Erishum III Shamshi-Adad II Ishme-Dagan II Shamshi-Adad III Ashur-nirari I Puzur-Ashur III Enlil-nasir I Nur-ili Ashur-shaduni Ashur-rabi I Ashur-nadin-ahhe I Enlil-Nasir II Ashur-nirari II Ashur-bel-nisheshu Ashur-rim-nisheshu Ashur-nadin-ahhe II		First Babylonian dynasty ("Old Babylonian Period") (Amorites) Sumu-abum Sumu-la-El Sin-muballit Sabium Apil-Sin Sin-muballit Hammurabi Samsu-iluna Abi-eshuh Ammi-ditana Ammi-saduqa Samsu-Ditana Early Kassite rulers				Second Babylonian dynasty ("Sealand Dynasty") Ilum-ma-ili Itti-ili-nibi Damqi-ilishu Ishkibal Shushushi Gulkishar ^mDIŠ+U-EN Peshgaldaramesh Ayadaragalama Akurduana Melamkurkurra Ea-gamil
1800–1595 BCE	Second Intermediate Period Sixteenth Dynasty Abydos Dynasty Seventeenth Dynasty	Fifteenth Dynasty of Egypt ("Hyksos") Pharaoh Ahmose I slaying a Hyksos Semqen 'Aper-'Anati Sakir-Har Khyan Apepi Khamudi		Mitanni (1600–1260 BCE) Kirta Shuttarna I Parshatatar
1531–1155 BCE	Tutankhamun New Kingdom of Egypt Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt Ahmose I Amenhotep I			Mitanni (1600–1260 BCE) Kirta Shuttarna I Parshatatar			Third Babylonian dynasty (Kassites) Agum-Kakrime Burnaburiash I Kashtiliash III Ulamburiash Agum III Karaindash Kadashman-harbe I Kurigalzu I Kadashman-Enlil I Burnaburiash II Kara-hardash Nazi-Bugash Kurigalzu II Nazi-Maruttash Kadashman-Turgu Kadashman-Enlil II Kudur-Enlil Shagarakti-Shuriash Kashtiliashu IV Enlil-nadin-shumi Kadashman-Harbe II Adad-shuma-iddina Adad-shuma-usur Meli-Shipak II Marduk-apla-iddina I Zababa-shuma-iddin Enlil-nadin-ahi						Middle Elamite period (1500–1100 BCE) Kidinuid dynasty Igehalkid dynasty Untash-Napirisha
	Thutmose I Thutmose II Hatshepsut^♀ Thutmose III
	Amenhotep II Thutmose IV Amenhotep III Akhenaten Smenkhkare Neferneferuaten^♀ Tutankhamun Ay Horemheb			Hittite Empire Ugarit
	Nineteenth Dynasty of Egypt Ramesses I Seti I Ramesses II Merneptah Amenmesses Seti II Siptah Twosret^♀			Hittite Empire Ugarit			Elamite Empire Shutrukid dynasty Shutruk-Nakhunte
1155–1025 BCE	Twentieth Dynasty of Egypt Setnakhte Ramesses III Ramesses IV Ramesses V Ramesses VI Ramesses VII Ramesses VIII Ramesses IX Ramesses X Ramesses XI Third Intermediate Period Twenty-first Dynasty of Egypt Smendes Amenemnisu Psusennes I Amenemope Osorkon the Elder Siamun Psusennes II		Phoenicia Kings of Byblos Kings of Tyre Kings of Sidon Kingdom of Israel Saul Ish-bosheth David Solomon	Syro-Hittite states	Middle Assyria Eriba-Adad I Ashur-uballit I Enlil-nirari Arik-den-ili Adad-nirari I Shalmaneser I Tukulti-Ninurta I Ashur-nadin-apli Ashur-nirari III Enlil-kudurri-usur Ninurta-apal-Ekur Ashur-dan I Ninurta-tukulti-Ashur Mutakkil-Nusku Ashur-resh-ishi I Tiglath-Pileser I Asharid-apal-Ekur Ashur-bel-kala Eriba-Adad II Shamshi-Adad IV Ashurnasirpal I Shalmaneser II Ashur-nirari IV Ashur-rabi II Ashur-resh-ishi II Tiglath-Pileser II Ashur-dan II		Fourth Babylonian dynasty ("Second Dynasty of Isin") Marduk-kabit-ahheshu Itti-Marduk-balatu Ninurta-nadin-shumi Nebuchadnezzar I Enlil-nadin-apli Marduk-nadin-ahhe Marduk-shapik-zeri Adad-apla-iddina Marduk-ahhe-eriba Marduk-zer-X Nabu-shum-libur						Neo-Elamite period (1100–540 BCE)
1025–934 BCE							Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth Babylonian dynasties ("Period of Chaos") Simbar-shipak Ea-mukin-zeri Kashshu-nadin-ahi Eulmash-shakin-shumi Ninurta-kudurri-usur I Shirikti-shuqamuna Mar-biti-apla-usur Nabû-mukin-apli						Neo-Elamite period (1100–540 BCE)
911–745 BCE	Twenty-second Dynasty of Egypt Shoshenq I Osorkon I Shoshenq II Takelot I Osorkon II Shoshenq III Shoshenq IV Pami Shoshenq V Pedubast II Osorkon IV Twenty-third Dynasty of Egypt Harsiese A Takelot II Pedubast I Shoshenq VI Osorkon III Takelot III Rudamun Menkheperre Ini Twenty-fourth Dynasty of Egypt Tefnakht Bakenranef		Kingdom of Samaria Kingdom of Judah		Neo-Assyrian Empire Adad-nirari II Tukulti-Ninurta II Ashurnasirpal II Shalmaneser III Shamshi-Adad V Shammuramat^♀ (regent) Adad-nirari III Shalmaneser IV Ashur-Dan III Ashur-nirari V		Ninth Babylonian Dynasty Ninurta-kudurri-usur II Mar-biti-ahhe-iddina Shamash-mudammiq Nabu-shuma-ukin I Nabu-apla-iddina Marduk-zakir-shumi I Marduk-balassu-iqbi Baba-aha-iddina (five kings) Ninurta-apla-X Marduk-bel-zeri Marduk-apla-usur Eriba-Marduk Nabu-shuma-ishkun Nabonassar Nabu-nadin-zeri Nabu-shuma-ukin II Nabu-mukin-zeri						Humban-Tahrid dynasty Urtak Teumman Ummanigash Tammaritu I Indabibi Humban-haltash III
745–609 BCE	Twenty-fifth Dynasty of Egypt Taharqa ("Black Pharaohs") Piye Shebitku Shabaka Taharqa Tanutamun		Neo-Assyrian Empire (Sargonid dynasty) Tiglath-Pileser^† Shalmaneser^† Marduk-apla-iddina II Sargon^† Sennacherib^† Marduk-zakir-shumi II Marduk-apla-iddina II Bel-ibni Ashur-nadin-shumi^† Nergal-ushezib Mushezib-Marduk Esarhaddon^† Ashurbanipal Ashur-etil-ilani Sinsharishkun Sin-shumu-lishir Ashur-uballit II
745–609 BCE	Assyrian conquest of Egypt												Assyrian conquest of Elam
626–539 BCE	Late Period Twenty-sixth Dynasty of Egypt Necho I Psamtik I Necho II Psamtik II Wahibre Ahmose II Psamtik III		Neo-Babylonian Empire Nabopolassar Nebuchadnezzar II Amel-Marduk Neriglissar Labashi-Marduk Nabonidus										Median Empire Deioces Phraortes Madyes Cyaxares Astyages
539–331 BCE	Twenty-seventh Dynasty of Egypt (First Achaemenid conquest of Egypt)		Kings of Byblos Kings of Tyre Kings of Sidon	Achaemenid Empire Cyrus Cambyses Darius I Xerxes Artaxerxes I Darius II Artaxerxes II Artaxerxes III Artaxerxes IV Darius III
	Twenty-eighth Dynasty of Egypt Twenty-ninth Dynasty of Egypt Thirtieth Dynasty of Egypt
	Thirty-first Dynasty of Egypt
331–141 BCE	Argead dynasty and Ptolemaic Egypt Ptolemy I Soter Ptolemy Keraunos Ptolemy II Philadelphus Arsinoe II^♀ Ptolemy III Euergetes Berenice II Euergetis^♀ Ptolemy IV Philopator Arsinoe III Philopator^♀ Ptolemy V Epiphanes Cleopatra I Syra^♀ Ptolemy VI Philometor Ptolemy VII Neos Philopator Cleopatra II Philometor Soter^♀ Ptolemy VIII Physcon Cleopatra III^♀ Ptolemy IX Lathyros Cleopatra IV^♀ Ptolemy X Alexander Berenice III^♀ Ptolemy XI Alexander Ptolemy XII Auletes Cleopatra V^♀ Cleopatra VI Tryphaena^♀ Berenice IV Epiphanea^♀ Ptolemy XIII Ptolemy XIV Cleopatra VII Philopator^♀ Ptolemy XV Caesarion Arsinoe IV^♀		Hellenistic Period Seleukos I Nikator Tetradrachm from Babylon Argead dynasty: Alexander III Philip III Alexander IV Antigonid dynasty: Antigonus I Seleucid Empire: Seleucus I Antiochus I Antiochus II Seleucus II Seleucus III Antiochus III Seleucus IV Antiochus IV Antiochus V Demetrius I Alexander III Demetrius II Antiochus VI Dionysus Diodotus Tryphon Antiochus VII Sidetes
141–30 BCE			Kingdom of Judea Simon Thassi John Hyrcanus Aristobulus I Alexander Jannaeus Salome Alexandra^♀ Hyrcanus II Aristobulus II Antigonus II Mattathias	Alexander II Zabinas Seleucus V Philometor Antiochus VIII Grypus Antiochus IX Cyzicenus Seleucus VI Epiphanes Antiochus X Eusebes Antiochus XI Epiphanes Demetrius III Eucaerus Philip I Philadelphus Antiochus XII Dionysus Antiochus XIII Asiaticus Philip II Philoromaeus	Parthian Empire Mithridates I Phraates Hyspaosines Artabanus Mithridates II Gotarzes Mithridates III Orodes I Sinatruces Phraates III Mithridates IV Orodes II Phraates IV Tiridates II Musa Phraates V Orodes III Vonones I Artabanus II Tiridates III Artabanus II Vardanes I Gotarzes II Meherdates Vonones II Vologases I Vardanes II Pacorus II Vologases II Artabanus III Osroes I
30 BCE–116 CE	Roman Empire
30 BCE–116 CE	(Roman conquest of Egypt) Province of Egypt		Judea	Syria
116–117 CE			Judea		Province of Mesopotamia under Trajan			Parthamaspates of Parthia
117–224 CE			Syria Palaestina		Province of Mesopotamia	Sinatruces II Mithridates V Vologases IV Osroes II Vologases V Vologases VI Artabanus IV
224–270 CE			Syria Palaestina		Province of Mesopotamia	Sasanian Empire Province of Asoristan Coin of Ardashir I, Hamadan mint. Ardashir I Shapur I Hormizd I Bahram I Bahram II Bahram III Narseh Hormizd II Adur Narseh Shapur II Ardashir II Shapur III Bahram IV Yazdegerd I Shapur IV Khosrow Bahram V Yazdegerd II Hormizd III Peroz I Balash Kavad I Jamasp Kavad I Khosrow I Hormizd IV Khosrow II Bahram VI Chobin Vistahm
270–273 CE	Palmyrene Empire Vaballathus Zenobia^♀ Antiochus
273–395 CE	Roman Empire
273–395 CE	Province of Egypt		Syria Palaestina	Syria	Province of Mesopotamia
395–618 CE	Byzantine Empire
395–618 CE	Byzantine Egypt		Palaestina Prima, Palaestina Secunda	Byzantine Syria	Byzantine Mesopotamia
618–628 CE	(Sasanian conquest of Egypt) Province of Egypt Shahrbaraz Sahralanyozan Shahrbaraz		Sasanian Empire Province of Asoristan Khosrow II Kavad II
628–641 CE	Byzantine Empire					Ardashir III Shahrbaraz Khosrow III Boran^♀ Shapur-i Shahrvaraz Azarmidokht^♀ Farrukh Hormizd Hormizd VI Khosrow IV Boran Yazdegerd III Peroz III Narsieh
628–641 CE	Byzantine Egypt		Palaestina Prima, Palaestina Secunda	Byzantine Syria	Byzantine Mesopotamia
639–651 CE	Muslim conquest of Egypt		Muslim conquest of the Levant		Muslim conquest of Mesopotamia and Persia
Chronology of the Neolithic period							Rulers of Ancient Central Asia
^ Rulers with names in italics are considered fictional. ^ Hallo, W.; Simpson, W. (1971). The Ancient Near East. New York: Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich. pp. 48–49. ^ "Rulers of Mesopotamia". cdli.ox.ac.uk. University of Oxford, CNRS. ^ Thomas, Ariane; Potts, Timothy (2020). Mesopotamia: Civilization Begins. Getty Publications. p. 14. ISBN 978-1-60606-649-2. ^ Roux, Georges (1992). Ancient Iraq. Penguin Books Limited. pp. 532–534 (Chronological Tables). ISBN 978-0-14-193825-7. ^ ^a ^b ^c Per Sumerian King List ^ Unger, Merrill F. (2014). Israel and the Aramaeans of Damascus: A Study in Archaeological Illumination of Bible History. Wipf and Stock Publishers. p. 5. ISBN 978-1-62564-606-4.