Lugal
Lugal or Lu.Gal is the Sumerian name of the king and means great man / great man.
The Lugal originally held the second highest Sumerian office and was subordinate to the En . He carried out the “divine instructions” of the En and directed the region or the respective country. He also headed the Ensi , who was responsible for the city's government.
The title is first recorded in Kiš and Ur in connection with Etana . The difference in rank between the offices of En and Lugal is illustrated by a quote from Lugal Lugal-kiniše-dudu at the beginning of the 24th century BC. Chr. Clearly:
"I exercise the Entum over Uruk and the Nam Lugal (kingship) in Ur"
The Lugal took an observing position at cultic events, which were led by the ensi of the respective city. During rituals to be performed , the Lugal was released from its passive role by the Ensi and actively involved in the action. Such a scene is clearly visible on the relief plate of Lugal Ur-Nanše from Lagaš , on which he symbolically transports the carrying basket on his head to the sanctuary.
The title Lugal corresponded to the title Sarrum in the Akkadian language .
literature
- Dietz-Otto Edzard : The early dynastic time . In: Elena Cassin , Jean Bottéro , Jean Vercoutter (eds.): The ancient oriental empires I. From the Paleolithic to the middle of the 2nd millennium (= Fischer Weltgeschichte . Volume 2). Fischer Taschenbuch, Frankfurt am Main 1965, pp. 57–90, here pp. 73–77.
