Umma Explained

Umma
Map Type:Iraq
Map Dot Label:Umma
Relief:yes
Coordinates:31.6672°N 45.8875°W
Type:Settlement
Excavations:1854, 1885, 1999-2002, 2017-2019
Archaeologists:William Loftus, John Punnett Peters, Nawala Ahmed Al-Mutawalli, Drahoslav Hulínek

Umma (Sumerian: {{cuneiform| ;[1] in modern Dhi Qar Province in Iraq, was an ancient city in Sumer. There is some scholarly debate about the Sumerian and Akkadian names for this site.[2] Traditionally, Umma was identified with Tell Jokha. More recently it has been suggested that it was located at Umm al-Aqarib, less than 7km (04miles) to its northwest or was even the name of both cities.[3] One or both were the leading city of the Early Dynastic kingdom of Gišša, with the most recent excavators putting forth that Umm al-Aqarib was prominent in EDIII but Jokha rose to preeminence later. The town of KI.AN was also nearby.[4] KI.AN, which was destroyed by Rimush, a ruler of the Akkadian Empire. There are known to have been six gods of KI.AN including Gula KI.AN and Sara KI.AN.[5]

The tutelary gods of Umma were Sara and Ninura. It is known that the ED ruler Ur-Lumma built a temple to the god Enki-gal and one to the god Nagar-pa'e at Umma.

In the early Sumerian literary composition Inanna's descent to the netherworld, Inanna dissuades demons from the netherworld from taking Shara, patron of Umma, who was living in squalor.[6]

History

The site was occupied at least as far back as the Uruk period. A number of proto-cuneiform came from there. While most early textual sources are from Early Dynastic III, a few tablets and a plaque from ED I/II came from there.[7]

Early Dynastic period

Because the two sites were not excavated until modern times, based on the many looted texts available to them, earlier archaeologists grouped together the ancient cities during the Early Dynastic period of Gišša and Umma into the single geographic name of Umma. Modern excavation at these sites has clarified that.[2] Gišša ceased occupation after the ED and only one ruler is known, based on a lapis lazuli bead reading "To the goddess Inanna, Aka, king of Gišša (dedicated this bead)".[8]

Best known for its long frontier conflict with Lagash, as reported by Entemena,[9] [10] the city reached its zenith, under the rule of Lugal-Zage-Si who also controlled Ur and Uruk.

Sargonic period

Under the Akkadian Empire Umma was a major power and economic center rivaled only by Adab and Uruk. Eleven governors under Akkad are known as well as two who may have been under Gutium. One, Lu-Utu, reports building a temple for Ninhursag and another for Ereshkigal. Namahni, a governor from the time of Iarlagan of Gutium, records building the E-ula temple of Ninura.[11] The Sargonic period ruler of Umma Lugalanatum built the temple E-gidru there.

Ur III period

Under the Ur III dynasty, Umma became an important provincial center. Several governors of Umma under Ur are known, Aa-kala, Dadaga, and Ur-Lisi, all sons of one Ur-Nigar, and Ninbilia, wife of Aa-kala.[12] [13] [14] Most of the over 30,000 tablets recovered from the site are administrative and economic texts from that time.[15] They permit an excellent insight into affairs in Umma.[16] A year name of Ur III ruler Shu-Sin was "Year Shu-Sin the king of Ur built the temple of Shara in Umma". The next ruler Ibbi-Sin also had a year name of "Year Ibbi-Sin the king of Ur built the temple of Shara in Umma". The Umma calendar of Shulgi is the immediate predecessor of the later Babylonian calendar, and indirectly of the post-exilic Hebrew calendar.

In the following Isin-Larsa period, a ruler of Larsa, Sumuel (c. 1894-1866 BC), lists as one of his later year names "Year Umma was destroyed".

Archaeology

Tell Jokha

The site of Tell Jokha was visited by William Loftus in 1854 and John Punnett Peters of the University of Pennsylvania in 1885. Peters found it to be half covered with sand dunes and found fragments of worked stone and copper fragments.[17] [18] In the early 1900s, many illegally excavated Umma tablets from the Third Dynasty of Ur began to appear on the antiquities market.[19] From 1999 to 2002 Jokha was worked by an Iraqi team led by Nawala Ahmed Al-Mutawalli, recovering a number of tablets and bullae from the Early Dynastic, Sargonic, Ur III, and Old Babylonian periods as well as an Ur III period temple and Old Babylonian residences. The cuneiform tablets are in the process of being published.[20] [21] [22] [23] [24] In 2016, a team from the Slovak Archaeological and Historical Institute led by Drahoslav Hulínek began excavations at Tell Jokha focusing on the Temple of Shara. A trench (Trench 1) excavated in 2016 showed the temple had two construction phases (Level 3 and 4). Level 4 is thought to date from the Old Akkadian period. In 2017 a square at the top (Trench 2) of the tell was opened, amidst numerous looter holes, and at Level 5 found Early Dynastic construction. In 2019 and 2020 eighteen cuneiform tablets from the Old Babylonian, Ur III, Old Akkadian and Early Dynastic periods were found in Trench 2, three in situ. A topographic survey showed that in the Early Dynastic period Umma reached an area of 400 hectares, with a 40 hectare city center.[25] [26]

Umm al-Aqarib (Gišša)

The site of Umm al-Aqarib (located at 45.80°E longitude and 31.60°N latitude) lies about 6 kilometers southeast of Tell Jokha, covers about 5 square kilometers and is made up of 21 mounds the largest of which is 20 meters above the level of the plain. It is thought to be the ancient city of Gišša and was abandoned after the Early Dynastic period. The location was first visited by John Punnett Peters in the late 1800s, finding it relatively free from sand and featuring two prominent elevations of baked bricks set with bitumen.[18] It was excavated for a total of 7 seasons in 1999–2002 (led by Donny George Youkhanna and Haider A. Urebi) and 2008–2010 (led by Taha Kerim Abod) under difficult conditions.[27] [28] At Umm al-Aqarib, archaeologists uncovered levels from the Early Dynastic Period (c. 2900–2300 BC), including residences, palaces, and several monumental buildings, including two Early Dynastic temples (the White Temple and Temple H). About 70 "cuneiform sources" were also excavated.[29] [30] [31] [32] The tutelary god is thought to be Ama-usum-ga/Usumgal-ana.[33]

Tell Shmet

The site of Tell Shmet (also Tell Schmidt and Tell Shmid) also lies nearby, around 10 kilometers to the northwest of Umma and within visual distance of Zabala. It is on the banks of the eastern branch of the Euphrates river just above the canal leading to Zabala. It was part of the Umma province in the Ur III period. The site measures 990 by 720 meters (712,800 square meters). The main Sargonic and Ur III remains of the site were destroyed by a Ministry of Agriculture program to plant trees so as to prevent sand dunes. In response to looting which began in 1994 the Iraqi State Board of Antiquities and Heritage conducted salvage excavations in 2001 and 2002 under Mohammad Sabri Abdulraheem.[34] [35] [36] [37] All of the paper records of the excavation were lost in looting of residential areas after the 2003 war. Plano-convex bricks and a residential area of the Early Dynastic III and Akkadian periods were uncovered. Finds included 67 clay cuneiform tablets, dozens of cylinder seals, and a number of stone and metal objects. The tablets mostly date ED III with the latest being Ur III. The tablets support the proposal that the ancient name of the site was Ki.anki. They mention the names of the gods Ninazu and Dumuzi-Maru. Only some of the tablets have been published.[38]

Previous textual analysis had indicated that KI.AN was very near to Zabala. During the reign of Rimush, second ruler of the Akkadian Empire, KI.AN, under its governor Lugal-KA, joined a regional revolt and was defeated.[39] In the Ur III period KI.AN had an ensi (governor). In that period it is known to have had a temple to the deified ruler Shulgi (called "e-dSulgi-ra") as well as temples to the gods Šara, Ninurra, Amarsuena, Geštinanna, Dumuzi, Gula, Ninlagaša, and Nine'e.[40] [41] [42]

Looting

During the 2003 invasion of Iraq, after Coalition bombing began, looters descended upon the site which is now pockmarked with hundreds of ditches and pits. The prospects for future official excavation and research were seriously compromised in the process.[43] In 2011, Global Heritage Network, which monitors threats to cultural heritage sites in developing nations, released aerial images comparing Umma in 2003 and 2010, showing a landscape devastated by looters' trenches during that time—approximately 1.12 square km in total.[44] Confiscated Umma area cuneiform tablets continue to make their way to the Museum of Iraq, including a group of 1500 in 2009.[45]

Rulers of Umma

First Dynasty of Umma

Ruler Proposed reign Notes
PabilgagaltukuA governor of Umma, he was captured by Ur-Nanshe of Lagash.[46]
Ush
("Ninta") 		Attacked Lagash and removed the boundary stone set up by Mesilim, and was defeated by Eannatum.
Made a boundary treaty with Eannatum.[47]
Son of Enakalle. Challenged Enannatum I, but was defeated by his successor Enmetena.
Successor to Ur-Lumna. He rebelled against Enannatum II, and destroyed the dynasty of Ur-Nanshe.
Son of Il
Edin Ruler of Umma
Me'annedu Ruler of Umma, reigned at least 29 years[48]
Ushurdu? Ruler of Umma
Father of Lugal-Zage-Si.
Conqueror of all Sumer, founder of the third dynasty of Uruk, vanquished by Sargon of Akkad.

Second Dynasty of Umma

Gallery

See also

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ORACC – Umma.
  2. Lambert. W. G.. 1990. The Names of Umma. Journal of Near Eastern Studies. 49. 1. 75–80. 10.1086/373421. 544410. 162374749. 0022-2968.
  3. Bartasch. Vitali. 2015. On the Sumerian City UB-meki, the Alleged "Umma". Cuneiform Digital Library Bulletin. 2. 1540-8760.
  4. Marek Stępień, "The Economic Status of Governors in Ur III Times: An Example of the Governor of Umma", Journal of Cuneiform Studies, vol. 64, pp. 17–30, 2012
  5. Peat, J. A., "An Offering - List from the Third Dynasty of Ur", Revue d’Assyriologie et d’archéologie Orientale, vol. 69, no. 1, pp. 19–22, 1975
  6. Web site: Inana's descent to the nether world. 2021-07-22. Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature.
  7. https://cdli.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/search?provenience=jokha&limit=1000&f%5Bperiod%5D%5B%5D=Uruk+III+%28ca.+3200-3000+BC%29 Uruk period proto-cuneiform tablets from Umma
  8. Frayne, Douglas, "G͂iša and Umma", Pre-Sargonic Period: Early Periods Volume 1 (2700-2350 BC), University of Toronto Press, pp. 357-368, 2008
  9. https://isac.uchicago.edu/sites/default/files/uploads/shared/docs/Publications/SAOC/saoc71.pdf
  10. Book: Cooper, Jerrold S.. Reconstructing history from ancient inscriptions : the Lagash-Umma border conflict. 1983. Undena Publications. 0-89003-059-6. Malibu. 10304478.
  11. Foster., Benjamin R., "Archives and Record-keeping in Sargonic Mesopotamia", Zeitschrift für Assyriologie und Vorderasiatische Archäologie, vol. 72, no. 1, pp. 1-27, 1982
  12. Frayne, Douglas, "Table III: List of Ur III Period Governors", Ur III Period (2112-2004 BC), Toronto: University of Toronto Press, pp. xli-xliv, 1997
  13. T. Maeda, "Father of Akala and Dadaga, governors of Umma", ASJ 12, pp. 71 - 78, 1990
  14. P. A. Parr, "Ninhilia: Wife of Ayakala, Governor of Umma", JCS 26, pp. 90 – 111, 1974
  15. https://isac.uchicago.edu/sites/default/files/uploads/shared/docs/mad4.pdf
  16. Parr. P. A.. 1972-06-01. A Letter of Ur-Lisi, Governor of Umma. Journal of Cuneiform Studies. 24. 4. 135–136. 10.2307/1359635. 1359635. 163250537. 0022-0256.
  17. Book: Loftus, William K. . Travels and Researches in Chaldaea and Susiana, Travels and Researches in Chaldaea and Susiana: With an Account of Excavations at Warka, the "Erech" of Nimrod, and Shush, "Shushan the Palace" of Esther, in 1849–52 . Robert Carter & Brothers . 1857 .
  18. Book: Peters, John P. . Nippur; Or, Explorations and Adventures on the Euphrates: The Narrative of the University of Pennsylvania Expedition to Babylonia in the Years 1888–1890 . University of Pennsylvania Babylonian Expedition . Putnam . 1897 .
  19. Georges Contenau, Contribution a l'Histoire Economique d'Umma, Librairie Champion, 1915
  20. Al-Mutawalli, N., "Excavation of Umma (modern Jokha), seasons 1 & 2.", Sumer 54, pp. 53-82, 2009
  21. Al-Harbi, H. Sh, N. A. Al-Mutawali, and K. M. Khaleel, "Jokha (Umma): The Excavation Results of the Third and Fourth Seasons (2001–2002)", Sumer 56, pp. 49-92, 2011
  22. Almamori, H. O., "Gišša (Umm Al-Aqarib), Umma (Jokha), and Lagaš in the Early Dynastic III Period", Al-Rafidan 35, pp. 1–37, 2014
  23. Al-Mutawalli, N.. "Administrative Cuneiform Texts from Umma in the Iraq Museum Excavation of Shara Temple (1999–2000)", Sumer 55, pp. 45–86, 2010
  24. Book: Mutawalli. Nawala Ahmed al-. Bullae from the Shara Temple = Wuṣūlāt at-tasallum (bulla) min maʻbad aš-Šārā. Ismaʻel. Khalid Salim. Sallaberger. Walther. Harbi. Hamza Shahad al-. Otto. Adelheid. 2019. Harrassowitz Verlag . 978-3-447-11159-1. 1101969238.
  25. Drahoslav Hulínek and Tibor Lieskovský, "Report Archaeological project SAHI - Tell Jokha, 2016", Slovak Archaeological and Historical Institute, 2016
  26. Hulínek, Drahoslav, et al., eds., "Preliminary Report Archaeological Project SAHI-Tell Jokha, 2019: Season 3", Slovak Archaeological and Historical Institute-SAHI, 2020
  27. Almamori, H. A., "The Excavation Results of the Third and Fourth Seasons at Umm al-Aqarib (2001–2002)", Sumer 52, pp. 242–93, 2003-2004 (Arabic)
  28. Ławecka, Dorota, "Bent or Straight Axis? Temple Plans in Early Dynastic Southern Babylonia", Zeitschrift für Assyriologie und vorderasiatische Archäologie, vol. 104, no. 2, pp. 206-228, 2014
  29. Almamori. Haider Oraibi. The Early Dynastic Monumental Buildings at Umm Al-Aqarib. 2014. Iraq. 76. 149–187. 10.1017/irq.2014.10. 43307193. 232251022 . 0021-0889.
  30. Abid, Ameer Najim, "The architecture of white temples in the cities of ancient central and southern Mesopotamia (Uruk-Umm Al-Aqarib-Tal Al-Uqair) A comparative study", ISIN Journal 5, pp. 53-79, 2023
  31. Youkhanna, Donny George, H. O. Al-Mamori, and L. Werr, "Temple ‘H’ at Umm al Aqarib", Of Pots and Plans: Papers on the Archaeology and History of Mesopotamia and Syria presented to David Oates in Honour of his 75th Birthday. London: Nabu, pp. 379-385, 2002
  32. Oraibi, Almamori Haider Abdollwahed, "Umm al-Aqarib: an architectural and textual study of a Sumerian City", Dissertation, 2013
  33. Frayne, Douglas R., "The Struggle for Hegemony in ‘Early Dynastic II’Sumer", The Canadian Society for Mesopotamian Studies Journal 4, pp. 37-75, 2009
  34. Abdulraheem, M. S., "The final report of the excavations in Shmet – 1st season 2001", SBAH, Ministry of Culture, Rep. of Iraq (in Arabic), 2001
  35. Abdulraheem, M. S., "Prospecting at the site of Shmeet 2001–2002", Sumer 52, pp. 201–241 (in Arabic) 2003
  36. Abdulraheem, M. S., "The site of Shmet in the light of archaeological excavations", Unpublished Ph. D. thesis submitted to the Dept. of Archhaeology, College of Arts, University of Baghdad (in Arabic), 2014
  37. Abdulraheem, M. S. and B. K. Abboodi, "The final report of the excavations in Shmet – 2nd season 2002", SBAH, Ministry of Culture, Rep. of Iraq (in Arabic), 2002
  38. Salman Fahad, Sa’ad and Abdul-Qadir Abbas, Raghad., "Cuneiform Tablets from Shmet from the Excavation Season of 2001", Zeitschrift für Assyriologie und vorderasiatische Archäologie, vol. 110, no. 1, pp. 1-13, 2020
  39. https://archive.org/details/sargonic-and-gutian-periods-2334-2113-bc
  40. https://isac.uchicago.edu/sites/default/files/uploads/shared/docs/uruk_countryside.pdf
  41. Steinkeller, Piotr, "Babylonian priesthood during the third millennium BCE: between sacred and profane",Journal of ancient near eastern religions 19.1-2, pp. 112-151, 2019
  42. https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/orient/40/0/40_3/_pdf
  43. Web site: 2007-06-07. Simon Jenkins: In Iraq's four-year looting frenzy, allies the vandals. 2021-07-23. the Guardian. en.
  44. Web site: Satellite Imagery Briefing: Monitoring Endangered Cultural Heritage Sites. 2021-07-23. Global Heritage Fund.
  45. Saadoon, Abather Rahi, "Sumerian Texts from the Archive of the Princess Šāt-Eštar in the Collections of the Iraq Museum", Iraq 80, pp. 213-231, 2018
  46. Book: Sallaberger . Walther . Schrakamp . Ingo . History & Philology . 2015 . Walther Sallaberger & Ingo Schrakamp (eds), Brepols . 978-2-503-53494-7 . 74–80 .
  47. Book: Van De Mieroop . Marc . A History of the Ancient Near East: Ca. 3000-323 BC . 2004 . Wiley . 9780631225522 . 50–51 .
  48. Armando Bramanti, "Three Administrative Texts from the Time of Me’annedu", Journal of Cuneiform Studies, vol. 69, pp. 33–47, 2017

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