Ishme-Dagan

Ishme-Dagan (Akkadian: Išme-Dagān; fl. c. 1889 BC — c. 1871 BC by the short chronology of the ancient near east) was the 4th king of the First Dynasty of Isin, according to the "Sumerian King List" (SKL). Also according to the SKL: he was both the son and successor of Iddin-Dagān. Lipit-Ištar then succeeded Išme-Dagān. Išme-Dagān was one of the kings to restore the Ekur.

Stamped brick with the name of Ishme-Dagan, king of Isin, Isin-Larsa Period, from Ur, currently housed in the British Museum

Quotes

• [The] foremost of the gods, omniscient [...] Enki, counsellor of holy An. [...] Adviser, whose statements cannot be countermanded. [...] Patient-hearted, who rides upon all the divine powers. [...] Lord imbued with fearsomeness, borne by An and Urac.
  • A subscript (balbale) to Enki for Ishme-Dagan (Ishme-Dagan E), at The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature

• Enlil, [...] first-born child of holy An, whose divine powers are untouchable
  • A subscript (balbale) to Enki for Ishme-Dagan (Ishme-Dagan E), at The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature

• Nudimmud, lord who determines the fates, who strengthens the Land.
  • A subscript (balbale) to Enki for Ishme-Dagan (Ishme-Dagan E), at The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature

• Enki, great bull of Eridug, [...] greatly exalted among the Anuna.
  • A subscript (balbale) to Enki for Ishme-Dagan (Ishme-Dagan E), at The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature

• May he bestow a long life with vigorous days on Icme-Dagan, the son of Enlil! May father Enki bestow a long life with vigorous days on Icme-Dagan, the son of Enlil!
  • A subscript (balbale) to Enki for Ishme-Dagan (Ishme-Dagan E), at The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature

• What he orders is faithfully executed. [...] Endowed with beauty in the E-kur, [...] among the great gods, the great and august lord.
  • In a tablet (𒁾) to Nanna, Text online at The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature, early 2nd millennium BC.

• Lord whose abode is the mountains, father Nanna, [...] fixes the months and the new moon according to a cord, establishes the year. [...] Who puts all the lands in order, [...] who makes the Tigris and the Euphrates bring flowing water.
  • In a tablet (𒁾) to Nanna, Text online at The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature, early 2nd millennium BC.

• Life for the multitude.
  • In a tablet (𒁾) to Nanna, Text online at The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature, early 2nd millennium BC.

• [O]n earth, on the day of the disappearance of the moon, as you have completed the month, you summon the people, lord; and then in the netherworld you decree great judgments, you decide sublime verdicts. Enki and Ninki, the great lords, the great princes, the lords who determine fates, await your utterances, father.
  • In a tablet (𒁾) to Nanna, Text online at The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature, early 2nd millennium BC.

• Prince, you place justice in every mouth, and make propriety resplendent. Daily you make hearts content, daily you determine fates appropriately. [...] You brighten the night sky in the broad firmament, and illuminate the darkness. The Anuna gods stand by with prayers and supplications at your rising. The sweet sight of your resplendent crescent, full of loveliness, brings joy to the great lady of the Ki-ur, mother Ninli.
  • In a tablet (𒁾) to Nanna, Text online at The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature, early 2nd millennium BC.

• Great hero, strongest in heaven and earth! Ninurta, who controls perfectly the fifty divine powers in the E-kur! Governor for his father, rising raging storm, who extends terror [...] towards the foreign countries. [...] Who casts fear upon the people, who has no rival! Ninurta, surpassing in vigour! [...] Great and majestic strength, [...] ornament of the august shrine!
  • In a tablet (𒁾) to Ninurta (Ishme-Dagan O), Text online at The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature

• Lord, the son of Enlil, who has come forth from the hills, and rides upon the numerous divine powers. [...] Great hero, surpassing dragon, perfect lord, [...] without rival! Great hero confident in his strength!
  • In a tablet (𒁾) to Ninurta (Ishme-Dagan O), Text online at The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature

• His words are precious, and what he says is true. Ninurta, lion raging against the disobedient! Authoritative one, who makes the foreign countries submit.
  • In a tablet (𒁾) to Ninurta (Ishme-Dagan O), Text online at The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature

• May Ninurta look upon Icme-Dagan [...] with a life-giving gaze!
  • In a tablet (𒁾) to Ninurta (Ishme-Dagan O), Text online at The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature

• Uta-ulu, riding on fearsome radiance, [...] greatest amongt the great lords! [...] Ninurta, perfect in authority, caretaker of heaven and earth, [...] Lord who was given great strength by Nunamnir, confident in his strength, striding into battle!
  • In a tablet (𒁾) to Ninurta (Ishme-Dagan O), Text online at The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature

• Adviser, whose decisions cannot be countermanded! Ninurta, whose utterances are firm! Hero, lord, august son of Enlil! [...] Ninurta, prominent in the E-kur.
  • In a tablet (𒁾) to Ninurta (Ishme-Dagan O), Text online at The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature

• August Nibru! No deity excels like your lord and lady!
  They are powerful princes; they are brilliantly revealed deities.
  No deity excels like Enlil or Ninlil!
  They are powerful princes; they are lords who can decide destinies.
  In your midst they have given divine powers to king Enki.
  Nibru, your holy songs are exceptionally precious, surpassing all praise!
  I, Icme-Dagan, have placed them in everyone's mouths for all time.
  • A hymn to Enki for Ishme-Dagan, at The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature

Quotes about Ishme-Dagan

• He made the people follow the proper path, and ousted the enemy from Sumer. He removed the wicked tongues, and made justice shine forth like copper. That fathers should be feared and mothers respected, that sons should pay heed to the words of their fathers, and that mercy, compassion and pity should be shown, that one should provide even one's paternal grandparents with food and drink -- all this he established in Sumer and Akkad. Then she made Icme-Dagan, the son of Enlil, the en priest of Unug, into their guardian -- this is what Inana, the lady of heaven and earth, did; and the great An declared his consent.
  • Anonymous, A praise poem of Ishme-Dagan, at The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature.

• In Isin, the royal city, Icme-Dagan, [...] for you in masterly fashion a fifty-headed battle-mace to destroy the rebel lands, chosen for your great power. For you he gave it fifty names.
  • Anonymous, A praise poem of Ishme-Dagan (Ishme-Dagan AA), at The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature.

• Icme-Dagan, provider of Nibru, constant attendant of Urim, he who is daily in the service of Eridug; en priest of Unug, king of Isin.
  • Anonymous, A praise poem of Ishme-Dagan (Ishme-Dagan AA), at The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature.