Guti (Mesopotamia)
Encyclopedia
The Gutian dynasty came to power in Mesopotamia
around 2150 BC (short chronology), by destabilising Akkad
, according to the Sumerian kinglist at the end of the reign of king Ur-Utu (or Lugal-melem) of Uruk
. They reigned for perhaps around one century (copies of the kinglist vary between 25 and 124 years; 91 years is often quoted as probable). The dynasty was succeeded by the 3rd dynasty of Ur. The Gutian people (Guti) were native to Gutium, presumably in the central Zagros Mountains
; almost nothing is known about their origins.
. Travel became unsafe, as did work in the fields, resulting in famine.
The Sumerian king list
indicates that king Ur-Utu of Uruk
was defeated by the barbarian Guti, perhaps around 2150 BC.
The Guti swept down, defeated the demoralized Akkadian army, took Akkad
, and destroyed it around 2115 BC. However, they did not supplant all of Akkad, as several independent city states remained alongside them, including Lagash
, where a local dynasty still thrived and left numerous textual and archaeological remains.
Ultimately Akkad was so thoroughly destroyed that its site is still not known. The Guti proved to be poor rulers. Under their crude rule, prosperity declined. They were too unaccustomed to the complexities of civilization to organize matters properly, particularly in connection with the canal network. This was allowed to sink into disrepair, with famine and death resulting. Thus, a short "dark age" swept over Mesopotamia.
Akkad bore the brunt of this as the center of the Empire, so that it was in Akkad that the Guti established their own center in place of the destroyed Akkad. Some of the Sumerian cities in the south took advantage of the distance and purchased a certain amount of self-government by paying tribute to the new rulers.
Uruk was thus able to develop a 5th dynasty. Even in the city of Akkad itself, a local dynasty was said to have ruled. The best known Sumerian ruler of the Gutian period was the ensi
of Lagash
, Gudea
. Under him, ca. 2075 BC (short), Lagash had a golden age.
After a few kings, the Gutian rulers became more cultured. Guti rule lasted only about a century - around 2050 BC, they were expelled from Mesopotamia by the rulers of Uruk and Ur, when Utu-hengal
of Uruk defeated Gutian king Tirigan. Utu-hengal's victory revived the political and economic life of southern Sumer.
(ABC 19) accounts for the Gutian period as follows:
Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia is a toponym for the area of the Tigris–Euphrates river system, largely corresponding to modern-day Iraq, northeastern Syria, southeastern Turkey and southwestern Iran.Widely considered to be the cradle of civilization, Bronze Age Mesopotamia included Sumer and the...
around 2150 BC (short chronology), by destabilising Akkad
Akkad
The Akkadian Empire was an empire centered in the city of Akkad and its surrounding region in Mesopotamia....
, according to the Sumerian kinglist at the end of the reign of king Ur-Utu (or Lugal-melem) of Uruk
Uruk
Uruk was an ancient city of Sumer and later Babylonia, situated east of the present bed of the Euphrates river, on the ancient dry former channel of the Euphrates River, some 30 km east of modern As-Samawah, Al-Muthannā, Iraq.Uruk gave its name to the Uruk...
. They reigned for perhaps around one century (copies of the kinglist vary between 25 and 124 years; 91 years is often quoted as probable). The dynasty was succeeded by the 3rd dynasty of Ur. The Gutian people (Guti) were native to Gutium, presumably in the central Zagros Mountains
Zagros Mountains
The Zagros Mountains are the largest mountain range in Iran and Iraq. With a total length of 1,500 km , from northwestern Iran, and roughly correlating with Iran's western border, the Zagros range spans the whole length of the western and southwestern Iranian plateau and ends at the Strait of...
; almost nothing is known about their origins.
History
The Gutians practiced hit-and-run tactics, and would be long gone by the time regular troops could arrive to deal with the situation. Their raids crippled the economy of SumerSumer
Sumer was a civilization and historical region in southern Mesopotamia, modern Iraq during the Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age....
. Travel became unsafe, as did work in the fields, resulting in famine.
The Sumerian king list
Sumerian king list
The Sumerian King List is an ancient manuscript originally recorded in the Sumerian language, listing kings of Sumer from Sumerian and neighboring dynasties, their supposed reign lengths, and the locations of "official" kingship...
indicates that king Ur-Utu of Uruk
Uruk
Uruk was an ancient city of Sumer and later Babylonia, situated east of the present bed of the Euphrates river, on the ancient dry former channel of the Euphrates River, some 30 km east of modern As-Samawah, Al-Muthannā, Iraq.Uruk gave its name to the Uruk...
was defeated by the barbarian Guti, perhaps around 2150 BC.
The Guti swept down, defeated the demoralized Akkadian army, took Akkad
Akkad
The Akkadian Empire was an empire centered in the city of Akkad and its surrounding region in Mesopotamia....
, and destroyed it around 2115 BC. However, they did not supplant all of Akkad, as several independent city states remained alongside them, including Lagash
Lagash
Lagash is located northwest of the junction of the Euphrates and Tigris rivers and east of Uruk, about east of the modern town of Ash Shatrah. Lagash was one of the oldest cities of the Ancient Near East...
, where a local dynasty still thrived and left numerous textual and archaeological remains.
Ultimately Akkad was so thoroughly destroyed that its site is still not known. The Guti proved to be poor rulers. Under their crude rule, prosperity declined. They were too unaccustomed to the complexities of civilization to organize matters properly, particularly in connection with the canal network. This was allowed to sink into disrepair, with famine and death resulting. Thus, a short "dark age" swept over Mesopotamia.
Akkad bore the brunt of this as the center of the Empire, so that it was in Akkad that the Guti established their own center in place of the destroyed Akkad. Some of the Sumerian cities in the south took advantage of the distance and purchased a certain amount of self-government by paying tribute to the new rulers.
Uruk was thus able to develop a 5th dynasty. Even in the city of Akkad itself, a local dynasty was said to have ruled. The best known Sumerian ruler of the Gutian period was the ensi
ENSI
ENSI is a Sumerian title designating the ruler or prince of a city state...
of Lagash
Lagash
Lagash is located northwest of the junction of the Euphrates and Tigris rivers and east of Uruk, about east of the modern town of Ash Shatrah. Lagash was one of the oldest cities of the Ancient Near East...
, Gudea
Gudea
Gudea was a ruler of the state of Lagash in Southern Mesopotamia who ruled ca. 2144 - 2124 BC. He probably did not come from the city, but had married Ninalla, daughter of the ruler Urbaba of Lagash, thus gaining entrance to the royal house of Lagash...
. Under him, ca. 2075 BC (short), Lagash had a golden age.
After a few kings, the Gutian rulers became more cultured. Guti rule lasted only about a century - around 2050 BC, they were expelled from Mesopotamia by the rulers of Uruk and Ur, when Utu-hengal
Utu-hengal
Utu-hengal was one of the first native kings of Sumer after centuries of Akkadian and Gutian rule....
of Uruk defeated Gutian king Tirigan. Utu-hengal's victory revived the political and economic life of southern Sumer.
Weidner Chronicle
1500 years later, the Weidner ChronicleBabylonian Chronicles
The Babylonian Chronicles are many series of tablets recording major events in Babylonian history. They are thus one of the first steps in the development of ancient historiography...
(ABC 19) accounts for the Gutian period as follows:
- "Naram-SinNaram-SinNaram-Sin , reigned ca. 2254–2218 BCE, short chronology, was the third successor and grandson of King Sargon of Akkad. Under Naram-Sin the Akkadian Empire reached its zenith...
destroyed the people of BabylonBabylonBabylon was an Akkadian city-state of ancient Mesopotamia, the remains of which are found in present-day Al Hillah, Babil Province, Iraq, about 85 kilometers south of Baghdad...
, so twice MardukMardukMarduk was the Babylonian name of a late-generation god from ancient Mesopotamia and patron deity of the city of Babylon, who, when Babylon became the political center of the Euphrates valley in the time of Hammurabi , started to...
summoned the forces of Gutium against him. Marduk gave his kingship to the Gutian force. The Gutians were unhappy people unaware how to revere the gods, ignorant of the right cultic practices. - Utu-hengalUtu-hengalUtu-hengal was one of the first native kings of Sumer after centuries of Akkadian and Gutian rule....
, the fisherman, caught a fish at the edge of the sea for an offering. That fish should not be offered to another god until it had been offered to Marduk, but the Gutians took the boiled fish from his hand before it was offered, so by his august command, Marduk removed the Gutian force from the rule of his land and gave it to Utu-hengal."
List of the Gutian kings
According to the Sumerian kings list, "In the army of Gutium, at first no king was famous; they were their own kings and ruled thus for 3 years." The listed reign durations through much of the Gutian period are comparatively short and uniform (6,6,6,6,5,6,3,3,3,1,3,2,2,1,2,7,7, and 7 years, from Inkishush to Si-um).| Ruler | Proposed reign (short chronology) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Erridupizir Erridupizir Erridupizir was a Gutian ruler in Sumer from ca. 2141 BC to 2138 BC . His reign is attested by a royal inscription at Nippur where he calls himself "King of Guti, King of the Four Quarters."-See also:*Chronology of the ancient Near East... |
ca. 2141–2138 BC | Royal inscription at Nippur Nippur Nippur was one of the most ancient of all the Sumerian cities. It was the special seat of the worship of the Sumerian god Enlil, the "Lord Wind," ruler of the cosmos subject to An alone... |
| Imta Imta Imta or Nibia was a Gutian ruler in Sumer from ca. 2138 BC to 2135 BC .-See also:*Chronology of the ancient Near East*Sumerian king list*Gutian dynasty of Sumer... or Nibia |
ca. 2138–2135 BC | |
| Inkishush Inkishush Inkishush or Inkicuc was a Gutian ruler in Sumer from ca. 2135 BC to 2129 BC. Inkishush is the first Gutian ruler mentioned in the Sumerian King List.-See also:*Chronology of the ancient Near East*Sumerian king list... |
ca. 2135–2129 BC | First Gutian ruler on the Sumerian king list Sumerian king list The Sumerian King List is an ancient manuscript originally recorded in the Sumerian language, listing kings of Sumer from Sumerian and neighboring dynasties, their supposed reign lengths, and the locations of "official" kingship... |
| Zarlagab | ca. 2129–2126 BC | |
| Shulme Shulme Shulme was a Gutian ruler in Sumer from ca. 2126 BC to 2120 BC.-See also:*Chronology of the ancient Near East*Sumerian king list*Gutian dynasty of Sumer... |
ca. 2126–2120 BC | |
| Silulumesh or Elulmesh | ca. 2120–2114 BC | |
| Inimabakesh | ca. 2114–2109 BC | |
| Igeshaush | ca. 2109–2103 BC | |
| Yarlagab Yarlagab Yarlagab was a Gutian ruler of Sumer.Yarlagab was preceded by Ilu-An and succeeded by Ibate.... |
ca. 2103–2088 BC | |
| Ibate | ca. 2088–2085 BC | |
| Yarla or Yarlangab | ca. 2085–2082 BC | |
| Kurum | ca. 2082–2081 BC | |
| Apilkin | ca. 2081–2078 BC | |
| La-erabum or Lasirab | ca. 2078–2076 BC | Mace head inscription |
| Irarum | ca. 2076–2074 BC | |
| Ibranum | ca. 2074–2073 BC | |
| Hablum | ca. 2073–2071 BC | |
| Puzur-Suen | ca. 2071–2064 BC | Son of Hablum |
| Yarlaganda Yarlaganda Yarlaganda , and was a Gutian.He was preceded by Puzur-Suen and succeeded by Si-Um.... |
ca. 2064–2057 BC | Foundation inscription at Umma Umma Umma was an ancient city in Sumer. Note that there is some scholarly debateabout the Sumerian and Akkadian names for this site.-History:... |
| Si'um or Si'u | ca. 2057–2050 BC | Foundation inscription at Umma Umma Umma was an ancient city in Sumer. Note that there is some scholarly debateabout the Sumerian and Akkadian names for this site.-History:... |
| Tirigan | ca. 2050–2050 BC | Defeated by Utu-hengal Utu-hengal Utu-hengal was one of the first native kings of Sumer after centuries of Akkadian and Gutian rule.... of Uruk Uruk Uruk was an ancient city of Sumer and later Babylonia, situated east of the present bed of the Euphrates river, on the ancient dry former channel of the Euphrates River, some 30 km east of modern As-Samawah, Al-Muthannā, Iraq.Uruk gave its name to the Uruk... |