The first king recorded **Kin…
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Writer AndyKim Hit 1,575 Hit Date 25-01-17 23:28Content
The first king recorded in human history is widely regarded to be **King Enmebaragesi of Kish**, a ruler of the ancient Sumerian city of **Kish** in Mesopotamia. His existence is documented in the **Sumerian King List**, an ancient chronicle of Mesopotamian kings, blending history, mythology, and legend. Here's a detailed exploration:
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### **Enmebaragesi of Kish**
1. **Historical Context**:
- Enmebaragesi ruled during the Early Dynastic period of Sumer (around 2600 BCE).
- Kish, his city-state, was located near modern-day Tell al-Uhaymir in Iraq and was a significant political and cultural center in Sumer.
2. **Title and Importance**:
- The Sumerian King List states that **"kingship descended from heaven to Kish"**, marking Kish as the first city to hold divine authority over other city-states.
- Enmebaragesi is described as a powerful ruler who established early forms of governance and centralized authority.
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### **Achievements**:
1. **Military Conquests**:
- Enmebaragesi is credited with significant military accomplishments, including defeating the Elamites, a neighboring civilization located in what is now southwestern Iran.
- His victories likely helped solidify Kish’s dominance over other Mesopotamian city-states.
2. **Construction and Governance**:
- He is believed to have been a builder of monumental structures, such as temples and city walls, though evidence is scarce.
- His reign marked an era of increased political organization and the development of administrative systems.
3. **Trade and Economy**:
- Enmebaragesi’s reign coincided with the rise of trade networks connecting Mesopotamia with neighboring regions, including the Indus Valley and Anatolia.
- Kish likely served as a hub for the exchange of goods like textiles, metals, and luxury items.
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### **Historical Evidence**:
1. **Sumerian King List**:
- Enmebaragesi’s name is among the earliest that historians consider possibly historical, as opposed to mythical figures like Alulim and Dumuzid.
- The King List states: **“Enmebaragesi, who made the weapons of Elam, became king; he reigned for 900 years.”** The exaggerated lifespan reflects the mythological nature of early kingship records.
2. **Archaeological Discoveries**:
- Fragments of inscriptions bearing Enmebaragesi’s name have been discovered, providing tangible evidence of his existence.
- His inscriptions are the oldest examples of royal inscriptions in Mesopotamia, making them a significant milestone in recorded history.
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### **Association with Mythology**:
- Enmebaragesi is indirectly linked to the famous **Epic of Gilgamesh**.
- In the epic, he is mentioned as the father of **Agga of Kish**, a ruler who engages in a conflict with Gilgamesh, the semi-mythical king of Uruk.
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### **Legacy**:
1. **First Historical King**:
- Enmebaragesi is recognized as the earliest ruler whose existence is corroborated by both textual and archaeological evidence.
- His reign represents the transition from prehistoric to historical periods in human civilization.
2. **Foundation of Kingship**:
- His governance set a precedent for centralized authority and the role of kings as both political and religious leaders in Mesopotamia.
- Subsequent rulers in the region often traced their legitimacy back to Kish, emphasizing its symbolic importance.
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### **Conclusion**:
Enmebaragesi of Kish stands at the threshold of recorded history, representing humanity’s earliest attempts to document leadership, governance, and military conquest. His reign marks the dawn of an era where kingship became an institution central to the development of civilization.
---
### **Enmebaragesi of Kish**
1. **Historical Context**:
- Enmebaragesi ruled during the Early Dynastic period of Sumer (around 2600 BCE).
- Kish, his city-state, was located near modern-day Tell al-Uhaymir in Iraq and was a significant political and cultural center in Sumer.
2. **Title and Importance**:
- The Sumerian King List states that **"kingship descended from heaven to Kish"**, marking Kish as the first city to hold divine authority over other city-states.
- Enmebaragesi is described as a powerful ruler who established early forms of governance and centralized authority.
---
### **Achievements**:
1. **Military Conquests**:
- Enmebaragesi is credited with significant military accomplishments, including defeating the Elamites, a neighboring civilization located in what is now southwestern Iran.
- His victories likely helped solidify Kish’s dominance over other Mesopotamian city-states.
2. **Construction and Governance**:
- He is believed to have been a builder of monumental structures, such as temples and city walls, though evidence is scarce.
- His reign marked an era of increased political organization and the development of administrative systems.
3. **Trade and Economy**:
- Enmebaragesi’s reign coincided with the rise of trade networks connecting Mesopotamia with neighboring regions, including the Indus Valley and Anatolia.
- Kish likely served as a hub for the exchange of goods like textiles, metals, and luxury items.
---
### **Historical Evidence**:
1. **Sumerian King List**:
- Enmebaragesi’s name is among the earliest that historians consider possibly historical, as opposed to mythical figures like Alulim and Dumuzid.
- The King List states: **“Enmebaragesi, who made the weapons of Elam, became king; he reigned for 900 years.”** The exaggerated lifespan reflects the mythological nature of early kingship records.
2. **Archaeological Discoveries**:
- Fragments of inscriptions bearing Enmebaragesi’s name have been discovered, providing tangible evidence of his existence.
- His inscriptions are the oldest examples of royal inscriptions in Mesopotamia, making them a significant milestone in recorded history.
---
### **Association with Mythology**:
- Enmebaragesi is indirectly linked to the famous **Epic of Gilgamesh**.
- In the epic, he is mentioned as the father of **Agga of Kish**, a ruler who engages in a conflict with Gilgamesh, the semi-mythical king of Uruk.
---
### **Legacy**:
1. **First Historical King**:
- Enmebaragesi is recognized as the earliest ruler whose existence is corroborated by both textual and archaeological evidence.
- His reign represents the transition from prehistoric to historical periods in human civilization.
2. **Foundation of Kingship**:
- His governance set a precedent for centralized authority and the role of kings as both political and religious leaders in Mesopotamia.
- Subsequent rulers in the region often traced their legitimacy back to Kish, emphasizing its symbolic importance.
---
### **Conclusion**:
Enmebaragesi of Kish stands at the threshold of recorded history, representing humanity’s earliest attempts to document leadership, governance, and military conquest. His reign marks the dawn of an era where kingship became an institution central to the development of civilization.
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