Puzer-Mama

Puzer-Mama

Puzer-Mama

Sumerian king, 23rd century BC

Puzer-Mama or Puzur-Mama (𒅤𒊭𒀭𒈠𒈠, puzur4-Dma-ma) was a ruler of Lagash before Gudea, circa 2200 BCE.[1] Though he adopted the title of King (lugal), Puzer-Mama shows kinship with future Lagashite governors (ensi) in the religiosity of his inscriptions.

Quick Facts Puzer-Mama 𒅤𒊭𒀭𒈠𒈠, King of Lagash ...

He took control of Lagash during Shar-kali-sharri's reign, when troubles with the Guti left the Sargonic king with only "a small rump state whose center lay at the confluence of the Diyala and Tigris river." (Frayne 1993 p. 186)

Puzer-Mama's royal inscription — wherein he receives the various gifts of the gods appropriate to rulership: power by Ningirsu, intelligence by Enki, and position by Inanna, (Frayne 1993 p. 272) — may be contrasted with the contemporary religious element in Shar-kali-sharri's various inscriptions: a call for the gods to punish any who alter his inscriptions, and specifically to "tear out his foundations and destroy his progeny" (one of a number of curses for protection found in royal inscriptions starting with the reign of Sargon.)

Puzer-Mama appears in Babylonian inscription (BM 2310) as one of the ancient rulers of Lagash, particularly the list of "The rulers of Lagaš":[2][3]

"Puzur-Mama, scribe of Ninki: his god was Zazaru: he acted for .. years."

— "The rulers of Lagaš"[2]

According to other inscriptions however, his tutelary god was Shulutula.[2]

Puzur-Mama also appears in a letter about territorial disputes between two Governors, apparently sent to Shar-Kali-Sharri:

(Say to my Lord): This is what Puzur-Mama, Governor of Lagash, said: Sulum and e-apin since the time of Sargon belonged to the territory of Lagash. Ur-Utu, when he served as Governor of Ur for Naram-Sin, paid 2 minas of gold for them. Ur-e, Governor of Lagash, took them back. The consequence is that Puzur-Mama should (....)

— Letter about Puzur-Mama.[4]

Puzer-Mama also appears as "King of Lagash" in a document also naming the Elamite ruler Puzur-Inshushinak, suggesting the synchronicity of the two rulers.[5][6]

References

  1. [1]
    Álvarez-Mon, Javier; Basello, Gian Pietro; Wicks, Yasmina (2018). The Elamite World. Routledge. p. 254. ISBN 978-1-317-32983-1.
  2. [2]
    Sollberger, Edmond (1967). "The Rulers of Lagaš". Journal of Cuneiform Studies. 21: 286. doi:10.2307/1359377. ISSN 0022-0256. JSTOR 1359377. S2CID 164006189.
  3. [3]
    "Sumerian Dictionary". oracc.iaas.upenn.edu.
  4. [4]
    Foster, Benjamin R. (2015). The Age of Agade: Inventing Empire in Ancient Mesopotamia. Routledge. p. 286. ISBN 978-1-317-41551-0.
  5. [5]
    CDLI-Archival View.
  6. [6]
    Inscription Puzur-Mama E2.12.5.1 in Frayne, Douglas. Sargonic and Gutian Periods. p. 272.

Sources

  • Frayne, Douglas R. (1993). Sargonic and Gutian Periods (Toronto, Buffalo, London. University of Toronto Press Incorporated)
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