Ensi (Sumerian) in the context of "Jemdet Nasr"

⭐ In the context of Jemdet Nasr, the title *ensi* most accurately reflects the position of what type of leader?

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⭐ Core Definition: Ensi (Sumerian)

Ensi (cuneiform: 𒑐𒋼𒋛 pa.te.si Sumerian: ensik, "lord of the plowland"; Emesal dialect: umunsik; Akkadian: iΕ‘Ε‘akkum) was a Sumerian title designating the ruler or prince of a city-state. Originally it may have designated an independent ruler, but in later periods the title presupposed subordinance to a lugal.

For the Early Dynastic Period (about 2800–2350 BC), the meaning of the titles en, ensi and lugal cannot be differentiated clearly: see lugal, ensi and en for details. Ensi may have originally been a designation of the ruler restricted to Lagash and Umma. The ensi was considered a representative of the city-state's patron deity. In later periods, an ensi was normally seen as subordinate to a lugal. Nevertheless, even the powerful rulers of the Second Dynasty of Lagash (c. 2100 BC) such as Gudea were satisfied with the title ensi.

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πŸ‘‰ Ensi (Sumerian) in the context of Jemdet Nasr

Jemdet Nasr (Arabic: Ψ¬Ω…Ψ―Ψ© Ω†Ψ΅Ψ±) (also Jamdat Nasr and Jemdat Nasr) is a tell or settlement mound in Babil Governorate, Iraq that is best known as the eponymous type site for the Jemdet Nasr period (c. 3100–2900 BC), under an alternate periodization system termed the Uruk III period, and was one of the oldest Sumerian cities. It is adjacent to the much larger Neo-Babylonian and Sassanian site of Tell Barguthiat (also Tell Bargouthiat) to the northeast. The site was first excavated in 1926 by Stephen Langdon, who found Proto-Cuneiform clay tablets in a large mudbrick building thought to be the ancient administrative centre of the site.A second season took place in 1928, but this season was very poorly recorded. Subsequent excavations in the 1980s under British archaeologist Roger Matthews were, among other things, undertaken to relocate the building excavated by Langdon. These excavations have shown that the site was also occupied during the Ubaid, Uruk and Early Dynastic I periods. Based on texts found there mentioning an ensi of NI.RU that is thought to be its ancient name. During ancient times the city was on a canal linking it to other major Sumerian centers.

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Ensi (Sumerian) in the context of Eannatum

Eannatum (Sumerian: π’‚π’€­π’ˆΎπ’Ί Γ‰.AN.NA-tum2; fl. c. 2450 BC) was a Sumerian Ensi (ruler or king) of Lagash. He established one of the first verifiable empires in history, subduing Elam and destroying the city of Susa, and extending his domain over the rest of Sumer and Akkad. One inscription found on a boulder states that Eannatum was his Sumerian name, while his "Tidnu" (Amorite) name was Lumma.

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Ensi (Sumerian) in the context of Γ‰ (temple)

Γ‰ (Cuneiform: 𒂍) is the Sumerian word or symbol for house or temple.

The Sumerian term Γ‰.GAL (𒂍𒃲,"palace", literally "big house") denoted a city's main building. Γ‰.LUGAL (π’‚π’ˆ—,"king's house") was used synonymously. In the texts of Lagash, the Γ‰.GAL is the center of the ensi's administration of the city, and the site of the city archives.Sumerian Γ‰.GAL is the probable etymology of Semitic words for "palace, temple", such as Hebrew Χ”Χ™Χ›Χœ heikhal, and Arabic Ω‡ΩŠΩƒΩ„ haykal. It has thus been speculated that the word Γ‰ originated from something akin to *hai or *Λ€ai, especially since the cuneiform sign È is used for /a/ in Eblaite.

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Ensi (Sumerian) in the context of Ush, king of Umma

Ush (𒍑 UΕ‘, possibly read Ninta; fl. c. 2450 BC) was King or ensi of Umma, a city-state in Sumer.

Ush is mentioned in various inscriptions, such as the Cone of Entemana as having violated the frontier with Lagash, a frontier which had been solemnly established by king Mesilim.

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LINKED FROM (PARENTS)
← Jemdet Nasr ← Eannatum ← Γ‰ (temple) ← Ush, king of Umma ← E (temple)
LINKS TO (CHILDREN)
Cylinder seal → Lugalanatum → Pa (cuneiform) → Te (cuneiform) → Si (cuneiform) → Sumerian language → Emesal → Akkadian language → City-state → Lugal → Early Dynastic Period (Mesopotamia) → EN (cuneiform) → Lugal → Lagash → Umma → Gudea →