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Old Sumerian Occupations

A Handlist of Terminology Found in the Presargonic Lagash Texts


Daniel A Foxvog
University of California at Berkeley (ret.)

The following listing of Sumerian occupational terms is based upon a detailed prosopographic database
of some 26700 entries which is designed to identify unique individuals found recorded in extant texts
from the First Dynasty of Lagash, primarily around 1800 administrative texts, but also legal texts,
letters, and royal inscriptions from the same period. Most texts record the regular economic activity of
the households of the royal consorts of the three kings Enentarzi, Lugalanda, and Urukagina the socalled -m (or -munus) Womans House over a period of around 20 years. The bulk of the texts
utilized come from the capital city Girsu (modern site name Telloh); a much smaller number were
found in the older city Lagash (modern site name Al-Hiba) after which the state of Lagash (ki-lagas) was
named. A third major town in the Lagash state, Niinx or conventionally NINA (modern site name
Surghul), appears in some of the terms below but has not yet yielded any tablets from this period.
It must be emphasized that the administrative texts from the -m document primarily the economics
of the queens households. As will be seen from a number of references below, a half dozen adult
royal children kept in some sense separate households, as did, apparently, the kings themselves.
Thanks to the theocratic reorganization of the economy under king Urukagina, these separate
establishments are occasionally mentioned directly and also revealed indirectly by reference to
corresponding members of the divine family of the chief deities of the Lagash pantheon: the kings
household by the city god Ninirsu, the queens household by his consort Bau, and the household of
one royal prince by Igalima, the divine son of Ninirsu and Bau. These other households, however, are
not documented with the richness of the -m archive. Finally, it seems likely that several royal
princesses maintained administratively separate establishments within the -m complex itself.
The scribal bureaucracy revealed in this corpus was intense. Rations of all sorts, commodity allotments,
and labor and field assignments, in particular, were recorded in great detail for regular periods over
multiple years. Persons often appearing repeatedly in these accounts were more closely identified for
accounting purposes by their occupations, titles, or activities. It is these bureaucratic occupational
terms in the main that have been assembled below, although the standard Sumerian kinship terms
have been added for completeness.
The source database employed here identifies unique named individuals where possible, in great part
by their occupational titles, also by kinship and other filiation remarks. Some individuals or work-gangs,
on the other hand, are frequently found identified only by their titles. By computerized sorting on this
terminology against indices of unique individuals, it is possible to obtain a rough count of the number
of persons practicing each occupation or profession throughout this 20 year period. In parentheses
following each occupation listed can be found counts of:
N: named individuals
U: unnamed individuals or work-gangs identified by occupation or title
C: young child(ren) listed alongside the mother, single or multiple
O: orphans or waifs so identified in addition to occupation (few in number)
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While the counts are necessarily rough and approximate in certain cases, especially for groups of
unnamed persons or multiple same-named persons for whom secure prosopographic links are lacking,
still this list of occupations with counts offers one kind of view into the structure of Sumerian society in
this time and place. This society was complex and stratified, with the division of labor carefully
mapped out and controlled. The comprehensiveness of this bureaucratic archive reveals much about
the working lives of the over 3000 persons employed as part of the royal establishments mentioned in
these texts. Terminological categories include:
Agriculture
Field Owners
Renters
Farmers
Plowmen
Orchardmen
Gardeners
Irrigators
Woodsmen
Animal Husbandry
Herders, Drivers, Grooms
Fishermen
Bird Catchers
Craftsmen
Service Workers
Musicians and Entertainers
Boatmen
Cult Personnel
Important Priests
Other temple personnel
Lamentation singers, cantors
Nane cult personnel
Mourners
Diviners
Legal
Military and Guards
Officials
Foremen
Slaves
Female Servants and Workers
General
Servants of the Womans House under Enentarzi, summary (totals) rubrics
Servants of the Womans House, summary rubrics, end of Lug and before Ukg year 2
Servants of King Urukaginas Queen Sasas household, summary rubrics
Servants of temple households
Linen workers
Wool workers
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Goat and pig workers


Food preparers
Servants from outside Girsu
Male Servants and Workers
General
Agricultural workers in teams
Merchants and Traders
Kinship Terminology
Standard familial terms
Other
Gentilics
Royalty
General
Family of royals
Dead royalty in the ancestor cult
Personnel of Deities, Temples, or Royalty
l DN: Persons in the service of a deity
l TN: Persons in the service of a temple
l RN: Persons in the service of royalty
l CHILDREN: Persons in the service of royal children
Other Personnel (allotment) Groups
Unclear

Agriculture
Field Owners
lugal aa5(-k) owner of a field (N:29) (Lummatur texts 1-2, BM 3, 10)
dumu aa5(-k) child of a field owner (N:27) (Lummatur 1-2)
Renters
l aa5 apin-l-ke4-ne persons of leased fields (N:10) Contra ePSD apin-l tiller, planter see
C. Wilcke, SBAW 2003/2 34 field on lease, R. de Maaijer, Landless and Hungry? (1998)
55 field leased out
Farmers
engar farmer, cultivator, planter, farm supervisor (mid-level functionary responsible for more
than one field) (N:20, U:2). Cf. G. Selz, FAOS 15/2, 89-90 Pflanzherr, Pflanzer;
R. Englund, Fischerei 61: Feldbesteller in Neo-Sumerian
engar -M farmer of the Womans Household (N:1)
engar g-eden-na farmer of the Deserts Edge (district) (N:1 l-dba-, also called
engar-mah)
engar uru-ne(-k) farmer of the adult workmen (N:5)
engar ki-gub(-k) farmer stationed on site (N:7, U:2 under foremen) Discussion Selz, FAOS
15/2, 89-90 literally Bauer des Standortes/des Dienstortes ... die vor Ort Dienst taten
engar PN(-k) farmer of the person PN (N:1, -ki-b-gi4 engar -me-lm-s AWL 7 iv 1)
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engar-mah chief farmer (N:2 l-dba- the engar g-eden-na & en-ig-gal the nu-bnda
engar-s assistant(?) farmer (N:3) See discussion of P. Steinkeller, Sale Documents 101f.
The concensus reading is engar rather than apin. See Selz, FAOS 15/2 p. 83
nachfolgend, zweiter im Rang; J. Bauer, AfO 36/37 (1989/90) 84. In Bauer, AWL 7 ii
2-11 ur-sa is the engar-s of the important engar ur-dam. Wilcke, SBAW 2003/2 p. 82
understands this as a neighbor farmer (reading ABSIN-s). Grammatically the writing
must represent engar+ra+s one who follows the farmer, cf. Ur III lugal-ra-s-sa one
who follows the king.
Plowmen
sa-apin(-na) plowman, head of the plow (N:47, U:1). Selz, FAOS 15/2 p. 85, 575 Pflugfhrer.
Uses a mule (knga) or an ass (durx-ul-gi, ane-ul-gi)
sa-apin gu4 ox plowman (N:4)
sa-apin dba--ka/ke4-ne plowmen of Bau (N:5 all also with other occupations, U:1)
sa-apin gme-dba--ka plowman of (princess) Geme-Bau (daughter of Ukg) (N:1 silim-utu )
sa-apin gme-tar-sr-sr-ka plowman of (princess) Geme-Tarsirsir (daughter of Ukg)
(N:1 lugal-kki)
sa-apin-na dumu-dumu-ke4-ne plowmen of the (royal) children (Ukg) (N:2 = the same silimutu & lugal-kki as above) Written sa-apin dumu-dumu-ne in VAT4726 rev ii 1)
Orchardmen
nu-kiri6(-k) orchardman, often heading gangs of 2-11 igi-nu-du8 and 1-2 kak-a-du5 (N:28, U:2-3)
nu-kiri6 dba-(-ke4-ne) orchardman of the goddess Bau (N:8 all also called just nu-kiri6
including ur-p below)
nu-kiri6 diir-ra(-me) orchardmen of a god (U:1 group ITT9243 ii 2, reign of Enentarzi)
nu-kiri6 nsi-ka(-me) orchardmen of the ruler (U:1 group ITT9243 iii 1)
nu-kiri6 nam-dumu orchardman of the (royal) children (N:2 ur-anun & ur-p)
kiri6 gurx-gurx(E.KIN) orchard reaper (N:2)
igi-nu-du8 i blind orchard (tree) workers (N:13, U: multiple groups, possibly as many as 9)
Most often in groups of 5-6 unnamed men with 1-2 kak-a-ku5 and 1 nu-kiri6 (e.g. DP 113)
See Cooper, CDLN 2010/5 for meaning.
Cf. later in this corpus igi-nu-du8 i-k-ti blind crafts workers
Gardeners
l-nisi vegetable gardener (N:3) Written l-nisi-ga in Ur III
zz-d wheat planter(?) (or read -d with unknown meaning) (N:1 CT 50, 26)
Irrigators
kak-a-ku5 sluice-gate opener (one who cuts a water/canal plug) (N:14, U:2)
CAD mupett, adj., regulating irrigation, lit. opener, a person opening a
sluice-gate(?). Cf. Hh VI 131f. gikak-du8/ku5 = sikkatu mupett, describing a plug for
regulating a sluice gate(?). In Ur III the term occurs with a-bala water drawer
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a-nin reservoir/pond (worker) (N:3) Cf. Ur III: a-nin-na gub-ba (men) stationed at the
reservoir
igi-nu-du8 sightless/blinded (slave) (N:18 including 12 called dumu uru-azki citizens of Uruaz,
U: multiple groups of 2-13. Cf. J. Cooper, CDLN 2010/5 for meaning.
igi-nu-du8 dub-didli blind workers, (recorded) on various tablets (U: a group designation in
totals, for example HSS III 3 or 4, DP 154)
Woodsmen
l-tir forester (N:1, U:1 group)
l-(gi)inig tamarisk man (N:3, U:1)
Animal Husbandry
ane-GAM donkey breaker(?) (N:1) Cf. GAM-GAM in Unclear
kuruda animal fattener (mr) (N:9 including mu-ni below)
kuruda -M-ka animal fattener of the Womans House (N:1 mu-ni)
l-ane-gu7!(KA) donkey feeder (U:1 DP 130 ii 5)
zur-zur(-k) animal caretaker(?) (kunn) (N:1 sheep PN zur-zur-ka-kam Nik 1, 152 i 5)
dal-muen bird chaser (N:17, U:1 at least once a group of 7 persons)
Selz, FAOS 15/2. 85 Vogelverscheucher; see Civil, Farmers Instructions 87
Herders, Drivers, Grooms
gb-kas4 coachman(?), carter(?) (lit. I will make them run) (N:13 primarily r-nun-ki-du10,
U:2 underlings) Selz, FAOS 15/2 128f. Kutscher or Fuhrman (?). r-nun-ki-du10
deals with ane mar wagon donkeys, e.g. Nik 1, 311 ii 1
gb-ra animal driver, herder (lit. I will drive them) (N:15, U:12). FAOS 15/2 86 Viehtreiber
gb-ra h pig herder (N:2)
gb-ra h (-k) herder of free-range pigs (N:3 including the two preceding gb-ra h)
CT 50, 34 rev. vi 13/15 PNN gme h n-gu7-a-me followed by PN gb-ra h -ka-kam
ASJ 11 328 (Ur III), 27:6-7 h-niga, h-, same opposition, thus fed, fattened versus
free-range. Owen "Pigs and Pig By-Products at Garana in the Ur III Period" (2006)
78-80: niga fattened with barley, versus with free-range on grass
gb-ra -M animal driver of the Womans House (N:1)
gb-ra gu4 cattle driver (U:1)
gb-ra gu4 tur-tur(-ra) driver of young cattle (N:2 -ra in HSS 3, 16 rev ii 10-11)
gb-ra KU driver connected with pigs(?) (N:2 both also working among gb-ra h -ka and
gme h-n-gu7-a)
gb-ra ma(-k) goat driver (N:1 e-ta-e11)
gb-ra ma gal-gal driver of big goats (U:3 probably including preceding e-ta-e11)
gb-ra udu sheep driver (U:1)
gb-ra udu n-gu7-a driver of fattened sheep (N:1)
gb-ra udu siki-ka driver of wool sheep (U:2)
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gu4-lah5 cattle bringer (N:2) cf. gu4-ra ox-driver, drover; Bauer, AWL p. 507 Ochsentreiber
cf. Nik 1, 161 ii 2: 2 rams udu ur4-ra-ta udu n-gu7-a e-ma-lah5 brought from the
sheep-plucking shed into the fattened sheep (flock)
gu4-lah5 nsi-ka cattle bringer of the ruler (N:1 ur- of Babylonica 8, HG 12 vi 5 is the same as
ur-ku7-dba- the nu chief cow-herder of TSA 30 ii 8)
ku7 equerry, groom (?) (N:2 amar-ezem & ur-du6, the equerry of the king and queen
respectively; see the following). The reading is not certain, in some cases one must read
sahar; is now considered less likely for this period.
ku7 dnin-gr-su(-ka) equerry of Ningirsu (N:1 amar-ezem)
ku7 nsi-ka equerry of the ruler (N:1 amar-ezem)
ku7-mah chief equerry (N:1 amar-ezem)
ku7 -M equerry of the Womans House (N:1 ur-du6)
ku7 d[ba- (?)] equerry of Bau(?) (U:1 perhaps ur-du6)
l ane surx(ERIN2)-ka man of team donkeys (U:1)
l surx(ERIN2) z-s-sa men of assembled teams (N:31, U:6 groups?))
Wengler 2 (Ukg 1) lists a total of 100 such men with various occupations
bd-da n-a-am6 who were camped on the wall
l gu4 man of oxen (U:1)
l gu4-du7-du7 man of unblemished oxen (N:1 ur-dba-) =
l gu4 du7-r(-k) man of unblemished oxen (N:1 ur-dba-)
mu6-sb (or mu6mnsub) shepherd, herdsman (N:1)
na-gada herder, shepherd-boy (N:2 en-ku4 in Enz 5-Lug1, then later promoted to sipa
aganx(AMA)a:gan & ur-u-ga-lam-ma in Enz 4, then later promoted to nu)
sipa shepherd (a middle-ranking functionary) (N:50)
sipa amar-ku5 shepherd of castrated calves (N:1 ur-ddumu-zi)
sipa amar-ru-ga shepherd of trained(?) calves (N:3 including preceding ur-ddumu-zi)
Function: training of (castrated) calves to be work-oxen, Selz, FAOS 15/1, 438
sipa ane(-k) donkey shepherd (N:21, U:1+ ?)
sipa ane surx(ERIN2)-ka shepherd of team donkeys (N:19 & 3 slaves, U:3 elsewhere called
gb-kas4 coachman, carter)
d
sipa nane shepherd of Nane (N:1)
sipa dnin-r-su shepherd of Ninirsu (N:2)
sipa -gibil shepherd of the New Temple (N:1)
sipa gu4 shepherd of cattle (N:5 including two otherwise called sipa gu4 tur-tur, U:1)
sipa gu4 tur-tur shepherd of young cattle (N:2 also called just sipa gu4, U:1)
sipa ki-siki-ka shepherd for the wool-site (N:4, U:1)
sipa ma shepherd of goats (N:4 including following ur-dba-, U:1)
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sipa ma gal-gal shepherd of big goats (N:1 = preceding ur-dba-, U:2 probably two of
the preceding four named shepherds)
sipa nam-dumu shepherd for all the (royal) children (N:3)
sipa pa5-sr-raki(-k) shepherd from Pasira (N:1)
sipa aganx(AMA)a:gan shepherd of pregnant animals (N:21 including en-ku4 of the two
following, U:3+)
sipa aganx(AMA)a:gan dba- shepherd of pregnant animals, of Bau (N:1 en-ku4) =
sipa aganx(AMA)a:gan dnin-r-su shepherd of pregnant animals, of Ninirsu (N:1 en-ku4 )
sipa h pig herder (N:2 mostly lugal-pa-)
sipa u8(-k) shepherd of ewes (N:2)
sipa ud5(-da-k) shepherd of goats (N:11, U:1)
sipa udu n-gu7-a shepherd of fattened sheep (N:1)
sipa udu siki-ka shepherd of wool sheep (N:7, U:1 = a group of 8 probably the named 7 plus 1)
sipa nu shepherds and herders (totaled together) (U:1)
-du(l) chief herdsman (N:1 - ) =
-du ane(-k) chief donkey herdsman (N:1 - = same as the previous )
-du udu chief sheep herdsman (N:4)
nu(d) chief cow herder (N:14, U:3) FAOS 15/2 86f Rinderhirt, vermutlich von gehobener
sozialer Stellung < *udu-n(d) die Tiere (auf) der Weide / (im) Grase liegen oder
lagern lsst, just as /udul/ < *udu-lu sheep pasturer (so van Dijk, RA 83 [1989] 11)
nu b-1 chief herdsman of yearling cows (N:3 all three also called just nu)
Fishermen
Many fishermen had slightly different job descriptions at different times, so many of the same
individual fishermen are tallied in more than one sub-category below.
u-ku6 fisherman (N:70 , U:5)
gal- u-ku6-e-ne(-k) personnel chief of fishermen (N:1 en-zi)
u-ku6 a-ses(-k) fisherman of brackish water (N:16)
u-ku6 a-du10-ga(-k) fisherman of fresh water (N:40, U:3)
u-ku6 a-dun(-k), a-dun-a fishermen of the dug-water (canals) (N:8, U:1)
Six of these men are also u-ku6 a-du10-ga(-k) sweet-water fishermen
Var. omits u-ku6. Cf. a-dun Ummaki -kam (they are) dug-water (men) of Umma
(e.g. HSS 3, 20 rev 4:8-9); a-nin pond/reservoir (worker)
Cf. Ur III Princeton 1, 477:5 kb{ab}-ku5 en-du8-du a-dun gub-ba
stationed at water-digging at the Endudu reservoir
u-ku6 ab-ba(-k) sea fisherman (N:67, U:3)
u-ku6 ab-ba dba--ke4-ne / -rum dba- sea fisherman of Bau (N:6)
u-ku6 sa-u-bad-(r) casting-net fisherman (N:14)
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u-ku6 dba-(-ke4-ne) fisherman of Bau (N:50)


u-ku6 -M fisherman of the Womans House (N:18, U:1)
u-ku6 saa-ka fisherman of the temple administrators household (N:7)
u-ku6 r-suki fisherman of irsu (N:4)
u-ku6 aa5 g-edin-na-ka fisherman of the Deserts Edge fields (N:9, U:1)
u-ku6 g-edin-na-ka(-k) fisherman of the Deserts Edge (fields) (N:2)
u-ku6 i7-mah fisherman of the Great Canal (N:1)
u-ku6 z-lum-ma fisherman of the date palm (area) (N:7, U:1)
Bird catchers
muen-d (or usandu) fowler, bird catcher (N:3, U:1)
also written san-d, e.g. NFT p. 180 MIO vi 2
muen-d-pag fowler-cager (N:2, U:1)
cf. ki-pag-pag = a-ar MUSZEN.DU3-sa-di Izi C i 7 (CAD lex.)
ePSD pag enclose, confine; cage (a bird)
For fishermen and bird catchers mentioned together, also with the enku tax-collector, see
Visicato, Bureaucracy of Fara 131-133.
Craftsmen
agab leatherworker (N:23, U:2-3 = probably among the 23 named persons)
su-si tanner/flayer (N:1) (usikku)
ad-KID reed worker (N:12, U:1-2)
gal-ad-KID chief reed worker (N:1 i7-mud, not among the previous named ad-KID)
bhar potter (N:14, U:4)
bhar NINAki potter of NINA (U:1 Nik 1, 44 ii 6)
gal-bhar chief potter (U:1)
-r-r oil mixer, perfumer (N:2 il2 in nearly all instances)
zermukax(KID2.ALAN) figure sculptor, coppersmith (N:4 plus DP 612 v 7 ?)
See P. Michalowski, CDLJ 2003:3 s13-s17) coppersmith
gal-zermukax chief figure sculptor (N:1)
k-dm silversmith (N:7)
zadim lapidary (N:7, U:2)
nagar carpenter (N:22 including ur-dnin-r-su the gal-nagar) )
nagar- interior carpenter (N:1 lugal-annzumuen OIP 14, 57 iii 3)
gal-nagar chief carpenter (N:1 ur-dnin-r-su, also called just nagar)
idim builder (N:6, U:2)
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simug smith (N:18, U:2 each a gang of two unnamed men)


simug dnane smith of Nane (N:1 inim-du11)
simug -M smith of the Womans House (N:1 -r)
gaam artisan (N:6 including 4 with other titles and 1 person called k-dm gaam silversmithartistan in VS 14, 106. See also many bundles of reed for the gaam in VS 25 104)
um-mi-a master craftsman, expert (N:1 en-k, no specialty stated)
i-k-ti craftsmen, a cover term for many different crafts (N:66, U: ca. 37 uncertain groupings)
cf. ugula i-k-ti foreman over the craftsmen, under Foremen
igi-nu-du8 i-k-ti blind crafts workers (N:2, U: many groups of between 2 and 13 workers )
cf. igi-nu-du8 i blind tree/orchard workers, under Orchardmen
Service Workers
zlag fuller (N:22)
a-zu, a-su physician (N:4)
knda barber (U:1 knda house of barbers Nik 1, 286 i 3)
gal-knda chief barber (N:1 ur-dnin-r-su)
u- (= OB u-i) hairdresser (N:39, U:2, C:3)
u--munus female hairdresser (or queens hairdresser?) (N:4)
l-a-km water heater (N:3)
l-alam(-k) man who cares for (cult) statues (man of statues) (N:3)
l-lungax(BIxGAR) brewer (N:23, U:2 underlings)
l-lungax(BIxGAR) brewer of the shrine (N:2)
l-lungax(BIxGAR) dul-MUxPA brewer of the god ul-MUxPA (U:1)
brewery worker, supervised by a l-lungax} N:10, U:2 groups, C:1)
munu4-gaz malt crusher (N:2)
munu4-m(d) malt grower (N:8, U:1)
l--gd surveyor (rope pulling person) (N:4, U:1)
l--gd dnane surveyor of Nane (U:1)
l--gd dnin-r-su surveyor of Ninirsu (N:1)
l-aa5-gd-da field surveyor (N:12)
l-gada linen worker (N:1)
l-kisal courtyard person (N:2) There is no kisal-luh courtyard sweeper in Girsu, only sila-luh
street sweeper. If l-kisal is not a sweeper, then possibly a sort of cultic preparer?
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muhaldim conventionally cook (N:43, U:2)


muhaldim dumu-dumu cook of the (royal) children (U:4)
sig4-dm(-me) brick maker (U:2)
sila-luh street sweeper (U:1)
gb-dan6 garment cleaner (replaced by tg-dan6 in Ukg 6) (N:7, U:2)
tg-dan6 garment cleaner (replaces gb-dan6 in Ukg 6) (U:1 one group in four ration lists, same
as one of the U:2 of the preceding)
tg-du8 felter (N:12, U:3)
gal-tg-du8 chief felter (N:1)
u-bar weaver (U:1 one general group in DP 479, otherwise only a qualification of the bar-dul5
garment) Lack of Girsu attestations suggests that weaving was an activity subsumed
under the rubric ki-siki(-k) ones of the wool place. See later under Wool Workers.
-bil charcoal burner (N:9 U:5)
-bil -muhaldim charcoal burner for the kitchen (U:1)
gir4-bil oven heater (N:11)
uruh(UH3.MUSZ3) undertaker, funerary priest (U:1) (uruhhu)
uruh pa5-enku undertaker of Paenkud (N:1)
um-me wet-nurse (N:2)
um-me-da nurse (N:3) Read me-da or emeda
For both terms see Steinkeller ASJ 3 (81) 88-90
Musicians and Entertainers
nar musician (N:9, U:1)
nar -bbbar (N:1)
gal-nar chief musician (N:1, U:1)
a-da-ba adab-hymn performer (N:2)
gal-dub-r chief of song tablets, in Nane cult (U:1)
mu-lah5 snake charmer (N:1 DP 32 vi 22 Enmetena year)
mu-lah5-gal chief snake charmer (N:1 Ba-lu5 Urnane 20/22)
Both terms are early ED IIIb; both appear in OB Lu following nar musicians and
before galas.
u4-da-tu jester (N:2)
kar-kd/kid prostitute (N:2 ama-ab--ta, nin-n-mu)
10

Boatmen
m-lah5 boatman, sailor (N:24, U:1 group of 2-5)
l-m-lah5(-da) ... boatman (N:1, U:1) Form with -da unclear
m-lah5 -M boatman of the Womans House (N:1)
m-lah5 m-gur8-ra barge boatman (N:2)
m-lah5 m-si-lu-b-ka boatman of sack-filled boats (N:1)
m-gal-gal big-boats (sailor) (N:23, U:3 at least one group of 2-5 men)
gal- m-gal-gal personnel chief of big-boats (sailors) (N:2, U:1)
ugula m-gal-gal(-k) foreman of big-boats (sailors) (N:1)
l-m-gur8(-ra) barge boatman (N:3 including following foreman ur-dnin-marki)
ugula m-gur8 barge foreman (N:2 including ur-dnin-marki)
m-gur8-si barge loader (U:1) FAOS 15/1 p. 109 Schauerleute
nsi m-gur8 governor of barges (N:1 in Urn 51; Cooper, SARI: supervisor)
l-m-addirx(PAD.GISAL+SI)(-ra) ferry-boat man (N:2 ur-i, lugal-(x)-y)
addirx(GISAL+SI.KAL.RU) ferry (man) (N:1 ur-ri-ru-a)
m-gi4(GIN2) boat builder (so ePSD) (N:4, U:2)
l-u5 akakki shipper(?), hauler(?) (lit. riding man), from Akak (N:1 BM3 10, EnI 4)
l-u5 uru-azki shipper(?) from Uruaz (U:1, 4 instances in Lugalanda years 2-6)
Cult Personnel
Important priests
en en-priest(ess), high-priest(ess) (U:1)
cf. en-en-KU-KU-ne under Ancestors
en kalam-ma en-priest of the nation (N:1 en-u DP 92 v 5, Enentarzi year 4)
ere-diir goddess-lady (N:1) Possibly a priestess of Ninirsu, in view of her name:
diir-a-mu God is My Father
ere-diir dba- goddess-lady of Bau (U:1 alongside the en named diir-a-mu in DP 127)
ere-diir d-tm-du10 goddess-lady of atumdug (U:1 VS 14, 180)
ere-diir dhendur-sa goddess-lady of Hendursa (U:1 VS 14, 180)
ere-diir dnin-a-su goddess-lady of Ninazu (U:1 DP 51 v 4)
l ere-diir personnel of the goddess-lady (N:2)
lukur lukur-priestess (N:5, U:1)
nu-gig a consecrated woman (tabood person) (N:2)
nu-sa dnin-a-su head man of the god Ninazu (U:1) (wr. nu-sa <dnin>-a-su in VS 25, 72)
Precedes ere-diir dnin-a-su in DP 51; both officiate in ki-en-gi4ki, i.e. Ennegi-state.
11

Other temple personnel


engiz purification priest(?) (conventionally temple cook) (U:1) Cf. Charpin, Clerg dUr 381f.
apud Westenholz, NABU 1998/60 (p. 64f.): deals with pollution of cultic materials
(engium, nuhatimmum)
gudu4 ordinary priest (N:17 incl. lugal-gaba below)
gudu4 - priest of the inner temple (U:1)
gudu4 a-dun-a(k) priest of Dug Water (N:1 gala-tur the u-ku6 a-dun-a fisherman)
gudu4 dama-etin-na priest of the goddess Ama-etin (N:1)
gudu4 dba- priest of the goddess Bau (N:2 including lugal-gaba also called just gudu4)
gudu4 d-ir-nun priest of the deity Eirnun (N:1)
gudu4 dnane priest of the goddess Nane (N:2)
gudu4 dnin-r-su priest of the god Ninirsu (N:1 ubur, U:1 same?)
gudu4 dnin-kilim priest of the deity Ninkilim (N:1 or 2? en-ku4, en-e-ku4, TSA 7 iii 5, xii 12)
gudu4 dug-ru priest of the Dugru temple (N:1)
gudu4 -bbbar priest of the Ebabbar temple (N:1)
gudu4 pa5-sr-ra priest from Pasira (N:1)
pa4-e anointed priest (N:1) (paiu)
l a-gb-ba man of the lustration water (U:1)
l banur man of the table (cultic or royal?) (N:1)
l dub-enuruda man of the copper (temple) treasure chest (N:1)
l u-luh-ha man of lustrations (washed hands) (N:2)
l ub5-k(-ga) person of the sacred drums (N:4)
l gme ub5-k-ga men and women of the sacred drums (N:4 1 male & 3 female, U:1 group
Lugalanda years 1-5, probably the same as the named persons)
luhax(SUMA.ME) temple offering preparer (U:1) = OS writing of luha(AH.ME.DU), see
Bauer AoN 21, 5
ugula luhax(SUMASZ.ME)-ne foreman over temple-offering preparers (U:1)
bba-igi dnane elder/witness of the goddess Nane (U:21 total, mourners in DP159)
bba-igi NINA{ki}-na elders of the city Niinx (U:1 group in royal inscriptions Ukg 4-5)
cf. bba-igi dsuen elder of the god Suen, in Steible, FAOS 5/2, AnUr 14
ePSD bba old (person); witness; father; elder; an official (abu, bu)
Lamentation singers, cantors
gala lamentation priest, cantor (involved in cult music), liturgist (N:13, U:1 plus one
underling TSA 13 ix 11)
The following groups are all recorderd in DP 159:
gala dnin-gublaga cantor of the goddess Ningublaga (U:1 group of 6)
gala dnin-urua-mu-DU cantor of the deity NinuruamuDU (U:1 group of 5)
gala -bbbar cantor of the Ebabbar temple (U:1 group of 2)
12

gala -engur cantor of the Eengur temple (U:1 group of 2)


gala igi-gl cantor of the site Igial (N:1)
gala sud- cantor of the temple Sudra (U:1)
gala r-suki cantor of the city irsu (U:1 group of 40)
gala gur-sarki cantor of the town Gursar (U:1 group of 8)
gala ki-ki cantor of the town Kie (U:1)
gala ki-nu-nirki cantor of the town Kinunir (U:1 group of 5)
gala lagaski cantor of the city Lagash (U:1 group of 20)
gala NINAki cantor of the city Niinx (U:1 group of 42)
gala pa5-e-mu-ka cantor of the site Paemu (U:1 group of 5)
gala pa5-enku cantor of the site Paenkud (U:1 group of 2)
gala UMki cantor of the town UM (U:1 group of 4)
gala urubki cantor of the town Urub (U:1 group of 6)
gala tul-galki cantor of the town Utulgal (U:1 group of 3)
gala-mah chief cantor (N:2 inim-ma-ni-zi, ur--zi, U:3)
gala-mah dnane chief cantor of Nane (U:1)
gala-mah dnin-marki chief cantor of the goddess Ninmar (U:1)
gala-mah r-suki chief cantor of irsu (N:1 ur-, U:6)
gala-mah lagaski chief cantor of Laga (N:1)
gala-mah NINAki chief cantor of NINA (U:1)
gala etubku6-di carp-performer cantor (U:2)
Nane cult personnel
bgal sage(?) (U:1) =
bgal dnane sage of Nane (also called just bgal) (U:1)
dam dnane husband of Nane (N:1 ur-nimin, chosen by omen, Urn 21)
nsi dream interpreter (N:1, U:2) See Waetzoldt, NABU 1998, p. 64
gal-dub-r chief of song tablets (U:1)
gal-l-mah great august man (U:1 VS 14, 180)
gala etubku6-di carp-performer cantor (U:2) See Foxvog, NABU 2007 pp. 80-81 (No. 67)
l-diir god-man (N:1 VS 14, 180)
dumu iib ka-zalag exorcist with a pure mouth (U:1 VS 14, 180)
Waetzoldt, NABU 1998 p64; Selz, FAOS 5/2 375: ur-KA.UD;
Donbaz-Foster Sarg Texts 170. Or read ME-immen(KA.UD)?
l dumu k-gi4-a divine(?) message transmitter (N:2)
l kas e gibil-ka man of beer made of new barley (U:1)
l KA.NINDA man of feasts (cf. ebun(KI.KA.NINDA)) ( N:2)
l ma-sa2-l-la basket carrier (U:3 groups of 2-4 persons)
l ng-garig-dim4 man who checks the comb parts(?) (U:1)
l-ninda- bread measurer (N:1, U:2)
Mourners
r-si12 funeral wailer (U:1 group of 318 persons VS 14, 137)
lu-di performer of laments (N:4)
13

lu-di r-suki lament performer of irsu (U:18 DP 159)


gal-lu-di chief performer of laments (U:1 DP 220)
um-ma r r-su old wailing woman of irsu (U:1 group of 5 in DP 159)
l ki-hul funeral participants (at the death of queen Baranamtara) (U:1 group of r-si12 wailers,
consisting of 177 gme, 92 gala, one gala-mah, and 48 dam ab-ba, VS 14, 137)
Diviners
nsi dream interpreter, in the Nane cult (N:1, U:2) See Waetzoldt NABU 1998 p. 64
igi-du8 seer (N:2)
Scribes
dub-sar scribe (N:36 including Eniggal the nu-bnda, U:3)
dub-sar dba- scribe of Bau (N:1 = Eniggal)
dub-sar -M scribe of the Womans House (N:1 = Eniggal)
dub-sar --ga(-k) scribe of the inner house (N:1 igi-mu-AN--l)
dub-sar nsi-ka scribe of the ruler (U:1)
dub-sar ka-guru7-ka(-k) scribe of the granary superintendant (N:1 Early, AnLag 2)
dub-sar-mah chief scribe (N:5, U:1)
dub-sar-mah dnane(-k) chief scribe of Nane (U:1)
dub-sar-mah dnin-r-su chief scribe of Ninirsu (U:1 amar-ba)
dub-sar-mah dnin-marki chief scribe of Ninmar (U:1)
dub-sar-mah lagaski chief scribe of Lagash (U:1)
l dub-sar (= either ldub-sar or man of a scribe) (N:1 nam-a-zu5)
l im-dub-ba(-k) man of the demarcation mound(?) (U:1 Nik 1, 140 i 5)
Legal
l-ki-inim-ma witness (N:185)
l-n-tuku creditor (N:3 in Nik 1, 17 = Edzard SRU p. 93f.)
Military and Guards
ga-s guard, constable, soldier (N:37)
ga-s ama diir-r-ne-ka guard of the Mother of the Gods (N:1 en-u DP 184 ii 5)
ga-s(-ne) dabin gu7 guards who eat barley flour (U:1 group NIK 1, 130)
ga-s agrig guard of the steward (Laga N:1 BM 3, 18 iii 2)
ga-s nsi-gal(-k) guard of the Great Ruler/Farmer (N:1 BM 3, 13 i 2, city of Laga text )
ga-s saa guard of the temple administrator (Enentarzi) (N:4 BIN 8, 352, Ent year 17)
ga-s saa-GAR guard of the temple administrator (Lugalanda?) (N:1 Nik 1, 104)
-du8 doorkeeper (N:26, U:7, C:1 daughter)
-du8 bd doorkeeper of the city wall (N:2)
-du8 bd aa5 d-ka doorkeeper of the Field of Acacias (N:1)
14

-du8 dba- doorkeeper of the goddess Bau (N:1)


-du8 -gal doorkeeper of the palace (N:2)
-du8 -idri-ka doorkeeper of the Temple of the Scepter (N:1, U:1)
-du8 doorkeeper of the shrine (U:1)
-du8 ganun-mah doorkeeper of the great storehouse (N:1)
-du8 nam-dumu doorkeeper of the (royal) children (N:1)
-du8 ti-ra-ski doorkeeper of the Tiras temple (N:1)
-du8 tur junior doorkeeper (N:1)
-du8 urubki doorkeeper from the town Urub (N:1)
a-ga-am doorkeepers helper (N:4, U:1, C:4) Translation of Wilcke apud Civil in CUSAS 17 280
l-k gatekeeper (N:1)
military, conscripts/soldiers (N:2, U:1 large group)
military officer, see ugula under Foremen
Officials
agrig(-ge-ne) steward(s) (N:15, U:3)
agrig dnane steward of Nane (N:1 ki-tu-ni CT 50, 28 vi 5)
enku(d) (fisheries) tax collector (U:1 Nik 1, 180 ii 1)
enku-s(-k), enku-s-sa assistant(?) tax collector (N:2)
igi-du leader(?), one who goes before (N:3)
ka-dug pots supervisor (N:1)
ka-guru7 granary supervisor (N:1, U:1 (doubtless the same)
l -ninda-ka person of the bread house (N:5)
ka-ki(-k) recorder (N:1 Or 42 vii 2, Ent) (kakikku)
ka-akan(-k) chief oil maker (N:4 mainly en-u in Lug and gi-num in Ukg)
l-igi inspector(?) (N:1, U:1 once referring to a group of 35)
l-igi u8-siki-ka inspector of wool sheep (N:1)
gal- l-igi(-k) personnel chief of the inspectors (N:2)
gal- l?-igi? nsi personnel chief of the rulers inspectors (N:1 uncertain profession)
l-igi-nin person who looks around(?), perhaps a kind of official monitor or inspector?
(N:142, U:14 including 3 groups of 2-3)
This is a secondary classification; these persons all have other principal occupations.
DP 113 ix 16 igi-<nin>-na proves the reading of the LAGAB sign.
Translation is a guess; Selz, FAOS passim, translates Leute von Ansehen
l-igi-nin dba- inspectors, of Bau (U:1 DP 133 total summary)
l-igi-nin didli individual inspectors (N:12, U:1)
l-igi-nin gal-gal(-me) chief inspectors (N:10)
l-igi-nin ub-lugal -ke4-ne inspectors and royal subordinates (N:54 & U:11)
Here understood as two titles, in totals, following C. Wilke, but uncertain
15

gal- l-igi-nin personnel chief of the inspectors (U:1)


Relationship between l-igi and l-igi-nin is not clear; is l-igi an abbreviation?
l hahar-ra-na courier (N:1 CT50, 28 i 2, legal)
l u-nir-da su8 man who erects the standards (U:1)
l zi-ga man of call-ups, summoner, musterer (N:3 mainly one person in Ukg texts)
l zi-ga gala-e-ne summoner of the gala-cantors (U:1 DP 220 iv 5)
makim crown commissioner, representative (N:23)
makim udu commissioner for sheep (N:2 different from the preceding)
niir herald, crier (N:11 mainly la-la, the chief herald)
gal-niir chief herald (N:1 z-mu, not included in the preceding)
niir-mah high herald (N:1 la-la)
niir-s assistant herald (U:1 BIN 352 viii 4, Ent year 17)
niir r-suki herald of irsu (N:1 la-la)
niir hu-bu7bu-rm herald of Huburum (N:1 ur-igi, see below, VAT 4362 ii 2)
niir NINAki herald of Niinx (N:1 me-sg-nu-di Eremitage 14350 iv 3-4)
niir pa5-enku herald of Paenkud (N:1 ur-igi, see above, VAT 4362 i 3)
niir urubki herald of Urub (N:1 en-ul-tkur)
sa-du5 land recorder (N:3)
sagi cupbearer (N:46 including nita-zi following, U:1)
sagi-mah high cupbearer (N:3 including nita-zi preceding), U:2)
saa temple administrator (N:11, 10 of which are identified more specifically below)
saax(SAA.GAR) temple administrator (N:1 r-mud)
saa a-hu administrator of the Ahu temple (N:1 amar-ezem, U:3)
saa abzu administrator of the Abzu shrine (N:1 -, see the following, also called just saa)
saa abzu da niin-ka(-k) administrator of the Abzu Shrine Beside Niin (N:1 -, see
the preceding)
saa ba-gra administrator of the Bagara temple (N:1 en-gi-num)
saa dug-ru administrator of the Dugru temple (U:1)
saa -bbbar administrator of the Ebabbar temple (N:2 lugal-pirig-tur also called just saa,
sag-dnin-r-su-da)
saa -dam administrator of the Edam temple (U:1) Connect with -dam tavern(?)
saa -gal administrator of the palace (N:1 da-da, U:1)
saa -p administrator of the apa temple (N:1 -ki, also called just saa. U:1)
saa dba- temple administrator of Bau (U:1)
saa ddumu-zi temple administrator of Dumuzi (N:1 NINA-ki-du10, U:1)
16

saa den-ll temple administrator of Enlil (N:1 ur-kun)


saa d-tm-d temple administrator of atumdug (U:1)
saa dhendur-sa temple administrator of Hendursa (N:1 lam-sag-d)
saa dinana temple administrator of Inana (U:1)
saa dnane temple administrator of Nane (N:1 sig4-ki-b-gi4 also called just saa)
saa dnin-dar temple administrator of Nindar (U:1)
saa dnin-r-su-ka temple administrator of Ninirsu (N:2 Enentarzi in Ent year 19; Du-du
in text Ent 76:4, see the following. Both also called just saa)
saa-mah dnin-r-su-ka chief temple administrator of Ninirsu (N:1 du-du
in text Ent 76:9f. also called saa Ninrsuka or just saa)
saa dnin-gublaga temple administrator of Ningublaga (U:1)
saa dnin-marki temple administrator of Ninmar (N:3 l-en-na, g-b, a-AGRIG-zi in that
chronological order, the last two also called just saa)
saa d[x (x)]-ka-kam temple administrator of DN (N:1 puzur4-su)
saa utu temple administrator of Utu (U:1)
saa gur-sarki temple administrator of the town Gursar (U:1)
saa pa5-enku temple administrator of Paenkud (N:1 ki-tu-l, also called just saa)
saa pa5-sr-ra(ki) temple administrator of Pasira (N:1 lugal-dalla, also called just saa, see the
following)
saa abzu pa5-srki-ka temple administrator of the Abzu of Pasira (N:1 lugal-dalla,
see the preceding)
saa ur-tr(ki) temple administrator of the town Urtur (U:1)
saa urubki temple administrator of the town Urub (N:1 KUM-tu-)
saa zabalamki temple administrator of the city Zabalam (N:1 l in text Ent 27f)
sukkal minister, envoy, vizier (N:13 including one specifically identified below, U:1)
sukkal -M minister of the Womans House (N:1 dnin-r-su-l-mu, also called just sukkal)
sukkal nsi minister of the ruler (N:1 en-abzu-si)
sukkal-mah high minister (N:2 en-g-ra-a-ni, l-dba-)
sukkal-mah dnane high minister of Nane (U:2)
gal-sukkal chief minister (N:1 ur-d-ir-nun)
agan-k one who binds up oil-vessels(?) (N:2 nearly all z-mu)
-kul a kind of high-level messenger(?) (N:1) See Michalowski, JCS 58, 53
Foremen
gal-(-k) chief of personnel (N:19)
gal- gme-ne(-k) personnel chief of female workers (N:1 ur-sa also called just gal-)
gal- l personnel chief of porters (N:5)
gal- ir11 --ga personnel chief of slaves of the inner palace (N:1)
gal- l-igi(-k) personnel chief of the inspectors(?) (N:2 ur-dnin-a-su & ur-igi who is also called
just gal-)
gal- l?-igi? nsi personnel chief of the rulers inspectors(?) (N:1 l)
gal- l-igi-nin personnel chief of the inspectors(?) (U:1)
17

gal- m-gal-gal personnel chief of big-boats sailors (N:2, U:1)


gal- u-ku6-e-ne chief of fishing personnel (N:1)
nu-bnda overseer (N:9 including amar-ezem & ur-digi-ama- following, U:2)
nu-bnda igi-du overseer of the leaders(?) (N:1 ur-ki)
nu-bnda dnin-r-su overseer of Ninirsu (N:1 amar-ezem also called just nu-bnda)
nu-bnda dnin-marki overseer of Ninmar (U:1)
nu-bnda -gal overseer of the palace (N:1 p-la-l)
nu-bnda -gibil overseer of the New Temple (U:1)
nu-bnda lum-ma-tur overseer of the household of PN (N:1 lugal-bra-ga-ni-du10 of Laga)
nu-bnda gal-l-mah overseer of the Chief Exalted Man, in the Nane cult (N:1 en-ku-li)
nu-bnda nam-dumu(-k) overseer of the (royal) children (N:1 ur-digi-ama- also called just
nu-bnda )
nu-bnda nu overseer of cow herders (U:1)
ugula foreman (N:58, U:4 some foremen are also identified specifically in the following)
ugula platoon leader (military rank) N:27), U:2) See also s.v. Military
ugula -gal-ka foreman of the inner palace (N:1)
ugula ub-lugal-ke4-ne foreman over royal subordinates (N:3)
ugula ga-s foreman over the guards (N:3)
ugula surx(ERIM2) suh5-ha foreman over select teams (N:2 e-da-hul & e-ta, possibly the same)
ugula dnane foreman of the goddess Nane (N:1)
ugula dnin-bn-da foreman of the goddess Ninbanda (U:1)
ugula gme-ne(-k) foreman over female workers (N:8)
ugula i-kin-ti foreman over craftsmen (N:1)
ugula r-d --ka foreman over slaves of the inner house (N:3)
ugula l, ugula l-ne(-k) foreman over porters (N:7, U:1)
ugula iri city foreman (N:3)
ugula ki-h-ka foreman of the piggery (N:1)
ugula ki-siki(-k) foreman of the wool installation (N:5, U:1)
ugula luhax(SUMASZ.ME)-ne foreman over temple-offering preparers (U:1)
ugula l-dun-a foreman over subordinated men (N:1)
ugula l-igi foremen of inspectors(?) (N:2)
ugula m-gal-gal(-k) foreman over big-boats (men) (N:1)
ugula m-gur8 barge foreman (N:2)
ugula-ne ab-ba-ne foreman & patriarchs = 2 ration-list categories in VS 27, 9 (N:5
are called ugula, N:15 with assorted standard occupations are called ab-ba-ne)
ugula nu-bnda overseers foreman (N:1)
ugula PN(-k) PNs foreman (N:16)
ugula simug foreman over metalsmiths (U:1)
Untitled foremen of igi-nu-du8 (i) blind orchard workers (N:11)
Untitled foremen of igi-nu-du8 i-kin-ti blind crafts workers (N:6)
Untitled foremen of l porters (N:6)
Untitled ub-lugal foreman over ub-lugal underlings (N:2)
18

Untitled ga-s foreman over ga-s underlings (N:1)


Untitled foreman over (female) ki-siki wool place or ki-gu linen place workers (N:7)
Slaves
ir11 slave (male or female) (N:12, U:1)
ir11 abzu urubki slave of the Abzu shrine of the town Urub (U:1)
ir11 dlugal-urubki slave of the god Lugalurub (N:1)
ir11 dnane slave of Nane (N:1)
ir11 dnin-r-su-ka slave of Ninirsu (N:1)
ir11 nsi-GAR slave of the ruler (N:1)
ir11 l personal slave (U:11, 6 of whom are opposed to gme l in Nik 1, 19)
gal- ir11 --ga personnel chief over slaves of the inner house (N:1)
sa slave (lit. head) (N:3)
sa dub recorded (tabletted) slave (N:123, C:26+)
sa munus female slave (U:3)
sa nita male slave (N:28, C:9 often referring to more than one child)
sa nita di4-di4 young male slaves (U:1)
sa sa10 bought slaves (N:116, C:4 most likely prisoners of war, in Ukg year 6)
l-dun-a subordinate(d) person (N:26 males and females, U:1)
l-dun-a PN is the same as l PN
(l-dun-a) the person to whom another is subordinated (N:30 all males)
ub-lugal(-k) subordinates of the king (N:92, U:20+ many groups of 4-19)
See discussion of RU-lugal (-k) by Schrakamp in AOAT 401, 699ff.
ub-lugal dnin-r-su-ka royal subordinates of Ninirsu (U:2 Nik 1, 58 i 2f, ITT V 9229 ii 2f)
ama-tu(d) house-born slave (N:2) (dum)
bur-sa a kind of servant (N:2 in Enmetana and Ukg)
Female Servants and Workers
General
gme female domestic servant (type not further specified) (N:3, U:4) Selz: Magd; ePSD:
female worker; Wilcke SBAW 2003/2 p. 54 female slave or female worker
gme l personal female servant (N:5 two also called gme pa5-sr-ra, Nik 1, 19)
munus woman (N:15, C:2) Equivalent to r-d munus
munus-bar foreign (or extra?) woman (N:11 including 1 dead woman)
Servants of the Womans House under Enentarzi, totals rubric
gme dumu dm-tur female servants and children of (queen) Dimtur (N:42, U:1 group of 5, C:3)
gme dumu gme-dnane female servants of (princess) Geme-Nane (N:28, U:3, C:5)
Servants of the Womans House, totals rubric, end of Lug and before Ukg year 2
gme dumu dub didli female servants and children on individual tablets (U:3)
19

gme dumu igi-nu-du8 dub didli female servants and children, blinded workers, on
individual tablets (U:1 group)
gme dumu l igi-nu-du8 female servants and children, porters, and blinded workers
(U:1 group)
gme bar-bi-l extra female servants (N:12-15, C:3-4, O:2-3)
Servants of King Urukaginas Queen Sasas household, totals rubric
gme dba- female servants, of Bau (U:36 TSA 9 ii 6 among mourners at the funeral of
the ex-queen Baranamtara)
gme dumu dba- female servants and children, of Bau (U:1 group e.g. HSS 3, 4, AWL 45)
gme dumu -rum dba- female servants and children, property of Bau (N:483 in one
particular textual example)
gme s-du11 female regular-provisions recipient, sub-division of gme dumu -rum dba-
type ration lists (N:19 of which six are also found with another title, C:5) Translation
follows Selz, who assumes no connection with later religious use of term s-du11 .
Alternately perhaps regular-offering preparer? Usually follows linen workers.
Servants of King Urukaginas personal household totals rubric
gme dnin-r-su female servants, of Ninirsu (U:112 TSA 9 ii 5 among mourners at the funeral
of the ex-queen Baranamtara)
gme dumu dub didli dnin-r-su-ka female servants and children, individual tablets, of
Ninirsu (U:1 group)
Servants of temple households
gme dnin-r-su female slave of Ninirsu (N:1 RTC 16 i 3: Zanini, bought by Dimtur, consort of
Enentarzi)
gme -du10 ddumu-zi female servants and infants of Dumuzi (U:16, C:6 mourners in DP 159)
gme -du10 dnane female servants and infants of Nane (U:105, C:51 mourners in DP 159)
gme -du10 dnin-dar female servants and infants of Nindara (U:10, C:3 mourners in DP 159)
gme -du10 dnin-marki female servants and infants of Ninmar (U:14, C:7 mourners in DP 159)
gme dumu diir-ne female servants and children of the gods (U:145 total summary in DP 159,
U:2 other groups)
Linen workers
gme ki-gu-ka female servants of the linen/flax workplace (N:1)
ki-gu (ones) of the linen workplace (N:33, U:2, C:3 groups) Cf. gme ki-gu, engar ki-gu
ki-gu u4-bi-ta (ones) formerly of the linen workplace (N:22, C:2)
Wool workers
gme ki-siki-ka female servant of the wool workplace (N:1) =
ki-siki(-k) (ones) of the wool workplace (N:229, U:5, C:39 single or multiple children)
cf. nu-siki munus/nita
ki-siki u4-bi-ta (ones) formerly of the wool workplace (N:57,C:15, O:1)

20

Goat and pig workers


gme ma-kam female servants, of goats (N:15 of which 12 are also found in other jobs, C:8
of which 4 also found in other jobs)
gme ki-h-ka female servants, of the piggery (U:4) =
ki-h(-k) ones of the piggery (U:7-12, O:2, C:4-7)
gme h n-gu7-a female servants of fattened pigs (N:35 ; U:2, O:4)
Food preparers
gme kikken(AR3) female miller (N:25, C:8; N:7)
ki-kikken (= gme-kikken) ones of the milling-place (U:4 DP 175 iii7-9)
kkkin(AR3.AR3) (male) miller (N:1 lugal--da)
gme NUNUZ.KISIM5xTITAB2 female preparers of ... foodstuff (N:7, U:1, C:3)
Servants from outside Girsu
gme ki-sal4-la female servant of the city Kisalla (U:5 mourners in DP 159)
gme pa5-sr-ra female servant of the town Pasirra (N:2)
gme ummaki female servant of the city Umma (N:1)
r-d munus female domestic servant (N:19, U:7, C:3 most identified elsewhere)
(munus omitted in Nik 1, 17-18)
l-umum-ma (female) persons of ... (N:5, U:2)
Male Servants and Workers
General
uru able-bodied male worker (N:1 lugal-eden-n gala uru-am6 Nik 1, 17)
Cf. also engar-uru-ne(-k) & min-uru
l porter (both male and female) (N:94, U:5 including groups of 10-15, C:1)
gal- l chief of portage personnel (N:5)
r-d male (domestic) servant (N:5, U:1) in Lugalanda and Urukagina years
r-d dm-tur male servant of queen Dimtur (N:33, C:1 all in DP 176 Enz)
r-d ur-tar(-sr-sr) male servant of prince Urtarsirsir (N:2 Enz)
r-d --ga male domestic servant of the inner house (N:29, U:2) in Lug and Ukg years
l persons (U:64 ITT V 9236 ii 2)
nita male (worker) (N:4) opposite munus, cf. nu-siki nita/munus, dumu nita/munus
Agricultural workers in teams
surx(ERIN2) team (N:57, U:16)
surx KA-k contingent of teams (U:1)
surx(ERIN2) suh5-ha select teams (N:247, U:2)
surx(ERIN2) z-s-sa assembled teams (N:10,U:1 all also found elsewhere with different job
descriptions) =
l surx(ERIN2) z-s-sa men of assembled teams (N:31, U:6 groups) In addition,
21

Wengler 2 lists a total of 100 such men with various occupations bd-da n-a-am6
camped on the wall
ama surx(ERIN2)(-k) main (elite) troops (N:173) (ummt bi)
ses brother (= abbr. of ses surx(ERIM2)-ra below)
ses gub-ba serving brother, member of a regular work group for irrigation and cultivation
(so Maeda, ASJ 5, 72f.) (N;8,U:8)
ses surx(ERIM2)-ra team brother (abbr. ses) (N:48, U:1 5 herders, rest fishermen)
ses tu-a/a4 seated brother, member of a special work group for occasional projects ( so
Maeda) (N:9 foremen, U:11 mostly also elsewhere with different job descriptions)
ses tu-a4 surx-ra(-k) special work group team (N:8 foremen)
min-uru paired workers (N:42 Ukg year 6)
Merchants and Traders
dam-gr merchant (N:31, U:1 foreman of 9 l)
dam-gr <?>-AN-kal-ga-ka merchant of ... ANkalaga (N:1)
dam-gr dba- merchant of Bau (N:1 = ur--m)
dam-gr -M merchant of the Womans House (N:2 one of whom is ur--m)
dam-gr nsi-ka merchant of the ruler (U:1 Nik 1, 124)
dam-gr-gal chief merchant (N:1 hur-sa--mh Urn 51 rev v 2) Early Laga orthography =
gal-dam-gr chief merchant (N:3 ur--m , -umbin-ki-du10, lugal-ur(-ra)
Selz, FAOS 15/1. p. 332 preposed gal- vermutlich reine Schreibkonvention; cf. Bauer,
AWL p. 92 to No. 5 iv 7. On ur---m see M. Lambert, OrAnt 20 (81) 175-185
gal-dam-gr dba-(-k) chief merchant of Bau (N:1 ur--m )
gal-dam-gr -M(-k) chief merchant of the Womans House (N:1 ur--m )
gal-dam-gr nsi(-ka) chief merchant of the ruler (N:1 ur--m)
ge long-distance merchant (N:2 amar--gal & gri-n-ba-TUSZ; U:1)
ge-mah chief long-distance merchant (N:1 = U:1 gri-n-ba-TUSZ)
nam-ge im(-k) college of long-distance aromatics merchants (U:1 DP 513)
nam-ge sa-e26-ne(-k) college of long-distance slave merchants (U:1 DP 513)
Kinship terminology
Standard familial terms
a (ya) father (especially in personal names)
ama mother
dumu child, son, daughter
dumu-munus daughter
dumu-nita son
nin sister
ses brother
-du10 infant, young child
22

dam spouse (of either gender)


ibila heir (U:1 DP 138 v 10)
pa-bl-ga ancestor (N:1 king ur-dnane)
Other
ab-ba elder, father, patriarch; head of household (N:13, U:2)
Also occurs as a personal name and component of personal names
ab-ba -gal elder of the palace (N:3)
ama iri mother of the city (honorific) (N:1 = pa4-pa4 = title of queen Baranamtara)
ama-tu(d) (see Slaves)
dam ab-ba wives of chiefs of households (U:2)
dam dumu(-ni) (ones) spouse and children, (Kern)-Familie (U:2 two unamed dead royal
females in offering texts)
nu-ma-ku (nu-ma-su) widow (N:5)
nu-siki(-k) waif, orphan (N:9, U:1, C:1)
nu-siki munus female waif (N:9, U:1)
nu-siki nita male waif (N:6 , U:3)
p-ta-p-da foundling, found in the well-pit (U:1 RTC 16 i 1, Enmetena year 19)
Gentilics
ambarki (N:1 -TAR VAT 4872)
dumu gur-sar citizen of Gursar (N:1 Ur-Nane, in royal inscriptions)
dumu uru-azki-ka citizen of Bear City (N:13 = igi-nu-du8 blinded prisoners of war DP 339)
See Selz RAI 36, 41f.
elam Elamite (N:16)
elam-me-ne Elamites (U:1 referring to nam-gae long-distance merchants RTC 20)
ki-elam of the Elamite Land (N:1 ur-den-ki Nik 1, 19)
l-kr stranger (U:1)
mar-tu(-ne) Amorite (U:1)
nibruki of Nippur (N:1 lu5-ka VAT6121 legal)
pa5-e-mu of Paemu (U:1 lugal-an-da)
pa5-sr-ra(-me) (they are) of Pasira (N:31)
l pa5-sr-ra(-kam, -me) person of Pasira (N:2 l-p, ur-dza-ra among l dba-)
-p-da(-me) (they are) of the apada temple (N:2 DP 591)
ummaki(-k) of Umma (N:2)
a-dun(-am6) Ummaki (-kam) of the dug water of Umma (N:1 ne-sa, written in two lines
[a]-dun-m, ummaki-kam in DP 112 rev iv 2-3)
Cf. gudu4 a-dun-a(k), u-ku6 a-dun-a, and unclear a-nin
ki
urub (-ba) of Urub (N:3)
Royalty
23

General
nsi governor, ruler (originally farmer) (N:3 Enentarzi, Lugalanda, Urukagina,
U:3 Lug, Ukg, gan-dba- the sister of the nsi (= Lug?) in VS 14, 106 i 3)
nsi adabki ruler of Adab (U:1 RTC 19, Nik 1, 282)
nsi-gal great ruler (U:1 texts of Ukg years 1/4/6; ex-nsi in DP 33?)
Cooper, SARI 53 translates chief executive
nsi-gal dnin-r-su-ka chief ruler/farmer(?) of Ninirsu (N:1 Enmetena)
nsi-GAR probably variant writing of nsi (U:1)
nsi lagaski (N:6, U: many references)
nsi m-gur8 ruler of barges (N:1 mu-e-[...] Urn 51) Cooper SARI supervisor of m.
Steible understands as a personal name.
nsi ummaki ruler of Umma (N:6 Ent > Ukg: ur-lum-ma, l, en--kal-le, lugal-z-ge-si,
USZ, pa-bl-gal-tuku, U:1 in Ean 1)
nsi uru-azki ruler of Bear City (U:1 texts Ean2-3: city destroyed, nsi killed, Elamite)
nsi uru18(URUxA)ki ruler of Uru (N:1 i4(E3)-ku4 Nik 1, 310 viii 5, U:1)
l lagas Man of Lagash (title) (U:1 Urn 51, king Ur-Nane)
Parallel l uri5 appears in this text in the next line
l ummaki Man of Umma (title) (U:2 Urn 51, DP 143 Ukg 5)
l unugki-ga Man of Uruk (title) (N:1 lugal-?, U:1 Lugalzagesi)
l uri5 Man of Ur (title of Ur-Nane) (U:1 Urn 51, follows l Lagas = Ur-Nane)
l uru18(URUxA)-a Man of Uru (N:1 gu-NI-DU, no date)
lugal king (many references)
lugal Akakki King of Akak (N:1 zu-zu, U:3 same, in Ean texts 2 & 3)
lugal r-suki King of irsu (N:1 Urukagina)
lugal Kiki king of Kish (N:2 en-an-na-tum, me-salim; U:1)
lugal Lagaski king of Laga (N:1 Urukagina)
lugal-mu (speak) to my king! (U:1 letter, Nik 1, 177 ii 4, Enentarzi? year 4)
munus The Woman, Madam (so A. Jagersma) (U:2 queen Baranamtara or queen Sasa)
nin kur dilmunki-na queen of Dilmun (U:1 VAT 4345)
nin Lagaski queen of Lagash (U:1 VAT 4345)
Family of royals
ab-ba nsi-ka father of the ruler (U:1 DP 224)
ab-ba munus father of the Woman (= the queen) (U:1 DP 224)
ama munus mother of the Woman (N:1 = igi-ga, mother of queen Sasa (?) in TSA 2 i 11)
ama nsi(-ka) mother of the ruler (N:1 gi-ri VS 14, 164, U:1 DP 224)
di4-di4-la-ne (and variants) (royal) children (little ones) Cf. e-ba l di4-di4-la-ne in totals,
people of the royal offsprings households, parallel to e-ba l i-kin-ti gme dumu,
etc., all in Ukg texts
dumu (royal) son or daughter (N:17)
24

DUMU-DUMU(-ne) the (royal) children (N:2 gme-dnane, munus-sa6-ga), U:6)


Read dumu-dumu(-ne) or di4-di4(-ne) as var. of or di4-di4-l(-ne)?
dumu nsi-(ka) (N:3 gme-dnane, munus-sa6-ga, ur-tar-sr-sr)
l-tur (royal) children (little persons) (U:1 gme-dnane, munus-sa6-ga)
mussa PN(-k) son-in-law of PN (N:5)
mussa nsi-ka son-in-law of the ruler (N:1)
nam-dumu individual children (of a royal household) (N:3)
cf. -du8 nam-dumu doorkeeper of the children
nam-dumu (royal) children as a group (U:2)
nam-dumu lugal-an-da children of king Lugalanda (U:1)
nin nsi-ka sister of the ruler (N:9; U:2)
nin munus sister of the Woman (N:2 ki-tu-l, nin---m , U:1)
nin-tur/bnda young(er) sister (of Dimtur?) (N:1 munus-sa6 BIN 8 353 Enmetena year 17)
ses nsi-ka brother of the ruler (N:1 amar-ezem DP 487)
ses munus brother of the Woman (N:5, U:2)
ses tud blood brothers (born brothers) (U:1 a group of 10, of queen Baranamtara TSA 9 i 8)
Dead royalty in the ancestor cult
en-en KU-KU-ne the lords who are ... (N:5 gme-dba-, gu-NI-DU, me-niar-ta, munus-sa6-ga,
nin-me-zi DP 77) cf. KU-KU-ne
en-en-n-ne the lords (N:8 du-du, en-n-tar-zi, gme-dba-, gu-NI-DU, me-nigar-ta, munussa6-ga, munus-tur, nin-me-zi, U:1 unnamed wife DP 73)
gedim-e-ne ghosts (N:5 gme-dba-, gu-NI-DU, me-niar-ta, munus-sa6-ga, nin-me-zi, here
receiving garments VS 14, 163)
KU-KU-ne ... (N:9 gme-dba-, gu-NI-DU, me-nigar-ta, munus-sa6-ga, nin-me-zi, i-ri ama
nsi-ka, gan-dba- nin nsi-ka, da-da saa -gal, munus-tur VS 14 164)
Personnel of Deities, Temples, or Royalty
l DN: Persons in the service of a deity
l dba-(-ke4-ne) person(s) of Bau (U:2)
l dig-alim persons of Igalim (son of Ninirsu) (U:1 group DP 564)
l dnane person of Nane (N:4, U:3)
l dnin-dar person of Nindar (consort of Nane) (N:1 dnin-dar-EN, U:3 one individual and
two small groups)
d
l ul--ga-ka persons of ulaga (son of Ninirsu) (U:1 group DP 564, Nik 1, 55) =
d
ul-MUxPA (ones) of ulMUxPA (an earlier dynastic god) (U:1 HG 12, Selz restores: <l> DN)
(l) TN: Persons in the service of a temple
ba-gra (person) of the Bagara temple (N:1 ur-dnin-r-su, a fitting name )
dug-ru (person) of the Dugru temple (N:1 ur-du6)
ib-gal (person) of the Great Oval temple (N:1 -ir-nun, Enmetena year)
ki-a-na (person) of the Libation Place cultic site (N:2)
-bbbar (person) of the Ebabbar temple (N:8; N:1)
cf. gala/gudu4/nar/saa -bbbar
25

dba-(-ke4-ne) (persons) of the Temple of Bau (N:65, U:81, C:10, O:1)


ddumu-zi-ka person of the Temple of Dumuzi (N:1)
l RN: Persons in the service of royalty
l bra-nam-tar-ra personnel of (queen) Baranamtara (N:7, U:2 including 4 fishermen & 2
agricultural workers; plus N:24 and U:19 groups, also foremen, totalling 223 persons fed
rations in RTC 52 rev iv 1; several also served under queen Dimtur)
l dm-tur personnel of queen Dimtur (N:9, U:3 groups, several also served under next queen
Baranamtaras; mostly foremen over fishermen)
l a-en-n-ki- personnel of (prince) Aenekia (N:18, U:4, C:1)
l a-en-ra-gub personnel of (prince) Aenragub (N:3)
l a-en-ra-mu-gi4 personnel of (prince) Aenramugi (N:7)
l gme-dba--ka personnel of (princess) Geme-Bau (N:47, U:1 group of 2-3, C:4, O:2)
l gme-dnane-ka personnel of (princess) Geme-Nane (N:28, U:1, C:4)
l gme-tar-sr-sr-ka personnel of (princess) Geme-tarsirsira (N:48, U:4, C:1)
l munus-sa6-ga personnel of (princess) Munussaga (N:20)
l sa6-sa6 men of queen Sasa (N:3 Elamite slaves from Uruaz)
l ubur(-dba-) personnel of (prince) ubur-Bau (N:13)
l ur-tar-sr-sr-ra personnel of Ur-tarsirsira (son of king Enentarzi) (N:26, U:18 including large
groups)
l --ga personnel of the inner house (N:8 ur- not among these)
l -gal-la personnel of the palace (N:1 ur- )
-M(-ka-k) (persons) of the Womans House (N:10 fishermen, U:2)
l-su-a acquaintances (of the ruler) (N:11 Lugalanda years)
l-su-a nsi-ka-ke4 -ne acquaintances of the ruler (Urukagina) (U:1 group, foods provided, also,
in next line, for ur -M neighbors of the Womans household DP 161 i 3-4)
ur neighbor (N:36 with various occupations, U:10 wives and children)
ePSD uur (female) neighbor; secondary wife (i'tu)
ur bra-nam-tar-ra neighbor of queen Baranamtara (N:21, U:1 wife)
ur -M neighbor of the Womans House (N:19, U:1 wife)
ur nam-dumu(-k) neighbor of the (royal) children (of Urukagina) (N:31, U:3 wives, C:4, plus
U:1 group in DP 161)
l CHILDREN: Persons in the service of royal children
l di4-di4-la-ne(-k), di4-di4-ke4-ne personnel of the children (N:2, U:1)
l nam-dumu uru-ka-gi-na personnel of the children of Urukagina (N:5, U:22 & 2 groups, C:2)
l nam-dumu dig-alima personnel of the children of (the prince god) Igalima (N:45, U:3 groups,
C:3) Presumably same household as the preceding)
Other Personnel (Allotment) Groups
l-didli miscellaneous/various persons (N:58, U:10)
26

l e a de6-a (persons) who brought grain and water (N:1, U:3 FAOS 15/2, 125)
l ga k munu4 k ba persons who give sacred milk and malt (N:86 all are l-igi-nin)
l is omitted in TSA 5
l ga k de6-a(-ne) persons who brought sacred milk (N:5, U:5)
l ninda-ba persons getting a food ration (N:38 foremen and some U:31 work groups of
varying sizes, mainly irrigation/agriculture) Foods include breads, beer-breads, cake,
fish, barley oil and beer
l ninda aa5 ma ba persons given bread/food for field ... (N:69, U:39)
l iti-da persons receiving rations by the month as opposed to l uku-dab5-ba (N:17, U:5)
l uku dab5-ba persons who take quarterly subsistance rations (N:98, U:39)
l uku dab5-ba (dba-, l--rum dba-) ditto, of Bau/persons belonging to Bau (N:98 mostly
foremen, U:64 many groups of multiple persons, so grand total is higher)
l uku nu-gl-la-ke4-ne persons without quarterly subsistance rations (N:7)
l e-ba e-tag4-a persons who have left behind a barley ration (N:20, U:10 groups of
between 6 and 14 igi-nu-du8 kak-a-ku5 and nu-kiri6 , C:1 HSS 3, 19)
sa-dub tableted head (a classification of overwhelmingly female workers, in sub-totals)
(N:114, C:28+ individual or multiple children)
g-ba ... (a classification of female workers, in sub-totals) (N:122)
Unclear
AH-DU-DU ... (N:1 su4-sar)
GAM-GAM (animal) breaker(?) (N:1 en-DU)
Cf. ane-GAM donkey breaker(?) (N:1 ur-den-ki)
GAR-TIN (N:1 bi-su-g)
LAK312-du8 ... (N:6) LAK312 = RSP194 = SAGxDU3 = muh2/muhim
l-dub(-ba-k) man of the tablet (N:1, U:1 = prossibly the same person but in a legal text)
l-ti (personal name or profession?) (N:2 DP 591 iii 7, v 2)
l-U ... (N:1 sa-dnin-r-su-da, HG 12, rev iii 1)
MI ... (N:1 gissu-na-ni-du10 Eremitage 8067 rev iv 4) Also a profession in Fara.
Perhaps read giggi black?

Guerneville, CA USA
December 2014

27

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