Sargon the Great was the first king to rule over a unified Sumer. The Akkadian king united all the Sumerian city-states under one kingship--his kingship. A time known as the Akkadian Period came into existence, lasting from 2350-2150 BCE. Under Akkadian rule the entire region had a single language: Akkadian. Though being bilingual with Sumerian was common it marked the decline of the Sumerian language. The Semitic empire of Akkad would control land encompassing all of Mesopotamia, including Elam (modern Iran) in the east and the Levant in the west.
BUST OF SARGON
Ancient Bronzework
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He was born to a lowly gardener, and was cup-bearer for the King Ur-Zababa of Kish. According to the Legend of Sargon, Ur-Zababa feared Sargon because of his prophetic dreaming. Two times Ur-Zababa tried to have Sargon killed. The rest of legend is missing, so Sargon’s rise to power as King of Kish (and subsequently Akkad) is unknown.
Ancient Bronzework
~一~
He was born to a lowly gardener, and was cup-bearer for the King Ur-Zababa of Kish. According to the Legend of Sargon, Ur-Zababa feared Sargon because of his prophetic dreaming. Two times Ur-Zababa tried to have Sargon killed. The rest of legend is missing, so Sargon’s rise to power as King of Kish (and subsequently Akkad) is unknown.
SARGON THE GENERAL
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Sargon built the Akkadian Empire with his sword and spear. After taking control of Kish, Sargon lead his armies to Uruk. There he toppled the greatest walls in all of Mesopotamia. King Lugalzagesi of Umma fled Uruk with his army. Lugalzagesi was King of Umma, a nation of his own making that included Uruk, Ur, Nippur, and Lagash. Sargon conquered Umma and ruled over all of Akkad and Sumer. He took captured Lugalzagesi in chains to Nippur the city of the god Enlil, who was Legalzagesi’s protector. There Sargon humiliated the fallen king and pledged devoted himself to the goddess Ishtar.
Model
~一~
Sargon built the Akkadian Empire with his sword and spear. After taking control of Kish, Sargon lead his armies to Uruk. There he toppled the greatest walls in all of Mesopotamia. King Lugalzagesi of Umma fled Uruk with his army. Lugalzagesi was King of Umma, a nation of his own making that included Uruk, Ur, Nippur, and Lagash. Sargon conquered Umma and ruled over all of Akkad and Sumer. He took captured Lugalzagesi in chains to Nippur the city of the god Enlil, who was Legalzagesi’s protector. There Sargon humiliated the fallen king and pledged devoted himself to the goddess Ishtar.