Aga commonly known as Aga of Kish, was the twenty-third and last king in the first dynasty of Kish during the 26th century BC. He is listed in the Sumerian King List and many sources as the son of Enmebaragesi. The Kishite king ruled the city at its peak, probably reaching beyond the territory of Kish including Umma and Zabala. The Sumerian poem Gilgamesh and Aga records the Kishite siege ofUruk after his lord Gilgamesh refused to submit after him; ending in his defeat and consequently the fall of Kish's hegemony.
Etymology
The name of Aga is Sumerian and relatively rarely attested personal name in Early Dynastic times, making his identification in royal texts spottable. His name appears in the Stele of Ushumgal, as the gal-ukkin. AK was likely an Early Dynastic spelling of Akka,. The name in question is to be interpreted as a Sumerian genitival phrase, Akka probably means "Made by ". , his name appears as the Great Assembly
Historical king
Aga is attested in two compositions of historiographical nature, The Sumerian King List and the Tummal Inscription, both as the son Enmebaragesi, who has been verified through archaeological inscriptions; these sources may confirm Aga and Gilgamesh's existence. Aga's name has appeared in the Stele of Ushumgal and in the :File:Inanna bead of King Aga.jpg|Gem of King Aga, both showing influence over Umma. ''
Reign
According to the Sumerian King List, Kish had the hegemony of Sumer where he reigned 625 years, succeeding his father Enmebaragesi to the throne, finally ending in defeat by Uruk. The use royal titleKing of Kish expressing a claim of national rulership owes its prestige to the fact that Kish once did ruled the entire nation. Archeology evidence from Kish shows a city flourishing, with its political influence extending beyond the territory, however in ED III the city declined rapidly. There is some scant evidence to suggest that like the later Ur III kings, the rulers of ED Kish sought to ingratiate themselves to the authorities in Nippur, possibly to legitimize a claim for leadership over the land of Sumer, or at least part of it. His reign probably took over Umma, and consequently Zabala, which was dependant of it in the Early Dynastic Period. This can be supported on his appearance the :File:Inanna bead of King Aga.jpg|Gem of King Aga, where he is mentioned as king of Umma.
''Gilgamesh and Aga''
In the poem Gilgamesh and Aga, Aga of Kish sends messengers to his vassal Gilgamesh in Uruk with a demand to work on the irrigation of Kish as slaves. Gilgamesh repeats it before the assembly of the "city fathers" to suggest revealing against Aga, however, this proposition is rejected. Gilgamesh, not satisfied with the answer, proposes the same to the guruš who would have to work themselves as slaves, they accept the uprising against Aga and appoint Gilgamesh as Lugal. After ten days Aga leads his army to the walls of Uruk, whose citizens are now confused and intimidated. Gilgamesh asks for a volunteer to stand before Aga, the royal guardBirhurtura offers himself. On leaving the city gates, he is captured and brought before Aga himself, who interrogates and tortures him. In front of Aga, Birhurtura describes in detail how his army will break, these words are not to demoralize the enemy, but to encourage the Urukeans. Gilgamesh leans to the wall; his divine radiance doesn't frighten Aga, but is beheld by the Kishite army. Enkidu and the guruštake advantage on the confusion of the enemies and breaks trough them; Aga is captured in the middle of the battle. Gilgamesh releases Aga after he withdraws his demand, leaving Uruk and Gilgamesh free from his rule.
Replacement on the poem
The Shulgi Hymn O of Akkadian Empire ruler Shulgi praises Gilgamesh poetically for defeating Enmebaragesi of Kish, instead of his son. The change of Uruk’s adversary in war against the same city may indicate two different traditions about one war. In the historical scene of the Early Dynastic period, this is quite conceivable, the best example being the prolonged war between Lagash and Umma, known from the inscriptions of five consecutive kings of Lagash. However, the assumption of two different wars is difficult to uphold, because Gilgamesh emerges as victorious in both. The way Gilgamesh addresses Aga at the end of the poem strongly alludes to some sort of military relation between them in the past, and since he expresses his indebtedness to Aga for giving him shelter and saving his life, the conclusion leads that Gilgamesh was dependent on Aga previously. This conclusion conflict with the assumption that he won a previous war against Kish. Another theory is since Enmebaragesi established the hegemony of Kish, the defeat of Aga would be less impressive than the defeat of his powerful father, who therefore served the purpose of the hymn and portrays Gilgamesh as a mighty figure. Since Enmebaragesi was inserted to replace Aga, the hymn does not reflect a separate but rather one literary tradition from the tale.
