Siege of Uruk
Gilgamesh and Aga is a poem which records the Siege of Uruk after its rebellion against Kish over working in the irrigation of the city. While the historicity of the war remains an open question, archaeological evidence traces the fall of Kish hegemony between ED II and ED III. The location of the battle is described as having occurred outside the walls of Uruk, situated east of the present bed of the Euphrates River.
The war originated from Aga of Kish demand to work as slaves for the city irrigation. Gilgamesh, lord of Uruk, starts a rebelion against the Kishite king. When Aga arrives with his troops at the walls of Uruk, they capture a single soldier who left through the gates of the city. While questioning him, Gilgamesh and his army take advantage of this diversion to charge against enemy troops and capture Aga. Finally, he sets him free to return to Kish.
This is the only of the five poems of Gilgamesh that has no mythological aspects, and it was subject of discussion since its publication in 1935 and later translation in 1949. The conflict between Uruk and Kish and the relations between Gilgamesh and Aga seemed to cast light on intercity politics and on the nature of governmental institutions, the citizens’ assembly and the emergence of kingship. Some scholars regarded the tale as a reflection of the relations between Sumerians and Semitics, a potentially important but as yet obscure issue of early Mesopotamian history.
Synopsis
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" and suggests 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.Ater 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 guard Birhurtura offers himself. On leaving the city gates, he is captured and brought before Aga himself, who interrogates and tortures him. However it didn't last until a soldier leaned to the wall, confused, Aga asks the soldier if that's his king. Birhurtura denies, replying that when their true king appears his army will be beaten to dust and him captured, this angers Aga, who continues to torture him.
Then Gilgamesh leans to the wall; his divine radiance doesn't frighten Aga, but is beheld by the Kishite army. Enkidu and the guruš take 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.
, King of Adab - as stated in the inscription of circa mid-3rd millennium BC, inscription including the Sumerian cuneiform sign of lugal
Analysis and historicity
Structure and Style
The poem is structured as an epic tale, the plot creates a linear movement of the movements between characters. Parallelism is a characteristic of the poem, which can be seen on Gilgamesh speech and response of both the elders assembly and the able-bodied man, the interrogation of Birhurtura parallels the war depiction and the framework of Aga's movement, from Kish to Uruk and returning to Kish.There are no mythological implications of gods as seen in the other Gilgamesh stories and the material of the plot seem to be taken from the reality of foreign relations between Sumerian cities. The characters are ordinary human beings, Gilgamesh sharing importance with Aga, who is superior to Gilgamesh, and his soldier Birhurtura, who is military inferior to the king although having one-fourth of the composition devoted to his contribution to the Uruk's victory. Enkidu charges against the enemy troops while Gilgamesh stands on the wall, this portrayal as a current human being, different from his other tales, creates the impression of authenticity.
Historical
According to the Sumerian King List, after the deluge Kish started its first dynasty and predominated kingship on Sumer. The title King of Kish was a most prestigious one used by rulers, which leads to an historical dominance of Kish. The archeological evidence from Kish shows that in the Early Dynastic II, the city was flourishing and the city of Kish was at its peak and that its political influence extended far beyond the city's territory. However, in Early Dynastic III the palace was deserted and the city declined rapidly. Scholars view the battle as a legitimate source for the study of certain aspects of Sumerian history during the Early Dynastic II period. 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.Aga's demand
Gilgamesh repeats it before the assembly of the elders. The poem does not make clear whether Gilgamesh reproduces Aga's message or whether it is deliberately described; however Line 4 speaks for the fact that Gilgamesh interprets the message as he was "carefully choosing his words". Only the able-bodied men, those who would have to work themselves, revolt, the statement is mitigated by the fact that we are not talking about the king, but about the 'son of the king'; perhaps a hint that Aga is still young and immature.Aga's demands meant the people of Uruk to become drawers of water unendingly, denoting slavery. The irrigation system was pivotal to life in southern Mesopotamia. Agriculture depended upon artificial irrigation and drainage, and the canals served for transportation. A vivid example of the importance of canals is found in the Stele of Vultures, erected by Eannatum of Lagash to commemorate a success in the long conflict between his city and its neighbour Umma. The conflict evolved around the control of Guedina, a field on the common border between the two cities. After describing the hostilities and his victory, Eannatum relates in detail the oath taken by the king of Umma, which concerns the irrigation system.
The object of Aga's demand is related to the very reality of existence in southern Mesopotamia, and his demand to Uruk implies that he required foreign labour to carry it out. Pre-Sargonic Lagash texts reveal a practice of mass killings of war prisoners, and recruiting foreign forces to strengthen the city was not unknown.
The same motif can be seen in Emmerkar and the Lord of Aratta, which Emmerkar demanded the people of Aratta do construction work, and those political concepts reflect those prevalent in the Ur III period. The relations between Kish and Uruk in the poem represent the Third Dynasty of Ur interpretation of the overthrow of Kishite predominance in Sumer and the establishment of the first Uruk dynasty.
Since Aga's demand was found in a proverb collection, making the answer of the guruš functionally parallel since both are made from the same literally model. Both answers begin with a strophe demonstrating authority, to make demands and conclude with a decision concerning the war.
| Agga's threat | Soldiers' response |
There are wells to be finished, Many wells of the land yet to be completed; There are narrow wells on the land to be finished, There are wells to deepen and ropes to be completed. | Standing on duty, Sitting in attendance, Escorting the king's son, Holding the bridle of the donkey. Who has that much breath? |
Assemblies
While assemblies existed, there's no record of their composition or function.Jacobsen used the Enuma Elish to demonstrate a possible purpose: When a conflict rose, the assembly were nominated to appoint one of its members as Lugal by the pronunciation of a specific formula. However the poem rather than being historically accurate, creates an antithetical parallel, making the guruš probably part of the same assembly, which assumed the authority to appoint Gilgamesh lugal.Siege of Uruk
While the text does not describe explicitly how Enkidu charged against the enemy troops, Birhurtura's actions are understood as a depiction to Aga. According to Heimpel, tricking opponents for the a dramatic turn on the development of the plot is a recurrent motif on Sumerian literature, as for example, Enki's trick to release Inanna from the netherworld, Inanna tricking Enki to gain his Me and Gilgamesh himself for striking Huwawa.Birhurture was sent out in response to the confusion of the people of Uruk when Aga's army appeared. The army's trust and loyalty in Gilgamesh were at stake. 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.
And when Gilgamesh leans on the wall, its appearance does not affect Aga's army, but to the people of Uruk, the “able-bodied men” and the “city fathers”. It may be that the inquiries at the various assemblies described at the beginning should emphasize that the good ruler should not only listen to influential people, but should also take care of the concerns of ordinary people. Gilgameš is contrasted with the unjust Akka as the ideal ruler.
Birhurtura words seem to describe his awe rather than the fearfulness of Gilgamesh appearance, however, there is no strict distinction between fear and awe in Sumerian and Akkadian. The horror can also mean recognition. The possession of me-lám is one of the basic requirements of a king. Aga does not identify Gilgamesh from his soldier and has to ask Birhurtura, the me-lam of Gilgamesh apparently does not affect him. When Gilgamesh steps on the wall, Aga is not physically overwhelmed by his sight, but his army collapses the moment Birhurtura declares he is his king.
The recognition of his subjects gives a king all power, even over his enemies. It is what Gilgameš has and what Aga has missed with his demand and is now trying in vain to get it back. The poem does not emphasize the details of the battle, as it is unimportant. But in the spirit of the warriors which gives Gilgamesh the victory. While the army of Gilgamesh follows him, the army of the unjust Aga does not fight, as he was “taken in the middle of his army”.
Gilgamesh and Aga
After the battle, Gilgamesh approaches Aga with a series of military and official titles, followed by gratitude for the mercy Aga shown him on the past.Aga my overseer, Aga my lieutenant,
Aga my military commander! Aga gave me breath,
Aga gave me life: Aga took a fugitive into his embrace, Aga provided the fleeing bird with grain
I watch over Uruk, the handiwork of the gods, its great rampart,
a cloudbank resting on the earth, its majestic residence which An established.
The city will repay the kindness shown to me.
Before Utu, your former kindness is hereby repaid to you.
According to Jacobsen, Gilgamesh was appointed in Uruk as a vassal by his king Aga, then moved by an heroic pride, instigated a rebellion.
Gilgamesh manipulates Aga on acknowledging the relief of Uruk from Kish and the end of its supremacy. His freedom to return was a repay for Aga's favours in the past. This interpretation matches with the insurgence of Gilgamesh power, both as from lord to king, and in the personal level with Aga, from a vassal to an independent king.