URUKAGINA
("Urukagina - Wikipedia." Photograph, 2000s. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urukagina)
Where does the idea of liberty first appear in writing?
ca. 2350 B.C. · Girsu/Lagash, Sumeria
Urukagina, the leader of the Sumerian city-state of Girsu/Lagash, led a popular movement that reformed the oppressive legal and governmental structure of Sumeria. His new code, preserved in cuneiform on tablets of the period, describes conditions before the reforms: “From the borders of Ningirsu to the sea, there was the tax collector.”
Reform as a return
- Leader of: Girsu/Lagash, a Sumerian city-state
- Reign: ca. 2350 B.C.
- Driven by: A popular movement against an oppressive legal and governmental structure
- Preserved in: Cuneiform on tablets of the period
- A first: His code holds the first written reference to the concept of liberty.
How do you reform an oppressive government, ca. 2350 B.C.?
Hover or tap each reform to see what changed
- A Sweeping Set of LawsUrukagina’s laws guaranteed the rights of property owners, reformed the civil administration, and instituted moral and social reforms.
- No More SeizuresHe banned both civil and ecclesiastical authorities from seizing land and goods for payment.
- Fewer Tax CollectorsHe eliminated most of the state tax collectors, answering the code’s own complaint:“From the borders of Ningirsu to the sea, there was the tax collector.”
- Limiting the StateHe ended state involvement in matters such as divorce proceedings and perfume making.
- Returning the Temple’s PropertyHe even returned land and other property his predecessors had seized from the temple.
- Fair, Public CourtsHe saw that reforms were enacted to end the abuse of the judicial process to extract money from citizens, and took great pains to ensure that legal proceedings were public.
In this code is found the first written reference to the concept of liberty.
The word is amagi (or amargi), literally “return to the mother,” used in reference to the process of reform. Its exact nature is not clear, but the idea that the reforms were a return to the original social order decreed by the gods fits well with the translation.
A replica of the cuneiform for amagi can be found immediately to the left of the inscription of Urukagina on the east wall of the Goodrich Seminar Room.
Where to read more about Urukagina and his reforms.
- 2004Women, Crime and Punishment in Ancient Law and SocietyTetlow, Elizabeth MeierA comprehensive examination of Urukagina’s reforms, especially their impact on women.
- 2007Royal Inscriptions of Mesopotamia, Early PeriodsFrayne, Douglas R.Provides critical editions of Urukagina’s inscriptions.
- 2022Urukagina’s Rise to PowerBrillDiscusses the historical context and significance of Urukagina’s reforms.brill.com
- CDLI Wiki“The Reforms of UruKAgina” and “Urukagina” entries provide artifact descriptions, translations, and references to primary texts.The Reforms of UruKAginaUrukagina
- WikipediaThe “Urukagina” entry includes links to Sumerian texts, translations, and further reading.en.wikipedia.org
Clay Artifact
("Urukagina - Wikipedia." Photograph, 2000s. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urukagina)
A tall, conical clay artifact densely covered in cuneiform script arranged in horizontal lines, displayed upright in a museum setting with a label "12" at the base.
Ancient Sumer
(AI-generated image of ancient Sumer (Grok))
In 2300 BC, Sumer, in ancient Mesopotamia (modern-day southern Iraq), thrived with city-states like Uruk and Ur, known for irrigation, ziggurats, and cuneiform writing. Skilled in trade and craftsmanship, the era saw conflicts that paved the way for the Akkadian Empire's rise.
Cone Fragment
("Urukagina - Wikiwand." Photograph, 2000s. https://www.wikiwand.com/en/articles/Urukagina)
A broken clay cone fragment inscribed with cuneiform script and six circular holes near the top, mounted on a black stand against a gray background.