Puzer-Mama
Encyclopedia
Puzer-Mama was a ruler of Lagash
before Gudea
. Though he adopted the title of lugal
, Puzer-Mama shows kinship with future Lagashite kings in the religiosity of his inscriptions.
Taking control of Lagash during Shar-kali-sharri
’s reign, when troubles with the Guti
left the Sargonic king with only “a small rump state whose center lay at the confluence of the Diyala
and Tigris
river.” (Sargonic and Gutian Periods, p. 186) Contrast Puzer-Mama’s royal inscription, wherein he receives the various and thematically appropriate gifts of the gods, power by Ningirsu, intelligence by Enki
, and position by Inanna
, (Sargonic and Gutian Periods, p. 272) thereby making him suitable for rulership, with the contemporary religious element of Shar-kali-sharri's various inscriptions, a call for the gods to punish any who alter his inscriptions, specifically to, “tear out his foundations and destroy his progeny”, one of a number of curses for protection of royal inscriptions which date back to the reign of Sargon.
Lagash
Lagash is located northwest of the junction of the Euphrates and Tigris rivers and east of Uruk, about east of the modern town of Ash Shatrah. Lagash was one of the oldest cities of the Ancient Near East...
before Gudea
Gudea
Gudea was a ruler of the state of Lagash in Southern Mesopotamia who ruled ca. 2144 - 2124 BC. He probably did not come from the city, but had married Ninalla, daughter of the ruler Urbaba of Lagash, thus gaining entrance to the royal house of Lagash...
. Though he adopted the title of lugal
Lugal
Lugal is the Sumerian cuneiform sign for leader from the two signs, LÚ.GAL , and was one of several Sumerian titles that a ruler of a city-state could bear . The sign eventually became the predominant Sumerian term for a King in general. In the Sumerian language, lugal is used to mean an owner...
, Puzer-Mama shows kinship with future Lagashite kings in the religiosity of his inscriptions.
Taking control of Lagash during Shar-kali-sharri
Shar-Kali-Sharri
Shar-Kali-Sharri was a king of the Akkadian Empire.According to the Sumerian king list, he was the son of Naram-sin and reigned for 25 years - around 2100 BC...
’s reign, when troubles with the Guti
Guti
Guti may refer to:*Jose María Gutiérrez Hernández, usually known as Guti, Spanish footballer.*The Gutian people, founders of the Gutian dynasty of Sumer*A people of Scandia mentioned by Ptolemy ; in later Latin known as Gutones and Gothi....
left the Sargonic king with only “a small rump state whose center lay at the confluence of the Diyala
Diyala River
The Diyala River after Darban-e Khan Dam:Kurdish: Sirwan, سيروان, , Persian: سیروان دیاله, is a river and tributary of the Tigris that runs mainly through Eastern Iraq but also Western Iran. It covers a total distance of ....
and Tigris
Tigris
The Tigris River is the eastern member of the two great rivers that define Mesopotamia, the other being the Euphrates. The river flows south from the mountains of southeastern Turkey through Iraq.-Geography:...
river.” (Sargonic and Gutian Periods, p. 186) Contrast Puzer-Mama’s royal inscription, wherein he receives the various and thematically appropriate gifts of the gods, power by Ningirsu, intelligence by Enki
Enki
Enki is a god in Sumerian mythology, later known as Ea in Akkadian and Babylonian mythology. He was originally patron god of the city of Eridu, but later the influence of his cult spread throughout Mesopotamia and to the Canaanites, Hittites and Hurrians...
, and position by Inanna
Inanna
Inanna, also spelled Inana is the Sumerian goddess of sexual love, fertility, and warfare....
, (Sargonic and Gutian Periods, p. 272) thereby making him suitable for rulership, with the contemporary religious element of Shar-kali-sharri's various inscriptions, a call for the gods to punish any who alter his inscriptions, specifically to, “tear out his foundations and destroy his progeny”, one of a number of curses for protection of royal inscriptions which date back to the reign of Sargon.