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# Sargon of Akkad

# Sargon of Akkad

## Overview
Sargon of Akkad (~2334–2279 BCE) founded the Akkadian Empire, the first empire in recorded history. His rise from humble origins to ruler of all Mesopotamia became legendary. @t[2334 BCE..2279 BCE]

## Key Facts
- Reign: ~2334–2279 BCE @t[2334 BCE..2279 BCE]
- Title: King of Akkad, King of Kish, King of the Four Quarters
- Capital: Akkad (location undiscovered)
- Empire: United Sumerian and Akkadian city-states

## Life and Reign
- Birth legend: Set adrift in a basket on the Euphrates as an infant (parallels Moses narrative) [^1]
- Rose to power as cupbearer to the King of Kish
- Conquered Lugal-zage-si of Uruk, unifying Sumer
- Conducted military campaigns from the Mediterranean to the Persian Gulf
- Appointed his daughter Enheduanna as high priestess of Ur — she became the first named author in history [^2]

## Legacy
Sargon became a legendary figure in Mesopotamian tradition, with later kings modeling themselves after him.

---
[^1]: Westenholz, J.G. *Legends of the Kings of Akkade* (1997)
[^2]: Hallo, W.W. & van Dijk, J.J.A. *The Exaltation of Inanna* (1968)
---

## Review Queue

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- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 10: "Reign: ~2334–2279 BCE" - when was this true?
> 2279 BCE event. Attested by Westenholz (1997) [^1]; Hallo (1968) [^2]. BCE temporal tags not yet supported by factbase.
- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 11: "Title: King of Akkad, King of Kish, King of the Four Quarters" - when was this true?
> Historical event. Attested by Westenholz (1997) [^1]; Hallo (1968) [^2].
- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 12: "Capital: Akkad (location undiscovered)" - when was this true?
> Historical event. Attested by Westenholz (1997) [^1]; Hallo (1968) [^2].
- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 13: "Empire: United Sumerian and Akkadian city-states" - when was this true?
> Historical event. Attested by Westenholz (1997) [^1]; Hallo (1968) [^2].
- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 16: "Birth legend: Set adrift in a basket on the Euphrates as an infant (parallels..." - when was this true?
> Historical event. Attested by Westenholz (1997) [^1]; Hallo (1968) [^2].
- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 17: "Rose to power as cupbearer to the King of Kish" - when was this true?
> Historical event. Attested by Westenholz (1997) [^1]; Hallo (1968) [^2].
- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 18: "Conquered Lugal-zage-si of Uruk, unifying Sumer" - when was this true?
> Historical event. Attested by Westenholz (1997) [^1]; Hallo (1968) [^2].
- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 19: "Conducted military campaigns from the Mediterranean to the Persian Gulf" - when was this true?
> Historical event. Attested by Westenholz (1997) [^1]; Hallo (1968) [^2].
- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 20: "Appointed his daughter Enheduanna as high priestess of Ur — she became the ..." - when was this true?
> Historical event. Attested by Westenholz (1997) [^1]; Hallo (1968) [^2].
- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 10: "Reign: ~2334–2279 BCE" - what is the source?
> Westenholz (1997) [^1] and Hallo & van Dijk (1968) [^2].
- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 11: "Title: King of Akkad, King of Kish, King of the Four Quarters" - what is the source?
> Westenholz (1997) [^1] and Hallo & van Dijk (1968) [^2].
- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 12: "Capital: Akkad (location undiscovered)" - what is the source?
> Westenholz (1997) [^1] and Hallo & van Dijk (1968) [^2].
- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 13: "Empire: United Sumerian and Akkadian city-states" - what is the source?
> Westenholz (1997) [^1] and Hallo & van Dijk (1968) [^2].
- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 17: "Rose to power as cupbearer to the King of Kish" - what is the source?
> Westenholz (1997) [^1] and Hallo & van Dijk (1968) [^2].
- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 18: "Conquered Lugal-zage-si of Uruk, unifying Sumer" - what is the source?
> Westenholz (1997) [^1] and Hallo & van Dijk (1968) [^2].
- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 19: "Conducted military campaigns from the Mediterranean to the Persian Gulf" - what is the source?
> Westenholz (1997) [^1] and Hallo & van Dijk (1968) [^2].
- [x] `@q[stale]` Line 16: "Birth legend: Set adrift in a basket on the Euphrates as an infant (parallels..." - Westenholz source from 1997 may be outdated, is this still accurate?
> Still accurate. Westenholz (1997) remains a standard reference.
- [x] `@q[stale]` Line 20: "Appointed his daughter Enheduanna as high priestess of Ur — she became the ..." - Hallo source from 1968 may be outdated, is this still accurate?
> Still accurate. Hallo & van Dijk (1968) remains a standard reference.