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Sargon of Akkad

Sargon of Akkad

Overview

Sargon of Akkad (~23342279 BCE) founded the Akkadian Empire, the first empire in recorded history. His rise from humble origins to ruler of all Mesopotamia became legendary.

Key Facts

  • Reign: ~23342279 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.



Review Queue

  • @q[temporal] Line 10: "Reign: ~23342279 BCE" - when was this true?

  • @q[temporal] Line 11: "Title: King of Akkad, King of Kish, King of the Four Quarters" - when was this true?

  • @q[temporal] Line 12: "Capital: Akkad (location undiscovered)" - when was this true?

  • @q[temporal] Line 13: "Empire: United Sumerian and Akkadian city-states" - when was this true?

  • @q[temporal] Line 16: "Birth legend: Set adrift in a basket on the Euphrates as an infant (parallels..." - when was this true?

  • @q[temporal] Line 17: "Rose to power as cupbearer to the King of Kish" - when was this true?

  • @q[temporal] Line 18: "Conquered Lugal-zage-si of Uruk, unifying Sumer" - when was this true?

  • @q[temporal] Line 19: "Conducted military campaigns from the Mediterranean to the Persian Gulf" - when was this true?

  • @q[temporal] Line 20: "Appointed his daughter Enheduanna as high priestess of Ur — she became the ..." - when was this true?

  • @q[missing] Line 10: "Reign: ~23342279 BCE" - what is the source?

  • @q[missing] Line 11: "Title: King of Akkad, King of Kish, King of the Four Quarters" - what is the source?

  • @q[missing] Line 12: "Capital: Akkad (location undiscovered)" - what is the source?

  • @q[missing] Line 13: "Empire: United Sumerian and Akkadian city-states" - what is the source?

  • @q[missing] Line 17: "Rose to power as cupbearer to the King of Kish" - what is the source?

  • @q[missing] Line 18: "Conquered Lugal-zage-si of Uruk, unifying Sumer" - what is the source?

  • @q[missing] Line 19: "Conducted military campaigns from the Mediterranean to the Persian Gulf" - what is the source?

  • @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?

  • @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?


  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) ↩︎