mesilim

Updated: May 27, 2025

This document tells us that at the command of the god Enlil, described as "the king of the countries," Ningirsu, the chief god of Shirpurla, and the god of Gishkhu decided to draw up a line of division between their respective territories, and that Mesilim, King of Kish, acting under the direction of his own god Kadi, marked out the frontier and set up a stele between the two territories to commemorate the fixing of the boundary.

H. R. (Harry Reginald) Hall - History of Egypt, Chaldea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria in the Light of Recent Discovery

The other personage mentioned in the text is the son of Manishtusu, named Mesalim, and there is more to be said for the identification of this prince with Mesilim, the early King of Kish, who reigned at a period anterior to that of Eannadu, patesi of Shirpurla.

H. R. (Harry Reginald) Hall - History of Egypt, Chaldea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria in the Light of Recent Discovery

The stele of Mesilim was restored to its place, and a second stele was inscribed and set up as a memorial of the new treaty. Enakalli did not negotiate the treaty on equal terms with Eannadu, for he only secured its ratification by consenting to pay heavy tribute in grain for the supply of the great temples of Nin-girsu and Ninâ in Shirpurla.

H. R. (Harry Reginald) Hall - History of Egypt, Chaldea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria in the Light of Recent Discovery

He therefore removed the stele which Mesilim had set up, and, invading the plain of Shirpurla, succeeded in conquering and holding a district named Gu-edin.

H. R. (Harry Reginald) Hall - History of Egypt, Chaldea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria in the Light of Recent Discovery

The earliest knowledge we possess of the relations existing between Gishkhu and Shirpurla refers to the reign of Mesilim, King of Kish, the period of whose rule may be provisionally set before that of Sargon of Agade, i.e, about 4000 B.C. At this period there was rivalry between the two cities, in consequence of which Mesilim, King of Kish, was called in as arbitrator.

H. R. (Harry Reginald) Hall - History of Egypt, Chaldea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria in the Light of Recent Discovery

There is little doubt that the text was also engraved by the orders of Entemena upon a stone stele which was set up, like those of Mesilim and Eannadu, upon the frontier.

H. R. (Harry Reginald) Hall - History of Egypt, Chaldea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria in the Light of Recent Discovery

The greater part of this information with regard to the struggles between Gishkhu and Shirpurla, between the period of Mesilim, King of Kish, and that of Entemena, is supplied by the inscription of the latter ruler which has been found written around a small cone of clay.

H. R. (Harry Reginald) Hall - History of Egypt, Chaldea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria in the Light of Recent Discovery