Fragment of the Stele of Vultures (c. 2450 BC), the victory stele of Eannatum of Lagash over Umma. F

Fragment of the Stele of Vultures (c. 2450 BC), the victory stele of Eannatum of Lagash over Umma. Found in Girsu (now Tello, Iraq), made of limestone.The Early Dynastic Period of Mesopotamia was from 2900 - 2334 BC.  During this time, there was a shift from the ensi (priest-king) to a more modern-day concept of king called a Lugal (literally “big man”).The Sumerian city-states were fighting for control of land and water rights until the First Dynasty of Lagash was established c. 2500 BC.  The first king of this dynasty was Eannutum.  He established one of the first verifiable empires in history, with Lagash at the centre.  His empire included most of Sumer and parts of neighbouring Elam.The last king of the First Dynasty of Lagash was Urukagina (c. 2300 BC).  He was defeated by Lugal-zage-si of Umma (r. c. 2358 - 2334 BC), apparently the only king of the Third Dynasty of Uruk.  Lugal-zage-si lead Umma’s final victory in the generation-long conflict with Lagash for the fertile plain of Gu-Edin.  He then united Sumer as a single kingdom, but only briefly, for he in turn was defeated by Sargon of Akkad. -- source link

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