Shul-utula

Shul-utul (Sumerian: 𒀭𒂄𒀖𒇻, ^Dšul-utul₁₀)[1] or Shul-utula[2] was the personal god the rulers of the Mesopotamian Ur-Nanshe dynasty of Lagash.[2] His name means "youngling shepherd" in Sumerian.[3]

Shut-utul in the form of a foundation peg, with inscription "Ur-Nanshe, King of Lagash, son of Gunidu, built the shrine Girsu", probably Girsu, Tell Telloh, Iraq, mid 3rd millennium BCE. Harvard Semitic Museum, Cambridge, MA

Despite his role as the personal deity of kings, Shul-utul was not regarded as a deity associated with ruling, and it possible his role was instead connected to personal luck.[4] It is also possible that, similar to Ninshubur, he was envisioned as capable of mediating with higher ranked gods on behalf of humans under his protection.[4] One document states that he helped kings with building temples in Girsu.[3] He is mentioned in inscriptions in association with rulers such as Entemena and Eannatum.[5]

Shut-utul is mostly attested in association with temples of other deities.[6] Seven foundation figurines from the Ibgal temple, which dedicated to Inanna,[6] are assumed to be depictions of Shul-utul.[7] He was also worshiped in Emah (Sumerian: "exalted house"[8]), a shrine of Nanshe located in Girsu.[9]

The only certain attestation of Shul-utul from the Ur III period is the personal name Ur-Shul-utul.[7] None are known from later periods.[7]

References

"Sumerian Dictionary". oracc.iaas.upenn.edu.
Kobayashi 1989, p. 23.
Selz 1995, p. 279.
Kobayashi 1989, p. 24.
Selz 1995, pp. 279–280.
Selz 1995, p. 280).
Michalowski 2013, p. 289.
George 1993, p. 119.
George 1993, p. 120.

Bibliography

George, Andrew R. (1993). House most high: the temples of ancient Mesopotamia. Winona Lake: Eisenbrauns. ISBN 0-931464-80-3. OCLC 27813103.
Kobayashi, Toshiko (1989). "Was Mesandu the Personal Deity of Enentarzi?". Orient. The Society for Near Eastern Studies in Japan. 25: 22–42. doi:10.5356/orient1960.25.22. ISSN 1884-1392.
Michalowski, Piotr (2013), "Šul-utul", Reallexikon der Assyriologie, retrieved 2022-04-10
Selz, Gebhard (1995). Untersuchungen zur Götterwelt des altsumerischen Stadtstaates von Lagaš (in German). Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Museum. ISBN 978-0-924171-00-0. OCLC 33334960.

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[1] "Sumerian Dictionary". oracc.iaas.upenn.edu.

[FOOTNOTEKobayashi198923-2] Kobayashi 1989, p. 23.

[FOOTNOTESelz1995279-3] Selz 1995, p. 279.

[FOOTNOTEKobayashi198924-4] Kobayashi 1989, p. 24.

[FOOTNOTESelz1995279–280-5] Selz 1995, pp. 279–280.

[FOOTNOTESelz1995280)-6] Selz 1995, p. 280).

[FOOTNOTEMichalowski2013289-7] Michalowski 2013, p. 289.

[FOOTNOTEGeorge1993119-8] George 1993, p. 119.

[FOOTNOTEGeorge1993120-9] George 1993, p. 120.