Lights on the Year Names from Reign Šulgi

(2094-2047 BC)

Abstract

This article sheds light on the formulation of Year Names during the reign of   Šulgi (2094–2047 BC). It aims to clarify the nature of this system as one of the methods devised by the Sumerians to date the regnal years of kings by recording significant historical events of various kinds whether political, military, economic, or diplomatic and sometimes even administrative matters. Most of these topics naturally reflect the activities of Šulgi, who ascended the throne of Ur III dynasty and enjoyed the longest reign, lasting forty-eight years. Accordingly, we possess forty-eight (48) date formulas, whose modes of composition vary between concise and extended forms, as well as transitional year names that include the terms (us₂-sa) and (us₂-sa-bi). In addition, there are year names in which the same event was repeated for more than one year through the use of ordinal numbers and the reiteration of the event itself an approach adopted when no notable event occurred in a given year to serve as the basis for naming the new year.

 The article focuses on presenting analytical perspectives on the most important verbal formulas and their types attested in the year names of this king. From a grammatical standpoint, approximately (68) different verbal constructions have been identified, including (57) standard verbal forms. Some of these occur in abbreviated form, limited to the verbal root accompanied by a relative marker that conveys a passive meaning, while other forms employ the agent infix (n), the (b) infix for non-animate subjects, and appropriate suffixes corresponding to the verbal state, which often function as a reflection of the elements of the nominal clause within the verbal clause (case elements).