Siege of Uruk

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Siege of Uruk
Part of the Sumerian civil wars

Date:

Sometime after 2638 BCE

Location:

Uruk, southern Sumer

Historical result:

Decisive Uruk victory

Belligerents

Kingdom of Uruk

Kishi-led coalition:
Kingdom of Kish
Kingdom of Isin
Kingdom of Nippur

Commanders

Lugal Gilgamesh
General Enkidu

Lugal Aga of Kish
Lugal Solax of Isin
Lugal Puabi of Nippur

Strength

Uruk army

  • Approximately 500-600 troops

Kishi army
Nippuri army
Isini army

  • Approximately 1,000 troops
Casualties

Unknown. Likely minimal

Unknown. Likely heavy

 

The Siege of Uruk was a battle between the Kingdom of Uruk under the reign of Gilgamesh, and an alliance of Sumerian city-states consisting of Kish, Isin and Nippur. Described solely in the Epic of Gilgamesh, the attack against Uruk was orchestrated by Aga, the king of Kish, who wanted revenge against Uruk whose previous lugal, Dumuzid, had single-handedly captured his father, Enmebaragesi. By the time Aga organized a military alliance with the lugals of Isin and Nippur, Dumuzid was succeeded by Gilgamesh. Gilgamesh was warned of the impending attack by Aga's wife, who was a slave and a former citizen of Uruk.

The next day, the armies of Kish, Isin and Nippur (apparently a thousand in strength) assembled outside of Uruk, besieging the city. The three kings, Aga of Kish, Solax of Isin and Puabi of Nippur, present sit on a dune behind their troops, watching the battle from afar. According to the epic, Gilgamesh led hundreds of Uruk troops through the city gates to attack the enemy head on, while two other Uruk armies attacked from the west and east, flanking them. Aga takes his personal bodyguard and flees, while the kings of Isin and Nippur surrender. The battle ultimately ends in a Uruk victory.

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