What is the Sumerian King List and why is it important to biblical studies?

What is the Sumerian King List and why is it important to biblical studies?

When first discovered and published in the beginning of the last century, the Sumerian King List was valued highly as a historical document for its potential to check the validity of the biblical chronology in the Book of Genesis and to reconstruct early world and Mesopotamian (political) history.

What does the Sumerian King List say?

The Sumerian King List (abbreviated SKL) or Chronicle of the One Monarchy is an ancient literary composition written in Sumerian that was likely created and redacted to legitimize the claims to power of various city-states and kingdoms in southern Mesopotamia during the late third and early second millennium BC.

What was the role of the King in Sumerian?

As stated in a Sumerian proverb, “Man is the shadow of god, but the king is god’s reflection.” The main responsibilities of the kings involved participation in religious rituals, managing the affairs of the state in war and peace, writing laws and guiding the administration and execution of justice.

How did Sumerians choose their kings?

Presumably before the time of the Sumerians, kings were chosen by the warriors, with the king as the leading warrior. Kings are described as working in conjunction with the priesthood.

Was the Sumerian king list written in cuneiform?

Each of the four sides is inscribed with two columns of cuneiform (wedge-like) script recording the Sumerian language. The document lists a succession of cities in Sumer and its neighbouring regions, their rulers and the length of their reigns.

What were the religious beliefs of the Sumerians?

The Sumerians were polytheistic, which means they believed in many gods. Each city-state has one god as its protector, however, the Sumerians believed in and respected all the gods. They believed their gods had enormous powers.

How many Sumerian kings are there?

An extant document, The Sumerian King List, records that eight kings reigned before the great Flood.

How were Sumerian kings chosen?

Presumably before the time of the Sumerians, kings were chosen by the warriors, with the king as the leading warrior. Kings are described as working in conjunction with the priesthood. Sumerians remained illiterate and without political power or credibility.

Which duties was shared by both kings and priests in Sumer?

Sumerian priests and kings helped one another stay in power. The kings respected the priests’ rights and powers. The priests declared that the gods had chosen the king to rule. Together, kings and priests created religious ceremonies that supported royal power.

What power did the Sumerian kings have?

The king as judge The ensi, the lawgiver and the highest judicial authority in the Sumerian city-state, was responsible for order.