Reevaluating the So-Called "Reforms of Urukagina" (1) Social Justice, Vertical Solidarity and Reciprocity

This paper analyses the so-called “Reform Texts” of Urukagina. It identifies be6 -lu5 -da u4 -be2 -ta and nam tar-ra u4 -be2 -ta as key terms which contrast the “former regulations”, upheld by Urukagina’s predecessors, with the “pristine order” established by the gods. It is argued that these orders...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Schrakamp, Ingo 1975- (Author) ; Zólyomi, Gábor (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Interlibrary Loan:Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany)
Published: 2024
In: Zeitschrift für altorientalische und biblische Rechtsgeschichte
Year: 2024, Volume: 30, Pages: 1-26
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Uruinimgina, Lagasch, König / Reform / Social justice / Reciprocity
IxTheo Classification:TC Pre-Christian history ; Ancient Near East
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Summary:This paper analyses the so-called “Reform Texts” of Urukagina. It identifies be6 -lu5 -da u4 -be2 -ta and nam tar-ra u4 -be2 -ta as key terms which contrast the “former regulations”, upheld by Urukagina’s predecessors, with the “pristine order” established by the gods. It is argued that these orders had been out of joint upon Urukagina’s accession, that Urukagina claims their harmonization via his role as king, and that vertical solidarity or reciprocity represents a governing principle among the social, ethical, and juridical implications of the pristine order. Therefore, instead of interpreting Urukagina’s acts as a restoration or reformation, an interpretation as “readjustment” is proposed.
ISSN:2747-4461
Contains:Enthalten in: Zeitschrift für altorientalische und biblische Rechtsgeschichte
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.13173/ZAR.30.1.001