Lagash is the name of a Sumerian city-state located by the Tigris River, in southeast Mesopotamia. The first cities were developed in the Mesopotamian plain, specifically in the south at about 3500 – 2800 BCE. These cities were in a general region named Sumer. Then, the Akkadian empire took over this territory. Consequently, in the year 2180 BCE, the Akkadian empire was attacked by people from the northeast, known as the Guti. The Guti had controlled most of Mesopotamia, but the Sumerians regained control soon after. During the Guti control, Lagash was the only city-state that remained independent. They may have paid blackmail to the chieftains of the Guti to do so.
The ruler of Lagash was Gudea. He was a ruler that strived for peace and piety. Not only was he a good man, but he was also strong. Under both his rule and the rule of his son Ur-Ningirsu, the city of Lagash had flourished. Gudea built and restored many of the Sumerian temples. In these tasks, he devoted a great deal of energy and wealth.
The artifacts that were found at Lagash related to individual deities. Gudea would often dedicate a work, such as a statue, to a god. It would then be placed in a shrine or temple. The Sumerian inhabitants were responsible for inventing a system of writing. It is called the cuneiform (wedge-shaped.) Script was impressed into clay tablets, or stele. In Lagash, cuneiform writing is found in temples and in sculpture.
The inhabitants of Lagash believed in many gods and goddesses. Temples were built in dedication to a god or goddess. Each deity served a different purpose. For example, the goddess Geshtinanna was not only a divine poet, but also the goddess of dreams. Gudea had a "personal god" who represented natural vitality. The name of the god was Ningizzida. These rituals and beliefs do not exist today. At the time, they served an important role in the structure of the city and its culture.
After Gudea’s death, the city of Lagash was ruled by his son. There were influences from the surrounding areas of Mesopotamia. Metalworking became popular, while sculpture in stone continued. Figures in stele and statues began to resemble Egyptian figures. Lagash had taken a different turn. However, Babylonians soon began to rise and flourish. After this, there were centuries of power struggles among Lagash and its surrounding areas (including Sumer and Akkad). It ended when the Assyrians from northern Mesopotamia became extremely powerful and began to conquer the neighboring regions at about 1400 to 1000 BCE. Lagash was weak against its external enemies, and like numerous other cultures and cities, it collapsed.
Source:
The Art and Architecture of the Ancient Orient. Henri Frankfort.
Tanisa Sharif