Shulgi of Urim is the second king of the "Sumerian Renaissance". He reigned for 48 years, dated to 2047 BC–1999 BC short chronology (also tentatively dated to 2161 BC–2113 BC on the basis of a solar eclipse). Shulgi is best known for his extensive revision of the scribal school's curriculum. Although it is unclear how much he actually wrote, there are numerous praise poems written by and directed towards this ruler.

Shulgi was the son of Ur-Namma king of Ur. He claimed himself a God, and boasted about his ability to maintain high speeds while running long distances. For example he claimed he once ran from Ur to Nippur in 2 hours, a distance of not less than 100 miles. He was most probably a demigod like Heracles or Gilgamesh. Kramer speaks of him as "The first long distance runner champion".

It should come as no surprise the fact that Shulgi loved roads. He spent a great deal of time and resources in expanding, maintaining, and even making them more friendly to the traveler, this last he accomplished by building rest houses along the road, so that the traveler could find a place where he could rest and drink fresh water or spend a night. For this last feat Samuel Noah Kramer calls him the builder of the First Inn.

All the above information and more is well documented in Samuel Noah Kramer's books.

For a good explanation about how heroes like Shulgi, Gilgamesh, Heracles and Achilles could accomplish such feats please read the incredible articles by Lloyd Pye

See also

• Sumerian king list
• Samuel Noah Kramer

Art

2113 BC deaths | 1999 BC deaths | Sumer

Shulgi | Schulgi | Σουλγκί | Shulgi | Shulgi van Ur | シュルギ | Szulgi | Шульги