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Shulgi

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Shulgi of Urim was 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 was the son of Ur-Nammu king of Ur; according to one later text (CM 48), by a daughter of the former king Utu-hegal of Uruk.

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. He proclaimed himself a god after his 20th regnal year. Other early chronicles castigate him for his impiety: the Weidner Chronicle (ABC 19) states that "he did not perform his rites to the letter, he defiled his purification rituals"; CM 48 charges him with improper tampering with the rites, composing "untruthful stelae, insolent writings" on them; and the Chronicle of Early Kings (ABC 20) accuses him of "criminal tendencies, and the property of Esagila and Babylon he took away as booty."

Shulgi also boasted about his ability to maintain high speeds while running long distances. For example, he claimed he once ran from Nippur to Ur, a distance of not less than 100 miles. Samuel Noah Kramer speaks of him as "The first long distance runner champion".

Shortly after his father's death, Shulgi engaged in series of punitive wars against the Gutians to avenge his father's death. He also developed a period of expansionism later in his career until, ultimately finding himself unable to conquer highlander raiders and some others, he as a consequence built a large wall in an attempt to keep them out.

Shulgi spent a great deal of time and resources in expanding, maintaining, and generally improving roads. He built rest-houses along roads, so that a traveler could find a place where he could rest and drink fresh water or spend a night. For this last feat, Kramer calls him the builder of the first inn.

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