Gudea, the priest king of Lagash, solar disc, sun symbol

An overlapping six-pointed cross or a solar disc engraved on a stele.

Gudea, The Priest King of Lagash, and The Period of the III rd Dynasty of Ur 2141-2004 B.C.

Invasions of the Gutis, which cansed the fall of the Old Akkadian Kingdom, disturbed the Akkadian centers in the north, wereas the Sumerian cities in the south remained outside the range of this disaster and soon regained their freedom.

During the periods of Urbaba, one of the priest kings of the II nd Dynasty of Lagash, and his son-in-law Gudea, the principality of Lagash and its, capital Girsu was the scene of great public development as well as extending of the boundaries by annexation of some neighboring cities.

The priest king Gudea and his son Ur-Ningirsu continued the Early Dynastic traditions of Sumer.

The 7 stelae, sacred basin, statues and other votive objects that the king presented to the Ningirsu Temple in the City of Girsu, well reflect the level of cultural and artistic achievement of the Gudea Period.

After Lagash the city of Uruk and after that the city of Ur have achieved political dominance in Mesopotamia.

During the III rd Dynastic Period of Ur, Sumer became an Empire including Northern Syria as well. The kings of the III rd Dynasty of Ur, who ruled the Empire with central authority, continued the tradition of the Akkadian kings as "Divide Sovereign" as well as retaining. The title of "King of Sumer and Akkad".

The dominant culture during the III rd Kingdom of Ur was a synthesis of Sumer and Akkad.

After the fall of III rd Kingdom of Ur around 2004 B.C. The Sumerian sovereignty in Mesopotamia was ended and after this the Semites who came from the west became dominant in the area.

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