Warfare in the Ancient World Weeks 1-3

Stele of the Vultures: The earliest “historical” war; Inscriptions give a description of a border conflict between two city states, Lagash and Umma.  The motivation of the conflict, which lasted for a long time (c. 2500-2350 BCE), was the control of agricultural land. Each city blamed the other for illegal occupation of an area called Gu-Edina = “the edge of the plain.” It was also presented also as the conflict between the two main gods of the contenders, Ningirsu for Lagash and Shara for Umma. The documents from Lagash affirm that the boundary had been decided by the chief god Enlil, and then the people of Umma had crossed the line illegally. 

A victory stele erected near the contested territory, marking the site of battle. 

Originally: 

~1.8 meters tall 

Two Sides of the Stele 

Historical Side — Human action 

Divine Side — God’s intervention 

This Shows the Divine Side: Ningirsu’s Victory 

Ningirsu, Lagash’s chief god, is shown gigantic 

Enemies are trapped in a net 

Net handle shaped like an eagle-lion hybrid, a divine symbol 

Enemies are tiny, tangled, helpless 

One is executed with a mace 

Represents total destruction 

Text inscriptions explain the scene. 

Stele of the Vultures: The earliest “historical” war; Inscriptions give a description of a border conflict between two city states, Lagash and Umma.  The motivation of the conflict, which lasted for a long time (c. 2500-2350 BCE), was the control of agricultural land. Each city blamed the other for illegal occupation of an area called Gu-Edina = “the edge of the plain.” It was also presented also as the conflict between the two main gods of the contenders, Ningirsu for Lagash and Shara for Umma. The documents from Lagash affirm that the boundary had been decided by the chief god Enlil, and then the people of Umma had crossed the line illegally. 

A victory stele erected near the contested territory, marking the site of battle. 

Originally: 

~1.8 meters tall 

Two Sides of the Stele 

Historical Side — Human action 

Divine Side — God’s intervention 

This Shows the Divine Side: Ningirsu’s Victory 

Ningirsu, Lagash’s chief god, is shown gigantic 

Enemies are trapped in a net 

Net handle shaped like an eagle-lion hybrid, a divine symbol 

Enemies are tiny, tangled, helpless 

One is executed with a mace 

Represents total destruction 

Text inscriptions explain the scene. 

Stele of the Vultures:

Historical Side: Human Warfare 

Top Register 

Vultures carry severed heads and limbs 

Visual confirmation of victory 

Gruesome, unsanitized depiction of war