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Enmerkar and the Lord of Aratta
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Enmerkar and the Lord of Aratta

Mesopotamian epic
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"Enmerkar and the Lord of Aratta" is a Sumerian epic detailing a conflict between Enmerkar, king of Uruk, and the ruler of Aratta. Enmerkar, son of the sun god Utu, desired Aratta's resources for building temples. He sought the help of the goddess Inanna to acquire these materials. The epic describes Enmerkar sending a message to the lord of Aratta, who in turn demanded grain. Despite Enmerkar's compliance, the lord of Aratta did not fulfill his end of the bargain. The narrative involves further exchanges of threats and claims of divine favor, with the text becoming fragmented but suggesting Enmerkar's eventual victory. Another related epic, "Enmerkar and Ensuhkeshdanna," portrays Ensuhkeshdanna, ruler of Aratta, demanding Enmerkar's submission, which Enmerkar refuses.12

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