(3) See further Appendix II.

But it is time I read you extracts from the earlier extant portions of the Sumerian Dynastic List, in order to illustrate the class of document with which we are dealing.  From them it will be seen that the record is not a tabular list of names like the well-known King’s Lists of the Neo-Babylonian period.  It is cast in the form of an epitomized chronicle and gives under set formulae the length of each king’s reign, and his father’s name in cases of direct succession to father or brother.  Short phrases are also sometimes added, or inserted in the sentence referring to a king, in order to indicate his humble origin or the achievement which made his name famous in tradition.  The head of the First Column of the text is wanting, and the first royal name that is completely preserved is that of Galumum, the ninth or tenth ruler of the earliest “kingdom”, or dynasty, of Kish.  The text then runs on connectedly for several lines: 

     Galumum ruled for nine hundred years. 
     Zugagib ruled for eight hundred and forty years. 
     Arpi, son of a man of the people, ruled for seven hundred and
          twenty
     years. 
     Etana, the shepherd who ascended to heaven, who subdued all lands,
     ruled for six hundred and thirty-five years.(1)
     Pili . . ., son of Etana, ruled for four hundred and ten years. 
     Enmenunna ruled for six hundred and eleven years. 
     Melamkish, son of Enmenunna, ruled for nine hundred years. 
     Barsalnunna, son of Enmenunna, ruled for twelve hundred years. 
     Mesza(. . .), son of Barsalnunna, ruled for (. . .) years.
     (. . .), son of Barsalnunna, ruled for (. . .) years.

     (1) Possibly 625 years.

A small gap then occurs in the text, but we know that the last two representatives of this dynasty of twenty-three kings are related to have ruled for nine hundred years and six hundred and twenty-five years respectively.  In the Second Column of the text the lines are also fortunately preserved which record the passing of the first hegemony of Kish to the “Kingdom of Eanna”, the latter taking its name from the famous temple of Anu and Ishtar in the old city of Erech.  The text continues: 

     The kingdom of Kish passed to Eanna.

In Eanna, Meskingasher, son of the Sun-god, ruled as high priest and king for three hundred and twenty-five years.  Meskingasher entered into(1) (. . .) and ascended to (. . .).

     Enmerkar, son of Meskingasher, the king of Erech who built
     (. . .) with the people of Erech,(2) ruled as king for four
     hundred and twenty years.

     Lugalbanda, the shepherd, ruled for twelve hundred years.

     Dumuzi,(3), the hunter(?), whose city was . . ., ruled for a
     hundred years.

     Gishbilgames,(4) whose father was A,(5) the high priest of
     Kullab, ruled for one hundred and twenty-six(6) years.