2141-2122 B.C.

Mesopotamian ruler noted as a temple-builder and patron of the arts. An ensi or governor, Gudea ruled the late Sumerian city-state of Lagash, and fostered a golden age of peace and prosperity despite attacks by the Gutians from the mountains in the north. Based on the many statuettes that exist from his reign, as well as numerous inscriptions, it appears that Gudea conducted an extensive building campaign. Due to the fact that most Sumerian architecture was of clay or mud and not stone, the buildings themselves are long gone; however, historians have noted signs of Gudea's impact on the religious life of the region.