whose authority was recognized at this time in Lagash. In view of the evidence afforded by Bau-ninam's dedication we may identify the dynasty with that of Ur. The acceptance of the synchronism carries with it the corollary that with Ur-Ningirsu's reign we have reached another turning point in the history, not only of Lagash, but of the whole of Sumer and Akkad. It is possible that Ur-Engur may have founded his dynasty in Ur before Gudea's death, but there is no evidence that he succeeded in forcing his authority upon Lagash during Gudea's patesiate; and, in view of the comparative shortness of his reign, it is preferable to assign his accession to the period of Gudea's son. Sumer must have soon acknowledged his authority, and Lagash and the other southern cities doubtless formed the nucleus of the kingdom on which he based his claim to the hegemony in Babylonia. This claim on behalf of Ur was not fully substantiated until the reign of Dungi, but in Sumer Ur-Engur appears to have met with little opposition. Of the circumstances which led to Ur-Ningirsu's deposition we know nothing, but we may conjecture that his acknowledgment of Ur-Engur's authority was not accompanied by the full measure of support demanded by his suzerain. As Gudea's son and successor he may well have resented the loss of practical autonomy which his city had enjoyed, and Ur-Engur may in consequence have found it necessary to remove him from the patesiate. Ur-abba and his successors were merely vassals of the kings of Ur, and Lagash became a provincial city in the kingdom of Sumer and Akkad. [1] See above, pp. 236 f., 241. [2] It has been suggested that Ur-E was Narâm-Sin's contemporary, since his name and that of Narâm-Sin are both found on the same tablet (see Thureau-Dangin, "Rec. de tabl.," pp. iii. f., 45, No. 83, and "Königsinschriften," p. 59, n. 1); but the phrase in which Narâm-Sin's name occurs, like that which precedes it, appears to refer to a past event. On the other hand, Ur-Babbar is mentioned on this tablet in the same phrase with Narâm-Sin, and, although no title follows his name, we may probably identify him with "Ur-Babbar, the patesi," referred to on another tablet of this class (_op. cit._, No. 132); here and in similar passages, where Lagash is not named, it is obviously implied. The name of Lugal-bur is found upon a tablet of the Sargonic period (see Thureau-Dangin, "Rev. d'Assyr.," Vol. V., p. 68). [3] "Rec. de tabl.," p. 73, No. 181. [4] _Op. cit._, Nos. 184 and 183. [5] See Thureau-Dangin, "Rev. d'Assyr.," Vol. V., p. 68. [6] "Rec. de tabl.," Nos. 185-187. [7] See Heuzey, "Rev. d'Assyr.," Vol. II., p. 79. [8] See Thureau-Dangin, "Rev. d'Assyr.," Vol. V., p. 98, and "Königsinschriften," p. 62 f. [9] "Rec. de tabl.," Nos. 188-190.