Nin-kisalsi

Nin-kisalsi (Sumerian: 𒎏𒆦𒋛) was a Sumerian ruler of the Mesopotamian city of Adab in the mid-3rd millennium BCE, probably circa 2500 BCE.^[1]

Nin-kisalsi 𒎏𒆦𒋛
Ruler of Adab
Headless votive statue, from Adab, Iraq, early dynastic period. Museum of the Ancient Orient, Istanbul
Reign	26th century BCE
Dynasty	Dynasty of Adab
Religion	Sumerian religion

Adab

Nin-Kisalsi was ruler of Adab, circa 2500 BCE.

His name does not appear in the Sumerian King List, but he is known from one inscription bearing his name. The inscription, on a bowl fragment, reads:

𒈨𒁲 𒈗𒆧𒆠/ 𒂍𒊬 𒁓 𒈬𒄄 / 𒎏𒆦𒋛} 𒑐𒋼𒋛 𒌓𒉣

me-silim lugal kisz e2-sar bur mu-gi4 nin-KISAL-si ensix(GAR.PA.TE.SI) adab
"Me-silim, king of Kish, to the Esar temple sent over (this) bowl (for the burgi ritual^[a]). Nin-KISALsi, (was) the governor of Adab."

— Inscription of Mesilim mentioning Nin-Kisalsi^[3]

It appears from this inscription that King Mesilim of Kish was contemporary with Nin-kisalsi and probably his suzerain.^[4] Another such ruler is Lugalshaengur, Governor of Lagash, who also appears in inscriptions as a vassal of Mesilim.^[5][4]

Notes

1. The bur-gi 4 (lit., “returning the stone bowls”) was a special rite consisting of bringing back the bowls of the temple after they had been filled with beer and/or food offerings (cf. PSD B 186 s.v. bur-gi 4 -a).^[2]