Gilgamesh

Gilgamesh is the semi-mythical King of Uruk. Gilgamesh's father is said to have been the priest-king Lugal banda  and his mother the goddess Ninsun (also known as Ninsumun, the Great Queen). Gilgamesh is accepted as the historical 5th king of Uruk who reigned in the 26th century BCE. Known as Bilgames in Sumerian, Gilgames in Akkadian, and Gilgamos in Greek, his name may mean "the kinsman is a hero".

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best known as the hero of The Epic of Gilgamesh (c. 2150-1400 BCE) the great Babylonian poem. The epic of Gilgamesh has lasted till this day. The epic of Gilgamesh consisted of battles and adventures. Gilgamesh is the semi mythical king  of uruk but he did not treat his people very well. Gilgamesh is trying to find everlasting life by eating the tree of life. He finds the tree and lays down to nap when a snake takes the tree of life and eats it. He found out that being mortal is ok. (FM)

Sargon the Great

Sargon The Great was the king of Akkad. He was the first Mesopotamian ruler to control the southern and northern sides of Mesopotamia. Babylonia therefore became the king of Sumer and Akkad and the beginning for the Akkadian Empire. In Sargon The Great's early life He said “My mother was a high priestess, I did not know my father, my mother conceived me, she bore me in secret, she placed me in a reed basket, she sealed my hatch with pitch. She left me to the river … the river carried me off, it brought me to Aqqi, a drawer of water." Later on was raised by normal people that worked simple jobs.

When he got older he started the practice of controlling a standing army, which allowed him to campaign from eastern Turkey to western Iran. While he fought battles in these areas, it is unclear if he maintained permanent control everywhere he fought, or if he conquered some areas just for the plunder. After conquering all of Mesopotamia, Sargon built his own city, Akkad, on the bank of the Euphrates. Sargon, however, fought not for the glory of Akkad, but for his own glory and power, establishing a powerful dynasty that would rule for the next 150 years. People gave him the nickname, King Of Battle. (JN)

Hammurabi

For the first few years of Hammurabi's reign, he concentrated on improving the city of Babylon. When Hammurabi turned eighteen, his father got very sick. Soon his father died and young Hammurabi was made king of the city-state of Babylon. Hammurabi was born around 1810 BCE in the state of Babylon.

Hammurabi and his army once fought the Elamites. Hammurabi was confident he could lead and he had a plan. After many years of building and improving the city, Hammurabi's peace came to an end. Elam invaded Mesopotamia and conquered Eshnunna. hammurabi was a strong king and was fun and interesting to learn about. (GH)

Nebuchadnezzar

Nebuchadnezzar was born around 634 BC in the city of Babylon.He is from Babylon,Iraq. He was raised as a crowned prince.He learned about the gods.He was taught how to fight and be a leader.He also learned the laws and rules.His father died when he was fighting in a war.He came home and quickly became king on the throne of babylon.

Since Nebuchadnezzar was king of Babylonia he built the Ishtar gate,and the Hanging Gardens.His father died when he was fighting in a war.He came home and quickly became king on the throne of babylon.

He conquered the city of Jerusalem and took many of their people captive, taking them into exile to Babylon. He also conquered the Cimmerians and the Scythians.Nebuchadnezzar died around 562 BC. He was succeeded by his son Amel-Marduk. (LD)

Ashurbanipal

Ashurbanipal was the king of Assyria, the young Ashurbanipal did not expect to take the throne. His father, Esarhaddon, appointed him crown prince in 672 BC following the death of Ashurbanipal’s eldest brother.This meant skipping over the older Shamash-shum-ukin, who instead took the lesser title of King of Babylon, a major city state (and former chief power in the region) under Assyrian control.

When Ashurbanipal was appointed crown prince, he started his training to be king. He learned royal etiquette, important military skills and was instructed in scholarship. Ashurbanipal was a person of religious zeal. He rebuilt or adorned most of the major shrines of Assyria and Babylonia, paying particular attention to the “House of Succession” and the Ishtar Temple at Nineveh. Many of his actions were guided by the omen reports, in which he took a personal and informed interest.  (CW)