major modernization of the Third Dynasty of Ur. He improved communications, reorganized the army, reformed the writing system and weight and measures, unified the tax system and created a strong bureaucracy. He also promulgated the law code known as the Code of Ur-Nammu after his father. Year names There are extensive remains for the year names of Shulgi, which have been entirely reconstructed from year 1 to year 48. Some of the most important are: Marriage with a princess from Mari and other royal women Shulgi was a contemporary of the Shakkanakku rulers of Mari, particularly Apil-kin and Iddi-ilum. An inscription mentions that Taram-Uram, the daughter of Apil-kin, became the "daughter-in-law" of Ur-Nammu, and therefore the Queen of king Shulgi. In the inscription, she called herself "daughter-in-law of Ur-Nammu", and "daughter of Apil-kin, Lugal ("King") of Mari", suggesting for Apil-kin a position as a supreme ruler, and pointing to a marital alliance between Mari and Ur. Nin-kalla was a queen at the end of the king's reign. Many texts show that she was running the palace in Nippur. Another important royal woman, but not a queen, was Ea-niša. She appears in many texts and had an influential position at the royal court, perhaps as concubine. A similar status had Shulgi-simti who is known from a high number of texts presenting evidence for her economic power. Another important woman was Geme-Ninlilla who appears in texts at the end of the king's reign. Other, less well known royal women are Šuqurtum and Simat-Ea. Shulgi is known to have had five sons, Amar-dDa-mu, Lu-dNanna, Lugal-a-zi-da, Ur-dSuen, Amar-Sin as well as one daughter, Peš-tur-tur. Artifacts and inscriptions See also Correspondence of the Kings of Ur History of Sumer Sumerian king list Self-praise of Shulgi References External links Shulgi's axe sold illegally in Germany from the German Middle East magazine zenith The face of Shulgi. A realistic statue shows us how Shulgi may have looked in real life. |- Sumerian rulers 21st-century BC Sumerian kings 20th-century BC Sumerian kings Deified people Third Dynasty of Ur