Lagash was the Mesopotamian city that gave its name to the ancient Sumerian state of Lagash.
Lagash was a powerful city-state in southern Mesopotamia, located near the Tigris in modern Iraq. Its territory included important settlements such as Girsu and Nina, so “Lagash” can refer both to a city and to a broader political state. Girsu was especially significant as a religious and administrative center.
Rulers of Lagash left behind inscriptions, statues, boundary records, and economic documents. The famous ruler Gudea commissioned numerous inscriptions and sculptures, while earlier rulers such as Eannatum fought conflicts with neighboring Umma over agricultural land and water rights.
Lagash should not be confused with Larsa, another southern Mesopotamian kingdom that became prominent much later. The state’s archaeology is especially valuable for reconstructing early Sumerian administration and interstate rivalry.