Iddin-Dagan
Iddin-Dagan was the 3rd king of the dynasty of Isin. He is best known for his participation in the sacred marriage rite and the sexually-explicit hymn that described it.
Reign
Iddin-Dagan was preceded by his father Shu-Ilishu and succeeded by his son Išme-Dagān. The Sumerian King List indicates his reign lasted 21 regnal years. His titles included: “Mighty King” — “King of Isin” — “King of Ur” — “King of the Land of Sumer and Akkad.” Several year-names are known.| Year | Event |
| 01 | Year Iddin-Dagan king |
| 02 | Year Matumniatum daughter of Iddin-Dagan was taken in marriage by the king of Anshan |
| 03 | Year after the year in which Matumniatum daughter of Iddin-Dagan was taken in marriage by the king of Anszan Year chose the high-priestess of Iszkur |
| 04 | Year after the year chose the high-priestess of Iszkur |
| 05 | Year chose by means of the omens the en-priest of Inanna |
| 06 | Year made a great copper statue for Nin-Isin |
| 07 | Year after the year made a great copper statue for Nin-Isin |
| 08 | Year chose by means of the omens the high-priestess of Nin-kilim |
| 09 | Year Iddin-Dagan elevated to office the en-priest of Inanna |
| a | Year Iddin-Dagan made a throne dais for Iszkur of Karkar. |
| b | Year Iddin-Dagan made a throne dais for the Dublamah of Nanna / the magnificent accounting office of Nanna |
| b+1 | Year after the year Iddin-Dagan made the throne dais for the Dublamah of Nanna / the magnificent accounting office of Nanna |
| c | Year Iddin-Dagan the king made a great emblem for Nin-Isin |
| c+1 | Year after the year Iddin-Dagan the king made a great emblem for Nin-Isin |
Marriage alliance with Anshan
The first year name recorded on a receipt for flour and dates reads: “Year Iddin-Dagān king and daughter Matum-Niatum was taken in marriage by the king of Anshan.” Vallat suggests it was to Imazu as he was described as the King of Anshan in a seal inscription, although elsewhere unattested. Kindattu had been driven away from the city-state of Ur by Išbi-Erra, however; relations had apparently thawed sufficiently for Tan-Ruhurarter His daughter must have been at marriage age when he became king, indicating that the king himself maybe was in his 30s.Sacred Marriage Hymn
The continued fecundity of the land was ensured by the annual performance of the sacred marriage ritual in which the king impersonated the god Dumuzi-Ama-ušumgal-ana and a priestess played the role of Inanna. A hymn describing Iddin-Dagan's performance of this ritual in ten sections indicates that this ceremony involved a procession of: male prostitutes, wise women, drummers, priestesses, and priests bloodletting with swords to the accompaniment of music, followed by offerings and sacrifices for the goddess Inanna, or Ninegala.The ceremony reached its climax with the copulation of the king and priestess and is described thus:
There are four extant hymns addressed to Iddin-Dagan: this Sacred Marriage Hymn, a praise poem dedicated to the king, a war song, and a dedicatory prayer.