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Alulim (; transliterated: ) was a mythological ruler, regarded as the first king ever to rule. He is known from the Sumerian King List, Ballad of Early Rulers, and other similar sources which invariably place him in Eridu and assign a reign lasting thousands of years to him. The tablet of Old Babylonian period (c. 1900–1600 BC) from Ur describing the divine appointment of Alulim by the gods notes that he was chosen among "vast and many people," and appointed by gods for the "shepherdship of the entirety of the many people". CDLI Literary 000357, ex. 003 (P346146) Another myth describing his appointment by the gods and incantations treating him as the creator of insects are also known. He is absent from Early Dynastic sources, and he is considered fictional by Assyriologists. His name was preserved in later Greek language, Arabic and Persian language works.
The name Alulim is not attested in any Early Dynastic sources and was never used as an ordinary given name. The only indirect parallels are the occurrences of individuals named Alulu (with variable spelling) in early texts from Shuruppak and other pre-Sargonic dynasty sites.
It has been interpreted as an etiology of the institution of kingship, with the first ruler being chosen from among mankind to act as the shepherd of the early, still animalistic humans, thus leading to the development of human civilization. The gods responsible for Alulim's appointment in this text are Anu, Enlil and Enki, who are also credited with assigning his name to him. Jeremiah Peterson notes that the grammar of the passage might not designate him as a human, which could indicate that in this context Alulim is not a personal name, but merely a description of the entity chosen to act as a ruler.
In the Ballad of Early Rulers, a composition noted for its large number of allusions to other works of Mesopotamian literature, Alulim is listed among famous ancient figures alongside Etana, Gilgamesh, Ziusudra, Humbaba, Enkidu, Bazi and Zizi. The fact that kings associated both with southern cities, such as Alulim, and ones at home in the north, such as Etana, are mentioned side by side might indicate that it was composed during the period of exodus of scribes from south to north in the Old Babylonian period. Bendt Alster compares this text to a drinking song and notes it appears to enumerate renowned legendary figures in seemingly humorous context, in order to explain the need to find joy in the present.
Alulim is also attested in Neo-Babylonian incantations against field pests, acknowledge him as a "king from before the deluge", though in this context he is also addressed as the creator of insects. He is described as capable of expelling them with a wand, and as responsible for the weeding of fields belonging to Nergal. Elsewhere the expulsion of insects is the domain of the deities Ninkilim and Ennugi, and it is not known how Alulim came to function as a similar figure. The same texts also state that he was believed to enjoy milk, ghee and beer, but could not stand "queen Nisaba", here a Metonymy for grain.
Although earlier tradition, Me-Turan/Tell-Haddad tablet, describes Adapa as postdiluvian ruler of Eridu,Cavigneaux, Antoine. “Une version Sumérienne de la légende d’Adapa (Textes de Tell Haddad X) : Zeitschrift Für Assyriologie104 (2014): 1–41. in late tradition, Adapa came to be viewed as Alulim's vizier. It was believed that he provided the king with wisdom on behalf of the god Ea. Piotr Steinkeller based on the connection between them suggests Alulim could himself be viewed as a sagacious Adapa-like figure, though he admits no sources provide information about the perception of his character in Mesopotamian tradition. The association between Alulim and Adapa is attested in lists of rulers and corresponding sages known from the Hellenistic period, and additionally in an earlier damaged text from Sultantepe labeled as a letter from Adapa to Alulim, following a convention of so-called "scribal letters". However, a distinct tradition instead placed Adapa in the times of another mythical king, Enmerkar.
Mary R. Bachvarova notes that in the Hurrian religion Song of Birth, the primordial deity Alalu who appears as the original "king in heaven" (king of the gods) bears a name similar to Alulim's. She suggests that this text might have been influenced by the Sumerian King List, with the reigns of the early rulers of the gods being patterned on the traditions pertaining to early Mesopotamian legendary kings.
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