Saturday, July 9, 2011

The Sumerian Roots of the American Preamble


The Prologue to the Law Code of Lipit-Ishtar (1934-1924 B.C.) sets out the purposes of the Sumerian King's Administration and resembles, in form and substance, the Preamble to the Constitution of the United States more closely than any document produced during the centuries that separate the two.

The Sumerian Prologue


When An (and) Enlil

Had called (on) Lipit-Ishtar,

The Wise Shepherd,

Whose name had been pronounced by Nunamnir,

To the Princeship of the Land,

In order to:

Establish Justice in the Land,

To Banish Complaints,

To Turn Back Enmity (and) Rebellion

By the Force of Arms, (and)

To Bring Well-being to the Sumerians and Akkadians, . . .

Then I, Lipit-Ishtar . . . procured . . . Amargi (Liberty)

Of the sons and daughters of Sumer and Akkad

Upon whom ... Slaveship had been imposed.

The American Preamble


We The People of the United States,

In order to form a more perfect Union,

Establish Justice,

Insure Domestic Tranquility,

Provide for the Common Defence,

Promote the General Welfare and

Secure the Blessings of Liberty

To Ourselves and Our Posterity,

Do Ordain and Establish

This Constitution for the United States of America.

From:


(James T. McGuire, The Sumerian Roots of the American Preamble, Lough Erene Press, 1994, pp. v, 3, 5; contributor: Kramer, Samuel N.; illustrator: McGuire, Cecilia.)