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Work #1882

Gudea Cylinders

Gudea of Lagash (attributed; court scribes)
c. 2144–2124 BCE · Sumerian
Temple-building hymn inscribed on clay cylinders · Sumerian religious / literary tradition

The house planted by the side of a river — the most elaborate surviving account of divine vision, sacred architecture, and temple dedication in Sumerian literature

Attribute Fingerprint

Rows where works disagree are highlighted in gold. The full ontology grid is shown.

Attribute Gudea Cylinders
Time · Extent Infinite
Time · Ontological Status Substantival
Time · Grain Continuous
Time · Freedom Non-Deterministic
Time · Traversability Cyclical
Time · Dimensionality One
Time · Direction Uni-directional
Space · Extent Finite
Space · Ontological Status Substantival
Space · Curvature not engaged
Space · Dimensionality Three
Space · Locality Local
Matter · Extent Finite
Matter · Ontological Status Substantival
Matter · Conservation not engaged
Matter · Dimensionality Three
Matter · Locality Local
Observer · Time Instance Single
Observer · Space Instance Single
Observer · Knowledge Extent Mediated
Observer · Knowledge Retainment Partial
Observer · Physicality Embodied
Observer · Agency Active
Observer · Number Singular
Observer · Metaphysical Agency Providential
Observer · Moral Authority Revelation
Observer · Theological Method
Energy · Extent not engaged
Energy · Ontological Status not engaged
Energy · Conservation not engaged
Energy · Dispersibility not engaged
Information · Ontological Status Substantival
Information · Cosmic Conservation Conserved
Information · Personal Conservation Conserved
Information · Granularity not engaged

Dimension-by-Dimension Evidence

What each work's passages reveal about its stance on each of the six dimensions.

Time

Gudea Cylinders

Infinite cosmic order; cyclical restoration of the temple; uni-directional within the building narrative.

Space

Gudea Cylinders

Finite, three-dimensional: the temple is the axis mundi connecting heaven, earth, and underworld.

Matter

Gudea Cylinders

Cedar, gold, stone, and brick are theologically significant — matter participates in the cosmic order.

Observer

Gudea Cylinders

Gudea receives divine communication through dreams requiring interpretation — mediated knowledge.

Energy

Gudea Cylinders

Not addressed.

Information

Gudea Cylinders

The Cylinders meticulously preserve architectural, ritual, and theological information for posterity.

Internal Tensions

Where each work's argument pulls against itself.

Gudea Cylinders

Divine command versus human initiative: the temple is God's work but Gudea's effort. Gudea is "merely" a governor, yet his literary and material legacy surpasses most kings.