Alulim (Sumerian: 𒀉𒇻𒅆, romanized: Álulim; transliterated: a₂.lu.lim) was a mythological Mesopotamian 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.

[3] The name Ayalu, known from the Uruk List of Kings and Sages (Paired with Apkallu Adapa)[5] where it is written A-a-lu, appears to be another variant, resulting from reinterpretation reliant on the partially homophonous word ayyalu, 'deer' or 'stag'.

[6] The only indirect parallels are the occurrences of individuals named Alulu (with variable spelling) in early texts from Fara and other pre-Sargonic sites.

[13] Its duration was regarded as proverbial, as indicated by a letter of the astrologer Ašarēdu to an unspecified Babylonian king, in which he wished him to be blessed by the gods of Babylon with "years of Alulu".

[15] However, the contents of the Sumerian King List are assumed to not reflect historical reality, and cannot be used to reconstruct early Mesopotamian chronology.

[20] 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.

[21] In the Ballad of Early Rulers, a composition noted for its large number of allusions to other works of Mesopotamian literature,[22] Alulim is listed among famous ancient figures alongside Etana, Gilgamesh, Ziusudra, Humbaba, Enkidu, Bazi and Zizi.

[24] 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.

[25] Alulim is also attested in Neo-Babylonian incantations against field pests, acknowledge him as a "king from before the deluge",[14] though in this context he is also addressed as the creator of insects.

[27] The same texts also state that he was believed to enjoy milk, ghee and beer, but could not stand "queen Nisaba", here a metonym for grain.

[28] 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.

[32] A reference to Alulu occurs in a broken context in a heavily damaged Middle Assyrian (or later) text from Assur which might link him to Pazuzu, if the restoration of the latter name is correct, though due to the state of preservation the contents are presently impossible to interpret.

[36] He states that Aloros reigned for 36000 years and was succeeded by Alaparos (Ancient Greek: αλαπαρος), presumed to be an adaptation of Alalgar.

[37] His work was in turn an influence on the writings of the astrologer Abu Ma'shar al-Balkhi and on Al-Biruni's Qānūn, cited as sources in Minhaj-i Siraj Juzjani's Tabaqat-i Nasiri (written in 1259–1260), where a derivative of Aloros, Aylūrūs (Arabic: الوروس), is presented as the first king of the people standing in opposition to giants.