Though his name is missing from the Sumerian king list, Mesilim is among the earliest historical figures recorded in archaeological documents.
[5] Mesilim is best known for having acted as mediator in a conflict between Lugal-sha-engur, his ensi in Lagash, and the neighboring rival city state of Umma, regarding the rights to use an irrigation canal through the plain of Gu-Edin on the border between the two.
After asking the opinion of the god Iลกtaran, Mesilim established a new border between Lagash and Umma, and erected a pillar to mark it, on which he wrote his final decision.
[7] 8โ12 ๐จ๐ฒ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ค ๐ ๐ญ๐ ๐ฒ๐พ๐ซ ๐ ๐ท ๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐พ ๐๐ me-silim lugal kiลกki-ke4 inim diลกtaran-na-ta eลก2 gana2 be2-ra ki-ba na bi2-ru2 "Mesilim, king of Kiลก, at the command of Iลกtaran, measured the field and set up a stele there."
In Sumerian version, the proverb reads "The E-babbar which Mesilim had built, Annane, the man whose seed was cut off, tore down."