Page number 2- The City of UR, Iraq

 

About 6200-6500 years ago there existed a civilization located between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers near the Persian Gulf. The area was known as Mesopotamia and the city was called Ur. Because of the geographic location the city had fertile soil and was the perfect place to irrigate the land and raise productive crops, as well as domesticate sheep, goats and other animals.

 

Ur is known in the Bible as Ur of the Chaldees. This biblical name, Ur of the Chaldees, refers to the Chaldeans, who settled the area about 900 B.C. It is known as the ancient city of the Sumerian civilization and the home of Abraham, father of the Hebrews. Its ruins are between the modern city of Baghdad, Iraq, and the head of the Persian Gulf. The site is now known as Tall al Muqayyar, Iraq.

 

The site of ancient Ur is located 140 miles south of Babylon. It was the capital of a small wealthy empire during the third millennium B.C. Most of the great ziggurat of Ur is still standing. Archaeologists were spurred by biblical accounts to excavate mounds in what is now Iraq. There they uncovered the ancient civilizations of Assyria, Babylonia, Sumeria, and Ur. These excavations, along with others, confirmed and expanded on the historical accounts offered in the Bible.

 

The first settlers of this land were known as Ubaidians, however, the credit for establishing the civilization should go to the Sumerians who were the second settlers. With them they brought art and literature, which far surpassed that of the Ubaidians. Other cities that were settled were Ukak, Eridu, and Kish, but Ur was the largest.

 

The first king of Ur was known as Mes-Anni-Padda, he was succeeded by his son, A-Anni-Padda. During the rule of these kings, Ur was constantly at war with other states of Mesopotamia. And attack by raiders from Akkad, ended the First Dynasty of Ur. Ur then entered a stage comparable to the Dark Ages.It remained that way until a new king came to power. His name was Ur-Nammu. Under his rule a government was established which enforced its laws and rules strictly. Time was taken to revitalize life in Ur and also to promote the patron moon god of Ur, Nannar. Temples were built, including the biggest and most beautiful of them all, the Ziggurat. This, along with an increase in irrigation and agriculture the first depression of Ur ended. 

The Third Dynasty ended when northern barbarians attacked. Ur became occupied by Babylonians, but was eventually ridden with drought and was covered by many layers of sand. The ruins of Ur were found and first excavated by the British consul J.E. Taylor, who partly uncovered the ziggurat of Nanna. The British Museum began excavations there in 1919 and was joined later by the University Museum of the University of Pennsylvania. The expedition completely excavated the ziggurat, the entire temple area at Ur, and parts of the residential and commercial quarters of the city. The most spectacular discovery was the Royal Cemetery. It contained art treasures of gold, silver, bronze, and precious stones.

 

These are pictures of the City of Ur, Iraq and above is the history of (UR) The temple is called the "Ziggurat". Notice in the second picture the military "Hummers" in front of the temple after the U.S. took over this location for a strategic location for operations in the South of Iraq.

The first picture depicts myself in front of an opening to one of the temples that was enormous inside. The second picture again depicts myself standing on the steps of the "Ziggurat" the main temple.

 

 

back to top