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Ur - Trading Cities. AE120 - The City and the Festival Chris Oates February 21, 2007. The City of Ur. Located at the head of the Persian Gulf along the Euphrates River. Founded in the fifth millennium BC, one of the first large permanent settlements.
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Ur - Trading Cities • AE120 - The City and the Festival • Chris Oates • February 21, 2007
The City of Ur • Located at the head of the Persian Gulf along the Euphrates River. • Founded in the fifth millennium BC, one of the first large permanent settlements. • Genesis 15:7 - “And he said unto him, I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.”
History • For the first c. 2,000 years it existed as a city state. • In 2113 BC, after the overthrow of a previous Akkadian empire, King Ur-Nammu founds the Third Dynasty of Ur (Ur III). • Under Ur-Nammu’s son Shulgi and successors the dynasty lasts nearly 100 years. • Conquered by the Elamites from the east. Rebuilt under Nebuchadnezzar and Seleucids. Became ruins as the river changed course.
City Spaces • Surrounded by a rampart 8m above ground, 25-30m wide. Upon this was built the wall. • Ramparts, and probably walls, built by Ur-Nammu.
City Spaces • Western side protected by the Euphrates. • North and east surrounded by a canal.
City Spaces • Two harbors, in the north and west. • Through the middle of the city ran a canal, which supplied drinking water.
City Spaces • Houses consisted of two-story structures centered around a courtyard. • Built in mud-brick.
Economy of the Trading City • Irrigation canals necessary to supply agricultural fields and prevent flooding. • Agriculture based on cereals (wheat and barley) and date trees.
Economy of the Trading City • Trade entrepôt. • Sea port to Persian Gulf. • Connected through rivers to upper Mesopotamia. • Lay along land routes to Zagros Mountains.
Economy of the Trading City • Exported pottery to the gulf. • Imported copper from Oman. • Imported wood and copper from Bahrain.
Economy of the Trading City • Temples and palaces autonomous households. • Likely, great families owned vast amounts of land and employed large numbers of dependents. • Only palace and temple documents preserved, however.
Economy of the Trading City • Temples and palaces autonomous households. • Likely, great families owned vast amounts of land and employed large numbers of dependents. • Only palace and temple documents preserved, however.
Religion and Festival • Ur sacred to moon-god Nanna-Sin. • Temple complex and ziggurat dedicated to Nanna.
Religion and Festival • House of the Barge held barge which brought Nanna to Nippur during festivals. • New moon resembled boat. • Nippur religious center of lower Mesopotamia.
Religion and Festival • City included open spaces where “national dances” held. • These dances likely religious festivals.
Religion and Festival • Shulgi deified in 20th year of reign. • Divine kings at Ur? • However, van de Mieroop claims that citizenry held bulk of the power. • Perhaps divine status of kings ceremonial.
Archaeological Sites • Ziggurat of Ur still stands and has been excavated.
Archaeological Sites • Ziggurat of Ur still stands and has been excavated.
Archaeological Sites • Royal Cemetery excavated in the early 20th century. • Exposed opulent graves, showing existence of an elite and some belief of afterlife.
Archaeological Sites • Further excavation unlikely until Iraq stabilized. • Fortunately, it is in the desert and away from hotspots.
