1. About.com
  2. Education
  3. Ancient / Classical History

Discuss in my forum

Ur

By , About.com Guide

See More About:
Definition: Ur was an ancient Sumerian city that was settled in the late sixth millennium, during the Ubaid Period. By about 3000 B.C., the area of Ur was about 37 acres. During the Early Dynastic Period, Ur reached its maximum area of 124 acres and was one of the richest Sumerian cities because it was a harbor, and therefore trading, town on the Persian Gulf.

Ur is near the modern Iraqi city of An Nasiriya.

Sargon of Agade (2334–2279 B.C.) made his daughter Enheduanna the high priestess of the moon goddess Nanna at Ur. After about 2000 B.C., Ur became a minor city politically.

Source: James A. Armstrong "Ur" The Oxford Companion to Archaeology. Brian M. Fagan, ed., Oxford University Press 1996. Oxford Reference Online. Oxford University Press.

Go to Other Ancient / Classical History Glossary pages beginning with the letter

a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | i | j | k | l | m | n | o | p | q | r | s | t | u | v | wxyz
Also Known As: Tell al-Muqayyar

©2012 About.com. All rights reserved. 

A part of The New York Times Company.