Ur
ancient Mesopotamian city-state
Ur (/ʊər/; Sumerian: Urim; Sumerian Cuneiform: 𒋀𒀕𒆠 URIM2KI or 𒋀𒀊𒆠 URIM5KI; Akkadian: Uru; Arabic: أور; Hebrew: אור) was an important Sumerian city-state in ancient Mesopotamia, located at the site of modern Tell el-Muqayyar (Arabic: تل المقير) in south Iraq's Dhi Qar Governorate. The city's patron deity was Nanna (in Akkadian, Sin).
Quotes
edit- O shrine Urim! Within, through their intricate craftsmanship, the Enki and Ninki deities have perfected the divine powers with their righteousness, and the Anuna gods stand there in service. O Urim, shrine of the mountains! O shrine Urim, shrine of the mountains! O Urim, city founded by An!
- Anonymous, A hymn to Nanna (Nanna H), late 3rd millennium BCE, at The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature.
- King, glittering light, crown of Urim, Nanna, glittering light, crown of Urim!
- Anonymous, a lament (ululumama) to Nanna (Nanna J), late 3rd millennium BCE, text online at The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature.
- In the city which like the sea inspires awe!
Far-seeing Suen, ruler of Urim!
O Suen, in leadership, great lord of heaven!
In the city which like the sea inspires awe!
Far-seeing Suen, ruler of Urim!- Anonymous, A hymn to Nanna (Nanna M), late 3rd millennium BCE, at The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature.
- May your city experience prosperity under you! In Urim may you raise your head high, unique lord, luminous lord, into the distant future!
Nanna, may your city experience prosperity under you! In Urim may you raise your head high, unique lord, luminous lord, into the distant future!- Anonymous, A hymn to Nanna (Nanna N), late 3rd millennium BCE, at The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature.
- Say to Icbi-Erra: this is what your lord, Ibbi-Suen, says: As long as Enlil was my lord, what course were you following? And is this how you alter your word? Today Enlil detests me, he detests his son Suen (the principal deity of Urim), and is handing Urim over to the enemy. Its central part is gone, the enemy has risen up, and all the lands are thrown into disarray. But on the day when Enlil turns again towards his son Suen, you and your word will be marked out!
- Ibbi-Sin, Letter from Ibbi-Suen to Ishbi-Erra about his bad conduct, Correspondence of the Kings of Ur, Old Babylonian period, ca. 1800-1600 BCE, at The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature; their original date of composition and their historical accuracy are debated.
- See, the assembly where the gods are and Sumer itself have been dispersed! Father Enlil, whose words prevail, said: "Until the enemy has been expelled from Urim, Icbi-Erra, the man from Mari, will tear out Urim's foundations. He will indeed measure out Sumer like grain." He has spoken just so.
- Ibbi-Sin to Puzur-Culgi, the governor of Kazallu. Letter from Ibbi-Suen to Puzur-Shulgi hoping for Ishbi-Erra's downfall, Correspondence of the Kings of Ur, Old Babylonian period, ca. 1800-1600 BCE, at The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature; their original date of composition and their historical accuracy are debated.
- Urim, your holy city, rivalling heaven and earth, whose great prince you are, [...] which dispenses the divine powers and makes the foundations and the plans firm both in the south and in the uplands, will surely escape from the grasp.
- Ishbi-Erra to Ibbi-Suen, Letter from Ishbi-Erra to Ibbi-Suen about the purchase of grain, Old Babylonian period, ca. 1800-1600 BCE, at The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature.
- As long as my lord is alive, he will exercise kingship over Urim.
- Ishbi-Erra to Ibbi-Suen, Letter from Ishbi-Erra to Ibbi-Suen about the purchase of grain, Old Babylonian period, ca. 1800-1600 BCE, at The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature.
- ln my city I dug a canal of abundance and named it the Kec-kug canal;
in Urim, I dug a canal of abundance and named it the Kec-kug canal.
I named it the Pabi-luh canal, a lasting name worthy to be praised.
The watercourse of my city is full of fish, and the air above it is full of birds.
The watercourse of Urim is full of fish, and the air above it is full of birds.
In my city honey-plants are planted, and the carp grow fat.
In Urim honey-plants are planted, and the carp grow fat.
The gizi reed of my city is so sweet that the cows eat them.
The gizi reed of Urim is so sweet that the cows eat them.- Variant from Ur: I named it the Kec-kug canal. I named it the Pabi-luh canal, a lasting name worthy to be praised. The watercourse of my city is full of fish, and the air above it is full of birds. The city of the Kec-kug canal is full of fish, and the air above it is full of birds. The watercourse of the Pabi-luh canal is full of fish, and the air above it is full of birds. Its abundance brings fish and birds for me to the E-kic-nu-jal. Its banks are lush with licorice, a honey-sweet plant to eat. Its arable tracts grow fine grain sprouting abundantly like a forest.
- Ur-Nammu, Ur-Namma the canal-digger (late 3rd millennium BCE to early 2nd millennium BCE), at The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature.
