Historical Ages
Uruk culture in Mesopotamia
Chronological Nations and Tribes
Key Locations: Uruk [coordinates n="31.3216" e="45.6522"]
The origin of Nimrod
Genesis 10:10-12 states: "The first centers of his kingdom were Babylon, Uruk, Akkad, and Kalneh, in Shinar.
References to Babylon, Uruk, and Akkad suggest ties to Babylonia.
several cities, including Nippur, while Nimrod is associated with the founding of cities like Babylon and Uruk in the biblical narrative.
Both figures are associated with the founding of great cities—Gilgamesh with Uruk and Nimrod with Babylon and Uruk.
Both Makar and Nimrod are depicted as powerful rulers associated with the city of Uruk, known for their ambitious construction projects and their role as builders of cities and temples.
The similarities in their roles as influential kings and builders, along with their association with the city of Uruk, suggest a potential connection between Makar and Nimrod.
Inanna and Enmerkar
"Inanna and Enmerkar" is an ancient Sumerian story that explores the relationship between the goddess Inanna and the legendary king Enmerkar of Uruk.
She is one of the most prominent figures in Sumerian mythology and is often associated with the city of Uruk.
A legendary king of Uruk, Enmerkar is credited with founding the city and establishing its dominance.
Enmerkar was an ancient Sumerian ruler, credited with founding the city of Uruk and allegedly reigning for 420 years.
The story begins with Enmerkar, the king of Uruk, who desires to expand his influence and bring the city of Aratta, known for its wealth and resources, under his control.
Enmerkar, seeking to subdue Aratta, sends a messenger to the city's ruler with a demand to submit to Uruk's authority.
He challenges Enmerkar to prove his worthiness by performing a series of difficult tasks, including the construction of a ziggurat (a type of massive structure built in ancient Mesopotamia) and the delivery of large quantities of precious materials from Aratta to Uruk.
Eventually, through a combination of divine favor and Enmerkar's persistence, Aratta is subdued, and its ruler agrees to submit to Uruk's authority.
The story ends with Enmerkar's victory, solidifying Uruk's power and further establishing the city as a center of Inanna's worship.
Lines 11-15: "Enmerkar, the son of Utu, the king of Unug (Uruk), the lord of Kulaba, Enmerkar, the king of Unug, who made the neck-stock of the people of Aratta bow, He determined that the people of Aratta should be subjected to him, that they should bear the heavy yoke.
Say to him: "The lord of Kulaba, Enmerkar, the son of Utu, has sent me to you."' The lord of Kulaba has brought together the people of Uruk, who are numerous as the stars."
Lines 26-30: "Enmerkar has made Uruk resplendent, like the shining of heaven.
He took the sacred treasure and returned to Uruk with joy."
They loaded them onto donkeys and set out for Uruk.
He offered sacrifices to her, and the city of Uruk rejoiced.
The power of Uruk grew, and its fame spread across the land."
Lines 96-100: "Inanna, the queen of heaven and earth, looked upon Uruk with favor.
The people of Uruk were happy, and their city was strong.
The Deluge of the Chaldeans
Here the narrative of the Deluge appears as an episode in the eleventh tablet, or eleventh chant of the great epic of the town of Uruk.
These three copies were, by order of the King of Assyria, Asshurbanabal, made in the eighth century B.C., from a very ancient specimen in the sacerdotal library of the town of Uruk, founded by the monarchs of the first Chaldean empire.
Mount Aratta
In the myth "Inanna and Enmerkar," the goddess Inanna, who was initially the patron of Aratta, shifts her favor to the city of Uruk and its king, Enmerkar.
One of the most famous Sumerian epics, "Enmerkar and the Lord of Aratta," involves a series of challenges and exchanges between Enmerkar, the king of Uruk, and the ruler of Aratta.
August 2024 Update
Sumerian King List:Antediluvian rulers – Total span of 241,200 YearsKish has a timespan of more than 24,510 YearsFirst rulers of Uruk – Total span of 2,310 years
Shocking state of archaeology!
In 2003, a German archaeological team led by Jörg Fassbinder announced the discovery of what they believed could be the tomb of Gilgamesh near the ancient city of Uruk, modern-day Iraq.
Our Predeluvian History
Antediluvian rulers – Total span of 241,200 YearsKish has a timespan of more than 24,510 YearsFirst rulers of Uruk – Total span of 2,310 years
Lilith
Gilgamesh's Intervention: Inanna, distressed by the occupation of her tree, seeks help from Gilgamesh, the hero-king of Uruk.
Human lifespan declines
First Dynasty of Uruk
The Anunnaki
Antediluvian rulers – Total span of 241,200 YearsFirst dynasty of Kish – Total span of 24,510 YearsFirst rulers of Uruk – Total span of 2,310 yearsFirst dynasty of Ur – Total span of 167 years
Intuitively I thought that the years didn't represent years, but the shortest reign was Uruk, in the 3rd dynasty: 25 years.
Colonization
Adventurers and Fortune Seekers might be compared to Gilgamesh, a legendary king of Uruk and a major figure in ancient Mesopotamian mythology known for his epic adventures.
The Jinn
Pazuzu, the ancient Mesopotamian wind demon, is an example of a desert spirit, a primordial jinn, who struck terror in the hearts of city dwellers of Eridu, Ur, Nippur, Uruk, Akkad and other Sumerian cities some 4,000–6,000 years ago.
Epic of Gilgamesh: Tablet I
In Tablet I of the Epic of Gilgamesh, we are introduced to Gilgamesh, the powerful and arrogant king of Uruk.
The people of Uruk complain to the gods about Gilgamesh's behavior, so the gods create Enkidu, a wild man, to humble Gilgamesh and divert his excessive activities.
and built the wall of Uruk-Haven,
Go up on the wall of Uruk and walk around,
three leagues and the open area(?) of Uruk it (the wall) encloses.
he is the hero, born of Uruk, the goring wild bull.
He walks around in the enclosure of Uruk,
and the men of Uruk become anxious in ...
[The following lines are interpreted as rhetorical, perhaps spoken by the oppressed citizens of Uruk.]
Is Gilgamesh the shepherd of Uruk-Haven,
the gods of the heavens implored the Lord of Uruk [Anu]
"Is he the shepherd of Uruk-Haven,
let them be a match for each other so that Uruk may find peace!"
"My son, there lives in Uruk a certain Gilgamesh.
Go, set off to Uruk, tell Gilgamesh of this Man of Might.
The trapper went off to Uruk,
he made the journey, stood inside of Uruk,
Come, let me bring you into Uruk-Haven,
Let me shout out in Uruk: I am the mighty one!'
Look about, Enkidu, inside Uruk-Haven,
Gilgamesh in Uruk had dreams about you.""
The Land of Uruk was standing around it,
"The Land of Uruk was standing around it,
The Chronicle of Akakor
Archaeological findings in Eridu and Uruk point to the first sacred buildings.
Sumerian Cities
Uruk is often considered one of the world's oldest cities and was a major Sumerian urban center.
Sumerian King List
nam-lugal-bi e2-an-na-sze3 ba-de6 en: the kingship to Eanna (=Uruk) was carried off.95.
lugal unu{ki}-ga lu2 unu{ki} en: king of Uruk, who Uruk104.
unu{ki} {gesz}tukul ba-an-sag3 en: Uruk with weapons was struck down,133.
nam-lugal-bi unu{ki}-sze3 ba-de6 en: the kingship to Uruk was carried off.186.
unu{ki}-ga en-szakkan2-sza4-an-na en: In Uruk En-šakkan-ša’ana187.
unu{ki} {gesz}tukul ba-sag3 en: Uruk with weapons was struck down;192.
nam-lugal-bi unu{ki}-sze3 ba-de6 en: the kingship to Uruk was carried away.259.
unu{ki}-ga lugal-za3-ge-si en: In Uruk, Lugalzagesi260.
unu{ki} {gesz}tukul ba-an-sag3 en: Uruk with weapons was struck down;264.
nam-lugal-bi unu{ki}-sze3 ba-de6 en: the kingship to Uruk was carried away.297.
unu{ki}-sze3 ur-nigar lugal-am3 en: To Uruk, Ur-nigar was king,298.
unu{ki} {gesz}tukul ba-an-sag3 en: Uruk with weapons was struck down;306.
nam-lugal-bi unu{ki}-sze3 ba-de6 en: the kingship to Uruk was carried off.335.
unu{ki}-ga {d}utu-he2-gal2 lugal-am3 en: In Uruk Utu-hegal was king,336.
unu{ki} {gesz}tukul ba-an-sag3 en: Uruk with weapons was struck down;340.
sza3 unu{ki}-ga en: in Uruk;386.