The Ziggurat of Ur

The Ziggurat of Ur, located west of the city of Nasiriyah in Dhi Qar Governorate, is considered one of the oldest temples in Mesopotamia. The word "ziggurat" means a high place, and Iraq includes 28 ziggurats, the oldest and most famous of which is the "Ziggurat of Ur" located inside the ancient city of Ur. The ancient city of Ur was the capital of the Sumerian state in 2100 BC, and it was the birthplace of the Prophet Abraham Al-Khalil in 2000 BC. 

The Ziggurat of Ur has become an important tourist and religious destination, especially after the visit of Pope Francis in 2021. In July 2016, the ancient city of Ur and other sites in Dhi Qar Governorate - in addition to the marshes - were included on the World Heritage List.

This article was written by Achref Chibani and is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0.