City
Ur
UR · Modern Tell el-Muqayyar, near Nasiriyah, Dhi Qar Governorate, Iraq · Also called Ur of the Chaldeans, Ur Kasdim
Ur is a city of the biblical world, known today as Tell el-Muqayyar, near Nasiriyah, Dhi Qar Governorate, Iraq.
What is known
- Genesis 11:28-31 identifies Ur of the Chaldeans as the birthplace of Abram (Abraham) and Terah's family before their migration to Haran
- British archaeologist Leonard Woolley excavated Ur extensively from 1922-1934, discovering the Royal Cemetery with lavish grave goods (including the Standard of Ur and the 'Ram in a Thicket' figurines) and the massive stepped ziggurat of the moon god Nanna/Sin
- The 'Chaldeans' designation reflects the Neo-Babylonian era name for the region, suggesting the Genesis text uses a later, familiar name for the ancient city
- The Great Ziggurat of Ur, built by Ur-Nammu c. 2100 BC, has been partially reconstructed and remains one of the best-preserved ziggurats in Mesopotamia
History
- Founded
- Occupied from at least the 5th millennium BC; reached its height as capital of the Sumerian 'Third Dynasty of Ur' (Ur III), c. 2112-2004 BC
- Population
- Estimated 60,000+ during the Ur III period, one of the largest cities in the world at that time
- Industry
- Major trade hub connected by canal to the Persian Gulf; textiles, metalworking, and agriculture on Euphrates irrigation canals
- Coordinates
- 30.9626° N, 46.1033° E
Rulers and powers
- Ur-Nammu (founder of Ur III dynasty) — c. 2112-2095 BC
- Shulgi — c. 2094-2047 BC
Archaeology
Leonard Woolley's excavations at Tell el-Muqayyar (1922-1934) uncovered the Royal Cemetery of Ur, with its spectacular grave goods now split between the British Museum, the Penn Museum, and the Iraq Museum, along with residential quarters some have (speculatively) associated with Abraham's era. The Great Ziggurat of Ur, built under Ur-Nammu and partially restored in the 20th century (with further restoration by Saddam Hussein's government), still dominates the site.
Scripture references
- Genesis 11:28 — Haran dies in Ur of the Chaldeans
- Genesis 11:31 — Terah takes his family from Ur toward Canaan
- Genesis 15:7 — The LORD who brought Abram out of Ur of the Chaldeans
- Nehemiah 9:7 — God brought Abram out of Ur of the Chaldeans
On a modern map
Further reading
Reflect
Abraham left the great city of Ur with no map, only a promise — what would you leave behind if you were sure God was leading?
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