Ancient Mesopotamian Cities - Uruk
- Sylvia Rose
- Nov 2, 2023
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 3
The stone walls of Uruk surround a vibrant city in ancient Mesopotamia. Uruk is the first definitive urban center. Uruk is believed founded by King Enmerkar around 4500 BCE, long before the Bronze Age.
About 80 km (50 mi) south of ancient Ur, another powerful center, the town is created of large mud brick buildings. It's decorated with relief carvings, paintings and mosaics.
A city wall is built c. 3000 BCE. The buildings of Uruk include temples, houses, barracks, artisan quarters and palaces. The palace is equated with a gathering place, not necessarily the home of a monarch, though it can be either. The main city covers an area of 5.5 sq km (2.1 sq mi).
At its height of activity c. 2900 BCE, Uruk has 50,000 city residents and 90,000 more in the surrounding area. By the end of the 3rd millennium BCE it's the largest city in the known world.
Excavated by archaeologists, the large Anu Ziggurat stands at the entrance to Uruk. At one time the White Temple of Anu, with smooth lime walls, gleams atop the ziggurat like a desert lighthouse.
The ziggurat is part of a larger temple complex. Uruk temple architecture is consistent with that of previous people. Buildings follow tripartite plans with central hall and anterooms.
Uruk is the capital city of Gilgamesh, princely hero of the Epic of Gilgamesh, which holds the distinction of being the oldest known written story in history. Versions of the poem date to c. 2000 BCE.
They're inscribed in Sumerian cuneiform, the first written language, which itself dates back to about 3400 BCE. About 400 Proto-cuneiform clay tablets have been found.
In pottery, bevel rim bowls are the most common type of containers, used for food or drink rations to dependent laborers. Pottery increases in quality and quantity with the throwing wheel.
The pottery wheel emerges in Uruk in the 3rd millenium. It makes mass production of pottery easier and more consistent.
Patron goddess of Uruk is Inanna (later Ishtar). The people want her patronage so build her a beautiful house with priests, musicians and servants in attendance. As the story goes she's delighted and moves in.
Inanna is one of the central figures of Mesopotamian mythology. She is a goddess of beauty, sex, divine law, political power, love, war and fertility. Her symbols are the lion, dove, barley, rose, owl and the eight-point star.
She is worshipped at the temple as a three-aspect goddess or triad. The triple goddess is a familiar form in mythology and belief. Her official title is Queen of Heaven.
Her consort is the agriculture god Dumuzid. The goddess Ninshubur is her sukkal (divine attendant). Temperamental, spontaneous Inanna has many adventures involving them.
As in many other cultures, the ancient Mesopotamians make sacrifice to the gods. This can be on a special occasion or a regular schedule.
As civilization and mythos grow in complexity, the gods are allocated specific feeding times and rituals. Sacrificial animals include the rooster and goat, but greater honor is accorded bull sacrifice.
Other gods are associated with Uruk in particular and greater Mesopotamia in general. Shamash the Sun God sees all with his eye as he travels the sky.
He has the role of judging humankind, and is responsible for justice, and the safety of travelers. Like Moon God Sin (Nanna) he's associated with Underworld in his aspect of divine judge. Both sun and moon travel through the underworld when they're not in the sky.
Mesopotamian life is highly spiritual. People live with demons, elemental spirits, house entities and nature deities. There are creatures of the home, wild ones in mountains, many with both creative and destructive powers.
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