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Sumer: Quick Facts

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Facts

Also Known As Sumeria

Photos

Sumerian cuneiform tablet
decorated columns by the Sumerians
Map showing the ancient region of Sumer highlighted in orange within present-day southern Iraq, near the Persian Gulf. Surrounding regions include parts of the Middle East and northeastern Africa, with major bodies of water such as the Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, Persian Gulf, and Caspian Sea labeled for geographic context.
diorite statue with Sumerian inscription
Two vertical tablets display ancient symbols for the numbers one and ten from Egyptian hieroglyphic, Egyptian hieratic, Sumerian, and Cretan scripts, with each symbol shown in red next to its culture and approximate date.
Historical map showing ancient Mesopotamia with labeled locations of major archaeological and historical sites. Symbols and color codes indicate sites from the prehistoric era, Sumerian-Akkadian culture, Babylonian and Neo-Babylonian eras, Assyrian civilization, Hurrian era, late Persian, Greek, and Parthian eras, as well as marshland areas. The map covers the region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, including present-day Iraq and surrounding areas.
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Related Topics and References

Topics
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silver vase of King Entemena, from Lagash
Lagash
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The Great Ziggurat of Ur in Iraq, a massive ancient brick structure with broad staircases and terraced levels, stands alone in a barren landscape.
Ur
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carving of Hammurabi
Babylonia
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Map of the Middle East highlighting the location of the ancient city of Uruk in present-day Iraq, with surrounding countries including Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria, and Turkey labeled, and major bodies of water such as the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, and Mediterranean Sea shown. An inset globe in the lower left indicates the regional context within the world.
Erech
ancient city, Iraq
Eridu
Eridu
ancient city, Iraq
flag of Iraq
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Historical map showing ancient Mesopotamia with labeled locations of major archaeological and historical sites. Symbols and color codes indicate sites from the prehistoric era, Sumerian-Akkadian culture, Babylonian and Neo-Babylonian eras, Assyrian civilization, Hurrian era, late Persian, Greek, and Parthian eras, as well as marshland areas. The map covers the region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, including present-day Iraq and surrounding areas.
history of Mesopotamia
historical region, Asia
Isometric drawing showing a reconstruction of the oval temple at Tutub, c. 2900 bc
Tutub
ancient city, Iraq

Key People

default image
Ernest de Sarzec
French archaeologist

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