The Sumerian Kingdom of Ur

A culture considered to be the beginning and root of western civilization flourished more than five thousand years ago in the area of ancient Mesopotamia. Ur was one of the great Sumerian urban states; it has traditionally been identified with the Garden of Eden, or Paradise. The ruins of Ur, the most impressive of which is the temple tower, or ziggurat, are seen in the film in their present-day condition, and collections from the National Museum of Iraq present the variety and high level of the Sumerian culture. Ancient 'reed culture' can still be found in modern Iraq, at the point where the Euphrates and Tigris turn into one river; the Marsh Arabs consider themselves to be descendants of the ancient Chaldeans. The film covers also the history of archaeology and excavators at Ur.

Part of the series Ancient Cultures of Mesopotamia