Here are a couple picture of Jason playing tourist in Ur. The following is the bit of history he sent with his pictures:
My friends and I visited the Ziggurat of Ur and Abraham’s home this past Sunday. The Ziggurat of Ur was a temple to the moon God, Nannar, and built more than 4000 years ago. It is solid inside and originally much taller. The only open room was the top level, which was for worship. The many holes you see in the side of the structure (in the sunset picture) served as expansion joints and weep holes for the rainwater to escape. Scuppers and a “downspout” system was also incorporated in the design.
The area known as Ur was inhabited from 3000BC – 500BC but was abandoned because the Euphrates river changed course. Around the area are many tombs and temples including the tomb of King Shulgi and all the workers. In fact, when a king died all his servants were taken into the tomb, given poison, and sealed in the tomb to die. There is also a temple to Nebuchadnezzar nearby. In addition is the suspected home of the Prophet Abraham. As the picture shows, the walls of his home were rebuilt in the late 90’s in anticipation of a visit by the Pope, which never happened.
The picture of the cuneiform writing is inside the temple of King Shulgi just above where his tomb is. There are quotes by him all over the walls, much like the quotes around the Lincoln Memorial. Cuneiform, from what our guide, Deiph, told us is the second form of writing, after pictographs and before hieroglyphics. Other than writing, he also told us that the wheel was invented in this area.
The area known as Ur was inhabited from 3000BC – 500BC but was abandoned because the Euphrates river changed course. Around the area are many tombs and temples including the tomb of King Shulgi and all the workers. In fact, when a king died all his servants were taken into the tomb, given poison, and sealed in the tomb to die. There is also a temple to Nebuchadnezzar nearby. In addition is the suspected home of the Prophet Abraham. As the picture shows, the walls of his home were rebuilt in the late 90’s in anticipation of a visit by the Pope, which never happened.
The picture of the cuneiform writing is inside the temple of King Shulgi just above where his tomb is. There are quotes by him all over the walls, much like the quotes around the Lincoln Memorial. Cuneiform, from what our guide, Deiph, told us is the second form of writing, after pictographs and before hieroglyphics. Other than writing, he also told us that the wheel was invented in this area.
