Nippur (ancient city)
Nippur was an ancient Sumerian city situated on the banks of the Euphrates River in present-day Iraq, known for its historical significance and lush, fertile lands. As one of the most prominent cities in Sumer, it housed the largest temple dedicated to Enlil, the chief deity of the Sumerian pantheon, making it a vital religious and political center. The city was strategically protected by extensive walls, a moat, and a fortress, enhancing its status as a well-defended urban area. Throughout its history, Nippur experienced periods of abandonment, notably around 1720 BC, likely due to a change in the river's course that affected water supply. However, it was resettled when the river returned, and continued to thrive even after the Sumerians were absorbed by the Babylonian Empire. Nippur remained significant for centuries, serving as a hub for trade and religious activity until its final abandonment around 800 CE. Excavations by American teams in the late 19th and throughout the 20th century revealed artifacts that highlighted its connections with various ancient cultures, including those of Egypt, Persia, and Greece. The city's rich history reflects the broader narrative of Sumerian civilization and its lasting influence on human development.
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Nippur (ancient city)
Nippur was an ancient Sumerian city. It was located on the banks of the Euphrates River, which the city used for both defense and irrigation. Nippur was one of the most important Sumerian cities, and was home to the nation’s largest temple to Enlil, the head of the Sumerian pantheon. It was especially important for any government of Sumer to keep the loyalty of the people of Nippur.
At one point in its history, Nippur was completely abandoned. Historians suspect that the Euphrates River may have shifted its course away from the city, depriving it of necessary water. However, over time, the river returned to its original course. Once it was resupplied with water, Nippur was resettled. The city remained an important religious and economic site after Sumer was absorbed by the Babylonian Empire. It continued to remain important for centuries to come. However, in roughly 800 CE, Nippur was abandoned permanently. Teams from the University of Pennsylvania began to study the ruins of Nippur during the nineteenth century.
Background
Sumer was an ancient civilization located between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. Sumer was first settled by the Ubaid people between 4500 and 4000 BCE. The Sumerians helped pioneer many notable advances still used by modern civilization. These include raising cattle as livestock, recording information with a writing system, developing carpentry, and farming specific lots of land.
The Sumerian civilization slowly grew over time, developing into multiple city states. These included Eridu, Kish, Ur, Uruk, and Nippur. At its peak, Uruk may have been the most populated city in the world. City states were surrounded by walls to protect them against invading forces. Smaller villages were often located outside the city walls. Together, the Sumerian city states formed one of the most powerful civilizations in the region.
Sumerians were some of the first architects to utilize flat roofs and arched doorways on their buildings. They decorated many of their religious buildings with painted murals and mosaics. Some more elaborate temples featured carved stone and metal sculptures.
Sumerians had a complex writing system. They had schools, and encouraged many of their citizens to pursue literacy, music, and poetry. The Sumerian writing system, cuneiform, used a stylus to carefully create wedge-shaped pictograms. Some Sumerian poetry and stories have survived to the modern day. The Epic of Gilgamesh, a Sumerian poem, is commonly regarded as the oldest piece of surviving epic literature in the world. The poem follows the life of Gilgamesh, a heroic king who adventures to find immortality.
The Code of Hammurabi, an ancient Sumerian set of written laws, is one of the oldest surviving legal codes in existence. The code is famous for its severe punishments, including demanding “an eye for a eye.” Many crimes were published with execution or dismemberment. The law provided different punishments for committing crimes against members of different social classes. In most cases, committing crimes against members of higher social classes resulted in harsher punishments.
Sumerians were also known for the construction of large temples called ziggurats. Sumerian ziggurats were primarily made of mud bricks. The construction of ziggurats gradually spread to other nearby cultures, including the Babylonians.
Overview
Nippur was an ancient Sumerian city. The city is located in the modern Middle Euphrates region of Al-Qadisiyah, Iraq. Nippur was located on the banks of the Euphrates River, making its lands particularly fertile. At its peak, Nippur was a particularly well-protected city state. It was surrounded by a large city wall, with six gates to allow traffic to enter and leave the city. The walls were surrounded by a moat, which was filled with water from the Euphrates.
The city was divided into several districts, many of which were used for specific purposes, including scribal and residential quarters. A large canal provided access to water throughout much of the city, and a large fortress provided an additional layer of defense. Numerous villages were located outside the walls of the city. Farmers used the water of the Euphrates to irrigate their crops, growing grain and fruits on their land.
During much of its life, Nippur was considered the most sacred city in Sumer. It was home to the primary temple complex dedicated to the Sumerian god Enlil. Enlil was the head of the Sumerian pantheon. For this reason, control of the city of Nippur was considered paramount to any Sumerian government. Many Sumerians believed that Nippur had the power to legitimize a king of Sumer. In addition to the large temple to Enlil, Nippur contained prominent temples to numerous other deities. These included Inanna, the Sumerian goddess of love, war, and fertility, as well as Gula, the Sumerian goddess of healing and medicine.
In roughly 1720 BC, a major disaster caused the city to be completely abandoned. Though the exact nature of the disaster has yet to be determined, some historians believe that the Euphrates changed its course, robbing the city of its water. When the Euphrates returned, settlers quickly rebuilt the city, and Nippur returned to much of its former glory. It remained relevant after the Babylonian civilization absorbed the Sumerians, and even after the Babylonian civilization was conquered by larger empires. The city gradually declined after the third century CE. It was completely abandoned finally around 800 CE.
The first American teams to study the ruins of Nippur were from the University of Pennsylvania. These teams excavated the ruins in the late nineteenth century. Numerous teams worked at the site throughout the latter half of the twentieth century. Because Nippur often functioned as a trading hub, archaeologists studying Nippur unearthed relics from Ancient Egypt, Ancient Persia, Ancient Greece, and many other civilizations.
Bibliography
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“9 Things You May Not Know About the Ancient Sumerians.” History, 2019, www.history.com/news/9-things-you-may-not-know-about-the-ancient-sumerians. Accessed 7 Apr. 2020.
“Cuneiform.” Ancient History, 2020, www.ancient.eu/cuneiform/. Accessed 7 Apr. 2020.
“Gilgamesh.” Ancient History, 2020, www.ancient.eu/gilgamesh/. Accessed 7 Apr. 2020.
“Lesson Summary: Ancient Mesopotamia.” Khan Academy, www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-world-history/ap-world-history-beginnings/ap-ancient-mesopotamia/a/mesopotamia-lesson-summary. Accessed 7 Apr. 2020.
“Nippur.” UNESCO, 2017, whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/6173/. Accessed 7 Apr. 2020.
“Nippur – Sacred City of Enlil.” University of Chicago, 1993, oi.uchicago.edu/research/projects/nippur-sacred-city-enlil-0. Accessed 7 Apr. 2020.
“The Ziggurat.” Ducksters, www.ducksters.com/history/mesopotamia/ziggurats.php. Accessed 7 Apr. 2020.