Eridu
Location
About
Eridu is one of the oldest cities in the world, with continuous occupation from approximately 5400 BCE, and holds the distinction in Sumerian theology of being the first city — the place where kingship first descended from heaven. The city was home to the god Enki (god of wisdom and fresh water) and its temple sequence, built and rebuilt 18 times, is the earliest known example of a sacred building continuously maintained on the same spot.
Significance
Eridu occupies a unique position in Mesopotamian sacred geography as the original city in Sumerian cosmology. Its 18-layer temple sequence demonstrates how Mesopotamian sacred architecture developed from a simple shrine to a complex ziggurat over 3,000 years. The myth of Eridu's origins is echoed in the biblical Eden narrative, as Eridu sat at the confluence of the great rivers and was a primordial garden city.
History & Historical Arc
Eridu was founded around 5400 BCE by Ubaid-period settlers at the edge of the Persian Gulf marshes. The Ubaid culture th…
Archaeological Notes
Fuad Safar's Iraqi excavations (1946-1949) revealed the extraordinary 18-layer temple sequence. The deepest levels conta…
Key Features & Structures
- 18-layer temple sequence to Enki
- Ziggurat mound
Visitor Information
In the desert of Dhi Qar Province, southern Iraq. Very remote; requires special arrangements.
Related Figures
In the Bible
Source References
- Sumerian King List
- Eridu Genesis myth