Ziggurat of Ur: killslowly's Pics and Story

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killslowly @ 2005-11-15 15:26:37

Stairway to the Moon
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killslowly:
Well, following the guidelines set forth by the staff (just kidding), I was at the Ziggurat of Ur because we just invaded Iraq. I was working nearby anb could see it (the Ziggurat) in the distance, every morning.

About a month after we arrived in the region, we got a chance to grab some trucks and go visit the site. We've heard so much about it (most of the accounts were a bit innacurate) and we were stressing a bit, so they gave us a day off. Well, more like 4 hours off. So we took it.

This was around April or May of 2003 (for timeline reference). I was very impressed and humbled when I arrived. I just could not believe this structure was 4000 years old. And it was in pretty good shape. There was an effort to unhearth other structures surrounding the Ziggurat and it was in various stages of success. Of course, the place was deserted, with the exception of a man, who I later learned, was the caretaker of the place. There was also another person who was selling Sumer Cigarettes (probably the most disgusting things you will ever smoke) and we were happy because we had run out of smokes two weeks before. He was also selling Iraqi Dinars but we did not buy (hey, a dollar a pop was a bit excesive you know).

We also had a chance to examine Abraham's House and that was also a very interesting experience, but I have to confess that I had a bit of an archeological faux pas.

This is very embarrasing, but as I was walking about, looking at the site (and also keeping security), I stepped on a little wall. Of course some person or a group of people painstakingly laid the bricks, carried them there, while some other group made them a long time ago. Fast forward to 2003, when an idiot (me) steps on the wall and the whole thing comes crashing down, with me on top of it all.

Needless to say, I was very saddened that I destroyed some historical/cultural site. This still bothers me until now.

Ziggurat of Ur
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By: killslowly
@ 2005-10-31 17:43:56

1 pics:

Comments:

Bubble @ 2006-02-01 12:38:49
	Thanks for the story and picture. But I can say with certainty that the structure in the picture is not 4000 years old! From the satellite image it appears that there is a more modern structure (which we see in your picture) built around the old ziggurat. Judging from its near perfect condition, it could not be more than 500 years old at the most. Perhaps the ziggurat itself is 4000 years old, but we don’t see it in your picture. The satellite image seems to indicate that it has weathered down to a relatively smooth hill which is what we would expect for a structure that old.
killslowly @ 2006-02-01 14:14:41
	Hi Bubble, I am no archeologist, but I am going by what I learned in country and what is on the web. There is not structure built around the Ziggurat. That rectangular structure you see in the middle of satellite photograph is the Ziggurat of Ur, which was covered in sand until it was excavated. Maybe that sand is what protected it from weathering like you mention. The photograph with me sitting on the stairs is the Ziggurat that is depicted in the sattelite photo provided. How do I know? Because every morning when I woke up over there, I could see it in the near horizon. As a matter of fact, that is how I found the Ziggurat itself (on google maps that is), by analizying the imagery from my station and finding it by terrain association. Did you even read the link I've submitted with more information? Is states that "Shulgi (reigned 2095-2047 BC) both built the great ziggurat of Nanna (about 2100 BC) that has stood throughout the centuries, and magnificent temples at Ur and in other Mesopotamian cities." That's more than 4000 years ago. There are no structures built around it. Thank you for your input, but before you try to burst somebody's bubble (no pun intended), research a bit. Thanks!!! Jerry P.S.: the Pyramids of Giza have not smoothed out to a hill, and they were built around the year 2560 BC. If we use your scientific method of time calculating on weathered structures) LOL, then those pyramids should be smooth hills (and they were not covered in sand at all).
Anonymous @ 2007-11-27 13:24:00
	I saw some of your pictures that you posted on google earth. Especially the one of the gym in tallil. I used to work there. just in case if you are wondering, I am with the US army. Wondering if you have more. respond to this post. OIF Medic

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