Sumerian City-States

Sumerian city-states were the center of the Sumerian culture. The cities probably began as centers of religious worship and festivities. As the cities grew people began to take refuge behind their walls from the growing number of raiders who preyed upon the open defenseless villages. City-states were independent entities who shared a common culture, though they were sometimes united under a single king.

The entries follow this system:

city-state name

• Patron Deity: If a particular deity was attributed with the city it will be noted here.
• Modern Day Name: If the ancient city corresponds to a modern site it will be noted here.
• Biblical Name: If the ancient city was mentioned in the Bible its Biblical name will be noted here.
• Notes: Miscellaneous items of interest regarding the city.

Abu Salabikh

• Patron Deity:
• Modern Day Name:
• Biblical Name:
• Notes:

Adab

• Patron Deity: Ninhursag
• Modern Day Name: Tell Bismya.
• Biblical Name: not mentioned in the Bible.
• Notes:

Agade

• Patron Deity:
• Modern Day Name:
• Biblical Name:
• Notes:

Akshak

• Patron Deity:
• Modern Day Name:
• Biblical Name:
• Notes:

Anshan

• Patron Deity:
• Modern Day Name: Tepe Maylan
• Biblical Name: not mentioned in the Bible
• Notes: major city of Elam

Apisala

• Patron Deity:
• Modern Day Name:
• Biblical Name: not mentioned in the Bible
• Notes:

Aratta

• Patron Deity: Inanna
• Modern Day Name:
• Biblical Name:
• Notes: According to legend, Aratta was the first city built by the gods. It was created to house the gods newly created servants, mortal men. The exact location of Aratta is not known, though it is believed to be located in the Zagros mountains.

Babil

• Patron Deity: Marduk
• Modern Day Name:
• Biblical Name: Babylon, Babel of Genesis
• Notes:

Bad-tibira

• Patron Deity:
• Modern Day Name: Tell ad-Medain/Medina
• Biblical Name:
• Notes: Bad-tibira is one of the five antediluvian cities mentioned in the king list.

Dabrum

• Patron Deity:
• Modern Day Name: Tell Jidr
• Biblical Name: not mentioned in the Bible
• Notes:

Der

• Patron Deity: Ishtar
• Modern Day Name: Tell Agar/Badrah
• Biblical Name: not mentioned in the Bible
• Notes:

Dilbat

• Patron Deity: Urash
• Modern Day Name: Tell Deylum
• Biblical Name: not mentioned in the Bible
• Notes:

Enegi

• Patron Deity: Ninazu
• Modern Day Name: Umm al-Wawiya
• Biblical Name: not mentioned in the Bible
• Notes:

Eridu

• Patron Deity: Enki
• Modern Day Name: Abu Shahrein
• Biblical Name:
• Notes: Eridu is one of the five antediluvian cities mentioned in the king list. It is the oldest known Sumerian city and served as the first capital of the kingdom.

Eshnunna

• Patron Deity: Ninazu
• Modern Day Name: Tell Asmar
• Biblical Name: not mentioned in the Bible
• Notes:

Girsu

• Patron Deity: Ningirsu
• Modern Day Name: Tello
• Biblical Name: not mentioned in the Bible
• Notes:

Hit

• Patron Deity:
• Modern Day Name:
• Biblical Name:
• Notes:

Isin

• Patron Deity: Gula
• Modern Day Name: al-Bahriyat
• Biblical Name: not mentioned in the Bible
• Notes:

Jemdet Nasr

• Patron Deity:
• Modern Day Name:
• Biblical Name:
• Notes:

Kesh

• Patron Deity: Ninhursag
• Modern Day Name:
• Biblical Name: not mentioned in the Bible
• Notes: The location of Kesh is not certain, though it was probably south of Adab.

Ki-An

• Patron Deity:
• Modern Day Name:
• Biblical Name: not mentioned in the Bible
• Notes:

Kish

• Patron Deity:
• Modern Day Name: Al Ukhaimir
• Biblical Name:
• Notes: According to the Sumerian King List, Kish was the first post-diluvian capital of Sumer.

Kisurra

• Patron Deity: Ninurta
• Modern Day Name: Abu-Hatab
• Biblical Name: not mentioned in the Bible
• Notes:

Kuara/Kisiga

• Patron Deity: Meslamtea
• Modern Day Name:
• Biblical Name: not mentioned in the Bible
• Notes:

Kutallu

• Patron Deity:
• Modern Day Name: Tell Sift
• Biblical Name: not mentioned in the Bible
• Notes:

Kutha/Kutu

• Patron Deity: Nergal
• Modern Day Name:
• Biblical Name: mentioned as Cuthah in II Kings 17.24 and Cuth in II Kings 17.30
• Notes:

Lagash

• Patron Deity: Ningirsu
• Modern Day Name: Al-Hiba
• Biblical Name: not mentioned in the Bible
• Notes: Flourishing by 2400, though inhabitation goes back to at least the 4th millenium

Larak

• Patron Deity:
• Modern Day Name:
• Biblical Name:
• Notes: Larak is one of the five antediluvian cities mentioned in the king list. The location of Larak has never been located.

Larsa

• Patron Deity: Shamash
• Modern Day Name: Senkere/Sankarah
• Biblical Name: not mentioned in the Bible
• Notes: Probably founded in prehistoric times.

Marad

• Patron Deity: Ninurta
• Modern Day Name: Wannat es-Sadum
• Biblical Name: not mentioned in the Bible
• Notes:

Nagsu

• Patron Deity:
• Modern Day Name:
• Biblical Name: not mentioned in the Bible
• Notes:

Nina/Sirara

• Patron Deity: Nanshe
• Modern Day Name: Zurghul
• Biblical Name: not mentioned in the Bible
• Notes:

Nippur

• Patron Deity: Enlil
• Modern Day Name:
• Biblical Name:
• Notes: Nippur was not a political city serving more of a religious center. Kings ascending the throne in another cities, such as Ur and Kish, sought recognition from Ekur, the temple of Enlil, which was located in Nippur.

Shuruppak

• Patron Deity:
• Modern Day Name:
• Biblical Name:
• Notes: Shuruppak is one of the five antediluvian cities mentioned in the king list.

Sippar

• Patron Deity: Shamash
• Modern Day Name:
• Biblical Name:
• Notes: Sippar is one of the five antediluvian cities mentioned in the king list.

Susa

• Patron Deity: Inshushinak
• Modern Day Name: Shush
• Biblical Name: Shushan
• Notes: Susa was the capital of Elam.

Ubaid

• Patron Deity:
• Modern Day Name:
• Biblical Name:
• Notes:

Umma

• Patron Deity: Shara
• Modern Day Name: Tell Jokha
• Biblical Name: not mentioned in the Bible
• Notes:

Ur

• Patron Deity: Nanna
• Modern Day Name:
• Biblical Name: Ur
• Notes: Ur is one of the more well-known of the ancient Sumerian cities. According to the Bible Ur was the home of Abraham. Ur was one of the first settlements founded by the Ubaids c. 4000 B.C. It eventually became of the most prosperous city-states of Sumer.

Uruk

• Patron Deity: Inanna
• Modern Day Name:
• Biblical Name: Erech
• Notes: Uruk is more well-known from its Biblical name of Erech. It was the largest city of ancient Sumer. It was an important religious center. According to legend Uruk was also the home of Gilgamesh, the famous Sumerian king, hero, and god.

Zabalam

• Patron Deity: Inanna
• Modern Day Name: Ibzeikh
• Biblical Name: not mentioned in the Bible
• Notes: