Ziggurat of Ur زقورة أور

The best-preserved Sumerian ziggurat, built around the 21st century BC by King Ur-Nammu. Nearby are the excavated Royal Tombs and the residential quarter traditionally linked to the Prophet Abraham.

The ziggurat was built for the moon god Nanna by Ur-Nammu, founder of the Third Dynasty of Ur, and completed by his son Shulgi. Its massive base of mud brick faced with baked brick and bitumen was partly reconstructed in the 20th century, and its great central stairway can still be climbed when access is open.

In the 1920s and 1930s the archaeologist Leonard Woolley excavated the Royal Tombs nearby, finding treasures such as the Standard of Ur and the jewellery of Queen Puabi. A house in the residential quarter is traditionally linked to the Prophet Abraham. Ur is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “The Ahwar of Southern Iraq”, listed in 2016.

Visit with our tour: Ur Ziggurat & Al-Chibayish →

Travel tips

• Visit early in the morning or late afternoon: there is no shade on the site.
• Combine Ur with a night in the Chibayish marshes.

Questions & answers

Where is Ziggurat of Ur?

Ziggurat of Ur is in Nasiriyah & Ur, Dhi Qar Governorate, Iraq. The map on this page shows its location.

How can I visit Ziggurat of Ur?

Ziggurat of Ur is included in our Ur Ziggurat & Al-Chibayish tour (2 days / 1 night). You can book it on WhatsApp, and we arrange the guide, transport and any permissions.

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