Sippar, Ancient Mesopotamian archaeological settlement near Yusufiyah, Iraq.
Sippar is an archaeological site in Iraq consisting of two separate mounds divided by an ancient watercourse, spanning roughly 50 hectares. Defensive walls still remain visible at multiple locations, showing where the city once extended its protective barriers.
The settlement emerged as a major center during the Akkadian Empire and Old Babylonian period, thriving in the region north of Babylon. Over time, the city's importance shifted as political power moved elsewhere in Mesopotamia.
The settlement served as a religious hub centered on the temple E-babbara, dedicated to the sun god Utu and central to the spiritual life of its inhabitants. The temple's prominence shaped how people organized their communities and marked important cycles throughout the year.
The site is mostly open and can be explored on foot, with both mounds clearly visible and relatively easy to distinguish. Visitors should prepare for uneven terrain and changing ground conditions typical of archaeological excavations.
A fire that destroyed a private archive in what scholars call the House of Ur-Utu accidentally preserved around 2,500 clay tablets with records of daily activities. This accidental burning became one of the most important sources of knowledge about everyday life in ancient Mesopotamia.
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