Eanna, Ancient temple complex in Uruk, Iraq
Eanna is a large temple complex in Uruk, Iraq, composed of several adjoining courtyards with thick mud-brick walls and remains of columns and gateways. The individual rooms and open areas cluster around a larger central space whose sandy surface stretches across several hundred meters.
The complex arose around 4000 BCE during early city formation in Mesopotamia and stands as evidence of the first monumental buildings in the region. Later rulers expanded it repeatedly, with each phase adding new walls and rooms so that today several layers sit one atop the other.
The name derives from Inanna, the Sumerian deity honored here, whose symbols still appear on scattered fragments across the site. Visitors today can walk among the foundations of former shrines where worshippers gathered thousands of years ago.
The excavations lie open and are covered by loose sand, so visitors should bring sturdy footwear and sun protection. The path through the ruins runs over uneven surfaces that can become especially hot in warm weather.
Archaeologists discovered here the oldest known writing tablets, which contain administrative records kept by priestesses and priests. These clay tablets show that the complex organized not only spiritual acts but also daily trade and the storage of goods.
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