Ur

Ur, ancient Sumerian city that lay in what is now southern Iraq along the Euphrates River. An important port as well as religious and trade center, Ur thrived from about 3500 B.C. until the 4th century B.C. At that time, the Euphrates River changed its course and the then useless port city was abandoned. According to the Bible, the Hebrew leader Abraham was born in Ur. Some important architectural ruins of Ur have been found in southern Iraq. These ruins include the remains of a ziggurat, an ancient pyramid-like structure.

See also: Sumer.