Founded in 5,000 BC Uruk played a leading role in the early urbanization of Sumer in the mid-4th millennium BC. At its height c. 2900 BC, Uruk probably had 50,000–80,000 residents living in of walled area; making it the largest city in the world at the time. The legendary king Gilgamesh, according to the chronology presented in the Sumerian king list, ruled Uruk in the 27th century BC. The city lost its prime importance around 2000 BC, in the context of the struggle of Babylonia against Elam, but it remained inhabited throughout the Seleucid (312–63 BC) and Parthian (227 BC to 224 AD) periods until it was finally abandoned shortly before or after the Islamic conquest of 633–638.
He carved on a stone stela all of his toils,
and built the wall of Uruk-Haven,
the wall of the sacred Eanna Temple, the holy sanctuary.
Look at its wall which gleams like copper(?),
inspect its inner wall, the likes of which no one can equal!
Take hold of the threshold stone–it dates from ancient times!
Go close to the Eanna Temple, the residence of Ishtar,
such as no later king or man ever equaled!
Go up on the wall of Uruk and walk around,
examine its foundation, inspect its brickwork thoroughly.
Is not (even the core of) the brick structure made of kiln-fired brick,
and did not the Seven Sages themselves lay out its plans?
One league city, one league palm gardens, one league lowlands, the open area(?) of the Ishtar Temple,
three leagues and the open area(?) of Uruk it (the wall) encloses.
Find the copper tablet box,
open the … of its lock of bronze,
undo the fastening of its secret opening.
Take and read out from the lapis lazuli tablet
how Gilgamesh went through every hardship.
(2100 BC)
“Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.”
(1818 AD)
I was never much for poetry but your brilliance and the brilliance of the poets you expose us to has turned my head.
Casey KlahnAugust 26, 2020, 1:34 AM
Do Tell.
JoeDaddyAugust 26, 2020, 3:19 AM
”Many revelations of high technology have been being uncovered by independent researchers all over the earth. Anomalies in the historical record, out of place, out of time artifacts are labeled as mysteries or one offs yet show signs of advanced sciences and intelligence. Ancient maps showing lands that were not supposed to have been known, let alone covered deep in ice for thousands of years before human civilization.”- Jared Murphy, IT’S NOT ALIENS, WORSE, IT’S US: Discovering Our Lost History Paperback – January 15, 2020
One of the oldest poems known to us, “The Seven”, is of Akkadian origin, dating back to at least 2000 B.C., perhaps discovered on shards of pottery. I write about it here… https://thedistributist.com/2016/02/05/the-seven/
AnonymousAugust 26, 2020, 7:02 AM
….and it goes down in flames over one summer.
JackAugust 26, 2020, 7:53 AM
Let me guess: BLM showed up.
Schill McGuffinAugust 26, 2020, 9:23 AM
Shelley published Ozymandias in 1818, not 1880. Otherwise quite on-point.
I’ve always liked reading Gilgamesh, a bit of a shame somebody spilled beer on the tablets a few thousand years ago washing away, probably, some of the raciest parts.
Real World Address for Donations, Mash Notes and Hate Mail
Gerard Van der Leun
1692 MANGROVE AVE
APT 379
Chico, Ca 95926
Green Pants Interior by Klahn
Who Am I? by Carl Sandburg
My head knocks against the stars.
My feet are on the hilltops.
My finger-tips are in the valleys and shores of universal life.
Down in the sounding foam of primal things I reach my hands and play with pebbles of destiny.
I have been to hell and back many times.
I know all about heaven, for I have talked with God.
I dabble in the blood and guts of the terrible.
I know the passionate seizure of beauty
And the marvelous rebellion of man at all signs reading “Keep Off.”
My name is Truth and I am the most elusive captive in the universe.
Duty, Beauty, Liberty, Country, Honor, Family, Faith — Plus a few simple easy to follow rules for guys
Men saw the stars at the edge of the sea
They thought great thoughts about liberty
Poets wrote down words that did fit
Writers wrote books
Thinkers thought about it
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
Many’s the road I have walked upon
Many’s the hour between dusk and dawn
Many’s the time
Many’s the mile
I see it all now
Through the eyes of a child
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
[Chorus]
Lost dreams and found dreams
In America
In America
In America
Lost dreams and found dreams
In America
In America
In America
And close your eyes
Leave it all for a while
Leave the world
And your worries behind
You will build on whatever is real
And wake up each day
To a new waking dream
Take it where you find it
Can’t leave it alone
You will find a purpose
To carry it on
Mainly when you find it
Your heart will be strong
About it
[Chorus]
Change, change come over
Change come over
Talkin’ about a change
Change, change
Change come over, now
Change, change, change come over
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I’m gonna walk down the street
Until I see
My shining light
I see my light
See my light
See my shining light
I see my light
See my light
See my shining light
Uruk
Gerard Van der Leun
Comments on this entry are closed.
I was never much for poetry but your brilliance and the brilliance of the poets you expose us to has turned my head.
Do Tell.
”Many revelations of high technology have been being uncovered by independent researchers all over the earth. Anomalies in the historical record, out of place, out of time artifacts are labeled as mysteries or one offs yet show signs of advanced sciences and intelligence. Ancient maps showing lands that were not supposed to have been known, let alone covered deep in ice for thousands of years before human civilization.”- Jared Murphy, IT’S NOT ALIENS, WORSE, IT’S US: Discovering Our Lost History Paperback – January 15, 2020
One of the oldest poems known to us, “The Seven”, is of Akkadian origin, dating back to at least 2000 B.C., perhaps discovered on shards of pottery. I write about it here… https://thedistributist.com/2016/02/05/the-seven/
….and it goes down in flames over one summer.
Let me guess: BLM showed up.
Shelley published Ozymandias in 1818, not 1880. Otherwise quite on-point.
Thanks. Fixed.
I’ve always liked reading Gilgamesh, a bit of a shame somebody spilled beer on the tablets a few thousand years ago washing away, probably, some of the raciest parts.