Ziggurat Mound of Tell al-Hiba (Lagash — Ibgal)
Tell al-Hiba Ibgal Ziggurat · Lagash Ibgal Temple Mount · E-ninnu temple terrace
Early Dynastic to Ur III·Sumerian (Lagash dynasty)·🇮🇶 Dhi Qar Governorate, Tell al-Hiba (ancient Lagash) — Ibgal precinct west mound, Iraq
About
About Ziggurat Mound of Tell al-Hiba (Lagash — Ibgal)
Temple terrace / ziggurat mound (Ibgal of Inanna) at Tell al-Hiba (Lagash), west mound Area B — massive 40×30 m mudbrick platform 12 m high, Early Dynastic to Gudea (c. 2500–2120 BCE) temple of Inanna, rebuilt by Enmetena and Ur-Baba. Unlike classic N-S ziggurats, Ibgal is a low broad platform-pylon with massive temenos. Excavated by Vaughn Crawford & Donald Hansen 1968–76, later by Holly Pittman.
Why it mattersKey oval temple→platform→ziggurat evolutionary link at Lagash; Ibgal archive documents Early Dynastic temple economy.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Exact king-builder sequence
- 02Connection to Gudea Eninnu at Girsu
Theories
- 01Ibgal is prototype for Ur Nanna ziggurat
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 2500–2100 BCE (Early Dynastic III to Gudea)
- Period
- Early Dynastic to Ur III
- Culture
- Sumerian (Lagash dynasty)
- Builders
- Enmetena, Lugal-anda, Ur-Baba, Gudea
- Purpose
- Platform temple of Inanna (Ibgal) and Bagara of Nin-ib-gal
- Abandoned
- c. 2000 BCE
- Rediscovered
- 1968 (Hansen–Crawford Lagash excavations)
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 2500–2100 BCE (Early Dynastic III to Gudea)
Initial construction
c. 1122 CE
Rediscovery
On the ground
Structures & features
31.4128° N · 46.4072° E · 12 m · 2 mapped features
Ibgal platform
ziggurat40×30 m baked-brick temple platform
31.4128° N · 46.4072° EBagara temple north
templeNin-ib-gal shrine mound north of Ibgal
31.4130° N · 46.4078° E