Ziggurat of Tell Bismaya (Adab — E-mah)
Tell Bismaya Ziggurat · Adab E-mah · Tell Bismaya E-mah ziggurat
Early Dynastic to Ur III / Isin-Larsa·Sumerian·🇮🇶 Wasit Governorate, Tell Bismaya (ancient Adab) — E-mah temple ziggurat mound, Iraq
About
About Ziggurat of Tell Bismaya (Adab — E-mah)
Ziggurat of the goddess Ninhursag (E-mah temple) at Tell Bismaya (ancient Adab) — Early Dynastic to Ur III–Isin-Larsa platform 50×50 m base, 15 m high, of plastered mudbrick with niched panels, baked-brick staircase and massive Isin-Larsa enclosure 200×250 m. Capital of pre-Sargonic Adab (rival of Shuruppak). Excavated by Edgar James Banks (University of Chicago) 1903–04 who famously inspired Indiana Jones narrative; later by Iraqi DG. Banks uncovered temple archive of 2000 tablets and 20 kg pure copper “Adab vase.” E-mah rebuilt by Ur III Shulgi. Links Adab–Shuruppak–Isin triad.
Why it mattersOnly large Adab temple platform excavated; Banks archive links southern Sumer city-state network; name source for popular-culture Indiana Jones muse.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Adab king-list completeness
- 02Relation to Shuruppak Adab corridor
Theories
- 01E-mah predecessor to Isin E-galmah
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. 2600–2000 BCE (Early Dynastic to Ur III)
- Period
- Early Dynastic to Ur III / Isin-Larsa
- Culture
- Sumerian
- Builders
- Adab dynasty, Shulgi of Ur
- Purpose
- Platform temple E-mah of Ninhursag, city goddess of Adab
- Abandoned
- c. 1750 BCE (Old Babylonian)
- Rediscovered
- 1903 (Edgar J. Banks)
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 2600–2000 BCE (Early Dynastic to Ur III)
Initial construction
c. 1025 CE
Rediscovery
On the ground
Structures & features
32.0133° N · 45.1736° E · 18 m · 2 mapped features
E-mah ziggurat mound
ziggurat50 m square platform mound 15 m
32.0133° N · 45.1736° EEnclosure wall Isin-Larsa
wall200×250 m temenos wall trace
32.0130° N · 45.1739° E