Sumer (redirected from Sumerian civilization)

Su·mer  (smr)

An ancient country of southern Mesopotamia in present-day southern Iraq. Archaeological evidence dates the beginnings of Sumer to the fifth millennium b.c. By 3000 a flourishing civilization existed, which gradually exerted power over the surrounding area and culminated in the Akkadian dynasty, founded c. 2340 by Sargon I. Sumer declined after 2000 and was later absorbed by Babylonia and Assyria. The Sumerians are believed to have invented the cuneiform system of writing.

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Sumer [ˈsuːmə]

n

(Placename) (Historical Terms) the S region of Babylonia; seat of a civilization of city-states that reached its height in the 3rd millennium bc

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

Sumer - an area in the southern region of Babylonia in present-day Iraq; site of the Sumerian civilization of city-states that flowered during the third millennium BC Al-Iraq, Irak, Iraq, Republic of Iraq - a republic in the Middle East in western Asia; the ancient civilization of Mesopotamia was in the area now known as Iraq Babylonia, Chaldaea, Chaldea - an ancient kingdom in southern Mesopotamia; Babylonia conquered Israel in the 6th century BC and exiled the Jews to Babylon (where Daniel became a counselor to the king) Ur - an ancient city of Sumer located on a former channel of the Euphrates River Enki - water god and god of wisdom; counterpart of the Akkadian Ea En-lil, Enlil - god of the air and king of the Sumerian gods Eresh-kigal, Ereshkigal, Ereshkigel - goddess of death and consort of Nergal Inanna - consort of Dumuzi (Tammuz) Ki - goddess personifying earth; counterpart of Akkadian Aruru Nammu - goddess personifying the primeval sea; mother of the gods and of heaven and earth Namtar, Namtaru - a demon personifying death; messenger of the underworld goddess Ereshkigal bringing death to mankind Nanna - god of the Moon; counterpart of the Akkadian Sin Ninhursag, Ninkharsag, Ninkhursag - the great mother goddess; worshipped also as Aruru and Mama and Nintu Ninib, Ninurta - a solar deity; firstborn of Bel and consort was Gula; god of war and the chase and agriculture; sometimes identified with biblical Nimrod Utu, Utug - sun god; counterpart of Akkadian Shamash Zu, Zubird - evil storm god represented as a black bird Enkidu - legendary friend of Gilgamish Gilgamish - legendary Sumerian king and hero of Sumerian and Babylonian epics