The Royal Death Pits of Ur

In today's video, we dive into the mysteries surrounding the Royal Cemetery at Ur and its associated Death Pits, examining who exactly was buried there, what Sumerian mythology has to say about the rituals conducted within, and whether it constitutes Mesopotamian's only known example of human sacrifice. And beyond these question, we examine the Cemetery's biggest quandary of all. Were its burials even royal at all?
This video owes a special thanks to archaeologist Dr Geoff Emberling, who kindly allowed me to use a number of his photos of Iraq. You can find more information on his research activities in the links below:
archaeology.lsa.umich.edu/peo...
umich.academia.edu/GeoffEmber...
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#history #documentary #mesopotamia
I'd also like to thank all of my voice actors for today's episode, whose own work you can find below:
Articulations as Enheduanna
/ articulations
Byron Lewis as Various Texts
/ byronlewis
Stefan Milo as C. Leonard Woolley
/ stefanmilo

[@TheHistocrat]

Sources (In order of video appearance): 1. Matthews R (2018) Peoples and Complex Societies of Ancient Southwest Asia, pgs. 433-444. In ‘The Human Past’, Fourth Edition, edited by Scarre C. 2. Pournelle J (2013) Physical Geography, pgs. 19-28. In ‘The Sumerian World’, edited by Crawford H. 3. van de Mieroop M (2016) A History of the Ancient Near East, 3rd Edition, pgs. 10-17. 4. Beaulieu PA (2018) A History of Babylon, pgs. 29-40. 5. Hammer E (2019) The city and landscape of Ur: an aerial, satellite, and ground reassessment. 6. Algaze G (2008) Ancient Mesopotamia at the Dawn of Civilisation, pg. 44-46. 7. Margarete van Ess (2013) Reed as a raw material. In ‘Uruk: First City of the Ancient World’. 8. Algaze G (2008) Ancient Mesopotamia at the Dawn of Civilisation, pg. 106. 9. Nissen HJ (2013) Uruk’s beginnings and early development. In ‘Uruk: First City of the Ancient World’. 10. Vogel H (2013) The “Great man of Uruk”: The Art of Governance in the late Fourth and early Third Millennia BC. In ‘Uruk: First City of the Ancient World’. 11. Birch N (2013) History and Chronology, pgs. 116-120. In ‘The Sumerian World’, edited by Crawford H. 12. Crawford H (2004) Sumer and the Sumerians, Second Edition, pgs. 16-36. 13. Stone EC (2013) The Organisation of a Sumerian Town, pgs. 161-169. In ‘The Sumerian World’, edited by Crawford H. 14. Collins P (2013) Everyday life in Sumer, pgs. 345-358. In ‘The Sumerian World’, edited by Crawford H. 15. van de Mieroop M (2016) A History of the Ancient Near East, 3rd Edition, pgs. 48-63. 16. Westenholz JG (2013) In the Service of the Gods: The Ministering Clergy, pgs. 246-276. In ‘The Sumerian World’, edited by Crawford H. 17. Crawford H (2004) Sumer and the Sumerians, Second Edition, pg. 30. 18. van de Mieroop M (2013) Democracy and the rule of law, the assembly and the first law code, pgs. 277-287. In ‘The Sumerian World’, edited by Crawford H. 19. Suter CE (2013) Kings and Queens: representation and reality, pgs. 201-226. In ‘The Sumerian World’, edited by Crawford H. 20. van de Mieroop M (2016) A History of the Ancient Near East, 3rd Edition, pg. 30. 21. Beaulieu PA (2018) A History of Babylon, pgs. 33-34. 22. Wright HT (1969) The Administration of Rural Production in an Early Mesopotamian Town, pg. 41. 23. Steinkeller P (1999) On rulers, priests and sacred marriage: tracing the evolution of Early Sumerian Kingship. In ‘Priests and Officials in the Ancient Near East’, edited by Watanbe K. 24. McCaffrey (2013) The Sumerian Sacred Marriage: Texts and Images, pgs. 227-241. In ‘The Sumerian World’, edited by Crawford H. 25. Schaudig H (2013) The Ancient Near East Ruler, pgs. 111-115. In ‘Uruk: First City of the Ancient World’. 26. Jacobson T (1943) Primitive Democracy in Ancient Mesopotamia. 27. Jacobson T (1957) Early political development in Mesopotamia. 28. Westenholz A (2002) The Sumerian City State, pgs. 23-42. In ‘A Comparative Study of Six City-State Cultures’, edited by Hansen MH. 29. Postgate N (1992) Early Mesopotamia: Society and Economy at the Dawn of History, pg. 297. 30. Crawford H (2013) Trade in the Sumerian World, pgs. 447-459. In ‘The Sumerian World’, edited by Crawford H. 31. Marchesi G (2004) Who Was Buried in the Royal Tombs of Ur? The Epigraphic and Textual Data. 32. Woolley CL (1934) Ur Excavations: Vol. 2, pg. 1-20 33. Woolley CL (1934) Ur Excavations: Vol. 2, pg. 33-43. 34. Woolley CL (1934) Ur Excavations: Vol. 2, pg. 225-226. 35. Thomas HL (1992) Historical Chronologies and Radiocarbon Dating, pg 147. 36. Woolley CL (1934) Ur Excavations: Vol. 2, pgs. 37, 114, 116. 37. Moorey P (1977) What do we know about the people buried in the Royal Cemetery? 38. Baadsgaard A (2016) All the Queen's Clothes: Identifying Female Royalty at Early Dynastic Ur. 39. Woolley CL (1934) Ur Excavations: Vol. 2, pgs. 73-91, 97-107. 40. Woolley CL (1934) Ur Excavations: Vol. 2, pgs. 155-160. 41. Woolley CL (1934) Ur Excavations: Vol. 2, pgs. 400-404. 42. Woolley CL (1934) Ur Excavations: Vol. 2, pgs. 98, 316. 43. Braun Holzinger E (1991) Apotropaic Figures at Mesopotamian Temples in the Third and Second Millennia, pgs. 149-172. 44. Cholidis N (2003) The Treasure of Ur from Mari, pg. 143. In ‘Art of the First Cities’, edited by Aruz J and Wallenfels R. 45. Woolley CL (1965) Excavations at Ur, pg. 59. 46. Woolley CL (1934) Ur Excavations: Vol. 2, pgs. 159, 316. 47. Reade J (2003) The Royal Tombs of Ur, pgs. 93-96. In ‘Art of the First Cities’, edited by Aruz J and Wallenfels R. 48. Woolley CL (1934) Ur Excavations: Vol. 2, pgs. 61-62. 49. Woolley CL (1934) Ur Excavations: Vol. 2, pgs. 266-274. 50. Reade J (2003) The Royal Tombs of Ur, pgs. 97-100. In ‘Art of the First Cities’, edited by Aruz J and Wallenfels R. 51. Woolley CL (1934) Ur Excavations: Vol. 2, pgs. 121-123, 264-266. 52. Reade J (2003) The Royal Tombs of Ur, pgs. 121-122. In ‘Art of the First Cities’, edited by Aruz J and Wallenfels R. 53. Woolley CL (1934) Ur Excavations: Vol. 2, pgs. 74-77, 249-258. 54. Cheng J (2009) A Review of Early Dynastic III Music: Man’s animal call, pgs. 173-178. 55. Rimmer J (1969) Ancient Musical Instruments of Western Asia in the British Museum, pgs. 14-18. 56. Reade J (2003) The Royal Tombs of Ur, pgs. 105-106. In ‘Art of the First Cities’, edited by Aruz J and Wallenfels R. 57. Cooper JS (2006) Genre, Gender, and the Sumerian Lamentation, pgs. 41-44. 58. Westenholz JG (2013) In the Service of the Gods: The Ministering Clergy, pgs. 264-266. In ‘The Sumerian World’, edited by Crawford H. 59. Michalowski P (2006) LOVE OR DEATH? OBSERVATIONS ON THE ROLE OF THE GALA IN UR III CEREMONIAL LIFE, pgs. 49-61. 60. Michalowski P (1994) The Drinking Gods: Alcohol in Mesopotamian Ritual and Mythology, pgs. 27-44. In ‘Drinking in Ancient Societies: History and Culture of Drinks in the Ancient Near East’, edited by Milano L. 61. Woolley CL (1934) Ur Excavations: Vol. 2, pgs. 274-279. 62. Finkel IL (2007) On the Rules for the Royal Game of Ur, pgs. 22-32. In ‘Ancient Board Games in Perspective’, edited by Finkel IL. 63. Woolley CL (1934) Ur Excavations: Vol. 2, pgs. 37-41. 64. Pollock S (1991) Of Priestesses, Princes and Poor Relations: The Dead in the Royal Cemetery at Ur, pgs. 173-177. 65. Woolley CL (1965) Excavations at Ur, pg. 77-82. 66. Woolley CL (1934) Ur Excavations: Vol. 2, pgs. 312-13. 67. Douglas F (2010) The struggle for hegemony in “Early Dynastic II” Sumer, pgs. 37-77. 68. Gianni Marchesi (2010) The Sumerian King List and the early History of Mesopotamia, pgs. 231-48. 69. Tummal inscription entry on the Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative, assessed 29th September 2022. cdli.ucla.edu/search/search_results.php?SearchMode=Text&ObjectID=P469677 70. Steinkeller P (2003) An Ur III manuscript of the Sumerian King List. Literatur, Politik und Recht. In ‘Mesopotamien: Festschrift fur Claus Wilck’. 71. Sumerian King List (SKL) entry on the Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative, lines 132-140, assessed 29th September 2022. cdli.ucla.edu/search/search_results.php?CompositeNumber=Q000371 72. Sumerian King List (SKL) entry on the Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative, lines 39-42, assessed 29th September 2022. cdli.ucla.edu/search/search_results.php?CompositeNumber=Q000371 73. Sollberger E (1962) The Tummal Inscription, pg. 41. 74. Archi A (2004) Translation of Gods: Kumarpi, Enlil, Dagan/Nisaba, Halki, pg. 322. 75. van de Mieroop M (2016) A History of the Ancient Near East, 3rd Edition, pgs. 46-47. 76. Beaulieu PA (2018) A History of Babylon, pg. 35. 77. Kramer SN (1944) The Death of Gilgamesh. 78. Vogel H (2013) Death and Burial, pgs. 419-434. In ‘The Sumerian World’, edited by Crawford H. 79. Crawford H (2004) Sumer and the Sumerians, Second Edition, pgs. 135-136. 80. George AR (2003) The Babylonian Gilgamesh Epic, vol. 1, pgs. 12-17 81. The Death of Ur-Nammu (A), The Electronic Text Corpus of Sumerian Literature, assessed 29th September 2022. etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk/section2/tr2411.htm 82. Pedde F (2013) Burials in Uruk, pgs. 288-289. In ‘Uruk: First City of the Ancient World’. 83. Sumerian King List (SKL) entry on the Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative, lines 112-118, assessed 29th September 2022. cdli.ucla.edu/search/search_results.php?CompositeNumber=Q000371 84. Charvát P (2002) Mesopotamia Before History, pg. 227. 85. Sürenhagen D (2002) Death in Mesopotamia: The 'Royal Tombs' of Ur Revisited. In ‘Of Pots and Plans : Papers on the Archaeology and History of Mesopotamia and Syria Presented to David Oates in Honour of His 75th Birthday’. 86. Woolley CL (1934) Ur Excavations: Vol. 2, pg. 38. 87. van de Mieroop M (2016) A History of the Ancient Near East, 3rd Edition, pg. 65-66. 88. Woolley CL (1934) Ur Excavations: Vol. 2, pg. 39-40. 89. Woolley CL (1950) Ur of the Chaldee, pgs. 51-103. 90. Woolley CL (1934) Ur Excavations: Vol. 2, pgs. 316, 340. 91. Woolley CL (1934) Ur Excavations: Vol. 2, pgs. 94, 316. 92. Woolley CL (1934) Ur Excavations: Vol. 2, pgs. 312, 316. 93. Marchesi G (2004) Who Was Buried in the Royal Tombs of Ur? The Epigraphic and Textual Data, pgs. 173-175. 94. Smith S (1928) Assyriological Notes, pgs. 864-868. 95. Böhl F (1930) Das Menschenopfer bei den alten Sumerern, pg 83-98. In ‘Zeitchrift für Assyriologie’. 96. Woolley CL (1934) Ur Excavations: Vol. 2, pgs. 49, 316. 97. Woolley CL (1934) Ur Excavations: Vol. 2, pgs. 116, 316.

[@dgonthehill]

wow interesting, thnx

[@Zogerpogger]

Citing sources is just one of many factors that sets this channel above most others that make documentaries.

[@nickwilliams2745]

Wow I’ve written papers for classes with worse citation than your youtube videos and tbh it’s not even close

[@flashmanfred]

Bro this is what I'm talking about!!! Proper citations are soooo lacking in KZbin history (and other subjects). Thank you for doing this!

[@ObjectiveEthics]

Thank you for your hard work. Your videos are both informative and compelling.

[@Comuniity_]

I think the most important thing I learned is the sacred bond between a man and his barber dates back thousands and thousands of years

[@maxdecphoenix]

'barber' itself is one of the longer continually used words in Western Civilization. The root 'barb' has been in use since pre-roman latin into the modern age to describe 'hair'. The romans had a throwing weapon, officially called a plumbata, but was colloquially called martio(us)barbuli, or in English "Mar's Barb". A homage to the hair of Mars, god of war, being impossibly tough, sharp and able to kill men. The weapon, a metal spike featuring a gruesome counter-hook, with a bulbous weight on the other end, wasn't dissimilar from a hair with a folicle attached. This is where we derive barber, and also 'barb' as in barbed wire. Two otherwise completely unrelated concepts which owe a shared etymological root to a happenstances of roman paganism and militarism.

[@KD400_]

​@@maxdecphoenix jeez my man ur very intelligent

[@JTA1961]

The Barbery Pirates sink slow too...

[@diskgrinder]

Is that about the oldest joke?

[@manueldumont3709]

​@@maxdecphoenixIn fACT(CATh(olic)=SATh😈)...ALl oUR gRAmmAR🌞...is(os) STI(SITh😈)ll(al) in(os) ex(os)IST(SITh😈)en(os)ce(os)...is(os) pRI🌞mAR🌞ily(al) due(deu(s)=THEoS=SETH)...to THE(oS=SETH)>SUM🌞ERIA🌞ns . 🌞

[@philipmarx1819]

The Royal Death Pits of Ur is a kickass name for metal band.

[@rossbrook5919]

😂

[@samaritan_sys]

History Time and Histocrat in the same week… I think I’m gonna cry with joy!

[@JohnVance]

New Historia Civilis this week too! The trifecta!

[@courtneywissler7983]

They do this on purpose! I get two great docs in a couple days then I have to wait months.

[@jojojacques810]

All we need now is a new Fall Of Civilisations!! 👌🙏

[@courtneywissler7983]

@@jojojacques810 yeah you know!! My three favorite channels!

[@thecollierreport]

Exactly

[@remainselusive1]

You had me at Death Pits.

[@Zogerpogger]

What a treat! I love the Histocrats documentaries, as much like Stephen Milo's, they recreate the same sensation of curiosity and amazement I felt as a child when watching documentaries. The music, the pacing, the images used, all come together in a unique and brilliant way.

[@BarryB.Benson]

Couldn’t agree with you more!

[@benmann1896]

I heard Stephen Milo on this video! Pretty sure he reads a quote at around 55 minutes.

[@Essentia-Channel]

@@benmann1896 Yep, I thought that too.

[@paulm283]

Yes these are quality my friend😊

[@QuaaludeCharlie]

$5.00

[@manosassassin]

Oh boy it's 2Am and the Histocrat just uploaded, there goes my sleep.

[@PBunyanOx]

At least you'll know who was buried in the death pits of Ur

[@davidsparks4826]

It’s 8 pm where I live. But all the same. 😂✌🏼🙏🏼Love and Respect

[@chadjonesvii9369]

7:15PM in East Texas right now. We are all in different time zones. That's a wide ranging audience. 💯👍🏻

[@alexandriasimms4842]

1.30am here in the UK

[@johnrice1943]

@@chadjonesvii9369 I'm in East Texas too!

[@thefritz123]

The depth and and sincerity with which you explore and present this topic is impressive. Thank you, Sir.

[@jourcontre-jour1286]

Thank you for covering Ur I absolutely love their civilization

[@helenamcginty4920]

Ha! We had a text book at my secondary school called From Ur to Rome. Unfortunately our older teachers had degrees but no teacher training. (They must have been some of the 1st women to be allowed to take degrees in Britain then. ). They were rubbish teachers. Our history teacher being one of the worst. She wrote stuff, in italic script, on the board for us to copy into our books, in italic script and using dip pens (this in 1959/60). Homework involved copying maps and pictures ftom the text book. Why? Who knows. All I can recall about Ur from her lessons is that it was in mesopotamia and can still see that damn priest in his long skirt that we had to copy. I must have switched off as I recall nothing more of our 1st 2 years history lessons. 😅😢😅 Thank goodness for channels like this.

[@lostinsomevalley]

Appreciate the incredible amount of time you put into this channel. Thanks mate.

[@alfrednewman4496]

You appreciate it yourself. You're not the boss of me. I'll appreciate the channel's time expenditure and level of dedication because I want to not because YOU told me to. smh.......some nerve .....bully! I know what's good and don't need......

[@The_Reality_Filter]

Your content is always of such a high standard and often concentrates on lesser explored topics. Kudos to you sir and may the algorithm bless you...

[@ian_b]

One could get very confused discussing Early Ur, Earlier Ur, and it's founding condition, ur-Ur.

[@Imperiused]

Listened and watched while I was cleaning. These videos are truly a treasure. The research, the images, the narration... I could never not recommend this channel. You're criminally underwatched!

[@maxthepaladin2147]

Always nice to learn more about Sumerians and other ancient cultures of that region

[@knsio]

Love these videos! The interesting content and absence of random, distracting audio combine to make for perfect wind down videos. Thanks!

[@JustSpectre]

The best video on this topic I have ever seen. Very well researched, exceptionally narrated, comprehensively presented. You have my honest thanks.

[@gregkosinski2303]

Any relation to the race traitor?

[@User-435ggrest]

I love putting these on at night and just drift away while learning about history. Thank you😊

[@AtunSheiFilms]

Amazing work as always.

[@TERMICOBRA]

Thank you for being an educator. Your teaching style successfully transfers profound facts as you wrap them in well defined theories so we don't confuse the two.

[@HoH]

Incredibly interesting!

[@burntbiscuit6438]

I got a mate that tells me bedtime stories a million miles away

[@Daniel-sf2te]

I got to see some of the artifacts at the Penn Museum, and I am so happy to find this video to learn more about this topic. It is such an interesting site

[@Zogerpogger]

Even though I wish the History of Britain series would get a new installment, I get the feeling the Histocrat gets curious and learns new things faster than he can make videos and thus ends up just making a video on what he is most interested in at the time or learned most recently. If this is the case I totally understand why there have been a few series that seem to be abandoned.

[@TheHistocrat]

Yeah basically. Also patrons vote on the topics so they control what gets made first.

[@Zogerpogger]

@@TheHistocrat Makes sense about the Patrons, thanks for replying!

[@justaskin8523]

@@TheHistocrat You made me think of something. Even in ancient times, people had patrons. An artist with a single wealthy and generous patron could very well be elevated above his own blood and childhood associates. You might not even need to have been a "good" artist; just one that has somebody like you and give you money...or whatever passed for wealth of the time. Maybe you were paid in sheep or water buffalo meat. Once your belly was full, you could trade the remainder for whatever your heart desired. Gold, pomegranates, figs, a nice daggar, a good pair of shoes or maybe undergarments that kept some of the sand out of (ahem) "places". Or maybe a dowry for that cute little chica you noticed when she was drawing water one morning. Or even a nice grave, complete with set-pieces appearing to be strong young men and women. Nevermind the holes in the backs of their skulls, lol! 🤔

[@robinanders3954]

Or he found out info so damning and unbelievable he decided not to share it...maybe

[@ChristinaFromYoutube]

​​@@justaskin8523or you were a teenager and had to sell tail to those rich old men for the privilege of focusing on your art. You give these ancient predators too much credit.

[@hughgrection7246]

"The Royal Death Pits of Ur" sounds like a Dethklok album title . Tell me I'm wrong .

[@johnqpublic2718]

You're incredibly good at what you do, Histocrat.

[@anasevi9456]

Incredible video, thank you so much and I hope your Docos are appreciated for decades.

[@sgilbert5753]

The royal cemetery at Ur's communal burial seems to suggest a less than peaceful change in overlordship, or perhaps dynasty; in that the surviving defeated were honoring their revered killed, perhaps during an overrun or post-victory executions.

[@bluegum6438]

It suggests either execution or religious sacrifice to me. I would not be surprised if it was tradition to have the court of a previous monarch summarily executed, it makes a grim kind of sense - your courtiers can't plot your demise and in fact will actively try to keep you alive, while future rulers have the uncertainty and treachery of navigating an established political structure wiped away. The respect shown to the corpses and the merciful method of execution indicates that their deaths were considered regrettably necessary for one reason or another. Very interesting to think about.

[@russell2910]

​@bluegum6yes, much as trump wants to get rid of the deep state.😊

[@mumblingmercian3386]

Coming in clutch with another great video.

[@ThatLadyBird]

This was an amazing video...as always. Counting the days till the next.

[@immortal5383]

The quality of these are appreciated. Keep it up.

[@fuferito]

Very glad to have heard Stephan Milo's contribution as one of your readers.

[@toslo24]

I think it was a combination for the followers to be buried with their ruler - 1 the succeeding kings would get rid of any potential threats to their kingship and 2 the followers would avoid a loss of status and hence 'choose' to be buried with their ruler. I think it would have been difficult to force a solider to bury themselves unless they were halfway willing.

[@Badficwriter]

I agree. Human nature argues elaborate shows of power would continue, unless there was a particular reason for it. So the mass death was not a show of power by the deceased, but a symptom of a shift in power, I think. Which doesn't mean they weren't willing, completely, due to the near celebratory trappings. (We mustn't forget how willing death cults are to reach apotheosis) Poison is not as sure as people think, death can be long and sickening. Kneeling to accept a death blow after a hearty drink of wine isn't that much different from poisoning oneself.

[@user-sk8sm8no3b]

Great work! I am absolutely in awe with the content you create and I look forward to spend many more hours listening to you. Plus I am always happy to hear anyone mentioning Dr. Finkel, he is an astonishing man, who deserves even more attention.

[@cattymajiv]

Dr Irving Finkel is indeed a treasure for humanity.

[@klaatoris]

Great stuff. But I am curious about the "fashion sense" of the Sumerians. It seems to me like nearly all the ancient peoples of this region, from the Akkadians down to the Persians, liked to portray their rulers with big, long, well groomed beards. On the Standard of Ur, however, everyone from the defeated soldiers to the king are clean shaven and bald or short haired. Did the Sumerians have distinctly different aesthetic ideals from the other ones?

[@guird4]

I remember reading that the sumerians were very different from their neighbors in many respects - their language for instance is assumed to be from a different language family than the others. Where I read this, they suggested that the sumerians had been forced to move inland by an advancing persian gulf.

[@cattymajiv]

@@guird4 It's not just suggested, their language was a different one, unrelated to any other known today. This has been proven by the Assyriologists who study the tablets and Linguists who study ancient languages. Dr Irving Finkel of the British Museum, where most of the tablets are kept, and who studies them, has said that in several of his fascinating (and humorous) lectures.

[@Badficwriter]

Perhaps they shaved at different stages of the year? We know wigs and false beards were a thing in Egypt, but those things could get very dirty and insect ridden in a swampy area.

[@massimosquecco8956]

Great report, Sir, I m grateful for your accurate work in making this video...

[@Guydude777]

Stellar content. Thanks a ton Histocrat.

[@otilium7503]

Beautifully done, thank you!

[@markberman6708]

I've been all over this site. Mesmerizing and ancient, you can feel it.

[@vanguze]

Thank you. Truly fascinating.

[@ie1961]

My sincere thanks for this presentation.

[@Riley-uy5pe]

love it when one of the fav history tubes uploads a nice fat video essay for all our enjoyment 😌🧡

[@fishofthepeople]

Thank you, Sir. It's been a sad time waiting for you to post another precious piece of knowledge.

[@metalman7791]

Excited about this one!

[@VivaAlecto]

oh thank you this is exactly what I needed

[@biedl86]

The quality of the content on this channel is exceptional. Great video!

[@SamtheIrishexan]

I always wonder how cool it would be to get DNA from these ancient burials, and then to see if any descendents of those first kings and queens still live. Imagine taking an ancestry DNA kit and finding out you are a direct descendent of the God kings of Mesopotamia

[@yaldabaoth2]

After so many generations, there will hardly be anyone who is not a descendant of them. That's why dna ancestry is a joke.

[@martijn9568]

I'd probably first figure out if the buried persons were male or female using DNA. As far as I'm aware, archaeologists have been known to make mistakes in figuring out the sex of a deceased due to relaying too much on grave goods and ignoring the specific bone anatomy.

[@cattymajiv]

Their descendents are alive and well in Iraq and elsewhere, but their DNA, like all of ours, has been mixed with many different kinds over the years.

[@josesbox9555]

I would demand tribute 😊

[@cometnight0]

After a long enough time, there are no direct descendants. This is because the DNA of that specific person would become diluted into the greater whole. A modern person can claim some loose relation, but that's about it.

[@devinsmith4790]

The Sumerians are a interesting ancient culture.

[@lindanorris2455]

and gorgeous jewlery!

[@robinanders3954]

Especially when you research and find all ancient cultures worshiped the same so called "gods" just by different names. These same fallen angels who rebelled against GOD and choose to be worshiped as "gods" here on earth rather than serve their CREATOR and follow HIS rules. And this same ruling class of these same ancient fallen angel bloodlines worship the same so called "gods" as they did way back then. The ancient rebellion against GOD goes on to this day. That rebellion is almost over tho. Judgement is due and is coming soon.

[@janewright315]

​@@robinanders3954 just stop

[@valkoroska2369]

@@robinanders3954 right dude. say that to these dudes who make your religion religion as young as a baby in comparison.

[@rc1800]

Yessss!! I just started getting into learning about Sumerian history as well :)

[@vanzikky]

Thank you for this quiet (no hectic cuts, no dramatic music) and informative video.

[@johnnzboy]

Super interesting, your level of research does you credit. For future reference, keep in mind that, in Italian, 'ch' is pronounced like 'k' (e.g. Pinocchio) , so (Gianni) Marchesi is pronounced 'mar-kay-see' :)

[@Angayasse]

A perfect treat - thank you so much for this work, this is extremely interesting!

[@mungomidge1090]

Loved this, very informative and entertaining.

[@mattthai7378]

These are so much better than the podcast format. A lot more work, I'm sure, but so worth it. Thank you! ❤️🙏❤️🙏❤️

[@fisticuffsmate]

you post some of my favorite videos on youtube, i really do appreciate what you do!

[@fredericpaes7288]

thank you for one more great video

[@debztully1339]

Thanks for the content!

[@joshhale7004]

this is excellent. Thank you so much Charles.

[@WitchyWhispersASMR]

Watch out, y’all, there’s a new histocrat video! My Friday night is about to get LIT 🎉

[@lindaschubert5459]

Thanks for a superb narration on Ur. I'd like to hear more information on this topic.

[@Primetiime32]

Thank you for the upload

[@dbartholemewfox]

1:16:23 This poem probably references the rebellion of Ur (lead by Lugal-ane) against Sargon. Thus Enheduana is appealing to the goddess Ishtar (and others) to slay the supporters of Nanna (the patron god of Ur) because of Ur's rebellion against her father. Enheduana was actually high priestess at the Temple of Nanna (in Ur) at the time. After this incident Enheduana seems to have switched allegiances to the goddess Ishtar (aka Inanna), only writing poems for her, instead of the moon god Nanna. The idea that the poem is referencing a ritual mass funeral is pretty nonsensical if you read the entire poem. A more modern translation of the same lines (by Jeremy Black) make this clear: "In the place of divine encouragement, what is my standing now? May An extradite the land which is a malevolent rebel against your Nanna! May An smash that city! May Enlil curse it! May its plaintive child not be placated by his mother!" In this translation it's clear that Enheduanna is cursing the city Ur despite her close relationship to its patron god Nanna.

[@King_king880]

Thank you for your rich knowledge in History and mythology.

[@rugosetexture2716]

Fascinating subject, beautifully presented. Thank you!

[@cocalicoman]

Gusto Rat and Historian Civilis upload on the same day. Early Christmas gift

[@dubsar]

Thank you. This is excellent.

[@ficklefingeroffate]

Thank you sir! My Friday night is complete!

[@maciejtedeque8096]

Oh man i was waiting for mesopotamia again!

[@cattymajiv]

As well as making great videos like this, I love the fact that you very obviously delete all the comments by the wingnuts. It's SUCH a huge relief to know that I won't have to try to dig through mountains of garbage about aliens, conspiracies by everyone with a degree, and other craziness, just to find the interesting comments! So what remains here are all the interesting ones! BRAVO to you on SO many levels! ❤❤❤

[@elcesar999]

The older the better and nothing older than Summer thanks my guy

[@iwxw8437]

Baal bek is older than sumer

[@cyclingbrad4201]

Impressive presentation and narration!

[@darrencorrigan8505]

Thanks, Histocrat.

[@buttercxpdraws8101]

Love this ❤ And a special voice cameo from young Stefan Milo. Glorious 👏

[@js1423]

Keep up the good work!

[@royriley6282]

Modern archaeologists: Older scholars were presumptuous Also Modern archaeologists: Muh Rituals

[@billballbuster7186]

Very interesting presentation, thank you.

[@bonifaciodachuva]

The fineness of their craftmanship is astounding; no wonder they would treasure it so much.

[@Zogerpogger]

For some reason I feel the urge to comment a funny thing that happened, even though it is not at all relevant to this video. In The Histocrat Q&A you said you recommended any History channel except M. Laser History, being the fool I am, I took that at face value. I was conflicted wondering why one of my favorite History youtubers did not recommend another of my favorite History KZbinrs! Then I saw an M. Laser comment saying to avoid your channel, I was baffled. When I asked for an explanation M. Laser informed me politely that it was a joke. I faceplamed hard, ashamed at my own thick-headedness. Thus ended my poor humorless torment. However I am now curious what your thoughts on TIK are, as M. Laser does not recommend (though I can guess why).

[@silentone11111111]

Better than history channel by far. Great work.

[@almosrogacs8956]

Such a great video

[@arvydas0069]

I got to walk on top of the ziggurat and walk around at will. It’s hard to imagine all those things were buried underneath, the site was in disrepair. It’s sorta in middle of nowhere now, outside Nasiriyah

[@SacredDreamer]

😲 AMAZINGLY Lucky

[@arvydas0069]

@@SacredDreamer There's no gate around it, no security, although there was a large airbase called Talil Airbase, which I used to run armed security out of for American Civilians and Military engineers. I accompanied the American US Army Colonel in charge of rebuilding Iraq, Colonel Jon Christensen, around the Ziggurat and complex next door. Walked beneath one of the oldest non-restored standing arches in the world on that site, which was very cool. Luckily, only Saddam had ruined the site, by, incomprehensibly, building on top of the ruins to restore its original shape. The result was that it took a bit of knowledge of history and some photos to aim for the original structure. There were loads of cast off clay pot pieces of unknown age. I'm willing to bet they were from University of Pennsylvania researches and such from around a century or more ago, not from any ancient settlement.

[@michaelhead7483]

This is for the algorithm so you reach a larger audience . Great vid

[@OmarJano]

I love to splurge on random history videos like these when I drink. Thanks for the awesome content! New sub.

[@Krommer1000]

Great video on a fascinating subject. Thank you.

[@jonwashburn7999]

Thanks. This was interesting.

[@carriekelly4186]

Thank you so much for sharing this fascinating history of civilization's first largest city. Yes most likely priest figures for the early Mesopotamian Deities...the most interesting being the last..possibly grandaughter or daughter of Sargon? First very profound writers that we have a pen name to her writing. Morgan gallery has an incredible large exhibit of female Mesopotamian writers,poets,artwork and portraits thereof. Just mindblowing as how much i could relate to an artist of some four thousand years ago. Absolutely beautiful. Enheduanna. Her writing and this exhibit is a must for those interested.

[@jwolpert1310]

Great documentary! My daughter and I love the game of 20 square's and Dr. Finkels rules!

[@reedreamer9518]

I have to give The Histocrat credit for filling in much of the commonly left out details of these found artifacts, which tell an essential part of the history. Such as, the order and condition of the artifacts as they were revealed in the digs, as well as the preservation and reconstruction.

[@michaeljoiner2503]

Lovely, thank you

[@straightfrom]

This video is fantastic

[@williamgorden6390]

Very instructive, and thorough. Thank you. The rhythmic nature of the narration however soon became disagreeable.

[@interstellarconveyance4865]

Any thoughts about the current national policies regarding preservation of these artifacts? Every now and then there are rumors of government officials looting museums, and or shutting museums down and "moving collections for protection", sadly the United States has a non interest policy which eliminates any scientific cooperation between our two countries. Thank you for an amazing and beautiful presentation into this ancient world.

[@sueamos3860]

Very interesting indeed thank you

[@secondamendment]

Very interesting, thank you

[@thesaints-7-andrew.]

Watching from Greece.hi everybody. Great documentary.

[@karsaorlong3761]

sick, i gave it a like instantly, thank you good sir

[@thefisherking78]

Wow. Good stuff

[@jamiel6005]

I’ve never been more interested in a video based solely on its title before

[@TheHypnotstCollector]

oh gosh, 6000 yr old human remains. thanks for the warning. I'm use to CURRENT human remains laying around in Afghanistan, Ukraine, the middle east in general, South America in general and the streets full of homeless ( and the dead) in the USA

[@evankimori]

Today is really overcast and really quiet with a drizzle of rain. I've got a long drive ahead of me this morning and I'm lucky enough to have the Histocrat in my ears today. Thanks for making today great!

[@ruthmusser4449]

I loved this. Shows how people always exalted others. Still today.