Ur's history has been traced back nearly 6,000 years. Important to the Sumerians, Babylonians and Assyrians, it was also the birthplace of Abraham (in about 2000 BC). The ruins include the Temple Tower of Ur Nammu (a ziggurat), the courtyard area of Ur Nammu, the Ningal Shrine Egipar and some royal tombs. The modern town around Ur is Tell el Muqayyar. 200 mi/320 km southeast of Baghdad.
