🇮🇶 Iraq · Ancient city
Eridu
Ubaid to Neo-Babylonian · Ubaid → Sumerian → Babylonian
Sumerian sacred city traditionally first city in the world (Sumerian King List), center of god Enki/Ea cult (Abzu).
🇮🇶 Iraq · Ancient city
Lagash
Jemdet Nasr to Ur III / Old Babylonian · Sumerian
Sumerian city-state Lagash (Tell al-Hiba proper) and its religious capital Girsu (Tello, 25 km SE) — often conflated as Lagash-Girsu.
🇮🇶 Iraq · Ancient city
Kish
Early Dynastic Sumer to Akkadian · Sumerian / Akkadian
Key Sumerian city-state (c.3100–2000 BCE) dominating Early Dynastic Sumer, palace A, ziggurat, mentioned in King List as first city to have kingship after Flood. Discovered library archives.