Shuruppak

Ancient Sumerian city-state located south of Nippur in Iraq and originally on the bank of the Euphrates River. Excavations show three levels of habitation extending from the late prehistoric period to the 3rd dynasty of Ur (c 2112-2004 BC). The most distinctive finds were ruins of well-built houses, along with cuneiform tablets with administrative records and lists of words. Shuruppak was celebrated in Sumerian legend as the scene of the Deluge, which destroyed all humanity except one survivor, Ziusudra. Ziusudra corresponds with Utnapishtim in the Gilgamesh epic and with the biblical Noah.

[modern Fara]. Situated on the bank of the Euphrates River in southern Iraq, Shuruppak was one of the city states of Sumer. Excavations by a German expedition in the first decade of this century uncovered important remains of the Early Dynastic period. The temples produced a wealth of early documents, including administrative and school texts.