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ERECH

(Heb. ʾereḵ)

The biblical name of ancient Uruk (modern Warka) on the lower Euphrates River in Iraq. The early Sumerian name of the city was Unug, likely “the city”; during that time Uruk would have been the largest city in the world. According to the Sumerian King List, the First Dynasty of Uruk included Enmerkar, Lugalbanda, Gilgamesh, and Dumuzi (Tammuz), semilegendary figures who are prominent in Mesopotamian epics.

Apart from exploratory visits, excavations at Uruk began in 1912 and continued with interruptions until the 39th season in 1989. The site was first settled in the 5th millennium b.c. During the 4th millennium — the eponymous Uruk period — the site was dominated by two centers: Eanna, the location in later times of a temple to Inanna, and the so-called Anu ziggurat, a platform supporting the White temple, itself possibly dedicated to the god Anu. Protocuneiform texts found in these areas have suggested to some that writing was invented in the city at perhaps 3300. During the 3rd millennium the city grew to as much as 400 ha. (988 a.) in area and was surrounded by a large fortification wall. During the 2nd millennium the city was politically less important, although it was the site of the palace of the Old Babylonian ruler Sin-kašid. During the 1st millennium Uruk was renovated by the Assyrian king Sargon II (721-705). It experienced an economic revival in Parthian and Seleucid times, when the temples of Anu, Antum, and Gareus, and another temple the excavators called the Südbau, were built.

Erech is mentioned in the Bible as one of the cities ruled by the legendary king Nimrod in the land of Shinar, along with Babylon and Akkad (Gen. 10:10). Its citizens were among those deported to Samaria (Ezra 4:9).

Geoff Emberling

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

ERECH

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)