The potential of Muthanna Governorate for religious, historical and archaeological tourism

Hamad Majid Badawi Hamza

Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Abd Ali Kazim Al-Fatlawi

Muthanna Governorate has ancient historical, archaeological, and cultural tourism potentials that constitute an essential part of the civilization of Mesopotamia, in addition to its possession of religious tourist attractions represented by some shrines and tombs of saints and righteous people that have a spiritual dimension for the majority of members of society. These resources constitute a vital economic resource if they are well planned to be invested. The following is a detailed presentation of these potentials:

First Section / Historical and Archaeological Tourism:
The historian Toynbee states that the civilization of Mesopotamia is authentic because it is a type of civilization that was not derived from a previous civilization but emerged and developed since the Stone Age.
Revealing the history of this civilization, documenting its authentic existence, and resurrecting the past with its glory confirms the importance of archaeological development in evidence that cannot be ignored in its ancient history full of achievements that established an organized life for what it contributed in terms of the accomplishments of inventions and laws that had a clear impact on the emergence of the mature civilization that proceeded with steady steps and in successive stages and roles. Among the cities of this civilization is the historical city of Uruk:
(Al-Tamimi and Al-Fatli, 2016: 190)
In the year (2350) BC, the city of Uruk became one of the possessions of King Sargon of Akkad, who unified the lands of the Tigris and Euphrates Valley. Still, the town remained a thriving religious, urban, and cultural center (Gee, 1955: 47). The archaeological city of Uruk includes a group of the most famous temples, buildings, and mounds that will be summarized as follows:
1) The Great Temple of (I-Ana):
The Great Temple of (I-Ana) is located in the eastern part of Uruk. It is a vast temple built for the goddess ( An-Nin) (Lady of Heaven) among the Sumerians, later known as Ishtar, the goddess of love, goodness, blessing, agriculture, and civilization among the Akkadians and Assyrians. (Gee, 1960: 8)
This temple is considered one of the most luxurious, oldest, and most beautiful Sumerian temples, and its meaning is (House of Heaven), as it dates back to the middle of the fourth millennium BC. Its facade is decorated with mosaics made of clay nails, and the temple was renovated by King Ur-Nammu in 2050 BC. (Baqir, 1974: 17)

2) The Temple of Anu (Lord of the Sky) or the White Temple:
It is located in Uruk and dates back to the middle of the Uruk era. Above it is an artificial filter with a height of (12 m) built of mud blocks stacked on each other with layers of lime interspersed. The temple’s walls were painted white, hence its name, the White Temple. It is a small shrine (23.3 x 17.5) made of large square bricks and a long central courtyard surrounded by connecting rooms. (Baqir, 1947: 17)

3) The Temple of Anu – Antum or (Beit Resh):
It is a vast brick building located northeast of the ancient Temple of Anu, known as the (Beit Resh) building. A large section was dedicated to worshipping the god (Anu) and his wife (Antum). This building has several courtyards, spacious yards, large rooms, and prayer rooms.

4) Karios Temple: The Karios Temple is located in the southeastern part of the ancient city of Uruk on an ancient settlement hill whose local name is (Warwar). This hill is bordered from the south and east by a low area, which used to be a port within the city. It is also isolated from the city’s settlement hill from the northwest and southwest by an (L)-shaped depression. The temple belongs to a building complex that extends over an area of (100 x 110) and is surrounded by an external wall. This wall was built in a period later than the construction of the temple.