Nowadays most of the remains of mankind’s first megacity are buried beneath thick layers of dune sand near the present-day Iraqi city of Warka. No less than five thousand years ago, the people of Uruk developed many of the facilities that still characterize our cities today. They created an advanced system of irrigation canals to produce enough food in the arid climate of southern Mesopotamia, engaged in extensive trade with neighbouring peoples and developed the bureaucracy necessary for administering a prospering city of previously unknown proportions.

Uruk is best known as the city of the legendary king, Gilgamesch, whose heroic deeds make up the world’s first great epic.

One hundred years ago German archaeologists began to excavate the remains of Uruk. To commemorate this anniversary, several notable institutions have concentrated their expertise to present the very first comprehensive exhibition on Uruk. They have assembled over three hundred exhibits, which illustrate the development and the heyday of this ancient megacity. Now we invite you to delve into the history of this milestone in human civilization!