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Ur (en.wikipedia.org)

509 points by tosh · 1395 days ago · 103 comments on HN

Article summary

Ur was a major Sumerian city-state in ancient Mesopotamia, founded around 3800 BC and abandoned after 500 BC. The city was an important urban center, with a rich culture and history, and its ruins have been excavated to reveal a wealth of information about ancient Sumerian society. The city's history is marked by various periods of rise and fall, including the Early Dynastic period, the Akkadian period, and the Ur III period. The site of Ur is now a tourist destination and a source of archaeological interest.

Main themes

  • ancient civilizations
  • cultural preservation
  • technological obsolescence
  • historical legacy
  • progress and change
  • memory and remembrance

What commenters say

  • The fragility of modern electronic systems makes them vulnerable to data loss and degradation, unlike ancient clay tablets which can last for millennia.
  • The desire to be remembered and leave a lasting legacy is a fundamental human impulse, driven by a desire to transcend mortality and leave a mark on the world.
  • The notion of progress and cultural change is a relatively recent development, and ancient societies like Ur experienced a more static and slow-paced existence.
  • The use of digital media for storing information is problematic due to its limited lifespan and vulnerability to technological obsolescence, and alternative methods such as duplication across multiple media types may be necessary.
  • The preservation of cultural heritage and historical records is crucial for understanding the past and informing the present, and requires active effort and attention to maintain.
  • The comparison between ancient and modern civilizations is fraught with difficulties, and it is challenging to draw direct parallels between the two due to differences in scale, complexity, and historical context.
  • The importance of remembering and learning from the past is a recurring theme, with some arguing that it is essential for avoiding mistakes and building a better future, while others see it as less relevant to contemporary concerns.
  • The relationship between technological advancement and cultural preservation is complex, with some arguing that new technologies offer opportunities for greater preservation and dissemination of knowledge, while others see them as threats to traditional forms of cultural expression.