History glossary

Kish

an early Mesopotamian city near modern Tell al-Uhaymir in Iraq, often linked with early kingship.

Category
City
Region
Central Iraq
Date range
third millennium BCE

What it means

Kish was an important ancient Mesopotamian city north of Sumer's southern heartland, near modern Tell al-Uhaymir in Iraq. In Sumerian tradition, the title 'king of Kish' became a prestigious claim to wider authority.

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