Jerusalem was also known in antiquity as Girsu (Jirsu)
by Damien F. Mackey At some point in time – was it late, during the Seleucid era? – certain major Judean cities became associated with, even absorbed into, central and southern Mesopotamia. I am referring in particular to Lagash (var. Lakish), Eshnunna and Girsu. The focus for the ‘history’ of this period of time, whoever was writing it, appears to have been Lagash, rather than the Girsu that was regarded, nonetheless, as being the very spiritual centre. But a host of place names ostensibly belonging to central and southern Mesopotamia do not appear actually to belong there. In fact, some of them – e.g. Lagash and Girsu – seem to “fall permanently off the political map”, according to Seth Richardson, as quoted in my article: A new location proposed for Sumer (3) A new location proposed for Sumer According to this article, Sumer may be the Sumur(a) near the Mediterranean coast. ...
