Operation CATALYST: Image Gallery
28 June 2005
Ancient heritage of Iraq
The Australian Defence Force contingent in southern Iraq, the Al Muthanna Task Group (AMTG), is treating with respect the ancient history of the region, which extends to the shared origins of western and Middle Eastern civilisation and cultures.
One of the archaeological treasures of Iraq, the Great Ziggurat of Ur, is located outside the Tallil Air Base, where an Australian logistics detachment is located. In ancient times, Ur was the principal centre of worship of the Sumerian moon god, Nanna, and of the Babylonian equivalent god, Sin.
The Ziggurat stands 21 metres high and remains a spectacular monument to ancient civilisation. Tombs discovered near the Ziggurat in the late 1920s were found to contain elaborate gold jewellery, cups of gold and silver, bowls of alabaster and extraordinary objects of art from the zenith of the ancient Sumerian culture (2600-2500BC).
| 20050615adf8239682_078 An Australian Army ASLAV armoured vehicle in front of the Great Ziggurat of Ur, a four-thousand-year-old temple which is one of the archaeological treasures of southern Iraq. (Date taken: 15 June 2005) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20050615adf8239682_029 Australian Army ASLAV armoured vehicles in front of the Great Ziggurat of Ur, a four-thousand-year-old temple which is one of the archaeological treasures of southern Iraq. (Date taken: 15 June 2005) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20050615adf8239682_024 An Australian Army ASLAV armoured vehicle in front of the Great Ziggurat of Ur, a four-thousand-year-old temple which is one of the archaeological treasures of southern Iraq. (Date taken: 15 June 2005) Low-res | High-res |
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| 20050615adf8239682_084 An Australian Army ASLAV armoured vehicle in front of the Great Ziggurat of Ur, a four-thousand-year-old temple which is one of the archaeological treasures of southern Iraq. (Date taken: 15 June 2005) Low-res | High-res |
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