Urkesh

Urkesh, also transliterated Urkish (Akkadian: 𒌨𒆧𒆠 UR.KIŠKI, 𒌨𒋙𒀭𒄲𒆠 UR.KEŠ3KI; modern Tell Mozan (also Tall Mozan); Arabic: تل موزان), is a tell, or settlement mound, located in the foothills of the Taurus Mountains in Al-Hasakah Governorate, northeastern Syria. It was founded during the third millennium BC, possibly by the Hurrians, on a site which appears to have been inhabited previously for a few centuries. The Hurrians likely formed an obscure kingdom centered around Urkesh, from where they would later traditionally trace their kingship. The city god of Urkesh was Kumarbi, father of Teshup. The site of Tell Shermola in the modern city of Amuda lies about 7 kilometers away and was where the Hurrian foundation pegs ("Urkish lions") were thought to have been sold into the antiquities market. There are other contemporary ancient sites in this area of upper Khabur River basin. For example, Chagar Bazar is 22 km south of Mozan. Tell Arbid is located 45 km south of Tell Mozan. Tell Brak is about 50 km to the south. Tell Leilan is located about 50 km to the east of Urkesh. Leilan, Brak and Urkesh were particularly prominent during the Akkadian period.