Eridu (Sumerian: E.RIDU — "the Faraway Home")

Sumerian name: E.RIDU (𒂍𒃻𒉌𒁺) — "the Faraway Home"

Eridu (Sumerian: Eridug; Akkadian: Iri-du — "the good city" or "house built in the distance") was the southernmost of the great Sumerian city-states, located approximately 12 kilometers southwest of Ur in present-day southern Iraq. In Zecharia Sitchin's Anunnaki narrative, Eridu holds the distinction of being the first settlement of the Anunnaki on Earth.

Historical Significance

According to the Sumerian King List, Eridu was the first city in the world to which kingship was "lowered from heaven." Archaeological excavations have confirmed its extraordinary antiquity — occupation layers dating back to the Ubaid period, approximately 5400 BCE, with evidence of continuous habitation extending deep into the prehistoric era.

Sitchin's Interpretation

"Eridu was not merely the first Sumerian city — it was the first earthly settlement of the Anunnaki, established by Enki soon after his arrival on Earth, approximately 450,000 years ago."

Sitchin identified Eridu as the site of the original Anunnaki base camp. Key points include:

1. Eridu = E.RI.DU — Sumerian for "House Built Far Away" or "House in the Distance," referring to the Anunnaki's long journey from Nibiru
2. Enki's Domain — Eridu was the cult center of Enki (Ea), the chief scientist of the Anunnaki and the god who would later create humanity
3. The Abzu Temple — Enki's temple at Eridu, the E-abzu ("House of the Cosmic Waters"), was the first temple ever built, constructed directly over a sacred spring believed to be the entrance to the underworld
4. The Garden of Eden — Sitchin located the biblical E.Din (Garden of Eden) in the region around Eridu

The Abzu and the Sacred Spring

The temple of Enki at Eridu was built over a spring that the Sumerians believed was the Abzu — the freshwater cosmic ocean that was the source of all life and wisdom. This spring, Sitchin argued, may have been a natural water source critical for the early Anunnaki settlement.

Archaeological Layers

Excavations at Tel Abu Shahrain (ancient Eridu) revealed 19 distinct building levels, with the earliest level dating to the Ubaid I period (~5000 BCE). The sequence of temples, each built upon the ruins of the previous, shows an unbroken tradition of religious reverence at this site for over 4,000 years.

See Also

• Enki — The god of Eridu
• Apsu — The cosmic waters
• E.Din — The Garden of Eden
• DUR.AN.KI — The "Bond Heaven-Earth"
• Landing In Eridu — The landing at Eridu
• Ur — The nearby city of Nannar

Sources

• Sitchin, Z. (1976). The 12^th Planet. Chapter 9.
• Sitchin, Z. (1985). The Wars of Gods and Men.
• Lloyd, S. & Safar, F. (1948). "Eridu: A Preliminary Communication." Sumer, 4.
• Kramer, S. N. (1956). History Begins at Sumer.