Fall of Ur

The great Sumerian city of Ur, capital of the Third Dynasty of Ur and one of the world's oldest cities, fell to a combined assault by Elamites from the east and Amorite nomads from the west. King Ibbi-Sin, the last Sumerian king, was captured and taken in chains to Elam, where he died in captivity. The destruction of Ur ended Sumerian political power forever, though Sumerian culture and language survived as a scholarly tradition. The fall inspired the 'Lament for Ur,' one of the oldest and most moving works of literature, describing the goddess Ningal weeping over her destroyed city.