One of the major triumphs of modern archaeology was the hair-raising discoveries of Sir Leonard Woolley at Ur. Amidst the ruins of Ur, he unearthed a Ram-chapel but totally missed its relevance in world history.
This crucial finding not only bridges the wide gaps between Indian tradition and archaeology but also unfolds the historic bonds that once united ancient India, Iran, and Sumer. Ram-Sin of (Larsa) to whose memory this chapel was dedicated must have been Rama of Valmiki. The name Ararama of Larsa may be an echo of Rama.
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| The helmet and his dress may point towards a Hurrian soldier. The relief en face. Photo courtesy Mr. Osman Toofiq, Assistant Lecturer, College of Archaeology, Sulaymaniyah University. |
This Ram-Chapel of Ur is the earliest known memorial to the great Rama and may have been erected by Dilmun merchants who resided nearby. Dilmun was always mentioned in the Sumerian texts together with Magan and Melukkha and it is possible that these three states were somehow allied to each other.
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| A close-up view of the victorious warrior. Photo courtesy Mr. Osman Toofiq, Assitant Lecturer, College of Archaeology, Sulaymaniyah University. |
RAMA, BHARATA & LAKSHMANA IN SUMER
The Cambridge Ancient History[xvi][iii] which is usually not considered as a sourcebook for Indian history by writers like Romila Thapar contains priceless information relevant to Indian ancient history. In the highly authentic Sumerian king list appears such hallowed names as Bharat (Warad) Sin and Ram Sin. As Sin was the Moon-god Chandra Ram Sin can be seen to be the same as Rama Chandra. Bharat Sin ruled for 12 years (1834-1822 BC), exactly as stated in the Dasaratha Jataka.
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| The location on the mountain’s cliff. Who sculpted this relief here and why he chose this place? The relief en face. Photo courtesy Mr. Osman Toofiq, Assitant Lecturer, College of Archaeology, Sulaymaniyah University. |
The Jataka statement, “Years sixty times hundred, and ten thousand more, all told, / Reigned strong-armed Rama”, only means that Rama reigned for sixty years which agrees exactly with the data of Assyriologists.
Ram-Sin was the longest reigning monarch of Mesopotamia who ruled for 60 years. The mention of the father in the inscriptions of both Warad Sin and Ram Sin is noteworthy and may point to palace intrigue. Joan Oates is not aware of the Ramayana but writes with great insight (p. 61) that Warad sin was maneuvered to the throne by his father. In Mesopotamia, a prince normally became king only after the death of his father. Lakshmana mentioned the Bible as Lakhamar, ruled as a great king.
