ERIDU (modern Abu Shahrein) in 31° N. and 46° E., an ancient city of Mesopotamia. The report of Taylor's excavations in 18S5 were the only source of information about this important city until R. Campbell Thompson carried out excavations in He found a long brick stamp of the eighth king of Larsa Nur-Adab, commemorating his work at Eridu, thus confirming Taylor's previous identification. The city was stated in ancient texts to be on the edge of the sea. This had been interpreted to mean the Persian gulf ; Thompson found large quantities of fresh water mussels, but sea shells were also found and probably both were used for food (see MESOPOTAMIA: Ancient Geography). There was evidence of late stone age burials and early Kassite graves, but after the time of Hammurabi the city became of little importance, probably owing to the silting up of the lake. In an cient times Eridu was undoubtedly closely connected with Lagash, probably owing to water communications between the two cities. It was never the seat of a dynasty and did not even possess a Patesi—originally a position corresponding more or less to mediaeval "prince-bishop," but which later became the equivalent of a local governor of a dependent city state. It is possible how ever that in prehistoric times it may have occupied a more impor tant position, and Hall has suggested that there may even have been at one time a Sumerian federation with its head either at Nippur or Eridu. In later times throughout the whole of Sumerian history there were two important schools of religious thought, one of them being associated with Eridu, and the other Nippur, Eridu being associated with the cult of Ea the earth god. From the geographical point of view the city is of special interest in its relation to the old sea line, and the evidence which it affords of the changes that have taken place in southern Mesopotamia since early times.
BIBLIOGRAPIIY.—J. E. Taylor, Journ. Roy. Asiatic Soc. (1855) ; R. C. Bibliograpiiy.—J. E. Taylor, Journ. Roy. Asiatic Soc. (1855) ; R. C. Thompson, "The British Museum Excavation at Abu Shahrein in Mesopotamia 1918," Archaeologia lxx. pp. 1o1 seq.; H. R. Hall, "Exca vations at Ur, Eridu and El Obeid," Proc. Soc. Antiquaries, 1919 (pp 22-44) ; S. Langdon, Cambridge Ancient History, Vol. i. (1923) with bibliography.