(A MESS IN MESOPOTAMIA CONTINUED)

BB) You decide to fight these two bandits.

WIN) You duck as the taller one tries to tackle you. He flies full speed into a mud brick wall and drops to the ground unconscious. The smaller one slowly steps toward you with a club in hand. You yell for help, but no can hear you because of the noise of new year's celebrations. Quickly, you notice that the taller one was carrying a sword. You roll across the alley and grab the sword. Just as you do, the smaller thief lunges at you. You raise the sword just in time. The blade disappears in the bandit's stomach. With a blood curdling yell, the man drops to the ground, dead. Shaken, you collect yourself, and walk back down the narrow streets. A group of armed guards passes by, you wave and grab their attention. As they listen, you relate your story. They return with you to the site of the attack. As you find out later you are a hero, because the two men were wanted for robbing the Royal Tombs. It's time for you to head back to Lagash.

THE END

LOSE) As the taller one rushes to tackle you, you duck down. He stops, and laughs at your feeble attempt. He picks you up by the neck and throws you against the brick wall. You pick up a solid rock and throw it with all your might at the two thieves. It hits the smaller one on the shoulder. "Ahhh!", he cries, "Now your done for!" The taller one unsheathes his sword and you become history. Over four thousand years later, in 1927, an British archaeologist named Sir Leonard Woolley discovers the ruins of the lost city of Ur, along with your skeletal remains.

THE END

Discussion Questions

Directions: After reading the adventure, discuss the questions below with the listeners.

1. Describe the streets in a typical Sumerian city-state.

2. Which city-state in ancient Sumer was probably one of the most important? Why do you think this was this so?

3. What was the climate of ancient Mesopotamia like? How did that affect the way people lived?

4. Name two major rivers of Mesopotamia. Why did the people of this land depend on these rivers for survival?

5. What was the purpose of the ziggurat? Why do you think it was so high above the city-state?

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