Archaeologists working at the site of Nippur in modern-day Iraq have uncovered a stunning section of ritual pavement inlaid with lapis lazuli and shell. The walkway leads directly to the Ziggurat of Enlil and is inscribed with cuneiform references to the 'Procession of the Seven Sages', a festival that celebrated the transmission of wisdom and civilization to humanity.
The find is significant as it provides the first physical evidence of the specific path taken by priests and performers during the Babylonian and Sumerian New Year cycles. The use of imported lapis lazuli for an outdoor surface underscores the extreme wealth and religious fervor dedicated to these annual urban spectacles, which served to unify the diverse populations of the Mesopotamian plains.