The Seal of the Ancient Sumerians

On a hot August day, Lena, Petya, and Professor Slawski arrived at the excavations of the ancient Sumerian civilization in Mesopotamia, modern-day Iraq. They were in the heart of one of the oldest civilizations on the planet, in a place where, long ago, the first cities, writing systems, and state structures were born. The valley of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers was a true treasure trove for archaeologists, and for the children, it was an exciting journey into the unknown past.

"Wow, it's so hot here!" exclaimed Lena, brushing the sand off her face. "It feels like we just arrived in an ancient oven!"

"This isn’t Europe with its mild climate!" Petya replied, rubbing his hands together playfully. "You need to be a real archaeologist to endure this heat. But it's worth it for a discovery!"

Professor Slawski, an experienced archaeologist who had worked in Mesopotamia for many years, smiled at their jokes, but his gaze was focused. He already knew that this day could be important not only for his research but also for the careers of the young archaeologists who were with him.

"We are standing on the site of the ancient city of Uruk," the professor said. "This is one of the oldest Sumerian settlements, and here, we can find not only ruins but also traces of a great civilization that made a huge contribution to the development of human culture. It was here that the first form of writing was invented, and the Sumerian priests and sages left many prophecies written on clay tablets."

Lena and Petya listened attentively as they walked through the excavation site, where archaeologists were already pulling out fragments of ancient ceramic vessels and stone tablets with inscriptions that had yet to be deciphered. All of this was part of a long-gone era, and they were part of this great research.

"I think they've found something here," Lena said, noticing a group of archaeologists standing by a sand mound, discussing something. "Let's go have a look!"

They walked closer and saw one of the archaeologists carefully clearing the sand around a round stone seal that was covered with strange symbols and images. Lena and Petya stared at the find with curiosity. It was an ancient Sumerian seal, and its significance was incredibly important.

"Wow!" Petya exclaimed. "This seal looks really old. It seems like it could be more than just a decoration. It might be something important for understanding ancient prophecies!"

Professor Slawski took the seal in his hands and examined it closely. He touched its surface, which was engraved with signs resembling Mesopotamian hieroglyphs.

"This is an incredible find!" the professor said, his voice filled with admiration. "This is not just a seal. Look at these symbols. They are linked to ancient Sumerian prophecies. According to these signs, the seal could be connected to the lost city of Ebla. This is a place known only from myths and ancient texts, but no one knew exactly where it was located."

Lena and Petya exchanged surprised glances.

"So this seal could lead us to the lost city?" Lena asked, her eyes shining with excitement.

"Exactly," confirmed the professor. "If we decipher these symbols correctly, we might be able to find traces of this city and unravel its mysteries."

"Let's start deciphering it right away!" Petya exclaimed eagerly.

The professor studied the symbols on the seal carefully, while the children helped him by comparing the symbols with those already deciphered on the found tablets. As they worked, they discovered that the symbols on the seal pointed to specific coordinates that could lead them to the location of Ebla—the ancient city that had been forgotten for centuries.

"It looks like we're in for a real adventure," said the professor when they concluded that the found seal pointed to a mysterious city located far to the east, in an area that had not yet been explored by archaeologists. "But be prepared for the fact that we may face difficulties along the way. Mesopotamia is not just sand and ancient ruins. There are also dangers that may await us on the journey."

The next few days became a real test for the group. Armed with knowledge and maps, Professor, Lena, and Petya began their journey through the desert, where the excavations grew increasingly difficult and sandstorms brought unexpected obstacles. But they did not give up. For several weeks, they searched for the site indicated by the seal.

Finally, after many hardships, they arrived at the area that, according to their calculations, should hide the traces of the ancient city. At first, they found fragments of clay vessels, then traces of old walls, and later, deep within the desert hills, they discovered the true ruins—the remains of an ancient city that had been forgotten for centuries. It was Ebla, the ancient Sumerian capital that had flourished even before the time of Greater Mesopotamia.

"This is unbelievable," said the professor, taking a deep breath of the hot desert air. "We are witnesses to a great discovery. The mystery of the Sumerian seal is solved. Now, we can explore this amazing city to learn more about the great civilization that once lived here."

From that moment on, Lena and Petya began a new, even more exciting journey into the depths of history, where every new discovery was a step toward unraveling the great mysteries of the ancient world. The Sumerian seal found in Mesopotamia led them to great discoveries, which became an important milestone in archaeological research.