The ancient city of Ur was in the land of Chaldea, which was part of a larger territory commonly known as Babylon. Though it is mentioned in the Bible only as the place from which Abraham originally came (Genesis 11:27-31; Genesis 15:7; Nehemiah 9:7), it was an important city in the ancient world. A powerful Sumerian dynasty had been centred there until overthrown by Amorites about 2000 BC. (For further details see AMORITES; BABYLON.)