Question: what was the ancient name for modern-day iraq
Answer: Ur ( Sumerian : Urim ; Sumerian Cuneiform : 𒋀𒀕𒆠 URIM or 𒋀𒀊𒆠 URIM ; Akkadian : Uru ; Arabic : أور ‎ ‎ ) was an important Sumerian city - state in ancient Mesopotamia , located at the site of modern Tell el - Muqayyar ( Arabic : تل المقير ‎ ‎ ) in south Iraq 's Dhi Qar Governorate .