| Al Muthanna Governorate المثنى محافظة Muthanna Province |
|
|---|---|
| — Province — | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Iraq |
| Capital | Samawah |
| Area | |
| • Total | 51,740 km2 (19,976.9 sq mi) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 538,000 |
Al Muthanna Governorate (Arabic: المثنى Al Muthannā) (or Muthanna Province) is a province in Iraq. It is in the south of the country, bordering Saudi Arabia. Its capital is the city of Samawah, which is located very close to the ancient city of Uruk. Prior to 1976 it was part of the Diwaniya Province, which also included present day Najaf Governorate and Al-Qādisiyyah Governorate.
It also includes the ancient Sumerian-Babylonian city of Uruk (Aramaic: Erech), which is possibly the source of the name Iraq.
After the decline of Babylon following the Seleucid founding of Seleucia, Uruk became the largest city in southern Babylonia, and its name (Erech in Aramaic) came to replace Babili (Babylonia), as the city long outlived the former capital, surviving into the 7th century AD.
| Al-Qādisiyyah Governorate | Dhi Qar Governorate | |||
| Najaf Governorate | ||||
| Al Muthanna Governorate | ||||
| Northern Borders Province, Saudi Arabia | Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia |
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