Samarra
/səˈmɑːrə/noun
A historic city on the Tigris River in central Iraq, famous for its Abbasid-era monuments and spiral minaret.
Did you know?The city’s Great Mosque once contained the Malwiya, a massive spiral minaret whose unusual form may have created an intentionally cosmic, throne-like approach to prayer.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient period
Akkadian/Aramaic
Šamarra
“An ancient place-name associated with the site; its precise original meaning remains uncertain.”
9th Century
Arabic
Sāmarrāʾ
“The Arabic name adopted for the city founded or dramatically expanded under the Abbasid caliph al-Muʿtaṣim.”
836 CE
Arabic
Surr man raʾā
“A popular Arabic reinterpretation meaning “he who sees it is delighted,” probably a later wordplay rather than the name’s proven origin.”
9th Century
Arabic
Sāmarrāʾ
“The Abbasid imperial capital, celebrated for monumental palaces, gardens, and the Great Mosque.”
Medieval English
English
Samarra
“A learned geographic name referring to the Iraqi city.”
Modern English
English
Samarra
“The standard English name for the historic Iraqi city and archaeological site.”
Explore more surprising origins