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Mesopotamian Places

Welcome to our exploration of Mesopotamian places, where we journey through the ancient landscapes and delve into the significance of the remarkable locations that shaped the rich history and cultural tapestry of Mesopotamia. Mesopotamia, known as the "Land Between the Rivers," was home to a multitude of cities, sanctuaries, and architectural marvels that played pivotal roles in the development of civilization.

In this section of our website, we invite you to embark on a tour of Mesopotamian places, where each location holds a unique story waiting to be discovered. From bustling city-states to sacred temples and grand palaces, we will uncover the secrets and marvels hidden within these ancient sites.

Explore the renowned city of Babylon, once the epicenter of Mesopotamian civilization and a symbol of power and splendor. Discover the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and delve into the historical and cultural significance of this magnificent city.

Visit the ancient city of Ur, the birthplace of Abraham according to biblical accounts. Learn about its impressive ziggurat, a towering structure that served as a religious center and a testament to the architectural prowess of the Mesopotamians.

Step into the city of Uruk, one of the earliest urban centers in history and a key hub of trade and culture. Uncover the mysteries of the White Temple and the legendary hero Gilgamesh, who ruled over Uruk.

Marvel at the grandeur of Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian Empire. Discover its imposing city walls, the vast palaces of Assyrian kings, and the Library of Nineveh, a treasure trove of ancient knowledge.

Journey to the ancient city of Nippur, a religious center with temples dedicated to various deities. Explore the significance of the temple complex of Enlil, the chief god of the Mesopotamian pantheon.

Through informative articles, vivid imagery, and historical insights, our website aims to bring these Mesopotamian places to life, unraveling their stories and showcasing their architectural brilliance and cultural importance. Whether you are a history enthusiast, a student of ancient civilizations, or simply fascinated by the wonders of Mesopotamia, this section will serve as your gateway to a captivating world.

Digital reconstruction of Northwest Palace, Nimrud. Source: YouTube Screenshot / The Met.
10 October, 2023 - 16:57 Robbie Mitchell

Digital Reconstruction of the Northwest Palace, Nimrud, Assyria (Video)

In 2014, the Metropolitan Museum of Art unveiled a captivating digital reconstruction of the Northwest Palace of Ashurnasirpal II in Nimrud, Assyria (near modern Mosul in northern Iraq). This...
The Hanging Gardens of the Chaldean Dynasty of Mesopotamia. Source: Sarry/Adobe Stock
15 September, 2023 - 14:55 Aleksa Vučković

The Chaldean Dynasty and the Rise of the Neo-Babylonian Empire

Empires are formed and fall, dynasties rise to prominence and crumble in poverty and ruin, ethnicities disappear from the fate of the Earth - these are the inevitable aspects of the histories of...
Votive stele of Gudea, ruler of Lagash, to the temple of Ningirsu. Ancient Orient Museum, Istanbul. Source: Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin FRCP (Glasg)/CC BY-SA 4.0)
4 September, 2023 - 22:52 Aleksa Vučković

The Rule of Ensi Gudea and the Golden Age of Lagash

Ancient Mesopotamia, called by many the “cradle of civilization”, is in many ways enigmatic and mysterious. There is plenty about it that we are still to uncover, as it reaches so far back in time...
Representational image of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Source: Creative Digital Art / Adobe Stock
20 August, 2023 - 19:00 Joanna Gillan

Searching for the Hanging Gardens of Babylon

The real location of the elusive Hanging Gardens of Babylon has eluded researchers for centuries. It is the only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World whose location is still unknown, yet...
Secret underground tunnels of ancient Mesopotamian cult - Ani ruins
27 August, 2014 - 01:00 aprilholloway

Secret underground tunnels of ancient Mesopotamian cult under Ani ruins

For the first time in history, the academic world is paying attention to the spectacular underground world of Ani, a 5,000-year-old Armenian city located on the Turkish-Armenian border. Hurriyet...
Hand-colored engraving of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon (19th Century)
17 August, 2015 - 01:01 Riley Winters

The Magnificent Constructions of King Nebuchadnezzar II

Neo-Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II remains known as the leader of one of the most powerful ancient empires to have preceded that of the Athenians in Greek's Classical period. However, aside from...
The ruins of Yamchun Fortress near Pamir, on the border of Afghanistan, where one can still see remains of the ancient classical culture of Bactria. Source: Jonny / Adobe Stock
2 October, 2021 - 14:43 Aleksa Vučković

Bactria - The Bountiful, Sought-after Region of Ancient History

Bactria was one of the more important historic regions of the ancient and classical world. A central point of more than one defining political event, Bactria experienced thousands of years of...
A panoramic view of the gardens and outside of the Palace of Darius I of Persia in Persepolis.
30 November, 2015 - 04:11 dhwty

The Spectacular Monumental Architecture of the Achaemenid Empire

The Achaemenid Empire is traditionally believed to have been founded by Cyrus the Great during the middle of the 6 th century B.C. In 559 B.C., Cyrus became the king of Persis, and 9 years later,...
2,500-year-old city of Persepolis in Iran
17 November, 2014 - 22:21 aprilholloway

Excavations uncover large ancient gate in 2,500-year-old city of Persepolis in Iran

Excavations at Persepolis, a magnificent palace complex in Iran founded by Darius the Great around 518 BC, have uncovered a great ancient gate in Tale-Ajori, within the Firouzi Complex. Even older...
Assyrian soldiers carry beheaded heads of their prisoners as depicted on a wall in the South-West Palace at Nineveh, during the “First” Fall of Neneveh. Source: Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin / CC BY-SA 4.0
10 August, 2020 - 18:34 ashley cowie

August 10 612 BC: Nineveh, the Largest City in the World, Fell

On this day, 2,632 years ago, the ancient metropolis of Nineveh fell. “ ABC 3 ” is a historiographical text from ancient Babylonia which records August 10th 612 BC as the date of this dramatic...
Winged human-headed bull, lamassu or shedu, the Lost City of Dur-Sharrukin.
7 March, 2019 - 14:02 dhwty

The Lost City of Dur-Sharrukin – The Capital That Never Was

Dur-Sharrukin is an ancient Assyrian city that was founded towards the end of the 8 th century BC. The city was established by Sargon II to serve as his new capital. Nevertheless, Sargon died before...
Sumerian Ziggurat. Source: Michael Rosskothen / Adobe Stock
12 March, 2023 - 19:52 Joanna Gillan

View the Majesty of a Sumerian Ziggurat in 3D Virtual Tour (Video)

A Sumerian ziggurat was a towering, stepped structures built in ancient Mesopotamia over 4,000 years ago. They were constructed by the Sumerians , who were one of the earliest civilizations in human...
The long-lost remains of a Sumerian palace and temple in the ancient city of Girsu on the southern plains of Iraq. Source: British Museum.
20 February, 2023 - 14:00 Nathan Falde

4,500-Year-Old Sumerian Palace Uncovered in Iraqi Desert

Reaching the culmination of a search that has been going on for the past several years, a team of archaeologists affiliated with the British Museum has finally unearthed the long-lost remains of a...
Illustration of Mesopotamia.
8 November, 2016 - 03:53 Theodoros Karasavvas

Ancient Remains of Important Bronze Age City of the Akkadian Empire Found in Iraq

Α very important city was recently unearthed in Northern Iraq by an international team of archaeologists from the University of Tübingen, a university town in central Baden-Württemberg, Germany. The...
The Kesh Temple Hymn: 5,600-Year-Old Sumerian Hymn Praises Enlil, Ruler of Gods
3 January, 2017 - 14:45 Veronica Parkes

The Kesh Temple Hymn: 4,600-Year-Old Sumerian Hymn Praises Enlil, Ruler of Gods

Like many foundational inventions that we use every day, such as wheels and law codes, the Ancient Sumerians living in Ancient Mesopotamia, the so-called cradle of civilization, created the oldest...
Shock Find! Assyrian Palace from 600 BC Discovered Under Demolished Shrine in Iraq
1 March, 2017 - 22:50 Alicia McDermott

Shock Find! Assyrian Palace from 600 BC Discovered Under Demolished Shrine in Iraq

Archaeologists working at a demolished shrine in Mosul, Iraq have stumbled upon a discovery of a previously unknown palace from about 600 BC. It has been declared that the monumental find may provide...
3D reconstruction of an ancient Mesopotamian city.
8 April, 2019 - 18:56 ancient-origins

4,000-Year-Old Lost Mesopotamian City Discovered in Iraq

A 4,000-year-old lost city has been discovered in Iraqi Kurdistan, according to researchers. “We weren’t expecting to discover a city here at all,” said Christine Kepinski, who explored the site,...
The White Temple and the Great Ziggurat in the Mesopotamian City of Uruk
17 October, 2016 - 14:43 marinasohma

The White Temple and the Great Ziggurat in the Mesopotamian City of Uruk

The Egyptian pyramids are not the only ancient mystery of the old world; the ziggurat also sustains a substantial position of wonder. The ancient land of Uruk was once located in southern Mesopotamia...
Astounding Ancient Assyria: The Grand Palace of Assurnasirpal
31 December, 2016 - 03:53 Natalia Klimczak

Astounding Ancient Assyria: The Grand Palace of Assurnasirpal

The grand palace of Assurnasirpal (Ashurnasirpal) II was one of the most incredible sites of ancient Assyria. Located in Nimrud, Iraq, the immense palace was richly decorated with sophisticated...
Mari, Syria - A ziggurat near the palace.
1 January, 2017 - 14:36 ancient-origins

Nearly Lost from The Pages of History, Mari Is The Oldest Known Planned City in the World

The 7,000-year-old ancient city of Mari (known today as Tell Hariri) is one of the oldest known cities in the world, located on the west bank of the Euphrates River in what was once northern...
The ziggurat Choga Zanbil in Ira
29 August, 2018 - 23:34 dhwty

Ziggurat: A Mesopotamian Manmade Mountain to Reach the Gods

With their massive terraces decreasing in size as the building rises, ziggurats can easily be called manmade mountains. They are identifiable structures most often associated with ancient...
The Cube of Zoroaster at Naqsh-e Rustam - an ancient necropolis located in Fars Province, Iran, with a group of ancient Iranian rock reliefs cut into the cliff, from both the Achaemenid and Sassanid periods.
25 January, 2019 - 18:54 Ed Whelan

The 2500-year-old Cube of Zoroaster To Stay Shaken But Not Stirred

Many archaeologically significant sites are under threat from the elements or because of environmental issues. For some time, one of the most important monuments in Iran was believed to be under...
Remote sensing and drone footage of the Lagash / Tell al-Hiba site was deployed to conclude that the ancient Mesopotamian city was made up of four marsh islands. Source: Lagash Archaeological Project
15 October, 2022 - 14:53 Sahir

Drone Footage Reveals Lost Mesopotamian City Built on Marsh Islands

Using remote sensing data technologies at the site of one of the oldest urban centers in world history, scientists have identified a vast Mesopotamian settlement called Lagash. Once upon a time,...
‘The Tower of Babel’ (1595) by Lucas van Valckenborch.
10 May, 2018 - 18:57 Mark Oliver

Inside Etemenanki: The Real-Life Tower of Babel

If there was a tower of Babel, it was Etemenanki: a massive, stone ziggurat at the center of Babylon built to be a passageway up to heaven. The Babylonians didn’t see their tower of Babel as a...

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