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Ancient Origins Tour IRAQ

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Asia

Ancient places can be found all over Asia. Their fascinating histories and impressive artifacts open intriguing glimpses to times past, and open up a window on Asian history. Visiting such historical places in Asia can be an unforgettable experience.

Science is constantly discovering new archaeological places and uncovering more evidence into what we once thought we knew about our history, therefore offering new pieces to the ever changing puzzle of humanity’s past and altering how we interpret it. This section will present the most interesting archaeological sites all over Asia, as well as new discoveries of ancient places that are worth paying a visit.

Royal Palace at Ebla. Source: CC BY-SA 3.0
21 May, 2019 - 19:05 ancient-origins

First Kingdoms: The Forgotten Mesopotamian Kingdom of Ebla

Spectacular things were happening in Mesopotamia in the period we call the Early Bronze Age, particularly in the southern part of it, commonly called Babylonia. It was here that the wealthy,...
Sumerian civilization artifact.
20 May, 2019 - 14:06 dhwty

Sumer: Where Written Language, Arithmetic and Civilization Were Born

The Sumerian civilization (known also as Sumer) was one of the earliest civilizations in the world. This ancient civilization emerged in the region of southern Mesopotamia (modern day southern Iraq...
The ancient city Madinat al-Salam - Baghdad’s Round City
10 May, 2019 - 23:09 dhwty

The Punctilious Planning, Design, and Construction of the Ancient Round City of Baghdad

Baghdad is the capital of Iraq but whereas the country of Iraq was founded only in 1958, the city of Baghdad had been established about 1200 years before by the Abbasids . Baghdad was built...
Ice Cave Lake, Krubera Cave
5 May, 2019 - 22:34 Ed Whelan

Krubera Cave - Journeying to the Depths of Georgia in One of the World’s Deepest Caves

Krubera Cave was once thought to be the deepest cave on earth, although now it is generally regarded as the second deepest. This natural wonder, found in the Republic of Georgia , is renowned among...
Topkapi Palace.
4 May, 2019 - 02:00 Natalia Klimczak

Topkapi – A Palace of Dreams and Tears from the Ottoman Empire

The palace of Topkapi near the Bosphorus strait witnessed the greatest glories and the most heartbreaking tragedies in the history of the Ottoman Empire . Currently the Topkapi palace is a museum but...
Kalash woman. Kalash people have a fascinating history and culture.
16 April, 2019 - 23:01 dhwty

Are the Distinctive Kalash People of Pakistan Really Descendants of Alexander the Great’s Army?

The Kalash (also known as the Kalasha) are an indigenous people living in what is today Pakistan. Although Pakistan is an Islamic Republic, with more than 95% of its population being adherents of...
The ruins of Bavikonda, Andhra Pradesh, India.
15 April, 2019 - 01:55 Ed Whelan

The Sacred Bavikonda Monastery: Vestiges of the Buddhist Golden Age in India

Of all the countries in the world, India has some of the finest examples of Buddhist history and heritage. One of the noteworthy sites is the sacred monastery of Bavikonda in Andhra Pradesh . It is...
Ashurbanipal: The Oldest Surviving Royal Library in the World with Over 30,000 Clay Tablets
9 April, 2019 - 01:29 dhwty

Ashurbanipal: The Oldest Surviving Royal Library in the World with Over 30,000 Clay Tablets

The Royal Library of Ashurbanipal has sometimes been described as the ‘first library’ in the world, or the ‘oldest surviving royal library in the world’. The library was discovered by archaeologists...
Ancient town ruins. Underwater background. Was Atlantis actually in India?
25 March, 2019 - 01:01 E. B. Ralbadisole

Atlantis in India: Did Plato’s Lost City Exist in the East?

Available written evidence indicates that a site known as ‘The Lost City of Atlantis’ corresponds to an ancient site in India that has been hidden for millennia. According to this investigation,...
The Good Samaritan.
13 March, 2019 - 18:02 Caleb Strom

The Powerful Politics Behind the Parable of the Good Samaritan

Today, the term “Good Samaritan” is often used to refer to any person who does a selfless good deed for a stranger or someone who is not part of their normal ingroup. It is also referenced in the...
Interior of Orbelian’s Caravanserai.
12 March, 2019 - 13:47 dhwty

Orbelian’s Caravanserai: A Lasting Sanctuary for Travelers Along the Silk Road

Orbelian’s Caravanserai (known previously as the Selim Caravanserai) is a caravanserai located in Vayots Dzor, a province in the southeastern part of Armenia . According to a dedicatory inscription,...
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...
Potala Palace in the winter.
27 February, 2019 - 23:45 dhwty

Closer to Enlightenment? Potala Palace, the Highest in the World

Potala Palace, the iconic heart of Tibetan Buddhism, is the highest palace in the world. It once served as the winter palace of the Dalai Lama and was the Tibetan seat of government. The palace is...
Eastern Han Tomb (CC by SA 3.0). Inset: Ancient Chinese dragon made from gold (Lukas Hlavac / Adobe Stock)
18 February, 2019 - 13:54 dhwty

Spectacular Royal Han Tombs Reveal Wealth and Glory of China’s Golden Age

The Han Dynasty was China’s second imperial dynasty and succeeded the Qin Dynasty . This dynasty ruled China for about 400 years, during which there were more than 20 emperors on the throne. Many of...
Buddha in Polonnaruwa temple - medieval capital of Ceylon whose history the Mahavamsa describes.
6 February, 2019 - 02:03 dhwty

The Mahavamsa: An Epic Poem that Sheds Light on Sri Lankan History

The Mahavamsa (meaning ‘Great Chronicle’) is one of the most important works of ancient literature from the island of Sri Lanka. This work takes on the form of an epic poem and was written either...
Agrasen ki baoli.
4 February, 2019 - 13:51 Ed Whelan

Agrasen Ki Baoli: A Subterranean Architectural Wonder

When we think of architectural wonders, we do not typically think of the water supply. However, in the heart of modern New Delhi, near one of its most popular tourist sites, is a remarkable...
Woman at Petra.
28 January, 2019 - 17:36 Sarah P Young

Were the Women of Petra More Important Than the Men?

The Nabataeans were a society who inhabited Arabia and the Southern Levant from the 3rd century BC to approximately 106 AD when the Nabataean kingdom was annexed by the Roman Empire. Known for their...
Buddhist Monastery Swat Pakistan.
19 January, 2019 - 13:38 dhwty

Ancient Gandhara Kingdom Was A Melting Pot That Left Its Legacy in Art

Gandhara was an ancient kingdom located in what is the region that is today northwestern Pakistan and northeastern Afghanistan. The history Gandhara can be traced all the way back to the Vedic period...
Soaba Stone pillars
5 January, 2019 - 01:54 Ed Whelan

The Saoba Stone Pillars of Taiwan Present A Peinan Culture Conundrum

Taiwan is a modern and dynamic country, but it also has a rich culture and history, which is often forgotten by the wider world. The island has been home to a variety of communities and cultures...
Qal'at al-Bahrain.
22 December, 2018 - 13:57 Ed Whelan

Qal’at Al-Bahrain: Enter the Fort and Immerse Yourself in the Fascinating History of the Persian Gulf

Bahrain is a small island nation which is in the heart of the Persian Gulf (also known as the Arab Gulf) and has a rich culture and varied history. One of the most important and historic locations in...
Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, Temple of Heaven, Beijing
20 December, 2018 - 13:55 Mark Miller

Temple of Heaven and Its Sacrificial Altar Where Blood Was Spilt for Bountiful Harvests

The Temple of Heaven in Beijing dates back almost 600 years, to a time when Chinese emperors sacrificed animals to the gods on the temple’s altars to atone and beseech them to bestow bountiful...
Tanah Lot Temple, Bali
19 December, 2018 - 01:46 Ed Whelan

Tanah Lot Temple: Bali’s Stunning Sacred Sea Shrine

Bali regularly features as one of the most beautiful places in the world, a well-known Mecca for backpackers and travelers. The island not only has natural wonders, but also many architectural and...
Atop Gunung Padang mountain / pyramid.
18 December, 2018 - 14:01 ashley cowie

That Ancient Indonesian Pyramid Believed to Be 11,000 Years Older Than Göbekli Tepe Has Been “Discovered” Again

Geologists working on the island of Java using radar images have claimed, like many before them, that they have “located a mysterious ancient pyramid deep within a dense forest,” dating back to the...
Somapura Mahavihara in Bangladesh.
6 December, 2018 - 01:45 Michelle Freson

Somapura Mahavihara: The Most Spectacular Pre-Islamic Monument in Bangladesh

Somapura Mahavihara is an 8th century Buddhist monastery and an important archaeological site located in Paharpur, Bangladesh. It is one of the five great mahaviharas, (meaning great vihara or large...

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