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Ancient Roman time town in Palmyra, Syria. Mostly destroyed, we do see several columns standing tall. in the background there is a hill with a settlement on top against a blue, clouded sky.

Mysterious 'lord of the universe' deity from ancient Palmyra finally identified

By Owen Jarus last updated

The identity of an unknown god described in ancient texts from Palmyra has been deciphered, though not everyone agrees with the assessment.

Middle East
Bas-relief with Assyrian warriors, Persepolis, Iran.

Who are the Assyrians?

By Owen Jarus last updated

The Assyrians are a people who have lived in the Middle East since ancient times and today can be found all over the world.

Middle East
The top of the inscription from the last king of Babylon shows engravings showing Nabonidus and four symbols.

Cuneiform inscription from last king of Babylon discovered in Saudi Arabia

By Owen Jarus last updated

A 2,550-year-old inscription, written in the name of Nabonidus, the last king of Babylon, has been discovered carved on basalt stone in northern Saudi Arabia.

Middle East
Detail from the Processional Way in Babylon. Glazed enamel bricks with a lion motif and also some white daisies.

Ancient Babylon, the iconic Mesopotamian city that survived for 2,000 years

By Owen Jarus published

Reference Babylon, the ancient Mesopotamian civilization, existed from roughly 2000 B.C. to 540 B.C.

Reference
This is an underwater photo of white, green, and reddish-pink coral reef surrounded by a school of little yellow Anthias fish. It was taken in the Red Sea.

Is the Red Sea really red?

By Tom Garlinghouse last updated

The Red Sea takes its name from periodic blooms of a blue-green algae called Trichodesmium erythraeum, which turn the normally vivid blue waters a reddish-brown.

Middle East
An aerial view of a fortress believed to be part of the lost city of Natounia, including the (A) Merquly settlement; and the (B) 'barracks' building.

Lost city, a real-life 'Helm's Deep,' possibly discovered in Iraq

By Jennifer Nalewicki published

Mountain fortress in Iraq is said to be part of the lost city Natounia.

Middle East
Ancient Babylonia and Assyria sculpture from Mesopotamia.

Mesopotamia: The Land Between Two Rivers

By Owen Jarus last updated

Irrigation, writing, trigonometry, calculus — many important discoveries and innovations were made in "the land between two rivers."

Middle East
Bas-relief carved on the walls of old buildings from the Persian city of Persepolis _Delbars via Shutterstock

Who were the ancient Persians?

By Tom Garlinghouse last updated

Reference The Persians, originally a semi-nomadic people from central Asia, settled on the Iranian plateau and founded the Achaemenid Empire.

Reference
The ancient Bronze Age city at Kemune in Iraq.

Ancient Bronze Age city reemerges from Iraq river after extreme drought

By Patrick Pester published

Archaeologists raced to investigate an ancient Bronze Age city in Iraq after it re-emerged from a reservoir following an extreme drought.

Middle East
The funerary avenues (part of one shown here) date back around 4,500 years in Saudi Arabia.

Vast 4,500-year-old network of 'funerary avenues' discovered in Saudi Arabia

By Owen Jarus published

Archaeologists in Saudi Arabia have discovered 4,500-year-old "funerary avenues" alongside thousands of pendant-shaped tombs.

Middle East
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