Ancient Mesopotamia
11 guides
Ancient Mesopotamia
بلاد الرافدين القديمة
Ancient Mesopotamia
Ancient Mesopotamia
Girsu, Lagash & Eridu: Deep Sumer for Enthusiasts
Girsu (Tello), Lagash (al-Hiba) and Eridu: the deep Sumerian sites of Dhi Qar, what was found there, the latest excavations, whether you can visit, and the September 2026 travel and health advice.
Ancient Mesopotamia
Nimrud & the Assyrian Heartland
Nimrud (ancient Kalhu), the Assyrian capital south of Mosul: its palace, winged bulls and ivories, what ISIS destroyed, the rescue since 2017, where the treasures are now and whether you can visit in 2026.
Ancient Mesopotamia
Nineveh: Walking the Assyrian Capital
Nineveh, the Assyrian capital of Sennacherib and Ashurbanipal, lies inside modern Mosul. What survives, what ISIS destroyed, the Adad Gate park opened in 2023, and the travel advice as of September 2026.
Ancient Mesopotamia
Hatra: Iraq’s Desert City of the Sun God
Hatra (al-Hadr), the round Parthian city of the sun god in Iraq's Nineveh desert: its history, what ISIS damaged and what survived, where its statues are, and why a visit needs special permission in 2026.
Ancient Mesopotamia
Samarra: The Malwiya Minaret & Abbasid City
The Malwiya Minaret is the 52-metre spiral tower of Samarra's ninth-century Great Mosque. Its history, whether you can climb it, how the Samarra checkpoint works and the FCDO advice as of September 2026.
Ancient Mesopotamia
Ctesiphon & Taq Kasra: The World’s Largest Brick Arch
Ctesiphon's Taq Kasra is the largest brick vault built before the modern era. Its history, why it keeps collapsing, how to visit from Baghdad and the travel advice as of September 2026.
Ancient Mesopotamia
Uruk: The World’s First City
Uruk (Warka) in southern Iraq was the world's largest city around 3100 BC. What survives on the ground, where its treasures went, how a visit works from Samawah, and the travel advice as of September 2026.
Ancient Mesopotamia
The Ziggurat of Ur: Visiting Sumer’s Great Temple
Visiting the Ziggurat of Ur in 2026: the restoration closure and what we know about reopening, what is original, the House of Abraham and Royal Cemetery, the checkpoint and fee, the FCDO band, a Dhi Qar health warning and the marshes nearby.
Ancient Mesopotamia
Visiting Babylon: The Complete Guide
Visiting Babylon in 2026: what is original and what was rebuilt, the replica Ishtar Gate, UNESCO's own verdict, the 25,000 IQD ticket, the drive from Baghdad, the heat, the advisory, Borsippa and what we could not confirm.
Ancient Mesopotamia