Latest news with #Babylonian
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
World's oldest map shows secrets from 3,000 years ago with Babylon at centre
The Babylonian map is known as the Imago Mundi and holds the title of the oldest known map in the world as it shows the world as the ancient Babylonians knew it The world's oldest map has been deciphering secrets from 3,000 years ago, shedding light on how our forebears perceived their surroundings. Dubbed the Imago Mundi, this Babylonian artefact is recognised as the most ancient map known to us, placing Babylon at the heart of the world. Unearthed in Sippar, Iraq, the clay tablet depicts a round Earth, adorned with cuneiform script and symbolic illustrations. Dr Irving Finkel of the British Museum revealed in a museum YouTube video: "The ancient Babylonian map has given us a tremendous insight into many aspects of Mesopotamian thinking. "It's also a triumphant demonstration of what happens when you have a very small, totally uninformative and useless fragment of dead boring writing that no one can understand and you join it onto something in the collection which is much bigger and a whole new adventure begins all over again", reports the Express. On its flip side, the tablet doubles as a travel guide, hinting at what explorers might face, including a nod to a craft built to survive the Great Flood. Dr. Finkel remarked that the tablet features a "giant vessel," often associated with the remnants of an enormous ship. Scholars have mapped a journey to "Urartu," possibly corresponding with the peak where Noah's Ark is believed to have come to rest. This may indicate that the Babylonians may have had their own rendition of the flood narrative. According to Dr. Finkel, the tablet's inscriptions recount astronomical events and predictions, and the map is believed to depict the entire "known world" of that time. The Imago Mundi illustrates Babylonian beliefs about geography and mythical creatures, with the ancients convinced these beings roamed various lands. Featured on the tablet are fantastical beings such as a scorpion-man, a sea serpent, a bull-man, and a winged horse. Another striking element is the "Bitter River," symbolised by a double ring surrounding Mesopotamia, representing the boundary of the known world. The inscriptions further detail astronomical events and predictions, highlighting the Babylonians' sophisticated grasp of the heavens. Since its unearthing in Iraq in 1988, the Imago Mundi has enthralled academics and is presently housed at the British Museum.
RTÉ News
05-07-2025
- RTÉ News
What next for MeToo after Sean Combs verdict?
It was a verdict that sent shockwaves around the world. Last Wednesday in New York, music mogul Sean Combs was cleared of the sex trafficking and racketeering charges that could have put him behind bars for life but found guilty of lesser prostitution-related offences. As the jury's decision was read out, the disgraced rapper fell to his knees in Manhattan federal court and appeared to pray; his defence team described the verdict as "A great victory for Sean Combs . . . a great victory for the jury system." Outside on the street, supporters of the 55-year-old self-styled bad boy from Harlem clashed with women's rights campaigners, trading insults and threats that have opened up yet another fault line in America's toxic culture wars. It was an extremely ugly end to seven extremely ugly weeks of one of the most closely watched court cases in years. It was clear that after decades surrounded by 'yes' men and women who were ordered never to say no, rap's little emperor thought he was untouchable. Last Wednesday he got a very rude awakening. The often grotesque and graphic testimony heard over the past weeks painted a disturbing picture of Babylonian excess at Combs' notorious "freak offs," the sex parties he had publicly boasted of, often on late night US chat shows, over the years. The verdict has been met with dismay and horror by many who thought the MeToo movement would bring a halt to the behaviour of people like Combs and elation from supporters who seem to have a cult-like devotion to a man who clearly revelled in some truly repugnant activities. Of course, Combs' troubles are far from over. Having already served ten months in a forbidding maximum security facility in Brooklyn, he could face up 20 years in prison for the charges he is guilty of, although that seems unlikely. He also faces up to fifty civil cases, some of which were only filed this week. He is due to be sentenced next October although his legal team are already pushing for his hearing to be brought forward. On Wednesday evening he was denied bail and sent straight back to prison. The verdict now poses many questions about what is next for the MeToo movement that had done so much to encourage women to come forward to face their often powerful and influential tormentors. Speaking outside the courthouse on Wednesday, Douglas Wigdor, an attorney for Comb's former girlfriend Cassie Ventura, who was the main witness for the prosecution, said that "although the jury did not find Combs guilty of sex-trafficking Cassie beyond a reasonable doubt, she paved the way for a jury to find him guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution." "By coming forward with her experience," he added, "Cassie has left an indelible mark on both the entertainment industry and the fight for justice." Actress Rosie O'Donnell, who recently moved to Ireland following the re-election of convicted felon Donald Trump to the White House, was outraged. "I guess a jury just never wants to believe that a woman stays because of power and coercion," she wrote on social media. "Wow - they just think women stay because what? money - fame - 'they love the abuse' - what a f***ing joke _ this decision got me angry." Combs, who often boasted of "going from Harlem to Hollywood" and used a series of ridiculous aliases, may not have been convicted on the more serious charges he faced, but will the verdict make self-absorbed, self-obsessed entertainment figures change their ways? The rapper is a big scalp for the MeToo movement and the basic concept of justice. Other recent triumphs include the conviction of film producer Harvy Weinstein, while actor Gérard Depardieu was handed a suspended sentence last May for sexual assault. So, is the party over for predatory celebrities who think their fame and money can insulate them from reality? You will often hear tales of the bad old days of the Hollywood casting couch, a culture that Weinstein still practised well into the 21st century, but the music industry that Combs thrived in is often overlooked for its own disgraceful record when it comes to the mistreatment of both women and men. Weinstein was protected by a disturbing omertà in the film world but Combs' methods were far more brutal and appear to have been based on a network of coercion, threats of violence and blackmail. In a country where a person's good name doesn't seem to mean much anymore either way, it will be interesting to see what impact the court's findings will have on Combs' already battered career. Most famous for sampling The Police song Every Breath You Take on his sanctimonious paean to slain rapper Biggie Smalls, Combs' music was truly egregious and for once gave credence to the idiotic rockist joke "is rap spelled with a K or a C?" Will he attempt a comeback? Back in its nineties heyday, rap and hip-hop often traded in thuggish criminality and violent braggadocio so will Combs now have extra cachet among young man who have been seduced by the manifold evils and idiocies of the manosphere and the likes of professional misogynist Andrew Tate? After all, when it first went mainstream over thirty years ago, rap was lapped up by white middle class boys, attracted by the whiff of cordite, the rampant sexism and the chance to appal their parents. So, will the self-aggrandising Combs double down on his behaviour and brag about his exploits or will he do a Russell Brand and turn to god? Combs fell to his knees in prayer last Wednesday so will we see him reborn in the white collar and raiment of a man of faith, rapping spirituals and sampling chapter and verse from the good book? Are we now living in a post MeToo era? Trump's war on woke has shifted the culture in the US and helped created a climate where people like Combs can thrive not in spite of their crassness and criminality but because of it. As we await the sentence, we can now add a new name to his long list of aliases - convicted criminal.
Indian Express
03-07-2025
- Science
- Indian Express
1,000 year old Babylonian hymn celebrating ancient city revived using AI
A long-lost Babylonian hymn, missing for more than a millennium, has been largely reconstructed thanks to artificial intelligence. Dating back to the early first millennium BCE (c. 1000 BCE), the 250-line hymn praises the ancient city of Babylon. It describes its monumental buildings, fertile fields sustained by the Euphrates River, and the role of celibate priestesses in society. The text was pieced together from over 30 fragmented clay tablets spread across several museums and collections. The reconstruction was made possible through a collaborative effort between researchers at the University of Baghdad and Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich, who published their findings in the journal Iraq. The project utilised an AI-powered platform that digitises fragments of cuneiform – the script used by ancient civilisations, including Mesopotamia and Persia – and cross-references them to identify matching passages. 'Using our AI-supported platform, we managed to identify 30 other manuscripts that belong to the rediscovered hymn – a process that would formerly have taken decades,' said study co-author and Assyriologist Enrique Jiménez. The hymn itself is focused on Babylon's grandeur; most significantly, it celebrates the city's majestic architecture, emphasising how canals and fields thrived alongside bustling urban structures. Notably, it highlights the cultural importance of women serving as priestesses as well as Babylon's welcoming attitude towards foreigners, offering a rare glimpse into the structure of Babylon's social and cultural society. One striking feature is how widely the hymn was known at the time. Dozens of copies were found among what appeared to be school texts. 'The hymn was copied by children at school,' Jiménez noted, suggesting that this hymn was memorised by and taught to students. Despite its length, some sections of the hymn remain missing or damaged, particularly towards the end. About one-third of the original text is still fragmented, indicating growing opportunities for AI-assisted reconstruction and discovery of damaged or lost ancient texts. A passage from the larger hymn is transcribed below: The Euphrates is her river—established by wise lord Nudimmud— It quenches the lea, saturates the canebrake, Disgorges its waters into lagoon and sea, Its fields burgeon with herbs and flowers, Its meadows, in brilliant bloom, sprout barley, From which, gathered, sheaves are stacked, Herds and flocks lie on verdant pastures, Wealth and splendor—what befit mankind— Are bestowed, multiplied, and regally granted. (This article has been curated by Arfan Jeelany, who is an intern with The Indian Express)
Shafaq News
03-07-2025
- Science
- Shafaq News
Babil unearths 2,000-year-old hymn on morality and women
Shafaq News – Babil A research team in Babil has discovered parts of an ancient hymn carved into clay tablets in the ruins of the city of Sippar, about 65 kilometers north of the province. The religious poem, dedicated to the god Marduk, protector of Babylon, dates back more than 2,100 years to the ancient Babylonian civilization and offers poetic descriptions of life in the city, including its flowing rivers, jewel-adorned gates, and pure priests. Researchers from Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich (Germany) used artificial intelligence to reconstruct 30 scattered tablet fragments, a process that would have taken decades using traditional methods. The original hymn is composed of approximately 250 lines, of which scholars have so far deciphered and translated about one-third of the cuneiform text. Professor Enrique Jimenez, who led the team, described the text as possessing exceptional literary quality and precise structure. The hymn begins with praise for Marduk, calling him the 'architect of the universe,' and continues with praise for Babylon, portraying it as a paradise rich in blessings, comparing it to the sea, a fruit garden, and waves in abundance. It includes a vivid depiction of the Euphrates River and the fertile plains around it, where livestock graze. The text also reveals moral values in Babylonian society, highlighting respect for strangers and protection of the weak. The hymn praises priests who do not humiliate foreigners, who free captives, and care for orphans. It also mentions female priests acting as midwives, a role not previously recorded in other historical sources. It is believed to have held a special status in Babylonian culture and remained part of the school curriculum for nearly a thousand years, from the 15th century BCE (Before Common Era) to the 1st century BCE. The ruins of Babylon, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are located about 85 kilometers south of Baghdad. Among the lines in the hymn is a poetic passage describing the Euphrates River: "The Euphrates is her river, the work of the wise god Nudimmud, It waters the banks, irrigates the plains, Pours its waters into the lake and the sea, Its fields bloom with herbs and barley, Spring grass and grain shine in its meadows, Mounds of beer grains pile in its center, Cattle and sheep rest on green pastures, Abundance and wealth—what is rightful for the people? Multiply, are available, and pour forth in plenty." The hymn is estimated to have been written between 1500 and 1300 BCE, making it one of the oldest long literary works in Babylon's history. Although it is more recent than the Epic of Gilgamesh, the hymn was studied and copied alongside it for centuries. Researchers believe it was composed by a single author, though their identity remains unknown. Hymn of Babylon pieced together after 2,100 years — but how?A lost classic of Mesopotamian literature has largely been reconstructed by scholars, who recovered fragments of 30 ancient clay tablets — Times Culture (@timesculture) July 2, 2025
The Irish Sun
02-07-2025
- Science
- The Irish Sun
AI deciphers hymn on 4,000-year-old clay tablet to unlock mystery of ancient city of Babylon
AN ANCIENT hymn lost for 4,000 years on a Babylonian tablet has finally been deciphered using artificial intelligence (AI). Advances in technology made the discovery possible in a fraction of the time, according to a new Advertisement 5 Babylonian texts were composed in cuneiform, the oldest form of writing, on clay tablets Credit: Anmar A. Fadhil and Enrique Jiménez 5 Researchers believe children would have studied the hymn, which is comprised of 250 lines of text, at school Credit: Anmar A. Fadhil and Enrique Jiménez 5 Roughly 100 lines of the hymn's ending are still missing or mutilated, according to the study Credit: Anmar A. Fadhil and Enrique Jiménez Without AI, it would have taken decades to decode. The text, inscribed on an ancient tablet, is from Babylon, Mesopotamia - once the largest city in the world in 2000 BCE. Babylonian texts were composed in cuneiform, the oldest form of writing, on clay tablets. But they have only survived in fragments, meaning their messages are hard to decipher. Advertisement After digitising a selection of ancient texts, researchers at the University of Baghdad and Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU) of Munich, uncovered an ancient hymn they believe Babylon residents would have sung. "Using our AI-supported platform, we managed to identify 30 other manuscripts that belong to the rediscovered hymn—a process that would formerly have taken decades," said Enrique Jiménez, professor of Ancient Near Eastern Literatures at LMU's Institute of Assyriology. Although parts of these texts were missing, scholars were still able to completely decipher the hymn of praise. "It's a fascinating hymn that describes Babylon in all its majesty and gives insights into the lives of its inhabitants, male and female," added Jiménez. Advertisement Most read in Science Exclusive Researchers believe children would have studied the hymn, which is comprised of 250 lines of text, at school. Numerous copies of the hymn have been found inscribed on clay tablets from the era. "The hymn was copied by children at school. It's unusual that such a popular text in its day was unknown to us before now," said Jiménez. "It was written by a Babylonian who wanted to praise his city. Advertisement "The author describes the buildings in the city, but also how the waters of the Euphrates bring the spring and green the fields. "This is all the more spectacular as surviving Mesopotamian literature is sparing in its descriptions of natural phenomena." Excerpt from the ancient hymn Here are some lines from the newly discovered hymn of praise: "The Euphrates is her river - established by wise lord Nudimmud - "It quenches the lea, saturates the canebrake, "Disgorges its waters into lagoon and sea, "Its fields burgeon with herbs and flowers, "Its meadows, in brilliant bloom, sprout barley, "From which, gathered, sheaves are stacked, "Herds and flocks lie on verdant pastures, "Wealth and splendour - what befit mankind - "Are bestowed, multiplied, and regally granted." The ruins of the ancient city of Babylon, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are located some 85 km south of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad. Beyond the city and its pastures, the hymn also reveals new details about the lives of women in Babylon. Advertisement Women had roles as priestesses, which were described as being particularly virtuous. They were praised in the hymn for their devotion and discretion. Priestesses were famously celibate, and were among the professions established to to keep the population's birth rate under control. Their "partners", mentioned in the hymn, are understood to be the gods they are devoted to. Advertisement The hymn also offers insights into the melding of different cultures in the early urban society. For example, the inhabitants are described as being respectful to foreigners. Read more on the Irish Sun While researchers have uncovered unprecedented detail about ancient Babylon, there are more secrets to uncover. Roughly 100 lines of the hymn's ending are still missing or mutilated, according to the study, so it is difficult to decipher what they might have contained. Advertisement 5 Beyond the city and its pastures, the hymn also reveals new details about the lives of women in Babylon Credit: Anmar A. Fadhil and Enrique Jiménez 5 The ruins of the ancient city of Babylon, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are located some 85 km south of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad Credit: Getty
