Under the patronage of Prof. Baha Ibrahim Ensaf, Ph.D., President of the University of Baghdad, and the supervision of Prof. Ali Abdulameer Sajit, Ph.D., Dean of the College of Arts, alongside Assist. Prof. Anmar Abdulilah Fadel, Ph.D., Head of the Department of Archaeology, College of Arts at the University of Baghdad, in collaboration with the State Board of Antiquities and Heritage, held an international symposium. The event took place at the German Center for Archaeology and Assyriology on Wednesday, February 12, with the participation of faculty members, students, archaeology researchers, and scholars interested in ancient heritage.
Dean of the College of Arts, Prof. Ali Abdulameer Sajit, Ph.D., opened the symposium by welcoming the researchers and attendees, expressing his gratitude to the organizing committees for their efforts in preparing this international academic event.
The scientific sessions were chaired by Assist. Prof. Anmar Abdulilah Fadel, Ph.D., while translation services were provided by Assist. Prof. Haitham Kamel Aidan, Ph.D., from the Department of English, University of Baghdad.
First Session Speakers:
- Prof. Andrew George, Ph.D. (University of London) – “The Map of Babylon According to Cuneiform Sources.”
- Prof. Daniel Schwemer, Ph.D. (University of Würzburg) – “Between Babylon, Berlin, and Istanbul: Cuneiform Texts from the German Oriental Society’s Excavations of Babylon Preserved at the Istanbul Museum of the Ancient Near East.”
- Prof. Basima Jalil Abdul, Ph.D. (College of Arts, University of Baghdad) – “Achaemenid Texts from the Main Palace of Babylon.”
Second Session Speakers:
- Prof. Christine Clémence, Ph.D. (University of Münster) – “A Contextual Study of Neo-Babylonian Texts Discovered in the German Oriental Society’s Excavations.”
- Assist. Prof. Haider Abdulwahid Araibi, Ph.D. (University of Babylon) – “The Outskirts of Babylon: Archaeological Excavations in the City of Dilbat.”
- Prof. Jamie Novotny, Ph.D. (University of Munich) – “Revealing Babylon in the Era of Nebuchadnezzar II: A Revised Study of Royal Inscriptions.”
- Archaeologist Ammar Mohsen Aboud (State Board of Antiquities and Heritage) – “Restoration and Conservation of the Ishtar Gate and the Temple of Ninmakh in Babylon.”
- Prof. Enrique Jiménez, Ph.D. (University of Munich) in collaboration with Assist. Prof. Anmar Abdulilah, Ph.D. (University of Baghdad) – “A Newly Discovered Hymn in Praise of Babylon and Its People.”
Key Objectives of the Symposium:
The symposium sought to highlight recent excavations at the ancient city of Dilbat, which was administratively linked to Babylon, and to present the latest architectural and archaeological discoveries made by the University of Babylon’s Department of Archaeology. It also explored cuneiform texts unearthed in Babylon over the past century, whether through Iraqi or foreign excavations, as well as the city’s historical map, its boundaries according to cuneiform sources, and the changes it underwent over time.
Main Outcomes:
One of the symposium’s most significant outcomes was the presentation of a newly discovered literary text, unearthed during the University of Baghdad’s eighth excavation season at the ancient city of Sippar. The text narrates the grandeur of Babylon, its beauty, and the nature of its inhabitants. Additionally, the latest conservation efforts by the State Board of Antiquities and Heritage on the Ishtar Gate and the Temple of Ninmakh were showcased, demonstrating substantial progress in their reconstruction and preservation.
The symposium featured active discussions, with attendees engaging researchers in insightful exchanges. Participants emphasized the importance of continuing such scholarly gatherings to further explore Babylon’s rich archaeological heritage.
At the conclusion of the event, certificates of appreciation were awarded to the participating researchers and the organizing committees in recognition of their contributions to this international symposium.
