The city of Rabat, Morocco, hosted the proceedings of the first Athirat Journal Symposium, organized by the Hassan bin Mohammed Center for Ancient Arabian Peninsula Studies, under the theme: “Dating Systems and Calendars in Ancient Arabia.” Held from February 25-26, 2025, the event featured a wide participation of international researchers in this field. The College of Arts at the University of Baghdad was represented by Assistant Professor Laith Majid Hussein, Ph.D., a faculty member in the Department of Archaeology, who presented a research paper titled: “How Mesopotamian Calendars Influenced Arab Calendars.”
His paper aimed to highlight the pioneering role of Mesopotamian lunar and solar calendar systems and their influence on the surrounding regions. The symposium witnessed a wide range of discussions, with researchers addressing various aspects of dating systems and calendars used in the Arabian Peninsula before Islam, including a detailed study of regional calendars, an analysis of dating formulas, and an examination of ancient Arabic inscriptions, with a particular focus on South and North Arabian as well as Nabataean inscriptions. The symposium also explored the synchronization of these systems with those found in Mesopotamia, Egypt, and the Greco-Roman world, in addition to various methodological approaches to understanding and reconstructing these calendars.
One of the key conclusions emphasized the significance of Mesopotamian civilization in influencing pre-Islamic Arab chronology, providing substantial evidence of cultural continuity and exchange across ancient societies. The diversity of calendars used in different regions of the Arabian Peninsula reflected their varied cultural, economic, and religious contexts, while also demonstrating the broader interconnections between civilizations. The discussions also underscored how these systems were adapted to meet local needs—whether agricultural, religious, or trade-related—while remaining deeply intertwined with the wider ancient world. Furthermore, the symposium highlighted the profound role played by Mesopotamian religious, intellectual, and scientific advancements in shaping the chronological frameworks of neighboring cultures.
At the conclusion of the international symposium, certificates of appreciation and participation were awarded to the researchers and contributors in recognition of their valuable scholarly contributions.
