Latin: wedge form. A system of writing developed in ancient Mesopotamia, and used by the Sumerian and later civilizations. Some ancient texts date as far back as 3000 BCE. Sumerians wrote cuneiform impressions on clay tablets, with a reed stylus. They then dried these tablets in the sun to obtain …

The art and practice of attempting to foretell or obtain knowledge concerning future events, the supernatural, or divine will. Divination frequently implies the use of characteristic tools of the trade, for example, foretelling events through interpretation of animal remains, shape of smoke columns, dice rolls, predictive cards, etc. Divination was …

A stepped tower, or recessed pyramid used in construction of Sumerian, Babylonian and Assyrian Temples. Such towers were frequently constructed from mud brick, a common building material of ancient Mesopotamia.

1750 BCE

A collection of 282 ancient laws used in governing the people of old Babylon. The Code of Hammurabi is one of the best known sources of ancient law text. The Code provides severe penalties for criminal behavior, but these penalties varied according to specific social class. Hammurabi's Code …

One of four important early Mesopotamia-era deities including An, Enlil, Enki and Ninhursaga. Enlil was the god of wind. Enlil was considered to be the very powerful. Followers believed that Enlil symbolized the just use of force. Like the wind, Enlil encompasses the dual characteristics of fertility and destructive force …

South-Central Mesopotamia- A capital city of ancient Mesopotamia established by Hammurabi. Babylon is known for its luxury and wealth. The Neo-Babylonian Empire, 612 BCE, is well known for its achievements, including the defeat of the Assyrian Empire, agricultural prominence, trade in textiles and metals, and renowned for the famous 'Hanging …