Visible from miles away arose the crown jewel of Babylon’s cityscape, the Etemenanki, the symbol par excellence of the Mesopotamian city’s undeniable power. Dedicated to the supreme god Marduk, the ziggurat functioned for the Babylonians as the ultimate proof of their might and devotion toward the divine, while for others it symbolized the city’s arrogance. The massive structure firmly imprinted itself into the shared memory of Mesopotamia, the Middle East and even Europe for centuries to come. Unfortunately, age hasn’t been kind to the ziggurat, with nothing more than rubble remaining on the place where once the embodiment of Babylon’s universal aspirations stood. This article wishes to address the monument, its history, significance, and the problems encountered in researching the subject. 

In the second installment of his series on the Hellenistic Far East, Harald Blot examines the age of the Diodotids and Euthydemids, when the easternmost provinces of the Seleucid Empire gained independence and resisted subsequent attempts at reintegration.

As the modern age dawned in Iran at the end of the Qajar period, women’s education emerged as a central issue, despite heavy resistance from many quarters—ranging from institutions and religious authorities to families themselves. Nevertheless, a determined group of women (and men) pursued the advancement of Iranian society by publishing their criticisms in journals and establishing women’s schools during the twilight of the Qajar era. Join Elaheh Soleimannezhad as she examines this pivotal topic in understanding Iran’s transitional era from the Qajar dynasty to the early Pahlavi period.

When Michael Ventris deciphered Linear B, he sent shockwaves through the academic world by proving that it was the script of a Bronze Age Greek dialect. However, Ventris’ discovery was not a one-man effort. In fact, he built upon the work of another brilliant researcher who contributed significantly to the understanding of Linear B: Alice Kober.

As Middle Eastern Christianity became increasingly integrated into the Arabic-speaking Islamic world, Christian communities faced growing challenges in maintaining their religious practices, as traditional Christian languages declined and Arabic emerged as the primary vernacular. In response, figures such as Theodore Abū Qūrrah produced a substantial body of theological writings in Arabic, both for the spiritual edification of Middle Eastern Christians and to engage with critiques of Christian doctrine from Muslim and other interlocutors. Yohanna Musleh provides an analysis of the significance of this Arabic-speaking theologian, highlighting how he served as a vital bridge between contemporary Middle Eastern Christian communities and their ancient religious heritage.

Christianity, which originated in the Middle East, has remained deeply rooted among its diverse communities to this day, despite the rise and dominance of Islam. This enduring presence is reflected in the astonishingly beautiful traces preserved in surviving medieval bilingual Bible manuscripts, which Maxime Maleux explores in his latest contribution.

In her latest piece, Bakhtawar Jamil explores the origins, development, and splendour of Ottoman carpet weaving, which attracted not only audiences from across the Islamic world, but also from Europe.

Join Cemre Melis Yordamlı as she traces the last vestiges of the once vibrant Genoese presence in Istanbul.

This essay explores the journey of Persian tales across the Silk Roads and their transformation within India’s literary and cultural imagination. Opening with the story of Hatim Tai, the generous Arab hero whose legend found profound resonance in Indian ethical frameworks, the essay traces how narratives traveled alongside merchants, mystics, and migrants, becoming deeply embedded in subcontinental storytelling traditions.