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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
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Texas Senate passes bill requiring public schools to use B.C./A.D. system in classrooms
The Brief The Senate passed a bill that would require school districts to use "Before Christ" and "Anno Domini" when referencing historical dates. Historians have used "Before Common Era" and "Common Era" as a more inclusive solution. The bill must still get through the Texas House. AUSTIN, Texas - A Texas Senate bill would force public schools to use materials that use the terms "Before Christ" and "Anno Domini" when referring to historical periods of time. Senate Bill 2617 passed the upper chamber 23-8 Monday and now heads to the House where it faces a short deadline with just two weeks left in the session. The bill requires school districts to create a policy that states teachers must use B.C. and A.D. during instruction. Additionally, districts cannot use or purchase materials that reference the other way historians reference time – "Before Common Era" and "Common Era." While both B.C. and A.D., and B.C.E. and C.E. refer to the same timeline. The use of B.C.E. and C.E. is considered more inclusive to all religions, while B.C. and A.D. are rooted in Christianity. Anno Domini means "in the year of our lord." The use of B.C. and A.D. is commonly used to track the years before and after Jesus Christ's birth. The timeframe was used as the basis for the Gregorian calendar, which is still in use today. Before Common Era and Common Era are also based on the dates established by the Gregorian calendar. The shift back to B.C. and A.D. isn't the only push to add more Christianity in schools. On Wednesday, the House is set to hear a bill that would require the Ten Commandments to be placed in schools and one that would carve out time for students to pray and read the Bible or other religious texts during the school day. The Source Information on Senate Bill 2617 comes from the Texas Legislature. Information on the history and differences between B.C. and B.C.E. comes from an article from Information on the Ten Commandments bill and the prayer in schools bill comes from previous FOX 7 reporting and the House calendar.
