Explore our archives database and discover more than 8,000 years of history.
The Madain Project is a very unique resource for the study of history and archaeology of three major Abrahamic Faiths. The Madain Project presents the material evidence without the influence of the religious beliefs.
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Explore Our GlossaryHerculaneum, a Roman town near Pompeii, met a similar fate when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 CE, preserving its well-preserved ruins beneath layers of volcanic debris until their discovery and subsequent excavation in the 18th century. Explore Herculaneum Ruins
A collection of architectural features "works" in Arabia dating back several thousand years, were first discovered by Western explorers in the 1920s CE. The “old men” are what the local Bedouin call the ancient inhabitants of the area. Explore Works of the Old Men
Theban Mapping Project
There is evidence of human activity in northeastern Africa since the Middle Pleistocene Period. By the Middle and Upper Paleolithic, between 90,000 to 10,000 years ago, there was a gradual movement of hunter-gatherer populations into the prehistoric Nile Valley and the drying lake and savannah regions of the Eastern Sahara precipitated by climatic changes. Traces of these early peoples survive in the forms of stone tools and rock carvings on the higher terraces along the Nile (including the western Theban plateau) and in the oases. As the nomadic hunter-gatherers came to settle along the edges of the Nile Valley, a transition to a settled lifestyle dependent on agriculture took place.
Altar of the Augustan Peace, an iconic ancient Roman monument, stands as a testament to Augustus' vision of peace and prosperity for the Roman Empire, showcasing intricate reliefs and symbolizing an era of cultural and political transformation.
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In the Hebrew Bible, Beersheba is mentioned as a place where Abraham's covenant with Abimelech took place. In Islam, Beersheba, known as "Bir as-Saba" in Arabic, is believed to be a place where the Prophet Abraham and his son Ishmael resided for a time.
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The Buhen Fortress, strategically positioned along the Nile River in ancient Nubia, served as a significant Egyptian military installation, safeguarding trade routes and asserting control over the southern territories during the era of the New Kingdom.
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The archaeological site of Hattusa, Anatolia's most significant archaeological sites, in Turkey unveils the captivating remnants of an ancient Hittite capital, offering a window into the sophisticated civilization that thrived in Anatolia over three millennia ago.
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Renowned for its extraordinary ancient Nabatean rock-cut architecture with intricately carved facades and inscriptions, the Madain Saleh or Hegra dates back to the 1st century CE when this Nabatean settlement was a crucial trading hub along the incense route.
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Perched atop a rocky hill in the heart of Athens, this monumental citadel boasts several architectural marvels, most notably the Parthenon, a temple dedicated to the goddess Athena, Erechtheion temple, the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, and the Propylaea.
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The Pergamon museum is home to three of the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin’s most impressive and extensive collection of ancient artifacts and architectural treasures: the Antikensammlung, the Vorderasiatisches Museum, and the Museum für Islamische Kunst.
Explore ExhibitionsWho built the first Ishtar Gate?
The ishtar gate was constructed during the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar II in the sixth century BCE. Adorned with vibrant blue-glazed tiles depicting awe-inspiring dragons and divine beings, the Ishtar Gate served as the southern entrance to the ancient city of Babylon, acting as both a symbol of the city's power and a magnificent homage to the goddess Ishtar, the Babylonian deity of love and war.
The gate itself served as the northern entrance to Babylon and was dedicated to the Babylonian goddess Ishtar, the deity of love, fertility, and war. It was not just a functional gateway but also a symbolic passage into the heart of Babylon, meant to awe and inspire all who entered.
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