Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Dilmun - The Ancient Garden of Eden
Anyone with the mildest interest in history cannot help but be curious about the civilisa-
tion that left behind 85,000 burial mounds that lump, curdle and honeycomb 5% of the is-
land's landmass. Standing atop a burial mound at A'Ali, it is easy to imagine that the
people responsible for such sophisticated care of their dead were equally sophisticated in
matters of life. And, indeed, such was the case.
Although Bahrain has a Stone Age history that dates back to 5000 BC, and evidence of
settlement from 10,000 BC, it has recently been confirmed by archaeologists as the seat of
the lost and illustrious empire of Dilmun, the influence of which spread as far north as
modern Kuwait and as far inland as Al-Hasa Oasis in eastern Saudi Arabia.The Dilmun
civilisation lasted from 3200 to 330 BC, during which time, according to Sumerian, Baby-
lonian and Assyrian inscriptions, the island's residents were not only commercially active,
plying the busy Gulf waterways, but were also attentive to matters at home. The proper
burial of the sick, handicapped and young in elaborate chambers, together with their chat-
tels of ceramic, glass and beads (meticulously displayed at the Bahrain National Mu-
seum), suggest a civilisation of considerable social and economic development, assisted
by the perpetual abundance of 'sweet', or potable, water on the island.
Little wonder, then, that Dilmun (which means 'noble') was often referred to as the
fabled Garden of Eden and described as 'paradise' in the Epic of Gilgamesh (the world's
oldest poetic saga). Dilmun's economic success was due in no small part to the trading of
Omani copper, which was measured using the internationally recognised 'Dilmun Stand-
ard' (the weights can be seen in the Bahrain National Museum).
When the copper trade declined, in around 1800 BC, Dilmun's strength declined with
it, leaving the island vulnerable to the predatory interests of the surrounding big powers.
By 600 BC Dilmun was absorbed entirely by the empire of Babylon and was subsequently
ceded to Greece. The Greeks called the island 'Tylos', a name it kept for nearly a thou-
sand years (from 330 BC to AD622) despite Greek rule enduring for less than 100 years.
Little distinguishes the history of Bahrain from the rest of the Gulf thereafter until the
16th century.
Pearls & the Founding of Modern Bahrain
Take a stroll along the 'pearling path' in Muharraq and you'll quickly learn the signific-
ance of the pearl trade to Bahrain. The presence of sweet-water springs under the sea,
mingling with the brackish waters of the shallow oyster beds, contributes to the peculiar
colour and lustre of Bahrain's pearls, and it was upon the value of these pearls that
Bahrain grew into one of the most important trading posts in the region.
 
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