George Heath-Whyte

Why did Hammurabi write his law code?

(Music: Song of the Water, Al Andalus Ensemble)

I love this ~4,500-year-old letter from someone called Babi.

“I really began to worry! Why are you and Ibbi-ilum quarrelling at home? Live as one!”

Ancient attempt at couples therapy by a friend? Who knows, but Babi immediately follows the advice with a request — of all things — for sesame oil

Mud brick with a cuneiform inscription near the middle and two paw prints on the left side.

Since we all really FELT that ancient pooch who wouldn’t drop the ball, I figured I may as well tell you a bit about dogs in ancient Mesopotamia.

They leave traces everywhere, from bricks to burials to proverbs. Here’s a 4,000-year-old paw print of a pooch on a brick from ancient Ur

A photo of the third millennium BC Standard of Ur, showing two lines of people walking along, leading animals, and carrying large bags on their backs.

The Great Twitter Exodus of 2024, colourised.