Gardens of Semiramis

Tal Sheikh Hamad or Dor Katlimo as it was called in cuneiform tablets found 32 years ago by an archeological expedition, is an ancient Assyrian city dating back to the 4th millennium BC. During prospecting operations which began in 1978 in cooperation between the German mission working in the Khabour headed by Prof. Hartmut Kuna and the directorate of the antiquities of Deir al-Zour headed by Mr. Asad Mahmood; two architectural facilities were discovered.  The first one was named (F) and the second (G).  (F) facility is composed of three sections in one of its facades there is a paved area leading to the chambers. In the eastern side there are a number of rooms which are centered around a middle room, taking the function of an inner courtyard for a residential wing.  in the same wing there is a room which can be accessed through another room, it is certain that it had a formal function because of important findings confirming their distinctiveness such as murals consisting of lotus flowers and a group of trees in the form of a forest.  In addition to drawings of cuneiform writing and geometric patterns dating back to an oldest stage as the archaeological researcher Dr. Tagreed Hashemi refers to in her book, “human manifestation of the times the history and civilization of Mesopotamia the Syrian island”.  It can be inferred from the architectural function through the murals engravings “Rolij”(garden house),  the only thing reminding us of Semiramis hanging gardens. Yet, this building is a hundred years older than Semiramis therefore it is likely that this architectural building was used as a summer house for the Assyrian ruler of Dor Katlimo.  Since, the construction scheme can be compared with Assyrian architecture as it has so many characteristics and is known to the Assyrians as (Great house).

Concerning the other building G,  which has a large room in the center with a length of 30m surrounded by a number of smaller rooms that had been used from the eighth century BC until the end of the Assyrians period in the sixth century BC. The main room in the center, by a 6.20 Sqm is one of the public buildings,  but is surrounded by rooms belonging to private buildings.  In the southeast corner of the building, were discovered a corridor or a defensive tower. The rooms ruins prompts to mind Assyrians palaces.

During excavation work more than 600 inscription were found, dating back to the mid-thirteenth century BC. The majority of these inscriptions are commercial contracts,  administrative texts and letters sent to the king, some informations about Assyrians expeditions were also found.

The tablets found at the site bear seals which are traditionally used by senior officials. The seals themselves are works of arts, bearing images of winged bulls and winged gods. Eighteen panels with an Aramaic writing were found, which are rare documents since only 44 were found in all parts of the world. Between the site findings, were a small goblin statue made of bronze, with a 17 cm length,  taking the form of a winged man with a head of mythological monsters.

Haifaa Mafalani