Bagdad, Babylon, Ninive

A seasoned explorer sets out from Stockholm in the midst of the First World War, eager to walk the ancient pathways of Mesopotamia rather than the battle‑scarred front lines of Europe. Along the dusty routes toward Mosul and Baghdad he encounters marching troops, the distant thrum of artillery and the uneasy coexistence of German batteries under Ottoman command. Yet his gaze remains fixed on the ruins that have long whispered of empires—spires of Babylon, the broken walls of Nineveh, the forgotten temples of Assyria.

The narrative weaves together vivid travel sketches with observations of a region caught in the turmoil of war, offering listeners a rare glimpse of early‑twentieth‑century archaeology seen through a soldier’s eyes. Historical footnotes on Swedish and Turkish politics enrich the portrait without overwhelming the personal journey. As the expedition unfolds, the listener feels the weight of centuries pressing against the immediacy of conflict, making each step across the ancient landscape a meditation on both past glory and present uncertainty.