Die Ausgrabungen der Universität von Pennsylvania im Bêl-Tempel zu Nippur

In this spoken account the author invites listeners on a brief journey across the ancient alluvial plain once known as Sumer and Akkad, the heart of what the Bible calls Babylon. Drawing on more than a decade of fieldwork, he outlines the painstaking excavations of the Bêl temple at Nippur, linking the crumbling bricks to the prophetic verses of Isaiah and Jeremiah. The narrative balances scholarly detail—such as the stratified layers uncovered and the fifty‑six illustrations—with a vivid sense of place that brings the desert‑scarred landscape to life.

The second half of the talk contrasts the former lushness of the region with its present ruin, describing blocked irrigation canals, towering earthen dikes, and the ghostly remnants of once‑thriving cities. Listeners will hear anecdotes about the German Oriental Society’s earlier digs, the impact of modern railways, and the personal reflections of a veteran Assyriologist. The result is an engaging portrait of a civilization that once flourished, now spoken of through both ancient tablets and the echoing words of scripture.