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Iraq

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The Parthian Temple of Mrn is one of thirteen temples that are a part of the Hatra complex. Hatra is one of three areas in Iraq that is a World Heritage Site. Photo courtesy of the US Department of Defense/ Staff Sgt. JoAnn Makinano.

The Parthian Temple of Mrn is one of thirteen temples that are a part of the Hatra complex. Hatra is one of three areas in Iraq that is a World Heritage Site. Photo courtesy of the US Department of Defense/ Staff Sgt. JoAnn Makinano.

Another view of the Hatra archeological site. Hatra is one of three areas in Iraq that is a World Heritage Site. Photo courtesy of the US Department of Defense/ Staff Sgt. JoAnn Makinano.

Another view of the Hatra archeological site. Hatra is one of three areas in Iraq that is a World Heritage Site. Photo courtesy of the US Department of Defense/ Staff Sgt. JoAnn Makinano.

The remains of several temples and the ancient walls that surrounded them can be seen from atop the highest temple in the center of the ancient city of Hatra. Photo courtesy of the US Department of Defense.

The remains of several temples and the ancient walls that surrounded them can be seen from atop the highest temple in the center of the ancient city of Hatra. Photo courtesy of the US Department of Defense.

Aerial view of the ruins of the ancient city of Hatra, located approximately 290 km (180 mi) northwest of Baghdad. Hatra was a strongly fortified caravan city and capital of the small Kingdom of Hatra, located between the Parthian and Roman Empires. Hatra flourished during the 2nd century A.D., but was destroyed and deserted in the 3rd century. Its impressive ruins were discovered in the 19th century. Photo courtesy of the US Department of Defense / Sgt. 1st Class Wendy Butts.

Aerial view of the ruins of the ancient city of Hatra, located approximately 290 km (180 mi) northwest of Baghdad. Hatra was a strongly fortified caravan city and capital of the small Kingdom of Hatra, located between the Parthian and Roman Empires. Hatra flourished during the 2nd century A.D., but was destroyed and deserted in the 3rd century. Its impressive ruins were discovered in the 19th century. Photo courtesy of the US Department of Defense / Sgt. 1st Class Wendy Butts.

The Great Ziggurat of Ur stands after 4,000 years. Construction on the ziggurat was completed in the 21st century B.C. in the ancient Sumerian city of Ur near present-day Nasiriyah on the Euphrates River, about 370 km (225 mi) southeast of Baghdad. The ziggurat was part of a temple complex that served as an administrative center for the city, and that was also a shrine of the moon god Nanna, the patron deity of Ur. The site was extensively excavated between 1922 to 1934. Part of the facade of the lower stage and the ceremonial stairway were reconstructed by the regime of Saddam Hussein. Photo courtesy of the US Air Force / Tech. Sgt. Christopher Marasky.

The Great Ziggurat of Ur stands after 4,000 years. Construction on the ziggurat was completed in the 21st century B.C. in the ancient Sumerian city of Ur near present-day Nasiriyah on the Euphrates River, about 370 km (225 mi) southeast of Baghdad. The ziggurat was part of a temple complex that served as an administrative center for the city, and that was also a shrine of the moon god Nanna, the patron deity of Ur. The site was extensively excavated between 1922 to 1934. Part of the facade of the lower stage and the ceremonial stairway were reconstructed by the regime of Saddam Hussein. Photo courtesy of the US Air Force / Tech. Sgt. Christopher Marasky.

US Marines visiting the site of the rebuilt ruins of Babylon. Photo courtesy of the US Marine Corps/ Gunnery Sergeant Daniel O'Connell.

US Marines visiting the site of the rebuilt ruins of Babylon. Photo courtesy of the US Marine Corps/ Gunnery Sergeant Daniel O'Connell.

View from Saddam Hussein's former summer palace showing the ruins of ancient Babylon in the background. Photo courtesy of the US Navy/ Arlo K. Abrahamson.

View from Saddam Hussein's former summer palace showing the ruins of ancient Babylon in the background. Photo courtesy of the US Navy/ Arlo K. Abrahamson.

Much of the sediment clouding the water in this image of the Persian Gulf is from the Shatt al Arab River, which enters the Gulf in the north along the Iran-Iraq border. The river drains the combined waters of the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers of Iraq, and the Karun River of Iran. Though other rivers empty into the Persian Gulf, most of its fresh water comes from the Shatt al Arab. On the right edge of the image is the narrow Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea, part of the northern Indian Ocean. The Persian Gulf is flanked to the west by wedge-shaped Kuwait and by Saudi Arabia with its vast tan-, pink-, and white-sand deserts; to the south by Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman; and to the east by the dry mountains of Iran. The wetlands and rivers of Mesopotamia border the Gulf on the north. The red dots mark gas flares in oil fields of Iran and Iraq. Image courtesy of NASA.

Much of the sediment clouding the water in this image of the Persian Gulf is from the Shatt al Arab River, which enters the Gulf in the north along the Iran-Iraq border. The river drains the combined waters of the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers of Iraq, and the Karun River of Iran. Though other rivers empty into the Persian Gulf, most of its fresh water comes from the Shatt al Arab. On the right edge of the image is the narrow Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea, part of the northern Indian Ocean. The Persian Gulf is flanked to the west by wedge-shaped Kuwait and by Saudi Arabia with its vast tan-, pink-, and white-sand deserts; to the south by Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman; and to the east by the dry mountains of Iran. The wetlands and rivers of Mesopotamia border the Gulf on the north. The red dots mark gas flares in oil fields of Iran and Iraq. Image courtesy of NASA.

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