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

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

The Great Twitter Exodus of 2024, colourised.