A lecturer from our center participates in a scientific seminar With a kind invitation from the College of Basic Education/ University of Anbar, Dr. Saadi Ibrahim Al-Draji, a lecturer at the Center for the Revival of the Arab Scientific Heritage/ University of Baghdad, participated in the morning of Tuesday 31/10/2023 in the scientific seminar entitled “Modern History in the Abbasid and Ottoman Eras” with his research titled “Island Cities on the Euphrates River and their Heritage Features”. He spoke about how there are islands in the middle of the Euphrates River that are often called al-Hawaij (islands), plural of Hawijah. Fortified cities and villages were established on these islands, most notably Ana, Hadithah, Alawus and Jabah, connected to the mainland by bridges. Apart from the mentioned islands, there were many other islands of which only the ancient names have reached us. One of the characteristics of these islands is the similarity in their structure and formation, sometimes resembling each other in shape but differing in area and elevation. The most important of these islands is the island of Ana, which contained many diverse remnants from the Assyrian era. The island of Ana was visible before it was submerged by the waters of Haditha Dam, built on May 1, 1985 on the Euphrates. Ana could be seen from afar due to its elevation above the water level, especially its walls and towers built of stone, mudbrick and gypsum. The fortified island of Talbus (Tell Bish), mentioned in cuneiform inscriptions as Talbush or Talmush. Talbus Island is located 14 km southeast of `Ana. There is also the still densely populated island of Hadithah. Near Hadithah is Raban Island in Al-Huwayzan. Then the island of Al-Na’usah, mentioned by Baladhuri (d. 279H) when speaking about the conquest of the Jazira region during the time of Umar ibn Al-Khattab (may God be pleased with him).
