 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
150
longer be able to divert the river against the city by surrounding the inner city with three circuits of walls».
65 In one of the most intriguing legends, Herodotus describes how Cyrus the Great successfully invaded
Babylon in 539 B.C.
by diverting the Euphrates River above the city into the desert and marching his
troops into the city along the dry riverbed.
THE PARTIAL CHRONOLOGY OF CONFLICT OVER WATER IN THE ANCIENT MIDEAST
3000 B.C. - The Flood
An ancient Sumerian legend recounts the deeds of the diety Ea, who punishes humanity for its sins by
inflicting the Earth with a six-day storm. The Sumerian myth parallels the Biblical account of Noah and the
deluge, although some details differ.
2500 . .-Lagash-Umma Border Dispute
The dispute over the «Gu'edena» (edge of paradise) region begins. Uriama, King of Lagash from 2450
to 2400 B.C., diverts water from this region to boundary canals, drying up
boundary ditches to deprive
Umma of water. His son II cuts off the water supply to Girsu, a city in Umma.
1790 B.C.— Code of Hammurabi for the State of Sumer
Hammurabi lists several laws pertaining to irrigation that provide for possible negligence of irrigation
systems and water theft.
1720-1684 B.C. - Abi-Eshuh v. Iluma-Ilum
A grandson of Hammurabi, Abish or Abi-Eshuh, dams the Tigris to prevent the retreat of rebels led by
Iluma-Ilum, who declared independence of Babylon. This failed attempt marks the decline of the
Sumerians who had reached their apex under Hammurabi.
1200 B.C.-Moses and the Parting of the Red Sea
When Moses and the retreating Jews find themselves trapped between the pharaoh's army and the Red
Sea, Moses miracu, lously parts the waters of the Red Sea, allowing his followers to escape. The waters
close behind them and cut off the Egyptians.
720-705 B.C.—Sargon II Destroys Armenian Waterworks
After a successful campaign against the Haldians of Armenia, Sargon II of Assyria destroys their
intricate irrigation network and floods their land.
705-682 B.C. -Sennacherib and the Fall of Babylon
In quelling rebellious Assyrians in 695 B.C., Sennacherib razes Babylon and diverts one of the principal
irrigation canals so that its waters wash over the ruins.
Sennacherib and Hezekiah
As recounted in Chronicles 32:3, Hezekiah digs a well outside the walls of Jerusalem and uses a conduit
to bring in
water. Preparing for a possible siege by Sennacherib, he cuts off water supplies outside of the
city walls, and Jerusalem survives the attack.
681-669 B.C. — Esarhaddon and the Siege of Tyre
Esarhaddon, an Assyrian, refers to an earlier period when gods, angered by insolent mortals, create a
destructive flood. According to inscriptions recorded during his reign, Esarhaddon besieges Tyre, cutting
off food and water.
669-626 B.C.-Assurbanipal, Siege of Tyre, Drying of Wells
Assurbanipal's inscriptions also refer to a siege against Tyre, although scholars attribute it to