Below, a map of Northern Mesopotamia in Neo-Assyrian times, circa 1000 BCE. Perhaps Bit-Adini on the Balih/Balich river south of Harran (Genesis' Haran where Abraham settled ?) is Eden in Tel-assar (Isa. 37:12) ? I have proposed that the Euphrates is Genesis' "river in Eden," Eden being derived ultimately from Sumerian edin meaning "steppe." 18th century BCE Mari, which lies just south of Terqa, has a mural showing two date palms guarded by fabulous winged beasts which I have proposed are what's behind the Cherubim in the garden of Eden who guarded its two trees (for the map cf. p. 160. map titled "The Aramaean and Neo-Hittite Kingdoms." Micheal Roaf. Cultural Atlas of Mesopotamia and the Ancient Near East. New York & Oxford. Facts on File. 1990. ISBN 0-8160-2218-6)
Below, 18th century BCE Mari on the Euphrates. Traces of irrigation canals for date palm orchards have been found in the vicinity of this ancient city which existed in Hammurabi's times and was sacked by him.
(for the map cf. p. 120. map titled "Hammurabi's Kingdom." [the purple shaded area] Micheal Roaf. Cultural Atlas of Mesopotamia and the Ancient Near East. New York & Oxford. Facts on File. 1990. ISBN 0-8160-2218-6)
Below, another map of the Neo-Assyrian period showing Bit-Adini, rendered as "Beth-Eden" by some scholars (The Balich river does not appear on this map). Note Beth-Eden's presence near the "Aramean Homelands" the very area a "wandering Aramean" called Jacob wandered from to become a mighty nation in Egypt. (for the map cf. p. 72. "Ashurbanipal II's Expedition to the Levant." James B. Pritchard, editor. The Harper Concise Atlas of the Bible. New York. HarperCollins Publishers. 1991. ISBN 0-06-270029-4)
