Tower and Town, May 2022 (view the full edition)Editorial: Mesopotamia III trust that you will find elements of wonder in this issue which is a follow up to Mesopotamia (May 2021). Take for example the fascinating article on Babylonian banking by Nasrat Adamo in which he charts the rise of two financial dynasties, and the insightful text on Syriac prayer amulets by the scholar Erica Hunter. In addition, those of you who are interested in early 20th century British history in Mesopotamia will not be disappointed. Ghanim Alsheikh has given us again another rare gem, the story of the tragedy of the British nurses in WWI Basra in southern Mesopotamia. The emergence of a new nation is a fascinating topic; and in the case of Iraq the circumstances were exceptional indeed. Rich in heritage and natural resources, Iraq was constrained for some time by the impositions of the dying age of empire. Even so, many Iraqis were determined to write their own script. This is illustrated in the excellent article by the historian of modern art Nada Shabout, which I have complemented by my piece, outlining the local, regional, and international contexts. Moreover, the cover image depicts a scene when Iraqi modernism was at its zenith. I would like to express my gratitude to the authors who imaginatively supported this Tower & Town endeavour; plus the local contributors, and the T&T team. Raik Jarjis |