Was the Garden of Eden a Real Place? | Ancient Origins Members Site

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML+RDFa 1.0//EN" "http://www.w3.org/MarkUp/DTD/xhtml-rdfa-1.dtd"> <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" version="XHTML+RDFa 1.0" dir="ltr" xmlns:og="http://ogp.me/ns#" xmlns:article="http://ogp.me/ns/article#" xmlns:book="http://ogp.me/ns/book#" xmlns:profile="http://ogp.me/ns/profile#" xmlns:video="http://ogp.me/ns/video#" xmlns:product="http://ogp.me/ns/product#" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/terms/" xmlns:foaf="http://xmlns.com/foaf/0.1/" xmlns:rdfs="http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#" xmlns:sioc="http://rdfs.org/sioc/ns#" xmlns:sioct="http://rdfs.org/sioc/types#" xmlns:skos="http://www.w3.org/2004/02/skos/core#" xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#"> <head profile="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml/vocab"> <link rel="manifest" href="/manifest.json"> <script type="text/javascript" async src="https://adncdnend.azureedge.net/adn-hb/ADN_GoogleCMP.js"></script> <script src="https://cdn.onesignal.com/sdks/OneSignalSDK.js" async=""></script> <script> var OneSignal = window.OneSignal || []; OneSignal.push(function() { OneSignal.init({ appId: "106e64d4-2d26-4765-8738-e289398247d8", }); }); </script> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="57x57" href="/apple-icon-57x57.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="60x60" href="/apple-icon-60x60.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="72x72" href="/apple-icon-72x72.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="76x76" href="/apple-icon-76x76.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="114x114" href="/apple-icon-114x114.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="120x120" href="/apple-icon-120x120.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="144x144" href="/apple-icon-144x144.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="152x152" href="/apple-icon-152x152.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="180x180" href="/apple-icon-180x180.png"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="192x192" href="/android-icon-192x192.png"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="32x32" href="/favicon-32x32.png"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="96x96" href="/favicon-96x96.png"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="16x16" href="/favicon-16x16.png"> <meta name="msapplication-TileColor" content="#ffffff"> <meta name="msapplication-TileImage" content="/ms-icon-144x144.png"> <meta name="theme-color" content="#ffffff"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"> <meta name="MobileOptimized" content="width" /> <meta name="HandheldFriendly" content="true" />  <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="//www.google-analytics.com" /> <link rel="preconnect" href="//www.google-analytics.com" /> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="//stats.g.doubleclick.net" /> <link rel="preconnect" href="//stats.g.doubleclick.net" /> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="https://members.ancient-origins.net/sites/default/files/favicon_0.ico" type="image/vnd.microsoft.icon" /> <meta name="title" content="Ancient Origins Members site" /> <meta name="description" content="Mention the Garden of Eden to a group of friends and you are likely to get as many suggestions on its true location as people you ask, plus a fair number who will deny that it was ever a real place at all." /> <meta name="keywords" content="Garden of Eden, Middle East, Tigris River, Euphrates River, Persian Gulf, mythology, legend, flood, Noah, god, Sumerian, tablets" /> <style type='text/css'>body {background: ##112946;}</style> <link rel="canonical" href="https://members.ancient-origins.net/articles/was-garden-eden-real-place" /> <link rel="shortlink" href="https://members.ancient-origins.net/node/163" /> <meta property="og:site_name" content="Ancient Origins Members Site" /> <meta property="og:type" content="article" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://members.ancient-origins.net/articles/was-garden-eden-real-place" /> <meta property="og:title" content="Was the Garden of Eden a Real Place?" /> <meta property="og:image:url" content="https://members.ancient-origins.net/sites/default/files/garden-of-eden_0.jpg" /> <meta property="og:image:secure_url" content="https://members.ancient-origins.net/sites/default/files/garden-of-eden_0.jpg" /> <meta property="og:image:type" content="image/jpeg" /> <meta property="og:image:width" content="1200" /> <meta property="og:image:height" content="630" /> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image" /> <meta name="twitter:creator" content="@ancientorigins" /> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Was the Garden of Eden a Real Place?" /> <meta name="twitter:url" content="https://members.ancient-origins.net/articles/was-garden-eden-real-place" /> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Mention the Garden of Eden to a group of friends and you are likely to get as many suggestions on its true location as people you ask, plus a fair number who will deny that it was ever a real place" /> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://members.ancient-origins.net/sites/default/files/garden-of-eden_0.jpg" /> <meta name="twitter:image:width" content="1200" /> <meta name="twitter:image:height" content="630" /> <meta name="robots" content="index, follow" /> <title>Was the Garden of Eden a Real Place? | Ancient Origins Members Site</title> <link rel="shortcut icon" type="image/x-icon" href="/sites/all/themes/illusion/images/fav.ico">  <link href='https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Lato:100,300,400,700,900,100italic,300italic,400italic' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css'> <link rel="preload" as="font" href="/sites/all/themes/illusion/fonts/fontello.eot?20521014" type="font/eot" crossorigin="anonymous"> <link rel="preload" as="font" href="/sites/all/themes/illusion/fonts/fontello.svg?20521014" type="font/svg" crossorigin="anonymous"> <link rel="preload" as="font" href="/sites/all/themes/illusion/fonts/fontello.ttf?20521014" type="font/ttf" crossorigin="anonymous"> <link rel="preload" as="font" href="/sites/all/themes/illusion/fonts/fontello.woff" type="font/woff?20521014" crossorigin="anonymous"> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://members.ancient-origins.net/sites/default/files/advagg_css/css__15CunyAwudR25CeiSJyuEFieGvSfon0tQNDSYfzgBhU__HPhMDE8qGrEGsw99O1ppVeifv9zwaWxuOrsSaa-DHKA__Q2wrTRWj848Vmm3kpOVuh5RPSn0fDGeoyen0yealBpc.css" media="all" /> <style type="text/css" media="all"> /* <![CDATA[ */ .field-name-field-members-newsletter,#edit-profile-offer-register,.field-name-profile-sendy-subscribed,#edit-profile-magazine-register{display:none !important;} .field-name-field-members-newsletter,.field-name-profile-sendy-subscribed,.field-name-profile-activetrail-subscribed,.field-name-field-activecampaign-id{display:none !important;} /* ]]> */ </style> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://members.ancient-origins.net/sites/default/files/advagg_css/css__NDB5M_sqxX-V7_LBMFxArrBnjPZNp34PflLCUO3CipU__jPYeShLxyTInUewIyo3hGpiEinJQI2Tq1lfyJ3h-qSs__Q2wrTRWj848Vmm3kpOVuh5RPSn0fDGeoyen0yealBpc.css" media="all" /> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://members.ancient-origins.net/sites/default/files/advagg_js/js__reJXJoHtLmqL8-_DVPX3BSe-ntpuTbftbW81SE08wRo__rQaVI3heYo2BXUV133Ia4mgKj3R-xkDs52mhHfLT3rY__Q2wrTRWj848Vmm3kpOVuh5RPSn0fDGeoyen0yealBpc.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://members.ancient-origins.net/sites/default/files/advagg_js/js__ZyeOaiFuDejQQbhUV7yg7atYZnj4WLfH77o0scv4068__jeShjS1-sEwOx4dbB-NSBsCnxWfNslS1Nkgx4CZngGA__Q2wrTRWj848Vmm3kpOVuh5RPSn0fDGeoyen0yealBpc.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://members.ancient-origins.net/sites/default/files/advagg_js/js__STsNgDfPDtQL2nD0wOuYM3Na_W37VwDHwIHy8e9wjeg__8JT9FdtAFBrHMy_u3JmTs2dbnIvXSqvBog2kGJ4wkdw__Q2wrTRWj848Vmm3kpOVuh5RPSn0fDGeoyen0yealBpc.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://members.ancient-origins.net/sites/default/files/advagg_js/js__OyIzdVIX5KSKssG4ggKyy1InY37eR7rdT5O3HUsRY3I__sgK5l9n5mDPT-w4t6rZ5FfWQTIn1Q5fAEqvatl-npgs__Q2wrTRWj848Vmm3kpOVuh5RPSn0fDGeoyen0yealBpc.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://members.ancient-origins.net/sites/default/files/advagg_js/js__dTRSuW27RiJte-z_L4Px_rno5dZsdWKiU3HtuBiTSmc__1heMEGpuuHZnihe04BOr3X2vIc8bRMaEUwDqgCjyFsM__Q2wrTRWj848Vmm3kpOVuh5RPSn0fDGeoyen0yealBpc.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> <![CDATA[//><!]]> </script> <script type="text/javascript"> <![CDATA[//><!]]> </script> <script type='text/javascript' src='//conceivesaucerfalcon.com/e0/b9/73/e0b9736c84a8e864c5488d9b30d9342b.js'></script> <script async>(function(s,u,m,o,j,v){j=u.createElement(m);v=u.getElementsByTagName(m)[0];j.async=1;j.src=o;j.dataset.sumoSiteId='eac766f4d1c074c69a9b636328887daf7a5910bdc430d88520558c18ec656ffb';v.parentNode.insertBefore(j,v)})(window,document,'script','//load.sumome.com/');</script> <style> </style>  <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-M45EG92788"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-M45EG92788'); </script> <script async data-id="6468654994" id="chatling-embed-script" type="text/javascript" src="https://chatling.ai/js/embed.js"></script>  <script> !function(e,t,n,s,u,a){e.twq||(s=e.twq=function(){s.exe?s.exe.apply(s,arguments):s.queue.push(arguments); },s.version='1.1',s.queue=[],u=t.createElement(n),u.async=!0,u.src='https://static.ads-twitter.com/uwt.js', a=t.getElementsByTagName(n)[0],a.parentNode.insertBefore(u,a))}(window,document,'script'); twq('config','o0c3n'); </script>   <script> var _paq = window._paq = window._paq || []; /* tracker methods like "setCustomDimension" should be called before "trackPageView" */ _paq.push(['trackPageView']); _paq.push(['enableLinkTracking']); (function() { var u="//www.ancient-origins.net/matomo/"; _paq.push(['setTrackerUrl', u+'matomo.php']); _paq.push(['setSiteId', '2']); var d=document, g=d.createElement('script'), s=d.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; g.async=true; g.src=u+'matomo.js'; s.parentNode.insertBefore(g,s); })(); </script>  </head> <body class="sticky_menu html not-front not-logged-in no-sidebars page-node page-node- page-node-163 node-type-blog i18n-en html not-front not-logged-in no-sidebars page-node page-node- page-node-163 node-type-blog i18n-en anonymous-user " > <div id="skip-link"> <a href="#main-content" class="element-invisible element-focusable">Skip to main content</a> </div>  <button id="open_side_menu" class="icon_wrap_size_2 circle color_black active"> <i class="icon-menu"></i> </button> <div id="side_menu"> <header class="m_bottom_30 d_table w_full">  <div class="d_table_cell half_column v_align_m"> <a href="index.html"> <img src="/images/logo_side.png" alt=""> </a> </div>  <div class="d_table_cell half_column v_align_m t_align_r"> <button class="icon_wrap_size_2 circle color_grey_light_2 d_inline_m" id="close_side_menu"> <i class="icon-cancel"></i> </button> </div> </header> <hr class="divider_type_4 m_bottom_20">  <form role="search" class="m_bottom_20 relative type_2"> <input type="text" placeholder="Search" class="r_corners fw_light bg_light w_full"> <button class="color_grey_light color_purple_hover tr_all"> <i class="icon-search"></i> </button> </form> <hr class="divider_type_4 m_bottom_25">  <nav> <div id="block-menu-menu-side-menu" class="block block-menu"> <div class="content"> <ul class="menu"><li class="first collapsed"><a href="/" title="">Home</a></li> <li class="expanded"><a href="/pages_about" title="">Pages</a><ul class="menu"><li class="first leaf"><a href="/pages_about" title="">About Us</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/pages_faq" title="">FAQ</a></li> <li class="last leaf"><a href="/pages_contact" title="">Contact us</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="last expanded"><a href="/portfolio_classic_1_column" title="">Portfolio</a><ul class="menu"><li class="first expanded"><a href="/portfolio_classic_1_column" title="">Classic</a><ul class="menu"><li class="first leaf"><a href="/portfolio_classic_1_column" title="">1 column</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/portfolio_classic_2_columns" title="">2 columns</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/portfolio_classic_2_columns_rsidebar" title="">2 columns with right sidebar</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/portfolio_classic_3_columns" title="">3 columns</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/portfolio_classic_3_columns_lsidebar" title="">3 columns with left sidebar</a></li> <li class="last leaf"><a href="/portfolio_classic_4_columns" title="">4 columns</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="expanded"><a href="/portfolio_sortable_t_2_columns" title="">Sortable grid with text</a><ul class="menu"><li class="first leaf"><a href="/portfolio_sortable_t_2_columns" title="">2 columns</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/portfolio_sortable_t_2_columns_rsidebar" title="">2 columns with right sidebar</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/portfolio_sortable_t_3_columns" title="">3 columns</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/portfolio_sortable_t_3_columns_lsidebar" title="">3 columns with left sidebar</a></li> <li class="last leaf"><a href="/portfolio_sortable_t_4_columns" title="">4 columns</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="expanded"><a href="/portfolio_sortable_wt_2_columns" title="">Sortable grid without text</a><ul class="menu"><li class="first leaf"><a href="/portfolio_sortable_wt_2_columns" title="">2 columns</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/portfolio_sortable_wt_2_columns_rsidebar" title="">2 columns with right sidebar</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/portfolio_sortable_wt_3_columns" title="">3 columns</a></li> <li class="leaf"><a href="/portfolio_sortable_wt_3_columns_lsidebar" title="">3 columns with left sidebar</a></li> <li class="last leaf"><a href="/portfolio_sortable_wt_4_columns" title="">4 columns</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="last collapsed"><a href="/portfolio_masonry_2_columns" title="">Sortable masonry</a></li> </ul></li> </ul> </div> </div> </nav> </div> <div class="boxed_layout bg_light">  <header role="banner" class="relative type_2 header_4"> <span class="gradient_line"></span>  <section class="header_bottom_part type_3 bg_light"> <div class="container">  <div class="d_table w_full d_xs_block t_xs_align_c"> <div class="col-lg-4 col-md-4 col-sm-4 d_table_cell d_xs_block p_xs_hr_0 v_align_m f_none m_xs_bottom_20"> <button id="menu_button" class="r_corners tr_all color_blue db_centered m_bottom_20 d_none d_xs_block"> <i class="icon-menu"></i> </button> <a href="/" class="d_inline_m" id="logo-link" title="Home" rel="home"> <img src="https://members.ancient-origins.net/sites/default/files/Ancient-Origins-Premium-2.jpg" alt="Home"> </a> </div> <div class="col-lg-8 col-md-6 col-sm-8 d_table_cell d_xs_block p_xs_hr_0 v_align_m f_none t_align_r t_xs_align_c"> <div id="block-block-69" class="block block-block"> <div class="content"> <ul class="hr_list d_inline_b social_icons m_bottom_8"> <li class="m_right_8"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ancientoriginsweb" class="color_grey_light facebook circle icon_wrap_size_1 d_block"><i class="icon-facebook-1"></i></a></li> <li class="m_right_8"><a href="https://twitter.com/ancientorigins" class="color_grey_light twitter circle icon_wrap_size_1 d_block"><i class="icon-twitter-1"></i></a></li> <li class="m_right_8"><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/ancientorigins/" class="color_grey_light pinterest circle icon_wrap_size_1 d_block"><i class="icon-pinterest"></i></a></li> <li class="m_right_8"><a href="https://www.tumblr.com/blog/ancientorigins" class="color_grey_light tumblr circle icon_wrap_size_1 d_block"><i class="icon-tumblr"></i></a></li> <li class="m_right_8"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCblsdi4UwxXHG8jVLnZBNUQ" class="color_grey_light youtube circle icon_wrap_size_1 d_block"><i class="icon-youtube-play"></i></a></li>  </ul> <div class="switch_language f_right"> </div> <br> <ul class="hr_list fs_small color_grey_light d_inline_b"> <li class="m_right_20 f_xs_none m_xs_right_0 m_xs_bottom_5" style="display:none;"> <span class="circle icon_wrap_size_1 d_inline_m m_right_8"><i class="icon-phone-1"></i></span>+353 (0) 876087916 </li> <li class="m_right_20 f_xs_none m_xs_right_0 m_xs_bottom_5" style="display:none;"> <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#98f5fdf5fafdeaebd8f9f6fbf1fdf6ecb5f7eaf1fff1f6ebb6f6fdec" class="color_grey_light d_inline_b color_black_hover"><span class="circle icon_wrap_size_1 d_inline_m m_right_8"><i class="icon-mail-alt"></i></span><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a5c8c0c8c7c0d7d6e5c4cbc6ccc0cbd188cad7ccc2cccbd68bcbc0d1">[email protected]</span></a> </li> <li class="m_right_20 f_xs_none m_xs_right_0 m_xs_bottom_5> <b><span style="color:#470606"><a href='http://www.ancient-origins.net' class="color_grey_light d_inline_b color_black_hover"><span style="color:#470606">Go to Ancient Origins</span></a></span></b> </li>  </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <hr class="d_xs_none"> <section class="sticky_part bg_light"> <div class="container clearfix relative">  <nav role="navigation" class="d_inline_m f_left f_xs_none d_xs_none m_xs_right_0 m_right_15 m_sm_right_5 t_align_l m_xs_bottom_15"> <div id="block-system-main-menu" class="block block-system block-menu"> <div class="content"> <ul class="hr_list main_menu fw_light"><li class="container3d relative f_xs_none m_xs_bottom_5"><a href="/pages_about" title="" class="color_dark fs_large relative r_xs_corners parent_link">About</a><ul class="sub_menu r_xs_corners bg_light vr_list tr_all tr_xs_none trf_xs_none bs_xs_none d_xs_none"><li class="container3d relative"><a href="/pages_about" title="Who we Are" class="d_block color_dark relative">About us</a></li> <li class="container3d relative"><a href="http://www.ancient-origins.net/who-we-are-005254" title="Meet the Team" class="d_block color_dark relative">Meet the Team</a></li> <li class="container3d relative"><a href="/membership-packages" title="Membership Packages" class="d_block color_dark relative">Membership Packages</a></li> <li class="container3d relative"><a href="/ancient-origins-premium-membership-sales" title="" class="d_block color_dark relative">Why Become a Member</a></li> <li class="container3d relative"><a href="/archived-expeditions" title="" class="d_block color_dark relative child_link">Expeditions</a><ul class="sub_menu r_xs_corners bg_light vr_list tr_all tr_xs_none trf_xs_none bs_xs_none d_xs_none"><li class="container3d relative"><a href="/upcoming-expeditions" title="" class="d_block color_dark relative">Upcoming Expeditions</a></li> <li class="container3d relative"><a href="/archived-expeditions" title="" class="d_block color_dark relative">Old Expeditions</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="container3d relative"><a href="/our-sponsors" class="d_block color_dark relative">Our Sponsors</a></li> <li class="container3d relative"><a href="/all-testimonials" title="What our members say about us" class="d_block color_dark relative">Testimonials</a></li> <li class="container3d relative"><a href="http://www.ancient-origins.net" title="" class="d_block color_dark relative">Main Ancient Origins Site</a></li> <li class="container3d relative"><a href="/pages_faq" title="" class="d_block color_dark relative">FAQ</a></li> <li class="container3d relative"><a href="/pages_contact" title="" class="d_block color_dark relative">Contact</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="container3d relative f_xs_none m_xs_bottom_5"><a href="/articles-free-list" title="" class="color_dark fs_large relative r_xs_corners parent_link">FREE Content</a><ul class="sub_menu r_xs_corners bg_light vr_list tr_all tr_xs_none trf_xs_none bs_xs_none d_xs_none"><li class="container3d relative"><a href="/articles-free-list" title="" class="d_block color_dark relative">Articles</a></li> <li class="container3d relative"><a href="/webinars-free-list" title="" class="d_block color_dark relative">Webinars</a></li> <li class="container3d relative"><a href="/talk-to-an-expert-free-list" title="" class="d_block color_dark relative">Expert Interviews</a></li> <li class="container3d relative"><a href="http://www.ancient-origins.net/Ancient-Origins-Magazine/Issue37" title="" class="d_block color_dark relative">Magazine</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="container3d relative f_xs_none m_xs_bottom_5"><a href="/magazines" title="This is our brand new Ancient Origins Magazine" class="color_dark fs_large relative r_xs_corners">Magazine</a></li> <li class="container3d relative f_xs_none m_xs_bottom_5"><a href="/" title="" class="color_dark fs_large relative r_xs_corners parent_link">Articles</a><ul class="sub_menu r_xs_corners bg_light vr_list tr_all tr_xs_none trf_xs_none bs_xs_none d_xs_none"><li class="container3d relative"><a href="/mythology-mystery" title="Mythology & Mystery Articles" class="d_block color_dark relative">Mythology & Mystery</a></li> <li class="container3d relative"><a href="/history-tradition" title="History & Tradition Articles" class="d_block color_dark relative">History & Tradition</a></li> <li class="container3d relative"><a href="/archaeology-science" title="Archaeology & Science Articles" class="d_block color_dark relative">Archaeology & Science</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="container3d relative f_xs_none m_xs_bottom_5"><a href="/ebooks" title="Download Ebooks (Members Only)" class="color_dark fs_large relative r_xs_corners parent_link">Ebooks</a><ul class="sub_menu r_xs_corners bg_light vr_list tr_all tr_xs_none trf_xs_none bs_xs_none d_xs_none"><li class="container3d relative"><a href="/ebooks-bronze" title="Bronze Level Ebooks" class="d_block color_dark relative">Bronze Level Ebooks</a></li> <li class="container3d relative"><a href="/ebooks-silver" title="Silver Level Ebooks" class="d_block color_dark relative">SCRIBE Level Ebooks</a></li> <li class="container3d relative"><a href="/ebooks-gold" title="Gold Level Ebooks" class="d_block color_dark relative">SCHOLAR & SAGE Level Ebooks</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="container3d relative f_xs_none m_xs_bottom_5"><a href="/webinars" title="Members only Webinars" class="color_dark fs_large relative r_xs_corners parent_link">Webinars</a><ul class="sub_menu r_xs_corners bg_light vr_list tr_all tr_xs_none trf_xs_none bs_xs_none d_xs_none"><li class="container3d relative"><a href="/how-attend-webinar-or-talk-expert-chat" class="d_block color_dark relative">How to Attend a Webinar or Talk with an Expert Chat</a></li> <li class="container3d relative"><a href="/upcoming-webinars" title="" class="d_block color_dark relative">Upcoming Webinars</a></li> <li class="container3d relative"><a href="/upcoming-talk-to-an-expert" title="" class="d_block color_dark relative">Upcoming Talk to an Expert</a></li> <li class="container3d relative"><a href="/webinars-list" title="" class="d_block color_dark relative">Webinars Archive</a></li> <li class="container3d relative"><a href="/talk-to-an-expert-list" title="" class="d_block color_dark relative">Talk to an Expert Archive</a></li> <li class="container3d relative"><a href="/videos" title="" class="d_block color_dark relative">Videos</a></li> <li class="container3d relative"><a href="/podcasts" title="" class="d_block color_dark relative">Podcasts</a></li> </ul></li> <li class="container3d relative f_xs_none m_xs_bottom_5"><a href="/member-discounts" title="Member Discounts" class="color_dark fs_large relative r_xs_corners">Discounts</a></li> <li class="container3d relative f_xs_none m_xs_bottom_5"><a href="https://members.ancient-origins.net/user/login" title="" class="color_dark fs_large relative r_xs_corners">Login</a></li> <li class="container3d relative f_xs_none m_xs_bottom_5"><a href="/user/register" title="" class="color_dark fs_large relative r_xs_corners parent_link">Become a Member</a><ul class="sub_menu r_xs_corners bg_light vr_list tr_all tr_xs_none trf_xs_none bs_xs_none d_xs_none"><li class="container3d relative"><a href="/membership-packages" title="" class="d_block color_dark relative">Member Packages</a></li> <li class="container3d relative"><a href="/user/register" title="" class="d_block color_dark relative">Register Now</a></li> </ul></li> </ul> </div> </div> </nav> <div class="f_right m_top_8 f_xs_none">  <div class="relative d_inline_m search_buttons d_xs_none"> <button class="icon_wrap_size_2 circle color_grey_light_2 tr_all color_purple_hover"><i class="icon-cancel"></i></button> <button class="icon_wrap_size_2 active circle color_grey_light_2 tr_all color_purple_hover"><i class="icon-search"></i></button> </div>  <div role="search" class="bg_light animate_ vc_child type_4 t_align_r fw_light tr_all trf_xs_none">  <form class="search-form search_form" role="search" onsubmit="if(this.search_block_form.value=='Search'){ alert('Please enter a search'); return false; }" action="/search/node/" method="post" id="search-block-form" accept-charset="UTF-8"><div><div class="container-inline"> <h2 class="element-invisible">Search form</h2> <div class="form-item form-type-textfield form-item-search-block-form"> <label class="element-invisible" for="edit-search-block-form--2">Search this site </label> <input title="Enter the terms you wish to search for." class="custom-search-box form-control form-text" placeholder="Search" onblur="if (this.value == '') {this.value = 'Search';}" onfocus="if (this.value == 'Search') {this.value = '';}" type="text" id="edit-search-block-form--2" name="search_block_form" value="Search" size="15" maxlength="128" /> </div> <div class="form-item form-type-select form-item-custom-search-types"> <label for="edit-custom-search-types">Search for </label> <select class="custom-search-selector custom-search-types form-select" id="edit-custom-search-types" name="custom_search_types"><option value="c-all" selected="selected">-Any-</option><option value="c-blog">Article entry</option><option value="c-page">Basic page</option><option value="c-main_services">Ebooks - Bronze</option><option value="c-ebooks_gold">Ebooks - Gold</option><option value="c-ebooks_silver">Ebooks - Silver</option><option value="c-faqs">FAQs</option><option value="c-forum">Forum topic</option><option value="c-gold_webinars"></option><option value="c-silver_webinars"></option><option value="c-testimonial">Testimonial</option></select> </div> <div class="form-actions form-wrapper" id="edit-actions"><input type="submit" id="edit-submit" name="op" value="Search" class="form-submit" /></div><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script><script>jQuery(document).ready(function($){$("#edit-profile-activetrail-subscribed-und").change(function(){ $("#edit-profile-sendy-subscribed-und").prop("checked", $(this).prop("checked")); });});</script><script>jQuery(document).ready(function($){$("#edit-profile-aoac-subscribed-und").change(function(){ $("#edit-profile-activetrail-subscribed-und").prop("checked", $(this).prop("checked")); $("#edit-profile-sendy-subscribed-und").prop("checked", $(this).prop("checked")); });});</script><style>#edit-profile-aoservice-token{display:none;}</style><script>jQuery(document).ready(function($){$("#edit-profile-sendy-subscribed-und").change(function(){ $("#edit-profile-activetrail-subscribed-und").prop("checked", $(this).prop("checked")); });});</script><input type="hidden" name="form_build_id" value="form-WD99J6nOj1jGeq1libDNxdbmoUMVQx1cgMnfqzwoQ6I" /> <input type="hidden" name="form_id" value="search_block_form" /> </div> </div></form> </div> </div> </div> </section> </header> <script>jQuery('ul.main_menu').addClass('type_2');</script>   <section class="t_align_c relative wrapper pd-100" id="title-section"> <div class = "bg-image-bn"><img src="https://members.ancient-origins.net/sites/default/files/Illustration_5.jpg"></div> <div class="container"> <h1 class="color_light fw_light m_bottom_5">Was the Garden of Eden a Real Place?</h1>  <ul class="hr_list d_inline_m breadcrumbs"><li class="m_right_8 f_xs_none"><a href="/">Home</a><i class="icon-angle-right d_inline_m color_grey_light_3 fs_small"></i></li><li class="m_right_8 f_xs_none"><a href="/blog">Blogs</a><i class="icon-angle-right d_inline_m color_grey_light_3 fs_small"></i></li><li class="m_right_8 f_xs_none"><a href="/blog/77">David Millar's blog</a><i class="icon-angle-right d_inline_m color_grey_light_3 fs_small"></i></li><li><a class="color_grey_light_3 d_inline_m">Was the Garden of Eden a Real Place?</a></li></ul> </div> </section> <section class="top_content"> <div id="block-block-112" class="block block-block"> <div class="content"> <p class="center" style="text-align:center;"><a href="https://shop.ancient-origins.net/collections/ancient-games" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.ancient-origins.net/sites/default/files/Banner-Main-Site-01-1024.jpg?itok=4ZzNTKBL" width="1024" height="154" alt="Ancient Origins Store" style="max-width: 100%; width: 1024px; height: auto;"></a></p> </div> </div> </section> <div class="section_offset counter"> <div class="container"> <div id="block-system-main" class="block block-system"> <div class="content"> <section class="section_offset tax-full-width"> <div class="container">  <article class="clearfix m_bottom_45 m_xs_bottom_30 blog_post" id="blog-post-163">  <div class="blog_side_container w_sm_auto f_left f_xs_none m_xs_bottom_5">  <a href="/articles/was-garden-eden-real-place" class="d_block d_xs_inline_b m_xs_right_5 blog_side_button r_corners bg_color_purple color_light not_hover t_align_c blog_date m_bottom_5"> <span class="d_block day_of_the_month fw_light">11</span> <span class="d_block tt_uppercase fs_ex_small">Feb 2016</span> </a>  <a href="/articles/was-garden-eden-real-place" class="d_block d_xs_inline_b m_xs_right_5 blog_side_button vc_child t_align_c color_purple bg_color_purple_hover color_light_hover bg_light_3 r_corners m_bottom_5 tr_all"> <i class="icon-picture-1 d_inline_m"></i> </a>  <div class="addthis_toolbox addthis_floating_style addthis_counter_style"> <a class="addthis_button_facebook_like" fb:like:layout="box_count"></a> <a class="addthis_button_tweet" tw:count="vertical"></a> <a class="addthis_button_google_plusone" g:plusone:size="tall"></a> <a class="addthis_counter"></a> </div> </div>  <div class="print-article-wrapper not-print-this"><a href="javascript:;" class="print-article" onclick="jQuery('#blog-post-163').printThis();">Print</a></div> <div class="bookmark-wrapper not-print-this"> <span class="flag-wrapper flag-bookmarks"><a href="/user/login?bookmark_login=1&destination=/?bookmark_login_nid=163" title="Add this post to your bookmarks" class="flag flag-bookmark" rel="nofollow">   </a><span class="flag-throbber"> </span></span> </div> <figure> <img src="https://members.ancient-origins.net/sites/default/files/garden-of-eden_0.jpg" alt="How Europeans saw the Garden of Eden in the Middle Ages. Painting by Lucas Cranach the Elder (1472-1553) " class="r_corners m_bottom_20"> <figcaption> <h3 class="fw_light color_dark">Was the Garden of Eden a Real Place?</h3> </figcaption> </figure> <ul class="dotted_list m_bottom_5 color_grey_light_2"> <li class="m_right_15 relative d_inline_m"> <i class="fs_small color_grey">By <span rel="sioc:has_creator"><a href="/users/david-millar" title="View user profile." rel="author" class="username" about="/users/david-millar" typeof="sioc:UserAccount" property="foaf:name" datatype="">David Millar</a></span></i> </li> <li class="m_right_15 relative d_inline_m category-style"> <i><a href="/articles/history-tradition">History & Tradition</a></i> </li> <li class="m_right_15 relative d_inline_m"> <a href="#" class="color_scheme_hover"> <i class="icon-chat-empty m_right_2 color_grey_light_2 tr_all"></i><i class="fs_medium color_grey tr_all">5</i> </a> </li> </ul> <p>Mention the Garden of Eden to a group of friends and you are likely to get as many suggestions on its true location as people you ask, plus a fair number who will deny that it was ever a real place at all. Places that have been claimed as the true whereabouts of mankind’s original home include numerous sites in Iraq and around the Persian Gulf, Bahrain, Iran, Anatolia, Armenia, Turkey, Jerusalem, east Africa – and even the Isle of Lewis, Scotland, and Jackson County, Missouri. And those are just the better known claims; there are literally hundreds.</p><p>Will we ever know for sure where it was, or even if it really existed? Given that most of the clues to the garden’s location come from ancient texts, will we ever find any new evidence to its whereabouts? As it turns out, remote sensing, archaeological and DNA studies have provided some compelling hints to its true location in recent years, and future work might well prove it once and for all.</p><h2>The Original Legend</h2><p>The Garden of Eden features in the creation stories of the Jewish, Christian and Muslim religions, being the place where Adam, the first man, and Eve, the first woman, were placed by God to live after their creation. The Book of Genesis, written around 500 BC, contains our main clues about its geographical location through a description of the rivers flowing through it and its proximity to a gold-mining area. Genesis 2:3 says: <em>‘Now a river flowed out of Eden to water the garden; from there it was separated into four headwaters. The name of the first is Pishon; it flows from the land of Havilah, where there is gold.[...] The name of the second river is Gihon; it flows around the whole land of Cush. The name of the third river is Tigris; it flows east of Assyria and the fourth river is the Euphrates.’</em></p><p>The Tigris and Euphrates are well known, they flow from Turkey through Iraq and into the Persian Gulf. But the Pishon and Gihon do not exist today – however science has given us a strong clue where the Pishon once was. In 1994 Dr Farouk El-Baz, Director of the Center for Remote Sensing at Boston University and a pioneering figure in remote sensing, used ground-penetrating radar images from the Space Shuttle to locate and trace the bed of an ancient river that flowed for about 600 miles (965 kilometers) through Saudi Arabia, ending in Kuwait where it became a broad watercourse three miles (almost five kilometers) wide.</p><p>This ‘Kuwait River’ as El Baz named it, also known as Wadi Al-Batin, is believed to have been flowing until around 2500-3000 BC and has its origins in Medina province in western Saudi Arabia in an area called Mahd adh Dhahab, also known as the Cradle of Gold, which has been the main gold-mining area in the Arabian Peninsula since at least 3000 BC. This lost river therefore appears to match well the biblical description of the river Pishon ‘flowing from the land of Havilah’, suggesting a probable northern Gulf location for the Garden of Eden, perhaps offshore modern Kuwait. The Gihon River however has not been unambiguously identified, but a strong contender is the Karun River which flows out of Iran to join the Pishon, Euphrates and Tigris just north of the Gulf.</p><p>When did all this happen? Two events help tie it down. The Pishon dried out around 4,500 years ago, so it must have been before then. Perhaps more importantly we know the northern Persian Gulf was largely a dry valley until around 10,000 to 8,000 years ago, so if the Garden existed beneath the present northern Gulf as we will see later it most probably did, then it must have been prior to this date.</p><p class="rtecenter"> </p><p class="rtecenter"><img alt="Geographical location of rivers mentioned in Genesis as flowing into the Garden of Eden, and the Garden's inferred location. " src="https://members.ancient-origins.net//sites/default/files/Garden-of-Eden-location.jpg" style="height:692px; width:977px" /></p><p class="rtecenter"><em>Geographical location of rivers mentioned in Genesis as flowing into the Garden of Eden, and the Garden's inferred location. Also shown are the earliest cities and the shoreline of the Persian Gulf as they existed at the time, around 8,000 years ago. Satellite image: Google Earth</em></p><ul><li><a href="http://www.ancient-origins.net/history-ancient-traditions/are-reclusive-shihuh-people-musandam-original-arabians-004399"><strong>Are the Reclusive Shihuh People of Musandam the Original Arabians?</strong></a></li><li><a href="http://www.ancient-origins.net/news-ancient-places-asia/there-truth-bedouin-legend-great-river-desert-003810"><strong>Is there truth to the Bedouin Legend of the Great River in the Desert?</strong></a></li></ul><h2>The Cultural Background</h2><p>So what do we know of the people who lived in the region of southern Iraq and northern Gulf at this time?</p> <br /><h5 class="not-print-this"><a href="https://members.ancient-origins.net/user/register">Become a member to read more</a> OR <a href="https://members.ancient-origins.net/user/login?destination=node/163">login here</a></h5> </article> </div> </section> <script> jQuery('ul.d_inline_m.fw_light.category-style a').addClass('color_purple'); </script> <script src="/sites/all/themes/illusion/js/addthis_widget.js"></script> </div> </div> <div id="block-block-108" class="block block-block"> <div class="content"> <p style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Ancient Origins Quotations" class="media-image" style="width: 1047px; height: 94px;" typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://members.ancient-origins.net/sites/default/files/quoteby_0.jpg" width="1047" height="94" /></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <hr class="divider_type_2">  <footer role="contentinfo" class="bg_light_3 ">   <section class="footer_top_part"> <div class="container relative"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-lg-6 col-md-6"> <div class="row">  <div class="col-lg-6 col-md-6 col-sm-6 m_bottom_20 m_sm_bottom_30"> </div>  <div class="col-lg-6 col-md-6 col-sm-6 m_bottom_20 m_sm_bottom_30"> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-lg-6 col-md-6"> <div class="row">  <div class="col-lg-6 col-md-6 col-sm-6 m_bottom_20 m_sm_bottom_30"> </div>  <div class="col-lg-6 col-md-6 col-sm-6 m_bottom_20 m_sm_bottom_30"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <hr class="m_bottom_45 divider_type_3 m_xs_bottom_30"> <div class="container"> <div class="row">  <div class="col-lg-4 col-md-4 col-sm-4 fw_light m_bottom_30"> <div id="block-block-3" class="block block-block"> <div class="content"> <h5 class="color_dark m_bottom_20">About Us in Short</h5> <p>The Ancient Origins Member Page brings you exclusive, quality content from well-known authors and experts not available anywhere else on the internet, free downloadable ebooks, live webinars, Talk to an Expert chat room, expedition updates, member discounts, and no distracting ads. Your involvement in the Members’ Site ensures continued production of exciting, fascinating, and intelligent content on our shared ancient origins.</p> </div> </div> </div>  <div class="col-lg-5 col-md-5 col-sm-5 m_bottom_30"> <div id="block-block-8" class="block block-block"> <div class="content"> <h5 class="color_dark m_bottom_20 fw_light">Contact Us</h5> <div class="row"> <ul class="col-lg-6 col-md-6 col-sm-6 fw_light w_break m_xs_bottom_8 m_bottom_30" style="display:none;"> <li class="m_bottom_8" style="display:none;"> <div class="d_inline_m icon_wrap_size_1 color_pink circle m_right_10"> <i class="icon-phone-1"></i> </div> +353 (08) 76087916 </li> <li class="m_bottom_8" style="white-space:nowrap; display: none;"> <div class="d_inline_m icon_wrap_size_1 color_pink circle m_right_10"> <i class="icon-mail-alt"></i> </div> <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e68b838b84839495a68788858f838892cb89948f818f8895c8888392" class="color_black color_pink_hover"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d6bbb3bbb4b3a4a596b7b8b5bfb3b8a2fbb9a4bfb1bfb8a5f8b8b3a2">[email protected]</span></a> </li>  </ul> <ul class="col-lg-6 col-md-6 col-sm-6 m_xs_bottom_30 vr_list_type_5"> <li class="m_bottom_8 fw_light"> <div class="f_left icon_wrap_size_1 color_pink circle"> <i class="icon-location"></i> </div> 1 Riverwood, Timolin, Kildare R14CK30, Ireland </li>  </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div>  <div class="col-lg-3 col-md-3 col-sm-3 m_bottom_30 m_xs_bottom_20"> </div> </div> </div> </section>  <section class="footer_bottom_part t_align_c color_grey bg_light_4 fw_light"> <div id="block-block-2" class="block block-block"> <div class="content"> <p class="rtecenter"> <script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script><script type="text/javascript"> <![CDATA[// ><!]]> </script> <img alt="Payment Methods" src="https://members.ancient-origins.net//sites/default/files/cards-accepted.gif" style="height:30px; width:400px" /><br /><img alt="Secure Payments with Ancient Origins Members" src="https://members.ancient-origins.net//sites/default/files/pci-compliant-recurly_0.png" style="height:123px; width:400px" /><br />© 2015-2023 Stella Novus. All Rights Reserved. <a href="https://members.ancient-origins.net/membership-terms-service" style="line-height: 20.8px; text-align: center;">Terms of Services</a> - <a href="https://members.ancient-origins.net/privacy-policy" style="line-height: 20.8px; text-align: center;">Privacy Policy</a></p> </div> </div> </section> </footer> </div> <script> jQuery(document).ready(function() { }); </script><script type="text/javascript"> <![CDATA[//><!]]> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://members.ancient-origins.net/sites/default/files/advagg_js/js__QERVh_Fzf6p9iHQYCmUr1O2jFHk11e-Q95akflX9HwI__JSeQmfvtfZjPwtnI4bIh5Z2ePRm2PQCEu653byvDXfU__Q2wrTRWj848Vmm3kpOVuh5RPSn0fDGeoyen0yealBpc.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> atOptions = { 'key' : 'a2fcacff46797bba0c73efb4ec160ca6', 'format' : 'iframe', 'height' : 90, 'width' : 728, 'params' : {} }; </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//conceivesaucerfalcon.com/a2fcacff46797bba0c73efb4ec160ca6/invoke.js"></script> <style>body {background: #112946;}</style>  <button id="back_to_top" class="circle icon_wrap_size_2 color_blue_hover color_grey_light_4 tr_all d_md_none"> <i class="icon-angle-up fs_large"></i> </button> <script src="/sites/all/themes/illusion/js/addclass.js?snv8v7"></script>  <script src="/sites/all/themes/illusion/plugins/layerslider/js/greensock.js?snv8v7"></script> <script src="/sites/all/themes/illusion/plugins/layerslider/js/layerslider.transitions.js?snv8v7"></script> <script src="/sites/all/themes/illusion/plugins/layerslider/js/layerslider.kreaturamedia.jquery.js?snv8v7"></script> <script src="/sites/all/themes/illusion/plugins/jquery.appear.js?snv8v7"></script> <script src="/sites/all/themes/illusion/plugins/afterresize.min.js?snv8v7"></script> <script src="/sites/all/themes/illusion/plugins/isotope.pkgd.min.js?snv8v7"></script> <script src="/sites/all/themes/illusion/plugins/jquery.easing.1.3.js?snv8v7"></script> <script src="/sites/all/themes/illusion/plugins/jquery.easytabs.min.js?snv8v7"></script> <script src="/sites/all/themes/illusion/plugins/jackbox/js/jackbox-packed.min.js?snv8v7"></script> <script src="/sites/all/themes/illusion/plugins/twitter/jquery.tweet.min.js?snv8v7"></script> <script src="/sites/all/themes/illusion/plugins/owl-carousel/owl.carousel.min.js?snv8v7"></script> <script src="/sites/all/themes/illusion/plugins/flickr.js?snv8v7"></script> <script src="/sites/all/themes/illusion/plugins/colorpicker/colorpicker.js?snv8v7"></script> <script src="/sites/all/themes/illusion/js/styleswitcher.js?snv8v7"></script>  <script src="/sites/all/themes/illusion/plugins/jquery.plugin.min.js?snv8v7"></script> <script src="/sites/all/themes/illusion/plugins/jquery.countdown.min.js?snv8v7"></script>  <script src="/sites/all/themes/illusion/plugins/flexslider/jquery.flexslider-min.js?snv8v7"></script>  <script src="/sites/all/themes/illusion/js/theme.plugins.js?snv8v7"></script> <script src="/sites/all/themes/illusion/js/theme.js?snv8v7"></script> <script src="/sites/all/themes/illusion/js/printThis.js?snv8v7"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> (function(e,t,o,n,p,r,i){e.visitorGlobalObjectAlias=n;e[e.visitorGlobalObjectAlias]=e[e.visitorGlobalObjectAlias]||function(){(e[e.visitorGlobalObjectAlias].q=e[e.visitorGlobalObjectAlias].q||[]).push(arguments)};e[e.visitorGlobalObjectAlias].l=(new Date).getTime();r=t.createElement("script");r.src=o;r.async=true;i=t.getElementsByTagName("script")[0];i.parentNode.insertBefore(r,i)})(window,document,"https://diffuser-cdn.app-us1.com/diffuser/diffuser.js","vgo"); vgo('setAccount', '68385552'); vgo('setTrackByDefault', true); vgo('process'); </script> <script type="text/javascript"> var AddShoppersWidgetOptions = { 'loadCss': false, 'pushResponse': false }; (!function(){ var t=document.createElement("script"); t.type="text/javascript", t.async=!0, t.id="AddShoppers", t.src="https://shop.pe/widget/widget_async.js#659d291cb7150cff80fa5c55", document.getElementsByTagName("head")[0].appendChild(t) }()); </script> <script type="text/javascript"> atOptions = { 'key' : 'a2fcacff46797bba0c73efb4ec160ca6', 'format' : 'iframe', 'height' : 90, 'width' : 728, 'params' : {} }; </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//conceivesaucerfalcon.com/a2fcacff46797bba0c73efb4ec160ca6/invoke.js"></script> </body> </html>

CINXE.COM

Was the Garden of Eden a Real Place? | Ancient Origins Members Site