Page 182 - Dilmun 21

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Dilmun, Land o ١mmortality

A Presentation to embers o
Bahrain Historical & Archaeological Society

By Dr. ohammed A. A١khozai

BAHRAIN is a transliteration o an Arabic word? which means w SEAS.
his could be a description that signiies this archipelago laiyng to the east
cost o the Arabian Peninsula. ١t is two seas not because it is bordering two
bodies o water, as it is the case with some countries, but because o the
convergence or low o resh water rom the seabed that happens to be the
Arabian u‫ﺇ‬. his is a unique natural phenomenon where we ind resh
underground water springs lowing rom sources under the seabed. Hence
comes this description. Due to the abundance o these natural spirngs in the
sea? seamen and pealr ishers until recently knew where to locate these
resh water sources, What they did was to stop at these spirngs and dive with
goatskin bags and ill them with this vital liquid. Another device or technique
used, was utilizing a bamboo pipe to tap resh water to the surace o the sea.
hus? these seaarers did not have to break their voyage and call at potrs or
supply o resh water.

he major and larger island o this archipelago was also unique to its
surrounding o mainly arid and desetr land because it was partially etrile and
green land. Due to abundance o natural spirngs that irrigated date palm
groves and gardens? the island was turned into a kind o magic isle or
paradise. Its neighbors thought o it as a holy land that the deity has
designated a land o immortality? as we shall see.

his group o islands orms an integral patr o the mainland that stretches
rom southern esopotamia in the Notrh to man or agan in the South.
his whole area which is really the Eastern shore o the Arabian Peninsula
came to be known as Dilmun three thousands years Beore hrist. his
Dilmun though had a civilization o its own, it maintained contacts with other
civilizaitons to the Notrh and to South. Dilmun was on the cross roads to
esopotamia and the lndus Valley civilizations. o the Sumerian in the North.
we know o contacts with Dilmun.

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