The Epic Of Gilgamesh - written by a Middle Eastern scholar 2,500 years before the birth of Christ - commemorated the life of the ruler of the city of Uruk, from which Iraq gets its name.
Now, a German-led expedition has discovered what is thought to be the entire city of Uruk - including, where the Euphrates once flowed, the last resting place of its famous King.

BBC News 29 April, 2003

{not a word, not one word, about the recent difficulties in that ancient land. as though there were/are two earths, two BBC's, one with war, and one without, and I somehow get both of them on my computer.}

the Epic of Gilgamesh itself can be read here: