Title:MESOPOTAMIA - EXAMPLES OF ANCIENT ARCHITECTURE [Main Title]
Film Number:IWM 75
Other titles:
Summary: Ancient ruins, including Babylon and Ctesiphon, in Mesopotamia, 1918.
Description: The film opens with views of two sets of ruins, one with children playing. This is followed by close-ups, probably in both Babylon and Ctesiphon, of "carvings, depicting biblical incidents, hewn out of the solid rock by ancient workmen with their primitive implements, more than a thousand years ago". In fact this shows some fairly sophisticated Assyrian relief carvings made in about 750 BC. These show, among other items, a sun-symbol (with spread wings), and men hunting boar from the backs of elephants. Some British soldiers are in shot for part of the film.
Production Details: Ministry of Information (Production sponsor)
International Film Service (Production company)
Varges, Ariel L (Production individual)