This is a story set in an age of gods, goddesses, demons, monsters, and the ancient peoples of Mesopotamia.
The people of Mesopotamia believed that every aspect of their world was governed by supernatural forces. Hundreds of gods and goddesses were thought to rule over nature, daily life, and human destiny—from rivers, trees, and storms to agriculture, bread-making, pottery, and craftsmanship.
Each city had its own guardian deity, together with a divine family believed to protect the people and determine the city’s fate. Magnificent temples were built at the heart of these cities as sacred homes for the gods. These temples were not only places of worship but also important centres of political, economic, and social life.
According to Mesopotamian belief, demons were created by the gods. They were often portrayed with human bodies and the heads or features of animals and birds. Some were feared as bringers of disease, chaos, and misfortune, while others were believed to offer protection against evil forces.
Monsters belonged to another realm of Mesopotamian mythology. Formed from combinations of humans, animals, birds, and mythical creatures, they represented both the dangers of the unknown and the extraordinary power of the divine world.
The name Mesopotamia comes from the Greek expression meaning “the land between two rivers.” It refers to the ancient region situated between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Bordered by the Zagros Mountains to the northeast and the Arabian Plateau to the southeast, the region largely corresponds to modern-day Iraq, while also extending into parts of present-day Türkiye, Syria, and Iran.
Known in Arabic as Al-Jazira, meaning “the island,” this fertile land formed a major part of what later became known as the Fertile Crescent. Nourished by the Tigris and Euphrates, it became the birthplace of some of humanity’s earliest cities, writing systems, laws, religions, and civilizations.
In this ancient world, the boundary between humanity and the divine was never absolute. Gods shaped destiny, demons moved through the shadows, monsters guarded forbidden realms, and every river, storm, dream, and disaster carried a deeper meaning.
This is the world in which our story begins.
