A compelling hypothesis suggests the legendary Garden of Eden may be submerged beneath the waters of the Persian Gulf, a theory drawing on advancements in satellite technology and ancient textual analysis to re-examine the biblical site's geographical location.
For centuries, the Garden of Eden has existed in the realm of myth and historical debate. However, recent archaeological research and sophisticated tools have reignited the inquiry into Eden's existence and precise location. This renewed interest is supported by novel satellite studies and re-evaluated interpretations of biblical geography. Prominent scholars, such as archaeologist Juris Zarins, propose that the region now submerged by the Persian Gulf was once the location of the Garden of Eden, a theory considered highly plausible by its proponents.
The biblical account in Genesis 2:10-14 describes a river flowing out of Eden that divides into four headwaters: the Tigris, Euphrates, Pishon, and Gihon. While the Tigris and Euphrates are identifiable, the Pishon and Gihon remain subjects of scholarly debate. Biblical archaeologist James Sauer suggests the Pishon might correspond to Wadi al-Batin, a dry river system identified through satellite imagery, revealing ancient riverbeds beneath desert sands. Zarins and other researchers associate the Gihon with Iran's Karun River.
This contemporary theory links the search for Eden to significant climatic shifts at the conclusion of the last Ice Age. Juris Zarins posits that rapid glacier melting led to a substantial rise in sea levels, inundating lands that were once fertile and are now submerged beneath the Persian Gulf. Satellite radar imagery has identified ancient river channels that once extended across central and southern Arabia, flowing into the gulf. If accurate, Eden would have been strategically situated at the confluence of these four rivers.
Further supporting the idea of a submerged landscape, research indicates that much of the Persian Gulf's floor was exposed dry land during the Last Glacial Maximum, approximately 18,000 years ago. Global sea levels were significantly lower, transforming the gulf into a river valley. As ice melted between 18,000 and 6,000 years ago, sea levels rose, gradually flooding this ancient landscape. By the time sea levels stabilized around 6,000 years ago, the northern reaches of the gulf were significantly further north than their current position. The ancient city of Ur, for instance, was once located near that ancient shoreline.
The accumulation of sediment from the Tigris and Euphrates rivers has since formed the extensive delta defining the present coastlines of Kuwait and the region. Evidence also suggests early agriculture in the Persian Gulf region dates back over 10,000 years, with practices intensifying around 9,200 years ago, coinciding with climatic shifts and a significant flood event in the western part of the basin. This period also saw an intensification of the Indian Ocean Summer Monsoon, leading to the greening of the Arabian Peninsula.
Despite compelling evidence and scholarly support, a considerable number of academics maintain that the Garden of Eden should be interpreted as an allegorical paradise, symbolizing themes of innocence and moral accountability rather than a literal geographical location. Nevertheless, ongoing research into the submerged landscapes of the Persian Gulf continues to illuminate the profound connections between ancient narratives, geological history, and the transformative power of climate change.