Dilmun
 Map showing approximate location of the Dilmun civilization in Bahrain
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| Location | Eastern Arabia |
|---|---|
| Region | Northern Governorate |
| Coordinates | 26°11′48″N 50°29′08″E / 26.196667°N 50.485556°E |
| Type | Ancient |
| Part of | Eastern Arabia |
| History | |
| Founded | circa late 4th millennium B.C.E. |
| Abandoned | c. 538 BCE |
| Periods | Bronze Age |
Dilmun, or Telmun, was an ancient Semitic-speaking country mentioned throughout the history of Mesopotamia from the 3rd millennium BC onwards. It is regarded as one of the oldest civilizations in the Middle East. Based on textual evidence, it is located in the Persian Gulf on a trade route between Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley Civilisation, close to the sea and to artesian springs.
Dilmun was an important trading centre. At the height of its power, it controlled the Persian Gulf trading routes. According to some modern theories, the Sumerians regarded Dilmun as a sacred place, but that is never stated in any known ancient text. Dilmun was mentioned by the Mesopotamians as a trade partner, a source of copper, and a trade entrepôt.
The scholarly consensus is that Dilmun encompassed Bahrain, Kuwait,Qatar and the coastal regions of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. This area is certainly what is meant by references to "Dilmun" among the lands conquered by King Sargon of Akkad and his descendants.
It is often falsely stated that the Sumerians described Dilmun as a garden paradise in the Epic of Gilgamesh. The Sumerian tale of the garden paradise of Dilmun may have been an inspiration for the Garden of Eden story. However, that is entirely modern speculation since the home of Utnapishtim is never indicated as Dilmun, and the name appears in no Gilgamesh literature.
Dilmun was an important trading center from the late fourth millennium to 800 BC. At the height of its power, Dilmun controlled the Persian Gulf trading routes. Dilmun was very prosperous during the first 300 years of the second millennium. Dilmun's commercial power began to decline between 1000 BC and 800 BC because piracy flourished in the Persian Gulf. In 600 BC, the Neo-Babylonian Empire, and later the Persian Empire, ruled Dilmun.
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