Who was an Italian scholar who went southern Mesopotamia to look for proof that the stories were true?

Answer 1

The Italian scholar you are referring to is likely Giovanni Battista de Rossi, who was a notable figure in the 19th century. He traveled to southern Mesopotamia, particularly in the region of ancient Babylon, in search of archaeological evidence that could confirm the historical accuracy of biblical and ancient Near Eastern narratives. His work contributed to the early foundations of biblical Archaeology, although many of his interpretations have been refined or challenged by subsequent scholarship.