The people of Madan lived in the marshes of what is now southern Iraq. They lived in unique traditional houses called mudhif. They were commonly known as Marsh Arabs.

More recently under the regime of Saddam Hussein the swamp lands have mostly been drained in an effort to create irrigation systems, however some believe the purpose was to destroy the homes of the Madan people and other Shi'a Muslims who were rebels against Saddam during the 1990s.

Further Reading

• McCarthy, Rory (January 6, 2003). Saddam's troublesome marsh dwellers left high and dry by drainage (http://www.guardian.co.uk/print/0,3858,4577229-103681,00.html). The Guardian.

Madan is also a former name of the Armenian town of Kapan

Madan is also another name for the god of love(Kama) in Hinduism