Babylon
بابل
Iraq · Babil
In brief
Babylon was the seat of government for rulers such as Hammurabi and Nebuchadnezzar II. Robert Koldewey's large-scale excavations, which began in 1899, revealed gates, palaces, temples and the city's layout.
What was found?
- 1İştar Gate
A monumental city entrance decorated with animal reliefs. Moulded, fired, and glazed bricks demonstrate Babil's advanced production and decorative techniques.
- 2Processional Way
The main route used in New Year ceremonies, part of which was decorated with lion reliefs. Excavations have revealed the road's paving and different phases of raising its level.
- 3South Palace
A large royal complex with rooms arranged around courtyards and a throne room. The glazed decorations in the throne room demonstrate the importance of visual splendour in a space of governance.
- 4Temple of Ninmah
A Babylonian temple with a courtyard, a well, and an inner room containing a niche for the goddess's statue. Clay tablets describing the building's construction were also found here.
What does it point to?
Babil's palaces, temples, and ceremonial route show that royal power and religious life were expressed together in the city plan. The construction of the İştar Gate indicates technical capacity requiring the organisation of specialist craftspeople and a large workforce.
What did it teach us?
- Excavations and cuneiform texts confirmed that the İştar Gate and Processional Way were repeatedly raised.
- Glazed bricks showed that large animal depictions were made by producing and assembling separate pieces.
- Palace and temple plans provided tangible evidence of the monumental arrangement of the Neo-Babylonian capital.
Images




Record
- Culture
- Babylonian
- Coordinates
- 32.5420°, 44.4208°
Sources
- whc.unesco.org
- library.biblicalarchaeology.org
- whc.unesco.org
- New York Üniversitesi, Antik Dünya Araştırmaları Enstitüsü — İştar Kapısı sergisi
Nearby excavations
- —
- —
- 12.000
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All excavation sites (389)
Türkiye
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