| Country |
Details |
Photo |
Description |
Year
Taken |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Ishtar Gate
|
 |
The "Ishtar Gate" at the entrance to Babylon.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Ishtar Gate
|
 |
The figures are bulls and a creature called a chimera.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Ishtar Gate
|
 |
The bull is a common feature from the era when the Spring Equinox occurred when the Sun was in Taurus, 4000 years ago.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Ishtar Gate
|
 |
The chimera resembles a dragon and has the attributes of a snake (tail), lion (front claws) and eagle (rear claws).
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Ishtar Gate
|
 |
The gate was unique to Babylon.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Ishtar Gate
|
 |
The Babylonian symbol for the Sun.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Ishtar Gate
|
 |
The gate is a 1960 copy 2/3rds the size of the original which is in a museum in Berlin (inset).
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
|
 |
The walls of the city.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
|
 |
The original city walls were next to the Euphrates River which has now changed course and is not close to the ruins.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
|
 |
The city was first mentioned in a clay tablet as a small village in the 23rd century BCE.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
|
 |
Old and new.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
|
 |
The first courtyard.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
|
 |
The Babylonian map of the world from 605 BCE.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
|
 |
A map of Babylon during the reign of Nebuchandezzar II (c600 BCE). This includes the legendary Hanging Gardens (one of the seven wonders of the ancient world) and a ziggurat which is the origin of the Tower of Babel story.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
|
 |
Babylon was the largest city on Earth between 1770 and 1670 BCE and again during 612 - 320 BCE.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Palace of Nebuchadnezzar
|
 |
The entrance to the ancient city is dominated by the walls of the Palace of Nebuchadnezzar II.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Palace of Nebuchadnezzar
|
 |
The palace was rebuilt under Saddam Hussein.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Palace of Nebuchadnezzar
|
 |
The rebuilt part is over the original foundations.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Palace of Nebuchadnezzar
|
 |
Nebuchadnezzar II ruled between 605 and 562 BCE and his reign is considered the city's golden age.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Palace of Nebuchadnezzar
|
 |
The entrance to the palace.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Palace of Nebuchadnezzar
|
 |
The palace has five main courtyards and 250 rooms.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Palace of Nebuchadnezzar
|
 |
The bricks of the original palace were all inscribed with the name of Nebuchadnezzar.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Palace of Nebuchadnezzar
|
 |
One of the five enormous courtyards.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Palace of Nebuchadnezzar
|
 |
View of an archway from below.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Palace of Nebuchadnezzar
|
 |
The brickwork is extraordinary.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Palace of Nebuchadnezzar
|
 |
Gateways separate the courtyards.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Palace of Nebuchadnezzar
|
 |
Nebuchadnezzar is mentioned in the Bible for destroying the Kingdom of Judah in 586 BCE. He exiled the population of Jerusalem "by the rivers of Babylon".
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Palace of Nebuchadnezzar
|
 |
Nebuchadnezzar was the second king of the New Babylonian Empire (c612 - c320 BCE).
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Palace of Nebuchadnezzar
|
 |
View through two arches.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Palace of Nebuchadnezzar
|
 |
Some of the 250 rooms.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Palace of Nebuchadnezzar
|
 |
The palace is enormous.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Palace of Nebuchadnezzar
|
 |
View through a tall arch.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Palace of Nebuchadnezzar
|
 |
Arched passageway.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Palace of Nebuchadnezzar
|
 |
The structure of the gates shows that arches existed before the Roman era.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Palace of Nebuchadnezzar
|
 |
The original paving stones.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Palace of Nebuchadnezzar
|
 |
Side chambers.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Palace of Nebuchadnezzar
|
 |
The walls are high.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Palace of Nebuchadnezzar
|
 |
A couple showing the size of the palace.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Palace of Nebuchadnezzar
|
 |
Cyrus the Great, the King of Persia, conquered the city in 539 BCE. Captured people like the Jews were allowed to return to their homelands under Cyrus so he is praised in the Bible.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Palace of Nebuchadnezzar
|
 |
Alexander The Great conquered the city in 331 BCE.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Palace of Nebuchadnezzar
|
 |
Nebuchadnezzar's throne room.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Palace of Nebuchadnezzar
|
 |
Alexander The Great died in 323 BCE and was laid in state in Nebuchadnezzar's throne room.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Palace of Nebuchadnezzar
|
 |
The throne plynth.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Palace of Nebuchadnezzar
|
 |
Couple visiting.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Palace of Nebuchadnezzar
|
 |
View to an older part of the city.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Palace of Nebuchadnezzar
|
 |
Double arch.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Palace of Nebuchadnezzar
|
 |
The renovated part of the palace contains bricks inscribed with the name of Saddam Hussein.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Palace of Nebuchadnezzar
|
 |
Saddam Hussein bricks.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Palace of Nebuchadnezzar
|
 |
Brick inscribed with the name of Saddam Hussein (top centre).
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Palace of Nebuchadnezzar
|
 |
Saddam Hussein's name gouged out of a brick after his downfall.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Palace of Nebuchadnezzar
|
 |
One of the smaller courtyards.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Palace of Nebuchadnezzar
|
 |
Small arch leading to a side chamber.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Palace of Nebuchadnezzar
|
 |
The Northern wall of the palace.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Palace of Nebuchadnezzar
|
 |
Walls marking the course of the River Euphrates before it moved.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Palace of Nebuchadnezzar
|
 |
Decorated brickwork.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Palace of Nebuchadnezzar
|
 |
After the death of Alexander the Great, Babylon was under the Hellenic Seleucid Empire.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Palace of Nebuchadnezzar
|
 |
Detail of the decorated brickwork.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Palace of Nebuchadnezzar
|
 |
Iraqi visitors.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Palace of Nebuchadnezzar
|
 |
View through multiple arches.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Palace of Nebuchadnezzar
|
 |
Multiple arches.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Palace of Nebuchadnezzar
|
 |
The top of the wall.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Palace of Nebuchadnezzar
|
 |
Side chambers.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Palace of Nebuchadnezzar
|
 |
Key shaped arch leading to the rear exterior of the palace.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Palace of Nebuchadnezzar
|
 |
The rear external wall.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Palace of Nebuchadnezzar
|
 |
The key shaped arch is unique to the palace.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Palace of Nebuchadnezzar
|
 |
The gateway to the palace.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Palace of Nebuchadnezzar
|
 |
Graffiti on the outer wall.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
|
 |
Palace built by Saddam Hussein overlooking the ruins of Babylon.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
|
 |
Saddam Hussein's Palace was looted during the USA invasion.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
|
 |
Mound thought to be part of the Hanging Gardens.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Processional Way
|
 |
The Processional Way is 900m long.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Processional Way
|
 |
The palace from the Processional Way.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Processional Way
|
 |
The paving is held together by (original) bitumen.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Processional Way
|
 |
This was the route taken by the king to enter the palace.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Processional Way
|
 |
The brickwork.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Processional Way
|
 |
View of Saddam Hussein's palace.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Processional Way
|
 |
The high walls.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Ishtar Gate (Original)
|
 |
The site of the original Ishtar Gate (which was taken to Berlin) was part of the Processional Way. Only the foundations remain.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Ishtar Gate (Original)
|
 |
The unglazed brick foundations of the gate have bulls and chimera.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Ishtar Gate (Original)
|
 |
Bull.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Ishtar Gate (Original)
|
 |
Head of a bull.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Ishtar Gate (Original)
|
 |
Chimera. This has the head of a dragon, the tail of a snake, the front claws of a lion and the rear claws of an eagle.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Ishtar Gate (Original)
|
 |
Chimera head.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Ishtar Gate (Original)
|
 |
The site of the original Ishtar Gate was damaged by USA military forces who had a base here.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Ninmahi Temple
|
 |
Temple dedicated to the Mother Goddess, Ninmahi.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Ninmahi Temple
|
 |
The temple dates from the 6th century.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Ninmahi Temple
|
 |
The temple was built by Nebuchadnezzar.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
Site / Event : Ninmahi Temple
|
 |
The walls of the temple were originally covered with mud.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
|
 |
The Old Babylon Empire lasted from 1770 to 1670 BCE.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
|
 |
The Old Babylon Empire was ruled by Hammurabi (1792 - 1750 BCE) who set up the world's first legal code.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
|
 |
4000 year old brickwork.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
|
 |
The Northern Fort. This area was damaged by USA forces building a helipad nearby.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
|
 |
The entrance to the fort.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
|
 |
Much of the site is unrestored and unexcavated.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
|
 |
Ruins and mounds.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
|
 |
The Lion of Babylon.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
|
 |
The Lion of Babylon is a basalt figure of a lion attacking a person found by local people in 1776.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
|
 |
Visitors from Iraq.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
|
 |
The city walls.
|
2022 |
| Iraq |
City / Town : Babylon
|
 |
Distinctive brickwork.
|
2022 |
were added from 1 February 2025.