Babylon was an ancient Mesopotamian city located in central-southern Mesopotamia on the Euphrates River.
Ancient city was founded in the early Bronze Age and became an important regional center in the following centuries. It reached the height of its power under the rule of Hammurabi in the 18th century BCE, when it became a major empire controlling much of Mesopotamia. The city was sacked by the Hittites in the 16th century BCE and went into decline.
It was founded in the early Bronze Age and became an important regional center in the following centuries.
The city reached the height of its power under the rule of Hammurabi in the 18th century BCE, when it became a major empire controlling much of Mesopotamia. The city was sacked by the Hittites in the 16th century BCE and went into decline.
The origin of the name “Babylon” is uncertain. It may have come from the Akkadian word babili, meaning “gate of god,” or it may have been derived from the name Ba-bila-na (meaning “the place where Ba dwells”).
Babylon was an important center for commerce, culture and religion in ancient Mesopotamia (now northern Iraq). It was founded by Sumerians around 4000 BCE and was later conquered by Akkadians, Assyrians and Chaldeans. The city flourished under Hammurabi’s reign (1792–1750 BCE) when it became one of the most important cities in the world.
The city stood as a symbol of power throughout its history until it fell to Cyrus II in 539 BCE after a siege that lasted seven months.
Babylon declined in importance after the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BCE and was largely abandoned by the 3rd century BCE. The ruins were rediscovered in the 19th century CE and have since become a major tourist attraction.
