Babylon travel guide — Babylon tourism and travel information

Babylon travel guide

about Babylon

Babylon was the capital city of Babylonia in Mesopotamia (in contemporary Iraq, about 70 miles south of Baghdad). The name is the Greek form of Babel, which is derived in turn from the Semitic form Babilu, meaning "The Gate of God". This Semitic word is a translation of the Sumerian Kadmirra.

The monumental list of its kings reaches back to circa 2300 BC, and includes Hammurabi (perhaps the Amraphel of Genesis, and, if so, hence the contemporary of Abraham). It stood on the Euphrates, about 322 km (approx. 200 miles) above its junction with the Tigris, which flowed through its midst and divided it into two almost equal parts.

The Elamites invaded Chaldea (i.e., Lower Mesopotamia, or Shinar, and Upper Mesopotamia, or Akkad, now combined into one) and held it in subjection. At length King Hammurabi delivered it from the foreign yoke and founded the Babylonian Empire, making Babylon the capital of the united kingdom.

The city gradually grew in extent and grandeur, but in process of time it became subject to Assyria. It rebelled against the Assyrian rule under Mushezib-Marduk and again under Shamash-shum-ukin but was besieged and taken over by Sennacherib and Assurbanipal (Kandalanu) again. On the fall of Nineveh (612 BC) it threw off the Assyrian yoke, and became the capital of the growing Babylonian empire.

Under Nebuchadnezzar, it became one of the most splendid cities of the ancient world. His most famous construction was the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

After passing through various vicissitudes the city was occupied by Cyrus the Great, "king of Persia", 538 BC, who issued a decree permitting the Jews to return to their own land (Ezra 1). It then ceased to be the capital of an empire. It was again and again visited by hostile armies, until its inhabitants were all driven from their homes, and the city became a complete desolation.

Near cities to Babylon

• Al Hillah travel guide 7.6 km
• Karbala travel guide 38 km
• Baghdad International travel guide 89 km
• Kut travel guide 130 km
• Ar Ramadi travel guide 140 km
• Samarra travel guide 190 km
• Ilam travel guide 220 km
• Tikrit travel guide 240 km
• Kirkuk travel guide 320 km
• Paveh travel guide 330 km

Near webcams to Babylon

• U.S. School webcam 490 km
• Tehran webcam 730 km
• Beirut - Jounieh Highway webcam 840 km
• Beirut webcam 840 km
• Jerevan webcam 850 km
• Jerusalem - Olive Hill webcam 870 km
• Jerusalem - Golden Gate webcam 870 km
• Western Wall webcam 870 km
• Western Wall webcam 870 km
• Jerusalem - Western Wall webcam 870 km

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Babylon travel services

cheap flights to Babylon

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Babylon real estate

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City Travel Guide comes with Babylon real estate guide with several tips on home valuation, realtors comparison, secrets on finding the "right" home, loans guide and other helpful real estate advices. Our partners also maintain Babylon property for sale and rental listings, real estate laws and reviews. We will try to help you with buying property in Iraq, choosing real estate agents, property finders, relocation help, and information for English speakers wanting to buy real estate in Babylon.

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Babylon travel books

Babylon travel guide books

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Babylon maps and atlases

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