Babylon



Babylon, the center of Mesopotamia for two millennia and one of the most notorious cities of the ancient world, is located 52 miles south of Baghdad. Founded around 2300 BC, the city is considered to be one of the earliest cradles of civilization, and a cultural center for art, science, and literature.  Situated with access to both Tigris and Euphrates rivers, Babylon was a coveted city and served as the capital for 10 Mesopotamian empires. Guarded by massive walls, Babylon was once the largest and most powerful city in the world, attracting people, ideas, and products from all walks of life.

The city is believed to the home of several notable ancient monuments, including one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Said to once have had walls eighty feet tall with hanging plants and multi-tier terraces, the gardens’ exact location has not been determined. Babylon is also believed by many to be home to the famed Tower of Babel cited in religious texts.

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