Babil, Iraq (Karbala,Al Hillah,vicinity)-- the Ancient City of Babylon

AncientNearEast ^ | AncientNearEast

[peeve23]

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The History of the Ancient Near East

Electronic Compendium

ANCIENT ISRAEL IRAQ EGYPT TURKEY SYRIA
LEBANON JORDAN ARABIA CYPRUS BAHRAIN
AND WESTERN IRAN

Ancient Babylon (Babel) [Babil]

The capital of Babylonia situated on the Euphrates River south of Baghdad in modern Iraq. Thc city was occupied from the 3rd millennium BC but became important early in the 2nd millennium under the Kings of the First Dynasty of Babylon. The sixth King of this dynasty was Hammurabi (circa 1792 - 1750 BC) who made Babylon the capital of a vast empire and is best remembered for his code of laws. This period was brought to an end by an attack by Hittites and the city had a mixed history until the Neo-Babylonian (Chaldea) Period of 7th - 6th centuries BC. It once again achieved pre-eminence when Nebuchadnezzar extended the Babylonian Empire over most of Western Asia. Babylon fell to Cyrus of Persia in 539 BC; occcupation continued in the Achaemenid period. The city was taken by Alexander in 331 BC. Babylon subsequently declined and was eventually abandoned after the Muslim conquest of AD 641 ..... (AHSFC)

This was the Mesopotamian capital from the time of Hammurabi (1792 - 1750 BC) through the Neo-Babylonian Period and the time of Nebuchadnezzar II's Dynasty (625 - 539 BC). The site encompassed some 2,100 acres and is probably the largest in southern Mesopotamia. Excavations by the Deutsche Orient Gesellschaft from 1899 to 1917 uncovered substantial remains of the time of the Neo-Babylonian period: fortifications including a double gateway (known as the Ishtar gate) whose walls were decorated with molded reliefs of lions, bulls, and dragons; and also many temples including Esagila or the temple of Marduk with its ziggurat (the biblical tower of Babel).

The excavations also uncovered private houses and palaces including Nebuchadnezzar II's which is now being restored under the direct sponsorship of Saddam Hussein. In the northeastern part of Babylon a theater built at (or not long after) the time of Alexander the Great and rebuilt by the succeeding Seleucid kings has been restored by the Directorate General of Antiquities ..... (Mesa CC)

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[peeve23]

Historical curiosity. The practical side, of course, is that Geneva/Hague puts strict limits on warring nations damaging sites of historic value.

Because of that, we can be assured that Iraqi weaponry will be co-located with locations of inestimable historical value. Too bad Saddam is such a jerk.

[EternalVigilance]

I read last night of a battle taking place about 12 miles from the site.

[peeve23]

Do you remember the name of the battle site? I thought I just heard on Fox about something taking place at Karbala, but I wasn't paying real close attention....I could have the place name wrong.

[Calpernia]

I really hate it when I see people have no respect for historic ruins. These sights should be protected and preserved. It is history! Don't they realize the tourism they could build up here!

Disgusting.

(but I guess preserving ruins is small potatoes when they can't preserve their own lives.)

[aristeides]

Babylon fell to Cyrus of Persia in 539 BC.

According to Herodotus, Cyrus captured Babylon by diverting the Euphrates.

[peeve23]

Exactly. You blow this stuff up and you don't get a 2nd chance at it. It's gone forever.

[EternalVigilance]

I went back and found the thread:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/880540/posts


NEAR IMAM AIYUB, Iraq

March 31 (Reuters) - U.S. troops battled Iraqi forces on a front line about 110 km (70 miles) south of Baghdad on Monday in a fierce clash in which U.S. forces said many Iraqis and at least one American died.

The U.S. troops called in fighter jets with laser-guided bombs and used tanks, helicopters and artillery against the Iraqi positions near the town of Imam Aiyub on the east bank of the Euphrates.

"There's still extremely heavy contact right now," Captain Brad Loudon of the 2nd Battalion 70th Armored Regiment said. The Iraqis hit back with tanks, mortars and rocket-propelled grenades.

A Reuters correspondent travelling with the U.S. troops said it was apparently the northernmost advance by U.S.-led ground forces towards the capital along the road on the eastern bank of the Euphrates.

"Two enemy tanks have been destroyed and a host of (Iraqi) infantry," Loudon said, without giving any number. He said that "at least one" American was killed.

Monday's death raised the U.S. toll to at least 46 with another 17 missing. "We believe we've also destroyed several anti-aircraft guns," he said.

British Tornado jets and U.S. Navy F-14s were called in to drop laser-guided bombs anti-aircraft guns and tanks, U.S. officers said.

Units of the U.S. 101st airborne division were also sent in to reinforce. The battle was about 20 km (12 miles) from the ancient site of Babylon, famed for its Hanging Gardens.

APACHE LANDS

A U.S. Apache helicopter had to land after one of the two crew suffered a cut to his head and a slight concussion. The helicopter took off again with the same crew after medical officers tended the cuts.

It was not clear how many troops were involved on either side in the battle, which began at about 7 a.m. (0400 GMT) on Monday after the U.S. forces drove north.

Washington has denied that there is any "operational pause" in the 12-day-old invasion despite stiff resistance in many parts of Iraq.

A Reuters reporter said the number of U.S. troops involved in fighting around Imam Aiyub did not seem enough for a major push to Hilla and beyond. Hilla is the main city remaining between Imam Aiyub and Baghdad.

One mortar landed on the road where journalists travelling with the troops were standing. The crackle of small arms fire could also be heard.

Burnt out vehicles littered the sides of the road south of Imam Aiyub, apparently after air strikes and clashes in recent days.

Hundreds of Iraqis were reported killed around the town of Kifl to the south of Imam Aiyub last week. The town had seemed deserted at the weekend.

03/31/03 03:31 ET

[peeve23]

That dovetails with one of the biblical accounts. I don't remember which one.

Can you imagine diverting a river in that era? Awesome engineering marvel.

Interesting, though. It would've been a lengthy seige. I wonder if the media was saying during the seige that "Cyrus' Generals have declared 6 weeks of Inaction! He has outrun his supply lines and is waiting for reinforcements."

[peeve23]

Thanks, Eternal. I'm gonna see if I can find the city on a map.

[EternalVigilance]

This was the very night to which you have been referring:

Daniel 5

Belshazzar's Feast

The Handwriting on the Wall
1 Belshazzar the king made a great feast for a thousand of his lords, and drank wine in the presence of the thousand. 2While he tasted the wine, Belshazzar gave the command to bring the gold and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple which had been in Jerusalem, that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them. 3Then they brought the gold vessels that had been taken from the temple of the house of God which had been in Jerusalem; and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. 4They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone.
5In the same hour the fingers of a man's hand appeared and wrote opposite the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king's palace; and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. 6Then the king's countenance changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his hips were loosened and his knees knocked against each other. 7The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. The king spoke, saying to the wise men of Babylon, "Whoever reads this writing, and tells me its interpretation, shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around his neck; and he shall be the third ruler in the kingdom." 8Now all the king's wise men came, but they could not read the writing, or make known to the king its interpretation. 9Then King Belshazzar was greatly troubled, his countenance was changed, and his lords were astonished.
10The queen, because of the words of the king and his lords, came to the banquet hall. The queen spoke, saying, "O king, live forever! Do not let your thoughts trouble you, nor let your countenance change. 11There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the Spirit of the Holy God. And in the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, were found in him; and King Nebuchadnezzar your father--your father the king--made him chief of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers. 12Inasmuch as an excellent spirit, knowledge, understanding, interpreting dreams, solving riddles, and explaining enigmas[1] were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar, now let Daniel be called, and he will give the interpretation."


The Writing on the Wall Explained
13 Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king spoke, and said to Daniel, "Are you that Daniel who is one of the captives[2] from Judah, whom my father the king brought from Judah? 14I have heard of you, that the Spirit of God is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you. 15Now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing and make known to me its interpretation, but they could not give the interpretation of the thing. 16And I have heard of you, that you can give interpretations and explain enigmas. Now if you can read the writing and make known to me its interpretation, you shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around your neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom."
17Then Daniel answered, and said before the king, "Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another; yet I will read the writing to the king, and make known to him the interpretation. 18O king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father a kingdom and majesty, glory and honor. 19And because of the majesty that He gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. Whomever he wished, he executed; whomever he wished, he kept alive; whomever he wished, he set up; and whomever he wished, he put down. 20But when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit was hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him. 21Then he was driven from the sons of men, his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. They fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till he knew that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and appoints over it whomever He chooses.
22"But you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, although you knew all this. 23And you have lifted yourself up against the Lord of heaven. They have brought the vessels of His house before you, and you and your lords, your wives and your concubines, have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which do not see or hear or know; and the God who holds your breath in His hand and owns all your ways, you have not glorified. 24Then the fingers[3] of the hand were sent from Him, and this writing was written.
25"And this is the inscription that was written:
MENE,[4] MENE, TEKEL,[5] UPHARSIN.[6]
26This is the interpretation of each word. MENE: God has numbered your kingdom, and finished it; 27TEKEL: You have been weighed in the balances, and found wanting; 28PERES: Your kingdom has been divided, and given to the Medes and Persians."

[EternalVigilance]

Another Mesopatamian despot whose days were numbered...

[peeve23]

Isn't there something in there about Cyrus or the river or something that confirms Herodotus? I thought I remembered that.

[EternalVigilance]

I don't know the exact passages, but the prophets prophesied Cyrus' rise to power well in advance--by name.

[EternalVigilance]

Also, the scripture gives the succinct historical account of Cyrus' ascension as well.

There can be no doubt of the truth of Heroditus' account. It is one of the most verified events of ancient history.

[Just mythoughts]

Jeremiah 51 has some warnings about Babylon, I believe it is located 52 miles south of Baghdad.

Saddam has rebuilt this old city all except for the hanging gardens which he offered a reward for anyone who could replicate them. They have had international festivals there over past dozen years.

Germany took the Gate of Ishstar and some kind of tower prior to WWI and it is now in a Berlin museum, which Iraq ask for the items back May 2002.

[Bob J]

ping

[peeve23]

I was thinking in terms of the Belshazzar story you posted above. Does it mention Cyrus or the river?

[Salvation]

Bump, I will be back.

[EternalVigilance]

Gonna make me work, aintcha...LOL...I'll be right back.

I'm pretty sure Daniel doesn't mention the diversion of the river, but he definitely mentions Cyrus.

[Salvation]

Sunday Mass Readings, 3-30-03

Talk about current!

March 30, 2003
Fourth Sunday of Lent

Psalm: Sunday Week 16 Reading I Responsorial Psalm Reading II Gospel

Reading I
2 Chr 36:14-16, 19-23

In those days, all the princes of Judah, the priests, and the people
added infidelity to infidelity,
practicing all the abominations of the nations
and polluting the LORD's temple
which he had consecrated in Jerusalem.

Early and often did the LORD, the God of their fathers,
send his messengers to them,
for he had compassion on his people and his dwelling place.
But they mocked the messengers of God,
despised his warnings, and scoffed at his prophets,
until the anger of the LORD against his people was so inflamed
that there was no remedy.
Their enemies burnt the house of God,
tore down the walls of Jerusalem,
set all its palaces afire,
and destroyed all its precious objects.
Those who escaped the sword were carried captive to Babylon,
where they became servants of the king of the Chaldeans and his sons
until the kingdom of the Persians came to power.
All this was to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah:
"Until the land has retrieved its lost sabbaths,
during all the time it lies waste it shall have rest
while seventy years are fulfilled."

In the first year of Cyrus, king of Persia,
in order to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah,
the LORD inspired King Cyrus of Persia
to issue this proclamation throughout his kingdom,
both by word of mouth and in writing:
"Thus says Cyrus, king of Persia:
All the kingdoms of the earth
the LORD, the God of heaven, has given to me,
and he has also charged me to build him a house
in Jerusalem, which is in Judah.
Whoever, therefore, among you belongs to any part of his people,
let him go up, and may his God be with him!"

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 137:1-2, 3, 4-5, 6

R. (6ab) Let my tongue be silenced, if I ever forget you!
By the streams of Babylon
we sat and wept
when we remembered Zion.
On the aspens of that land
we hung up our harps.
R. Let my tongue be silenced, if I ever forget you!
For there our captors asked of us
the lyrics of our songs,
And our despoilers urged us to be joyous:
"Sing for us the songs of Zion!"
R. Let my tongue be silenced, if I ever forget you!
How could we sing a song of the LORD
in a foreign land?
If I forget you, Jerusalem,
may my right hand be forgotten!
R. Let my tongue be silenced, if I ever forget you!
May my tongue cleave to my palate
if I remember you not,
If I place not Jerusalem
ahead of my joy.
R. Let my tongue be silenced, if I ever forget you!