"THEN BABYLON FELL TO THE PERSIANS AND WITH IT THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD WAS DIMMED. HOWEVER THE GLORY OF BABYLON CAN NEVER BE DIMINISHED AND THE LEGACY IS STILL FELT BY THE PEOPLE OF THE EARTH TODAY
Fall of Babylon
The Babylon Empire continued as the dominant power in the Near East until 539 BCE when a new power rose to oppose them. This new power was the Persian Empire who emerged when their king Cyrus defeated the old allies of the Babylonians the Medes.
The king of Babylon at this time was Nabonidus who was not seen as a popular leader by the people of Babylon. The reason why he was disliked lies with his attempts to remove the tradition deity of Babylon Marduk with the Moon Good Sin. It is important to note that the King of Babylon received his power from the Gods and by trying to usurp the traditions of the city Nabonidus had damaged his legitimacy. In 55 BCE the king moved the capital of his empire from Babylon to northern Arabia in the south, the source suggest this was done to help gain advantage of the resources of the region and to set up new trade routes, however it further damaged his image in the eyes of the people. It was from this then that Cyrus turned his attentions to Babylon and in 539 BCE defeated the crown prince Belshazzar at the river Tigris. Cyrus then turned his attention to Babylon which he was able to take 14 days later without much resistance, with this Babylon lost its independence which it would never gain back however it would still remain an important city until 144 BCE when it was abandoned. (Foster & Foster, Civilizations of Ancient Iraq, 2009, 142) |
Archaeology
Archaeologist
Gertrude Bell
1868-1926 First visited Mesopotamia in 1909 where she visited the site of Babylon. Gertrude Bella member of the British intelligence during the First World War, helped form the Baghdad Archaeological Museum. She was one of the first people to suggest that artifacts should remain in Iraq. Her museum would later become the national Museum of Iraq, as such she was one of the first to support professional Archaeology in Iraq. |
Robert Koldewey
1855-1925 First visited the site of Babylon in 1887 and returned in 1897 when he developed an interest in Babylonian history. Robert Koldewey was the first Archaeologist to conduct major excavations on Babylon and helped uncover large amounts of the city. His most famous discover was the Ishtar Gate, although he did also uncover the royal place and temple of Marduk. The importance of his discoveries can not be understated as without it the true extent of the city could be visualized. |
Excavations at the Site
Gallery: The Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago. (n.d.). Retrieved October 9, 2015. http://oi.uchicago.edu/gallery/archaeological-site-photographs-mesopotamia-babylon#babylon07.png
Topographical map of Ancient Babylon site
Resource: Google maps Ancient Babylon https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/Ancient+Babylon/@32.5436184,44.4240801,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x1558fd160f4cd147:0x24cd87a6bf288d5
Example activity:
Students view the larger map option above and use the street view finder to investigate the ruins of ancient Babylon.
Students should take note of the size and layout of the city and should try and locate different historical buildings. (note that some of this site has been rebuilt under saddam) See screenshot below for example
Example activity:
Students view the larger map option above and use the street view finder to investigate the ruins of ancient Babylon.
Students should take note of the size and layout of the city and should try and locate different historical buildings. (note that some of this site has been rebuilt under saddam) See screenshot below for example
Resources
References:
Resource: Google maps Ancient Babylon: https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/Ancient+Babylon/@32.5436184,44.4240801,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x1558fd160f4cd147:0x24
Nabonidus Chronicle: Grayson, A. (1975). Assyrian and Babylonian chronicles. Locust Valley, N.Y.: J.J. Augustin. (scanned as a pdf)
Gallery: The Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago. (n.d.). Retrieved October 9, 2015. http://oi.uchicago.edu/gallery/archaeological-site-photographs-mesopotamia-babylon.
Robert Koldewey: The excavations at Babylon :: AMAR Archive of Mesopotamian Archaeological Reports. (n.d.). Retrieved October 9, 2015, from http://digital.library.stonybrook.edu/cdm/ref/collection/amar/id/140412
Nabonidus Chronicle: Grayson, A. (1975). Assyrian and Babylonian chronicles. Locust Valley, N.Y.: J.J. Augustin. (scanned as a pdf)
Gallery: The Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago. (n.d.). Retrieved October 9, 2015. http://oi.uchicago.edu/gallery/archaeological-site-photographs-mesopotamia-babylon.
Robert Koldewey: The excavations at Babylon :: AMAR Archive of Mesopotamian Archaeological Reports. (n.d.). Retrieved October 9, 2015, from http://digital.library.stonybrook.edu/cdm/ref/collection/amar/id/140412