The city of Babylon was once the most famous cultural and religious center of the ancient world and, in fact, was understood as the center of the world according to an ancient map. It did not acquire its reputation as a “city of sin” until after it was featured in biblical narratives.
Babylon is famously depicted unfavorably in the biblical Book of Revelation (as well as in Daniel, Isaiah, and Jeremiah, among others) but, according to other sources – before and after the biblical books - it was an important center of culture and education. Thales of Miletus is said to have studied at Babylon prior to his first forays into what would become known as Greek Philosophy but, today, it is probably most closely associated with the story of the Tower of Babel as given in Genesis 11:1-9 – thought to be a reference to the city’s towering ziggurat.
This gallery presents a sampling of images of the once-great city along with the deities most closely associated with it and the ancient “map of the world” with Babylon as its center.
