Babylon and Biblical Archaeology

Babylon, the Destroyer of Jerusalem 

The above relief is a close up of the colorful striding lion with it's mouth opened in a threatening roar. The lion once decorated one side of the main 'Processional Way' in ancient Babylon during the reign of Nebuchadnezzar in 604-562 B.C. It was made of molded brick with a colorful polychrome glaze.

Ancient Babylon

Babylon was one of the most famous of ancient cities, its name in Akkadian means "gate of the gods" but in Hebrew means "confusion" after the Tower of Babel. The Bible says that in 586 BC Jerusalem was destroyed by the Babylonians. This was in direct fulfillment of Jewish prophecy because the people of the land of Judah had forsaken the LORD. Ancient Babylon was located in the land of Shinar or Chaldea, hundreds of miles east of Jerusalem across the Arabian Desert in the area of the Persian Gulf. It was situated on both sides of the Euphrates River. Babylon was the most illustrious of all ancient cities and its wealth was immense. After Nebuchadnezzar had defeated Egypt at the Battle of Carchemish, Babylon became a world empire. Their period of glory came to an abrupt end when Cyrus the Persian allied with the Medes and came and conquered the city by rerouting the river and marching under the walls. There have been several excavations at the site of ancient Babylon in the 19th century at the two largest mounds. There have been many advancements and part of Nebuchadnezzar's citadel has been excavated, yet much of the ruins of Babylon are under a water table that is too deep to excavate.

Biblical Archaeology and Ancient Babylon

Striding Lion of Babylon 

Nebuchadnezzar II Cylinder

Lagash Rations Tablet

Ishtar Gate

Nebuchadnezzar II Brick

Babylonian Chronicle

Dragon of Marduk

Lion of Marduk

Detail of the Lion of Marduk

The Royal Standard of Ur