Ancient Architecture of Babylon in Modern Iraq

The legendary city of Babylon is the most famous ancient city in the whole World. It was the capital of ten Mesopotamian dynasties starting with the dynasty of King Hammurabi (1792-1750 BC); the 6th king of the 1st dynasty; reaching prominence as the capital city of the great kingdom of Babylonia. The last dynasty at which Babylon achieved its zenith, is well known particularly of its 2nd king, Nebuchadnezzar II (605-563 BC), to whom most of Babylon’s existing buildings belongs. Most of the rebuilt ruins are from the time of King Nebuchadnezzar II, Saddam’s workforce rebuilt over the actual ruins.
Older ruins are from the time of King Hammurabi, approximately 1,750 B.C. King Hammurabi was the one who came up with many of the notions we have for a civilized mankind.

Baghdad, Iraq Skyline
Photo © 2001, Daniel B. Grünberg

Plan of the ancient city of Babylon, 500 B.C.
Photo © 2003, Daniel O’Connell, Gunnery Sergeant, USMC

Saddam’s Presidential Palace and ruins of ancient Babylon (Aerial View)
Photo © 2003, Daniel O’Connell, Gunnery Sergeant, USMC

Saddam’s Palace, Iraq
Photo © 2003, Daniel O’Connell, Gunnery Sergeant, USMC

King Nebuchadnezzar’s Palace in ancient Babylon
Photo © 2003, Daniel O’Connell, Gunnery Sergeant, USMC

Marines approach the ancient city of Babylon
Photo © 2003, Daniel O’Connell, Gunnery Sergeant, USMC

Ancient Walls of Babylon, 604 to 562 B.C.
Photo © Louis Sather, taken June 9th, 2003 while on active duty with the United States Army

Original Walls of Babylon, 604 to 562 B.C.
Photo © Louis Sather, taken June 9th, 2003 while on active duty with the United States Army

Images of the ancient God of Marduk ornament walls near the Ishtar gate.
Photo © 2003, Daniel O’Connell, Gunnery Sergeant, USMC

New bricks stand atop ancient foundations at the wall of Babylon
Photo © 2003, Daniel O’Connell, Gunnery Sergeant, USMC

Reconstructed ancient coliseum in Babylon, Iraq
Photo © 2003, Daniel O’Connell, Gunnery Sergeant, USMC

A Marine sits on the steps of the ancient coliseum rebuilt by Saddam Hussein’s labor force
Photo © 2003, Daniel O’Connell, Gunnery Sergeant, USMC

Abbassid Castle, Baghdad, Iraq
Photo © 2001, Daniel B. Grünberg

Reproduction of the legendary Ishtar Gate (Bab Ishtar) in Babylon
Photo © Louis Sather, taken June 9th, 2003 while on active duty with the United States Army

Procession Street in Babylon
Photo © Louis Sather, taken June 9th, 2003 while on active duty with the United States Army

Procession Street in Babylon
Photo © 2003, Daniel O’Connell, Gunnery Sergeant, USMC

Al Kadhimain Mosque, Baghdad, Iraq
Photo © 2003 Jan Oberg, The Transnational Foundation for Peace and Future Research (TFF)

Al Kadhimain Mosque Detail
Photo © 2003 Jan Oberg, The Transnational Foundation for Peace and Future Research (TFF)

Damaged Mosque, Baghdad, Iraq
Photo © 2001, Daniel B. Grünberg

Courtyard of King Nebuchadnezzar’s Palace.
Photo © 2003, Daniel O’Connell, Gunnery Sergeant, USMC

A Marine stands on King Nebuchadnezzar’s throne
Photo © 2003, Daniel O’Connell, Gunnery Sergeant, USMC

King Nebuchadnezzar’s Palace Throne Room
Photo © 2003, Daniel O’Connell, Gunnery Sergeant, USMC

Brickwork in King Nebuchadnezzar’s Palace
Photo © 2003, Daniel O’Connell, Gunnery Sergeant, USMC

Ancient ruins of King Hammurabi in Babylon, Iraq
Photo © 2003, Daniel O’Connell, Gunnery Sergeant, USMC

The former Mustansiriya University, Baghdad, Iraq
Photo © 2001, Daniel B. Grünberg

Amidst the ruins of ancient Babylon, children look to the future
Photo © 2003, Daniel O’Connell, Gunnery Sergeant, USMC