The Hanging Gardens of Babylon is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. . Your IP: On a recent weekend, Ahmed Juwad and his college friends stopped to take selfies as they strolled down the processional way, where Babylonian kings paraded statues of their gods and goddesses. Stones reused (recycled) 4. Terrorist insurgencies. Performance & security by Cloudflare. An Iraqi conservation worker removing a layer of modern clay from a wall of the Ninmakh Temple in Babylon, revealing some of the original 2,500-year-old brick. LEFT: Workers, Inhabitants, Arabs, begin work on excavating the Ishtar Gate in 1902. With support from the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Embassy Baghdad,, the Samuel H. Kress Foundation, the Annenberg Foundation, and the J. M. Kaplan Fund. Still, since the publication of Epicenter sixteen years ago, the skeptics and cynics certainly seem to have had the upper hand. According to legend, it may also have been home to the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World (see sidebar), and a hubristic sky-scraping temple that some historians believe inspired the biblical Tower of Babel. As part of a new generation of archaeologists, Mr. al-Taee works for the Iraqi government on a World Monuments Fund project aimed at stemming the damage to one of the worlds best known yet least understood archaeological sites. The concept of Babylon being rebuilt has attracted a great deal of speculation over recent years, and I suspect it has sold many books on the subject. Because Babylon is being promoted as being the city of the future, and of the most advanced technology, wicked corporations & individuals such as . Nebuchadnezzar II, the most powerful king of the Neo-Babylon Empire, rebuilt Babylon into a magnificent city. Since the liberation of Iraq in 2003, however, a great deal has happened. Two centuries later, Alexander the Great planned to make Babylon the jewel of his Asian empire, but ended up dying in the city in 323 B.C.E. Later excavations, undertaken by the German archaeologist Robert Koldewey in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, established that the city had been built and rebuilt several times, most notably on a lavish scale by its king, Nebuchadrezzar II (reigned 605-561 B.C.E . For more than a decade, WMF has continued to implement the Babylon site management plan, undertaking conservation work at specific sites within the archaeological park such as assisting with the conservation and stabilization of the Lion of Babylon. Mike Gendron, Proclaiming The Gospel Ministries. Will people one day say of Babylon a city that didnt exist for much of the past 2,000 years Where is there another city as great as this? as John predicts in Revelation 18:18? The city was renowned for its majestic temples, hanging gardens, and temple towers. Babylon is called, "mother of prostitutes and of earth's abominations" in Revelation 17:5.Just as Satan is called the father of lies, the evil world system . . ARRAF: If Babylon's application to be a World Heritage Site is accepted, it would give Iraq's antiquities department more power to protect it. According to historians, Nechuchadnezzar relocated conquered people around the empire to keep them from organizing rebellions against him under his leadership, Babylon became the biggest and most modern city in the ancient world. FACT #6-- After the FINAL FALL of Babylon there will never again be any "PASSERS-BY", Her cities A land in which no man lives, And through which no son of man passes. Isaiah prophesied that when Babylon is destroyed by the Medes it will become as Sodom and Gomorrah, never to be rebuilt again. A fascinating story is being written in the shifting sands of Arabia. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. True, neither the city nor the country is what they will one day be. This winter normally peak season because of the cool weather the pandemic affected the numbers and about 10,000 came. Is America Babylon?6. If you took a trip to Babylon today, located 55 miles (85 kilometers) south of Baghdad, you'd see a tacky recreation built by Saddam Hussein in the 1970s that's been partially destroyed by decades of war. As some of its walls crumble, preservationists are fighting to preserve the past. What is the Place & Time of Babylon's Ultimate Destruction?5. The location is less than four miles from the Capitol Building 4. then Literal Babylon must Rise Again to meet its Final Fall in the future. FACT #1-- After the FINAL FALL there will Never Again be any Inhabitants. A new World Monuments Fund (WMF) project in Babylon, funded as part of a $3m donation by the US embassy in Baghdad first bestowed in 2018, aims to repair and restore the famed Ishtar Gate by this summer. Discover Babylon in Hillah, Iraq: Celebrated as a center of civilization, the remains of the ancient city have been nearly destroyed by greed, egoism, and war. PHOTOGRAPHIC PROOF of Visitors "passing through" Babylon 1. Cyrus II, the Persian conqueror, invaded Babylon, then largely ignored it during his rule. FACT #4-- After the FINAL FALL Babylon will be a "DESOLATE DESERT" Forever, But she will be completely desolate A parched land and a desert.. Jeremiah 50:13; 51:43. Iranian uranium enrichment reportedly dangerously close to nuclear bomb capability Its still-eerie, grandiose Hussein-era palaces and guesthouses are filled with international artists invited for the Babylon festival, and thousands of Iraqis flock here every month for parties, weddings and musical boat rides along the Euphrates river. But they were hardly the first encroachment. US soldiers take pictures of the Ishtar Gate in the ancient city of Babylon, on September 28, 2003. Babylon's remains, mounds of mud-brick buildings spread over about 30 square kilometers, are in present-day Iraq, south of Baghdad. It is a tale of greed, hubris, empire and religious persecution; also of human. The organisation also assisted with a Unesco World Heritage nomination for Babylon that culminated in its inscription in July 2019 and helped with the conservation and stabilisation of the Lion of Babylon. Kevin Phillips, the best-selling author and former Republican strategist, was one such skeptic, among many. I see 150-years of photographs and demographics, and I read current and historical accounts of Babylon. THEREFOREBabylon of Chaldea Must Rise Again. Babylon has seen it all. Skeptics and cynics abound, to be sure, but the fact is Babylon is being rebuilt right now, in part with U.S. taxpayer funds. During the reign of Saddam Hussein, major reconstruction was carried out at Babylon and an opulent palace was built on a hill overlooking the ancient city, parts of which were reconstructed. Widely known for its legendary Hanging Gardens, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, Babylon today is home to national treasures such as Ishtar Gate and the Lion of Babylon. ARRAF: You look around and you're surrounded by these 2,500-year-old walls with mythical creatures on them. Some who have presented the case for a rebuilt Babylon seem predisposed to the idea that . PHOTOGRAPHIC PROOF of Shepherds and Sheep at Babylon 6. The Palace, which is adjacent to the remains of the ancient city of Babylon, was purged of anything of value by looters as Saddam's regime fell in April 2003 Credit: Getty Images - Getty. Here is More PHOTOGRAPHIC PROOF of Inhabitants at Babylon SEE ALSO 2500-year Timeline of Inhabitants at Babylon, 2. Because King Nebuchadnezzar built palaces and temples on top of previous ones, there are entire layers of the city underground, and underwater. War. Allen argues that the bad restoration during Saddam Hussein's era and even the damage done by the military should be seen by UNESCO as another part of Babylon's history. Slowly but surely, we are seeing the Bible prophecies regarding Babyloncome to pass. Babylon-Stones founded and built Hillah, outgrowth city of Babylon. By the beginning of the 21st century, the site of the Hanging Gardens had not yet been conclusively established. Damage caused by military occupation is among the many ongoing challenges to the preservation of Babylon, along with illegal encroachments and large crowds of visitors. Babylon in ancient Mesopotamia was known as the site of one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. They are working assiduously to restore Babylon, home to one of the Seven Wonders of the World, and turn it into a cultural center and possibly even an Iraqi theme park., The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is pumping millions of dollars into protecting and restoringBabylon and a handful of other ancient ruins in Iraq, noted correspondentJeffrey Gettleman. Hours of Operation: Mon - Fri 8:00am - 8:00pm, "Jane and I both agreed that your presentation on Babylon was the best we had ever heard on the subject. How the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World Work. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Isaiah 13:19. Babylon was the capital city of the ancient Babylonian Empire, which itself is a term referring to either of two separate empires in the Mesopotamian area in antiquity. 600 Fifth Avenue A century ago, German archaeologists carted off the most significant parts of the city. The fall of Babylon was complete when the empire came under Persian control. Answer (1 of 2): Well, that is an extremely interesting and indeed important question after all, according to the book of revelation, the nation of Babylon is: " The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on. Now Iraqi officials are hoping to get back to the ambitious construction and investment plans they were hoping to pursue soon after the country was liberated from Saddam Hussein in the spring of 2003, and rebuilding Babylon is one of their most intriguing priorities. to relaunch art, culture and even the economy of Iraq by making Babylon a showcase of a new Iraq, Palestinian female basketball star joins Israeli Premier League, US official: Iran can produce fissile material for nuclear bomb in about 12 days, Egypt and Hungary Ink New Deals as Leaders Seek Closer Ties, Lebanons financial system is over, says economy minister, US Defense Secretary to visit Middle East in coming days: Pentagon, Iran enriched uranium at 83.7%, close to weapons grade: UN watchdog. But as has so often been the case for Babylon over the years, the biggest threats to the fragile site are human-made. Is Babylon still being rebuilt? Construction, too, has taken a toll over the years. It reminds me of the feeling I get when a Bible Study on Isaiah 13:19-20 concludes that "Original Babylon on the Euphrates River in Iraq has disappeared like Sodom and Gomorrah". . Arab dwellers 3. When Headlines Seem To Conflict With Prophecy, Peace & Safety Occurs at Death of 2 Witnesses. Much to the consternation of archaeologists, Saddam raised city walls of 38 feet (11.5 meters) and built a Roman-style arena on the ruins of old Babylon. I certainly understand such views, but I completely disagree with them. Verse Concepts. If this werent bad enough, record low oil prices in recent years as low as$20 a barrelin 2020 severely hampered any chance at a true and lasting recovery. 1. He also ordered parts of Babylon reconstructed, leading to most of the current conservation problems. ARRAF: The salt is from groundwater trapped by modern concrete, added in damaging 1980s reconstruction. Iraqi Jews are believed to have descended from the Jewish community, taken captive to Babilonia. It was located near the Euphrates River . Cultural tourism could become Iraqs second biggest industry, after oil, said Philippe Delanghe, a United Nations official helping with the project. https://allisrael.com/five-killed-and-15-wounded-in-alleged-israeli-airstrike-in-syria. Not only did this famous king successfully conquer or forge alliances with Babylon's fiercest enemies during his 43-year reign, but he also built Babylon (which comprised southern Mesopotamia and part of Assyria, now northern Iraq) into a showplace for innovations in engineering and criminal justice. But it's never been listed as a modern World Heritage Site by the United Nations. Therefore, Babylon's FINAL FALL is yet to happen in the Future. It will include 2.8 million square feet of new office space distributed across three 22-story buildings. (Jer 50:13, 26). Since there are a number of prophecies yet to be fulfilled regarding Babylon of Chaldea, then that is the "Babylon" we are focused on in this study--one may talk about other "Babylons", but it is Babylon of Chaldea that must rise up again to fulfill its Biblical prophecies. (Washington, D.C., June 29, 2009) -- Keep your eye on Iraq. Is Babylon being rebuilt 2020? If you believe in the Literal interpretation of Bible prophecy,1. then there is nothing more Literal when you affirm that. Is Babylon being rebuilt today? ARRAF: That damage is part of the reason Babylon hasn't met criteria of UNESCO, the U.N. culture organization, to list it as a World Heritage Site. Dave Roos The site of Babylon was first identified in the 1800s in what is now Iraq. In 2019, UNESCO designated Babylon as a World Heritage Site. Ellsworth Kelly Foundation generously supported the development of this site. Indeed, they began rebuilding the famed Ishtar Gates and the citys walls, as well as restore the city walls and some of its buildings. Babylon declined after it was occupied by Darius and has been totally destroyed; today it is like Sodom and Gomorrah - barren desert. Think of what life was like only 30-40 years ago. I also explained that the once-so-powerful nation of Babylon the country which we now call Iraq will one day rise to become the most wealthy and powerful nation in the world, according to Old and New Testament prophets and apostles. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. Ancient Babylon was an influential city that served as a center of Mesopotamian civilization for nearly two millennia, from roughly 2000 B.C. "And Babylon the Chaldeans' pride, Will be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. No-- the complete absence of Inhabitants at Babylon has never occurred. Even his castle, which overlooks the ruins, is now open to the public. No. The mud-brick walls were weakened by a Hussein-era concrete roof that they could not support, which collapsed in 1999, and a second mud roof that replaced it, which was damaged by post-invasion military occupation. This is another key event for everyone to really keep an eye on. On weekends the site is filled with Iraqi tourists from all over the country. Still, Iraqis though preoccupied with the countrys precarious security situation and pressing political and financial problems feel a deep connection here. Babylon must be Rebuilt so these six (6) prophecies can be literally fulfilled. This prophecy has never been fulfilled. FACT #5-- After the FINAL FALL of Babylon there will never again be any "SHEPHERDS", Nor will shepherds make their flocks lie down there. In February 2021, National Public Radio reportedon the state of tourism in Babylon. It will also train and employ local Iraqis in heritage conservation techniques., The Babylon festival was revived last year and the 2022 edition is taking place this month and features the famous Iraqi singer Ali Jasim Photo: Hadani Ditmars. It's a sad ending to such a fabled city. Iraq is now the fifthlargest producer of oil, Babylon was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As part of its work at Ishtar Gate and Ninmakh Temple, WMF continues to train locally employed technicians and conservators and to conduct outreach to craftspeople in nearby communities to facilitate their involvement in the preservation process. There are still three existing but non-functioning oil pipelines, two of which were built in the 1970s and 80s and the third of which is more recentwork on it was blocked after the SBAH filed a lawsuit in 2012. That new 'Tower of Babel' now exists in the form of the UN, but once again, the God of Creation has been excluded. From its very beginnings, the Future of Babylon project considered not only immediate conservation needs but also the future of heritage preservation in Iraq. The projects at the Ishtar Gate and Ninmakh Temple, launched in 2016 and 2019 respectively, will be the beneficiaries of the US embassy funding. Allen has been coming back to Babylon for nine years with the World Monuments Fund. It's not hard to believe that Old Testament authors may have modeled their Tower of Babel after the Marduk temple, known as the "house of the frontier between heaven and Earth.". Just days after Hammurabi's death, Babylon's old enemies declared their independence and readied their armies for invasion. One of Nebuchadnezzar's best-known construction projects was the temple of Marduk, which sat atop a 300-foot (91-meter) ziggurat accessible by a ramp that curved around its exterior. Meanwhile at the temple of Ninmakhthe Sumerian goddess said to have created man from a mixture of mud and the blood of a murdered godurgent repairs are underway to secure damaged walls before the next winter rains cause them to collapse. The nearest modern town is Hillah, which is the capital of the Governorate. We can only guess how deep it could be, said Dr. Pedersen, one of the worlds leading experts on the archaeology of Babylon. BABYLON, Iraq Ammar al-Taee, an Iraqi archaeologist, picked up a clay panel fallen from one of the ancient walls of Babylon. Copyright 2018 NPR. Collaborating with the Iraqi State Board of Antiquities and Heritage (SBAH) until 2015, the WMF performed extensive surveys and documentation and developed conservation plans. (Jeremiah 51:43. ( ) Previous . Workshops for SBAH members both on- and off-site through WMFs Iraq Cultural Heritage Conservation Initiative helped develop local capacity toward the future preservation of Babylon and sites across Iraq, working with local stakeholders to support their continued stewardship of these treasured places. It was great and terrible Nebuchadnezzar II who rebuilt Babylon as a magnificent paean to the creator god Marduk. Interpretation of Bible prophecy,1 Literal when you affirm that ancient city of Babylon, are... Salt is from groundwater trapped by modern concrete, added in damaging reconstruction. Century ago, German archaeologists carted off the most powerful king of the cool weather the pandemic the... Also 2500-year Timeline of Inhabitants at Babylon has never occurred is More PROOF! Website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information 6 ) prophecies can be literally.. Creator God Marduk the case for Babylon over the country is what they will day! 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