Babylon Province

Babylon Province                                           It lies in the Middle Euphrates about 90 km south of Baghdad. It is the fifth biggest province in population.
The word Babylon is derived from the name the gate of god.It became an empire after the fall of the Sumerian empire. It was founded by King Hammurabi at 101 B.C. whose authority extended from the Gulf at the south to River Tigris in the north.Hammurabi's reign lasted for 43 years during which the Babylon Empire witnessed its great era. It was regarded as the golden era.It had the hanging Gardens which was considered as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The city had eight gates among which Ishtar Gate is the biggest. The important temple in the city is Murdoch's which is situated at the square of great religious festival. Babylon had several names such as Babylonia, which means the land of Babil, and Mesopotamia. Another interpretation is mentioned in the Genesis which referred to the Babylonians' attempt to make a name for themselves by building a mighty city and a tower "with its top in the heavens." God disrupted the work by so confusing the language of the workers that they could no longer understand one another. The province has six districts, namely, Al-Hilla, Al-Mahawil, Kotha, Al-Musayab, West Hamza and Al-/Hashimiya. The city is known for its various types of dates in addition to important types crops produced in the city like corn, barley and wheat.

Archaeological Sites in Babylon

The Ruins of Babylon
This site lies at about 5 km north of Hilla. The city of Babylon became the most famous city in the old and modern world especially during the reign of the Babylonian King, Nebuchadnezzar (605-562 BC. It became the symbol of Mesopotamia and one of the seven world wonders .

Ishtar Gate
This gate whose name refers to one of the gods of the city is known for its famous designed walls which were decorated with several drawings of mythical animals made from ceramic and colorful bronze. Those drawings have the forms of lions, calves, dragons and legendary Murdoch whose shape has a dog's body, a lion's front feet and a bird's back feet and both a tail and a head of a snake.

Lion of Babylon
This statue which was excavated by a German archaeological commission is made out of black basalt stone depicts a Mesopotamian lion standing above a lying human. The statue is two meters in length and the platform upon which it stands is one meter. It symbolizes the city's strength and authority over nations.

The Hanging Gardens
King Nebuchadnezzar ordered this site to be built for his bride..It as named the Hanging Gardens because its plants bend over the balconies, its considered one of the seven world wonders, plants were grown in different layers.

Hammurabi's Obelisk
It is one of the most important historical artifacts as it is the first written legal document ever written. This obelisk which is about eight metres high is made of diorite stele. Hammurabi's laws which include about 300 items deal with various issues including legislation, purchase, robbery, marriage, army and wages.

City of Borsibba
This archaeological site is about 15 km south west of Hilla on the road to Najaf. Its tower which rises 47 m high is a prominent landmark of the city. In addition to the tower, the city includes Nimrud ruins such as ziggurat and the birthplace of Abraham.

Tower of Babel
This archaeological site consisted of seven spiral layers. It contained palaces, temples and house.

Ruins of Kish These(Al-Ahemar Hill)
ruins are about 13 km from Hilla and 6 km east of the ruins of Babylon and have a ziggurat for Ayel Baba the god of war. Contemporary Museum of Hilla This museum which is built in the middle of Hilla includes both archaeological artifacts as well as traditional items.

Hilla Contemporary Museum
This museum established in the middle of Hilla to collect antiquities that carries the depth of ancient Babylonian civilization and Hilla old heritage to be witness on the cultural, intellectual and scientific history of Hilla archeological antiquities which belong to many civilizations of Babylon and the heritage of ancient Hilla.