Downtown Babylon

Painting: AI/Stephen M. Miller. Stepped ziggurat known as the Tower of Babel.

Babylon, world-famous capital city

Babylon was one of the most famous cities in ancient history, especially during the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar II, who ruled from 605 to 562 B.C. Located along the Euphrates River in what is now Iraq, Babylon became the center of a powerful empire under Nebuchadnezzar’s leadership. He is best known for his military conquests, including the capture of Jerusalem, as well as his grand building projects. [AI art.]

Nebuchadnezzar’s stunning town

One of Nebuchadnezzar’s most notable achievements was the transformation of Babylon into a city of stunning beauty and strength. The city was famous for its massive walls, which some ancient sources claimed were wide enough for chariots to race on top of them. Inside the walls were magnificent temples, palaces, and public spaces. The most iconic structure was the ziggurat known as the Tower of Babel, which was a massive, stepped pyramid meant to connect heaven and earth.

Babylon’s Hanging Gardens

Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylon was also famous for the Hanging Gardens, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. While historians debate whether the gardens truly existed, the story goes that Nebuchadnezzar built them to please his queen, who missed the lush greenery of her homeland. Under Nebuchadnezzar, Babylon became a hub of culture, art, and trade. The city was a melting pot of different peoples and religions, making it a vibrant place to live. However, Nebuchadnezzar is also remembered in the Bible for his pride and the eventual fall of Babylon, which came after his reign.

Where to find more Bible maps

The Casual English Bible® has more than 900 Bible maps, many in 3D style. You can search for maps by place name, such as "Sea of Galilee."

Dedicated Bible map search engine

But you can also search for maps by Bible book, such as searching for all the maps in the book of Joshua. In addition, you can search by country, region, or era on a timeline, such as when Israel had kings or when Jesus was on earth. Here's a link to the dedicated Map Search Engine.

Downtown Babylon