Iraq contains the ancient city of Babylon, famous for the Ishtar Gate. Babylon stood near the modern city of Hillah, south of Baghdad, on the Euphrates River. It became the capital of the Babylonian Empire and reached great prominence under King Nebuchadnezzar II in the sixth century BCE.
The Ishtar Gate was constructed during Nebuchadnezzar’s reign using blue-glazed bricks decorated with images of bulls and dragons. A reconstructed version is displayed in the Pergamon Museum in Berlin, while the archaeological site remains in Iraq. Babylon was also associated with monumental buildings, including the processional way and temples.
The biblical Tower of Babel is traditionally linked with Babylon, but the ancient city’s historical monuments and religious traditions are distinct from later literary interpretations. Babylon was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2019.