Babylon

Babylon is the ancient Mesopotamian city located on the Euphrates in present-day Iraq, notable for its role as a major cultural and political centre in antiquity. The city reached its most famous form under Nebuchadnezzar II in the 6th century BCE and contains substantial archaeological remains.

Remains at the site include stretches of the city walls, foundations and paved routes interpreted as the Processional Way, and traces of monumental palace and temple complexes. Visitors explore exposed ruins and interpretive signage across an extensive archaeological footprint measuring several square kilometres, with visible features aligned along ancient urban axes.

Babylon developed over many centuries as a political and religious centre in Mesopotamia and was rebuilt and embellished by successive rulers, most prominently by Nebuchadnezzar II (reigned 605-562 BCE). The site experienced cycles of occupation, rebuilding and eventual decline, with extensive archaeological investigation beginning in the 19th and 20th centuries.

The site sits on the plains of central Iraq beside the modern city of Hillah and is approximately 80-90 km south of Baghdad by road, set within an agricultural landscape shaped by irrigation from the Euphrates.

• Key remains: The archaeological remains include city walls, the Processional Way and foundations attributed to Babylon's major building phases, notably under Nebuchadnezzar II in the 6th century BCE.
• Location relative to Baghdad: Situated on the banks of the Euphrates, the site lies a short drive west of the modern city of Hillah and roughly 80-90 km south of Baghdad, making it accessible from regional centres.