Visiting Babylon

Summary

The World Monuments Fund discusses the ancient site of Babylon, highlighting its historical significance and current state. Despite its humble appearance, Babylon's mud-brick structures and famous Ishtar Gate evoke its past grandeur. The site, once a bustling center of learning and arts, is now a tranquil location with modern settlements nearby. The Fund aims to preserve Babylon for future generations, balancing tourism with conservation and archaeological research.

Takeaways

• 🏛️ Babylon is an ancient site with a rich history, often mentioned in the Bible and known for the Tower of Babel and the Hanging Gardens, one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world.
• 🌟 Despite its fame, the site is surprisingly humble in appearance, primarily constructed with mud-brick, which contrasts with the grandeur often associated with Babylon.
• 📜 The World Monuments Fund has been working on the site for seven years, focusing on preservation, site management, and creating a sustainable plan for future tourism and archaeological excavations.
• 🏞️ The site is situated along a beautiful bend of the Euphrates River, which was key to its desirability as a settlement in antiquity due to its fertile land and trade route location.
• 🏘️ Babylon has been continuously occupied for thousands of years, with modern communities living adjacent to the ancient ruins, showing the site's ongoing cultural significance.
• 🌐 Before the early 2000s invasion, Babylon was Iraq's most visited site, reflecting its importance to both historical and contemporary Iraqi society.
• 🔍 The site was first excavated in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by Robert Koldewey, with many artifacts now housed in museums worldwide, including the Ishtar Gate in Berlin.
• 🛠️ There have been concerns about the reconstruction and restoration efforts, particularly those undertaken by Saddam Hussein, which may not have been based on scientific archaeology.
• 🌿 The site is not a static museum but a living environment, with natural elements like birds and local produce adding to the visitor experience.
• 🌟 Babylon's preservation and future are in the hands of international cooperation, with the World Monuments Fund and the Iraq State Board of Antiquities and Heritage working together to ensure its historical integrity and accessibility.

Q & A

What is the significance of the ancient site of Babylon?

Babylon is significant as it conjures up images of the ancient world, famous achievements, and notable people. It is historically known for the Tower of Babel, Hammurabi's Code of Laws, and the Hanging Gardens, which was one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world.

What is the current state of the Babylon site?

The Babylon site is described as humble-looking, primarily mud-brick construction with simple technologies. It features raised brick animal figures but lacks the grandeur that many might expect from its historical reputation.

How has Babylon been a center of learning and arts?

During the Neo-Babylonian period, Babylon was a center for learning and the arts, with Nebuchadnezzar rebuilding the walls, constructing luxurious palaces, and making it an imperial capital.

What is the natural environment like around Babylon?

The Babylon site is situated along a particularly beautiful bend of the Euphrates River, lined with palm trees. It can be very green and lush at certain times of the year, but also experiences sandstorms.

How has the World Monuments Fund been involved with Babylon?

The World Monuments Fund has been working on the Babylon site for seven years, focusing on creating a site management plan, conducting condition surveys, and developing conservation plans to prepare for future tourism and archaeological excavations.

What was the impact of the early 2000's invasion on Babylon?

Before the invasion in the early 2000's, Babylon was the most visited site in Iraq. The invasion likely disrupted tourism and possibly affected the preservation efforts of the site.

How has the local community interacted with the Babylon site?

Despite the lack of international tourism, local Iraqis still visit the Babylon site for leisure activities like walking along the river or picnicking, indicating a continued cultural connection.

What are some of the challenges in preserving and restoring Babylon?

Challenges include the political instability affecting the site's preservation, the need to balance tourism with site protection, and concerns about past restorations that may not have been scientifically driven.

What is the historical context of the Ishtar Gate and its excavation?

The Ishtar Gate was excavated in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by Robert Koldewey, with many artifacts ending up in museums worldwide. The gate's predecessor still exists on the site, and it was part of a layered structure with multiple historical重建.

What was Saddam Hussein's role in the rebuilding of Babylon?

Saddam Hussein undertook recent rebuilding efforts at Babylon, viewing himself as a successor to Nebuchadnezzar. However, these efforts have raised concerns about their scientific integrity and motivations.

How does the Babylon site reflect the broader trends in archaeological preservation?

Babylon reflects the pendulum swing in archaeological site management, from heavy reconstruction for understanding to minimal intervention to preserve a pure state. The site's history shows periods of excavation, reconstruction, and restoration efforts influenced by both scientific and political factors.

Outlines

00:00

🏺 Babylon's Ancient Legacy and Modern Presence

The script introduces Babylon, an ancient site with historical significance from the Bible's Tower of Babel. Despite its legendary past, Babylon is described as a humble site with mud-brick structures. The World Monuments Fund has been working on the site for seven years, uncovering its history of famous figures like Hammurabi and Nebuchadnezzar, and its cultural achievements like the Hanging Gardens. The site's location along the Euphrates River and its lush surroundings are highlighted, contrasting with the image of sandstorms. The script also discusses the site's continuous occupation and modern-day use by locals for leisure, reflecting its enduring importance. Efforts by the World Monuments Fund include creating a site management plan, conducting condition surveys, and developing conservation plans to prepare for future tourism and archaeological work.

05:01

🏛️ The Complex History of Babylon's Excavation and Restoration

This paragraph delves into the history of Babylon's excavation, which began in the late 19th century and continued through various periods, including significant work in the 1950s and 1960s. The 1970s and 1980s saw extensive reconstruction and restoration, which has raised concerns about the scientific integrity of the work, especially under Saddam Hussein's regime. The paragraph contrasts the site's appearance in the 1920s and 1930s with its uniform look in the 1980s, suggesting a shift in restoration philosophy. The discussion touches on the broader debate about archaeological site preservation, ranging from heavy reconstruction to preservation in a pure state. The script concludes with a hope for visitors to experience Babylon's grandeur and to appreciate the living connection between the ancient and modern worlds at the site.

Keywords

💡Babylon

Babylon refers to an ancient city located in what is now Iraq, renowned for its historical significance and architectural marvels. In the video, Babylon is depicted as a site rich in cultural heritage and archaeological interest, with mentions of famous structures like the Tower of Babel and the Hanging Gardens. The script discusses the site's current state, its historical importance, and the ongoing efforts to preserve and restore it.

💡World Monuments Fund

The World Monuments Fund is an international organization dedicated to the preservation of historic architecture and cultural heritage sites. In the context of the video, the World Monuments Fund has been actively involved in the conservation and management of the Babylon site for seven years, highlighting their role in maintaining the site's historical integrity and promoting sustainable tourism.

💡Hammurabi

Hammurabi was the sixth king of the Babylonian Empire, famous for his code of laws, which is one of the earliest and most complete written legal codes. The script mentions Hammurabi in relation to his building campaign and the Code of Laws, emphasizing his contributions to the development and legacy of Babylon.

💡Nebuchadnezzar

Nebuchadnezzar II was a king of the Neo-Babylonian Empire who is known for his grand building projects, including the reconstruction of Babylon's walls and palaces. The video discusses his role in Babylon's history, particularly in the context of the site's architectural grandeur and its status as an imperial capital.

💡Hanging Gardens of Babylon

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon are considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The script alludes to these gardens as a symbol of Babylon's past splendor and its significance as a center for learning and the arts. The gardens are used to illustrate the opulence and innovation of ancient Babylonian civilization.

💡Mud-brick

Mud-brick is a simple construction material made from mud, often used in ancient times due to its availability and ease of use. In the video, the use of mud-brick in Babylon's construction is highlighted, contrasting the site's grandeur with the humbleness of its building materials. This serves to underscore the ingenuity of ancient builders and the enduring nature of the structures.

💡Euprates

The Euprates, or Euphrates, is a river in Western Asia that played a significant role in the development of the ancient civilizations in the region. The video describes the Euprates as a beautiful bend lined with palm trees, emphasizing its role in making Babylon a desirable settlement due to its fertile land and trade route advantages.

💡Saddam Hussein

Saddam Hussein was the former President of Iraq who ruled from 1979 until 2003. The script mentions Hussein's rebuilding efforts at Babylon, suggesting that he saw himself as a successor to Nebuchadnezzar. This highlights the political motivations behind some of the site's restorations and the complex relationship between history, politics, and archaeology.

💡Archaeological conservation

Archaeological conservation involves the preservation and protection of historical sites and artifacts. The video discusses the work of the World Monuments Fund in creating conservation plans for Babylon, emphasizing the importance of balancing tourism with the need to protect and maintain the site's historical and cultural significance.

💡Robert Koldewey

Robert Koldewey was a German archaeologist who led excavations at Babylon in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The script references Koldewey's work, noting that much of what he excavated ended up in museums worldwide, including the famous Ishtar Gate in Berlin. This highlights the historical context of archaeological practices and the global distribution of Babylon's cultural heritage.

💡Ishtar Gate

The Ishtar Gate is a famous entrance to the ancient city of Babylon, named after the Babylonian goddess Ishtar. The video mentions the Ishtar Gate as an example of Babylon's architectural achievements, noting that its predecessor still exists on the site. This serves to illustrate the layered history of Babylon and the ongoing process of archaeological discovery and preservation.

Highlights

The ancient site of Babylon is a humble-looking site made of mud-brick, contrary to the grand images it conjures.

World Monuments Fund has been working on the Babylon site for seven years, learning about its history and significance.

Babylon was a center for learning and the arts, and home to one of the Seven Wonders, the Hanging Gardens.

The site is located along a beautiful bend of the Euphrates River, which was key to its desirability in antiquity.

Despite appearances, the site has been continuously occupied for thousands of years, with modern settlements nearby.

Before the early 2000s invasion, Babylon was the most visited site in Iraq, deeply loved by Iraqis.

The World Monuments Fund aims to make Babylon a sustainable site for tourism and future archaeological excavations.

The Fund works with the Iraq State Board of Antiquities and Heritage to create a site management plan and conservation plans.

Many of the excavated artifacts from Babylon are now in museums worldwide, such as the Ishtar Gate in Berlin.

The monumentality of Babylon is evident in the scale of its walls, which are meters thick and 20 feet high.

Saddam Hussein undertook recent rebuilding efforts, viewing himself as a successor to Nebuchadnezzar.

There are concerns about the scientific integrity of restorations and rebuildings under Hussein's regime.

The pendulum of archaeological site preservation swings between heavy reconstruction and preservation in a pure state.

Babylon's history includes periods of excavation and reconstruction, with significant activity in the 1950s, 60s, and 70s-80s.

The site's current state is a mix of ancient ruins and modern life, with local communities and visitors coexisting.

The World Monuments Fund envisions a future where international tourism returns to Babylon, experiencing its grandeur and scale.

Visitors to Babylon can expect a dynamic experience, with the site's ancient history juxtaposed with the lively present.

Transcripts

(soft piano music)

- [Voiceover] I'm here in the offices

of the World Monuments Fund

and we're gonna talk about

the ancient site of Babylon.

That so many of us have heard of

from the Bible, we've heard of the story of the

Tower of Babel which may have come from

a ziggurat in ancient Babylon.

But what is it like to visit Babylon today?

- [Voiceover] It's great to talk about Babylon

'cause it's one of my favorite places.

We've learned a lot in the seven years that

World Monuments Fund has been working on the site.

Babylon conjures up these great images

of the ancient world, and many achievements,

and famous people.

But it actually is a very humble-looking site.

People are often shocked that it's mud-brick,

that it's simple construction technologies

and except for the raised brick animal figures

that are very famous,

the rest of it doesn't look the way we expect.

- [Voiceover] We read about Hammurabi

and his building campaign

and his Code of Laws, and then later,

during the period that we call Neo-Babylonia,

when Nebuchadnezzar rebuilt the walls

and made luxurious palaces

and how it was this center for learning

and the arts.

And the site of one of the Seven Wonders

of the ancient world,

the Hanging Gardens of Babylon

and an imperial capital.

- [Voiceover] I think it's beautiful in so many ways.

It's a long, particularly beautiful bend

of the Euprates, lined with palm trees

and certain times of the year,

very green and lush.

Other times of the year, sandstorms,

but I think that's what made it

a desirable settlement and antiquity

that you could grow things very easily

and it was clearly along a trade route.

- [Voiceover] And we know that the site

has been occupied for thousands of years.

People still live adjacent to the ruins today.

- [Voiceover] One of the great surprises

of the site is we think

that these sites are abandoned.

Because we look at the ruins

and we don't see people living right there,

but in fact, less than a 30 minute walk away

from the most famous parts of the site

are agricultural communities

and thriving modern settlements.

Before the invasion in the early 2000's,

this was the most visited site in all of Iraq.

And virtually every Iraqi, at some point,

during either his or her schooling

or in their adult life, came to Babylon.

And so it's a site that people really loved

and even today, where there is not

international tourism,

Iraqis still come to the site.

And a lot of them come just to take a walk

along the river or picnic.

So it's great to see people using the site

even amidst the chaos we have today.

- [Voiceover] Part of the work

of the World Monuments Fund

is to, when things settle down politically,

to make this a place that people can come visit.

And to make it a place that's sustainable

for tourism, while still protecting the site.

and making future archaeological excavations possible.

- [Voiceover] We were invited by the

Iraq State Board of Antiquities and Heritage

in 2007 to work with them

to do several things.

One was to create a site management plan.

One was to do condition surveys,

and the final element,

which is what we're doing today,

is to develop conservation plans

that we're implementing on site.

And very much with an idea

that international tourism

will return to Iraq before too long.

And one of the things we're working on right now

is developing tourism paths.

And in the meantime, we work very intensively

with a group of

State Board Antiquity employees at Babylon.

Archaeologists, engineers, architects, conservators,

and then our international experts

come and go as needed on the site.

- [Voiceover] So the site was excavated

in the early 20th century,

very late 19th century by Robert Koldewey.

Much of what he excavated,

ended up in museums around the world

including most famously,

the amazingly beautiful enormous Ishtar Gate

which is in the Pergamon Museum in Berlin.

But quite a bit still remains on the site.

- [Voiceover] There are dozens of buildings

that were excavated that are still

visible on the site.

And even the Ishtar Gate,

in fact, its predecessor is still there on the site.

So what was taken away to Berlin

was a top layer.

And then it turns out that there are

two more layers of the Gate.

So they just kept building on top.

So you were asking me about

what it's like to visit the site today

and I think one of the great surprises

is even though mud-brick

is a very humble material,

the monumentality of the site

is in the scale.

So you look at these walls

and they are meters and meters thick

and they are 20 feet high.

- [Voiceover] Talking a minute ago about

the rebuilding that happened

several times in antiquity,

but there's recent rebuilding by

Saddam Hussein who saw himself

as a heir to Nebchadnezzar,

the sixth century ruler of Babylon.

And then there have been restoration efforts

that have gone on in the 20th century

since the discovery of the location of Babylon.

- [Voiceover] Well I think Babylon has a

history like many sites in Europe and the Middle East.

It was excavated at the end of the 19th century,

spilling into the early 20th century.

Then because of World War I,

excavation activity stopped.

Then between the wars

it resumed a little bit again.

And then there was quite a bit

of activity in the 50's and 60's.

Then, in the 1970's and 80's was when

there were a lot of reconstructions

and a lot of restoration efforts on the site.

One of the things that you can see

if you look at before and after images,

so there's the palace, which we can see

what it looked like in the 1920's and 30's.

And then you see in the 1980's that

what were ragged footprints of buildings

have now all been made very uniform.

And so that's a little bit of a concern

to understand exactly

how the reconstruction was undertaken.

- [Voiceover] So some concern that

the restorations that happened

and the rebuilding that happened

under Hussein, were not undertaken

with the kind of scientific archaeology

that would be ideal in the 21st century.

- [Voiceover] It's not just Babylon

that suffers from this.

There's a taste that ebbs and flows

about how we look at archaeological sites.

So at one end of the pendulum is

very heavy reconstruction so that we

understand what we're looking at

and the other end of the pendulum is

do nothing and leave it in a pure state.

I think here we don't necessarily know enough

about how the decisions were made

and it does appear to have been made

more for political than scientific reasons.

- [Voiceover] To get a real sense of

that imperial city and it's scale

and what it meant in the ancient eras,

we'd have to go.

- [Voiceover] I hope that we all have that chance.

I think what will happen if you do get to go,

is not just that sense of grandeur and scale

about the ancient world,

but I think what you'll find fascinating

is the world we see today at Babylon.

That it's not a static museum experience.

It's the birds that fly overhead,

it's the dates we might find on the ground,

it's the honey we might buy from local residents,

and it's wandering around the site

and imagining both the ancient world

and maybe thinking about

where we're going to go and relax

later in the day sitting by the river,

enjoying a beautiful vista that I think people

have enjoyed for 5,000 years.

(upbeat piano music)