babylon posts
by Sean McLachlan (RSS feed) (2 months ago)
Mar 12th, 2013 at 1:00PM:
The famous Cyrus Cylinder, a baked clay tablet from the 6th century B.C. that's often called the "first bill of rights," has made its U.S. debut at the Smithsonian's Arthur M. Sackler Gallery in Washington, D.C.
The Cyrus Cylinder was deposited in the foundations of a building in Babylon during the reign of the Persian king Cyrus the Great. It commemorates his conquest of Babylon and ...
by Sean McLachlan (RSS feed) (5 months ago)
Nov 30th, 2012 at 10:00AM:
Iraq is an ancient land. It's seen a lot of civilizations come and go and each one has left behind spectacular monuments and rare treasures. On a recent visit, I had the privilege to experience many of these sites. Last time, I talked about the monuments of the Assyrian Empire. Today, I want to talk about three more of Iraq's ancient wonders.
Perhaps the most famous is Babylon. It was the ...
by Sean McLachlan (RSS feed) (6 months ago)
Nov 21st, 2012 at 10:00AM:
The name "Babylon" brings up two associations – that of an ancient city in Iraq, and of a place of sin and decadence. It's only fitting then that Saddam Hussein erected one of his palaces on a hill overlooking the ancient site of Babylon.
This is only one of 70 such palaces, many built during the UN sanctions while Saddam's people were short on food and medicine. Many Iraqis complained ...
by Sean McLachlan (RSS feed) (12 months ago)
May 29th, 2012 at 10:00AM: Babylon in Iraq is one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world. A Mesopotamian capital that flourished for centuries, it was home to Hammurabi (1792-1750 B.C.) who introduced the world's first known set of laws, and Nebuchadnezzar (604-562 B.C.) who built the famed Hanging Gardens of Babylon.
Time has taken its toll, and so has the modern world. Saddam Hussein decided to rebuild ...
by Sean McLachlan (RSS feed) (3 years ago)
Feb 7th, 2010 at 1:00PM: Iran's national museum has cut off ties with the British Museum because of a controversy over a 2,500 year-old cuneiform tablet called the Cyrus cylinder. One of the most important artifacts from Persian civilization, the cylinder was supposed to be loaned to Iran but the loan has been delayed. Iran says the delay is politically motivated, but the British Museum says they need to compare the ...
by Grant Martin (RSS feed) (4 years ago)
Jan 2nd, 2009 at 3:30PM: Winter's special exhibition at the British Museum, Babylon: Myth and Reality, is up and running and will be open until March 15th. Inside, the collection details the rise and fall of the ancient city, highlighting on the reign of Nebuchadnezzar and pulling from biblical, ancient and even modern references. You'll see 16th century artist's renditions of the Tower of Babel, Hanging Gardens, various ...
by Grant Martin (RSS feed) (4 years ago)
Jul 21st, 2008 at 5:00PM: The Dalmatian Coast and Marrakech are so 2007 -- you aren't a real hipster traveler until you've visited Iraq's newly accesible tourist destination: Najaf. Officially opening its doors this month, Al-Hamza airport was just revamped by Kuwaiti investors and is now geared towards bringing in tourist dollars. Najaf, a southern city in Iraq, is home to the shrine of Iman Ali, the son-in-law of the ...