above its junction with the Tigris, which flowed through its midst and
divided it into two almost equal parts. The Elamites invaded Chaldea (i.e.,
Lower Mesopotamia, or Shinar, and Upper Mesopotamia, or Accad, now
combined into one) and held it in subjection. At length Khammu-rabi
delivered it from the foreign yoke, and founded the new empire of Chaldea
(q.v.), making Babylon the capital of the united kingdom. This city
gradually grew in extent and grandeur, but in process of time it became
subject to Assyria. On the fall of Nineveh (B.C. 606) it threw off the
Assyrian yoke, and became the capital of the growing Babylonian empire.
Under Nebuchadnezzar it became one of the most splendid cities of the
ancient world.
After passing through various vicissitudes the city was occupied by
Cyrus, “king of Elam,” B.C. 538, who issued a decree permitting the Jews
to return to their own land (Ezra 1). It then ceased to be the capital of an
empire. It was again and again visited by hostile armies, till its inhabitants
were all driven from their homes, and the city became a complete
desolation, its very site being forgotten from among men.
On the west bank of the Euphrates, about 50 miles south of Bagdad, there
is found a series of artificial mounds of vast extent. These are the ruins of
this once famous proud city. These ruins are principally (1) the great
mound called Babil by the Arabs. This was probably the noted Temple of
Belus, which was a pyramid about 480 feet high. (2) The Kasr (i.e., “the
palace”). This was the great palace of Nebuchadnezzar. It is almost a
square, each side of which is about 700 feet long. The little town of Hillah,
near the site of Babylon, is built almost wholly of bricks taken from this
single mound. (3) A lofty mound, on the summit of which stands a modern
tomb called Amran ibn-Ali. This is probably the most ancient portion of
the remains of the city, and represents the ruins of the famous
hanging-gardens, or perhaps of some royal palace. The utter desolation of
the city once called “The glory of kingdoms” (Isaiah 13:19) was foretold
by the prophets (Isaiah 13:4-22; Jeremiah 25:12; 50:2, 3; Daniel 2:31-38).
The Babylon mentioned in 1 Peter 5:13 was not Rome, as some have
thought, but the literal city of Babylon, which was inhabited by many
Jews at the time Peter wrote.
In Revelation 14:8; 16:19; 17:5; and 18:2, “Babylon” is supposed to mean
Rome, not considered as pagan, but as the prolongation of the ancient