Babylon

Babylon was an ancient city in Mesopotamia. Today, it is a major archaeological site in the form of a field of ruins, including partial reconstructions for political or tourist purposes. It is located on the Euphrates River in what is now Iraq, some 100 km south of present-day Baghdad, near the modern city of Hilla.

Babylon occupies a special place because of the mythical character it acquired after its decline and abandonment in the first centuries AD. This myth is supported by several biblical accounts and by those of the Greco-Roman authors who described it. They ensured the city's long posterity, albeit often in a negative light.