The Acropolis at Babylon: A Reconstruction during the Late 6th Century B.C.

Abstract

This thesis reconstructs the royal Acropolis at Babylon and selected adjacent areas as they likely appeared during the late 6th century B.C. Today, all that remains of Babylon is scant archaeological ruins of building foundations. It is difficult to appreciate that the site had been home to even a provincial town, much less one of the most magnificent capital cities the Middle East has ever known. Through the use of archaeological reports and iconography, the author analyzed the architecture to determine the most probable appearance of Babylon’s lost monuments. The product of this research reconstructed the massive palatial complexes and their defensive enclosures in the form of a three-dimensional digitized AutoCAD model. This interpretation postulates the most accurate portrayal of the Babylonian Acropolis during the height of its occupation. By examining the fortifying architecture, this study offers a unique perspective into the defensive nature of the Babylonian mindset and through it shows how Babylon came to be considered one of the marvels of its time.