Iraq to open the city of Babylon to tourists, first time since the 2003 US invasion - Polidicks

[quote]n recent years, the Iraqi authorities have reopened Babylon to tourists, hoping that one day the site will draw visitors from all over the globe. But despite the site's remarkable archaeological value and impressive views, it is drawing only a smattering of tourists, drawn by a curious mix of ancient and more recent history. The city -- just 85km (52 miles) south of Baghdad, about a two hour drive, dependent on checkpoints -- still bears the marks of ham-fisted attempts at restoration by former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, and a subsequent occupation by U.S. forces in 2003. "They occupied Babylon. They wouldn't let anyone in," says Hussein Saheb, a guard at the historical sites at Babylon, recalling the day U.S. tanks rolled into view, before forces set up camp.[/quote] [url]http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/04/world/meast/iraq-babylon-tourism/index.html?hpt=wo_bn8[/url]

anyone got a good picture of the place.?

[QUOTE=theevilldeadII;40190856]anyone got a good picture of the place.?[/QUOTE] This is what google gave me. Not entirely sure if it's Babylon, but I think it's a safe bet to be at least a portion [img]http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45206000/jpg/_45206461_-18.jpg[/img]

[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;40190878]This is what google gave me. Not entirely sure if it's Babylon, but I think it's a safe bet to be at least a portion [img]http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45206000/jpg/_45206461_-18.jpg[/img][/QUOTE] What a tourist attraction!

[QUOTE=laserguided;40190988]What a tourist attraction![/QUOTE] I know you're being sarcastic, but honestly I would still want to go and look around that.

[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;40190878]This is what google gave me. Not entirely sure if it's Babylon, but I think it's a safe bet to be at least a portion [img]http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45206000/jpg/_45206461_-18.jpg[/img][/QUOTE] I think its something a bit more like this [img]http://leecaijunyuystudio.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/babylon-reconstr-ishtar-gate-babylon.jpg[/img] I could be wrong though. This is again what Google gave me

[QUOTE=areolop;40191015]I think its something a bit more like this [img]http://leecaijunyuystudio.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/babylon-reconstr-ishtar-gate-babylon.jpg[/img] I could be wrong though. This is again what Google gave me[/QUOTE] A few thousand years off there, buddy.

I would love to go, hope I will some day in the future

[QUOTE=JCDentonUNATCO;40191039]A few thousand years off there, buddy.[/QUOTE] [T]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/78/Ishtar_Gate_Babylon_Iraq.jpg[/T] The ishtar gate's been reconstructed, although his image seems to be a rendition of what it looked like back then IIRC Babylon is under reconstruction right now, mostly unfinished though, most of the city is still in ruins.

On which picture is correct, the article says: [quote]Following excavations in the early 20th century, European archaeologists claimed key features [B]such as the remains of the famous Ishtar Gate[/B] -- the glazed brick gate decorated with images of dragons and aurochs, built in about 575 BC by order of King Nebuchadnezzar II as the eighth gate to the inner city. The[B] original now stands as part of a reconstruction of the gate in Berlin's Pergamon Museum[/B], whereas in Babylon itself, visitors enter through a replica. Yet remnants of Babylon's former glory remain, with sections of the city's walls still intact.[/quote]

[QUOTE=areolop;40191015]I think its something a bit more like this [img]http://leecaijunyuystudio.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/babylon-reconstr-ishtar-gate-babylon.jpg[/img] I could be wrong though. This is again what Google gave me[/QUOTE] Babylon hasn't looked like that for a while. Also, it looks too much like low-budget movie CGI to be considered real.

I wish for the infamous Babylon tower. Too bad it's either never existed or wasn't left over.

The historic influence of this city is incredible. Ancient Babylon in Mesopotomia was literally where human progress began. The agricultural revolution started here and spread across the world starting nearly all cultures.

My Archeologist friends are getting more and more excited about going back to Iraq after the 2003 invasion. Especially since they were just kicked out of Libya and Syria a few years back. All we need now is for Jerusalem to stop being occupied territory so that archeologists can get back to work.

[QUOTE=Rangergxi;40191237]The agricultural revolution started here and spread across the world starting nearly all cultures.[/QUOTE] No it didn't. It arose independently at several times throughout the world, and didn't spread out from Babylon. Human progress began with the specialization of labour.

[QUOTE=JCDentonUNATCO;40191039]A few thousand years off there, buddy.[/QUOTE] I saw the facade in Berlin, it's actually in very good condition.

[QUOTE=Bumgall;40191137][T]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/78/Ishtar_Gate_Babylon_Iraq.jpg[/T] The ishtar gate's been reconstructed, although his image seems to be a rendition of what it looked like back then IIRC Babylon is under reconstruction right now, mostly unfinished though, most of the city is still in ruins.[/QUOTE] I don't know if they're still rebuilding it to be honest, that was Saddam's project, that probably ended with him.

All this hoopla just to look at a reconstruction of the last Babylon station? [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/OytmIJo.jpg[/IMG]

[QUOTE=carcarcargo;40192772]I don't know if they're still rebuilding it to be honest, that was Saddam's project, that probably ended with him.[/QUOTE] IIRC, he managed to rebuild it (and put himself all over it) As a history student though, I'd love to see Babylon. Of course, they're not going to have much success drawing in tourists at this point.

[QUOTE=areolop;40191015]I think its something a bit more like this [img]http://leecaijunyuystudio.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/babylon-reconstr-ishtar-gate-babylon.jpg[/img] I could be wrong though. This is again what Google gave me[/QUOTE] The original gate has been destroyed for thousands of years. The Germans stole the remains in the colonial era and recreated it in the middle of berlin, mostly out of it's original material. You can still see the ''original'' in the pergamon museum in Berlin. Surprisingly it didn't got blown to smithereens in WW2 unlike most of the Pergamon's collection

[QUOTE=cheezey;40196767]The original gate has been destroyed for thousands of years. The Germans stole the remains in the colonial era and recreated it in the middle of berlin, mostly out of it's original material. You can still see the ''original'' in the pergamon museum in Berlin. Surprisingly it didn't got blown to smithereens in WW2 unlike most of the Pergamon's collection[/QUOTE] The reconstruction is beautiful: [img_thumb]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e3/Ishtar_Gate_at_Berlin_Museum.jpg[/img_thumb]

[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;40190878]This is what google gave me. Not entirely sure if it's Babylon, but I think it's a safe bet to be at least a portion [img]http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45206000/jpg/_45206461_-18.jpg[/img][/QUOTE] I literally thought to myself "Damn, looks like even the historical events were bombed" How foolish I was

by the rivers of babylon where he sat down with a tourist I had no idea they closed stuff off. I'm really out of touch with the eastern world.

Well that's good that it didn't get blown up

[QUOTE=Kinversulath;40196648]IIRC, he managed to rebuild it (and put himself all over it) As a history student though, I'd love to see Babylon. Of course, they're not going to have much success drawing in tourists at this point.[/QUOTE] Well no he started to rebuild it but it never got finished due to being invaded.