PRESENTATION OUTLINE
Etemenanki or The Tower of Babel (as in the Bible) was found in the center of Babylon. It was built in 1772 BC. It was used as a monastery and a temple of worship. The priests used it to observed the stars as well. There is very little of this great temple remaining.
The hanging garden of Babylon was located right off of the Euphrates River. It was built in 600 BC for the ruler's wife. After it was used for pure enjoyment of the Babylonians. The Hanging Gardens is one of the seven ancient wonders of the world.
The Lion of Babylon was a representation of the king's power. It was found on the Ishtar wall. It is thought to be almost three thousand years old.
Hammurabi's Code of Law was a document that set the limits and the boundaries of the Babylonians. It also described the punishment of a certain crime. It was found in Khūzestān, Iran. It is now in the Louvre Museum in Paris, France.
The Epic of Gilgamesh was a story similar to the Biblical story of "Noah's Ark." Although similar to "Noah's Ark", the Epic of Gilgamesh was written centuries before. It is divided into five parts and is considered to be the first great work of literature.
The Star of Venus or the Star of Ishtar was originating in Babylon in around two-thousand B.C.E. It was represented as an eight pointed star on a Babylonian seal around ninth century B.C.E. It is a symbol for the goddess Ishtar, who was basically Venus from Roman myth.
The Ishtar Gate was the eighth gate to the city of Babylon dedicated to the goddess Ishtar. It was built around 575 B.C.E. ordered by King Nebuchadnezzar II. It was covered in animals such as the LION OF BABYLON. It was used for protection from invading nations or factions and an entryway to the city.
JEHOIACHIN'S RATION TABLET
Jehoiachin's Ration Tablet was a document used to serve amounts of food to certain individuals. It was created roughly in 595-570 B.C.E. and it was discovered in the early nineteen hundreds around the Ishtar Gate.
The Babylonians observed the stars. They had recorded their observations on tabs like these. They had noticed Jupiter, Saturn and Venus which they thought were gods. This tablet is a Babylonian observation of Halley's Comet that passed by in 164 B.C.E.
