Neo-Babylonian empire: Quick Facts

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Facts

Also Known As	Chaldean Empire
Date	626 BCE - 539

Photos

Map showing the Neo-Babylonian Empire at its greatest extent, highlighted in green, stretching from the eastern Mediterranean coast and Egypt through the Syrian Desert, Mesopotamia, and Babylonia to the Persian Gulf. Major rivers like the Euphrates and Tigris, and mountain ranges such as the Taurus and Zagros, are labeled. Key ancient cities including Babylon, Jerusalem, Nineveh, Ur, Uruk, Susa, Tyre, Ashkelon, Harran, and Carchemish are marked within the empire's territory.

Woodcut of King Nebuchadnezzar II wearing a crown and holding a sword, with flowing robes and a shield, captioned with his name at the top in Gothic script.

depiction of Nabonidus

The reconstructed Ishtar Gate stands tall with blue glazed bricks and rows of golden animal reliefs, as visitors walk and observe inside the Pergamon Museum in Berlin.

Glazed-brick decoration

Hanging Gardens of Babylon

D.W. Griffith: Intolerance

Historical map showing ancient Mesopotamia with labeled locations of major archaeological and historical sites. Symbols and color codes indicate sites from the prehistoric era, Sumerian-Akkadian culture, Babylonian and Neo-Babylonian eras, Assyrian civilization, Hurrian era, late Persian, Greek, and Parthian eras, as well as marshland areas. The map covers the region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, including present-day Iraq and surrounding areas.

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Mesopotamian art and architecture: Neo-Babylonian period

Reconstructed Ishtar Gate at Babylon near Al-Hillah, Iraq, featuring blue walls decorated with rows of yellow and white animal reliefs and a central arched entrance.

Babylon

ancient city, Mesopotamia, Asia

ancient Middle East

ancient Middle East

historical region, Asia