How did Babylon use quays and warehouses to support river trade?

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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 A reconstruction of the Ishtar Gate at the ruins of Babylon, near modern Al-Ḥillah, Iraq.

In ancient Babylon, the Euphrates served as a vital artery for commerce. Along the riverbanks, particularly in the vicinity of the Esagila temple, the city maintained quays specifically designed to accommodate trading vessels.1

These quays facilitated the movement of goods into the city, supporting Babylon’s role as a major entrepôt for trade with southern Babylonia. While archaeological evidence of the city's central area is limited, textual records confirm the existence of warehouses that were essential for storing the goods arriving via these river routes, allowing the city to manage and distribute the flow of trade effectively.1