UNESCO recognized Babylon as a World Heritage Site

The ancient city of Babylon is famous for its hanging gardens, Babel towers and mud brick fortifications officially recognized as World Heritage.

After nearly three decades of lobbying by Iraq, the ancient city of Babylon in the Mesopotamian civilization was officially recognized by the UNESCO World Heritage after the July 5 vote. The city is a 10 km ² complex located along the Euphrates River, about 100km south of the Iraqi capital Baghdad.

Babylon was once the most populous city in the world.(Photo: Learnodo Newtonic).

Babylon is considered the most populous ancient city in the world between 1770 and 1670 BC and may be the first city in history with a population of over 200,000. The city is famous for hanging gardens, Babel towers, Ishtar gates, or mud brick forts.

"It would be missing if the World Heritage list does not have Babylon. How can I tell about human history without the earliest chapter?" , representatives of the Iraqi delegation emphasized in the vote.

Babylon hanging garden simulation.(Photo: Anomalien).

"Babylon is a literary civilization, government and scientific development. The recognition by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site will encourage new research, while promoting the development of tourism , " Qahtan al-Abeed, head of the Basra Antiquities Department, added.

According to the World Heritage Committee, Babylon is in an "extremely vulnerable" state with many structures that can collapse at any time and need emergency protection. However, UNESCO could not place this place on the list of World Heritage in danger due to the opposition of Iraq. Instead, they will work with local authorities to devise specific conservation plans and actions.

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2. Mysterious legend of Hanging Gardens of Babylon