Why Babylon Has Become the Most Sinful and Wicked City in History

In today’s world, it’s rare to encounter someone who isn’t aware of Babylon – a city of legend and semi-myth, which has evolved from an ancient cultural hub into a symbol of excess.

The famous stories of the Tower of Babel and the resulting language diversity merely touch upon a fraction of the site’s extensive history. The comparison of Babylon to Sodom is rooted in their shared symbolism of divine judgment and destruction in biblical narratives. Babylon was often likened to Sodom due to its perceived immorality and idolatry, which were seen as warranting divine retribution similar to that of Sodom.

The World’s First Metropolis

Long before the zenith of the Roman Empire, a grand civilization emerged in the territory of present-day Iraq. Its advantageous position in the Tigris and Euphrates river valley, combined with fertile soil and a warm climate, allowed it to flourish as one of the ancient world’s most formidable empires.

Babylon, reputedly founded by the legendary Nimrod atop the ruins of the Sumerian city Kadingirra, meaning “Gate of the Gods,” swiftly rose to prominence as the capital of the Babylonian Empire. Its fame was cemented by the construction of the renowned Tower of Babel and the creation of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

For centuries, Babylon stood as a true metropolis of the Ancient World, distinguished from other cities by its advanced trade, economic strength, political clout, and cultural richness. The Babylonians were granted special privileges, including exemptions from military service and taxes. The city’s affluence was mirrored in its architecture, with inhabitants continually constructing new buildings and edifices, raising formidable walls and grand gates, and paving broad streets for temple processions.

Although Babylon was an ancient city, its size and population were comparable to those of modern metropolises. Research indicates that Babylon’s residents dealt with issues that are common in today’s cities, such as elevated land and real estate prices, leading to conflicts and legal disputes similar to those we experience currently.

Sin City

In the sacred texts of Christianity and Judaism, Babylon is frequently portrayed as a hub of moral decay, akin to the biblical cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. It was foretold to face inevitable destruction and eternal suffering. For instance, in the New Testament, Babylon is referred to as “the Great Mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations,” cementing its reputation as the personification of vice.

The Jews, forcibly relocated and captured by King Nebuchadnezzar II in Babylon, observed stark social disparities: regions of immense wealth with opulent homes for the upper class existed alongside areas of dire poverty, marked by brothels and taverns that attracted questionable characters and various outcasts. The level of crime in Babylon was so high that the most perilous cities today would appear tranquil in comparison—venturing out at night was almost a certain invitation to a fatal encounter, frequently agonizing.

In the entertainment venues of Babylon, a rite existed that required every Babylonian woman to be with a foreigner at least once in her lifetime as an act of devotion to the goddess Mylitta, the local counterpart of Venus.

Upon arriving at the temple, the girl was bound to stay until a stranger arrived, who would bestow money upon her and accompany her for a night outside the temple’s confines. Following this ritual, the woman could return home, her honor intact and unblemished.

According to some scholars, this tradition laid the groundwork for the myth of Babylon.

The famous Tower of Babel

The biblical tale of the Tower of Babel serves as a significant moral warning to humanity about the dangers of hubris. Legend has it that, following the flood, people who shared a common language and purpose attempted to construct a tower tall enough to reach the heavens, aiming to interact with God as equals.

The project became emblematic of human rebellion, invoking divine ire. To halt its progress, God confounded the people’s languages, leading to a breakdown in communication and the tower’s abandonment. Alexander the Great aspired to resurrect the Tower of Babel, but his plans went unrealized, and the endeavor was forsaken after his demise.

As time passed, the once-mighty kingdom waned, and Babylon fell to a Roman onslaught. Today, only the remnants of the world’s first metropolis stand, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. These ruins, the planet’s largest open-air museum, are shunned by local shepherds who heed ancient tales that deem Babylon a bastion of banishment and malevolent spirits.