Babylon – The Mother of All Cities

Babylon served as the preeminent metropolis of the ancient Near East, evolving from a third-millennium BCE settlement into a sophisticated hub of trade, law, and theology. Its cultural legacy profoundly shaped the Hebrew Bible, with Babylonian narratives like the *Epic of Gilgamesh* and legal frameworks such as the Code of Hammurabi influencing regional traditions for centuries. Thousands of recovered cuneiform tablets offer granular insights into daily life, ranging from complex property transactions to the mundane experiences of schoolchildren, challenging the city's later reputation as a mere symbol of decadence. Lloyd Lewellyn-Jones, Professor of Ancient History and author of *Babylon: The Mother of All Cities*, clarifies these historical realities, debunking myths like the existence of the Hanging Gardens while detailing the city's rise, its complex international diplomacy, and its eventual decline into archaeological ruins.