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[[Image:Brueghel-tower-of-babel.jpg|right|thumb|300px|''The Tower of Babel'' by [[Pieter Bruegel the Elder]], 1563.]]

[[Image:Brueghel-tower-of-babel.jpg|right|thumb|300px|''The Tower of Babel'' by [[Pieter Bruegel the Elder]], 1563.]]

The '''Tower of Babel''' (Hebrew: מגדל, ''mighdal'', 'tower'; בָּבֶל, ''bāḇel'', Babel), located in ancient [[Babylon]],<ref>[[Berossus the Chaldean]], ''Babylonika''<br /> see entirety of fragment above in section '"in Berossus' ''Babylonika'' Fragment"

The '''Tower of Babel''' (Hebrew: מגדל, ''mighdal'', 'tower'; בָּבֶל, ''bāḇel'', Babel), located in ancient [[Babylon]],<ref>[[Berossus the Chaldean]], ''Babylonika''<br /> see entirety of fragment above in section '"in Berossus' ''Babylonika'' Fragment"

</ref> was the tallest brick building ever constructed in recorded history; which according to [[Josephus]] was initiated by [[Nimrod]].<ref>Josephus, ''Antiquities of the Jews'', 1.4.2</ref>  Built in the [[ziggurat]] style, it was later repurposed to be the Temple of Bel [[Marduk]], the father of the gods in [[Babylon]].  Multiple religious persuasions teach that the tower was built by the descendants of [[Noah]] relatively shortly after the [[Great Flood|Flood]] as in {{bible ref|Genesis|11|1-9}}, so that its "top may reach unto heaven."

</ref> was the tallest brick building ever constructed.<ref>According to [[Josephus]], this was initiated by [[Nimrod]]. See Josephus, ''Antiquities of the Jews'', 1.4.2</ref>  Built in the [[ziggurat]] style, it was converted to the Temple of Bel [[Marduk]] as the father of [[Babylon]] gods.  Multiple religions teach that the tower was built by the descendants of [[Noah]] soon after the [[Great Flood|Flood]] as in {{bible ref|Genesis|11|1-9}}, so that its "top may reach unto heaven." [So they thought].

It is commonly asserted by adherents to both the [[Genesis|Biblical]] account and by adherents to the ancient [[pagan]] historians<ref>[[Berossus the Chaldean]]</ref>, that the ''Tower of Babel'' story provides an explanation to fundamental mysteries that [[atheistic]] science has been unable to solve, namely:

Both [[Genesis|Biblical]] scholars and [[pagan]] historians<ref>[[Berossus the Chaldean]]</ref> cite the ''Tower of Babel'' account to explain fundamental mysteries that [[atheistic]] science cannot solve, namely:

* the different languages today that lack a common origin, and

* the different languages today that lack a common origin, and

* the immense diversity in ethnicity.

* the immense diversity in ethnicity.

=Etymology=

=Etymology=

==in Hebrew==

==in Hebrew==

=Location=

=Location=

[[Image:Fotobabiloniaa.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Archaeological reconstruction of the ziggurat ''Etemenanki'' at Babylon.]]

[[Image:Fotobabiloniaa.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Archaeological reconstruction of the ziggurat ''Etemenanki'' at Babylon.]]

There has been much difference of opinion as to the geographical position of the Tower of Babel. Most writers upon the subject, following the tradition handed down by the Jews and Arabs, have identified it with the great Temple of Nebo in the city of [[Borsippa]], now called the ''Birs-Nimroud'' (explained as a corruption of ''Birj Nimroud'', “Tower of Nimrod”).  Although an important religious structure to the Babylonians, it was never regarded by them as the actual tower.  The great tower they referred to was located within Babylon and called ''Ê-temen-ana-ki'', “the Temple of the foundation of heaven and earth,” called by [[Nabopolassar]] and Nebuchadrezzar ''ziqqurat Bâbîli'', “the Tower of Babylon” - the world-renowned temple dedicated to Merodach and his consort Zēr-panîtum, Babylon's chief deities.

There has been much difference of opinion as to the geographical position of the Tower of Babel. Most writers upon the subject, following the tradition handed down by the Jews and Arabs, have identified it with the great Temple of Nebo in the city of Borsippa, now called the ''Birs-Nimroud'' (explained as a corruption of ''Birj Nimroud'', “Tower of Nimrod”).  Although an important religious structure to the Babylonians, it was never regarded by them as the actual tower.  The great tower they referred to was located within Babylon and called ''Ê-temen-ana-ki'', “the Temple of the foundation of heaven and earth,” called by [[Nabopolassar]] and Nebuchadrezzar ''ziqqurat Bâbîli'', “the Tower of Babylon” - the world-renowned temple dedicated to Merodach and his consort Zēr-panîtum, Babylon's chief deities.

==Its Position at Babylon==

==Its Position at Babylon==

This structure was situated in the southern portion of the city, not far from the right bank of the Euphrates, and is now represented by a depression within which is the original rectangular core of unbaked brick. From its shape the Arabs have called this site Sahan, “the dish,” as the bricks of the structure (unlike other ziggurats which were built of dried mud-brick, Etemenanki was built of fired brick) were stripped in favor of other structures or repair the banks of the Hindiyeh canal.

This structure was situated in the southern portion of the city, not far from the right bank of the Euphrates, and is now represented by a depression within which is the original rectangular core of unbaked brick. From its shape the Arabs have called this site Sahan, “the dish,” as the bricks of the structure (unlike other ziggurats which were built of dried mud-brick, Etemenanki was built of fired brick) were stripped in favor of other structures or repair the banks of the Hindiyeh canal.

=As Seen in Different Sources=

=As Seen in Different Sources=

==in the Bible==

==in the Bible==

:''So the LORD scattered them abroad from there upon the face of all the earth: and they left off building the city.''

:''So the LORD scattered them abroad from there upon the face of all the earth: and they left off building the city.''

:''Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confuse the language of all the earth: and from there did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth. (Genesis 11:1-9, King James Version)''

:''Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confuse the language of all the earth: and from there did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth. (Genesis 11:1-9, King James Version)''

==Berossus' ''Babylonika'' Fragment==

==Berossus' ''Babylonika'' Fragment==

"They say that the first inhabitants of the earth, glorying in their own strength and size, and despising the gods, undertook to raise a tower whose top should reach the sky, where Babylon now stands: but when it approached the heaven, the winds assisted the gods, and overturned the work upon its contrivers: and its ruins are said to be at Babylon: and the gods introduced a diversity of tongues among men, who till that time had all spoken the same language: and a war arose between Cronus and Titan: but the place in which they built the tower is now called Babylon, on account of the confusion of the tongues; for confusion is by the Hebrews called Babel."

"They say that the first inhabitants of the earth, glorying in their own strength and size, and despising the gods, undertook to raise a tower whose top should reach the sky, where Babylon now stands: but when it approached the heaven, the winds assisted the gods, and overturned the work upon its contrivers: and its ruins are said to be at Babylon: and the gods introduced a diversity of tongues among men, who till that time had all spoken the same language: and a war arose between Cronus and Titan: but the place in which they built the tower is now called Babylon, on account of the confusion of the tongues; for confusion is by the Hebrews called Babel."

(taken from the public domain and as recorded in I.P. Cory's ''The Ancient Fragments'', William Pickering, 1828)

(taken from the public domain and as recorded in I.P. Cory's ''The Ancient Fragments'', William Pickering, 1828)

=General Form of Babylonian Temple-Towers=

=General Form of Babylonian Temple-Towers=

These buildings were called by the Babylonians ''ziqqurātu'' (Modern English: "ziggurat"), apparently meaning “peak,” or the highest point of a mountain; this word being applied to the mountain height upon which Ut-napishtim, the Babylonian Noah of the Gilgamesh saga, offered sacrifices on coming forth from the ark (or ship) when the waters of the great Flood had sufficiently subsided. It has also been conjectured that they were used as observatories when the Babylonians studied the starry heavens. While the ziggurats were of no great height, sufficient height would be needed to surmount the evening smoke that would linger over the city as the night's cooking, light and heating needs filled the air with smoke that was pressed near the ground by the evening's cool air.  Doubtless rising above the evening's dull warm glow of light pollution (partially shrouded in smoke) also gave a clearer view of the stellar heavens as they practiced simultaneously the art of Astronomy and the imposition of Astrology thereon.

These buildings were called by the Babylonians ''ziqqurātu'' (Modern English: "ziggurat"), apparently meaning “peak,” or the highest point of a mountain; this word being applied to the mountain height upon which Ut-napishtim, the Babylonian Noah of the Gilgamesh saga, offered sacrifices on coming forth from the ark (or ship) when the waters of the great Flood had sufficiently subsided. It has also been conjectured that they were used as observatories when the Babylonians studied the starry heavens. While the ziggurats were of no great height, sufficient height would be needed to surmount the evening smoke that would linger over the city as the night's cooking, light and heating needs filled the air with smoke that was pressed near the ground by the evening's cool air.  Doubtless rising above the evening's dull warm glow of light pollution (partially shrouded in smoke) also gave a clearer view of the stellar heavens as they practiced simultaneously the art of Astronomy and the imposition of Astrology thereon.

==Babylonian Description of the Tower==

==Babylonian Description of the Tower==