BABYLON.—At its peak, the city of Babylon, on the banks of the Euphrates 50 miles south of Bagdad, was the political capital of the east and the pivot of eastern culture and commerce. Today, the site of ancient Babylon is a series of mounds and hollows, with few signs of the city’s former splendour. Many treasures of ancient Babylon excavated by archaeologists are spread wide throughout the museums of the world. In "Babylon,” Albert Champdor recalls the several civilisations that made Babylon great, and in relatively brief compass pieces together the fascinating story of a city which dominated one of the oldest centres of civilisation—Mesopotamia, where the historical record goes back 5000 years. The story is supported and amplified by maps and by photographs of contemporary Mesopotamia and its people, but especially by illustrations of some of the former splendours of Babylon that now repose in various museums. The picture at the left dates from the time Babylon reached fame in the mighty epoch of Assyrian domination; the Assyrian horseman is representative of Babylonian art in the seventh century B.C. The picture at the right is a bas-relief of the Assyrian griffin-demon. This figure—of the ninth century B.C.—has also been interpreted as that of a priest wearing winged apparel and a bird-headed mask. “Babylon” is one of the “Ancient Cities and Temples” series, and is publish ed by Elek Books, London.

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28832, 28 February 1959, Page 3

BABYLON.—At its peak, the city of Babylon, on the banks of the Euphrates 50 miles south of Bagdad, was the political capital of the east and the pivot of eastern culture and commerce. Today, the site of ancient Babylon is a series of mounds and hollows, with few signs of the city’s former splendour. Many treasures of ancient Babylon excavated by archaeologists are spread wide throughout the museums of the world. In "Babylon,” Albert Champdor recalls the several civilisations that made Babylon great, and in relatively brief compass pieces together the fascinating story of a city which dominated one of the oldest centres of civilisation—Mesopotamia, where the historical record goes back 5000 years. The story is supported and amplified by maps and by photographs of contemporary Mesopotamia and its people, but especially by illustrations of some of the former splendours of Babylon that now repose in various museums. The picture at the left dates from the time Babylon reached fame in the mighty epoch of Assyrian domination; the Assyrian horseman is representative of Babylonian art in the seventh century B.C. The picture at the right is a bas-relief of the Assyrian griffin-demon. This figure—of the ninth century B.C.—has also been interpreted as that of a priest wearing winged apparel and a bird-headed mask. “Babylon” is one of the “Ancient Cities and Temples” series, and is publish ed by Elek Books, London.