Borsippa
Birs Nimrud · Barsippa · Tell Ibrahim al-Khalil
Old Babylonian to Hellenistic (c.2000–100 BCE; peak Neo-Babylonian 626–539)·Amorite → Kassite → Neo-Babylonian (Nabu cult)·🇮🇶 Babylon Governorate, S of Babylon, Iraq
About
About Borsippa
Borsippa (modern Birs Nimrud) is the sister city of Babylon 17 km south, cult centre of Nabu (scribal god) with the Ezida temple and 70-m ruined ziggurat (most imposing surviving ziggurat — vitrified brick from legend of lightning strike). Nebuchadnezzar II's inscription names it Eurme-imin-anki. Austro–Iraqi excavations uncovered inscribed bricks, archives and the Nabu temple staircase. The ziggurat's melted crown fueled the Tower of Babel legend.
Why it mattersMost photogenic surviving ziggurat; Nabu cult; Tower of Babel association.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Is vitrified crown lightning or conflagration?
- 02Borsippa–Babylon Processional link?
Theories
- 01Nabu scribal cult rival to Marduk (Pomponio)
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.2000 BCE
- Period
- Old Babylonian to Hellenistic (c.2000–100 BCE; peak Neo-Babylonian 626–539)
- Culture
- Amorite → Kassite → Neo-Babylonian (Nabu cult)
- Builders
- Hammurabi, Nebuchadnezzar II
- Purpose
- Settlement and ceremonial centre
- Abandoned
- c.100 BCE
- Rediscovered
- 1854 (Rawlinson)
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.2000 BCE
Old Babylonian town
c.605 BCE
Nebuchadnezzar II rebuilds Ezida and ziggurat
1854
Rawlinson identifies Birs Nimrud as Borsippa
1980s
Austrian excavations reveal Nabu staircase
On the ground
Structures & features
32.3900° N · 44.3400° E · 25 m · 3 mapped features
Eurme-imin-anki Ziggurat (Ezida Stage)
temple70-m ziggurat of Nabu — vitrified crown, most surviving ziggurat
32.3903° N · 44.3402° EEzida Temple of Nabu
templeGreat Ezida — cella of Nabu, tablet archive and Nebuchadnezzar bricks
32.3897° N · 44.3398° EProcessional Way to Babylon
roadPaved way linking Borsippa Ezida to Babylon Esagila, New Year festival
32.3910° N · 44.3404° E