Ziggurat of Borsippa (Biris Nimrud)
Birs Nimrud · E-zida Ziggurat · Borsippa Tower of Babel candidate
Old Babylonian to Neo-Babylonian (Hammurabi to Nebuchadnezzar II peak 605–562 BCE)·Babylonian (Borsippa)·🇮🇶 Babil Governorate, Biris Nimrud, Iraq
About
About Ziggurat of Borsippa (Biris Nimrud)
Mighty 7-stage ziggurat dedicated to Nabu (god of writing, son of Marduk), rival to Babylon's Etemenanki as 'Temple that Exalts Nabu' E-zida. Base 82 × 82 m, 70 m high, vitrified brick summit from Neo-Babylonian firing (Nebuchadnezzar II 605–562 BCE) melted by heat, mistaken for Tower of Babel by Talmud and early travelers. Excavated by Rassam, Koldewey, Austrian team. Still imposing shattered mass with baked brick and glaze.
Why it mattersCandidates for Babel narrative; best example of vitrification archaeology.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Vitrification cause – intense fire vs brick kiln
Theories
- 01Destruction by fire after Neo-Babylonian collapse vitrified summit; Babel story may conflate Babylon and Borsippa high towers
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- Restored c.605–562 BCE Nebuchadnezzar II atop 750 BCE foundations (earlier mention Hammurabi)
- Period
- Old Babylonian to Neo-Babylonian (Hammurabi to Nebuchadnezzar II peak 605–562 BCE)
- Culture
- Babylonian (Borsippa)
- Purpose
- Ziggurat to Nabu, patron of scribes and Borsippa city god
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
Restored c.605–562 BCE Nebuchadnezzar II atop 750 BCE foundations (earlier mention Hammurabi)
Initial construction
c. 1185 CE
Abandonment
On the ground
Structures & features
32.3920° N · 44.3417° E · 35 m · 3 mapped features
7-stage ziggurat core (vitrified top)
ziggurat70 m high 7 stages, vitrified crown
32.3920° N · 44.3417° EE-zida Temple at base east
templeNabu temple court
32.3915° N · 44.3420° ENabopolassar inscription foundation
inscriptionFoundation cylinder of Nebuchadnezzar II
32.3918° N · 44.3415° E