By using the ancient king as a symbol of greatness, Saddam Hussein hoped to become a focal point for Arab nationalism. To this day, many Arabs remember Nebuchadnezzar as the man who conquered Jerusalem, not just once, but three times. But he especially admired Babylon’s triumph over Israel. Another was his ability to unite the Arab nations. He admired his monumental building projects, including the fabulous Hanging Gardens-one of the “seven wonders” of the ancient world. There were many things that Hussein admired about king Nebuchadnezzar. Hussein, whose military prowess and vision will restore to Iraqis the glory their ancestors knew when all of what is now Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Kuwait, and Israel was under Babylonian control”. More than an archaeological venture, the new Babylon is self-consciously dedicated to the idea that Nebuchadnezzar has a successor in Mr. More than a decade ago New York Times International reported that under Saddam Hussein, “one of the world’s most legendary cities has begun to rise again. What was Saddam Hussein’s purpose in all of this? His goal was to re-establish himself as the supreme ruler of the Arab world. His future plans included a full-scale reconstruction of the Tower of Babel. There Hussein re-dug the moat that encircled Babylon’s ancient walls, rebuilt the Palace of Nebuchadnezzar, and re-erected the Ishtar Gate. This explains Hussein’s massive building projects on the ruins of Babylon, the ancient city that lies immediately to the south of present-day Baghdad. But what makes them sound so contemporary is that Saddam Hussein deliberately patterned his political career after the life of ancient Babylon’s most famous king, Nebuchadnezzar. These prophecies were fulfilled long ago.

hey come like men in battle formation to attack you, O Daughter of Babylon (Jer. I will stir up and bring against Babylon an alliance of great nations from the land of the north….

This scene, like the war itself, called to mind some famous biblical prophecies:īabylon, the jewel of kingdoms, the glory of the Babylonians’ pride, will be overthrown by God (Isa.

Its head was severed and then dragged through the streets of Baghdad, where Hussein suffered what to Arabs is the ultimate insult: Iraqis put their shoes on his face. The Iraqis couldn’t quite manage it on their own, but with a little help from United States Marines, the statue was ripped from its base and fell headlong to the ground. Jubilant Iraqis gathered around a massive statue of Saddam Hussein, trying to topple the man who had tyrannized their country for more than twenty years. The images coming out of downtown Baghdad this week were unforgettable.

Where is babylon today