Ancient World: Babylon and Persia

Mesopotamia

Region where Babylon and Persia emerged.

Babylon

Ancient city known for its monumental architecture.

Hammurabi

King who unified Sumer into Babylon.

Code of Hammurabi

Earliest written legal code, significant architectural contribution.

Ishtar Gate

Babylonian gate dedicated to goddess Ishtar.

Nebuchadnezzar II

Babylonian king who built the Ishtar Gate.

Persian Empire

Ruled 45% of the world's population, 550-330 BCE.

Zoroastrianism

State religion of the Persian Empire.

Persian Architecture

Influenced by conquered cultures, unique architectural style.

Darius I

Persian king known for major building programs.

Persepolis

Capital of the Persian Empire, known for grandeur.

Great Palace

Reception and banquet rooms in Persepolis.

Hall of Hundred Columns

Largest roofed space in Great Palace, holds 10,000.

Naqsh-e Rustam

Site with tombs carved into solid rock.

Tomb of Darius I

Notable tomb at Naqsh-e Rustam.

Tomb of Xerxes I

Suspected burial site of Persian king Xerxes.

Glazed Brick

Material used in the construction of Ishtar Gate.

Lapis Lazuli

Precious stone used in Babylonian architecture.

Double-Headed Capital

Architectural feature in the Great Palace.

Sumerian Ziggurats

Predecessors to Babylonian monumental architecture.

Wood Columns

Structural elements with stone bases in Persepolis.