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Dur Kurigalzu, a glimpse of lost Babylon in Iraq
By Xinhua Published: Mar 07, 2023 09:38 AM
The grand ziggurat is seen in the archeological site of Dur Kurigalzu, west of Baghdad, Iraq, on March 5, 2023.(Photo: Xinhua)

The grand ziggurat is seen in the archeological site of Dur Kurigalzu, west of Baghdad, Iraq, on March 5, 2023.(Photo: Xinhua)


 
The grand ziggurat is seen in the archeological site of Dur Kurigalzu, west of Baghdad, Iraq, on March 5, 2023.(Photo: Xinhua)

The grand ziggurat is seen in the archeological site of Dur Kurigalzu, west of Baghdad, Iraq, on March 5, 2023.(Photo: Xinhua)


 
The grand ziggurat is seen in the archeological site of Dur Kurigalzu, west of Baghdad, Iraq, on March 5, 2023.(Photo: Xinhua)

The grand ziggurat is seen in the archeological site of Dur Kurigalzu, west of Baghdad, Iraq, on March 5, 2023.(Photo: Xinhua)


 
Photo shows the grand ziggurat in the archeological site of Dur Kurigalzu, west of Baghdad, Iraq, on March 5, 2023.(Photo: Xinhua)

Photo shows the grand ziggurat in the archeological site of Dur Kurigalzu, west of Baghdad, Iraq, on March 5, 2023.(Photo: Xinhua)


 
A 30-minute drive from the center of Baghdad will take visitors to the ancient Mesopotamian site of Dur Kurigalzu, a forgotten gem nestled in the western countryside of the city.

In bygone times, traveling camel caravans would cognize the approach to Baghdad on the sight of the imposing ziggurat of Dur Kurigalzu, built in dedication to the ancient Mesopotamian God Enlil.

Once the capital of Babylonia, the city was founded sometime around the 14th century B.C. by the Kassite King Kurigalzu I. Its 52-meter-high ziggurat is one of the ten oldest structures in Iraq.