HOST (IN ARABIC):
About 2,600 years ago, a kingdom called Chaldea was established on the southern end of Tigris-Euphrates Valley, in present-day Iraq. Under the leadership of King Nebuchadnezzar, the Chaldeans soon became a strong presence in the entire Middle East region. The Chaldean, or the Neo-Babylonian, dynasty left significant traces of its civilization, including in architecture, technology, astrology, literature, and many more. Till today, the descendants of Chaldeans are still flourishing around the world.

(In English)
Father Jacob Yasso (m):  We are descendants of Babylonians. Chaldeans of Babylon,
people of Abraham migrated to the north then spread all over Iraq.

HOST:
Situated at the lower end of the Euphrates River, Babylon was the capital city of the Chaldean civilization.
It was one of the most magnificent cities in the ancient world. With facilitated highways and waterways, the city became a major trade center filled with merchants and their goods. Noted for their architectural achievements, Chaldeans built the Babylon City with amazing structures. One of them was Ishtar Gate, which was known for its beautiful blue glazed tiles and mysterious animal patterns on it formed by yellow tiles. Of the three animals portrayed on the Ishtar Gate, lions represent the goddess Ishtar; dragons and bulls stand for the protective power. As part of the Walls of Babylon, the gate was once regarded as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

The main road, called the Processional Way, connected the Ishtar Gate to a seven-story ziggurat,
or temple tower. This seven-story ziggurat was believed to be a reconstruction on the remains of the famous Tower of Babel mentioned in the Bible. Soaring to a height of 200 meters, the ziggurat was colored with red, blue, or orange to symbolize different heavenly spheres. Another spectacular structure built by the Chaldean civilization was the Hanging Garden of Babylon, which was also considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Elevated 23 meters above the ground, the garden gained its name because it looked as if it was hanging in the sky. King Nebuchadnezzar built this lush garden for his wife, Ametis, to ease her longing for the hills and mountains of her hometown. Various kinds of shrubs, flowers, and trees were planted to create a beautiful niche with animals of different species.

The spirit of the Chaldeans was represented by the famous Lion of Babylon Statue that sits at the entrance of Nebuchadnezzar’s Southern Palace. The giant stone lion was carved in basalt, symbolizing the goddess Ishtar and the power of the civilization. Reverend Jacob Yasso, the founder of Chaldean Culture Center in Detroit, USA, shared with us about how Babylon was rebuilt in modern-day Iraq from the remains of ancient buildings.