Borsippa: A Religious and Cultural Center in Mesopotamian Civilization<br /><br />Borsippa is one of the prominent archaeological cities of Mesopotamia, located within the boundaries of Babil Governorate, in the Al-Kifl district. It lies approximately 15 km from the center of Al‐Hillah and about 25 km southwest of the ancient city of Babylon. Its name appears in cuneiform texts as Barsipa or Borsipa—a Sumerian term meaning “Horn of the Sea” or “Sword of the Sea.” Locally, it is also known as “Birs Nimrud.” The city held both religious and scholarly importance, being closely associated with the god Nabu, the deity of wisdom and writing, who was the chief god of Borsippa and the son of Marduk, the principal god of Babylon. During the Neo-Babylonian period, Borsippa played a vital role in cultural and religious life and served as a center for education and scholarship.<br /><br />Excavations at Borsippa were first carried out on behalf of the British Museum by Rassam and Tanniti in 1854; later, Hormuzd Rassam conducted further digs there in 1902. Subsequently, a German mission led by Robert Koldewey undertook additional excavations. In 1980, an Austrian expedition commenced seasonal excavations that have continued intermittently.<br /><br />One of the most striking landmarks in the city is its ziggurat, mentioned in cuneiform sources as “E-ur-imin-an-ri,” meaning “House of the Seven Layers of Heaven and Earth.” The temple of Nabu is referred to as “E-zida,” which translates to “House of Fidelity.” Each year during the Babylonian New Year festival in Babylon, the statue of Nabu was transported from Borsippa—first by boat along the Euphrates and then in a ceremonial procession over Babylon’s bridge—through the city’s main thoroughfare (“Procession Street”), passing through the Ishtar Gate and continuing to the New Year Festival House, known in Akkadian as “Ekitû.”<br /><br />Today’s visitor to Borsippa can observe two large mounds: the first, known as Tel Ibrahim al-Khalil, houses the shrine of the Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him) and is thought to mark the site of the ancient residential quarter, which may have included palaces and significant dwellings. The second mound, Tel Birs, covers the remains of the temple precinct and ziggurat behind it, separated from the temple area and Tel Ibrahim al-Khalil by what is likely the city’s main street. Borsippa reached its zenith of grandeur during the Neo-Babylonian era, particularly under King Nebuchadnezzar II, and continued to be inhabited throughout subsequent periods—including the Achaemenid, Seleucid, Parthian, and Sassanian eras—and remained occupied into the Islamic period, as attested by both historical sources and the archaeological finds scattered across the site.<br />Al-Mustaqbal University – The Premier University in Iraq.<br /><br /><a href=https://uomus.edu.iq/En/Default.aspx target=_blank>The Official Website of Al‑Mustaqbal University</a>