author
Robert Koldewey
1855–1925
Best known for uncovering ancient Babylon, this German architect-archaeologist helped turn a legendary city into something scholars could study in detail. His careful eye for buildings and ruins made him one of the key figures in early Near Eastern archaeology.
1 Audiobook
The excavations at Babylon
by Robert Koldewey
About the author
Born in Blankenburg am Harz in 1855, Robert Koldewey trained in architecture and developed a lasting interest in ancient buildings. He took part in excavations at sites including Assos, and over time became known for bringing an architect’s precision to archaeological work.
He is most closely associated with the long excavation of Babylon, which he directed from 1899 to 1917 in what is now Iraq. That work revealed major remains of the ancient city, including parts of its walls, temples, streets, and the famous Ishtar Gate, and it helped establish Babylon as a real historical place rather than only a name from classical and biblical tradition.
Koldewey died in Berlin in 1925, but his influence lasted well beyond his lifetime. His combination of field archaeology and architectural analysis shaped later excavation methods and left a lasting mark on the study of the ancient Near East.