The ancient city of Babylon - in modern-day Iraq - has engendered a rich legacy in art and thought, from great paintings to contemporary film and music.
Next month, the British Museum brings together such works of imagination with archaeological treasures - to try to reveal the reality behind the legends.
The exhibition will look at famous myths and stories - including the Tower of Babel, the Hanging Gardens, and King Nebuchadnezzar's madness.
Here - for Radio 4's The World At One - the museum's Assistant Keeper Dr Irving Finkel shows off some of the main exhibits.
Javascript and Flash plug-in required
Either the Flash plugin was not detected on your computer or the JavaScript features of your brower have been disabled.
To enable Javascript on your browser we recommend that you contact your computer support line.
One-Minute World News
Bookmark with:
What are these?