babylonia
|ba-by-lo-ni-a|
🇺🇸
/ˌbæbɪˈloʊniə/
🇬🇧
/ˌbæbɪˈləʊniə/
ancient Mesopotamian kingdom
Etymology
'babylonia' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'Babylonia', where the name ultimately derives from Akkadian 'Bāb-ili' (or 'Bāb-ilim'), meaning 'gate of god(s)'.
'babylonia' changed from Greek 'Babylōn'/'Babylōnia' and Latin 'Babylonia', which derived from Akkadian 'Bāb-ili'; through Medieval and Early Modern Latin the name entered English as 'Babylonia'.
Initially it referred to the city-name meaning 'gate of god(s)', then to the surrounding region and kingdom, and later also acquired metaphorical senses of wealth or decadence.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the ancient region and kingdom in southern Mesopotamia, centered on the city of Babylon (historical period covering much of the 2nd and 1st millennia BCE).
Archaeologists found clay tablets from babylonia that record economic transactions.
Synonyms
Noun 2
the civilization, political entity, or period associated with Babylon and its rulers (e.g., legal codes, literature, and administration originating there).
Scholars study law codes and hymns from babylonia to understand its society.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/23 14:32