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These are the user uploaded subtitles that are being translated: 1 00:00:00,601 --> 00:00:01,632 (dramatic music) 2 00:00:01,641 --> 00:00:02,839 Mastrelli: The tower of babel is one 3 00:00:02,914 --> 00:00:05,199 Of the most dramatic stories in the bible. 4 00:00:06,201 --> 00:00:09,792 It tells of the construction of a vertigo inducing tower 5 00:00:09,801 --> 00:00:11,319 That reaches to heaven. 6 00:00:12,201 --> 00:00:14,759 But angered by his people's betrayal, 7 00:00:14,834 --> 00:00:18,752 God takes action to stop progress in its tracks. 8 00:00:18,761 --> 00:00:19,719 (thunder rumbles) 9 00:00:19,794 --> 00:00:21,239 It's a fantastical tale 10 00:00:22,114 --> 00:00:25,392 But an incredible new discovery suggests 11 00:00:25,401 --> 00:00:29,759 That the tower of babel was not simply a work of fiction. 12 00:00:31,794 --> 00:00:33,319 (mysterious music) 13 00:00:33,394 --> 00:00:37,312 For centuries, the mysteries of the past 14 00:00:37,321 --> 00:00:40,352 Have kept their secrets. 15 00:00:40,361 --> 00:00:43,519 But there are clues cast in gold, 16 00:00:44,201 --> 00:00:46,119 (hammer clangs) etched in stone, 17 00:00:46,841 --> 00:00:48,639 (warriors shout) written in blood. 18 00:00:51,801 --> 00:00:53,679 We can unlock them. 19 00:00:57,401 --> 00:00:59,639 (lock rattles) 20 00:00:59,714 --> 00:01:02,199 (bow creaks) 21 00:01:06,441 --> 00:01:08,999 (lock clangs) 22 00:01:10,434 --> 00:01:11,792 These cuneiform tablets 23 00:01:11,801 --> 00:01:14,592 Are the first known form of writing, 24 00:01:14,601 --> 00:01:19,599 But today this tablet can teach me any language I want. 25 00:01:20,761 --> 00:01:22,512 However according to the bible, 26 00:01:22,521 --> 00:01:24,279 There existed a time I wouldn't have had 27 00:01:24,354 --> 00:01:27,719 Any problem reading a menu anywhere in the world. 28 00:01:27,794 --> 00:01:30,519 The tower of babel is a fable condemning ambition 29 00:01:30,594 --> 00:01:32,432 And arrogance, and allegedly the reason 30 00:01:32,441 --> 00:01:34,759 Why we all speak different languages. 31 00:01:34,834 --> 00:01:37,792 The whole story may seem far-fetched at first reading, 32 00:01:37,801 --> 00:01:40,599 But these ancient tablets appear to disagree. 33 00:01:43,401 --> 00:01:45,152 Modern day iraq. 34 00:01:45,161 --> 00:01:48,192 2,500 years ago this was the center 35 00:01:48,201 --> 00:01:50,599 Of a vast region called mesopotamia, 36 00:01:51,474 --> 00:01:53,792 The cradle of civilization. 37 00:01:53,801 --> 00:01:56,439 (dramatic music) 38 00:01:56,514 --> 00:01:58,519 And these are the remains of its capital, 39 00:01:59,954 --> 00:02:03,319 A city that has become fabled in folklore 40 00:02:03,394 --> 00:02:06,759 But that actually existed, babylon. 41 00:02:10,201 --> 00:02:12,752 It was german archeologist, robert koldewey, 42 00:02:12,761 --> 00:02:17,119 Who first identified the buried ruins of babylon in 1899. 43 00:02:19,474 --> 00:02:22,199 For 18 years his team worked relentlessly 44 00:02:22,274 --> 00:02:24,679 To expose the lost metropolis. 45 00:02:25,561 --> 00:02:28,359 Koldewey was convinced that within the rubble 46 00:02:28,434 --> 00:02:30,592 He'd find the remains of a building 47 00:02:30,601 --> 00:02:32,359 That had become a legend, 48 00:02:33,954 --> 00:02:35,559 The tower of babel. 49 00:02:36,361 --> 00:02:40,432 The subject of one of the strangest stories in the bible. 50 00:02:40,441 --> 00:02:42,519 (mysterious music) 51 00:02:42,594 --> 00:02:43,719 Finkel: According to the bible, 52 00:02:43,794 --> 00:02:46,519 God punished mankind for their arrogance 53 00:02:46,594 --> 00:02:48,199 In trying to reach heaven. 54 00:02:49,481 --> 00:02:50,672 Mastrelli: The tale is set 55 00:02:50,681 --> 00:02:53,479 When the whole of earth spoke one language. 56 00:02:53,554 --> 00:02:57,119 It tells of the construction of a building like no other. 57 00:03:02,921 --> 00:03:04,199 Mastrelli: The bible tells us 58 00:03:04,274 --> 00:03:08,039 That when god sees the tower of babel, he is enraged. 59 00:03:15,721 --> 00:03:18,839 Mastrelli: God's anger stops construction in its tracks. 60 00:03:18,914 --> 00:03:21,872 (thunder booms) (people shout) 61 00:03:21,881 --> 00:03:24,399 He scatters the population across the earth 62 00:03:25,241 --> 00:03:28,119 And multiple languages are spawned. 63 00:03:30,194 --> 00:03:31,392 Finkel: God got cross, 64 00:03:31,401 --> 00:03:33,399 Decided this was arrogant behavior, 65 00:03:33,474 --> 00:03:35,359 Had to be punished, had to be stopped. 66 00:03:36,041 --> 00:03:38,359 Mastrelli: It's an incredible story 67 00:03:38,434 --> 00:03:39,999 But could it be based on truth? 68 00:03:40,834 --> 00:03:44,592 Robert koldewey, the man who uncovered the ruins of babylon, 69 00:03:44,601 --> 00:03:45,999 Believed it was. 70 00:03:48,274 --> 00:03:51,232 More than a century later another archeologist 71 00:03:51,241 --> 00:03:54,239 Is determined to prove koldewey was right. 72 00:03:56,674 --> 00:03:58,512 Jeff allen is a program director 73 00:03:58,521 --> 00:04:00,159 For the world monuments fund. 74 00:04:01,001 --> 00:04:02,432 He's been working in iraq 75 00:04:02,441 --> 00:04:04,512 To preserve the archeological remains 76 00:04:04,521 --> 00:04:05,999 Of the once lost city. 77 00:04:07,074 --> 00:04:11,399 A city that astonishingly was made almost entirely of mud. 78 00:04:12,201 --> 00:04:15,159 Allen: What we're looking at here are the inner-city walls 79 00:04:15,234 --> 00:04:18,672 Of babylon, they were made out of mud brick. 80 00:04:18,681 --> 00:04:20,592 In the ancient babylonian times, 81 00:04:20,601 --> 00:04:23,239 Mud brick was the foundation for most structures, 82 00:04:23,314 --> 00:04:24,832 That is it's the building block 83 00:04:24,841 --> 00:04:27,719 Upon which most of their architecture was built. 84 00:04:27,794 --> 00:04:30,279 Mastrelli: Incredibly, over 2,000 years 85 00:04:30,354 --> 00:04:32,199 After babylon was built, 86 00:04:32,274 --> 00:04:36,192 Many of the city's mud brick structures have been unearthed. 87 00:04:36,201 --> 00:04:40,112 They give archeologists a clue as to the sheer scale 88 00:04:40,121 --> 00:04:42,039 And grandeur of the ancient city 89 00:04:42,914 --> 00:04:45,792 And reveal that a massive building project 90 00:04:45,801 --> 00:04:47,319 Was underway here 91 00:04:47,394 --> 00:04:48,999 In the 6th century bce. 92 00:04:51,634 --> 00:04:53,399 But who was behind it? 93 00:04:53,474 --> 00:04:54,512 (dramatic music) 94 00:04:54,521 --> 00:04:56,279 A name stamped into hundreds 95 00:04:56,354 --> 00:04:59,199 Of the unearthed mud bricks provides the answer, 96 00:05:00,521 --> 00:05:02,079 King nebuchadnezzar ii, 97 00:05:03,641 --> 00:05:07,159 A ruler whose ambitions for babylon were on a scale 98 00:05:07,234 --> 00:05:10,199 That dwarfed any other city of its time. 99 00:05:12,681 --> 00:05:16,679 By 590 bce, babylon had established itself 100 00:05:16,754 --> 00:05:20,239 As the epicenter of nebuchadnezzar's vast empire. 101 00:05:21,801 --> 00:05:24,119 Ruling with an iron fist, 102 00:05:24,194 --> 00:05:26,439 He was determined to leave his mark on the city 103 00:05:27,794 --> 00:05:30,759 And evidence suggests he did. 104 00:05:30,834 --> 00:05:33,159 (mysterious music) 105 00:05:33,234 --> 00:05:35,799 But could nebuchadnezzar's vision really have stretched 106 00:05:35,874 --> 00:05:39,319 As far as the towering structure detailed in the bible? 107 00:05:40,434 --> 00:05:42,159 A real tower of babel? 108 00:05:43,794 --> 00:05:47,792 Back in 1913, after 15 years of excavations, 109 00:05:47,801 --> 00:05:49,472 The german archeologists 110 00:05:49,481 --> 00:05:51,479 Made an earth -shattering discovery, 111 00:05:53,481 --> 00:05:54,672 But flooding and war 112 00:05:54,681 --> 00:05:57,759 Would make further exploration impossible 113 00:05:59,314 --> 00:06:02,599 Until now. (mysterious music) 114 00:06:02,674 --> 00:06:04,759 Thanks to satellite technology, 115 00:06:04,834 --> 00:06:08,039 The true scale of their discovery can be revealed. 116 00:06:08,834 --> 00:06:12,039 Could these be the foundations of the fabled tower? 117 00:06:18,194 --> 00:06:19,799 For decades, constant flooding 118 00:06:19,874 --> 00:06:23,559 From the nearby euphrates river has made access impossible, 119 00:06:24,521 --> 00:06:28,752 But now after the driest summer in over 50 years, 120 00:06:28,761 --> 00:06:31,799 The foundations have finally emerged. 121 00:06:32,521 --> 00:06:36,479 Allen: I'm really at the place where the tower stood. 122 00:06:37,321 --> 00:06:39,712 As you can see it doesn't resemble much 123 00:06:39,721 --> 00:06:41,312 Of what it looked like in the past, 124 00:06:41,321 --> 00:06:43,632 But you would be a day or two ride away 125 00:06:43,641 --> 00:06:48,592 And you'd see this large mountain-like shape coming up 126 00:06:48,601 --> 00:06:50,199 Out of the horizon. 127 00:06:51,554 --> 00:06:53,232 Mastrelli: Since 2009, 128 00:06:53,241 --> 00:06:55,872 Archeologist jeff allen has been forced 129 00:06:55,881 --> 00:07:00,192 To study the flooded excavations from the banks. 130 00:07:00,201 --> 00:07:02,512 But today he gets his first look 131 00:07:02,521 --> 00:07:05,799 At the foundations of the structure that once stood here. 132 00:07:06,674 --> 00:07:08,352 Allen: Normally where I'm standing 133 00:07:08,361 --> 00:07:10,279 I'd be waist deep in water, 134 00:07:10,354 --> 00:07:13,559 Actually about this high, judging by the water lines. 135 00:07:13,634 --> 00:07:16,759 But because we're here during a very dry summer, 136 00:07:16,834 --> 00:07:21,792 The base surrounding the core is actually dry 137 00:07:21,801 --> 00:07:25,152 So we're able to get a better concept of the size 138 00:07:25,161 --> 00:07:29,232 Of what this tower was thousands of years ago. 139 00:07:29,241 --> 00:07:31,632 (dramatic music) 140 00:07:31,641 --> 00:07:35,399 Mastrelli: During the original excavations back in 1913, 141 00:07:35,474 --> 00:07:38,199 Archeologists recorded each of the four sides 142 00:07:38,274 --> 00:07:42,719 To be just over 90 meters long, that's nearly 300 feet. 143 00:07:43,721 --> 00:07:48,519 Allen: So I've now walked about 90 paces 144 00:07:48,594 --> 00:07:52,112 And given my tall height that's about a meter pace, 145 00:07:52,121 --> 00:07:56,272 Along the east side of the tower of babylon. 146 00:07:56,281 --> 00:07:58,839 And it's another 90 meters that way 147 00:07:58,914 --> 00:08:01,472 'til we reach the northeast corner. 148 00:08:01,481 --> 00:08:03,559 (dramatic music) 149 00:08:03,634 --> 00:08:05,392 Mastrelli: The foundations only prove 150 00:08:05,401 --> 00:08:06,719 Construction was started. 151 00:08:08,361 --> 00:08:09,552 There are no clues here 152 00:08:09,561 --> 00:08:12,519 To confirm the structure was actually completed. 153 00:08:13,401 --> 00:08:16,759 But an ancient tablet from 6th century babylon, 154 00:08:16,834 --> 00:08:19,239 Now in the louvre museum in paris, 155 00:08:19,314 --> 00:08:20,839 Provides tantalizing evidence 156 00:08:20,914 --> 00:08:24,199 Of a finished structure like no other. 157 00:08:25,401 --> 00:08:27,879 The esagila tablet describes the dimensions 158 00:08:27,954 --> 00:08:29,799 Of a sky-scraping tower 159 00:08:29,874 --> 00:08:32,512 With foundations of the exact same measurements 160 00:08:32,521 --> 00:08:34,239 As those found in babylon. 161 00:08:35,801 --> 00:08:37,872 Crucially, the ancient tablet 162 00:08:37,881 --> 00:08:40,599 Also reveals the height of the building. 163 00:08:43,154 --> 00:08:44,359 Finkel: There's actually a lot of information 164 00:08:44,434 --> 00:08:45,712 In this louvre tablet, 165 00:08:45,721 --> 00:08:47,399 So if you're a good mathematician 166 00:08:47,474 --> 00:08:48,759 And a very careful draftsman 167 00:08:48,834 --> 00:08:51,559 You can make a good reconstruction in your mind 168 00:08:51,634 --> 00:08:53,999 On the basis of this inscription in paris. 169 00:08:55,234 --> 00:08:57,799 Mastrelli: Incredibly the tablet describes a structure 170 00:08:57,874 --> 00:09:01,359 That reached an astonishing 300 feet into the sky. 171 00:09:02,274 --> 00:09:05,079 It was called the etemenanki. 172 00:09:05,154 --> 00:09:08,119 Translated it means house of the foundation 173 00:09:08,194 --> 00:09:10,119 Of heaven and earth. 174 00:09:10,194 --> 00:09:13,552 The name eerily echoes the bible's description 175 00:09:13,561 --> 00:09:17,079 Of a tower whose top reaches to heaven. 176 00:09:17,154 --> 00:09:18,519 Finkel: When one's visualizing this building 177 00:09:18,594 --> 00:09:21,152 With the assistance of this ancient inscription 178 00:09:21,161 --> 00:09:24,272 It is remarkable that the ground plan is 90 by 90, 179 00:09:24,281 --> 00:09:27,159 But also the height of the building is also 90 meters. 180 00:09:27,234 --> 00:09:30,199 So the thing was conceived as a huge block. 181 00:09:31,074 --> 00:09:32,912 Mastrelli: The foundations provide evidence 182 00:09:32,921 --> 00:09:34,399 That the project began 183 00:09:35,161 --> 00:09:38,192 And the esagila tablet reveals the dimensions 184 00:09:38,201 --> 00:09:39,639 For an entire structure. 185 00:09:41,554 --> 00:09:42,759 (suspenseful music) 186 00:09:42,834 --> 00:09:45,239 Could this mythical tower have really existed? 187 00:09:46,841 --> 00:09:49,719 Now an incredible discovery will reveal 188 00:09:49,794 --> 00:09:53,392 Just what this ambitious ancient wonder actually looked like 189 00:09:53,401 --> 00:09:57,599 To the people of babylon over 2,500 years ago. 190 00:09:59,561 --> 00:10:00,992 Finkel: There's no doubt about it 191 00:10:01,001 --> 00:10:03,999 That this jolly well existed and this is a picture of it. 192 00:10:05,801 --> 00:10:08,199 (mysterious music) 193 00:10:08,274 --> 00:10:09,792 Mastrelli: For generations, 194 00:10:09,801 --> 00:10:12,512 Artists have depicted the bible's tower of babel 195 00:10:12,521 --> 00:10:14,439 In all shapes and sizes. 196 00:10:15,801 --> 00:10:18,112 But now, scholars are convinced 197 00:10:18,121 --> 00:10:20,999 That the story was inspired by a real building. 198 00:10:22,834 --> 00:10:24,519 But what did it really look like? 199 00:10:25,801 --> 00:10:29,239 Examining the building styles of ancient mesopotamia, 200 00:10:29,314 --> 00:10:32,999 It was most likely a multi-tiered platform structure. 201 00:10:36,761 --> 00:10:39,719 This is iraq's great ziggurat of ur. 202 00:10:39,794 --> 00:10:43,159 Located less than 200 miles from babylon 203 00:10:43,234 --> 00:10:46,399 It's the first stage of a mesopotamian stepped tower. 204 00:10:48,201 --> 00:10:53,199 It was built 1,500 years before the fabled tower of babel. 205 00:10:54,601 --> 00:10:57,079 Ancient records have revealed that originally 206 00:10:57,154 --> 00:11:00,359 It would have been the largest of four platforms, 207 00:11:00,434 --> 00:11:04,199 Towering over 130 feet into the sky. 208 00:11:06,601 --> 00:11:08,039 Ancient texts have allowed experts 209 00:11:08,114 --> 00:11:11,319 To imagine what the tower of babel might have looked like, 210 00:11:12,281 --> 00:11:15,999 But now astounding new evidence has emerged. 211 00:11:17,241 --> 00:11:20,359 Inscribed on the surface of a privately-owned tablet 212 00:11:21,314 --> 00:11:24,279 Is an image that sensationally reveals 213 00:11:24,354 --> 00:11:28,319 Exactly what the tower of babel looked like. 214 00:11:29,474 --> 00:11:31,712 George: This is a very strong piece of evidence, 215 00:11:31,721 --> 00:11:35,872 That the tower of babel story in the bible was inspired 216 00:11:35,881 --> 00:11:37,632 By this real building. 217 00:11:37,641 --> 00:11:39,239 Mastrelli: This remarkable tablet, 218 00:11:39,314 --> 00:11:41,319 Which has never been filmed before, 219 00:11:41,394 --> 00:11:43,279 Dates to the 6th century bce. 220 00:11:44,601 --> 00:11:48,672 It was discovered in babylon over a hundred years ago. 221 00:11:48,681 --> 00:11:52,592 Unbelievably, no one had realized how important it was 222 00:11:52,601 --> 00:11:56,672 Until professor andrew george, an expert in ancient texts, 223 00:11:56,681 --> 00:11:59,799 Brought its faint carvings back to life. 224 00:11:59,874 --> 00:12:01,719 George: At the top here, this part, 225 00:12:01,794 --> 00:12:06,759 There is a relief depicting a stepped tower 226 00:12:06,994 --> 00:12:11,152 And here, a great figure of a human being carrying a staff 227 00:12:11,161 --> 00:12:13,392 With a conical hat on. 228 00:12:13,401 --> 00:12:16,199 Below that relief is text 229 00:12:16,274 --> 00:12:19,079 Which has been chiseled into the monument 230 00:12:19,154 --> 00:12:21,559 And the label is easily read, it reads, 231 00:12:21,634 --> 00:12:23,639 "etemenanki ziggurat babeli." 232 00:12:25,474 --> 00:12:28,352 And that means the ziggurat or temple tower 233 00:12:28,361 --> 00:12:29,759 Of the city of babylon. 234 00:12:30,921 --> 00:12:33,639 Mastrelli: This tablet provides the first ever image 235 00:12:33,714 --> 00:12:36,279 Of the real tower of babel. 236 00:12:36,354 --> 00:12:40,839 It confirms the building was a mesopotamian stepped tower 237 00:12:40,914 --> 00:12:42,912 And illustrates the seven tiers 238 00:12:42,921 --> 00:12:45,392 Of the ancient mega structure. 239 00:12:45,401 --> 00:12:50,399 Significantly, it also clearly identifies the man behind it, 240 00:12:50,681 --> 00:12:55,559 Mesopotamia's most famous ruler, king nebuchadnezzar ii. 241 00:12:55,634 --> 00:12:58,272 (dramatic music) 242 00:12:58,281 --> 00:13:02,359 George: The building and its builder on the same relief. 243 00:13:02,434 --> 00:13:05,159 Mastrelli: For scholars, the tablet offers further proof 244 00:13:05,234 --> 00:13:08,752 That the tower of babel wasn't just a work of fiction, 245 00:13:08,761 --> 00:13:10,999 It was an actual building from antiquity. 246 00:13:12,041 --> 00:13:13,159 Finkel: When you look at this object 247 00:13:13,234 --> 00:13:15,159 The whole thing is like encapsulated 248 00:13:15,234 --> 00:13:17,559 Into one convincing bar of gold, 249 00:13:17,634 --> 00:13:20,592 That there's no doubt about it that this monument, 250 00:13:20,601 --> 00:13:22,759 As we understand it from the bible, 251 00:13:22,834 --> 00:13:25,319 Jolly well existed and this is a picture of it. 252 00:13:27,634 --> 00:13:29,632 Mastrelli: But what did it actually look like, 253 00:13:29,641 --> 00:13:31,079 Looming over babylon? 254 00:13:32,674 --> 00:13:35,472 Now, for the first time, the latest evidence 255 00:13:35,481 --> 00:13:38,319 Will meet cutting edge 21st century technology. 256 00:13:39,234 --> 00:13:41,712 Dr. Matthew nicholls, an archeologist 257 00:13:41,721 --> 00:13:42,912 And computer modeler, 258 00:13:42,921 --> 00:13:45,392 Will attempt to recreate the ancient world's 259 00:13:45,401 --> 00:13:48,759 Most spectacular building in all its glory. 260 00:13:50,274 --> 00:13:53,152 Nicholls: When I'm making 3-d digital models of the past, 261 00:13:53,161 --> 00:13:54,439 What we start with is the evidence 262 00:13:54,514 --> 00:13:56,752 Like any ancient historian or archeologist would. 263 00:13:56,761 --> 00:14:00,272 So we survey what evidence is available for this building 264 00:14:00,281 --> 00:14:01,792 And there's actually quite a lot. 265 00:14:01,801 --> 00:14:05,232 So we put all of this together and it gives us a good basis 266 00:14:05,241 --> 00:14:06,999 For starting to reconstruct it. 267 00:14:08,521 --> 00:14:09,792 Mastrelli: After months of research 268 00:14:09,801 --> 00:14:11,792 And weeks of computer modeling, 269 00:14:11,801 --> 00:14:15,232 Dr. Matthew nicholls can finally bring the tower of babel 270 00:14:15,241 --> 00:14:17,712 Back to life. (wondrous music) 271 00:14:17,721 --> 00:14:18,992 Nicholls: We're looking here 272 00:14:19,001 --> 00:14:20,592 At the site of the temple in ancient babylon, 273 00:14:20,601 --> 00:14:21,792 This big blank space, 274 00:14:21,801 --> 00:14:22,512 More or less in the center of the city, 275 00:14:22,521 --> 00:14:23,639 Is where it stood. 276 00:14:23,714 --> 00:14:26,679 The ziggurat itself we can build up in layers, 277 00:14:26,754 --> 00:14:29,392 Sort of like a wedding cake and immediately I do that, 278 00:14:29,401 --> 00:14:31,879 You can see this is gonna be a really substantial building. 279 00:14:31,954 --> 00:14:34,832 To get up to that base you need a staircase to climb up, 280 00:14:34,841 --> 00:14:39,239 So the next thing to go in has to be some sort of staircase 281 00:14:39,314 --> 00:14:43,392 And we know, again from pictures and from excavation, 282 00:14:43,401 --> 00:14:44,752 That there was a system of staircases running 283 00:14:44,761 --> 00:14:47,559 Up the south face to get people up to that first level. 284 00:14:47,634 --> 00:14:48,832 So I've put them in here. 285 00:14:48,841 --> 00:14:51,232 The next layers in this ziggurat wedding cake 286 00:14:51,241 --> 00:14:52,592 Are these intermediate levels, 287 00:14:52,601 --> 00:14:55,719 Each one set in from the predecessor 288 00:14:55,794 --> 00:14:57,152 And climbing up above it. 289 00:14:57,161 --> 00:15:01,312 So you go up and up each intermediate layer all the way, 290 00:15:01,321 --> 00:15:04,319 All six of them, and you find yourself on this top platform. 291 00:15:06,834 --> 00:15:09,712 Mastrelli: The animation reveals the true scale 292 00:15:09,721 --> 00:15:12,199 Of the tower depicted on the ancient tablet. 293 00:15:16,434 --> 00:15:18,832 But while the images are extraordinary, 294 00:15:18,841 --> 00:15:23,559 The tablet's ancient text also reveals a detailed account 295 00:15:23,634 --> 00:15:27,399 Of the tower's construction and more importantly, 296 00:15:27,474 --> 00:15:30,279 How nebuchadnezzar went about building it. 297 00:15:30,354 --> 00:15:31,792 (dramatic music) 298 00:15:31,801 --> 00:15:35,079 George: It reads from the upper sea which is the mediterranean 299 00:15:35,801 --> 00:15:38,439 To the lower sea and that's the persian gulf. 300 00:15:38,514 --> 00:15:39,879 The far-flung lands 301 00:15:39,954 --> 00:15:43,879 And teaming people of the habitations are immobilized 302 00:15:43,954 --> 00:15:46,599 In order to construct this building 303 00:15:46,674 --> 00:15:48,199 Of the ziggurat of babylon. 304 00:15:49,081 --> 00:15:52,439 Mastrelli: Incredibly, this ancient account is identical 305 00:15:52,514 --> 00:15:53,712 To the biblical story 306 00:15:53,721 --> 00:15:56,199 Of how the tower of babel was constructed. 307 00:15:57,154 --> 00:15:59,159 King nebuchadnezzar brought in people 308 00:15:59,234 --> 00:16:00,592 From all over the empire 309 00:16:00,601 --> 00:16:04,679 To work on his vast building projects. 310 00:16:04,754 --> 00:16:08,112 This could be a vital clue in determining the origins 311 00:16:08,121 --> 00:16:11,472 Of the incredible tale of the tower of babel. 312 00:16:11,481 --> 00:16:14,479 (suspenseful music) 313 00:16:15,721 --> 00:16:16,912 (mysterious music) 314 00:16:16,921 --> 00:16:21,639 In 586 bce, in a bid for world supremacy, 315 00:16:21,714 --> 00:16:25,312 King nebuchadnezzar laid siege to jerusalem, 316 00:16:25,321 --> 00:16:27,632 500 miles to the west. 317 00:16:27,641 --> 00:16:29,399 His army sacked the city 318 00:16:29,474 --> 00:16:31,712 And captured the most highly skilled 319 00:16:31,721 --> 00:16:33,679 And highly educated citizens. 320 00:16:34,834 --> 00:16:37,559 Brought to babylon as prisoners of war, 321 00:16:37,634 --> 00:16:40,079 They were forced to work for nebuchadnezzar. 322 00:16:42,521 --> 00:16:44,359 It was the start of what's now known 323 00:16:44,434 --> 00:16:46,159 As the babylonian captivity. 324 00:16:47,634 --> 00:16:52,192 But crucially, while in babylon the captives became known 325 00:16:52,201 --> 00:16:57,199 As the jewish people, the very authors of the bible. 326 00:16:58,201 --> 00:16:59,312 Finkel: That experience 327 00:16:59,321 --> 00:17:01,792 Converted them into the jewish people 328 00:17:01,801 --> 00:17:03,312 And those of course are the people 329 00:17:03,321 --> 00:17:04,592 Who wrote the old testament, 330 00:17:04,601 --> 00:17:06,912 Who produced the hebrew texts of the old testament 331 00:17:06,921 --> 00:17:08,239 Which we all know about. 332 00:17:09,474 --> 00:17:11,879 Nebuchadnezzar's ziggurat was the biggest one ever made, 333 00:17:11,954 --> 00:17:13,152 It was the most impressive 334 00:17:13,161 --> 00:17:15,559 And it must have had a very powerful effect 335 00:17:15,634 --> 00:17:17,319 On people who saw it for the first time 336 00:17:17,394 --> 00:17:18,359 And who lived under it, 337 00:17:18,434 --> 00:17:20,359 Because wherever you were in the city 338 00:17:20,434 --> 00:17:22,359 You would see this thing. 339 00:17:22,434 --> 00:17:24,679 Mastrelli: Experts believe that the jews held captive 340 00:17:24,754 --> 00:17:27,479 In babylon after the siege of jerusalem 341 00:17:27,554 --> 00:17:29,639 Saw the huge tower being built. 342 00:17:29,714 --> 00:17:31,399 (somber music) 343 00:17:31,474 --> 00:17:33,552 At first, they were mesmerized 344 00:17:33,561 --> 00:17:35,639 By the awe-inspiring structure, 345 00:17:36,441 --> 00:17:39,879 But over time it became a symbol of their oppression, 346 00:17:39,954 --> 00:17:43,792 Of human aspiration and of over-reaching ambition. 347 00:17:43,801 --> 00:17:45,799 Finkel: When you look at the early chapters of the bible 348 00:17:45,874 --> 00:17:48,519 It is clear that some of it is drawn 349 00:17:48,594 --> 00:17:50,512 From the judeans' own records 350 00:17:50,521 --> 00:17:52,432 And some of it incorporates narratives 351 00:17:52,441 --> 00:17:53,559 Which they must have encountered 352 00:17:53,634 --> 00:17:55,319 For the first time in babylon 353 00:17:55,394 --> 00:17:58,519 Which were so powerful and striking that the authors, 354 00:17:58,594 --> 00:18:00,912 The philosophers who worked on the hebrew text, 355 00:18:00,921 --> 00:18:03,999 Incorporated them to tell their own story. 356 00:18:04,921 --> 00:18:07,479 Mastrelli: And there's a compelling clue in the story 357 00:18:07,554 --> 00:18:08,839 That backs up a theory 358 00:18:08,914 --> 00:18:12,199 That jewish slaves witnessed the tower being built 359 00:18:12,274 --> 00:18:14,199 During their time in captivity. 360 00:18:15,401 --> 00:18:18,672 This is an original brick from babylon, 361 00:18:18,681 --> 00:18:20,112 It carries traces 362 00:18:20,121 --> 00:18:24,912 Of an unusual construction material from the time, bitumen, 363 00:18:24,921 --> 00:18:26,832 An ancient tar and mortar 364 00:18:26,841 --> 00:18:30,512 That's specifically mentioned in the biblical tale. 365 00:18:30,521 --> 00:18:31,792 Finkel: Tucked in the corner of this case 366 00:18:31,801 --> 00:18:33,632 Is something very interesting 367 00:18:33,641 --> 00:18:36,432 For people who are interested in the tower of babel 368 00:18:36,441 --> 00:18:38,839 Because this is one of the actual bricks 369 00:18:38,914 --> 00:18:40,599 Which nebuchadnezzar commissioned. 370 00:18:40,674 --> 00:18:41,959 We know it's nebuchadnezzar 371 00:18:42,034 --> 00:18:44,679 Because there's a stamped inscription on the front 372 00:18:45,634 --> 00:18:48,672 And around the edge you can see this murky black stuff, 373 00:18:48,681 --> 00:18:50,192 This is bitumen. 374 00:18:50,201 --> 00:18:51,399 In the book of genesis, 375 00:18:51,474 --> 00:18:55,792 It literally says that they use brick for stone 376 00:18:55,801 --> 00:19:00,359 And bitumen for mortar, it's expressly said there. 377 00:19:00,434 --> 00:19:03,712 What we have here is one brick and its bitumen 378 00:19:03,721 --> 00:19:06,999 Which fits exactly into that special context. 379 00:19:08,361 --> 00:19:09,632 There can be no doubt 380 00:19:09,641 --> 00:19:11,632 That the stimulus for the story and the narrative 381 00:19:11,641 --> 00:19:15,039 Must have taken shape during the babylonian exile. 382 00:19:17,314 --> 00:19:19,712 Mastrelli: All the evidence says the tower of babel 383 00:19:19,721 --> 00:19:21,079 Was a real building. 384 00:19:22,274 --> 00:19:25,439 The story of a mighty tower in a far-off land, 385 00:19:26,201 --> 00:19:29,039 Written by a desperate population in exile, 386 00:19:30,354 --> 00:19:32,239 Held captive by a ruthless king. 387 00:19:34,121 --> 00:19:36,752 And the destruction of the tower was their way 388 00:19:36,761 --> 00:19:38,519 To rewrite history. 389 00:19:38,594 --> 00:19:41,392 It's a fiction rooted in truth. 390 00:19:41,401 --> 00:19:42,592 Finkel: The fact is this, 391 00:19:42,601 --> 00:19:45,319 That the tower of babel cannot be dismissed 392 00:19:45,394 --> 00:19:47,079 As a fable or an invention, 393 00:19:47,154 --> 00:19:48,832 It is in fact literally based 394 00:19:48,841 --> 00:19:51,079 On the existence of a building. 395 00:19:51,154 --> 00:19:53,399 We know where that building was, we know how big it was, 396 00:19:53,474 --> 00:19:55,159 We know what it looked like, we know who built it 397 00:19:55,234 --> 00:19:56,752 And we even know the circumstances 398 00:19:56,761 --> 00:19:59,152 Under which knowledge of this building intruded 399 00:19:59,161 --> 00:20:01,792 Into the psychology of the people, the judeans, 400 00:20:01,801 --> 00:20:04,119 Who wrote that text in the book of genesis. 401 00:20:04,194 --> 00:20:05,319 So there's no doubt about it, 402 00:20:05,394 --> 00:20:07,399 That the one and the other are the same thing 403 00:20:07,474 --> 00:20:10,439 And as it were the tower of babel existed. 404 00:20:11,481 --> 00:20:14,759 (dramatic music) 405 00:20:14,834 --> 00:20:17,399 Mastrelli: But what became of the mesmerizing tower? 406 00:20:19,394 --> 00:20:22,999 How could millions of mud bricks have simply disappeared? 407 00:20:25,314 --> 00:20:27,559 The fact that most of the tower of babel is gone 408 00:20:27,634 --> 00:20:29,359 Is no surprise to experts. 409 00:20:30,434 --> 00:20:31,632 It's supported by evidence 410 00:20:31,641 --> 00:20:35,792 Of an ancient babylonian tradition of recycling 411 00:20:35,801 --> 00:20:38,719 And rebuilding that continued for hundreds of years. 412 00:20:41,634 --> 00:20:45,319 Incredibly, two and a half thousand years later, 413 00:20:45,394 --> 00:20:48,639 Some of those original bricks still survive. 414 00:20:49,401 --> 00:20:52,359 And sometimes, if you look hard enough, 415 00:20:52,434 --> 00:20:56,359 You just might find a piece of history. 416 00:20:56,434 --> 00:20:59,719 Allen: We're at the base of the core of the tower 417 00:20:59,794 --> 00:21:01,792 And here's a rare opportunity 418 00:21:01,801 --> 00:21:05,632 Where you can see some of the original baked fire bricks 419 00:21:05,641 --> 00:21:08,159 That encased the central core still remaining. 420 00:21:09,794 --> 00:21:13,392 That's a real brick from the tower of babel, 421 00:21:13,401 --> 00:21:15,079 It's the original real mccoy. 422 00:21:19,634 --> 00:21:21,559 Mastrelli: The writers of the bible were inspired 423 00:21:21,634 --> 00:21:24,439 By real events and real places, 424 00:21:24,514 --> 00:21:25,639 But that didn't prevent them 425 00:21:25,714 --> 00:21:28,352 From taking creative license here and there. 426 00:21:28,361 --> 00:21:31,319 Intriguingly, recently discovered cuneiform tablets 427 00:21:31,394 --> 00:21:33,399 Like these, no bigger than the size of my hand, 428 00:21:33,474 --> 00:21:34,832 Provide historical accounts 429 00:21:34,841 --> 00:21:37,199 Of jewish life in nebuchadnezzar babylon. 430 00:21:38,114 --> 00:21:41,239 These are the oldest known jewish texts. 431 00:21:41,314 --> 00:21:43,792 They detail their daily life in exile, 432 00:21:43,801 --> 00:21:46,519 Conducting business, paying taxes 433 00:21:46,594 --> 00:21:50,199 And starting families that would stay for generations. 434 00:21:50,274 --> 00:21:55,159 Iraq remained a home to almost 150,000 jews until 1948, 435 00:21:55,234 --> 00:21:56,272 When most would flee 436 00:21:56,281 --> 00:21:59,039 To the now newly created state of israel. 37624

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