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(dramatic music)
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Mastrelli: The tower of
babel is one
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00:00:02,914 --> 00:00:05,199
Of the most dramatic
stories in the bible.
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00:00:06,201 --> 00:00:09,792
It tells of the construction
of a vertigo inducing tower
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That reaches to heaven.
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But angered by his
people's betrayal,
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God takes action to stop
progress in its tracks.
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(thunder rumbles)
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It's a fantastical tale
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But an incredible new
discovery suggests
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That the tower of babel was
not simply a work of fiction.
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(mysterious music)
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For centuries, the
mysteries of the past
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Have kept their secrets.
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00:00:40,361 --> 00:00:43,519
But there are
clues cast in gold,
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(hammer clangs)
etched in stone,
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(warriors shout)
written in blood.
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We can unlock them.
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(lock rattles)
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(bow creaks)
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(lock clangs)
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These cuneiform tablets
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Are the first known
form of writing,
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But today this tablet can
teach me any language I want.
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However according to the bible,
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There existed a time
I wouldn't have had
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Any problem reading a menu
anywhere in the world.
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The tower of babel is a
fable condemning ambition
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And arrogance, and
allegedly the reason
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Why we all speak
different languages.
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The whole story may seem
far-fetched at first reading,
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But these ancient tablets
appear to disagree.
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Modern day iraq.
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2,500 years ago
this was the center
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Of a vast region
called mesopotamia,
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The cradle of civilization.
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(dramatic music)
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And these are the
remains of its capital,
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A city that has become
fabled in folklore
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00:02:03,394 --> 00:02:06,759
But that actually
existed, babylon.
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It was german archeologist,
robert koldewey,
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Who first identified the buried
ruins of babylon in 1899.
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For 18 years his team
worked relentlessly
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To expose the lost metropolis.
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Koldewey was convinced
that within the rubble
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He'd find the
remains of a building
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That had become a legend,
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The tower of babel.
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The subject of one of the
strangest stories in the bible.
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(mysterious music)
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Finkel: According to the bible,
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God punished mankind
for their arrogance
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In trying to reach heaven.
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Mastrelli: The tale is set
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When the whole of earth
spoke one language.
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It tells of the construction
of a building like no other.
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Mastrelli: The bible tells us
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That when god sees the tower
of babel, he is enraged.
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Mastrelli: God's anger stops
construction in its tracks.
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(thunder booms)
(people shout)
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He scatters the population
across the earth
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And multiple
languages are spawned.
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Finkel: God got cross,
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Decided this was
arrogant behavior,
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Had to be punished,
had to be stopped.
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Mastrelli: It's an
incredible story
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00:03:38,434 --> 00:03:39,999
But could it be based on truth?
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00:03:40,834 --> 00:03:44,592
Robert koldewey, the man who
uncovered the ruins of babylon,
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Believed it was.
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More than a century later
another archeologist
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Is determined to prove
koldewey was right.
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Jeff allen is a program director
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For the world monuments fund.
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He's been working in iraq
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To preserve the
archeological remains
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Of the once lost city.
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A city that astonishingly was
made almost entirely of mud.
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Allen: What we're looking at
here are the inner-city walls
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Of babylon, they were
made out of mud brick.
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In the ancient babylonian times,
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Mud brick was the foundation
for most structures,
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That is it's the building block
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Upon which most of their
architecture was built.
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Mastrelli: Incredibly,
over 2,000 years
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After babylon was built,
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Many of the city's mud brick
structures have been unearthed.
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They give archeologists a
clue as to the sheer scale
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And grandeur of the ancient city
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And reveal that a massive
building project
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Was underway here
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In the 6th century bce.
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But who was behind it?
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(dramatic music)
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A name stamped into hundreds
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Of the unearthed mud
bricks provides the answer,
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King nebuchadnezzar ii,
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A ruler whose ambitions
for babylon were on a scale
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That dwarfed any other
city of its time.
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By 590 bce, babylon
had established itself
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As the epicenter of
nebuchadnezzar's vast empire.
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Ruling with an iron fist,
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He was determined to
leave his mark on the city
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And evidence suggests he did.
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(mysterious music)
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But could nebuchadnezzar's
vision really have stretched
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As far as the towering
structure detailed in the bible?
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A real tower of babel?
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Back in 1913, after 15
years of excavations,
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The german archeologists
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Made an earth
-shattering discovery,
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But flooding and war
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Would make further
exploration impossible
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Until now.
(mysterious music)
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Thanks to satellite technology,
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The true scale of their
discovery can be revealed.
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Could these be the foundations
of the fabled tower?
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For decades, constant flooding
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From the nearby euphrates river
has made access impossible,
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00:06:24,521 --> 00:06:28,752
But now after the driest
summer in over 50 years,
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The foundations have
finally emerged.
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Allen: I'm really at the place
where the tower stood.
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As you can see it
doesn't resemble much
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Of what it looked
like in the past,
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00:06:41,321 --> 00:06:43,632
But you would be a
day or two ride away
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And you'd see this large
mountain-like shape coming up
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Out of the horizon.
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Mastrelli: Since 2009,
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Archeologist jeff
allen has been forced
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To study the flooded
excavations from the banks.
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00:07:00,201 --> 00:07:02,512
But today he gets his first look
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At the foundations of the
structure that once stood here.
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Allen: Normally where
I'm standing
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I'd be waist deep in water,
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Actually about this high,
judging by the water lines.
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00:07:13,634 --> 00:07:16,759
But because we're here
during a very dry summer,
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00:07:16,834 --> 00:07:21,792
The base surrounding
the core is actually dry
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00:07:21,801 --> 00:07:25,152
So we're able to get a
better concept of the size
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Of what this tower was
thousands of years ago.
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(dramatic music)
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Mastrelli: During the original
excavations back in 1913,
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Archeologists recorded
each of the four sides
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To be just over 90 meters
long, that's nearly 300 feet.
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Allen: So I've now walked
about 90 paces
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And given my tall height
that's about a meter pace,
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Along the east side of
the tower of babylon.
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And it's another
90 meters that way
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00:07:58,914 --> 00:08:01,472
'til we reach the
northeast corner.
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00:08:01,481 --> 00:08:03,559
(dramatic music)
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Mastrelli: The
foundations only prove
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Construction was started.
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There are no clues here
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To confirm the structure
was actually completed.
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00:08:13,401 --> 00:08:16,759
But an ancient tablet
from 6th century babylon,
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00:08:16,834 --> 00:08:19,239
Now in the louvre
museum in paris,
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00:08:19,314 --> 00:08:20,839
Provides tantalizing evidence
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00:08:20,914 --> 00:08:24,199
Of a finished structure
like no other.
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00:08:25,401 --> 00:08:27,879
The esagila tablet
describes the dimensions
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Of a sky-scraping tower
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With foundations of the
exact same measurements
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As those found in babylon.
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Crucially, the ancient tablet
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Also reveals the
height of the building.
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Finkel: There's actually
a lot of information
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In this louvre tablet,
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So if you're a
good mathematician
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And a very careful draftsman
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You can make a good
reconstruction in your mind
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On the basis of this
inscription in paris.
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Mastrelli: Incredibly the
tablet describes a structure
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That reached an astonishing
300 feet into the sky.
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00:09:02,274 --> 00:09:05,079
It was called the etemenanki.
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00:09:05,154 --> 00:09:08,119
Translated it means
house of the foundation
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Of heaven and earth.
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The name eerily echoes
the bible's description
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Of a tower whose top
reaches to heaven.
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Finkel: When one's visualizing
this building
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With the assistance of
this ancient inscription
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It is remarkable that the
ground plan is 90 by 90,
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But also the height of the
building is also 90 meters.
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00:09:27,234 --> 00:09:30,199
So the thing was
conceived as a huge block.
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00:09:31,074 --> 00:09:32,912
Mastrelli: The foundations
provide evidence
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00:09:32,921 --> 00:09:34,399
That the project began
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00:09:35,161 --> 00:09:38,192
And the esagila tablet
reveals the dimensions
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For an entire structure.
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00:09:41,554 --> 00:09:42,759
(suspenseful music)
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Could this mythical tower
have really existed?
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00:09:46,841 --> 00:09:49,719
Now an incredible
discovery will reveal
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00:09:49,794 --> 00:09:53,392
Just what this ambitious ancient
wonder actually looked like
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To the people of babylon
over 2,500 years ago.
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Finkel: There's no
doubt about it
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00:10:01,001 --> 00:10:03,999
That this jolly well existed
and this is a picture of it.
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00:10:05,801 --> 00:10:08,199
(mysterious music)
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00:10:08,274 --> 00:10:09,792
Mastrelli: For generations,
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00:10:09,801 --> 00:10:12,512
Artists have depicted the
bible's tower of babel
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00:10:12,521 --> 00:10:14,439
In all shapes and sizes.
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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
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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.
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00:10:54,601 --> 00:10:57,079
Ancient records have
revealed that originally
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00:10:57,154 --> 00:11:00,359
It would have been the
largest of four platforms,
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00:11:00,434 --> 00:11:04,199
Towering over 130
feet into the sky.
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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,
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00:11:12,281 --> 00:11:15,999
But now astounding new
evidence has emerged.
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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
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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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