From the visit of Babil Province
28.03.2025 / 07:47 | Aktualizováno: 28.03.2025 / 20:15
On March 27, 2025 Ambassador Jan Šnaidauf visited province of Babil. During his visit he met the Governor and also toured the historical sites of Babylon.
At the meeting with the governor Adnan Fayhan Al-Dulaimi, Ambassdor had an opportunity to learn about the developments and challenges in the province. Archeological findings, historical UNESCO sites and religious tourism are currently major features that distinguish and characterize Babil province from the rest of Iraq. Provincial government plans to further develop two industrial cities in the Province. Key to its future developments is so called “Development Path” – a 1200km long road (railway and highway) that will connect Grand Port of Faw in the south of Iraq with Turkiye and EU. The Governor invited Embassy to take part in the major provincial event in April 10-12, 2025 (International Day of Babil Culture) that has an international and business parts of its program. The governor also encouraged more investments into his province, including those from the Czech Republic and other European countries. He also specifically mentioned historical cooperation that Iraq enjoyed at the end of the century. On that occasion the Economic Counsellor handed over several materials that present a number of Czech companies that are interested to develop their business activities in Iraq. Further discussions of both partners included topics of the upcoming parliamentary elections. At the end of the meeting the Governor presented the Ambassador with a small replica of the famous Stele with Code of Hammurabi. After the meeting ambassador toured the site of ancient Babylon. On the site he visited a museum, walked the excavated remains: Gate of Ishtar, statue of Lion of Babylon, remains of Kings Highway.
Handing over of the memorial gift - Hammurabi Code replica
About the ancient city of Babylon:
Babylon was located on the lower Euphrates river in southern Mesopotamia. It functioned as the main cultural and political center. It has been estimated that Babylon was the largest city in the whole world between 1770 and 1670 BC, and again between 612 and 320 BC. It was perhaps the first city to reach a population above 200,000. Babylon was inscribed on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2019. The site receives thousands of visitors each year.
From the tour of the ancient Babylon
About the Code of Hammurabi:
The Code of Hammurabi is one of the oldest preserved legal codes. It has been composed during 1755–1750 BC. It is written in the Old Babylonian dialect of Akkadian, purportedly by Hammurabi, sixth king of the First Dynasty of Babylon. The primary copy of the text is inscribed on a basalt stele 2.25 m tall. The stele now resides in the Louvre Museum.
With the museum leadership
About the Babil province:
Babylon Governorate is in central Iraq. The city of Babylon itself is about 80 km south of Baghdad. The province has an area of 5,119 square kilometers and a population of about 1.82 million.
Připravil: Ing. Roman Plevák, Ph.D., vedoucí oddělení obchodu a rozvojové spolupráce, Velvyslanectví ČR v Bagdád