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Myths & Legends

The Legendary Tower of Babel: What Does it Mean?

dhwty March 06 / 2019 Getting your audio player ready...

One of the many fantastic stories in the Book of Genesis is the Tower of Babel, a tall construction made in Babylonia after the Deluge. The gist of the story is: All human beings used to speak the same language. As they came to settle in Mesopotamia, they decided to build a city with a tower to reach the heavens. Through this endeavor, mankind intended to create a name for himself. God, however, had other plans. Mankind’s language was confused, and they were scattered over the earth. As a result, the city and the tower were never completed. Regardless of whether you believe this story actually took place, there are several interesting ways of looking at it.

A Literal Approach to the Tower of Babel Story

One way of approaching the story is the literal approach. If one accepts that the Tower of Babel was a historical fact, then it would be expected that some sort of remains or ruins of the tower would exist. This, however, has not been identified by archaeology. The closest candidate for the Tower of Babel may perhaps be the Etemenanki of Babylon. This was a ziggurat dedicated to Marduk, the patron god of Babylon. It has been claimed that this structure was the inspiration for the Tower of Babel. Given that ziggurats were found in Mesopotamia, the setting of the story, and that they were monumental structures, it is not too difficult to see how they may have been used in the story of the Tower of Babel.

Did the Tower of Babel Exist?

In 2017, Andrew George, a professor of Babylonia at the University of London, reported that he believes he has found solid evidence for the Tower of Babel in an ancient baked tablet from the city of Babylon. The baked clay tablet shows what the ziggurat looked like, with its seven steps. It shows the king with his conical hat and staff. And below is text that describes the commissioning of the tower’s construction.

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Dr. George said:

“This is a very strong piece of evidence that the tower of Babel story was inspired by this real building. At the top … there is a relief depicting a step tower and … a figure of a human being carrying a staff with a conical hat on. Below that relief is a text which has been chiseled into the monument, and the label is easily read. It reads: Etemenanki, Ziggurat Babel. And that means ‘the Ziggurat or Temple Tower of the City of Babylon.’ The building and its builder on the same relief.”

The people enlisted to construct the tower, are translated by Dr. George as, “From the Upper Sea [Mediterranean] to the Lower Sea [Persian Gulf] the Far-Flung Lands and Teeming Peoples of the Habitations.”

Experts had already thought King Nebuchadnezzar II actually did build a ziggurat in Babylonia after he established the city as his capital. The tablet provides more evidence. Archaeologists also think the tower of Babel was 300 feet (91 meters) along the sides and 300 feet (91 meters) tall. Only a fraction of the building remains, scattered and broken.

What Does the Tower of Babel Symbolize?

Regardless of the question of the tower’s existence, another way to examine the Tower of Babel story is through the symbolic approach. The context of the story, i.e. the story of the Tower of Babel being recorded in the Book of Genesis, would make it reasonable to expect a religious message behind it. It has been suggested that the Tower of Babel is a symbol for humanity’s vanity. For instance, the use of brick and mortar represent pride in man-made materials. Thus, the use of these materials over stone and tar, which are natural and more durable materials, may be read as mankind’s misplaced confidence in his own abilities.

Thus, the Tower of Babel may be seen as a monument to mankind’s ability and achievement. Man is promptly reminded of his frailty when God decides to confuse their languages and scatter them. While some regard this story as a warning against the sin of pride, others would prefer to question the kind of God that is being portrayed in the story. Regardless, the story seems to convey a notion of doom and gloom for humanity.

Gustave Dore's depiction of the Tower of Babel according to the biblical interpretation. (Public Domain)

Can the Tower of Babel Explain Worldwide Diversity?

Another way of viewing this story, however, may shine a more positive light on the Tower of Babel. Instead of being a lesson against pride, this may be a tool to explain the diversity of peoples in the world. After all, the chapter preceding the story of the Tower of Babel deals with the various nations that descended from the sons of Noah. This etiological approach, in which myths are used to explain human conditions, is visible in many other cultures. For instance, in the mythology of the Blackfoot Indians, Old Man, the creator, gave different colored water to people to drink. As a result, different peoples began to speak different languages. Without the knowledge that we possess today, these myths would have served to throw light on the great mysteries of life. Besides, they make pretty good camp-fire stories.

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Although language was confused, and mankind scattered across the world, I can’t help but think that we’ve come full circle, almost at least. Take this article as an example. It will probably be read by people from different parts of the world. In that sense, we are connected, rather than scattered. Also, through translations, we are able to overcome language barriers. Moreover, at times we may even communicate through empathy, without the need for speech.

Yet, there’s one part of the story we have not achieved. The people in the story of the Tower of Babel were working together to build a monument. Sadly, human beings aren’t quite doing that today. Wars, the exploitation of the poor, and human trafficking are just some examples of the ways in which we are destroying our fellow man/woman, instead of cooperating with him/her. Perhaps it’s time we finish building the Tower of Babel.

Top Image: ‘The Tower of Babel’, by Pieter Bruegel the Elder. Source: Public Domain

By Ḏḥwty

References

Ashliman, D. L., 2003. Blackfoot Creation and Origin Myths. Available at: http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/blkftcreation.html

Fairchild, M., 2014. The Tower of Babel - Bible Story Summary. Available at: http://christianity.about.com/od/biblestorysummaries/p/towerofbabel.htm

The Bible: Standard King James Version, 2014. Available at: http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/

Tower of Babel

patrick riley (not verified) 23 April, 2014 - 17:05

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How about: the people built the tower to escape the 'next' flood, so they could continue wallowing in their sins?

There's no mention of sin in

Tsurugi 29 July, 2014 - 20:25

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In reply to Tower of Babel by patrick riley (not verified)

There's no mention of sin in the biblical account of the tower. It specifically says they were building it "to make a name" for themselves, which seems to me an alliteration, the meaning of which is lost in both time and translation.

The only thing that comes to my mind is the Solomonic concept of "True Names", unique and complex symbols each of which represent a different powerful demonic or otherwise spiritual entity. Supposedly, the power of these beings is intimately connected somehow to the symbol of their True Name, which they endeavored to keep secret because anyone who knew the name and could reproduce it accurrately could summon the spirit and have complete control over it. Part of the Wisdom given to Solomon by God was thought to be knowlege of the True Names of many demons and djinni on earth.

How might that connect to the Babel story, I'm not sure. The things God says about the matter before scattering the humans could be implied to mean he was worried of humans becoming god-like themselves....perhaps they sought, through construction of this tower somehow, to aquire True Names?

Excellent and well thought

Malisa Wright 15 September, 2015 - 14:40

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In reply to There's no mention of sin in by Tsurugi

Excellent and well thought-out comment

sins

Benjamin (not verified) 30 September, 2014 - 01:56

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In reply to Tower of Babel by patrick riley (not verified)

I agree with you they had a hatred toward God and in return wanted to escape the flood and reach the heavens to try and overthrow God. Although som say they believe the tower may have been a portal or star gate?