Ornamental bull from the gate at Babylon (6th century B.C.)

Babylonia is a region in southern Mesopotamia. Its name is taken from the capital city of Babylon.

In the eighth century BC King Hezekiah began to establish friendly relations with the Babylonians in the hope of gaining support against the threat of Assyrian expansion. In 609 BC King Josiah joined the Babylonians in rebelling against Assyria. Josiah was killed, but the Babylonians prevailed and made Assyria a part of the Babylonian empire. In 587 BC the Babylonians captured Jerusalem, destroyed the Temple, and exiled many of the people to Babylonia