BABEL, the native name of Babylon (q.v.). The name has become associated with the Tower of Babel. According to the narrative in Genesis, mankind after the flood attempted to build a tower whose top would reach unto heaven. They were, how ever, prevented through their speech being confounded, and the etymology of the name traditionally is found in the Hebrew verb balal to confound. The original of the tower of Babel has been found in the temple of E-Sagila at Babylon but local and Jewish tradition associated it with the stage-tower of Borsippa. It is possible, however, that many of the stage-towers of Mesopotamia may have become confused in the story, which is widely scattered over the world. Versions have been recorded from near the Zam bezi and also from Ashanti ; among some of the Tibeto-Burman peoples of Assam the story of a tower and confusion of speech is found. Similar tales are found in Mexico, especially with ref erence to the great pyramid of Cholula, but these stories may be due to culture contact after the introduction of Christianity, as is the case with other Mexican legends.
(Arabic for "The Gate of Tears"— so called from the dangers attending its navigation), a strait be tween Arabia and Africa connecting the Red sea with the Indian ocean, is tom. across and is divided into two channels by the island of Perim. The western channel is 16m. across with 17o fathoms and the eastern am. with 16 fathoms. Near the African this suggested intrusion and, descending to the earth, struck terror to the hearts of men by confounding their speech so that no man could understand his neighbour. From this time men wandered steadily abroad and founded independent colonies.
The Tower of Babel is generally identified with E-temen-an-ki, the tower north of the Marduk temple E-sagila, but it is not known when or by whom it was built. The site of the tower is now but a hole in the ground and is the modern Es-sahan.