The Tower of Babel (Hebrew: ???? ???? Migdal Bavel Arabic: ??? ????? Burj Babil); according to the Book of Genesis; was an enormous tower built in the plain of Shinar (Hebrew: ?????).

According to the biblical account; a united humanity of the generations following the Great Flood; speaking a single language and migrating from the east; came to the land of Shinar; where they resolved to build a city with a tower 'with its top in the heavens...lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the Earth'. God came down to see what they did and said: 'They are one people and have one language; and nothing will be withholden from them which they purpose to do'. So God said; 'Come; let us go down and confound their speech'. And so God scattered them upon the face of the Earth; and confused their languages; and they left off building the city; which was called Babel 'because God there confounded the language of all the Earth'.(Genesis 11:5-8).

The Tower of Babel has often been associated with known structures; notably the Etemenanki; a ziggurat dedicated to Marduk by Nabopolassar (c. 610 BC). The Great Ziggurat of Babylon base was square (not round); 91 metres (300 ft) in height; but demolished by Alexander the Great. A Sumerian story with some similar elements is preserved in Enmerkar and the Lord of Aratta.