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DEL.ICIO.USTrip back in time to Babylon
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeremy Redmon/AJC
Sarkis "Ben" Shlimon recently toured the ruins of Babylon as an interpreter for Georgia's 1st Battalion, 108th Armor Regiment.
Ruins of Babylon, Iraq — He was young and in love. It was 1969 and Sarkis “Ben” Shlimon was 14.
He was here with his family and his girlfriend, picnicking at the supposed site of the biblical Tower of Babel and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.
The memories came flooding back as he toured the ruins this month. He was here as an interpreter for Georgia’s 1st Battalion, 108th Armor Regiment. The Georgia National Guard soldiers stopped to see Babylon on their way to another mission nearby in the city of Hillah.
Shlimon said he never thought he would be able to return to this site after fleeing Iraq in 1974. He said his father wanted him to avoid Iraq’s military draft and encouraged him to leave their home and move to the United States. The rest of his family soon followed. As Christians, Schlimon said, they feared Hussein would persecute them.
Shlimon appeared lost in thought as he stepped around shards of broken pottery and stray cuneiform tablets.
He walked along a 6th century B.C. path called “Processional Way.” And then he posed for pictures next to a large basalt sculpture called “The Lion of Babylon.” He remembers climbing on top of the lion and posing for pictures when he was a teenager.
“It brings a lot of memories. Good times and bad times,” said Shlimon, 50, who was born in Baghdad but now lives in Chicago. “There were a lot of people here happy and celebrating. My brothers, my sisters, my friends - I imagine them screaming and running around. My parents - we were picnicking here.”
Things have changed significantly since Shlimon was here 36 years ago. Critics contend U.S.-led forces did substantial damage to the archaeological sites here when they used it as a base after the invasion in 2003.
Hussein has also came under criticism from archaeologists for rebuilding much of Babylon, including the colorful Ishtar Gate and some of the temples, and inscribing his name on many of the bricks. Some of them say, “This was built by Saddam Hussein, son of Nebuchadnezzar, to glorify Iraq.”
Shlimon read aloud from the Arabic on the bricks and then glanced at a huge palace Hussein had built on a bluff overlooking the ruins.
“I have no idea why he put it there,” Shlimon said with dismay. “He did it to make it look like he was in charge.”
In the last six months, Shlimon has grown close to the Georgia National Guard soldiers, who treat him with respect. Armed with a loaded AK-47 and pistol, Shlimon often goes on missions and fights alongside them.
He got married after he moved to the United States and now has two teenage daughters, one of whom is studying to become a doctor. The other wants to be an FBI agent.
Shlimon is separated from his wife now and often thinks back to the teenage girlfriend he picnicked with here. She is married and also lives in the United States.
He keeps her college graduation photo in his wallet. In faded blue ink on the back of her photo are the words: “Love You Always.”
Comments
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By Robert
November 28, 2005 09:28 AM | Link to this
What a good human interest story on the fine work that the interpreters are doing for the Georgia troops. Hope that Sarkis has a good tour over there and comes home safe to his family. Keep up the good work.
Robert of Rex