The traditional Christian concept of the “Babylonian captivity” being the point of departure,this study attempts to analyse views and connotations applied to Babylon (the city),Babylonia (the region), and the adjectives Babylonensis, Babylonicus and Babylonius in classicalLatin literature from Plautus to ca 200 AD. The analysis puts a specific focus on thefoundation and structure of Babylon, its founder Queen Semiramis, its magnificent textiles,and its legendary status as the centre of astronomy and astrology.