A fragment of an astronomical diary from 331 B.C.E. makes a brief reference to the presence of Alexander III (the Great) of Macedon in Babylonia. Alexander defeated the last of the Achaemenid Persian kings, Darius III, at Gaugamela, near the ruins of Nineveh, on the first of October in that year and then headed south, entering Babylon without resistance.

That month, from the 1st to [. . . .] came to Babylon saying, "Esangila (temple) [. . . .] On the 11th, in Sippar an order of Al[exander . . . .". . .] 1 shall not enter your houses." On the 13th, [. . . . ] to the outer gate of Esangila and [. . . .] On the 14th, these lonians (Greeks) a bull [. . . .] short, fatty tissue [. . . .] Alexander, king of the world, [came in]to Babylon [. . . hor]ses and equipment of [. . . .] and the Babylonians and the people of[. . . . . ] a message to [. . . .]

Alexander's plan to rebuild Babylon and make it the capital...