the ancient mounds of mud bricks , which have been the only indications of the greatness of the original city of babel , had been reconstructed ; the architect of the colossal walls of the new buildings , largely untroubled by historical accuracy , making no attempt to deceive the visiting public into thinking that they were revisiting the ancient city as it would once have looked , instead modern building materials had been utilised in the construction , and the intimidating fortress-like structures , topped by crenelated parapets , spoke only of the folly of modern day iraq , without recalling any of the past glories of such great leaders as nebuchadnezzar .