Chaldea

views updated Jun 11 2018

Chaldea an ancient country in what is now southern Iraq, inhabited by the Chaldeans, an ancient people who lived in Chaldea c.800 bc and ruled Babylonia 625–539 bc. They were renowned as astronomers and astrologers.

The name comes from Greek Khaldaia, from Akkadian Kald, the name of a Babylonian tribal group.