Knights of Babylon
By Arthur Hardy

Babylon was an important city located on the Euphrates River in Southwest Asia. Its namesake Mardi Gras organization was founded as the Jester Club in 1939 in New Orleans. The knights call their monarch “Sargon” – the king who was the legendary ruler of the ancient Semitic races. Secrecy is of great significance to the Knights of Babylon, and the identity of their king is never revealed to the general public. The title of Babylon’s elaborate parade and ball theme are also undisclosed until the day of the event. Traditionally, each float depicts a chapter in a continuing story with a musical, classical or literary theme.