Question

in "By the Waters of Babylon," John sees the city "as it had been when the gods were alive." What is he seeing?

Answer 1

New York City as it had been.

By the Water of Babylon is a short story by Stephen Vincent Bene't narrated in first-person by protagonist John. In the Place of Gods, John envisions the occurrences that consumed the civilization of the Gods. He saw new York City as it once was.