Final answer:
The choice of Babylon as the setting for the story of Pyramus and Thisbe adds depth to the narrative by using the city's historical grandeur and cultural significance to enrich the romantic and dramatic elements of the tale.
Step-by-step explanation:
The ancient city of Babylon stands out as a significant location both historically and mythologically, and thus could have been deliberately chosen by the author to set the story of Pyramus and Thisbe. Babylon is renowned for its grandeur and historical importance as described in recorded documents dating back to the late third millennium BCE. It first gained prominence under the rule of King Hammurabi and was known as a center of great learning, with advancements in fields like astrology, medicine, and mathematics.
Choosing Babylon as the setting invokes myriad cultural and historical connotations, such as the grandeur of the Hanging Gardens and the enigmatic narratives of the Tower of Babel. This could serve to enrich the story, giving it a background that is both exotic and steeped in ancient traditions and legends.
The author's choice underlines the story's dramatic and romantic elements, benefiting from the city's reputation for mystery and the supernatural—all of which cater to a narrative that transcends time and space.