The term "Hanging Gardens of Babylon" is familiar to any student, mainly as the second most important structure of the Seven Wonders of the World. According to the legends and references of ancient historians, they were built for his wife by the ruler of Babylon Nebuchadnezzar II in the 6th century BC. Today, the gardens and the palace have been completely destroyed by both man and the elements. Due to the lack of direct evidence of their existence, there is always no official version about their location and date of construction.
Description and presumptive history of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon
A detailed description is found in the ancient Greek historians Diodorus and Stabon, the Babylonian historian Berossus (III century BC) presented clear details. According to their data, in 614 BC. e. Nebuchadnezzar II makes peace with the Medes and marries their princess Amitis. Growing up in mountains full of greenery, she was horrified by the dusty and stone Babylon. To prove his love and comfort her, the king orders the construction of a grand palace with terraces for trees and flowers. Simultaneously with the start of construction, merchants and warriors from campaigns began to deliver seedlings and seeds to the capital.
The four-tier structure was located at a height of 40 m, so it could be seen far beyond the city walls. The area indicated by the historian Diodorus is striking: according to his data, the length of one side was about 1300 m, the other a little less. The height of each terrace was 27.5 m, the walls were supported by stone columns. The architecture was unremarkable, with the green spaces at each level being of primary interest. To take care of them, slaves were supplied upstairs with water flowing down in the form of waterfalls to the lower terraces. The irrigation process was continuous, otherwise the gardens would not have survived in that climate.
It is still unclear why they were named after Queen Semiramis, and not Amitis. Semiramis, the legendary ruler of Assyria, lived two centuries earlier, her image was practically deified. Perhaps this was reflected in the works of historians. Despite many controversies, the existence of the gardens is beyond doubt. This place is mentioned by the contemporaries of Alexander the Great. It is believed that he died in this place, which struck his imagination and reminds him of his home country. After his death, the gardens and the city itself fell into decay.
Where are the gardens located now?
In our time, there are no significant traces left of this unique building. The ruins indicated by R. Koldevei (researcher of ancient Babylon) differ from other ruins only by stone slabs in the basement and are of interest only for archaeologists. To visit this place, you must go to Iraq. Travel agencies organize excursions to the ancient ruins located 90 km from Baghdad near modern Hill. In the photo of our days, only clay hills covered with brown debris are visible.
We advise you to look at the Boboli Gardens.
An alternative version is offered by the Oxford researcher S. Dalli. She claims that the Hanging Gardens of Babylon were built in Nineveh (present-day Mosul in northern Iraq) and shifts the date of construction two centuries earlier. Currently, the version is based only on decoding cuneiform tables. To find out in which country the gardens were located - the Babylonian kingdom or Assyria, additional excavations and studies of the mounds of Mosul are required.
Interesting facts about the Hanging Gardens of Babylon
- According to the descriptions of ancient historians, stone was used for the construction of the foundations of the terraces and columns, which are absent in the vicinity of Babylon. His and fertile soil for trees was brought from afar.
- It is not known for certain who created the gardens. Historians mention the collaboration of hundreds of scientists and architects. In any case, the irrigation system surpassed all technologies known at that time.
- Plants were brought from all over the world, but planted taking into account their growth in natural conditions: on the lower terraces - ground, on the upper - mountain. Plants of her homeland were planted on the upper platform, beloved by the queen.
- The location and time of creation are constantly contested, in particular, archaeologists find paintings on the walls with images of gardens, dating back to the 8th century BC. To this day, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon belong to the unrevealed mysteries of Babylon.
