The Mysterious Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

Imagine a luxurious, lush paradise rich with greenery, pouring over terraces, standing tall in the middle of the desert…

Although this might sound like something out of a futuristic fantasy book, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, known as one of the seven ancient wonders of the world, were built around 600 BC in the city of Babylon, near present-day Hillah, Babil province, Iraq. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon is believed to have had the gardens constructed as a gift to his wife Semiramis in order to, alleviate her homesickness for the green forests and fragrant plants of her homeland. (The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica, 2019)

Interpretation of what the Gardens could have looked liked

The Hanging Gardens, by Felix Gardon c.1930s

It is important to note that, while there are many sources referring to the gardens, none of the writers of these reports have actually seen the world wonder themselves. Some research suggests that they were an elaborate series of rooftop gardens and other theories say the gardens were built in the walls of the royal palace. (The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica, 2019) However, the biggest question historians have is how did the gardens, located in the middle of the dry desert, defy the arid landscape and survive? Recent excavations such as ones by German archaeologist, Robert Koldewey, uncovered a series of foundation chambers and vaults in the north-eastern corner of the palace at Babylon. (Hear about the Legend of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon and Its Supposed Creation by King Nebuchadrezzar II, n.d.) Suggesting exceptional systems of irrigation, in conjunction with a chain pump in the substructure of the gardens, most likely used to raise water to feed the gardens. (The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica, 2019) It is believed there were also stone balconies with layers of various materials, such as reeds, bitumen and lead so that the water would not seep through the terraces. Other research suggests more natural systems of irrigation where the gardens were laid out on a sloping construct designed in order to imitate a natural mountain landscape. (The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica, 2019) There is no denying that the gardens were a marvellous feat of engineering and beauty for humanity and architectural progression.

Ruins of the ancient city of Babylon are seen near Hilla, south of Baghdad, Feb. 28, 2015. - REUTERS/Alaa Al-Marjani

Lamentably it is believed the gardens were destroyed by an earthquake in 226 BC. Today only rubble and ruins stand, although despite this, the allure and enchantment of the gardens continues to bewitch the imagination of poets, architects and historians. Each one flourishing mysteries on the gardens, a testament to the persistent power of the human mind and the puzzling nature of lost wonders. The loss of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon proves to us that nothing in our modern world is as permanent as we may tend to believe it to be and that anything can fall to the ruins of history…

Bibliography:

The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. (2019). Hanging Gardens of Babylon | History & Pictures. In Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/place/Hanging-Gardens-of-Babylon

Hear about the legend of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon and its supposed creation by King Nebuchadrezzar II. (n.d.). Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/video/179976/creation-Nebuchadrezzar-II-designs-structure-video-Hanging

Wonders of the World. (n.d.). Www.albany.edu. https://www.albany.edu/~mwolfe/ist538/unit4/Chapter_07_examples/07-07.html

Image Credits:

Cover Image: Keys, D. (2013, May 6). The biggest wonder about the Hanging Gardens of Babylon? They. The Independent. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/features/the-biggest-wonder-about-the-hanging-gardens-of-babylon-they-weren-t-in-babylon-8604649.html

‌Hilla, R. of the ancient city of B. are seen near, Baghdad, south of, Feb. 28, & Al-Marjani, 2015-REUTERS/Alaa. (2016, July 24). Iraq’s ancient city of Babylon eyes World Heritage list - Al-Monitor: Independent, trusted coverage of the Middle East. Www.al-Monitor.com. https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2016/07/babylon-unesco-iraq.html

‌Trust, T. G. (2021, January 2). The Hanging Gardens of Babylon. The Gardens Trust. https://thegardenstrust.blog/2021/01/02/the-hanging-gardens-of-babylon/

‌Lin, K. (2019, August 20). The Hanging Gardens of Babylon Weren’t in Babylon? Historic Mysteries. https://www.historicmysteries.com/archaeology/the-hanging-gardens-of-babylon/336/

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