..::Hanging Gardens of Babylon::..
Full of lovely fruits and flowers, beautiful waterfalls and exotic, rare animals, this is what we should think of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. But sadly, we can’t see for ourselves if this is really what the Gardens look like.
Location
On the east bank on the River Euphrates, about 50 kms away from Baghdad, Iraq
Information
The Hanging Gardens where made from mud, brick and waterproofed with lead. The Hanging Gardens where destroyed (Sorry if you wanted to go there, but is kinda impossible) by an earthquake. Sadly, its the only Wonder that the archaeological remains can’t be confirmed.
History
The Babylonian palace flourished with the rule of the famous King Hammurabi (his rule was from 1792 BC – 1750 BC) It wasn’t until King Naboplashar (625 – 605 BC) of the Neo-Babylonian powerful leaders the Mesopotamian civilisation reached its ultimate beauty. His son Nebuchadnezzar II (604 – 562 BC) is responsible for making the “Hanging Gardens.” A rumour says that the Gardens where only built to please Nebuchadnezzar’s wife.
The Greek historians told about the Gardens in the most graphic way, Babylonian records are silent on the stuff. Tablets from the time of Nebuchadnezzar don’t have a mention of the Hanging Gardens. Even historians who described the Gardens have never seen them.
It wasn’t until the 20th century (1900-1999) that only some of the Hanging Garden mysteries where discovered, archaeologists are still trying to find information about the Gardens.
The Greek historians told about the Gardens in the most graphic way, Babylonian records are silent on the stuff. Tablets from the time of Nebuchadnezzar don’t have a mention of the Hanging Gardens. Even historians who described the Gardens have never seen them.
It wasn’t until the 20th century (1900-1999) that only some of the Hanging Garden mysteries where discovered, archaeologists are still trying to find information about the Gardens.
What Flowers and Animals Where in the Garden?
There are no really exact knowledge of what was in the Hanging Gardens. Because as I wrote in the “Information” part, the Gardens where destroyed by a Earthquake in the 2nd Century. But from what historians have said, this is the picture that they try to put across:
The garden was sloped like a hill, several parts rose from the rest. On all of this, soil was there, and in it, every type of tree was planted, they had great size and great charm and pleased the onlooker. The water machines raised the water in great lots from the river, but no one could see it.
The garden was sloped like a hill, several parts rose from the rest. On all of this, soil was there, and in it, every type of tree was planted, they had great size and great charm and pleased the onlooker. The water machines raised the water in great lots from the river, but no one could see it.
Description
Detailed description of the Gardens where written by Greek sources, here are what some of them said:
"The Garden is quadrangular, and each side is four plethra long. It has arched vaults which are located on checkered cube-like foundations.. The rise of the highest terrace-roofs is made by a stairway..."
"The Hanging Garden has plants cultivated above ground level, and the roots of the trees are covered in an upper terrace rather than in the earth. The whole lot is supported on stone columns... Streams of water came from elevated sources flow down sloping channels... These waters irrigate the whole garden saturating the roots of plants and keeping the whole area wet. That's why the grass is permanently green and the leaves of trees grow firmly attached to supple branches... This is a work of art of royal comfort and its outstanding feature is that the labour of agriculture is suspended above the heads of the spectators".
"The Garden is quadrangular, and each side is four plethra long. It has arched vaults which are located on checkered cube-like foundations.. The rise of the highest terrace-roofs is made by a stairway..."
"The Hanging Garden has plants cultivated above ground level, and the roots of the trees are covered in an upper terrace rather than in the earth. The whole lot is supported on stone columns... Streams of water came from elevated sources flow down sloping channels... These waters irrigate the whole garden saturating the roots of plants and keeping the whole area wet. That's why the grass is permanently green and the leaves of trees grow firmly attached to supple branches... This is a work of art of royal comfort and its outstanding feature is that the labour of agriculture is suspended above the heads of the spectators".
