GarHanging Gardens of Babylon
By: Katerina Gillian

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon are considered to be one of the original Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. They were built in the ancient city-state of Babylon, near present-day Al Hillah, Babil, in Iraq. Nebuchadnezzar II ordered the gardens to be built during his reign of 43 years between the years of 604-562 BC. He built it to help his homesick wife, Amyitis, who was from Media, overcome her depression. She missed the gardens and mountains of her homeland. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon impressed travelers and historians in ancient times. Although they no longer exist, the idea of such a magnificent garden still peaks the curiosity of people today.
Architecturally, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon were an impressive. The gardens were quadrilateral in shape. Stairways went to the highest terraced roofs. The plants on these terraces overhung stone column supports. Arched vaults were placed on cubed fountains. The fountains provided humidity that acted as a form of air conditioning. The shade from the trees also helped keep cool the gardens. The garden rose in close planted levels to create man-made mountain greenery. The gardens were supported by a detailed structure of stone pillars, brick walls, and palm tree trunk beams. These trunks were watertight. “Palm beams were placed over with reed and bitumen mats, as well as two layers of baked mud brick.” All of this was coated in a layer of lead. There were fourteen underground crypts and vaulted rooms. The structure was 400 feet by 400 feet. The gardens were as tall as the city walls, which were reported to be 320 feet high by Herodotus. Conflicting sources believe the walls were 80 feet high. The architecture of the Hanging Gardens shows the majesty of Babylonian structural design under Nebuchadnezzar's rule.
There is some controversy surrounding the Hanging Gardens. Were they an actual creation or a poetic creation? The lack of documentation of them in Babylonian history creates the doubt. In ancient writings the Hanging Gardens of Babylon were first described by Berossus, a Babylonian priest who lived during the late 4th century BC. These accounts were later expanded upon by Greek historians.

A more recent theory proposes that the gardens were actually built under the orders of Sennacherib, who took the throne of Assyria in 705 BC. New studies of the location of Nineveh (Located on the eastern bank of the Tigris in ancient Assyria) show his gardens were placed close to the palace entrance, on the bank of the Tigris river. It is possible that over centuries, the two sites became confused, and the hanging gardens were credited to Babylon.
In conclusion, one of the seven wonders has mystery behind it. There has never been solid proof that provides concrete evidence that it even existed. A wonder build out of love by a king for his homesick wife is one of the most magnificent structures of all time.