Hanging Gardens
of Babylon

Seven Wonder

 

Why the
Hanging Gardens of Babylon
Seven Wonder is special

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon are the most controversial of all the Seven Wonders because some archaeologists doubt that this Seven Wonder ever existed. After exploring the ruins firsthand in Iraq and reading extensively, I believe they did exist, but on a less grand scale than widely thought.

Why were the
Hanging Gardens
of Babylon built?

Theories vary:

The most popular account is that King Nebuchadnezzar II (of biblical fame) constructed this wonder in the 6th century BC to please his wife. Babylon's flat desert-like landscape made her homesick for the verdant mountains of Media where she was reared. So, the king built an artificial, terraced hill lushly cultivated with trees and flowering plants.

Another says say that a powerful Assyrian queen built the Hanging Gardens of Babylon for her own pleasure.

Others believe this Seven Wonder was conceived much earlier by an Assyrian king.

Yet other experts go so far as to think that the Hanging Gardens existed in Nineveh, not Babylon.

Seven Wonders map for the
Hanging Gardens of Babylon

Interesting tidbits
about the Hanging
Gardens of Babylon

Ancient accounts of
the Hanging Gardens
of Babylon are scarce

Although several ancient Greek writers describe them, none ever saw them. And, "hanging gardens" was never mentioned on any of the numerous clay-tablet records that archaeologists excavated from Babylon.

Today

What remains of what is widely believed to be the Seven Wonder site is mainly red brick rubble.

Water issues

Substantial water was needed for irrigation because water evaporates quickly in Babylon's arid environment.

Devising a workable watering system was more of a challenge than erecting the gardens. The water had to be diverted from the Euphrates River and raised to the level of the holding tank above the Hanging Gardens.

And, this Seven Wonder could collapse if water were absorbed by the brick columns and foundation supporting the gardens. 

Terrace support

The gardens "overhang" the terraces rather than "hang" from ropes. A long-ago translator apparently erred.

Lifespan

The estimated lifespan of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon was only a century or so, likely due to neglect. This in turn caused water damage and clay brick deterioration.

Babylon

It was one of the world's most impressive cities with its magnificent palace, temples, walls and gates. The 5th century BC Greek historian Herodotus wrote, "Babylon surpasses in splendor any city in the known world." It's possible that Babylon was originally on the Seven Wonders list and a Medieval scribe took it upon himself to substitute the Hanging Gardens for it.

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