1.7 Hanging gardens of Babylon
The hanging gardens of Babylon are considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. BC were built in the 6th century during the reign of Nabucodonosor II in a city on the banks of the Euphrates River (the Babel of biblical texts).
Towards the year 600 BC,
Nabucodonosor II, King of the Chaldeans, wanted to make his wife,
Amytis, daughter of the King of the Medes, a gift that showed his love
for her and remember her beautiful mountains of their home in florida,
so different from the Great Plains of Babylon.
According to a legend, on the other hand, gardens have been built in the 11th century BC But then he reigned in Babylon Shammuramat, called Semiramis by the Greeks, as regent for his son Adadnirari III. It was a brave Queen, who conquered the India and Egypt. But it not resisted his son colluding to defeat it, and ended up committing suicide.
With the decline of Babylon and the end of the Babylonian Empire, the gardens were gradually abandoned. When
Alexander the great arrived in town in the 4th century BC, the gardens
were already partially in ruins and completely abandoned. Finally the gardens were destroyed by King Evemero in 125 B.c.
The gardens were
located next to the Palace of the King, just beside the River, so that
travelers could see them since access was forbidden to the people. From the highest of the terraces was a water tank from which ran several Brooks.
The hanging gardens of Babylon probably not "hung" really in the sense of being suspended by cables or ropes. The name comes from a wrong translation of the Greek word kremastos or the term latin pensilis, which means not just "hang" but if "Excel", as in the case of a terrace or a balcony.
The Greek geographer Strabo, who described the gardens in the 1st century BC, wrote:
"This consists of vaulted terraces raised on each other, resting on pillars cubic." They are hollowed and filled with Earth to allow the planting of large trees. The pillars, vaults, and the terraces are constructed with fired brick and asphalt."
The most recent
archaeological excavations in the ancient city of Babylon, in the
present territory of Iraq uncovered the settlement of the Palace. Other findings include building domed with thick walls and irrigation near the southern Palace.
A group of archaeologists examined the southern area of the Palace and remade building vaulted like the hanging gardens. However,
the Greek historian Strabo had stated that the gardens were located on
the Euphrates River, while the domed building is several hundred meters
away. They rebuilt the place of the Palace and Gardens located in the area extending from the River to the Palace.
Currently the
partially reconstructed ruins of Babylon by Saddam Hussein at the end of
the 20th century, found in the Iraqi province of Babil, 110 km south of
Baghdad.
On the Bank of
the River, recently discovered 25 metres thick walls may be staggered in
the form of terraces, such as Greek references describe them. However,
there is little evidence for any of these theories, as does not mention
anything in the numerous Babylonian documents of the time.
The irrigation system:
The water is brought from the Euphrates River, is pumping 25 m up to distribute it through all the levels. It was called "Sadof" where in each level had a bucket on hinges that would raise the water and empty it at every level.
The second type of irrigation which is believed that it was a complicated system of pulleys climbing water of a pulley to another to irrigate at all levels.
It is not yet known whether they existed or not since they do not appear in Babylonian writings or not the historian Herodotus mentioned them.
Amytis came from a mountainous village and as it was sad, because missed his people, the King built the gardens so you feel at home.
Also found near the river Euphrates a huge Foundation, presumably from the gardens. Later believed was the vault that served as a foundation for the gardens. But it is not known which of the 2 foundations he found were the gardens.
The foundations that were found near the city. Of the of river has been impossible to find images.
Data about its construction and destruction
Built approximately in 600 B.c. (in the V and VI century BC) built it the King Nebuchadnezzar, which was a great Builder and he ordered to build it. BC Babylon was the largest city ever built at the time.
The irrigation system:
The water is brought from the Euphrates River, is pumping 25 m up to distribute it through all the levels. It was called "Sadof" where in each level had a bucket on hinges that would raise the water and empty it at every level.
The second type of irrigation which is believed that it was a complicated system of pulleys climbing water of a pulley to another to irrigate at all levels.
| Second the garden irrigation system |
Built on a foundation of stone of about 120 square meters. Several terraces that rose up to 50 cubits (24 metres approximately).Thus explains the name pendants.
It is not yet known whether they existed or not since they do not appear in Babylonian writings or not the historian Herodotus mentioned them.
| Measurement lengthwise and widthwise gardens |
They were built for the wife of Nebuchadnezzar, Amytis.
Amytis came from a mountainous village and as it was sad, because missed his people, the King built the gardens so you feel at home.
The gardens were destroyed by a fire caused by the Evemero King when I conquered Babylon in 125 B.c.
At the beginning of the 20th century the German Robert Kelldeway excavated in Babylon. He found ruins of walls, streets and palaces. To the Northwest of the city, he found a cellar with 14 large rooms, vaulted stone ceilings. One of the basement contained a well with 3 rods sunk into the ground, thinking that they were of the pumping system in the gardens.
Also found near the river Euphrates a huge Foundation, presumably from the gardens. Later believed was the vault that served as a foundation for the gardens. But it is not known which of the 2 foundations he found were the gardens.
| Remains found by Robert Kelldeway |
The foundations that were found near the city. Of the of river has been impossible to find images.