The second of the seven wonders of the Ancient World - they are also called Hanging Gardens Babylon. This amazing creation has not survived to this day, but controversy about it still does not subside.
In the 6th century BC. The Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II gave the order to build marvelous gardens for his beloved wife Amytis. She was a Median princess, and in the dusty, noisy Babylon she greatly yearned for the green hills and aromas of the blooming gardens of her homeland. Nebuchadnezzar, in order to please his beloved, decided to create fabulous gardens, the likes of which no one had ever seen and which would glorify Babylon throughout the world.
The idea of recreating green, flowering hills in the middle of the arid Babylonian plain seemed just a fantasy. But still wonderful paradise gardens were built.
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon had the shape of a pyramid, consisting of four tiers in the form of protruding terraces and balconies, which were supported by columns up to 25 meters high. All tiers were planted with beautiful plants (grass, flowers, shrubs, trees). Seeds and seedlings were delivered to Babylon from all over the world. The pyramid resembled an evergreen flowering hill.
The irrigation system was also amazing at that time. Pipes were placed in the cavity of one of the columns. Hundreds of slaves turned a lifting wheel with leather buckets day and night, thus pumping water from the river and delivering it to the gardens.
Magnificent gardens with fragrant flowers, rare trees and pleasant coolness in hot and stuffy Babylon were truly a real wonder of the world. It was a real monument built in honor of love.
The name of Queen Amytis in the memory of descendants strangely mixed with the name of the legendary Queen of Assyria Semiramis, and the amazing gardens of Babylon began to bear her name. This is how they got their name.
In the 4th century BC. e. Babylon captivated Alexander the Great with its splendor, who made this palace his residence. He loved to relax in the shade of the gardens, remembering his native Macedonia. The throne room of the palace and the chambers of the lower tier hanging gardens Babylon became Alexander’s last place on earth, from where he began his journey to immortality…………
And the city fell into disrepair; there was no one to supply water to the gardens. Over time, the plants died, and the palace was destroyed as a result of an earthquake. Thus, along with Babylon, the amazing wonder of the world perished.
Legends have been formed for thousands of years about the seven wonders of the Ancient World, familiar to everyone since school days. Not all unique man-made monuments have reached their descendants; many have been destroyed by merciless time, but the memory of amazing creations is alive to this day.
Researchers of the ancient world are arguing about the reality of the existence of many of them, and not only modern scientists doubt this. For example, the ancient Greek historian Herodotus, who traveled through Mesopotamia, never mentioned a unique work that is being discussed today we'll talk, although it should have amazed him with its greatness.
Myths about finding the Hanging Gardens
In our article we will talk about where the Gardens of Babylon are located - one of the most significant wonders of the world, which has not survived to this day. Ancient historians claimed that they were located in the first metropolis of mankind, Babylon. However, modern scientists recognized the theory as erroneous, saying that the real homeland of the extraordinary garden city is located 400 kilometers from its intended location.
Dr. Dalli's loud statement
One of the loudest statements on this matter was made by archaeologist S. Dalli from Oxford, who spent twenty years of her life searching for the legend. The fact is that the history of the Hanging Gardens is full of all sorts of inaccuracies. They were believed to be related to the mythical queen Semiramis, who ruled in Assyria.
But according to written sources that have reached us, it became known that they were allegedly built during the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, a king who decided in this way to entertain his beloved wife Amytis. She could not get used to life in a noisy and dusty metropolis, and her husband, who was worried about her, ordered to build a green oasis in which all year round his wife was resting.
A monument created in the name of love
And so, with a wave of the ruler’s hand, a monument created in the name of love arose - the Gardens of Babylon. What city were they in? Until recently, it was believed that they were located in Babylon, located in the middle of the desert, and the queen, who arrived from clean and green Media, suffered extremely from a lack of fresh air.
It is known that the hanging gardens were located on high tower with four tiers connected by pink and white staircases and supported by wide columns. Such a thick layer of earth was placed on tightly connected platforms that even centuries-old trees could be planted. By the way, it is precisely because of the effect of climbing plants floating in the air, smoothly turning into different levels terraces, gardens were called hanging.
Second wonder of the world
As scholars of antiquity wrote, the erected hanging gardens of Amitis were stunning in their incredible size: the height of the building reached 250 meters, and the length and width exceeded one kilometer.
More than 37 thousand liters of water were spent every day on watering the plants located on the territory, and an original irrigation system was even invented that made it possible to maintain the life of green spaces using various mechanisms.
Water supply technology was not new to the city, but it is believed that it was here that it reached its perfection. Something similar happened in the world-famous one: a huge wheel was rotated by slaves, and thus the water rose to the very top of the garden, from which it flowed along terraces entwined with greenery. Outside the palace, thousands of poor people were dying of thirst, because water in those days was worth its weight in gold, but here it flowed like a river to please the eyes of Amytis.
Conquest of Babylon
It is believed that the formidable winner Alexander the Great, who conquered Babylon, was captivated by the amazing beauty of the erected palace. Away from the hustle and bustle, he enjoyed the silence, interrupted only by the sounds of rushing water, reminiscing about his native Macedonia. After the death of the ruler who held all the power in his hands, the city ceased to be considered the capital of the world and fell into decay.
Speculation about the destruction of the gardens and palace
Unfortunately, the second wonder of the world, as it is commonly called, has not reached us, and no one knows whether the elements destroyed it or whether it was the work of human hands. There are suggestions that all the vegetation died after the slaves stopped pumping water. And the terrible flood that happened destroyed the once luxurious palace to the ground, the clay walls of which became soaked, and the massive columns supporting them collapsed.
Koldewey's find
Several centuries later, archaeologists, interested in finding the legendary landmark, searched for a long time for the erected Gardens of Babylon in Mesopotamia. The famous scientist R. Koldewey dedicated his life to this. Since 1898, he had been excavating near Baghdad and found stone ruins, declaring them the remains of a Babylonian landmark.
Found ruins
An extensive network of branches in different sides trenches gave him the idea that these could be those long-awaited gardens. A German archaeologist discovered the remains of a water pipe, which was used to irrigate green plants brought specially for the queen from the most different countries.
The ruins found by many scientists were not perceived as the ruins of the Babylonian gardens, and some continued their search, claiming that the wonderful structure was located in a completely different place.
Many years of searching
Dr. Dalli, inspired by the absence of any mention of the structure in written sources from the time of Nebuchadnezzar, began her own investigation, which lasted several decades. She painstakingly studied ancient artifacts and deciphered cuneiform manuscripts located in the British Museum in order to answer the question that tormented everyone about where the Gardens of Babylon really are.
After a long search, scientific works were rewarded. In 2013, after analyzing all the collected data, Dally established the location of the now mythical structures of the ancient garden. She found references to a “miracle for all people” built near Nineveh. The luxurious palace, along with a laid out garden, was erected in the 8th century BC.
Where are the Gardens of Babylon actually located?
The fact is that Nineveh, now located on the territory of modern Iraq, is mentioned in all manuscripts as ancient Babylon, which led to distortion historical facts about the true location of the grandiose structure. According to an Oxford archaeological team, a massive mound in northern Iraq near the city of Mosul contains an outlandish wonder of the world - the Gardens of Babylon.
As Dr. Dalli says, excavations in this place will certainly confirm her theory about the existence of the structure, and a bas-relief found in the city depicting a wonderful palace with hanging terraces of flowers once again convinces of the correctness of the theory of experts.
However, skeptical researchers do not agree with this version, stating that other parks will be found in Nineveh, only similar to the Gardens of Babylon. The country of Iraq and, in particular, the city of Mosul, captured by ISIS militants, does not allow large-scale research to confirm or refute Dr. Dalli's theory.
Unanswered Questions
So, now it is impossible to say exactly where the Gardens of Babylon are located. Yes, not a single drawing depicting the second wonder of the world has survived to this day, and all the paintings that have appeared are only a figment of the imagination of artists.
The mystery of a huge structure, erected many centuries ago, excites the minds of modern researchers and ordinary people, but there is no direct evidence of the exact location of the great structure. Continued debate between scientists proved that the hanging gardens really existed, and main question remains unanswered for now.
Currently, 90 km from the modern capital of Iraq - Bogdad, there are the ruins of the most ancient city of the East - Babylon. This city, as described in the Bible: “A great city... A strong city,” was in the 9-6 centuries BC the most beautiful and rich city of the Ancient East.
Rich temples, magnificent palaces, impregnable fortress walls with crenellated towers adorned it. But the most significant decoration was the Hanging Gardens. They, like a fabulous green hill, rose among the sun-scorched Mesopotamian desert plain.
The Greeks called them the second classical wonder of the world ancient world. Information about the Hanging Gardens of Babylon from some ancient Greek scientists has been preserved to this day. The ancient Greek traveler Strabo (“the father of geography” - 64 BC - 19 AD), when describing this fantastic structure, referred to oral legends that existed 500 years ago.
The ancient Greek philosopher, writer Philo of Alexandria (25 BC - 50 AD), having studied the earliest information from ancient authors and the surviving technical descriptions hanging structures that existed in ancient times, for example, “Hanging Boulevard” on the island. Cnidus also described the Hanging Gardens in Babylon.
About Queen Semiramis
The ancient Greek “father of history” Herodotus (5th century AD) and the ancient Greek historian Diodorus Siculus (first century new era) the construction of the “Hanging Gardens” in Babylon was attributed to the Assyrian queen Shammuramat (gr. Semiramis - Semiramis), who ruled in Babylon in 810-782 BC. e.
There were many legends about her life, one of which was told to us by Diodorus Siculus. In ancient times, there was a city in Syria called Ascalon, near which there was a deep lake. On its bank stood the temple of the Goddess Derketo. This Goddess was similar in appearance to a fish, but had a human head.
Aphrodite (for some unknown reason) became angry with her and made her fall in love with a beautiful mortal youth. Derketo had a daughter. Angered by this unequal marriage, Derketo killed the young man and, leaving the girl, disappeared into the lake.
The girl grew up among a flock of pigeons: they warmed her with their wings and brought her milk in their beaks. By chance, shepherds saw this beautiful child and took him to Simmas, the caretaker of the royal flocks. This kind person He named her Semiramis (the Syrians mean “dove”), raised her and raised her as his own daughter.
Years have passed. Once I came to these parts business trip Onnes is the first royal advisor. Seeing this beautiful young girl, he fell in love, asked Simmas for her hand, married and took her to Nineveh. Onnis loved his wise, beautiful wife very much, and always consulted her in everything. And success followed him.
Soon the king of Nineveh began a war with Batria. Despite his large, well-armed army, he was unable to capture the capital of this country. Then Onnis asked his beautiful wife to visit the battlefield. Having become familiar with the situation, Semiramis and her volunteers suddenly attacked the heavily fortified part of the city. Here, in her opinion, was indeed the weakest defense.
The city capitulated. Admired by the beauty, wisdom and courage of Semiramis, the king generously presented her with gifts. And he began to persuade Onnis to voluntarily give him her as his wife. When Onnis refused, the king threatened him with death. Suffering from love for his wife and from the king's threats, Onnis committed suicide.
Returning to Nineveh, the king married Semiramis. After the death of her husband, Semiramis inherited the throne, despite the fact that they had a son, Ninias. It was then that another talent of hers was revealed - government. By her order, Babylon was surrounded by impregnable fortress walls with towers. A bridge was built across the Euphrates River. A magnificent temple was erected in Belu. Paved underground tunnel, through which water was supplied from distant mountain lakes from the capital. A very convenient road was laid through the ridges of the Zagroz chain, connecting Babylon with Lydia.
In Lydia, the capital Ektaban was built with a magnificent royal palace. The court of Semiramis was beautiful and fabulously rich. But her son Ninnius was tired of the idle, inglorious life, and he organized a conspiracy against his mother. Semiramis voluntarily renounced power, passing it on to her son, turned into a dove and flew away to distant lands with a flock of doves.
Creation of Hanging Gardens
Interestingly, the Greek writer Athenaeus of Naucratis (2nd century AD) described a more realistic version of the life of Semiramis. He wrote that at first she was an ordinary, unremarkable court lady at the court of the Assyrian king. But her extraordinary beauty charmed the king, and he married her. Semiramis persuaded her husband to give her power for only five days...
On the very first day, she organized magnificent feasts, attracted the king’s close associates, military leaders, dignitaries, and noble people to her side. On the second day, she sent her husband to prison, seized the throne and retained her power until old age. During her reign, she accomplished many great deeds. Deodorus concludes that there are precisely such contradictory descriptions of the life of Semiramis by historians. But still, this was a real historical figure.
But it was not by order of Semiramis that the Hanging Gardens of Babylon were built. Archaeological research has proven that they were created several centuries after her reign, and were dedicated to another, not at all legendary, woman. However, until the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries, some historians generally believed that the Hanging Gardens in Babylon were nothing more than a beautiful legend, a fantasy of ancient authors.
But in 1899-1914, the German archaeologist Robert Koldewey, who carried out excavations in Babylon for several years, found both the ruins of the Royal Palace and the remains of four-tiered Terraces. So it was established that the Hanging Gardens were built in the 7th century BC, during the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar II in Babylon (605-562 BC).
The history of the creation of these beautiful gardens is interesting. The king of Babylon (father of Nebuchadnezzar II) and the king of Media entered into a military alliance. And to strengthen it, Prince Nebuchadnezzar II and Princess Amyitis (daughter of the Median king) got married. The young princess admired the grandeur, wealth and beauty of Babylon.
But soon, she began to miss the green, shady forests of her homeland in a stuffy and dusty city, surrounded by impenetrable stone walls. Having come to power, Nebuchadnezzar the second ordered the construction of a green oasis for his beloved wife - the “Hanging Gardens”, which would remind her of her beloved homeland.
Construction of Hanging Gardens
Based on archaeological excavations, it has been established that the gardens were located on four-tiered artificial stepped terraces attached to the huge royal palace. Each terrace rose 27-30 m above each other. This allowed the plants to receive a lot of light for their good growth and development. The terraces were supported by high, powerful colonnades, which were located inside each floor.
The terraces were based on massive stone slabs. They were covered with a layer of reeds and filled with asphalt. Then, two layers of brick were laid on a gypsum mortar (according to some sources, the brick was baked, according to others, unfired clay mixed with straw). Next, for reliable waterproofing, a layer of sheet lead was laid. And then - such a layer of fertile soil that not only shrubs and flowers, but also large trees with a powerful root system could grow here.
The terraces were connected by a wide, gentle staircase, its steps were polished slabs of pink and white stone. She walked along the wall of the royal palace to the very top. At the top, above the Hanging Gardens, there was a huge pool. In plan, the Gardens had square sides, approximately equal to 12 meters, their total area was about 15,000 m2.
From different countries of the world, trees and shrubs wrapped in wet matting were brought to Babylon on carts drawn by oxen. As well as seeds of various flowers and herbs. And beautiful flowers and trees bloomed and fragrant in these fabulous gardens different breeds. Strange birds imported from overseas countries began to sing and chirp. Luxurious palm trees, plane trees and cypresses were planted between the columns, which rose high above the walls of the royal palace.
The aroma and coolness of these gardens was carried by the cool North-East wind. And all this seemed like a fabulous miracle to the inhabitants of Babylon. This huge royal palace, along with the Hanging Gardens, was surrounded by impenetrable walls - there was only one entrance gate.
It was like a fortress, inside an impregnable stronghold - Babylon. And only those invited by the king could get into this fairy-tale world. When did it come warm night in Babylon, the king and his guests were walking along the alleys of the garden. Hundreds of torches illuminated the paths of the gardens and enchanting music sounded.
Garden Irrigation System
There are three hypotheses about how water was collected and supplied to water these gardens. First, water was supplied from the Euphrates River. Continuously, day and night, hundreds of slaves turned the water-lifting wheel with leather buckets, filling the huge upper pool.
Secondly, from deep wells, as Philo of Alexandria assumed, with the help of a pressure force created by a special device, through channels and spiral pipes, water was supplied to the upper pool. These channels and pipes were located in the supports and posts that supported the terraces. By the way, such deep wells were found by archaeologists at the beginning of the 20th century.
Third, perhaps water could be collected at each level of terraces made of crushed stone (stone) heaps capable of condensing water from the air (their description is given in the article “”). After watering the plants, the excess water that remained in the upper pool flowed onto the stones in small streams, sparkling in the sun's rays, forming fabulous cascades and waterfalls.
Conclusion
The Hanging Gardens are a complex, grandiose structure that was maintained by thousands of slaves. They planted and cared for flowers, trees, and trimmed bushes. Monitored the operation of the irrigation system. Torchbearers were responsible for lighting the gardens. For the king's guests, invisible musicians performed enchanting melodies.
The ancient Greek historian Herodotus wrote that back in the 5th century B.C. e. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon were in good condition. Later, in 331 BC. e. They were admired by Alexander the Great, who, having defeated the troops of the last Persian king, Darius the Third, decided to declare Babylon the capital of his “World Empire”.
But his dream was not destined to come true. According to legend, in June 323 BC. e., escaping from the scorching sun rays in the chambers located in the lower tier of these gardens, he spent last days of your life. And in a golden sarcophagus his ashes were sent to the city he founded - Alexandria. Time... The inexorably fast flowing time gradually destroyed the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.
After 2000 years, like the city of Babylon, they were finally destroyed by the floods of the Euphrates, during which the water of this river rose over 4 meters. Centuries have passed... but even today the ruins of this ancient city talk about its former greatness. Arseny Tarkovsky dedicated the following lines to him:
"It's impossible to go back there,
and it’s impossible to tell.
How filled with bliss
this garden of Eden."
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon are one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The correct name of this structure is the Hanging Gardens of Amytis: this was the name of the wife of the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar, for whose sake the gardens were created.
Another slave died today
Without words of mercy, anger and resentment.
A many-legged crab closed over him -
Hanging Gardens of Babylon.
The loving king could not bear the reproach.
He spared neither money nor slaves
For the joy of the noble wife.
The slaves will build the garden in no time.
They are slaves, they don’t need coffins,
And the soil will become twice as fertile!
The dawn of humanity is rising,
And the truths have not yet been beaten.
They are talking quietly to the wind about something
Hanging Gardens of Babylon...
The Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II (605-562 BC), in order to fight against the main enemy - Assyria, whose troops twice destroyed the capital of the state of Babylon, entered into a military alliance with Cyaxares, the king of Media.
Having won, they divided the territory of Assyria among themselves. Their military alliance was confirmed by the marriage of Nebuchadnezzar II to the daughter of the Median king Amytis. Dusty and noisy Babylon, located on a bare sandy plain, did not please the queen, who grew up in mountainous and green Media. To console her, Nebuchadnezzar ordered the construction of hanging gardens.
The very name of the miracle - the Hanging Gardens - misleads us. The gardens did not hang in the air! And they weren’t even supported by ropes, as they had previously thought. The gardens were not hanging, but protruding.
Architecturally, the hanging gardens were a pyramid consisting of four tiers-platforms. They were supported by columns up to 25 meters high. The lower tier had the shape of an irregular quadrangle, largest side which was 42 m, the smallest was 34 m.
The Hanging Gardens were amazing - trees, shrubs and flowers from all over the world grew in noisy and dusty Babylon. The plants were arranged as they were supposed to grow in natural environment: lowland plants - on the lower terraces, highland plants - on the higher ones. Trees such as palm, cypress, cedar, boxwood, plane tree, and oak were planted in the Gardens.
Nebuchadnezzar ordered his soldiers to dig up all unknown plants that they encountered during military campaigns and immediately deliver them to Babylon. There were no caravans or ships that did not bring more and more new plants here from distant countries. Thus, a large and diverse garden grew up in Babylon - the first botanical garden in the world.
There were miniature rivers and waterfalls, ducks swam on small ponds and frogs croaked, bees, butterflies and dragonflies flew from flower to flower. And while all of Babylon was sweltering under the scorching sun, the gardens of Semiramis bloomed and grew luxuriantly, without suffering from the heat and without experiencing a lack of moisture.
To prevent the seepage of irrigation water, the surface of each platform was first covered with a layer of reeds and asphalt, then bricks and lead slabs were laid, and fertile soil lay on them in a thick carpet, where seeds of various herbs, flowers, shrubs and trees were planted.
The pyramid resembled an ever-blooming green hill. Pipes were placed in the cavity of one of the columns. Day and night, hundreds of slaves turned a lifting wheel with leather buckets, delivering water to the gardens. Magnificent gardens with rare trees, fragrant flowers and coolness in sultry Babylonia were truly a wonder of the world.
The historian Strabo described the Hanging Gardens as follows: “Babylon is located on a plain and its area is equal to 385 stadiums (approx. 1 stadium = 196 m). The walls surrounding it are 32 feet thick, which is the width of a chariot drawn by four horses. The height of the walls between the towers is 50 cubits, the towers themselves are 60 cubits high. The Gardens of Babylon were quadrangular in shape, each side four plethra long (approx. 1 plethra = 100 Greek feet).
The gardens are formed from arched vaults, laid out in a checkerboard pattern in several rows, and resting on cube-shaped supports. Each level is separated from the previous one by a layer of asphalt and baked brick (in order to prevent water seepage). Inside, the vaults are hollow, and the voids are filled with fertile soil, and its layer was such that even a branched root system giant trees freely found a place for itself. Wide, gentle stairs, lined with expensive tiles, lead to the upper terrace, and on the sides of them there is a constantly working chain of lifts, through which water from the Euphrates is supplied to the trees and bushes.”
But during the Persian rule, Nebuchadnezzar's palace fell into disrepair. It had 172 rooms, decorated and furnished with luxury. Now Persian kings occasionally stayed there during inspection trips throughout the vast empire. But in the 4th century this palace became the residence of Alexander the Great. The throne room of the palace and the chambers of the lower tier of the hanging gardens were Alexander's last place on earth.
There is a version that the gardens were not named after Nebuchadnezzar’s beloved, who actually had a different name. They say that Semiramis (as she was called in Greece) was an Assyrian ruler who was at enmity with the Babylonians. At the same time, Semiramis was the wife of the Assyrian king Nin. There are also opinions that Semiramis herself was from Babylon. In the Western tradition, the gardens are called the “Hanging Gardens of Babylon” (English: Hanging Gardens of Babylon, French: Jardins suspendus de Babylone, Italian: Giardini pensili di Babilonia), although a variant with Semiramis is also found.
It is worth noting that some historians consider the Hanging Gardens of Babylon to be a myth, a fiction. They have a reason for this - Herodotus, who traveled through Mesopotamia, talks about the delights of Babylon, but... does not say a word about the Hanging Gardens. However, the ancient historians Diodorus and Strabo describe them.
The Hanging Gardens existed for about two centuries. First, they stopped caring for the garden, then powerful floods destroyed the foundation of the columns, and the entire structure collapsed. Thus one of the wonders of the world perished. Modern archaeologists are still trying to gather enough evidence before drawing final conclusions about the location of the Gardens, their irrigation system and the true reasons for their appearance and disappearance.
The secret of the existence of a grandiose monument of engineering was slightly revealed only in 1898 thanks to the excavations of Robert Koldewey. During excavations, he discovered a network of intersecting trenches near the Iraqi city of Hille (90 km from Baghdad), in the sections of which traces of dilapidated masonry are still visible. Now tourists coming to Iraq are offered to look at the ruins remaining from the Gardens, but these debris are unlikely to impress.
Living in an area with a temperate climate, favorable for many plants, we take for granted the green landscape that surrounds us and the comfort that plantings give us. We don’t even think about how lucky we are! But there are many places on the planet where growing even a small garden requires enormous effort and expense.
Gift for Amytis
Gardening problems have been troubling people since ancient times - an example of this is the legendary Hanging Gardens of Babylon.
At the end of the 80s of the 20th century, work was underway in Iraq to restore ancient Babylon (the capital of Mesopotamia in the 19th–6th centuries BC) and the country’s authorities were ready to pay a reward of $2 million to anyone who would reveal the secret of watering like this called the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. But military operations in this territory prevented the successful completion of the project. Now we can only guess about the structure and location of one of the seven wonders of the world.
The Greeks called Semiramis the Assyrian queen Shammuramat, who lived in the 9th century BC. e. and founded the famous Babylon, the capital of Mesopotamia (Mesopotamia). It was to Queen Shammuramat that ancient Greek historians mistakenly attributed the creation of the famous gardens of Babylon.
Later it was established that the beautiful gardens were erected at the beginning of the 6th century BC. e. Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II (605–562 BC) to please his beloved wife Amytis, the Median princess. The climate in Babylon was dry and hot, with rain falling mainly in winter. It is not surprising that the queen greatly missed the fresh mountain air and greenery of her native Media.
At his palace (King Nebuchadnezzar) ordered the construction of stone eminences, completely similar in appearance to mountains, planted them with all kinds of trees and arranged the so-called hanging gardens because of the desire of his wife, who came from Media, to have such a thing as she was accustomed to at home. at home.
Berossus (Babylonian historian), early 3rd century BC. e.
I found the Gardens of Babylon!
As a result of excavations, which were carried out in 1899–1917 under the leadership of the German scientist and archaeologist Robert Koldewey, 90 km from Baghdad, it was possible to find the ruins of Babylon during the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar. In the southern part of the city, the archaeologist came across the remains of a very unusual underground vaulted structure with a well, which consisted of three shafts. The vaults were lined not only with brick, but also with stone. During excavations, Koldewey encountered such a stone among the ruins of Babylon only once - near the northern side of the Qasr region. Obviously, the unusual structure was intended for some special purposes.
Koldewey suggested that in front of him were the remains of a water intake well with a ribbon water intake, which at one time was intended for a continuous supply of water. Ancient sources - starting with the works of ancient writers Josephus, Ctesias, Strabo and ending with cuneiform tablets - contain only two references to the use of stone in Babylon: in the construction of the northern wall of the Babylonian palace and in the creation of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.
“I have found the Gardens of Babylon!” – Koldewey triumphantly reported to Berlin. But as soon as reports of the discovery appeared, doubts immediately arose. Some scientists, citing the same ancient sources, tried to prove that the gardens could in no way be located where the archaeologist found them. According to some, the wonder of the world should have been located not in the palace, but next to it. Others believed that the gardens were built on the very banks of the Euphrates. Still others argued: not just near the Euphrates, but above it, on a special wide bridge spanning the river. Archaeologists are still collecting facts, finding out the exact location of the gardens, the irrigation system, and the true reasons for their appearance and death.
Babylon plan: 1. Process road. 2. Gate of the goddess Ishtar. 3. Internal wall. 4. Southern Palace. 5. Hanging Gardens. 6. Temple of the goddess Ninmah. 7. Tower of Babel. 8. Euphrates River
Eyewitness accounts
The first mention of the Hanging Gardens was preserved in the “History” of Herodotus, who probably visited Babylon and left us the most complete description of it. The most accurate information about the ancient city comes from other Greek historians, for example from Verossus and Diodorus, but the description of the gardens is rather meager: “... The garden is quadrangular, and each side of it is four pletras long (plethra - 30.85 m). It consists of arc-shaped silos, which are arranged in a checkerboard pattern on cubic bases. Climbing to the uppermost terrace is possible by stairs...”
It is believed that the Hanging Gardens were a pyramid of four terraces located one above the other. The lower tier had the shape of an irregular quadrangle. Inside each floor, the vaults were supported by powerful columns about 25 m high. The outer parts of the terraces served as galleries, the inner parts as grottoes, decorated with colored tiles and frescoes. Inside, the vaults were hollow, and the voids were filled with fertile soil, with such a layer that even the branched root system of giant trees could freely find a place for themselves. The height of the tiers reached 50 cubits (27.75 m) and provided enough light for plants. The floors of the gardens rose in ledges and were connected by wide, gentle staircases covered with pink and white stone. Along the sides of the stairs there was a constantly operating chain of water lifts.
A miracle of ancient engineering
An important issue that the builders had to solve was strengthening the foundation, since flowing water could easily wash it away and lead to collapse. Most of the houses, including the fortress wall, were built from raw brick, which was a mixture of clay and straw. The mass was laid out in molds and then dried in the sun. The bricks were connected to each other using bitumen - the result was quite strong and beautiful masonry. However, such buildings were quickly destroyed by water. For most buildings in Babylon, this was not a problem, since it rarely rained in this arid area. Gardens, subject to constant irrigation, had to have a protected foundation and vaults.
The platform of each terrace was a multi-layered structure. At its base lay massive stone slabs, on which a layer of reed impregnated with resin (asphalt) was laid. Then came a double row of baked bricks, held together with plaster mortar. Even higher are lead plates for water retention.
Not only the architectural design of the gardens was surprising, but also the irrigation system, because water was delivered to a fairly high altitude. It is believed that to provide all the plants with moisture, a watering system was used, consisting of two large wheels with leather buckets attached to a cable. The wheels were driven around the clock by many slaves. The buckets of the lower wheel scooped up water from the Euphrates and were transferred along a chain of lifts to the upper wheel, where they tipped over, draining the water into the upper pool. From there, through a network of canals, it flowed in streams in different directions along the tiers of the hill to the very foot, irrigating the plants along the way. The empty buckets were lowered back down and the cycle repeated.
In the summer, when the air temperature reached + 50 ° C, slaves continuously pumped water from underground wells and supplied it to numerous small channels through which moisture was distributed through the entire system from the upper terrace down. The garden was laced with miniature rivers and waterfalls; ducks swam in small ponds and frogs croaked; bees, butterflies and dragonflies flew from flower to flower.
Man-made oasis
All ledges, as well as semblances of balconies, were planted with exotic plants brought to Babylon from all over the world. Not only seeds were delivered, but also seedlings, which were wrapped in water-soaked matting. Magnificent palm trees rose high above the fortress walls of the palace enclosure. Outlandish shrubs and beautiful flowers decorated the queen’s gardens. Trees of the most amazing species grew green between the columns.
Each of the numerous terraces was a separate garden, but the overall view was perceived as a single whole. The stems and branches of thousands of climbing and hanging plants spread to neighboring areas, forming an amazingly beautiful picturesque park - a huge green area with steep slopes covered with a wide variety of trees, shrubs and flowers. From a distance it seemed that the plants were hovering above the ground; from this amazing impression the name “hanging” was firmly assigned to the gardens.
Death of the gardens
In 331 BC. e. Alexander the Great's troops captured Babylon. The famous commander was fascinated by the majestic city and made it the capital of his huge empire. It was here, in the shadow of the Hanging Gardens, that he died. After the death of Alexander, Babylon gradually fell into decay, and the gardens fell into disrepair. According to one version, the death of this wonder of the world occurred as a result of a powerful flood that destroyed the brick foundation of the columns.
In the century before last, the German traveler I. Pfeiffer described in her travel notes that she saw on the ruins of El-Qasr one forgotten tree from the Cone-bearing class, completely unknown in these parts. The Arabs call it “atale” and consider it sacred. They tell the most amazing stories about this tree (as if it was left from the hanging gardens) and they claim that they heard sad, plaintive sounds in its branches when a strong wind blows.
Hanging Gardens in Russia
“Hanging” or, as they were also called, “mountain” gardens adorned the Kremlin in the 17th century under Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. They were arranged on the terraces and roofs of the palace, outbuildings and cellars. The waterproofing was sheet lead, on top of which a layer of earth up to 1 m thick was poured. The gardens were preserved until the reconstruction of the Kremlin, which was carried out in the 70s of the 18th century.
In St. Petersburg, hanging gardens were built for Elizabeth Petrovna in the Summer and Anichkov palaces. The laurels of Queen Semiramis and Catherine II, who ordered the construction of hanging gardens at the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg and at the Catherine Palace in Tsarskoe Selo, did not give rest.
The garden of the Winter Palace was decorated with flower beds with scarlet and white roses, trimmed bushes and trees. Tropical plants were displayed in containers and moved indoors for the winter. Birch, cherry and apple trees constantly grew in the garden, protecting them from frost. Later, birds were released into the garden and a dovecote was built, having previously stretched a wire mesh on top.
Babylon (first mentioned in the 23rd century BC) is a city that existed in Mesopotamia (currently Iraq, 110 km south of Baghdad). The climate of Iraq is subtropical Mediterranean - with hot, dry summers and warm, rainy winters. The most widespread in Iraq is subtropical steppe and semi-desert vegetation, confined to the western, southwestern and southern regions and represented mainly by wormwood, saltwort, camel thorn, juzgun, and astragalus.
Media (670 - 550 BC) is an ancient state in the western territory of modern Iran from the Arax River and the Elborz Mountains in the north to the borders of Persis (Fars) in the south and from the Zagros Mountains in the west to the Dasht-Kevir desert in the east. In the mountainous regions of Iran, the climate depends on the altitude of the area. The northern wet slopes of Elborz up to an altitude of 2440 m are covered with dense broad-leaved forests with a predominance of hazelnut (hazelnut), oak, hornbeam, maple, beech, plum and ash. Above their border, low-growing shrubs and turf grass vegetation are common.
