Who built the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Hanging Gardens of Babylon: where the ruins of an ancient creation are located. History of the discovery of the gardens

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon are the second wonder of the world. Descriptions from eyewitnesses depicted them as a wonderful green oasis in the middle of noisy and sultry Babylon. Information about the ancient historical structure is very contradictory. Each report, abstract, presentation or scientific work contains its own version regarding the origin, design and time of existence of one of the 7 wonders of the world. Many historians generally doubt whether the gardens of the Assyrian queen Semiramis in Babylon actually existed or is it just a legend.

Who built the Hanging Gardens in Babylon and why?

The legend about the Hanging Gardens of Babylon says that they were built by the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar for his wife. Queen Amatis was from Media, a country characterized by a mild climate, green mountains, huge orchards and the best flowers. In hot, sandy Babylon, she felt like she was in the middle, especially when Nebuchadnezzar went on long campaigns. So the king ordered an unusual structure to console his wife.

Interesting to know. During his campaigns, Nebuchadnezzar ordered to dig up all the plants he liked, which were then delivered to Babylon. Each caravan or ship arriving from a distant country invariably brought more and more shrubs and herbs for the wonderful hanging gardens of Babylon.

The Hanging Gardens of the Assyrian Queen Semiramis in Babylon are mistakenly named after another woman. The ruler Semiramis lived 2 centuries earlier than Amytis, and has nothing to do with the wonders of the world. Apparently, legends and stories about queens became so intertwined, in no small part thanks to poets and storytellers, that two different women began to be perceived as one.

Where are the Hanging Gardens of Babylon and why are they called that?

It is known that the country where the Hanging Gardens were located is Ancient Babylon. The structure was erected in the 7th century BC. Why are the Hanging Gardens of Babylon called a wonder of the world? The fact is that even fragrant flowers could not grow in the hot climate of Babylon. However, the peculiarity of the entire structure and abundant watering made the impossible possible. Irrigation was carried out using a special system, unique for that time. Water from the river (or from wells) rose through pipes installed in one of the columns. The mechanism was powered by a wheel, which was rotated by hundreds of slaves.

What did the Hanging Gardens look like in Babylon?

Scarce information has been preserved about what the Hanging Gardens of Babylon looked like. Presumably, the structure had the shape of a quadrangular pyramid and consisted of 4 tiers. Each “floor” was supported by stone columns up to 25 meters high. Some evidence indicates that the garden consisted of arched storage areas arranged in a checkerboard pattern. Other sources tend to believe that there were a large number of protruding terraces and balconies on each level.

It is difficult to explain why the Gardens of Babylon are called the Hanging Gardens. Probably, the wonder of the world received this definition due to a not entirely correct translation of the name from Greek or Latin. This meant the presence of green spaces on the levels. In addition, climbing plants grew along the outer edges of the terraces, which created the effect of floating in the air.

Many small ponds, waterfalls and fountains were built in the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Here one could meet ducks and dragonflies. Outside the walls of the palace and garden, ordinary people were exhausted from thirst; water was practically worth its weight in gold. On the one hand, the city with the Gardens of Babylon represented the victory of man over nature. On the other hand, the construction was a pleasure, an entertainment only for the queen and those close to her, while the rest did not have enough plain water.

Gardens of Babylon: history and present day

You will not find videos or photos of our days that would depict the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Numerous pictures often convey only the imagination of artists, but are far from the truth. The grandiose structure began to collapse after the death of Amatis - after all, the green spaces required care and were highly dependent on constant watering. In 539 BC. Babylon was conquered by the Persians, and the hanging gardens almost died. However, soon the rule passed to Alexander the Great, who made the palace his residence. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon bloomed again, but not for long. After Alexander's death, the structure was finally destroyed by floods.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the German scientist Robert Koldewey conducted excavations in the territory of modern Iraq (90 km south of the city of Baghdad). He discovered what looked like the wreckage of the famous gardens. Fragments of the structure consisted of hewn blocks and burnt stones. At the very base of the structure, the scientist discovered wells and a scoop lift through which water could rise to the upper level of the gardens. However, in our time there is no indisputable confirmation and unambiguous facts that Koldewey’s discovery is the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Historians and archaeologists believe that this wonder of the world could not have been located where the German scientist found it.

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Historians are still arguing whether they really existed. And if they did exist, when were they built and by whom?

According to the main version, they were built around the 6th century BC in Ancient Babylon by order of King Nebuchadnezzar II for his wife Amitis (Amanis). Amytis was the daughter of Cyaxares, king of Media. Having become the queen of dusty and noisy Babylon, located on a bare sandy plain, Amytis missed her homeland - mountainous and green Media. Noticing this, Nebuchadnezzar II ordered the construction of a small tropical garden in which his wife could feel at home. Creating a garden in an arid valley is no easy task. The most experienced architects, scientists and builders got down to business. In the end, it really turned out miracle.

Looked like a fabulous oasis in the middle of the desert. According to the description, it was a large multi-level stepped building with tall white columns, a complex irrigation system and many different plants.

Amitis found her happiness in this paradise. According to legend, she spent all her time here and took care of every plant. But after Amytis’s death, no one cared for the gardens; they fell into disrepair, and later completely collapsed.

Why Amitis gardens called the Hanging Gardens of Babylon?

The name “” appeared thanks to another, less plausible, legend connecting the creation of this miracle with the Assyrian queen Semiramis. Therefore, historians often use the more correct name "". Word "hanging" describes plants hanging from the upper levels of the gardens. This word in the name can also be explained by the fact that from afar in the desert the gardens looked like a mirage floating in the air.

Video Seven Wonders of the World: Hanging Gardens of Babylon

Where to look ?

Archaeologists are trying to discover and identify the remains of the Hanging Gardens among the ruins of Ancient Babylon near the modern Iraqi city Hilla. According to an alternative version, the ruins of this miracle should be found near the modern city Mosul, where it was previously located Nineveh — capital of the Assyrian state.

Probable location of the ruins of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon
on the map of Iraq

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Hanging Gardens of Babylon is an ancient creation that is included in the famous list as the second wonder of the world. Unfortunately, now, there is no opportunity to enjoy all the beauty of this splendor, because they are no longer on earth, but there are many legends, scientific evidence and facts by which one can judge their occurrence and superiority. In the photo, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon are shown from different sides, thanks to which you can see all the beauty of this masterpiece.

Discovery of the second wonder of the world

Back in 1899, an expedition led by the German scientist and explorer Robert Koldewey carried out excavations and cultural studies in ancient Babylon. One fine day, archaeologists stumbled upon an unusual structure, which was not at all typical for a desert area. The strange structure was made of stone, and not of baked brick, as usual, there were many underground buildings and the most amazing discovery was steel -3 underground mines with water supply systems.

The scientist found out that water was constantly circulating in the giant building; all that remained was to understand for what purposes or tasks this was necessary. And he was helped in this by the works of ancient thinkers, who mentioned that stone in ancient Babylon was used only in two buildings:

• northern wall of Qasr;
• Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

The Greek Ctesias also worked a lot to reveal the secret; he cited many reliable and not so reliable facts that were said about the reasons for the emergence of this masterpiece. But his fantasies sometimes did not always coincide with reality, so relying only on his arguments in order to better know the truth is not worth it.

Legends of the emergence of the Gardens of Babylon

There are many assumptions and hypotheses about the origin of the name of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

1. Semiramis is a brave ruler who built a beautiful structure, the ancient chroniclers said. One of the legends says that her mother was the mermaid Atargatis, and another that Semiramis was raised by pigeons, which is why she had such a refined taste.
2. According to another legend, Semiramis really existed, but the Greeks called her the Assyrian queen Shammuramat. When her husband Shamshi-Adada V died, the throne passed to her. During her reign, the queen conquered Media and strengthened her borders, for which she earned great respect and respect from her people.
3. Modern historians and researchers of this creation nevertheless came to a different conclusion, more reliable and plausible. During the reign of the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II, an agreement was concluded with the ruler of Media in order to conquer Assyria. Having won the victory, Nebuchadnezzar II, in order to make the alliance even stronger, married the daughter of the king of Media, the beautiful Amytis. The princess was very homesick for her native Media, for its mountain peaks and green gardens. And the king ordered the construction of hanging gardens in Babylon, which were supposed to console and please his beloved. Initially, such an idea seemed like something fantastic and completely impossible to implement. But still, a wonderful structure was built, which was later recognized as the second wonder of the world.

For reasons unknown to us, Queen Amytis was given the name Semiramis by her descendants. That is why we now call the work that was built in her honor - the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. What kind of actions did men perform for the sake of love and their beloved women - the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, another confirmation that love works true miracles.

Creation of the design of the second wonder of the world

As archaeological excavations and chronicles of the Gardens of Eden testify, it was a gigantic building in the form of a four-tier pyramid. If you look closely at the photo of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, you can see that they contained many cool rooms, balconies, terraces and underground rooms. On each of the tiers, a wide variety of plants were planted: flowers, shrubs, grass and even trees, which together created an incredibly beautiful composition. The tiers themselves were supported by high columns that supported the huge structure. Plants arrived in Babylon from all corners of our world, and the building itself from a distance resembled a green hill strewn with flowers.

In order to constantly circulate water throughout the building, a special water supply system was installed. Water was supplied upstairs in leather buckets from the river using a wheel, which hundreds of slaves were forced to turn around the clock. Thanks to a constant water supply, a variety of exotic plants grew in fairly dry climatic conditions.

Later, the splendor of the Gardens of Eden captivated Alexander the Great himself, who was in the ancient city. Alexander loved to spend time in shady gardens and enjoy the coolness and aromas of flowering plants. It was in the flourishing palace that he spent his last days; here Macedonsky recalled his childhood, his native expanses, victories and defeats.

Over time, the city began to empty out, there were fewer and fewer people, so watering the plants stopped. Under the hot sun, the plantings quickly dried out. In addition, strong earthquakes completely destroyed the city and along with it the great structure.

And a video about how they found a unique structure

Today, you can admire the beauty of one of the Seven Wonders of the World in various publications by looking at the fabulous photos of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Looking at the drawings, you involuntarily plunge into the ancient era, tasting the spirit and superiority of that time.

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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 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 and writer Philo of Alexandria (25 BC - 50 AD), having studied the earliest information from ancient authors, and the surviving technical descriptions of hanging structures that existed in ancient times, for example, the “Hanging Boulevard” on O. 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 of the new era) attributed the construction of the “Hanging Gardens” in Babylon to the Assyrian queen Shammuramat (gr. Semiramis - Semiramis), who ruled in Babylon in 810-782 b.c. 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 man named her Semiramis (the Syrians mean “dove”), raised her and raised her as his own daughter.

Years have passed. One day, Onnes, the first royal adviser, came to these parts on a business trip. 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. An underground tunnel was laid 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. Thus, 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 the 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 fired, according to others - unburnt 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 made of 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 of different species bloomed and fragrant in these fabulous gardens. 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 a warm night came in Babylon, the king and his guests walked 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 rays of the sun in chambers located in the lower tier of these gardens, he spent the last days of his 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 speak of 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."

One of the well-known Seven Wonders of the World, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, was a romantic combination of lush greenery and bright flowers that seemed to descend from the sky.

The grandeur of this architectural monument and the spectacle must have been impressive, since contemporaries, for example, in their “History”, called them the most beautiful of human creations.

However, this wonder of the world was lost, and there is no documentation of its existence in the chronicles of Babylonian history, so today the very existence of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon is called into question.

Perhaps they were just a figment of fantasy, a story in the annals of ancient myths and history.

Most of the references to the legendary Babylonian gardens are associated with the name of the Greek Ctesias, but the use of hyperbolization and fiction was noticed behind him, therefore this information is controversial.

Concept

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon were first described in ancient documents by Berossus, a Chaldean priest who lived at the end of the 4th century BC.

In his book Babylonian History, written around 280 BC, he describes this magnificent architectural monument and attributes its creation to the great Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II.

According to this source, Nebuchadnezzar erected the Hanging Gardens around 600 BC for his beloved Amytis.

Amytis was the daughter of King Cyaxares of Media.

Their marriage was concluded to seal the agreement between Media and Babylon for victory in the war against Assyria.

In the arid Babylon surrounded by the desert, Amytis yearned for her fertile and green homeland, so the king ordered evergreen gardens to be built in the city that could delight her.

Why the legendary warrior Semiramis appears in their name is still not clear.

Description of the Hanging Gardens of Amitis

To put it bluntly, the hanging gardens did not hang at all. They got their name from a misinterpretation of the Greek term "kremastos" - drooping.

The entire structure of the monument was a four-level pyramid with many rooms, abundantly planted with plants. The floors were arranged in the form of steps, so from a distance this splendor resembled a flowering hill.

The levels were connected by steps made of pink and white slabs.

The gardens were not an independent object, but were part of the palace complex. The vaults of the structure were supported on all sides by 25-meter high columns.

This height was necessary so that all the flora growing there would be fully illuminated by the sun.

The terraces were lined with lead slabs, bricks and covered with such a layer of earth that even trees could grow on them. This arrangement prevented excess water from draining to the lower levels.

To water all the plants in the palace, a water lift was installed; to ensure its operation, slaves turned a huge wheel.

This technique of supplying water was not new; it was used in Mesopotamia in many architectural structures, even in the legendary Tower of Babel. But it was here that she achieved her impeccability.

Over the years, the plants planted in this building have likely grown and created the effect of a mountain landscape seemingly hanging in the air.

It was always cool and shady here due to the abundance of plants, and everywhere you could hear the water gurgling in the numerous canals.

There are several versions of where the Hanging Gardens of Babylon were located. According to the first of them, the Gardens of Babylon were located on the Euphrates River in the center of Iraq.

According to the second, less popular opinion, the Babylonian gardens were erected in Nevinia, in the north of what is now Iraq and in the capital of ancient Assyria.

Archaeological excavations

One of the first scientists to discover the ruins of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon was the German explorer Robert Koldewey.

He had been excavating Ancient Babylon since 1899 and once came across a building atypical for this region.

Its vaults were of a different shape: lined with stone instead of brick, underground rooms were discovered, and an interesting water-lifting system consisting of three shafts was excavated.

Having found out that the entire building was used as some kind of water lift, used to constantly supply moisture upward, and also learned from the references of ancient writers that stone in this area was used only in two architectural monuments (one of which the researcher had already discovered earlier) Koldewey concluded that these are the ruins of the legendary Gardens of Babylon.

Death

After Nebuchadnezzar, the legendary commander came to power in Babylon, who died in the king’s palace - his residence.

After this event, Babylon began to perish over time, without proper care, and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon could no longer flourish.

They soon dried up, withered and were subsequently destroyed by severe floods of the Euphrates River.