The Hanging Gardens of Babylon are one of the mysteries from the ancient world that remains unsolved. Though they are considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, no solid evidence proves their existence, unlike the other six wonders. The debate continues between historians, archeologists, and scholars about whether this marvellous piece of architecture and horticulture existed or is just folklore.
Records
Some ancient texts and accounts describe the gardens in such detail that it becomes difficult to believe that it was just a product of imagination.
The earliest mention of the hanging gardens was recorded by Greek historian Berossus(c. 280 BCE). According to him, King Nebuchadnezzar II built the hanging gardens for his wife Amytis. Apart from that Strabo, Philo, and Didorus have provided detailed descriptions of the hanging Gardens’ architecture and irrigation system.
Strabo has described the garden as quadrangular in shape and each side four plethora in length. It had arched vaults resting on chequered cube-like foundations. The construction material was baked brick and asphalt for the foundation, vaults, and arches. There was a stairway leading to the top terrace with screws along the side that were taking the water up from the Euphrates River. He has also mentioned the gardens being situated on the bank of the river. He has described this in Geographies, book 16, ch 1, & 5.
Clitarchu also mentions hanging gardens as a wonder celebrated by the fables of the Greeks. He identifies the columns made of rock supporting the whole structure and flat surfaces on top that are strong enough to support the layer of earth and the water.
Philo from Byzantium also mentioned stone pillars supporting the garden and the type of trees and vegetation that was done. Same as Clitarchu he has mentioned earth being poured to quite a depth. He describes the choice of trees and flowering plants as most pleasing to the eyes. He goes on about how the irrigation system functions using screws to bring the water up. Though unlike other wonders he has also written about, he doesn’t mention Babylon anywhere in his descriptions of hanging gardens.
Apart from written records, many artists have tried to capture the magnificent monument in their paintings and frescoes. So, there is a lot of documentation done on the hanging gardens of Babylon leaving some in awe and mystery of their existence, while some in deep imagination of how they would have been!
Archeology
The Archeology department has done extensive excavation in Babylon which is present-day Iraq. It is located 80 km south of Baghdad. However, other monuments such as Ishtar Gate, numerous temples like Esagila, the temple of Marduk and Etemenanki, and the ziggurat were found and restored. Through the excavation, nothing evident has been found which supports the existence of the gardens. Though the kind of architecture and irrigation systems which have been described by philosophers and travellers are believable as Mesopotamians were advanced enough to bring such a marvel to life.
Scholars
Having multiple accounts where the hanging garden is described does not fully support the logistics of it. Many of the Greek and Roman accounts were second-hand-written and the originals are probably lost. The degree of authenticity of data raises questions about whether the gardens existed or not. If they did, were they in Babylon which is currently near modern-day Baghdad? Who built the gardens? How did they disappear? And why are no ruins found at all? How did such a green wonder made possible in a desert? Was it just a mirage?
Dr. Stephanie Dalley talks about the hanging gardens in her book “The Mystery of the Hanging Garden of Babylon” explaining why no evidence has been found of the garden in Babylon as they never existed in Babylon. She debates that they were built in Nineveh which is 300 miles north of Babylon. Nineveh was the capital of the Assyrian empire while Babylon(modern day Hillah) was the capital of the Babylonian empire. Both are located nearby geographically respectively on the banks of rivers Tigris and Euphrates.
Dalley talks about how the Assyrian empire was located where there was regular rainfall, with mountainous topography and Babylon was on a flat land desert with a lack of reliable rainfall. With that, she argues how Nineveh offers the land and climate for such a wonder to come alive. In addition, when in 1854, the north palace in Nineveh was being excavated, they uncovered a painting that shows a garden with a bridge and three pointed arches. But at that time nobody had any reason or logic to believe that the garden existed in Nineveh and they ended up identifying the painting as a representation of the hanging garden of Babylon.
She builds up her arguments with facts and concludes that the hanging gardens were built in Nineveh in the Assyrian empire and not in Babylon. It was built by Sennacherib, not by the king Nebuchdnezzar-II.
However, the debate continues and the mystery remains until there is archaeological evidence. The records and research of scholars suggest many strong points to take forward in unravelling the mystery of the hanging garden of Babylon. Here is what Q. Curtius Rufus said which makes one believe that the hanging garden existed, be it in Babylon or Nineveh:
“Although lapse of time gradually undermines and destroys not only works made by the hand of man but also those of Nature herself, this huge structure, although worked upon by the roots of so many trees and loaded with the weight of so great of a forest, endures unchanged.”
References:
Stone, J. (2024) The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Medium. Available at: https://medium.com/pen-tribe/the-hanging-gardens-of-babylon-2fc714429435 (Accessed: 22 September 2024).
Cartwright, M. (2022) Hanging Gardens of Babylon, World History Encyclopedia. Available at: https://www.worldhistory.org/Hanging_Gardens_of_Babylon/ (Accessed: 22 September 2024).
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon: History, legends, and more (2023) TheCollector. Available at: https://www.thecollector.com/hanging-gardens-babylon/ (Accessed: 22 September 2024).
Hanging gardens existed-but not in Babylon (no date) History.com. Available at: https://www.history.com/news/hanging-gardens-existed-but-not-in-babylon (Accessed: 22 September 2024).
AdSummus, for A.H. with M. (no date) The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Hanging Gardens-Diodorus Siculus. Available at: http://www.plinia.net/wonders/gardens/hg4diodorus.html (Accessed: 22 September 2024).
Mark, J.J. (2023) Philo of byzantium on the seven wonders, World History Encyclopedia. Available at: https://www.worldhistory.org/article/2257/philo-of-byzantiums-on-the-seven-wonders/ (Accessed: 22 September 2024).
Dalley, S. (2015) The mystery of the hanging garden of babylon: An elusive world wonder. New York: Oxford University Press.
