The walls of Babylon with the Hanging Gardens in the background
Engraving, by Philips Galle, after Maarten van Heemskerck, 1572
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

The gardens were believed to have been constructed in the ancient city of Babylon, near present-day Baghdad, Iraq. Dating back to around the 6th century BC, they were an engineering marvel, consisting of terraced gardens built atop a series of elevated platforms. It is said that they were commissioned by King Nebuchadnezzar II for his wife, who longed for the lush vegetation of her homeland. The gardens were irrigated by a complex system of waterways, allowing for the cultivation of a wide variety of plants and trees, creating a verdant oasis in the heart of the desert. Despite their legendary status, the exact location and existence of the Hanging Gardens remain a subject of debate among historians and archaeologists, with no definitive evidence confirming their existence.




See Seven Wonders of the World