Hanging Gardens of Babylon facts for kids
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, and the walls of Babylon (near present-day Al Hillah in Iraq) were one of the Seven Wonders of the World. They were built by Nebuchadnezzar II around 600 BC. He is said to have built the gardens to please his wife, Amytis of Media. She wanted to see the trees and plants of her homeland. The hanging gardens were destroyed in an earthquake after the 1st century BC.
Existence
Some people do not believe the Hanging Gardens were real. In ancient writings the Hanging Gardens of Babylon were first described by Berossus, a Chaldean priest. He lived in the late 4th century B.C. Greek historians later wrote more about them.
Recent archaeological digs of the palace in Iraq have uncovered evidence of a building with vaults and a well nearby. However, the place of the palace complex is different from where Greek historians said they were, which was on the banks of the Euphrates River. Also recently, there have been digs on the banks of the Euphrates River of some large 25 meter-thick walls.
Images for kids
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This copy of a bas relief from the North Palace of Ashurbanipal (669–631 BC) at Nineveh shows a luxurious garden watered by an aqueduct.
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Assyrian wall relief showing gardens in Nineveh
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Date palms are a common tree species in Babylon.
See also
In Spanish: Jardines Colgantes de Babilonia para niños
