Fun Fact 2 There are no records about the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, only descriptions found in ancient Greek and Roman languages; it is difficult to confirm why they were built. However, one legend has it that Nebuchadnezzar II built the gardens as a gift to his wife; as a reminder of her homeland.
Fun Fact 3: A Babylonian priest known as Berossus, was one of the ancient writers who wrote about the Hanging Gardens of Babylon around 290 BC. He wrote of very high walkways, supported by stone pillars, plants and trees resembling a mountainous country; built to please a queen.
Fun Fact 4: Other ancient writers who wrote about the Hanging Gardens of Babylon included Diodorus Siculus, Quintus Curtius Rufus, Josephus, Strabo who all wrote about the trees, plants and the pillars of the gardens.
Fun Fact 5: The meaning of the word Babylon is 'Gate of the Gods'.
Fun Fact 6: The ancient writers speak of a Syrian king who built the gardens, however; it is only Josephus who refers to the king by the name of Nebuchadnezzar.
Fun Fact 7: It is possible that the Hanging Gardens of Babylon are nothing more than a poetical myth. It is also possible, in time, that excavation may uncover clues about its existence.
Fun Fact 8: King Nebuchadnezzar II ruled the ancient city between the years of 605 and 562 BC.
Fun Fact 9: King Nebuchadnezzar II's wife, who was his purpose for building the gardens, was called Queen Amytis.
Fun Fact 10: Queen Amytis was also known as Amuhia or Amytis of Media. She was related to King Cyaxares who was either her father or grandfather.
Fun Fact 11: Queen Amytis came from an area known as Media which is now recognized as North-western Iran and South-east Turkey.
Fun Fact 12: Queen Amytis came from a land of forests and hillsides. Legend suggests that King Nebuchadnezzar built the Hanging Gardens of Babylon in recognition of his wife's homesickness.
Fun Fact 13: Legend has it that King Nebuchadnezzar also built a fabulous palace for Queen Amytis which was known as 'The Marvel of the Mankind'.
Fun Fact 14: Despite the myths surrounding the creation of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, there is no real archaeological evidence to support any of them, it has more recently been suggested that the gardens may have been built by an Assyrian King Sennacherib near the city of Mosul, in Nineveh.
Fun Fact 15: The Hanging Gardens of Babylon no longer exist and maybe never did! If they did exist in our ancient past, it is thought that they were destroyed after the first century AD. |
