Hanging Gardens of Semiramis: Legend for a vanished civilization

Hanging Gardens of Babylon are known as the Gardens of Semiramis - the name of the legendary Assyrian queen, ruled 810 BC They are the third of the seven wonders of the world, although today their remains have not detected with certainty. Believed to have been built around the ancient city of Babylon, which was situated on the territory of present-day Iraq. Basic information about the gardens are drawn from documents of Greek historians Strabo and Philo.

According to most researchers, the gardens were built about 575 BC by King Nebuchadnezzar II, who ruled the city for more than four decades. Legend has it that Lord builds to avoid misses his spouse - Persian Princess Amitis which came from the fertile lands of Mesopotamia. Another legend says, however, that the gardens were created by Shamuramat Queen (Semiramis), during its short five-year reign. Although historically inaccurate, this theory was apparently more common among those given the name by which the gardens are famous to this day. Some researchers even believe that hanging gardens are nothing more than fiction, since their existence has not been found sufficiently reliable historical documents.

Hanging gardens are terraced and irrigated pyramids with four floors. To prevent water seeps down each platform was covered with a layer of reeds on which placed two rows of brick elements, and the top ranks of lead bricks. The upper layer of loose fertile land which is planted grasses, flowers, shrubs and trees. Since the shape of the structure was floored, it allowed all plants receive sufficient sunlight. Water needed to irrigate the plants are provided with continuous pipes placed inside the columns supporting platforms - it came from the Euphrates and reached the top terrace, and then descend in the form of streams and small waterfalls irrigated plants from the lower floors. Climbing water probably happened in a similar mechanism of Archimedean screw.

The description of this complex multilevel structure shows that gardens do not actually have been "hanging" - perhaps this definition was intended to enhance the glory of this serious time for technical achievement. The reason for its occurrence is probably the fact that development, some of the plants descended to the lower floor and covered building. In the legendary gardens bloom many beautiful and rare species of plants, including tropical species. In hot and dry climate of Babylonia all that greenery and water really seemed like a miracle. Modern historians believe that when the soldiers of Alexander the Macedonian videli Babylon for the first time, they were left stunned by the lush beauty. After returning to their homeland, they began to tell about the amazing gardens and trees in the palace of Nebuchadnezzar and the Tower of Babel - probably gave rise to the legends connected with these ancient wonders.

There is no precise information on where they were located, but the question is do many guesses. The most common theory is that one of the wonders of the world is situated near the ancient city of Babylon - discovered during archaeological excavation tablets (in the Iraqi city of Nineveh), depicting palm trees on the roofs of houses, driving experts to believe that perhaps the gardens were actually deployed in the field. In fact, right now there can be seen the ruins, which are claimed, they were probably the legendary hanging gardens. Researchers mythical green terraces were destroyed around the 2nd century BC a series of earthquakes.

Babylon, the first city in history and the capital of Babylonia, was one of the most important cities in antiquity. It was located on the Euphrates River, about 90 kilometers south of Baghdad, Iraq today. The ruins of the city are open until the early 20th century by Robert Kolduey, although his name is mentioned in historical records as early as 3000 BC In the Bible, Babylon is mentioned as a symbol of unbelief in the true God - rightly believe that here was built the Tower of Babel, which gave rise to the legend of the dispersion of the nations of the world. Besides the tower, hanging gardens, Babylon was known worldwide with its powerful walls.