The Hanging Gardens of Babylon

 by Grace Gamblin

Ashurbanipal and his wife in their hanging garden, 
Nineveh, c. 645 BCE.

Although throughout history there has been a plethora of phenomenal ancient sights, yet there have only ever been seven ancient wonders of the world. These sights, selected by Hellenic travellers, discussed and explored in poetry, literature and various other art forms, depict stories of human ingenuity and imagination, architectural aptitude and have an unparalleled sense of grandeur, a portrayal of ancient civilisations leaving their impact on the world. The Greeks chose 7 due to the belief it epitomised perfection and plenty, and because it also represented the number of planets known in ancient times, alongside the sun and the moon. In this article I will be exploring The Hanging Gardens of Babylon

The Gardens, believed to be found in modern day Iraq, today are just simply rocks and rubble. The Greeks and Roman writers such as Diodorus Siculus paint evocative pictures of the lavish gardens. Diodorus describes ‘trees of every kind that, by their great size and other charm, gave pleasure to the beholder’ portraying the beauty and marvel associated with the gardens. Amid the arid climate of the ancient civilisation of Babylon, the gardens stood, with 75 foot-high walls adorned with abundant vegetation, terraces replete with exotic herbs, plants, immense columns and stone statues, with the botanical oasis emitting frangant odours, it is no mystery why there are those questioning the existence of the garden due to it’s mythological and ethereal reputation. 

It is that the gardens were born out of devotion. The Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II was said to have constructed the extravagant gardens in the 6th century gift to his wife, Queen Amaytis, who was said to be upset due to homesickness, due to the abundant vegetation and mountains found in her homeland of Media, located in the northern western part of modern-day Iran. Due to the climate of Babylon, the construction would have required technical irrigation engineering, involving cisterns, pumps and waterwheels to deliver water from the nearby Euphrates river. The gardens symbolise the deepness of love, with adoration having no boundaries. 

Many poets, artists and singers have written about the beauty of the garden, the most recent one today is perhaps Taylor Swift. Her song of the album Evermore, ‘Cowboy like me’ depicts the garden through the lyrics, ‘Now you hang from my lips like the Gardens of Babylon’, here Taylor’s specific allusion conjures an image of lush yet fragile romance, as the Gardens not only no longer exist, but are often claimed to have never previously existed in the first place. This same ambiguity about Taylor and her lover’s future is parallel in the line after next ‘Forever is the sweetest con’, despite the confirmation of everlasting love, the idea of ‘forever’ is still not in itself, ‘forever’, but Taylor will happily buy into the ‘con’ that her and her lover remain until they no longer can, perhaps reflecting the gardens, a symbol of love which did not last. 

In conclusion, for me, The Hanging Gardens of Babylon are a testament to the splendour and opulence of the Babylonian empire, representing the prosperity and abundance of the kingdom. They represent a king’s ability to create paradise on earth, showcasing authority and divine perfection, whilst reflecting the king’s ability to control and manipulate nature.