The Seven Wonders of the World And Their Associations ; with Eight Illustrations

Detailing each of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, Theodore Alois Buckley's The Seven Wonders of the World and Their Associations provides particularly intricate information about the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon are regarded as the most legendary of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. While some historians believe the Gardens never actually existed, others believe they were built in the ancient city-state of Babylon near present-day Babil province in Iraq. Purportedly constructed by King Nebuchadnezzar II between 605 and 562 BC, the Gardens were created as a gift to his wife, Amytis of Media, who often longed for the sight and smell of native plants from her homeland. Ancient writers describe the Gardens as consisting of intricate systems of terraces and trellises that would hold an abundance of plants. Historians believe these terraces were the reason the Gardens were referred to as "hanging," as it would appear plants were suspended in midair or over rooftops. Historians also believe that the Gardens would have required servants to use a minimum of about 8,200 gallons (37,000 liters) of water each day to irrigate the greenery. The Hanging Gardens are thought to have been destroyed by earthquakes around the second century BC. And while this Wonder has been written about by several Greek and Roman historians, no definitive archaeological evidence concerning the whereabouts of the legendary gardens has been found.