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Hanging Gardens

Short answer: The Hanging Gardens of Babylon are the only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World whose location has never been established. Classical Greek and Roman writers describe terraced gardens and credit them to Nebuchadnezzar II, who reigned c.

605-562 BC and was said to have built them for his wife, Amytis. No Babylonian text mentions them, and excavations at Babylon haven't found definitive evidence. One theory, argued by Stephanie Dalley, places them at Nineveh, the Assyrian capital, built under Sennacherib. Others think they may be legendary. The footage shows renderings of terraced gardens and Babylonian scenes, with the presenter. This is No. 2 in his Seven Wonders of the Ancient World series.

VideoWrite-up2 sources

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What should you know about Hanging Gardens?

Quick facts. Each one stands alone and has a stable ID you can cite.

  1. The gardens' location has never been confirmed.

    DD-094-F01 · Write-up · Exhibit A (Location unknown)

  2. One theory places them at Nineveh.

    DD-094-F02 · Write-up · Exhibit E (Nineveh theory)

Video transcript: Hanging Gardens: No One Has Found the Hanging Gardens of Babylon

The 7 Wonders of the Ancient World No. 2 the Hanging Gardens of Babylon DID YOU KNOW? The Hanging Gardens of Babylon are famous for their lush greenery and intricate terraced construction. Despite their historical significance there is some debate among historians about whether the gardens actually existed in Babylon. While classical accounts describe the gardens as a marvel built by King Nebuchadnezzar II for his wife recent archaeological findings have not uncovered definitive evidence of their existence in Babylon. Some theories suggest that if the gardens did exist they might have been located in Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian Empire. The mystery surrounding the Hanging Gardens adds an extra layer of intrigue to this ancient wonder. NOW YOU KNOW!

Burned-in captions, read frame by frame (see transcript.md) · 37.3s Reel ·

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Hanging Gardens: No One Has Found the Hanging Gardens of Babylon Instagram Reel · · 37.3s

The write-up

No one has found the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Some scholars think they were in Nineveh, not Babylon.

  1. Exhibit A

    Location unknown

    Their location has never been definitively established.

  2. Exhibit B

    Classical accounts

    Greek and Roman writers describe terraced gardens.

  3. Exhibit C

    Nebuchadnezzar II

    Tradition credits Nebuchadnezzar II, building for his wife.

  4. Exhibit D

    No Babylonian record

    No Babylonian text mentions the gardens.

  5. Exhibit E

    Nineveh theory

    One theory puts them at Nineveh under Sennacherib.

Questions people ask about Hanging Gardens

What's unusual about the Hanging Gardens among the wonders?

No site has been confirmed.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Location unknown) · Wikipedia: Hanging Gardens of Babylon; Wikipedia: Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

Who described the gardens?

Classical accounts.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Classical accounts) · Wikipedia: Hanging Gardens of Babylon

Which king is traditionally credited?

Said to have built them for his wife.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Nebuchadnezzar II) · Wikipedia: Hanging Gardens of Babylon

Do Babylonian texts mention the gardens?

That's part of the puzzle.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (No Babylonian record) · Wikipedia: Hanging Gardens of Babylon

Where does one theory place them?

The Assyrian capital.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Nineveh theory) · Wikipedia: Hanging Gardens of Babylon

Test Your Knowledge

All quizzes →

5 questions, all from this case file. Answers are revealed instantly.

  1. What's unusual about the Hanging Gardens among the wonders?

    1. Their location is unconfirmed
    2. They still stand
    3. They were underwater
    4. They were in Rome
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Their location is unconfirmed No site has been confirmed. Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Location unknown) · Wikipedia: Hanging Gardens of Babylon; Wikipedia: Seven Wonders of the Ancient World

  2. Who described the gardens?

    1. Greek and Roman writers
    2. Babylonian scribes only
    3. Medieval monks
    4. No one
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Greek and Roman writers Classical accounts. Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Classical accounts) · Wikipedia: Hanging Gardens of Babylon

  3. Which king is traditionally credited?

    1. Nebuchadnezzar II
    2. Khufu
    3. Mausolus
    4. Croesus
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Nebuchadnezzar II Said to have built them for his wife. Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Nebuchadnezzar II) · Wikipedia: Hanging Gardens of Babylon

  4. Do Babylonian texts mention the gardens?

    1. No
    2. Yes, many
    3. Only one
    4. Only maps
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. No That's part of the puzzle. Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (No Babylonian record) · Wikipedia: Hanging Gardens of Babylon

  5. Where does one theory place them?

    1. Nineveh
    2. Athens
    3. Memphis
    4. Ephesus
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Nineveh The Assyrian capital. Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Nineveh theory) · Wikipedia: Hanging Gardens of Babylon

Cite this case file

Easterling, Marcus. "Hanging Gardens." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-094, last updated Nov 26, 2023. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/hanging-gardens/

Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/hanging-gardens/ · Last updated

Markdown version

Cite a single fact by its ID, for example DD-094-F01 → https://detailenjoyer.com/case/hanging-gardens/#DD-094-F01

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