Of the 8tyl« of laying out their moBt splendid Gardens, w« 

 have but two authentic accounts, which describe that of Solo- 

 mon, and those of Babylon. 



Solomon flourished about 1014 years B. C. In his time 

 luxury and refinement had extended to their Horticultural 

 establishments. Sculptured ornaments were introduced among 

 the flowers ; fountains adorned as well as refreshed the Gar- 

 den ; Fruit bearing and aromatic plants ; the Camphor, Cin- 

 namon, Frankincense and chief Spice Trees ; the Pomegra- 

 nate, Cedar, Pine, Sweet Flag, Aloe, Lily, Vine, Nut Tree, 

 Saffron, Fig, Apple, &c. were among its products. The Area 

 appears to have been square and surrounded by a wall; 

 Aviaries and other buildings adorned it.* In another place 

 Solomon tells us he made Gardens, Orchards and Vineyards ; 

 planted them with Trees of every kind, and introduced water 

 for their nourishment.! 



•' The Hanging Garden of Babylon was not built by Semi- 

 ramis, who founded the city, but by a later prince, called Cyrus, 

 for the sake of a Courtezan, who being a Persian, as they say, 

 by birth, and coveting meadows on mountain tops, desired the 

 king, by an artificial plantation, to imitate the land in Persia, 

 This Garden was four hundred feet square, and the ascent up 

 to it was as to the top of a mountain, and had buildings and 

 apartments out of one into another, like a theatre. Under 

 the steps to the ascent, were built arches one above another, 

 rising gently by degrees, which supported the whole planta- 

 tion. The highest arch upon which the platform of the gar- 

 den was laid, was fifty cubits high, and the garden itself was 

 surrounded with battlements and bulwarks. The walls were 

 made very strong, built al no small charge and expence, be- 

 ing twenty-two feet thick, and every sally port ten feet wide. 

 Over the several stories of this fabric were laid beams, and 



* Solomoa'i Song ptBiim. t Eecles. ii. 4. 



