BOOK I. GARDENS OF ANTIQUITY. 5 



embraced the front of the palace ; contained something less than four acres, surrounded 

 by a hedge, (the first, as Harte remarks, which we read of in history,) and interspersed 

 with three or four sorts of fruit-trees, some beds of culinary vegetables, and some borders 

 of flowers ; it contained two fountains or wells, the one for the use of the garden, and the 

 other for the palace. 



12. The gardens of Laertes, described in the same work, appear to have been similar to 

 the above in character and extent, use being more studied than beauty ; and vicinity to the 

 house or palace, for the immediate access of the queen or housewife, being a greater 

 desideratum than extent, variety of products, or prolonged recreation. 



1 3. The reality of the existence of these gardens is very doubtful. They are by many 

 ranked with those of Adonis ( Virg. Georg. ii. 87.), Paradise, Hesperides ( Virg. JEn. 

 iv. 484.), and Venus (AliBeys Travels, vol. i.), and considered with them as mere 

 creations of the fancy. Sir W. Temple is of opinion that the principal gardens of Ionia 

 may have had some resemblance to those described by Homer, as lying in the barren 

 island of Phaeacia ; but that the particular instance stated as belonging to Alcinous is 

 wholly poetical. (Temple's Works. Essay on Gardens.} Gouget rejects altogether the 

 idea of Pha^acia being an European isle, and considers the Phaeacians as a Greek colony 

 in one of the islands of Asia. (Origine de Loix, &c. torn. iii. 174.) 



SECT. IV. Babylonian or Assyrian Gardens. B. C. 2000. 



14. The gardens of Cyrus at Babylon (Plin. xix. 4.), or of the kings of Assyria, 

 or, according to Bryant (Anal, of Ancient Mythology, vol. iii. p. 100.), of the chiefs of 

 the ancient people called Semarim, were distinguished by their romantic situations, great 

 extent, and diversity of uses and products, and were reckoned in their days among the 

 wonders of the world. 



15. The form of these gardens was square, and, according to Diodorus and Strabo, each 

 side was four hundred feet in length, so that the area of the base was nearly four acres. 

 They were made to rise with terraces constructed in a curious manner above one another, 

 in the form of steps, somewhat like those of the Isola Bella in the Logo Maggiore in Italy, 

 and supported by stone pillars to the height of more than three hundred feet, gradually 

 diminishing upwards till the area of the superior surface, which was flat, was reduced 

 considerably below that of the base. This building was constructed by vast stone beams 

 placed on pillars of stone, (arches not being then invented,) which were again covered 

 with reeds, cemented with bitumen, and next were laid a double row of bricks united 

 by cement. Over these were laid plates of lead, which effectually prevented the moisture 

 from penetrating downwards. Above all was laid a coat of earth, of depth sufficient for 

 plants to grow in it, and the trees here planted were of various kinds, and were ranged 

 in rows on the side of the ascent,, as well as on the top, so that at a distance it appeared 

 as an immense pyramid covered with wood. The situation of this extraordinary effort 

 was adjoining or upon the river Euphrates, from which water was supplied by machinery 

 for the fountains and other sources for cooling the air and watering the garden. (Dr. 

 Falconer's Historical View of the Gardens of Antiquity, &c. p. 17.) 



16. The prospect from these elevated gardens was grand and delightful. From the upper 

 area was obtained a view not only of the whole city, and the windings of the Euphrates, 

 which washed the base of the superstructure three hundred feet below ; but of the cul- 

 tivated environs of the city and surrounding desert, extending as far as the eye could 

 reach. The different terraces and groves contained fountains, parterres, seats and 

 banquetting-rooms, and combined the minute beauties of flowers and foliage, with 

 masses of shade and extensive prospects; the retirement of the grove in the midst of- 

 civic mirth and din ; and all the splendor and luxury of eastern magnificence in art, 

 with the simple pleasures of verdant and beautiful nature. " This surprising and la- 

 borious experiment," G. Mason observes, " was a strain of complaisance in King 

 Nebuchadnezzar to his Median queen, who could never be reconciled to the flat and 

 naked appearance of the province of Babylon, but frequently regretted each rising hill 

 and scattered forest she had formerly delighted in, with all the charms they had presented 

 to her youthful imagination. The King, who thought nothing impossible for his power 

 to execute, nothing to be unattempted for the gratification of his beloved consort, de- 

 termined to raise woods and terraces even within the precincts of the city, equal to those 

 by which her native country was diversified." (Essay on Design, &c. p. 9.) 



17. An elevated situation seems in these countries to have been an essential re- 

 quisite to a royal garden; probably because the air in such regions is more cool and 

 salubrious, the security from hostile attack of any sort more certain, and the 

 prospect always sublime. " When Semiramis came to Chanon, a city of Media," ob- 

 serves Diodorus Siculus (lib. ii. cap. 13.}, " she discovered on an elevated plain, a 

 rock of stupendous height, and of considerable extent. Here she formed another para- 

 dise, exceeding large, enclosing a rock in the midst of it, on which she erected sumptuous 

 buildings for pleasure, commanding a view both of the plantations and the encampment. " 



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