S66 GARDENS OF VARIOUS NATIONS. 



those nations left an individuality and a grandeur not to be surpassed, 

 and this was also extended to the plan of their gardens. The one 

 attached to the palace at Babylon — which is considered to have been 

 "formed by Nebuchadnezzar out of compliance to his queen Amytis, 

 who wished to possess elevated groves in imitation of the hills of her 

 native country, Ecbatana — may be considered as a type on a large 

 scale of what were the gardens of Nineveh, Persepolis, or the one 

 mentioned in the Book of Esther as belonging to King Ahasuerus. 

 These "Hanging Gardens" of Babylon, as they are called, were 

 contained in a square of four hundred feet, the base of which occupied, 

 four acres, and they were composed of several terraces, which rose one 

 above the other until the highest one overtopped the walls of the 

 city, these being more than three hundred feet high. The several 

 terraces were reached by flights of steps ; and the terraces themselves 

 were each supported on large vaults built one upon another, 

 which were strengthened by a wall twenty-two feet thick ; these 

 vaults were covered with flat stones sixteen feet long and four wide, 

 and upon them were placed rushes bound with a considerable quantity 

 of bitumen, upon which were placed two beds of burnt bricks covered 

 with sheets of solid lead to prevent leakage from the moisture of 

 the earth which was the uppermost layer. At the base of these 

 gardens flowed the Euphrates, or rather a canal issuing from that 

 river, and on the highest terrace was placed an aqueduct, the water 

 for which was pumped up from the river, so that there was no lack 

 of water for the plants. This upper terrace commanded an extensive 

 view of the city and of the surrounding country ; and this, as well 

 as the others, was laid out in parterres, with flowers and shrubs, 

 and trees and fountains, and seats and banqueting-halls. In order 

 that large trees should thrive on these terraces, large hollow piers 

 were built and filled with mould, so as to enable the roots to have 

 sufficient earth and moisture. 



Such is the account handed down to us of the " Hanging Gardens " 

 of Babylon, one of the greatest wonders of the world, and which 

 must have been constructed five or six hundred years before the 



