The Hanging Gardens of Babylon - Research Paper Example

In recent times, there has been a lot of speculation about the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, with some contending that it is purely legendary while others state that these gardens are based on fact. One would suggest that these gardens truly existed because if they had not, then the gardens would not have been counted as one of the great wonders. Even if, it is considered purely legend, it is a known fact that legends tend to have their origins in reality. In this paper, therefore, the assumption shall be that these gardens existed, as many ancient writers attest (Brown 12). The Hanging Gardens are said to have been built in Babylon by its greatest ruler, the biblical Nebuchadnezzar. This construction, which came to gain fame being regarded as a wonder of the World, was done by this king for the pleasure of his wife, who was dissatisfied with her new home city. Her homesickness for her native land in Medes forced the king to create something that would keep her occupied, hence the Hanging Gardens. These gardens, despite the claims that they were only legendary, are widely reported by various ancient writers in the Greek and Roman age. The description that is given of these gardens provides a hint of the architectural feat that was achieved in an age that is believed not to have had any significant technological advancement. The construction achievement of these gardens has been a matter of speculation from the ancient times. The manner of their construction still puzzles most architects and historians who have dedicated themselves to its study using what was said concerning them by the ancient writers. It is said that they came to be destroyed by a series of earthquakes, which hit the area after the second century BC. The ancient writers, mentioned above, describe these gardens as having been designed to use something akin to the Archimedes screw for irrigating the gardens, which were planted on terraces (Dalley and Oleson 2). The Archimedes screw is a device, which from ancient times, has been used to transfer water from low-lying water bodies to irrigation trenches. This mechanism has within either it a screw inside a hollow pipe and this screw can be turned manually or using a windmill. As the screw moves, its bottom end collects some water that slides up the pipe until it pours out of its top and it is distributed to the irrigation systems. This mechanism was used for draining water out of mines or other places with low-lying water, and it is logical to assume that it was also used to irrigate the Hanging Gardens. Based on the descriptions of the gardens provided by the ancient writers, it has been estimated that they would have required at least 37000 liters of water every day. The watering mechanism for the gardens was controlled by a number of people who had been appointed to the task. They manually turned the screw, ensuring that there was a permanent water flow to the irrigation channels. The water needed was acquired, using the mechanism described, from the nearby Euphrates River from where it was carried to the very top of the gardens. From there, a system of irrigation channels had been constructed to allow for the efficient flow of water down the slopes of the garden. These channels were exceptionally well hidden, and only those who knew where they were had any knowledge of it. This made the water flow from the top of the gardens look remarkably natural as was intended by its designer. The flowing water served two main purposes for the garden, the first of which is that it allowed for the efficient irrigation of all the plants in the garden, ensuring that none of the plants lacked water. The second purpose was to create the impression of a waterfall, and this profoundly enhanced the beauty of the garden, especially when considers that this was a dry region. The sight of flowing water must have made quite an impression on the local people and considerably enhanced the reputation of both the garden as well as its builder. Therefore, in order to maintain most of the water in the gardens and to prevent its erosion of the ground, Nebuchadnezzar is said to have employed the use of stone slabs, this was a technique, which was unknown in Babylon, and this helps to show just how widespread the influence of this monarch was in the ancient world (Finz). The stone slabs were used in the construction of the superstructure of the gardens, and they were covered with lead to protect them from the constantly flowing water. There are some ancient texts, which state that some of these stone slabs may have been over 300 feet wide and as much as eighty feet tall. If this is true, then the effort that was used to move them must have been indeed extraordinary. It would have required the use of a lot of both physical and mechanical labor in order to accomplish their movement and perfect placement within the massive structure. The amount of labor employed in the construction of the Hanging Gardens must have been staggering, especially when one considers the fact that some of the material used, such as the stone slabs, was quite massive. Furthermore, the walls of the Garden are said to have been quite high, in fact, they were even higher than the city walls of Babylon. This ensured that the gardens could be seen from a long distance both within and outside the city. It is possible that architects from the Babylonian empire were hired to construct this garden, and this may be the reason why architectural influences from outside Babylon are described by certain ancient writers. Despite the outside influences of the architectural design of the Hanging Gardens, this was still a Babylonian achievement, and it shows just how advanced such constructions were in the Babylonian world. In fact, one would declare that these gardens rival some of the wonders of design in the modern world. In the creation of the Hanging Gardens, Nebuchadnezzar went to extreme lengths to please his Median wife. One of his most significant actions was to import exotic plants and animals from all over the then known world (Mohammed and Susman). This was an easy feat to accomplish because the Babylonian monarch ruled over most of it, all of these imported plants and animals were placed in the gardens for the enjoyment of the queen. The decorations within the gardens were also brought in from all over the Babylonian empire, and these made the gardens so beautiful that they were gained prominence as one of the great wonders of the ancient world. Greek historians describe these gardens as being quadrangular each side being 30 meters long (in modern measurement), as they state that the gardens consisted of arched vaultsm that were set on cube like fountains, hence enhancing the beauty of the gardens. These fountains provided the humidity, which was necessary to keep the environment of the gardens cool. The climb to the topmost terraced roofs is said to have been made by a stairway, which led to every terrace in the garden. The use of arches in construction is, therefore, not a Roman invention as many historians have stated. It can be concluded that the use of arches as described in the Hanging Gardens, was in existence long before the Romans came to prominence. Moreover, it seems that the appreciation of architectural beauty is not confined to the modern world. The design and construction of the Hanging Gardens by the Babylonian monarch can be considered an attempt to recreate natural beauty using architecture. The description of the plants in the garden is extraordinary, even by modern standards; moreover, some Greek historians state that the plants were cultivated above ground level, and instead of the roots of these plants being embedded in the ground, they were embedded in the terrace which was above them (Fernz). The entire mass of the gardens was supported by stone columns and streams of water emerged from elevated irrigation ditches and flowed down channels, which were sloped. The terraces on which the garden was planted were supported by stone pillars, which kept them stable. The strength of these pillars was so immense that it is said that the terraces of the gardens were still in existence by the time Alexander the Great came to the city. This water was used to irrigate the entire garden by maintaining the moisture content of the whole area and keeping the roots of the plants saturated in the hot environment. The grass in the entire garden remained green throughout the year, and the trees within it were so healthy that it was a rare site to see their leaves falling. The Hanging Gardens were, indeed, a great wonder because Nebuchadnezzar did what until then had not been done before. To please his Median wife, he created a garden, which resembled the mountains of Medes. The gardens, which were created, were placed upon a mountainous structure, which resembled the ziggurats, which were common in the Mesopotamian region. The sloping style, which was used in the construction of the gardens, was in line with the prevalent architectural style that was used in the construction of vital Mesopotamian buildings. Temples, known as ziggurats, and palaces for monarchs were all constructed in this style. This structure had rooftop gardens, which were planted on terraces, and, if the ancient accounts about it are true, then its sheer existence defied nature. In the barren environment of Mesopotamia, the Babylonian monarch succeeded in creating an environment, which looked like the wilderness of Medes, with green plants throughout the year, and water flowing going down the sloppy sides of the garden structure. As the gardens ascended, the plants were cultivated in closely packed terraces to replicate the greenery that is found on mountains. The Hanging Gardens had a series of manmade hills within it that were planted with the different types of trees from all over the Babylonian empire, whose intention was to create a mountainous environment (Perini 76). When one approached these gardens, one would notice that it was slopped like a hillside, on whose side soil had been compacted to enable the cultivation of plants. The slopes of the gardens were terraced and on these terraces were flowerbeds where exotic flowers were planted. The Hanging Gardens were built with a single-minded effort to make the harsh environment of the city of Babylon more hospitable, and in this, it was highly successful. The trees, planted on the terraces of the garden, provided both shade and a comfortable environment within which to spend time because of the aromatic smells, which came from the various plants within it. In a desert environment such as the one in Babylon, the coolness in the gardens, provided by the waterfalls and the shade from the trees, must have been enormously appreciated by those who spent time within it. In conclusion, it can be said that the Hanging Gardens were indeed a formidable architectural achievement not only in its time, but also throughout history. Its fame was widespread throughout the ancient world, and those who dispute its existence, are wrong to do so. Just because the ruins of this magnificent structure have yet to be found, does not mean that it did not exist. With future archeological work, it is possible that the Hanging Gardens will be discovered. The gardens were a unique architectural design especially for a civilization, which was not as advanced as the modern civilization. It must have taken a fantastic deal in labor and expenditure to complete such a massive project within just a few years. This is a sign of the total and absolute power that the Babylonian monarch had over his people. If any leader today were to undertake such a project, using taxpayer money, to please their spouses, it would likely lead to protests or even revolution (Schaefer and Higgs 26). The absolute power, which Nebuchadnezzar, had enabled him to indulge in large projects such as the Hanging Gardens. He would, therefore, have channeled as much money and resources that he felt were needed to ensure that the construction of this magnificent wonder was completed to ease the homesickness of his foreign wife. Works Cited Brown, Bryan. "Babylon: City and Legend." Junior Scholastic Sep 19 2005. Print. Dalley, Stephanie, and Oleson, John. "Sennacherib, Archimedes, and the Water Screw: The Context of Invention in the Ancient World." Technology and Culture 44.1 (2003): 1-26. Print. Fernz, Helena. "Hanging Gardens of Babylon Didn't Hang!" Business Times: 13. Oct 12 2001. Print. Finz, Stacy. "Hanging Gardens of Babylon Bloom at Museum's ArtAlive." Los Angeles Times (pre-1997 Fulltext): 1. Apr 26 1988. Print. Mohammed, Maha, and Susman, Tina. "DISPATCH FROM BABYLON; Sweeping View of the Past; Hussein-Era Palace and Ancient Ruins Exist Side by Side." Los Angeles Times: A.4. Dec 14 2008. Print. Perini, Katia. "The Integration of Vegetation in Architecture, Vertical and Horizontal Greened Surfaces." International Journal of Biology 4.2 (2012): 76-91. Print. Schaefer, Valentin, and Higgs, Eric. "Modern Babylon." Alternatives Journal 33.2 (2007): 26-9. Print. Read More