⸮ Αlpha · Mysteries of the Hanging Gardens (Αλφα) ?
¿ Where ?
Note that [in the future] this page will have better citation and annotation.
In the mean time please refer to the @ Historical Accounts of the H.G. Page especially the "Contextual Extracts"
for referencing the sources of the information presented here.
✵ Map 🧭 Of Ancient Mesopotamia 🗺️
Where was the H.G. Located ?
Competing Theories
- Babylon
- Teredon / Terendos
- Nineveh
- ␦ UnAccounted / Unknown Locotions ?
� Multiple H.G.s
in multiple Locations ⸮
Distance from water source?
- At the [body of] waters-edge?
- Close to a body of water water?
- Far away from a body of water?
Map Of Ancient Mesopotamia
Modified by Sol Falcone :To Zoom In On Most Relevant Locations & To show added general location of Teredon / Terendos
Based on Map of the Neo-Assyrian Empire in 824 BC : https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Map_of_Assyria.pngAuthor : Käyttäjä:Ningyou @ https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%A4ytt%C3%A4j%C3%A4:Ningyou - Permission : public domainBased on a map in 'Atlas of the Bible Lands', C S Hammond & Co (1959), ISBN 9780843709414.
Note : - This Map was modified to shows approximate location of : Teredon aka Terendos- This map does not show : aquaducts of Semiramis or Sennacherib or source of these aquaducts water * Geography and River Courses Need Verified As Correct For Ancient Mesopotamia
✵ Map 🧭 Of Ancient Mesopotamia 🗺️
Where was the H.G. Located?
There are multiple theories as to Where the H.G. was Located, that essentially stem from the multiple theories about who commissioned the H.G. These theories come from the historical accounts of the HG, as well as anthropological and archaeological research & expeditions.
Three theories come from the historical accounts of the H.G. including the most common theory.The writings of some ancient authors give us reason to consider three other potential Locations.And there is also another Location theory not from the Greco-Roman Era Authors....
Two general Locations come from the historical accounts of the HG,
including the general Location of the most common theories.
The writings of some ancient authors give us reason to consider another general Location, as well as to speculate on other general Locations.
There is also yet another Location theory, not from the Greco-Roman Era Authors....
Lets begin with the most "recent" of these potential Locations of the anciet HG,and work our way backwards in time.
There is also yet another Location theory, not from the Greco-Roman Era Authors....
Lets begin with the most "recent" of these potential Locations of the anciet HG,and work our way backwards in time.
Teredon / Terendos
605 - 562 BCE During the Neo-Babylonian Empire under the Reing of King Nebuchadnezzar II
Babylon
605 - 562 BCE During the Neo-Babylonian Empire under the Reing of King Nebuchadnezzar II
811-806 BCE During the Neo-Assyrian Empire under the Reing of Queen Semiramis
Nineveh
705 - 681 BCE During the Neo-Assyrian Empire under the Reing of King Sennacherib (The Neo-Assyrian Empire included Babylonia)
✵ Map 🧭 Of Ancient Mesopotamia 🗺️
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Modified by Sol Falcone :To Zoom In On Most Relevant Locations & To show added general location of Teredon / Terendos Based on Map of the Neo-Assyrian Empire in 824 BC : https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Map_of_Assyria.pngAuthor : Käyttäjä:Ningyou @ https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%A4ytt%C3%A4j%C3%A4:Ningyou - Permission : public domainBased on a map in 'Atlas of the Bible Lands', C S Hammond & Co (1959), ISBN 9780843709414.Note : - This Map was modified to shows approximate location of : Teredon aka Terendos- This map does not show : aquaducts of Semiramis or Sennacherib or source of these aquaducts water * Geography and River Courses Need Verified As Correct For Ancient Mesopotamia✵ Map 🧭 Of Ancient Arabia 🗺️
Public Domain Map of Ancient Arabia - Modified [by Sol Falcone] to highlight Teredon “Ancient Trade between India and Rome.” Sreenivasarao's Blogs, sreenivasaraos.com/tag/ancient-trade-between-india-and-rome/ Created By : Weigel, Christoph, 1654-1725✵ Map 🧭 Of Ancient Assyria 🗺️
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Map of the Neo-Assyrian Empire in 824 BC https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Map_of_Assyria.png Author : Käyttäjä:Ningyou @ https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%A4ytt%C3%A4j%C3%A4:Ningyou - Permission : public domain Based on a map in 'Atlas of the Bible Lands', C S Hammond & Co (1959), ISBN 9780843709414.Note : - This map may not show : Teredon aka Terendos - This map does not show : aquaducts of Semiramis or Sennacherib or source of these aquaducts water * Geography and River Courses Need Verified As Correct For Ancient Mesopotamia
The most common theory is that the Hanging Gardens of Babylon was commissioned by King Nebuchadnezzar II (who ruled apx 605 - 562 BCE during the Neo Babylonian Empire)Multiple ancient authors stated that King Nebuchadnezzar built the H.G.
Some say the H.G. was in Babylon.
However there are also theories of the H.G. being in Teredon / Terendos
due to the way some of the accounts are written,
though it could just be that Teredon was mentioned before mentioning the HG.
see the Historical Accounts Page
(setting aside the Greco-Roman Era authors who accounted of the HG,)
Another theory is based on ancient Mesopotamian cuneiform inscriptions, and reliefs
which tell of irrigation, and an Orchard commissioned by King Sennacherib,
and perhaps also aquaducts and a botanical gardens.(as well as other evidence)
If King Sennacherib (who ruled apx 705 - 681 BCE during the Neo Assyrian Empire) was the creator of the H.G.
that would probably place the Hanging Gardens in Nineveh, which was his Capitol.
Archaeologist Stephanie Dalley has led an expedition to explore this avenue of inquiry.
Archaeologist Stephanie Dalley has led an expedition to explore this avenue of inquiry.
There are written accounts of constructionsmade by Queen Semiramis (who ruled apx 811-806 BCE druing the Neo Assyrian Empire)
which could be interpreted as the HGSome even claim that she founded Babylon;while Berosus is quoted by later authors for criticizing Greek writers,
for attributing the founding of Babylon,
and the construction of it's wonders to Queen Semiramis.
If Queen Semiramis created the HG that could place the H.G. in Babylon ......or somewhere else...?
Queen Semiramis was said to have built aquaducts and Mounds, (perhaps Ziggurats)
both of these works could support the HG.
She was also said to have made a planted park irrigated by springs,
[and the Mounds of Semiramis]however there are issues with the location given
[for the planted park]
the inscription at Bagistanus mountain (Mount Behistun) attributed to her in that account
was actually made by the much later Persian King Darius.
How far was the Hanging Gardens from a Body of Water?
One thing is certain, to keep most Gardens alive it needs plenty of water.
Especially a Botanical Gardens that became so renown in the ancient world as to become exaulted as one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
It seems justified to assume that the HG was not just a Garden of palm trees & shrubs, succulents, and cacti.
As beautiful as those are, the accounts tell of a lush Botanical Gardens with great variety, and it is also called a Paradise, and while that does refer to a garden surrounded by walls it is also synonymous with perfection and lusciousness.
As well some of the accounts state that the Hanging Gardens of Babylon where created by a King
to satisfy his Queen
(or in one account a concubine)
who desired the landscape and plants of her homeland in Media
[or more broadly : Persia in one account]
described in some accounts as meadows, and mountainous in other accounts.
This all brings us to the important question of;
just how close or far the Hanging Gardens was from a source of water?
Keeping in mind that Mesopotamia being born of the Desert Oasis, is the child of the Fertile Crescent of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, it seems likely the Hanging Gardens would be near or at the edge of a body of water. However Mesopotamia was also the Triumph of Order over Chaos and great works of engineering where highly regarded and brought glory to the ruler who commissioned them, as well as the Kingdom.
So it is also possible the Hanging Gardens where far from a body of water and where irrigated by impressive feats of ancient aquatic engineering, of which is known.
At the Waters-Edge? Or at a Spring?
Mulitiple accounts place the HG at the edge of a body of water.
Some accounts place it at banks of the Euphrates River which was said to flow throuhg the middle of Babylon.
Some accounts could be interpreted as placing the H.G. at the city of *Teredon, perhaps near the Euprates River or a tributary or other flowing water, or perhaps at the Persian Gulf.
If the Hanging Gardens where at the waters-edge it would require simpler engineering
[as the water would not need to channeld to it]
and the water could be pumped directly from the body of water to the Gardens for irrigation
There are also accounts of Queen Semiramis creating a planted park fed by waters of a Spring.
If the HG was at a spring the water could be channeled directly from the sping, or channeled to a reservoir or pool to then be pumped up, or the HG could have been built right into the landscape with the spring at the upper most area of the Hanging Gardens.
* It is interesting to note that the same accounts that this theory stems from state [just before stating the fortification of Teredon/Terendos] that King Nebuchadnezzar II walled off the Red Sea, which is a great distance west of the location of ancient Teredon.
Close to a body of water water?
Some accounts are rather vague in regards to location, and others mention aquatic engineering.
It is possible the Hanging Gardens where close to a body of water,
and that the water was channeled to it,
or to a resevoir or pool,
and that from there the water was then pumped up for irrigation.
Far away from a body of water?
As there are multiple theories for who created the HG and where,
[and due to the vagueness of some accounts regarding location;
and the possibility of any number of locations,
concieved of and unconceived of]
It is possiblie that the Hanging Gardens where a considerable distance from a body of water.
In which case water would need to be channeled to the H.G. and pumped up for irrigation.
There are accounts of aquatic engineering from many Mesopotamian leaders,
including King Nebuchadnezzar II, King Sennacharib, & Queen Semiramis.
These aquatic engineering works include aquaducts, reservoirs, channels, etc.
With these engineering technologies,
it would be possible for the ancient Mesopotamians to irrigate a lush botanical Gardens
Even in the middle of a Desert.
There is also the vague claim made by some ancient authors that the HG was built by "a later Syrian King"
Which could place the H.G. in any number of places under Assyrian control, most likely a capitol or other important location.
There is also the speculation of Multiple Hanging Gardens in Multiple Locations.Perhaps being created by an older ruler and being restored or and or rebuilt by a future ruler,
maybe even damaged or destroyed by the military campaign of the same ruler who then restored or rebuilt it.
It is almost certain that other botanical gardens where created by Mesopotamian Rulers.
Yet the question remains; was ther ever an Ancient Mesopotamian Hanging Gardens?
It is almost certain that other botanical gardens where created by Mesopotamian Rulers.
Yet the question remains; was ther ever an Ancient Mesopotamian Hanging Gardens?