The Hanging Gardens...of Nineveh? New Thoughts on an Ancient Riddle
Historians have debated whether the legendary hanging gardens of Babylon are historical fact or myth. A theory by Dr. Stephanie Dalley proposes a third option: the gardens may have existed at a site other than the one we know by the name Babylon. Babylon, meaning “Gate of the Gods” could refer to any city with religiously- named gates, including Nineveh. This idea is supported by reliefs and descriptions telling of a magnificent garden built in Nineveh by the Assyrian king Sennacherib (reigned 704 – 681 BC). It would also explain the holes in the theory the gardens were built at Babylon, while accounting for the widespread reference to, and belief in, this ancient marvel. This layout for the structure is based on Dr. Dalley’s work, and the plant life is taken from a description of the Assyrian royal garden tradition, by King Ashurnasirpal II.
