Located in southern Mesopotamia, Babylon was one of the most powerful cities in its time and was known for its grandiose palaces, temples, and its high walls.
The city of Babylon was founded by the Amorites in about 1894 BC. It became a major power under the rule of Hammurabi in the 17th century BC.
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon were one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The gardens were built by King Nebuchadnezzar II around 600 B.C.E. as a gift to his wife Amytis who was homesick for her native Media (modern day Iran). The gardens were irrigated by a complex series of canals and tunnels which brought water up from the nearby Euphrates River into an artificial mountain where the gardens were located. The Hanging Gardens have been described by some sources as being “the only true wonder that remains” because they have since disappeared due to time and erosion.
The walls of Babylon are another impressive feature that made this city so famous in antiquity. These walls surrounded the entire city with a circumference estimated at around 8-12 miles long! They protected the city from attack by enemies and kept people safe within its confines. The walls had multiple gates which allowed access both inside and outside the city depending on whether or not people had permission to enter or leave.
It is clear that Babylon was an impressive feat of engineering even by modern standards let alone those from thousands years ago!
