The Hanging Gardens of Semiramis

They were built by King Nebuchadnezzar II for one of his

wives, Amytis.
According to an old legend, spread especially by Greek
writers, it would have a much earlier origin: they were built by
King Ninus, the founder of the cities of Nineveh and Babylon,
for his wife Semiramis (Semiramis).
The most complete description of the gardens is due to
Diodorus of Sicily, who shows that they consisted of tiered
terraces in the amphitheater, with a side of approx. 123 m. The
terraces were supported by stone walls, built at a distance of
three meters from each other. The spaces between the
masonry covered with vaults made of stone blocks. A layer of
reeds soaked in asphalt was placed between the blocks, above
the reeds was a double row of bricks, linked together with
plaster mortar, covered with lead sheets, to complete the
water-repellent insulation. The lead mulch was a layer of earth,
thick enough to hold the roots of the largest trees. Diodorus
says: "...The terraces were full of plants of all kinds, able to
delight the eye with their size and beauty." In the thickness of
the terraces, galleries and rooms were arranged, which
received the light laterally, on one side, in such a way that the
galleries and rooms on a certain level had a view of a garden in
front of them, which rested on the terraces of the lower level.
Hydraulic machines were used to water the gardens,
which raised the water from the Euphrates to the different
levels. Under the roots of the plants were a series of channels,
which constantly moistened the earth. Thanks to the
possibilities of continuous humidity maintenance, not only rich
flower beds, but also fruit trees, certain species of tamarix,
palm trees, etc. could grow on the terraces.
According to some accounts, it seems that the ancient
gardens were demolished by the Persians, during the
occupation of Babylon, when the Tower of Babel was also
demolished.