80 Early World Civilizations: Supplemental Guide 4A | The Hanging Gardens of Babylon
Show image 4A-4: Ishtar Gate with soldiers as guards
A few minutes later, up ahead we glimpse a tall, wide gate in
the wall. Blue-glazed bricks cover the gate, glittering in the bright
sunlight. “That is the famous Ishtar (ISH-tar) Gate,” Ili tells us. “Our
king had it built, then named it for one of Babylon’s goddesses.”^11
Show image 4A-5: Ili and two others walking along streets
Half an hour later, soldiers at the Ishtar Gate allow our group
to enter, and we fi nd ourselves walking on streets made of stone.
This feels strange after the weeks we have spent walking on the
shifting sands of the desert.^12 Large statues stand every so often
along the sides of the street. “Look! The statues are made of
gold!”^13
As we continue on our way, we pass marvelous palaces and
busy shops fi lled with things to buy. Tomorrow we will take our
cloth to one of the shop owners, who has promised to buy it.
Our friend Ili has invited us to dinner at his home tonight. “You
are lucky,” he says. “The windows of the inn where you will be
staying look out upon the most amazing sight in all of Babylon.”^14
“Do you mean the famous gardens?” I ask.
Show image 4A-6: Nebuchadnezzar and his queen
“Yes,” Ili replies. Then, looking around carefully to make sure
that no one else can hear, he says quietly, “King Nebuchadnezzar
can be very cruel if he does not like you. But he also has a good
side for those he likes or loves; and the person he loves most of all
is his queen. The queen came from a land of hills and mountains,
with green meadows rich with tall trees and colorful fl owers.
Some say that after she moved here, the queen missed her home,
so our king decided to build her a mountain covered with green
plants—the famous Hanging Gardens—so the queen would not
be so homesick. But now I must leave you, for this is my street.
Remember, you are dining with us this evening. Come hungry,
for there will be plenty to eat.” And smiling again, Ili leaves us to
continue toward our inn.
11 Remember that the
Mesopotamians were polytheistic.
What does polytheistic mean?
12 Remember, Mesopotamia was
mostly desert, but Babylon was
built along the banks of what
rivers? (the Tigris and Euphrates
rivers) What did the canals allow
the Mesopotamians to do? (farm)
13 [Point to the statues in the picture.]
14 What do you think is the most
amazing sight in all of Babylon?