Hanging & Zeus

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Hanging & Zeus

Although most people know that a list exists of the Seven World Wonders, only few can name them. The list of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World was compiled around the second century BC; however; the final list of the Seven Wonders was compiled during the middle Ages. The list comprised the seven most impressive monuments of the Ancient World. For example, Pyramids of Giza in Egypt and The Hanging Garden of Babylon in Iraq. Today, archaeological evidence deals some of the mysteries of the history of the seven Wonders for centuries. But the most impressive monuments of the ancient world were The Hanging Garden of Babylon and The Statue of Zeus at Olympia because of their histories, arts, and description and why they built.

 

The Hanging Garden of Babylon

History

The Babylonian was one of the most important cities of the ancient world. Babylon was the capital of Babylonia in the 2nd and 1st millennia BC. It was known as the site of a temple, and during the 21st century BC it was subject to the nearby Ur. Babylon became an independent city in 1894BC. Later, probably in the 12th century it became the religious center. Babylon was governed by several short – dynasties. Nabopolassear founded the Neo-Babylonian dynasty and his son   Nebuchadnezzar II expanded the kingdom until it became an empire of southwest Asia. The imperial capital at Babylon was refurbished with new temple and palace buildings, extensive fortification walls and gates. It was at that time the largest city of the known world. It had more than1000 hectares.

Location   

It is on east bank of the River Euphrates, about 50 km south of Baghdad, Iraq. 

 Why it built and by who?

Accounts indicate that the garden was built by King Nebuchadnezzar, who ruled the city for 43 years starting in 605 BC, but why did he do that. There is story said that the hanging gardens were built by Assyrian Queen, otherwise, according to accounts, the hanging gardens were built to cheer up  Nebuchadnezzar’s homesick wife , Amyitis. She was daughter of the king of the Mede. She was married to create an alliance between nations. The land she came from was green, rugged and mountainous, but she found the flat, sun –backed terrain of Mesopotamia depressing. The king decided to recreate her homeland by building an artificial mountain with rooftop gardens

 

who was it?

Detailed description comes from ancient Greek sources, including the writing of Strabo and Philo. Strabo described the gardens in first century BC. He wrote that ‘’the hanging garden has plants cultivated above ground level, and the roots of trees are embedded in an upper terrace rather than in earth. The whole mass is supported on stone columns. Steams of water emerging from elevated source flow down sloping channels. These waters irrigate the whole garden saturating the roots of plants and keeping the whole area mist. Hence the grass is permanently green and leaves grow firmly attached to supple branches. 

The statue of Zeus

A

History 

In the ancient world, there were many temples dedicated to Zeus the king of the Greek gods. But there was only temple to Zeus that housed one of the seven wonders in the world.  As result   the city state of Olympia was a center of religious worship and was also the birthplace of the Olympic Games which begun in 776B.C. the Olympic Games were considered to a part of religious rituals. The Olympic Games seemed the physical prowess as well as the political strength of participating Greek.

 Why it built and by who?

 The temple of Zeus was built between 466_456 B.C during the high of the classical Greek architecture and artistic endeavors. . The temple to Zeus was simple but as time went by and Games increased in importance, it became obvious that a new larger temple was needed. It was designed by Lib,but the sculptor chosen for this great task was a man named Phidias.

  How was it?

Zeus was seated on his throne which was made from bronze, gold, ivory and various precious stone.the bare body of Zeus was made from ivory and his robe was covered from golden sheets and zodiac scenes. His sandals were gold. His head was crowned by silver, olive wreath and the hairs and beard were made out of gold. In his right hand kept a Nike which made of gold and ivory and in his left a scepter with an eagle on the top.

 In conclusion, it is clear that The Hanging Garden of Babylon and The statue of Zeus were the most impressive wonders in the world because of their histories and the way they built.