The Hanging Gardens of Babylon were built by Semiramus in the 9th century B.C
As a cool haven from the burning heat of the desert for Emethes, the wife of King Nebuchadnezzar
Watered from the nearby Euphrates river, exotic flowers would have cascaded over the terraces
With palm trees providing a welcome shade, the air heavy from the perfume of aromatic plants
In 539 B.C the Persians took control of Babylon and by the year 200 A.D. it was in ruins