6th century BCEReputable source · 2 sourcesDebated
The Ishtar Gate and the Hanging Gardens
On the timeline · around 6th century BCE ·
What happened
Nebuchadnezzar's Babylon was famed for the Ishtar Gate — a towering entrance faced with brilliant blue glazed bricks and images of dragons and bulls — and for the legendary Hanging Gardens, counted among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Why it matters
The Ishtar Gate survives (partly reconstructed in Berlin) as a masterpiece of ancient art; the Hanging Gardens became one of history's most famous wonders.
How we know
The Ishtar Gate is well-attested by excavated remains. The Hanging Gardens are described only in later texts and have never been definitively located, so whether — and where — they existed is debated.
Sources
- World History Encyclopedia. Ishtar Gate · Reputable source
- World History Encyclopedia. Hanging Gardens of Babylon · Reputable source