<P> King Sennacherib's Hanging Garden was considered a world wonder not just for its beauty--a year - round oasis of lush green in a dusty summer landscape--but also for the marvelous feats of water engineering that maintained the garden . </P> <P> There was a tradition of Assyrian royal garden building . King Ashurnasirpal II (883--859 BC) had created a canal, which cut through the mountains . Fruit tree orchards were planted . Also mentioned were pines, cypresses and junipers; almond trees, date trees, ebony, rosewood, olive, oak, tamarisk, walnut, terebinth, ash, fir, pomegranate, pear, quince, fig, and grapes . </P> <P> Sennacherib is the only Mesopotamian king who has left a record of his love for his wife . Of Sennacherib's palace, he mentions the massive limestone blocks that reinforce the flood defences . Parts of the palace were excavated by Austin Henry Layard in the mid-19th century . His citadel plan shows contours which would be consistent with Sennacherib's garden, but its position has not been confirmed . The area has been used as a military base in recent times, making it difficult to investigate further . </P> <P> A sculptured wall panel of Assurbanipal shows the garden in its maturity . One original panel and the drawing of another are held by the British Museum, although neither is on public display . Several features mentioned by the classical authors are discernible on these contemporary images . </P>

When did the hanging gardens of babylon exist